Chapter 37 Who is Miss Toria?
"As I was saying, we fought alongside Assassin because we were dealing with a certain monster. Personally, I don't dislike that woman, though. We might even have a chance to act together again in the future."
"A monster? Something that happened where we couldn't see... Saber, would you be willing to tell us? We have a need for that information."
The red-haired boy and the golden Saber were conversing amicably. Ayaka, who appeared to be Saber's Master, stood to the side with an expression that suggested her soul had left her body.
The speed at which they turned the page is too fast!
That sword-drawn, tension-filled atmosphere from moments ago seemed to have left no mark on either of them; neither had been truly serious. It was simply in this Saber's nature to be like this, while the red-haired boy seemed remarkably adept at handling such personalities.
'He looks normal enough... but is someone who can adapt to a guy like this Saber really normal?'
"Of course," the golden Saber replied to Shirou's inquiry, spreading his hands to show his willingness. "However, may I ask you two questions first? Please rest assured, there is no hostility involved—I am simply curious."
'I'm curious!' His eyes were practically sparkling.
Shirou pondered for a few seconds, wondering what the questions might be. Unlike his initial impression, this Saber was not an enemy impossible to communicate with. While Shirou could sense dangerous elements within his personality, there was far more straightforward warmth. If the Saber beside him was cool silver, the Saber before him was a brilliant flame.
While Shirou had been busy, it seemed Ayaka and her Saber had experienced many stories of their own. Learning about other perspectives that Shirou's group had never encountered would be highly beneficial for formulating a strategy.
"That's fine with me."
Indeed, from Shirou's perspective, there was no reason to refuse. In fact, if he could take this opportunity to forge a cooperative relationship with this Heroic Spirit, it would be the ideal outcome. After all, the combat power of Shirou's camp wasn't yet overwhelming.
With thirteen Servants in total, they would need to recruit at least four to achieve a seven-to-six ratio to be truly well-equipped. Originally, he had entered the Holy Grail War just wanting to meet the various Masters, but with the abnormal appearance of a Dead Heroic Spirit and Alcides, that original mindset had vanished.
Their firepower was insufficient. Specifically, he wished for two or three more Excaliburs. To that end, he wouldn't even begrudge treating Flat or Sigma to dinner.
Shirou listened intently for the golden Saber's questions, only to hear him say: "I find it a bit strange... do you have no intention of letting the young lady beside you intervene? She is clearly an expert as well."
If that was all, it was fine. It was simply a matter of Shirou being able to handle it alone; there was no need for Saber to step in.
"It is simply that Shirou enjoys acting tough."
But before Shirou could say a word, Saber placed a hand on her hip. Her bell-like voice proactively answered the golden Saber, backstabbing Shirou in an instant. Shirou turned to look at her, and the two exchanged a "friendly" glance.
Everything had been normal before they started chatting, but as the conversation went on, a hint of dissatisfaction had begun to take root in Miss Saber's eyes. In truth, Shirou had silently signaled her to remain quiet before the negotiations began, and it seemed her compromise had finally reached its limit.
[I mean, we already tacitly agreed that I'd handle the talking, right? You don't need to step in, Saber—otherwise, it'll be bad if you're exposed as 'Saber.'] (Whispering)
[That was a unilateral decision on your part, Shirou. I know it might be safer this way, but for you, it is unnecessary. You have shouldered enough alone up until now; it is time for me to take the field.] (Whispering)
[Saber... I know a place that sells red bean cakes. Can I treat you later?]
[? Shirou, you actually intend to bribe me with food? What kind of person do you take me for!]
[...]
[...Shirou?]
Miss Saber was not cooperating; the negotiation was going nowhere. Shirou had no choice but to turn back and face the golden Saber.
Saber, her mouth no longer "sealed," continued to expose him ruthlessly in a matter-of-fact tone: "Allow me to join the negotiation as well. Shirou is the type who dislikes relying on others, so he prefers that I do not act. Please pay it no mind."
Subtly, it was the truth, so Shirou didn't know how to argue back. At this point, he could only pretend he hadn't heard.
"That spirit might be called respectable in another context, befitting a noble name. However, I don't quite understand his occasional lapses in judgment—for instance, whatever possessed him to think I am the sort of person who would abandon her principles for food..."
"COULD—YOU PLEASE HOLD ON A MOMENT!?"
'Like hell I didn't hear that!'
He immediately spun around, reaching out at high speed toward Saber's shoulder. Saber shifted her body and dodged. The way she silently took a defiant stance with a whoosh made one hallucinate a large feline.
Saber seemed determined not to leave the stage, and her words had a bite to them. It appeared her silence until now hadn't been cooperation, but rather self-restraint regarding the default plan of not letting her participate. When she resolved to join the relay, Shirou's attempt to bribe her with food had only irritated her further.
[Saber, where is your composure?]
[There is no issue; this is a disguise.]
[Huh?]
Saber's eyes were deadly serious:
[As long as I am not recognized as a swordsman, it is fine. Providing information of a contrary style can mislead the opponent. Therefore, this is also part of the camouflage.]
Saber's reasoning was perfectly sound. It sounded very composed. Yet, there was a lingering suspicion of her settling a personal score. A hallucination? Shirou couldn't find any concrete evidence, so he finally chose to let go.
Once Saber had successfully joined the fray, the golden Saber said with a brilliant smile: "Young lady, you two really know each other inside and out. This strange way of interacting... forgive me if my guess is rude—but are the two of you a couple?"
Saber's smile froze.
"!?"
No, her entire being went still, like a marionette with its strings cut.
Of course, the golden Saber didn't know Saber's true identity; he merely saw a cute, dignified girl with considerable martial skill, so he asked formally, curiously, and with zero malice. It was roughly equivalent to dropping a heavy bomb into a lake or flying a plane into the Twin Towers.
Faced with such a terrifying surprise attack... Saber's confident aura vanished without a trace.
Should one call it poetic justice, or say she walked right into a finishing move? In any case, a rosy red spread all the way to the tips of Saber's ears.
"Saber, what... did you just say?"
"Hmm, did the meaning not get across? I was asking if, in modern terms, the two of you are a couple. No matter how I observe you, I feel this must be the correct answer."
Perhaps Saber was hoping he would pretend it never happened. But the golden Saber didn't catch her drift and asked again with a smile. Saber was isolated and without help, while the opponent was comparable to a ten-thousand-man army.
Worst of all, as if swept away by the atmosphere, she widened her eyes in a daze and—very slightly, with a movement so small it was almost imperceptible—nodded her head up and down once.
Since the opponent took that as a signal of affirmation, she was beyond saving.
"So, this is the result of volunteering... Uh... yeah... 'Toria'."
Shirou lamented from his safe zone, adding a whispered mutter at the end. To be honest, Shirou's face was also flushed; his forced calm was merely a cover for his own panic.
'Social terrorists are terrifying.'
Saber looked at the golden Saber in disbelief, then at Shirou. She looked like a Great General being relentlessly pursued.
[Who is 'Toria'?]
[It's short for 'Artoria.' Just bear with it, Saber.]
[Fuuuuu...]
What else could Shirou do? Call her Saber? That would expose her! Pendragon? That's a dragon's surname! Miss Artoria? What if someone knows that True Name?
So, the only option was to shorten "Artoria" to "Toria."
The expression on Saber's face was spectacular: three parts the coolness of being betrayed, three parts "how could you" resentment, three parts the shame of wanting to sink into the earth, and one part the resignation of "just let the world end."
Finally, she spoke only one sentence.
[Shirou, mark my words—besides yourself, you are never to let a second person use that nickname!!]
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