Chapter 29 How to Turn an Enemy Into an Ally
"Haah... haah..."
Sigma slumped on the ground, propping himself up with both hands. Even though he shouldn't have exhausted any physical strength while being carried, he looked as though he had been the one riddled with sniper fire.
"We've reached a safe zone."
Shirou glanced back at the grayish-white wall, judging that the gunfire had ceased, and turned his gaze back. He then tapped his right hand against Saber's outstretched hand in a brief high-five of relief.
"Is this the kind of life you two usually lead?"
Sigma had an expression of sheer disbelief.
"The intensity is usually a bit lower than this, though being surrounded and hunted isn't unheard of," Shirou said with a wry smile.
After all, Shirou was constantly interrupting other people's plans, so it was only natural for him to be held in a grudge. However, seeing as he had survived until now, it was clear whether those people had ever succeeded.
"In my case, before the form of warfare changed, though I was never pointed at with a gun, situations where my troops were surrounded were not few," Saber said with a smile.
Having led armies in war, Saber—unable to reveal her True Name to Sigma—spoke vaguely, turning her words into an encrypted language that only Shirou could understand.
"And here I thought my own life was already cold and ruthless..."
The only one who hadn't experienced an attack of this intensity was Sigma. Despite having entered combat earlier than anyone else...
Though he didn't seem to notice, even including himself, there wasn't a single "normal" person at this table.
"Are you okay?"
Shirou reached out a hand to Sigma; Sigma took it and stood up.
"I'm fine... just a bit mentally exhausted." He exhaled, standing there somewhat dazed.
"If you feel dizzy, lean against the wall. Deep breathing in a steady rhythm should help. Though, if your ears are ringing from the gunshots, I'm afraid I'm powerless to help with that."
"I'm not that fragile," the black-haired youth insisted.
Shirou didn't press the matter. Instead, he let his mind detach from the present to review the previous situation. While being ambushed wasn't rare, the opposition this time was clearly
well-prepared, even managing to strike first with a sneak attack. Since they were prepared, it meant Shirou and Saber were being monitored.
The question of how they were being monitored would have to be dealt with later, but for now, he pushed it down the priority list. The primary issue he considered repeatedly was...
"Just who is it that's decided to make a move?"
Shirou suppressed the tightness in his chest and looked up at the eaves, where a drop of water fell. The enemy was in the dark while he was in the light; his information was completely insufficient. Given the current situation, he might truly have to follow Rin's advice: "Soldiers to block the general, earth to stem the flood." Shirou had already steeled himself for this...
"I might know."
But an unexpected voice overrode Shirou's thoughts. The person he had just rescued spoke quietly, his bangs obscuring his face and hiding his eyes behind the messy hair.
"Sigma?"
"The forces sniping you are Masters named Faldeus and Bazdilot. The one who commissioned me is named Francesca. That's everyone."
Sigma finished in one breath and turned his head away. The three names he mentioned were people Shirou had never heard of—critically important intelligence.
While the mounting questions were resolved far too easily, Shirou couldn't feel straightforwardly happy. If anything, he might have had a premonition. Since Sigma knew this information—normally, he would naturally be an associate of the attack, one of the entities who planned it.
"Is it okay for you to tell me this?"
Nevertheless, Shirou chose to ask about Sigma's situation first.
Sigma slumped his shoulders as if he could do nothing with this man.
"It's fine. Faldeus's people shot at me; even if I didn't tell you, I'd have to settle the score with him later. I don't know Bazdilot. And Francesca is the type who either doesn't care or would encourage me to snitch."
—Ah, this person is by default taking the stigma upon himself.
Sigma likely didn't understand why Shirou showed not a single ripple of negative emotion. Shirou was not the type to be swayed by half-baked provocation. If his perception and evaluation of a person could be easily distorted by mere baiting, then the ideal of wanting to be an ally to others would lose its meaning as an aspiration.
Shirou knew very well that Sigma was hiding something important. When they were being fired upon simultaneously, Sigma's genuine expression was so obvious that anyone could see he had no prior knowledge of the ambush. Yet now, he could answer with a complete set of intel.
It felt as though this person had temporarily opened a "Heavenly Eye."
But he was deliberately avoiding letting Shirou think that... to the point of "defaulting" to the role of a co-conspirator who had known about the assassination plan all along.
Shirou didn't know why, but Sigma was simply using that pretext to deliver the information naturally.
"..."
Shirou's tolerance for this pretense of masking kindness as malice reached its limit, and he finally decided to call him out. However, at the very first syllable, Sigma helplessly surrendered, interrupting:
"Just take it as payment. Don't press me on how I know this info, okay?"
Looking at Sigma's self-deprecating, stubborn expression, Shirou understood something and withdrew his words.
"Deal."
Just as he thought at the beginning. Sigma was no simple character. Shirou's Mind's Eye instinctively recognized that this man was capable of doing something unexpected in the right place.
He was not, and should not be, a "Soldier A" born in darkness to die in darkness.
Shirou didn't care if he had other motives. He accepted the help provided with pure gratitude.
"However," Shirou paused. Because of the ridiculous statement he was about to make, his expression became meaningful: "By the logic you just used, Sigma, then perhaps I should ask for payment as well."
Sigma's expression tensed. "To be precise, it's compensation, isn't it?"
Not knowing what Shirou was thinking, Sigma looked away somewhat guiltily. However, if he had noticed Saber, he would have seen a look of resignation that said, "Shirou, you still dare to say you aren't mischievous?"
"Sigma, you shot through my clothes just now. They were fine while dealing with those other guys, but that one shot of yours neatly did this garment in."
Shirou deliberately reached out to poke the hole burned through the edge of his shirt. Sigma looked away in silence, noticing a level of skill he feared he might never reach.
During the sustained combat just now, having endured a literal storm of thousands of bullets, this outer garment made of ordinary textile fibers had remained as pristine as a starting gear
in a video game—it had only turned a bit grayer. If Sigma hadn't caused that conspicuous burn, it would have been perfectly fine; it certainly wasn't at the end of its life yet.
The current situation was delicate. Specifically, the right of interpretation rested with the "victim."
"While I think it wouldn't be out of the question to ask you to treat me to a new one, that would be asking too much in this situation. So, let's change the condition.
The condition is—do you have an email address? I feel uneasy for some reason... Please, give me a way to contact you. I'm counting on you."
It was as if he actually had plenty of opinions and was retaliating against Sigma's roundabout way of speaking. Shirou imitated him perfectly with a dead-serious face, though only the final quiet murmur was sincere as he friendly extended his hand once more.
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