Even Saber was left speechless by this. How rude! To have been treated to a meal, yet not know the host's name...
Ryougi Raku performed a rather aristocratic bow. "My name is Ryougi Raku. Aside from knowing this lady is called Saber, I don't know your name, Madam!" To spare Saber the awkwardness of stating her real name, he directly accepted "Saber" as her identifier and didn't press further, instead addressing Irisviel.
Irisviel hurriedly returned the courtesy. "My name is Irisviel von Einzbern. According to the customs of this country, I should address you as Lord Ryougi, correct?"
"That would sound too strange. Just call me Raku!"
"Is it really alright to address you so familiarly?"
"It's no problem. I treated you to a meal, so we're all friends now, right?" Ryougi Raku smiled cheerfully.
Irisviel smiled happily and didn't dwell on the matter. "Well then, little brother Raku, we'll be leaving soon. You should hurry home too. Your parents will be worried!"
"'Little brother' again!" Ryougi Raku smiled wryly.
"Well, it's been a bit dangerous at night recently. Raku, you'd better stay home and not go out..." Saber reminded Ryougi Raku with concern, worried for her new acquaintance and afraid that innocent people might get drawn into the conflict.
Hearing Saber's concern, Ryougi Raku smiled slightly. Sometimes, winning over a foodie was surprisingly easy...
"Thank you! I'll be careful..." After a pause, Ryougi Raku smiled mysteriously and said meaningfully, "Perhaps... it won't be long before we meet again..."
Ignoring the two women's puzzled expressions, Ryougi Raku raised his left hand in a wave. "Well then, I'll be going first!" With that, he turned and walked towards the other path at the fork in the road.
He was wearing a glove on his left hand, though Ryougi Raku didn't normally have this habit. It was simply to conceal the Command Seal on the back of his hand.
"What an interesting person, and truly kind. The people in Kiritsugu's homeland are very welcoming..." Irisviel remarked to Saber as she waved in the direction Ryougi Raku had departed.
"Indeed! But I can't help feeling there's something a little strange about him..." Saber had felt something was off about Ryougi Raku from the start, but as he had shown no malice during their time together, and despite her wariness, she still held goodwill towards this newly-met "friend".
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Lancer, are you fully prepared?"
"Yes, my Master!"
"Then... let the battle commence!"
…
Night had finally fallen. Though Fuyuki City wasn't large, it was still ablaze with lights, countless colorful neon signs flashing incessantly. For modern people, night signaled the start of life. No matter what, the development and convenience technology offered ordinary humans were beyond the reach of magecraft.
Along the riverbank, the water flowed quietly. Perhaps due to the era or the remote location, the rivers of Fuyuki City remained crystal clear, seemingly untouched by pollution.
Irisviel and Saber stood there, quietly admiring the night scenery, a rare sight for them.
"We had a truly wonderful day today, Saber. Not only did we enjoy ourselves immensely, but we also met a cute little brother who treated us to a meal." Irisviel was in high spirits as she gazed at the glittering cityscape.
Saber seemed to recall something and smiled faintly. "Indeed..."
Then, her expression gradually turned serious. "Iri... No matter what, from now on, the Holy Grail War has begun. We must adjust our mindset!"
Irisviel looked at the solemn Saber and nodded seriously.
The two continued walking, taking in the scenery. Before they knew it, they had crossed the Fuyuki Bridge and arrived at a seaside park.
The cold night wind blew, tousling Irisviel's long silver hair. However, for someone who had long resided in the snowy Einzbern Castle, this slight chill was nothing.
"Is this the ocean? It's so... beautiful!" Irisviel exclaimed, praising the ocean's grandeur and beauty.
"We should have come here at dawn," Saber said apologetically.
"No, the sea at night is beautiful too... Saber, do you like the sea?"
"Well..." Saber smiled wryly. "In my time, for my country... the lands across the sea were where invaders gathered." Staring at the ocean, Saber seemed to see the wars of the past and became lost in thought.
"I'm sorry, Saber. We are both women, yet you are King Arthur..."
"It's alright, Iri," Saber said, shaking her head slightly.
"Iri, would you actually prefer to be sightseeing with Kiritsugu, right?"
In response to Saber's question, Irisviel smiled knowingly. "Being with him... isn't possible. It would remind me of sad things."
Saber was puzzled. "Doesn't Kiritsugu feel happy being with you?"
"No, he would be happy... but he is the kind of person who feels pain because of 'happiness'."
"…"
Saber didn't quite understand, just as she didn't understand Emiya Kiritsugu.
For a moment, the two fell silent, simply gazing at the boundless ocean.
Suddenly, Saber grabbed Irisviel's arm and pulled her behind herself.
"An enemy?" Irisviel asked calmly, showing no trace of fear.
"Yes." Saber looked in a specific direction. "Over there!"
"... He's not approaching; he's leaving. It seems he intends to lure us over!"
Saber relayed the enemy's movements to Irisviel.
"It appears our opponent intends to draw us into taking the initiative. Saber, he is a Servant who, like you, favors a direct confrontation."
Saber nodded in affirmation.
Irisviel looked towards the enemy's direction and declared boldly, "Then let's give him a proper reception!"
"As you wish!" A confident smile curled Saber's lips.
…
Saber walked calmly and steadily towards the enemy's position. Irisviel followed closely behind, secretly pressing the button in her pocket that Emiya Kiritsugu had given her, to be activated when necessary to transmit her precise location.
…
Adjacent to the seaside park was a warehouse district. It was dark and quiet here, with almost no one around at night. The dim lights cast an eerie and strange atmosphere, but it was also an ideal place for a fight.
After turning a corner, a wide open space unfolded before Saber and Irisviel. A figure stood there, emanating an unusual and powerful aura.
He was a remarkably handsome man, with his long hair tied back and a few stray strands framing his face, enhancing his good looks. But what drew the eye even more was the spear in his hand, nearly two meters long!
What made Saber's expression grow even more grave was the fact that the man before her also carried a shorter spear slung across his back, about one-third the length of the long one. These two peculiar weapons defied common sense, but they also indicated that their wielder must possess extraordinary martial prowess.
"Lord Ryougi, someone has finally come. I've been waiting here for a long time, and she is the only one who responded!" Lancer said in a bright and cheerful tone, though the person he addressed was not Saber.
Only then did Saber and Irisviel notice a young man leaning against the wall near a container not far from Lancer. Because he was positioned in a very inconspicuous spot and was of slight build, they hadn't noticed him at first.