In Fiore's room… estimating it to be about time for sleep, the girl put down the book on her lap and turned her gaze to the beautiful woman wandering curiously around the room.
At this moment, the Shogun was truly like a child, peeking here and there, examining everything… whenever she found something interesting, she picked it up and touched it.
"Hehe…"
Fiore couldn't help but laugh softly at such an adorable sight.
"Shogun, do you need sleep?"
She asked the curious woman.
"…This vessel is not mortal and requires no sleep."
The Shogun's hands paused slightly before she turned her gaze toward the girl in the wheelchair and replied softly. The Seven Archons of the mortal world were different from humans—they did not need sleep, though they could if they wished, depending on their mood.
"I see…"
Fiore nodded lightly in understanding.
"Are you tired? If you are, then rest. Pay no mind to me."
The Shogun could see that the girl before her was somewhat exhausted, both in body and spirit. Since she was tired, she should rest and let her body recover to its usual state—that was the key to maintaining health.
"…Mm."
Fiore had originally wanted to talk more with the Shogun… but since the other said so, she couldn't continue the topic. Somehow, though her Servant gave her little worry, at times she seemed more troublesome than others' Servants—at least in terms of communication.
"Haa…"
Fiore let out a discouraged sigh, then slowly moved her wheelchair to the bedside. Looking at the large bed before her, she struggled to push herself up from the chair, trying to shift her body onto the bed's edge…
Clatter…
However, the wheelchair slipped slightly, refusing to cooperate. She quickly steadied it again, sighing helplessly.
Step, step…
"?!"
Unexpectedly, the Shogun had already walked over. Just as Fiore was about to voice her confusion, her entire delicate body was suddenly lifted into the Shogun's arms in a princess carry.
"Sh-Shogun///"
Fiore's face flushed red as she shrank into the Shogun's embrace, staring at her violet eyes in disbelief.
"It seemed you needed help. Was I overstepping?"
The Shogun gently set the girl down at the bed's head, letting her back rest against the pillow. She carefully adjusted Fiore's immobile slender legs and pulled the blanket over her.
After completing this nurse-like routine, she sat on the edge of the bed and asked this question.
"N-No, not at all… absolutely not. I just… I thought the Shogun wouldn't notice my movements…"
Fiore pulled the blanket up around herself, cheeks faintly red as she looked at the breathtakingly beautiful yet coldly elegant woman before her.
"You should know… this vessel can sense the flow of air and every detail around her—including your actions."
The Shogun explained with her usual expressionless face, speaking calmly to the blushing girl.
Then, she rose once more and stepped away from the bed.
"Rest now. I will remain here with you. Tomorrow, we still have things to do."
Standing at the window, the Shogun lifted a finger to part the curtain slightly, gazing at the Trifas streets below, lit only by the glow of lamplight.
"Mm… good night, Shogun."
Hearing her Servant's words, Fiore smiled with relief, then, with a tone tinged with shyness, bid the Shogun good night. Using the faint light of the bedside lamp, she curled beneath the blanket and closed her eyes.
[Shogun, you're quite good at this… that girl is nearly swept off her feet by you.]
At that moment, Ei finally spoke again after a long silence.
'When have I ever done such a thing?'
[…Sigh.]
Ei let out a helpless sigh.
[Normally, when there's a stranger nearby, one can't fall into deep sleep. Yet that girl… she's sleeping soundly now. She truly trusts you, Shogun.]
'Perhaps it's simply that she was already very tired.'
Closing the curtain once more, the Shogun walked to the room's open space and allowed her body to float above the ground. She crossed her graceful legs into a meditative posture. Unlike mortals, however, she crossed only her right leg, letting her left rest upon the right ankle, toes pointing straight down to the floor at a vertical angle. Her entire form sat suspended in the air as though by magic.
This was her usual posture for entering meditation—the same habit she had long used to pass the nights.
[Shogun, won't you go outside for a walk?]
Ei asked.
'Since I have already given my word to stay, it is only right that I keep it.'
Her ethereal voice echoed calmly within the Plane of Euthymia…
Kneeling upon the ground of the Plane of Euthymia, Ei slowly opened her violet eyes. Compared to the Shogun, her expression and gaze carried a gentler touch.
"…That is true."
Her soft, tender voice spread calmly through the space.
...
The next morning, at nine o'clock—
Kairi arrived at a small chapel on the Sighișoara mountain, near Trifas, together with the Saber he had summoned the previous night—Mordred, the rebellious knight, son of King Arthur.
Sighișoara had emerged around the twelfth century, a city whose streets still preserved an extraordinary number of medieval structures. Even across all of Europe, such a sight was rare, making it a perfectly suitable tourist town.
Its geographical position also made it the closest settlement to Trifas. Using it as the Red Faction's base allowed them to both observe Yggdmillennia's movements and avoid being easily detected.
"…"
Standing at the entrance, Kairi observed discreetly beneath his sunglasses. Familiars were already scattered in the corners nearby, but beyond them, no other presence was visible.
"Heh… what an exaggeration."
He muttered, unimpressed, before pushing open the wooden door before him.
Creaaak~!
The long-neglected hinges groaned loudly, the sound echoing through the vast, solemn hall of the church.
At the far end of the hall, a man in black knelt on one knee with his back turned, seemingly in prayer. Kairi was unsurprised—this was the very meeting he had come for.
Knock, knock~
He rapped his knuckles against the pew beside him, producing a deep, muffled sound.
"This was the appointed place. So, you're the one who called me here?"
He asked aloud.
The man opened his eyes and rose to his feet, turning fully to face him.
"…"
Kairi's eyes narrowed faintly beneath his sunglasses as he studied the man.
The other appeared young, handsome in a stern way. His skin was tanned, his hair a spiked gray-white. He wore the black garb of a priest, a golden cross hanging from his neck. With hands folded politely before him, he gazed calmly at Kairi.
"A pleasure to meet you. I am Shirou Kotomine, acting as the supervisor for this Holy Grail War."
The young priest bowed respectfully.
"Kairi Sisigou. I'll skip the self-introduction—since you already know."
Kairi responded curtly.
"Yes… of course. That is the supervisor's duty."
The man called Shirou stepped closer, stopping before him, then glanced toward his side.
"And your Servant?"
Hum~!
The next instant, Mordred materialized from spirit form, clad in armor, standing firmly at Kairi's side.
"…Hey!"
Kairi froze for a second before sharply scolding his Servant for acting without permission.
But Mordred simply raised her hand.
"I sense an unpleasant presence. Let me remain like this for now, Master."
"…"
Kairi sighed, then reluctantly gave in.
"Very well, then let me introduce mine."
Shirou smiled faintly and glanced beside him.
Hum~!
From spirit form emerged a woman dressed in black, her style decadent and alluring. A beautiful woman stood revealed.
"!"
Kairi's breath caught in his chest. He had not sensed her presence at all. The concealment of her aura was absolute—an Assassin?
"Hehe… I am the Red Faction's Assassin. My true name is Semiramis. Pleased to meet you, Kairi—whatever it was."
Her lips curved into a mocking smile, her tone dripping with disdain.
"Tch!"
Vrrm!!
Mordred bristled instantly, energy gathering into her blade as she prepared to strike. But Kairi raised a hand, halting her.
"Master?"
"…"
Kairi shook his head.
"Damn it…"
Mordred cursed under her breath.
"Now then… shall we begin with the exchange of information?"
Shirou, unfazed by the tension, simply smiled again and gestured politely toward the pew, inviting Kairi to sit beside him.