Chapter 77: Sigma: My Struggle
The date is the second day of the Holy Grail War. The time is high noon.
While Shirou's objective had certainly been achieved, that begs the question: in the time between early morning and now, where did Sigma go?
The answer is: unknown.
It was impossible for Shirou to investigate what someone not in the same district was doing, so he was unclear. If one could peer into the perspective of others, that would belong to the realm of Retrocognition or Clairvoyance. Or, more simply, there would need to be a whale floating in the sky acting as a surveillance camera.
That would be too bizarre, even for this.
However, Shirou did indeed pay considerable attention to that black-haired youth with the faint presence. It was as if he had gained a younger brother who was a constant source of worry.
Shirou had his contact information; if he was curious about how he was doing, he could just ask the person directly. It wasn't entirely out of curiosity, either; Shirou wasn't slacking off—he was discussing serious, official business.
In Sigma's remote location, there shouldn't be any Servants visiting, so he was likely having a very relaxing time.
Let's check in on Sigma now.
While walking home, Shirou divided his attention to check the screen—but the other party didn't seem to have replied. Naturally, he didn't encounter that "Einzbern who isn't an Einzbern" again along the way.
Just as Shirou thought there would be no reply before he reached the hotel, the phone in his pocket suddenly vibrated.
[Sigma: Sorry, I didn't see the message just now. Regarding the proposal, I have no objections. Normally I could meet you. But today is likely impossible. High probability of impossible. Something very inconvenient has come up.]
After a moment, as if hesitating, deleting and retyping repeatedly, another message arrived.
[Sigma: How is your situation today?]
It seemed like a very clumsy social courtesy. Shirou paused silently, typing a reply with a hint of amusement.
[Shirou: Things are good today, though I can't say for sure about two days from now.]
[Shirou: Since that's the case, I must have disturbed you. I originally wanted to integrate your intel in exchange for ours. But since you don't have time, handle your side first; I'll solve things on my end myself.]
[Shirou: Take care, stay safe.]
Having said what he wanted to say, Shirou intended to set the matter aside. This was email correspondence, not an actual phone call. But before he could put the screen down, the phone suddenly began to vibrate again, feeling as if someone had grabbed Shirou's hand in the final 0.1 seconds before he turned away.
It seemed he didn't actually want Shirou to leave.
[Sigma: Aren't you going to ask me what the inconvenient thing is?]
[Shirou: Did you find some old movie discs in your room and want to watch them, or did Faldeus force some troublesome business on you again? While I'm guessing, please make sure nobody dies, otherwise I'll have to run over there right now and beg you not to go.]
Shirou cracked a casual joke.
[Sigma: ...]
Sigma appeared to fall into a visibly palpable silence. Finally, he confessed in a tone of surrender:
[Two Heroic Spirits are currently next to me, occupying this house to hold a discussion meeting. I want to know what I should do right now.]
Mhm, mhm, two Heroic Spirits holding a meeting in your house, I see... wait, hold on a second.
Heroic Spirits? Two? I beg your pardon?
Caught off guard by this long-range attack, a utility pole provided a perfectly timed assist; Shirou dodged it just before crashing into its capture radius.
"..."
Shirou wiped his forehead, which would have felt a physical impact if he had been a beat slower.
He had been busy solving the issues of one faction, and the moment he took his eye off Sigma, how did Sigma—who was supposed to be on "auto-explore" mode—suddenly link up with two Heroic Spirits?
So there really were bored Heroic Spirits just wandering around the uninhabited marshlands? And two of them? Is there some magical charm to the marsh? Does everyone prefer sleeping in a swamp over a perfectly good hotel?
He couldn't wrap his head around it.
In any case, Sigma had sent Shirou a distress signal: "Q: What do I do when Heroic Spirits are holding a meeting next to me?" Doing his best to calm his mind for this, Shirou ran the situation through his head with the intent to help Sigma out.
[Shirou: First, describe the beginning and end of the events.]
Dividing the situation into the classic structure of Introduction, Development, Twist, and Conclusion, the following seemed to be the "Introduction."
[It happened this morning. After I got up to wash, while I was talking to myself, I suddenly saw a figure dressed in black standing before me. I didn't notice her existence until she actively looked over; her presence appeared abruptly in my field of vision.]
No problem up to that point. Next was the "Development."
[This black-robed woman began asking if I was a Master, and in the rush, made me answer my purpose for being a Master. She probably thought I was answering too slowly, so she took restrictive action first, turning her hair into steel wires that flew through the room. I was nearly hit; I only escaped by throwing a flashbang.]
"Hm?"
Shirou felt like he had an impression of a person fitting that description.
[Does she wear a veil or a hood, covered entirely in tattered black robes, and uses hair as a weapon?]
[Does she radiate a chill when angry, possess immense speed, and has a presence that is completely undetectable until she reveals herself?]
[Sigma: Yes.]
?
Isn't that my enemy!?
[Sigma: Did you think of something?]
[Shirou: Nothing, keep going.]
Next was the "Twist."
[After jumping out the window, I fled northwest, but I stopped because I saw a girl; I originally wanted her to escape. But as I was preparing to guide her away, I ran right into a swordsman with lion-like blonde hair mixed with red, who blocked me.]
"Eh?"
Lion-like blonde hair with a streak of crimson. If Shirou guessed correctly, there was probably a girl who never left his side.
[Is the Heroic Spirit a tall, cheerful man, very good at conversation, with a certain sense of 'heat' about him?]
[Is the girl who calls herself Ayaka someone with dyed short blonde hair who, like you, has no competitive spirit?]
[Sigma: ...Am I really that faint?]
??
Isn't that my teammate!?
His fingertips began to twitch uncontrollably. Before Shirou could decide what to write, Sigma sent the final "Conclusion."
[After the blonde Heroic Spirit and the female Assassin met, they caught me in the middle. The blonde Heroic Spirit talked the female Assassin down. I made an effective proposal while they were discussing, and it turned into a situation where they are using this house as a base and brought me along for their discussion.]
Shirou stood in place and pondered for a long time. Like a cat floating in the cosmos. Finally, he simplified all the erupting and vanishing thoughts into a single sentence full of concern.
[Shirou: How on earth did you survive such a chaotic situation?]
[..]
In reality, Sigma didn't send those characters, but Shirou felt as if the screen was constantly flashing ellipses. After a long while, the other side silently sent a single word.
[Sigma: Struggle.]
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