Chapter 31 This is Full-Map Vision
Faint cries drifted from the other side.
While there were "tough guys" who bit their tongues and refused to make a sound, the reality was that most people—unable to imagine an arrow could curve from a complete blind spot—screamed pathetically the moment a shaft buried itself in their chest.
Hopefully, those individuals currently lying down in places Shirou couldn't see would take this time to reflect.
Honestly, how could anyone think arrows don't turn?
The bow dissolved into blue ethereal threads and vanished into the wind. Shirou shifted his center of gravity slightly, leaping down light as a feather to land on the ground beneath the wall.
"Problem solved," Shirou said, returning to the previous topic as he looked at Sigma. Sigma was wearing a very complicated expression.
"What's wrong?" Shirou asked, puzzled.
"From the moment you went up to the moment you came down, only three or four seconds passed."
To Sigma, the sight was simply Shirou leaping up, the arrows vanishing at an impossible speed, and then him landing again.
"What's wrong with three or four seconds?"
Shirou had been quite careful; as long as he used 200% of his focus to suppress the destructive power, the safety level remained within an acceptable range.
"No, nothing," Sigma said calmly, then muttered in an indescribable tone, "What on earth is that Faldeus guy doing... picking an enemy like this?"
Though he didn't know who Faldeus was, that guy's plan had clearly gone up in smoke. Furthermore, he had successfully invited the focused attention of Shirou's camp. Two birds, one stone.
Sigma turned his gaze toward Saber.
"Did Emiya just take out all those invisible enemies?"
"Naturally. Though I have studied archery myself, Shirou's marksmanship is far more exquisite than mine. It is at a level where I should be the one asking him for instruction," Saber replied. Not only did she take up the thread, but she also placed a hand over her heart with a strangely enthusiastic look. "Normally this should be my duty, but since I lack long-range means, having to trouble Shirou makes me feel somewhat ashamed."
For some reason, her words also carried a hint of pride.
"Saber, you have... well, never mind."
'You have a noble beam.'
Saber could "partially release" Excalibur to rapidly extend her slashing range, though she rarely did so. Perhaps she was too used to the frugality of war; she was incredibly stingy even with her mana consumption. That said, using a beam in a place like this would likely ruin the entire building opposite them, so it was best not to mention it.
As Shirou and Saber went back and forth, Sigma stood in place watching their conversation.
Captain, Sigma called out in his mind. A voice quickly answered:
"Oho, I'm here. What do you need?"
In essence, "The Captain" belonged to the Heroic Spirit Sigma had summoned—Watcher. He was one of the "Shadows" (Heroic Spirit derivatives) connected to the Master. He and any other forms that might appear later could be generally referred to as "Shadows," though Sigma was used to specific titles. Since entering the city after the summoning, Sigma had realized that these derivatives were only visible to him.
'Are there any left of those units you mentioned? How many people in total?' Sigma asked mentally. With just a thought, the Shadow heard his question.
"Pretty much all of them. A total of 39 people, all taken down. None dead, just neutralized. However, by another standard... you're the only one left."
...So I count as the 40th person.
While holding back, he easily struck down 40 people scattered throughout the surrounding environment without showing a hint of strain. Faldeus's troops stood no chance against this guy. Of course, Master Bazdilot's team was also helpless; though Sigma didn't know the man, the anti-materiel sniper unit he brought had long since collapsed.
Shirou Emiya was no longer within the rank of "Master" as Sigma knew it.
—If one viewed him as a Heroic Spirit, combined with the two Heroic Spirits he brought with him...
—Three Heroic Spirits were enough to turn the Snowfield Holy Grail War into a complete mess. This camp was powerful to such an extent, yet no one had noticed.
Sigma felt a terrifying chill that would have made anyone else's spine tingle. Why had no one else noticed?
"Well, to prevent reinforcements, we'll head out first. Remember to evacuate quickly, too," Shirou admonished Sigma like a nagging mother before turning to leave.
The Saber-class girl smiled and waved goodbye to Sigma alongside him.
Sigma politely waved back and asked internally: Are there really reinforcements?
"Don't even think about it," the Captain snorted disdainfully. "If they hadn't predicted that 'sending people meant none would come back alive if he didn't hold back,' they wouldn't have come up with such an arrangement in the first place."
'I see...'
Sigma could only silently watch the man and woman walk away, still on guard against non-existent reinforcements.
Despite having beaten the real enemies into the dirt, they still thought the opposition couldn't be that weak and were outwitting "air" or "quantum ghosts."
It seemed this kind of comedy was popular in the new era.
Sigma was weak. Very weak. Sigma had no power to protect himself. He had yet to find a hero's resolve. He didn't even know his own desires. From the beginning until now, Sigma had only one special ability—
[Full-Map Vision]
If this Holy Grail War is a stage belonging to someone, then this is the Case File of the fledgling Sigma trying to survive and seeking something beyond mere existence.
"See you later."
That final farewell, as warm as a breeze, reached Sigma once more.
Sigma understood better than any outsider that Shirou Emiya was someone to be feared, but he also understood better than any outsider that Shirou Emiya was not scary. Thus, with a complicated heart, Sigma attempted for the first time an expression of anticipation he was unfamiliar with and responded:
"If there's time later."
Subsequently, the two groups separated, going their own ways, though they might cross paths again at some point in the future. That wasn't bad.
As Sigma thought this, he left the scene.
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While walking down the passage in the opposite direction of Shirou's group, Sigma suddenly remembered something.
"By the way, Captain," Sigma inquired thoughtfully. "That Saber... as I expected, I can't see her True Name. But seeing the way she and Emiya interact, I'm actually a bit curious. Do you know what her True Name is?"
The Shadow snorted, transforming into a cold, information-providing machine, answering patiently without complaint:
"Artoria Pendragon. The answer is for reference only; I am not responsible for errors."
'Is that so?
The surname Pendragon... King Arthur.
You're telling me that the legendary King Arthur was just now acting all lovey-dovey with that Emiya guy? ...Can I post this on the internet?'
CLASS
WATCHER
Master
Sigma
True Name
Unable to confirm under current status
Gender
Legend says female. However, Master (Sigma) disagrees
Height/Weight
Cannot be displayed as the existence itself lacks mass
Alignment
Neutral Good / Lawful Good