Forest assassin

[Shirou POV]

"There's nothing here..."

"Seems like it."

"What on earth is going on? No enemies, no cards... It's like a husk."

We were walking through a forest. We had come again today to collect the cards, and jumped into the Mirror World. Then we found ourselves in a dense forest. Moreover, the space was narrower than the last time, and the ceiling was lower.

"Did we get the location wrong?"

"No way. That's impossible. The Mirror World is just a boundary of the world... something that doesn't exist spatially. As long as it exists like this, there must be a cause card somewhere. Everyone, stay alert."

In response to Illya's question, Tohsaka answers and urges everyone to be careful. I, a novice in magic, and Illya can't fully understand the explanation about the Mirror World, but Luvia nods and Ruby and the others don't say anything, so I guess that's how it is.

"Hey, hasn't the space gotten narrower than before?"

"Of course it has. We're collecting the cards, which are the cause of the distortion. The more cards we collect, the less the space distorts. We have to collect all the cards for that reason."

"If we leave this distortion alone, this city of Fuyuki will become dangerous."

"I see. I didn't really understand before, but this is important."

When I asked about the narrowness of space, that was the answer I got. So if we don't collect the cards, even unrelated people like Sella and Liz could be in danger. Upon hearing that, I suddenly become motivated. I've got to work hard.

"By the way, it was a few kilometers square at first."

"You mean... Tohsaka and Luvia, weren't you doing it from the beginning?"

"There was a predecessor before us."

"Huh."

I wonder why this predecessor stopped halfway. I asked about it, but the answer was nothing more than organizational circumstances. Well, there must be a limit to what they can tell an outsider like me.

"We'll just have to walk and search, won't we?"

"Hmm, how plain..."

As we were talking about this, Illya, who was seriously searching for the cards, began to think about the search method. In response to this, Ruby voiced her dissatisfaction. In response to her voice, I also look around. This isn't like this forest at all.

Ruby:『As for me, I'd prefer a more magical girl-like approach... for example, firing flashy magic cannons and turning the entire area into a scorched earth, that kind of lyrical and magical search method...』

"...That's not a search, that's destruction."

As I was thinking this, Ruby came out with something off-target and dangerous. It was stupid of me to expect reasonable thinking from this stick. Along with Illya, I glare at Ruby. It's not like a magical girl.

Tohsaka and the others had no intention of dealing with Ruby from the start, and they started walking with a disgusted look on their faces. As we were about to follow them, I felt a strange prickling sensation at the back of my neck and turned around.

"What's wrong, brother?"

"...No..."

I look around again, but there's nothing there. Was it just my imagination? With the forest so deep, it's hard to tell. Thanks to Archer's card, the darkness of the night is not a problem, but there are too many obstacles.

"It seems like nothing. Let's catch up with Tohsaka and the others."

"Yeah..."

As I let my guard down and call out to Illya, that's when it happened. At the same time as Illya replied, I heard a short sound like something cutting through the air. A black shadow crossed my field of vision. It was flying towards Illya's neck.

"Illya! Gah..."

"Eh...?"

As soon as I sensed it, I had thrust my right hand between the shadow and Illya's neck. The moment after that, a sharp pain ran through my right hand. When I looked, it was an eerie dagger that seemed to melt into the darkness. It was stuck in there.

"Onii-chan!"

"What happened, Emiya-kun?!"

Hearing Illya's scream, Rin and the others who were slightly ahead of us noticed and rushed over. I removed the black dagger from my right hand and discarded it, alerting the three of them to the enemy attack, a quiet anger simmering in my heart. It was targeting Illya...

"There's an enemy attack. It's nearby, be careful."

Even at the moment of attack, I didn't feel any signs or murderous intent. But now, I was able to detect them. Apparently, it can't hide its presence after the attack. Everyone's gaze was simultaneously directed towards its existence.

"Miyu!"

"[Cannon Shoot]!"

Towards it hiding behind the trees, Miyu's magic cannon, instructed by Luvia, flew. The magic cannon surged forward, mowing down the trees in a straight line. It seemed to have accurately shot through its existence. However...

"... It's gone."

As Miyu murmured, it was indeed gone. Apparently, it managed to erase its presence and dodge at the moment of impact. This is a troublesome enemy. Although its attack power doesn't seem to be much, there's absolutely no trace of it.

"Onii-chan, your blood..."

"It's fine. It's nothing serious. Look."

I waved my right hand to assure Illya, who was turning pale with worry. Although there was pain, I could move it without any issues. Illya's face relaxed a bit, but she still looked concerned.

"Onii-chan, you protected me..."

"If Illya is safe, then it's good for me."

It was my honest feeling. This kind of wound is no big deal. While stroking Illya's head as she was on the verge of tears, I wore a smile. However, the current situation is too unpredictable. We don't know the enemy's identity or location.

"Form a square! Keep an eye on all directions!"

Rin's instruction flies. Following her voice, we all stood back to back. In this way, we can deal with an attack from any direction. As usual, I conjured the black and white twin swords, preparing for a surprise attack.

"A sneak attack, how underhanded!"

"We didn't feel anything until we were attacked! Moreover, it's completely aiming for vital spots. Don't let your guard down! If we're unlucky, it could be instant death! Judging from this method of attack, the enemy's class is definitely Assassin. Troublesome."

"Instant... death?"

Rin said it so casually. Hearing her words, Illya let out a trembling voice. She seems to be frightened by the sudden reality she's faced with. I gently squeeze Illya's hand beside me, trying to alleviate her fear.

We formed a square, wary of the enemy's surprise attack. Rin's instructions were accurate and optimal. However, it was meaningless. The enemy, judging that it would be impossible to ambush us while we're in this formation, made its next move.

"Huh?!"

The previously vanished presence reappeared. But this time, it wasn't just one. Enemies, enemies, enemies appeared all around us, from the shadow of the trees, from the branches above, and from the bushes. All of them wore the same outfit.

Dressed in black with skull-shaped masks covering their faces, their total number was easily over fifty. We were completely surrounded. No matter what, we're significantly outnumbered. Is this even possible!?

"No way, an army..."

"What a scam..."

Rin and Luvia also let out astonished voices. That's expected. Until now, all of our enemies had been solo. The Caster and Saber attacked at different times, but each was still a single entity per card.

However, these guys are different. While they all look similar, each one is a different entity. Their bodies are all different. There are small ones, large ones, muscular ones, skinny ones. Even so, they are all the same.

They appeared from one card, as one class. I can tell. Because all of them have the same atmosphere. They all were hiding their presence. In other words, they are all one enemy.

"This is bad, Rin!"

"I know!"

More than fifty enemies, each holding multiple daggers. All of them are aimed at us. If they throw them all at once, there's no way to avoid them. My "Rho Aias: The Seven Rings that Cover the Fiery Heavens" can only protect the front.

"We have to retreat for now! Concentrate firepower on one point and break through the encirclement at once!"

"Don't stop! You'll become a target! Everyone, keep running!"

Rin and Luvia made a quick decision. Clenching their jewels, they started to run at the front. Miyu and Illya followed them, and I was supposed to bring up the rear. However, suddenly, I was overcome with a feeling of weakness and stopped.

"Huh... What is this..."

I couldn't even stand anymore, and I ended up on my knees. Nausea was welling up, and my vision was blurring. Unpleasant sweat gushed out from my whole body, and my thoughts started to fade. The pain in my right hand is increasing. Could this be...

"Onii-chan!?"

Illya's scream echoed in the night forest...

...............…

[Illya POV]

I tried to follow Rin and the others, but turned around at the sound from behind. There, my brother was on his knees, looking in pain. I stopped and ran to him. What was happening?

"Onii-chan, what's wrong!?"

"Illya... don't come back..."

Ruby :『There is a stagnation in the magical energy circulation! Could this possibly be...』

"Wait, what's going on!? We can't stop... Emiya-kun!?"

Rin and the others in front seemed to sense the anomaly as well. I noticed my brother's right hand was stained black. Could it be poison!? It seems that the dagger from earlier was coated with it.

"Ugh..."

Ruby :『We have a problem, Shirou's heroic spirit transformation has been undone! It's because the magical energy circulation has been disrupted!』

"No way!?"

The situation developed beyond my understanding. Brother's body had returned to its original state. The card came out of his body and fell to the ground. In other words, my brother is now a normal human. If he's attacked now...

"Run, Illya, Shirou!"

"Ah..."

By the time I heard Miyu's voice, it was too late. Daggers were being thrown at us all at once. Everything seemed to move slowly. My brother was trying to cover me. He was trying to protect me...

But what would happen to my brother then? He's not even a heroic spirit now, if something like this happens... he could die. My brother could die. At that moment, I heard a sound again within me, as if something had come undone.

...............…

What should I do? What can I do? My thoughts were in disarray, but I desperately tried to think. To find a way out of this situation. If I could deflect all these attacks. For instance, like that black knight deflecting our attacks.

How did he do that? Ah, right. He was releasing powerful magical energy. Oh, didn't Ruby mention something like that a while ago? Something about a magic cannon...

『Unleash a flashy magic cannon and turn the surrounding area into scorched earth...』

Ah, I see–––––––– that makes it simple––––––––

–––––––– This time, I remembered what happened next––––––––

...............…

[Miyu POV]

"Ah... Ah..."

I could only stand dumbfounded at the sight before me, creating a magical barrier with Sapphire. It happened so suddenly that all I could do was to protect Rin Tohsaka and Luvia.

In front of me stood Illya, a look of astonishment on her face. She was at the center of a crater about 10 meters in diameter. But the person who had been there until a moment ago was gone. The person who had been at Illya's side.

"...Onii...-chan...?"

Illya's gaze was directed behind us. I understood the meaning of that gaze because I had seen it. Daggers flying from all directions. Illya at the center. Illya's body shining brightly...

And then, the magic power exploded. The explosion repelled all the daggers flying towards us and wiped out the enemies around us all at once. The enemy's assassin had already vanished, transformed into a card. It was an incredible power.

Someone was at point-blank range of that magical explosion. It was Shirou. Although Illya's last bit of reason, or perhaps Ruby's barrier, had protected him, he couldn't have escaped unscathed. He flew over us.

I looked back hesitantly, and there was Shirou, covered in blood, lying on the ground. His wound from the other day seemed to have reopened, and it was easy to imagine that he was in a dangerous condition. I couldn't believe it, death...

"Shirou...!"

"Emiya-kun!"

"Pull yourself together, you're not dead, are you?!"

"...It's okay. He's not dead yet. But, he's in a pretty bad state..."

"Tohsaka Rin, take out all your jewels! We're going to use healing magic right now!"

"I got it!"

At the words of Luvia and the others, I felt a profound sense of relief. And then, I looked at Illya. I was convinced by the event that just occurred. This was Illya's power. The enormous magical power from the other day, during the "Phantasmal Summon Install", was also Illya's own power.

Illya seemed unable to accept reality. It was understandable. She almost killed her beloved brother. If it were me, I would have reacted the same way.

"...No... I was trying to save Onii-chan... I didn't mean for this..."

"...Illya..."

I couldn't find the words to say to Illya...

...............…

[Illya POV]

It wasn't supposed to be like this. I was only trying to deflect the attack. Not knowing how to control the power, I simply unleashed my magic. In my line of sight, Rin and the others were desperately treating my brother.

Rin and the others were also in bad shape. It seemed that Miyu had protected them with Sapphire, but it wasn't enough. All of this was my doing. Why? How could I have done this?

"...Ah..."

Then, a scene floated in my head. That's right. Something similar happened before. I remembered when I defeated Saber. I transformed like my brother using Miyu's card...

And then I dealt the finishing blow with a reckless attack. That time, it was merely by chance that Miyu and the others weren't harmed. Back then, I was just focused on defeating the enemy. What if Miyu and the others were nearby?

What if my brother was there? Could I have stopped that attack?... Surely, I couldn't. Despite that, I must have carried out that attack to defeat Saber. The scene before me proves that.

"I... I..."

I hate it. I hate it all. I didn't want to be involved in this fight in the first place. I am an ordinary person who has nothing to do with battles like this. I only became a magical girl because Ruby took a liking to me.

I was half playing, half thrilled. But this is the result. Hurting everyone. Hurting my brother. Recklessly doing things. If I keep fighting like this and do something irreversible.

"No..."

"Illya..."

"No more... I can't take it anymoooore!"

"Illya!"

I was scared. Just scared. Of this situation. Of the fact that someone might really die. Of the possibility that I could hurt my friends. Of the chance that I could hurt my brother. And most of all, of myself!

I felt something that had been tense all along suddenly snap. I wanted to run away as quickly as possible. Thinking only about that, I ran off without looking around. When I came to, I was back in the original space.

Ruby:『Illya-san, please calm down!』

"Shut up! Shut up, shut up, shut up!"

I have to go home. I have to go back to my house. Blocking out Ruby's voice, I started running. But this was too slow. If I just keep running, it would take too long. I have to go back quicker!

"This... could it be... spatial transfer!?"

"There... my house! I have to go home..."

Before I knew it, I was in the sky. But that didn't matter. I have to get home quickly. Below my gaze, I could see my house. The moment I thought that, the entrance was right in front of me. I opened the door and rushed in without thinking.

"Illya-san!? What's the matter, why are you in such a hurry..."

"...Sella..."

"Ah, Illya-san."

I threw myself into the chest of Sella, who was standing in front of me. I want to forget everything unpleasant and fall asleep. With such thoughts in mind, my consciousness was swallowed by the darkness. Wishing that everything that happened today was just a dream...

___________________________________

Explanation:

Why didn't they defend with Ruby's barrier? That's because there was a possibility that Ruby's barrier wouldn't be able to defend against poison. The consciousness of the Lesser Grail made that judgment, so they didn't do it.

In reality, if they had done that, they wouldn't have been able to defend against the poison, and both Shirou and Illya would have died.