Chapter 78: Ours is a Normal Cooperative Relationship
While Shirou was chatting with the Police Department, Sigma had encountered Assassin and was busy sprinting away from a chaotic mess of attack patterns.
When Shirou was shaking hands with the Director to make peace, Sigma was running headlong into a King in eccentric clothing.
By the time Shirou was preparing to head home, Sigma had already been hoisted into the middle of two burly Heroic Spirits and forced into a seated seiza position for a three-way discussion.
The marshland of destiny—what kind of historical landmark is that supposed to be? It's simply inhumane.
[Shirou: You really haven't had it easy...]
He was so "lucky" he felt like the protagonist of a series Shirou had read once. Perhaps he should just be nominated for the role, using his powerful gravitational pull on destiny to blow the Holy Grail War away. If he could handle the Alcides problem in the process, Shirou would be even more grateful.
[Sigma: You're the last person who should be comforting me like that.]
Automatically ignoring this complaint, Shirou continued to ask for details:
[That Heroic Spirit woman didn't try to kill you indiscriminately, did she?]
During the battle with Assassin—the Nameless Assassin—she was basically in a state beyond communication for the first half, but in the second half, dialogue became possible, though neither side could back down for their own reasons. Shirou wasn't sure what Assassin's attitude had been since then.
[Sigma: She had no killing intent. I believe it was just a probe.]
[Sigma: Do you need any more information?]
[Shirou: No, that's enough.]
After careful consideration, Shirou summarized via text:
[Assassin was once my enemy. However, she wasn't quite what my first impression suggested. My experience might not apply to you, so just interact with her normally while remaining vigilant. Saber is my ally; if an emergency arises, just give him my name privately—it should be useful... Miss Ayaka by his side is a good person and can be trusted.]
There was another long interval that felt like a flashing ellipsis.
[Sigma: Okay.]
This interval felt exactly like a silent heroine who had peeked at a male friend's secret and then, hearing him talk about it out loud, didn't know how to open her mouth to address it.
Shirou didn't know where he got all these character tropes, but he began to think. Saber had mentioned he knew Assassin; now it seemed they had actually formed a team. The three parties—Saber's group, Assassin, and Sigma—had met, but Richard and the Nameless Assassin hadn't fought. Instead, under Sigma's efforts, they had started a meeting.
Furthermore, was it a coincidence that Saber and Assassin appeared at Sigma's residence together? Rather than a coincidence, Shirou was more inclined to believe they entered Sigma's house as a group.
However, this made the situation quite delicate.
A, B, and C go out to play together. A and B are close friends, B and C are close friends, but A and C are not necessarily friends. The complexity of modern society was being perfectly exemplified in a very bizarre way.
Even if Shirou met Assassin again, he wouldn't necessarily fight her, but it was hard to say if it would make people want to keep their distance. Shirou didn't explain this specifically to Sigma; instead, he asked tentatively:
[How long will their alliance, and your cooperation with them, last?]
[Sigma: Their relationship is believed to last until the "extermination of the monster." There is no clear deadline for me, but I cannot be sure it can be maintained forever; I can only try my best to stay on good terms.]
'...Extermination of the monster.'
Shirou searched his memory and recalled the "Dead Apostle of the Opera House" he had heard about. That Dead Apostle hadn't given a name to Illya or Sakura, but it matched the keyword search. It clicked.
He had a faint suspicion about it, but Shirou wasn't quite certain yet. Shirou first expressed his thanks to Sigma for providing this information he wasn't obligated to answer, then bought a drink from a vending machine to hydrate his throat.
Just as he took a few sips, the other side of the screen, seemingly having made up his mind after long deliberation, suddenly erupted with a confession that made Shirou choke—and it was a long one.
[Sigma: Actually, I am also a participant in the Holy Grail War. My Servant is named Charlie Chaplin.]
[Sigma: He is Lancer, but he has no combat capability, so I have kept him in spirit form the whole time. I am very sorry.]
[Sigma: You would have found out this information eventually anyway; I judged it best to confess personally now.]
That was the third time.
Next time, Shirou definitely wouldn't drink water while talking to someone.
He had a lot he wanted to say, but feeling both urgent and embarrassed, he confirmed the most vital part first.
[Shirou: Wait a second, True Lancer or False Lancer?]
In fact, based on the summoning times, the "False Lancer" should be Enkidu from Mesopotamian mythology, so Shirou was asking a question he already knew the answer to. Based on Sigma's reply, he could gauge Sigma's level of knowledge regarding this war.
[Sigma: I learned the basic rules of this Holy Grail War when I was hired. It's True Lancer. Please look after me.]
Sigma replied openly, not hiding his level of knowledge.
The problem was that Shirou had actually believed him when he said he wasn't a Master...
'What, have you betrayed me too, Brutus?'
Even a man of clay would be a bit annoyed, but before Shirou actually got angry, he remembered something and asked speculatively:
[So, did you participate in this war because you have a wish to entrust to the Holy Grail?]
The words that came through the phone were devoid of emotion.
[Probably not. I don't understand what kind of wish would be the "correct" one. I only participated because I was hired... at least at the start, I didn't have the mindset of being able to find anything.]
[Alright.]
Shirou breathed a sigh of relief.
Saber was also the type with no real wish. The two of them seemed to differ in the nature of their "lack of a wish," but at least they both stood in a position where they could accept a plan to destroy the Grail. That much was consistent.
As for being so prone to causing worry... who does he take after, anyway?
[Shirou: I won't let you off if you launch a surprise attack like that again, okay?]
After the message was received, the reply came slowly.
[Sigma: If I said I still had things hidden, would you be angry?]
[Shirou: No.]
[Shirou: We are in a cooperative relationship; it's fine if there are things you don't want to say. But this surprise attack really made me choke. Please have some consideration for my heart, I beg you.]
Along with the message, Shirou sent a folded hands emoji ().
As usual, he couldn't see what kind of expression was on the other side of the phone screen. After waiting a moment, the message updated. It was as brief as a puzzle that required expert reading comprehension to solve.
[Sigma: Mhm.]
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