[Shogun, were you thinking of Ayaka?]
Ei knew the Shogun as well as she knew herself.
'Your intuition never fails to catch me.'
The Shogun yielded.
[I have always been watching you. How could I not see through such small thoughts? But do not mistake this girl for Ayaka. To do so would be discourteous to both Ayaka and this girl.]
Ei admonished her like one would scold a child.
'Ei…'
What did she take her for? The Shogun's tone carried a trace of dissatisfaction, almost like a child's grievance.
[Apologies… I know you are not that kind of person. You simply attract others without intent—that is all~]
The Shogun exhaled softly in her heart.
Meanwhile… Astolfo had not quieted down in the least, still going around asking the other Servants for their true names.
"Hey~ what about you?"
He approached a silent, doll-like girl in Western dress.
"…"
The girl gave no reply, only shaking her head to show refusal.
"What?"
Astolfo didn't understand and asked again.
"Uhh…"
The girl, clearly impatient, turned her face away with disdain, red bangs falling to cover her eyes.
"Hey, Master over there… what's this child's true name? Tell me, won't you~?"
He turned suddenly toward Caules, whose expression had grown complicated.
"Eh—eh?!"
Caules was caught completely off guard.
"Come on, quick! (^-^) Hey~ hey~!"
Astolfo leaned in, grabbing his arm, eyes sparkling with curiosity. Caules nearly froze under the pressure.
"…Fr-Frankenstein."
In the end, he yielded.
"So that's it… then I'll call you little Fran~!"
Astolfo spun back toward Frankenstein—Berserker—and beamed brightly.
"Uhh!!"
Fran gave a low growl of displeasure at her true name being exposed, her expression twisting into something feral.
"Ahhh~! Sorry, sorry!"
Rider instantly backed down, flustered as he waved his hands.
"Seems I've made her angry…"
He scratched his head with a sheepish smile.
"Sigh…"
The Shogun sighed softly. She felt that simply staying here was enough to unsettle her. For a moment, she even longed to return to Inazuma.
"Ah! And lastly—this beautiful lady here! What's your true name, miss~?"
As expected, it came to her turn. The Shogun regarded the effeminate Servant before her with a cold, indifferent gaze, lips sealed.
"…"
The silence grew awkward.
"Um… beautiful lady~?"
Astolfo pressed again, his voice lilting.
"…You are a woman?"
The Shogun replied instead with a cold, unrelated question.
"Eh? Hey~ I'm a man… that's rather rude!"
Astolfo flushed inexplicably, his voice rising.
"If so, why wear women's attire?"
Her violet eyes narrowed.
"W-What of it? This is my style! This is my~ personality! Do you have a problem with that?"
He glared at her in protest.
"Not at all. We are strangers; how could I take issue with you?"
The Shogun closed her eyes, inwardly exasperated. Of course she minded. Though his features could pass for a girl's, knowing he was a man made it difficult to look at him the same way.
"That's why~ now's the time to get acquainted! Right, Master lady over there?"
Once again, Astolfo turned to a Master for support—this time, Fiore, the Shogun's Master.
"…"
Unlike Caules earlier, Fiore did not panic. Instead, she calmly turned her azure eyes to the Shogun, silently seeking her opinion. Her gaze carried gentle inquiry.
The Shogun noticed, her violet eyes softening faintly with resignation.
She had no care for her true name. After all, she was but a foreigner here.
"Speak if you wish."
Her cold yet melodious voice reached Fiore's ears.
"…"
Fiore lowered her gaze briefly in thought, then looked back toward Rider.
"My apologies… but all I can say is that my Servant is Saber. Any further information, I must keep confidential."
It was not that Fiore disregarded the Shogun's words—she simply felt that revealing her Servant's true name at such a time was inappropriate. Moreover, the Shogun's nature was unlike others, and speaking carelessly could invite unnecessary trouble.
"Eh~ how dull~?"
Astolfo instantly lost his energy.
The Shogun glanced toward Fiore—who only answered with a gentle smile.
The next moment, Vlad's deep voice resounded through the hall—
"Hear me, all of you! With the might of warriors worth a thousand, we shall annihilate the Red Servants! Proud heroes, I await your valor. I am Vlad Țepeș! To defend my nation and fulfill my wish, I swear before you all—I shall be the victor!"
At his declaration, every other Servant save the Shogun lowered on one knee before the Lancer.
"Tonight is the eve of the Holy Grail War. You may each return to your quarters and rest well. What you do is your own affair. For now, this meeting is adjourned."
Darnic followed up with his own announcement, dismissing the Black Faction.
"Alright~ dismissed, dismissed~!! I'm going to bed!!"
Rider, looking exhausted, tried to hurry away.
"Rider, to my chambers later."
But his Master, Celenike, gave a twisted smile as she ordered him.
"Uhh… y-yes, ma'am."
Rider's face sank into a look of doom. How had he ended up with such a sadistic Master?
"Archer, with me."
Gordes also commanded his Servant.
"As you wish."
Archer bowed politely and followed.
After saying farewell to his sister, Caules also left with Berserker.
Now, aside from Vlad and Darnic, only the Shogun and the wheelchair-bound girl—Fiore—remained.
The Shogun felt somewhat lost. But if "dismissed" meant free activity, then she would simply take her leave. She turned to go.
"Um… well…"
Fiore gave a troubled smile and, with effort, began to wheel herself after the Shogun.
In the corridor…
Hearing the wheels grinding behind her, the Shogun glanced back. The girl was following without pause, her face strained, a sheen of sweat on her brow.
The Shogun's gaze fell upon her slender legs, unmoving. Indeed, they bore affliction. With that thought, she slowed her pace, letting the girl draw alongside her.
Fiore noticed the subtle gesture and felt warmth in her heart. Her lips curved in a gentle smile as she cautiously called out:
"Um… Saber…"
"…Call me Shogun."
The Shogun understood her intent and gave her name—or rather, her title. After all, Ei had never given her a personal name. She had always been called only "Shogun."
"Shogun…"
Fiore obediently addressed her so.
"I… am often inconvenienced in daily life. I hope Shogun will not find me troublesome."
She referred, of course, to her crippled legs. She feared her Servant might resent her.
"It matters not. Afflictions are not by your will. This vessel will care for you."
The Shogun shook her head slightly, showing she held no disdain—on the contrary, she would care for her Master.
"Ah… I-I thank you, Shogun…"
Fiore's cheeks flushed faintly as she lowered her eyes, voice soft. Still, her hands moved the wheels with effort.
The Shogun watched her movements, her gaze shifting to the handles of the chair.
"Do you require assistance?"
"Eh?"
The girl blinked in confusion.
"You seem strained. Do you require my help?"
The Shogun sighed softly as she repeated.
"N-no need… to have Shogun push me would be far too impolite."
The girl shook her head quickly. How could she let her Servant, whom she had just met, push her chair?
"But… are not those handles made for pushing?"
The Shogun indicated the grips at the back. Fiore glanced at them, embarrassed. How could she answer?
"Th-they are indeed… for pushing, but…"
Still hesitant, the girl faltered. The Shogun only sighed.
"So be it… yet seeing you struggle, to not aid you would be heartless."
With that, she stepped behind Fiore and took hold of the handles, pushing lightly. The chair moved effortlessly.
"Um… Shogun, if I trouble you too much, you needn't push me. I can manage on my own."
Fiore still worried she might be a burden.
"My decision is made. Do not question it."
The Shogun closed her eyes, her stance unyielding, as if to say: "You cannot stop me."
"U-Understood… thank you, Shogun."
Seeing her determination, Fiore no longer argued. Her heart warmed, lips curving sweetly as she whispered her thanks.