Chapter 62: Bazett Route?
Emiya Shirou, possessing his past-life memories, was full of disdain for Archer (EMIYA).
Even after regaining those memories, Shirou felt that the idea of becoming a "Hero of Justice" was likely a dead end in the Nasuverse. Whether it was the tragic ends of himself and Emiya Kiritsugu, or Amakusa Shirou Tokisada being targeted by the Counter Force—those who embraced the dream of being a Hero of Justice were all brutally beaten down by reality.
But that didn't mean Emiya Shirou would ever approve of Archer.
This was especially true after Shirou had traveled to the world of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure and completed the journey with the Stardust Crusaders to defeat DIO in Egypt.
Having been unable to resist stopping the tragedies that might occur in the future, Shirou—even if he didn't know whether his altered future would be better or worse than the original ending—firmly believed in one thing:
Compared to the original ending where almost everyone was wiped out, this future he had changed would definitely not be any worse!
In that case, why did Archer believe that the ending where he didn't become a Hero of Justice would be better than the one where he did?
The price of being a Hero of Justice is needing to sacrifice the few to save the many. But the price of not being a Hero of Justice is that neither the many nor the few can be saved!
Why couldn't Archer understand such a simple logic?
However, as Shirou sat there criticizing Archer, he seemed to forget one thing.
This wasn't the world of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. Back in the Nasuverse, speaking in the tone of a prophet only made Tohsaka Rin's clenched fist grow even harder.
This was a threat, right? It had to be a threat!
And along with it came a sense of defiance. What did he mean, "Her Servant could never win against the Einzberns' Servant"?
Granted, in the previous fight, Archer really couldn't keep up with Lancer... but that was mostly because Archer, a long-range shooter, insisted on pulling out two swords to test his melee skills against Lancer.
Archer was Tohsaka Rin's summoned Servant. Even if Archer really was "trash," only she was allowed to call him that.
Just as Rin's mood was souring—having mistaken Lancer for the Einzbern Servant—Shirou's next sentence left her completely dazed.
"As for Lancer's Master? I'm not sure which of Lancer's Masters you're asking about, Tohsaka," Shirou said flatly.
"?"
What did he mean, "which one"? Was there more than one Master for Lancer?
It wasn't just Rin; even Archer was somewhat perplexed. Wasn't Lancer's Master Kotomine Kirei? Who else could it be?
"If you're asking about the Master who originally summoned Lancer, she is currently at the Mages' Association outpost—the ghost mansion that your grandmother transferred to the Association years ago."
Shirou cautioned, "But her current situation can't exactly be described as 'good.'
Shortly after summoning Lancer, she was ambushed by Kotomine Kirei. Her contract with Lancer, along with her Command Spells, were all stolen by him."
"Just like how, during the Fourth Holy Grail War, Kotomine Kirei stole the contract for Archer from your father, Tohsaka Tokiomi."
Kotomine Kirei's reason for not killing Rin and instead teaching her magecraft was likely to derive a twisted sense of pleasure from her. Back then, after successfully backstabbing Tokiomi, he used the relationships between Tokiomi, Tohsaka Aoi, and Matou Kariya to drive Aoi insane.
Now, Tokiomi and Aoi's daughter—Tohsaka Rin—had inherited the very weapon he used to kill her father. Not only did she cherish this "relic," but she even had to say "thank you" to him.
For Kotomine Kirei, this feeling was a hundred times better than wearing fresh underwear on New Year's Day morning!
Because of this, Rin was actually quite safe with such a mastermind nearby. She didn't have to worry about being backstabbed by Kirei like her father was.
But that was the original story. Once Shirou attempted to change the future, would Kotomine Kirei continue to leave Rin alone?
Besides, Shirou had no intention of hiding the truth from Rin.
This was a lot for Rin to take in. Experiencing exactly what Jotaro and the others felt when hearing such spoilers, Rin's brain was instantly occupied by a string of question marks.
"???"
What was going on? Lancer's Master was that fake priest, Kotomine Kirei? And he stole him from another Master via an ambush?!
...No, wait! That wasn't the point. The point was that this business of ambushing and stealing other people's Servants wasn't his first time! The first time he did it was to her father?!
"...Emiya-kun, I admit you've spun a very convincing story. But if you think you can use this tale to drive a wedge between the Tohsaka family and the Kotomine family—who are responsible
for supervising the war—then all I can say is..." Rin finally recovered her composure and said, "You're still too green!"
Was it that she didn't believe him?
Not necessarily. Whether it was womanly intuition or her own experience with Kirei's shady nature, her relationship with him had never been good, let alone trusting.
She said it because the Tohsaka family motto is to always remain elegant. She couldn't simply be led by the nose by a few words from Shirou.
Thus, even if she believed his account in her heart, her attitude toward him lost its initial wariness. Her Bajiquan stance shifted into a cross-armed pose as she remained stubborn: "I'll investigate this information myself..."
"Are you going to the ghost mansion?" Shirou interrupted.
"Eh?"
"I told you, Lancer's original Master is still inside the mansion. Although she was gravely wounded by Kotomine Kirei, as an Enforcer for the Mages' Association," Shirou said, "she has managed to hold on until now through sheer tenacity.
Coincidentally, I happen to know a slightly special 'healing magecraft.' I can not only treat her injuries but also help her take back her contract with Lancer."
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