In wintertime Fuyuki City, night fell quickly.
By six or seven o'clock, the lights had to be turned on.
In the living room, due to the upcoming battle, everyone ate in a very serious atmosphere, barely speaking.
Each person was thinking about things more or less related to the Holy Grail.
Clang! Clang!
Very well, except for the Ahoge King.
To her, eating and going to war made no difference.
"Damn it, what kind of mess did that priest leave behind for me?"
Bazett complained as she ate.
Her bowls and chopsticks flew about.
She was about to collapse.
She'd spent the entire day dealing with the gas leak.
"If you're tired, don't push yourself," Rin teased, "If you give that fake priest to me, I'll gladly accept him."
"Hmph!", Bazett snorted coldly, pointing her chopsticks at her, "Matters of the priest don't concern an outsider from the Association, Head of the Tohsaka family."
"And I'll be reporting the Holy Grail War's situation to the Association too," she said in a seemingly threatening tone.
"Do as you like," Rin didn't care at all.
As long as it could be resolved perfectly, that was good news for her.
After dinner, Shirou called the Ahoge King.
"Saber, before we leave, there's something I want to give you," After much thought, he decided to return the scabbard.
"To give me?", Artoria looked curious.
What else could he possibly have to give her at this point?
"Mm," Shirou nodded, then sought Illya's opinion, "Is that alright, Illya?"
Illya smiled and replied, "Berserker can decide for himself. Besides, that was originally Saber's possession."
Her maturity showed in that she could play when it was time to play, but also remain serious when needed, aside from when she was at the Einzbern Castle in Germany.
"That's good, then," Shirou told her to wait a moment and brought Artoria to the storeroom.
After closing the door, facing Artoria's confusion, he took off his coat.
The King, of course, wasn't shy. Shirou also wasn't thinking anything improper.
"Saber, what I want to give you… is actually something related to your legend."
"My legend," Almost instantly, Artoria sensed something, "Don't tell me…"
"That's right," Shirou said seriously, "It's the scabbard you lost, the distant ideal land, 'Avalon'."
"To think…", Artoria only froze for a moment, then smiled peacefully, "I see."
A special emotion grew in her heart, "So Berserker was my scabbard all along."
"That's not it," Shirou felt he had nothing worthy of gaining Artoria's favor.
So he explained with a calm heart, "That scabbard was excavated by the Einzbern during the Fourth Holy Grail War, used as a catalyst to summon you."
"As for how it ended up with me, you probably have a general idea."
As he spoke, Shirou took out Avalon from his body, which was reluctant to leave, "Sorry, Saber. Kiritsugu… I can't say he was completely right, but that Holy Grail couldn't fulfill your wish, that much is true. Manaka's method also won't work… so next time, be sure to see things more clearly."
A distant, seemingly all-isolating radiance shone within the storeroom.
Once the light faded, the beautifully crafted, otherworldly scabbard appeared in Shirou's hands.
"Is it okay?", Artoria only glanced at the scabbard.
"Without the scabbard, you might…"
"People die when they are killed," With a complicated feeling, the boy said, "Saber, I can't save you, nor do I have the ability. But I know, if it's you, no matter how much time passes, no matter how long it takes, you'll always find the answer you're looking for."
"So here and now, please allow me to return your scabbard to you."
Time, for a moment, fell into silence. Truly, just a moment. As if her body had fallen into eternity. Searching in the darkness for something.
Indeed, Servants wouldn't be disturbed by darkness. But darkness is still darkness, its nature cannot be changed.
However, the boy's voice had the power to lightly dispel the darkness.
That kind of presence, even if she fell into hell, after thousands or ten-thousands of years, Artoria would still recall it clearly.
"…I understand," Facing the boy's heartfelt sincerity, the King could not refuse.
With the most sacred posture and those emerald eyes shining with radiant brilliance, she solemnly took back the scabbard that belonged to her, "Berserker, I'm glad I met you. If there's another chance to meet again, I'd like to drink heartily with you, and with my knights."
"To be invited by Saber, what an honor."
———
Clear moonlight illuminated the land, shining on the stone-paved road.
Rin closed her eyes and fumbled for a moment.
They were at the side of Mt. Enzou.
Just now, as Artoria reached out, without even touching anything, just getting near Mt. Enzou's territory, she was repelled.
"No mistake," As a magus, Illya's expertise wasn't low, "Caster's bounded field has been used. Servants probably can only enter from the front."
"This is terrible!", Rin bit her thumb.
Their original plan was to have Artoria break through from the front, while Shirou and Medea led the others to flank Manaka.
With the scabbard-equipped Ahoge, full defense was assured. Basically, nothing could kill her.
Even the black mud couldn't get close.
Because Avalon's ability fundamentally ignored all physical interference, all interference from the ordinary world. It couldn't even be touched by the Five Great Magics. It was true ultimate defense.
However, this bounded field now made executing that plan impossible.
"As expected," Rin took out the gems she'd prepared in advance, "If it's the front, then I'll leave it to you, Saber."
"Leave it to…", Artoria was about to answer—
When Shirou suddenly shouted, "Get down, Rin!"
Clang!
Under the bright moonlight.
A sword and a crimson magic spear wrapped in black mist collided, producing sparks.
This time, it was Shirou who was sent flying.
A substantial, several-levels-higher power disparity blasted him away.
The sharp cold wind grazed Rin's cheek. The magic spear didn't slow down as it thrust toward her forehead.
Facing such brutal and terrifying killing intent, honestly, she froze.
The images flashing through her mind were Saber rushing forward, Illya shouting, and Sakura using her Command Spell.
Too late, she couldn't hear them.
In that moment of facing death, even her heartbeat briefly stopped.
'I must… move!'
'Or else… I'll die!'
Such a simple and obvious truth, even a child would know it.
However, knowing and doing were two different things.
0.1 seconds later, the spearhead met no resistance, it pierced flesh more smoothly than diving into water.
BOOM!
BANG!
That seemingly casual strike, punched a huge crater into the hard cement ground at the foot of Mt. Enzou.
"Rin!", Artoria shouted.
"Berserker!", Illya panicked.
"Senpai! Onee-san!"
'I'm saved!'
Was the price… Berserker's retreat?
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