C508

Shirou was a dependable person. At least, he thought of himself as reliable, prioritizing the task at hand above all else.

However, as they made their way past a harp store on the bustling commercial street in the eastern district, he couldn't help but stop in his tracks.

"What's wrong, Assassin?" Saber asked, noticing his sudden stop.

"No... it's nothing."

Shirou shook his head, but his eyes lingered on the harp, particularly the one showcased in the second window, the third instrument from the top.

The soul of a great musician within him told him it was a fine instrument.

It made it hard for him to suppress the musical aura emanating from the depths of his soul.

Shirou had always believed he was a gifted musician. Before his transmigration, he had practiced several instruments, among which he felt the most connection with the harp.

During the time in Camelot, when he strummed the harp, even the melancholic knight Tristan would break into joyful dances with a broad smile on his face.

He wasn't boasting, but among his talents, he believed his gift for music surpassed everything.

But life in Camelot was busy, filled with administrative tasks that left him with barely any time to play. When he returned to the present day, adjusting to the modern era took precedence, and he seldom played music.

Of course, the most crucial point was that he hadn't found a harp that suited him. For a musician, finding the right instrument was just as vital as a swordsman finding their perfect blade.

Only with a compatible instrument can one truly showcase their potential. Without the right harp, it was better not to play at all – or so Shirou believed.

Yet he had never found such an instrument. But now, his musician's soul told him that this harp in front of him was undoubtedly the right fit. It called out to him. Deep down, he just knew this was the one.

As for why? It was because he was struggling to resist the urge to play a tune on it.

"Are you alright, Assassin?" Saber asked with a furrowed brow.

"Ah... yes, I'm fine, Saber." He shook his head, his gaze returning to the harp, "I just..."

Before he could finish, his brow knitted, and the softness in his eyes vanished, replaced by a sharp intensity.

Saber felt it too. The atmosphere changed, and her face became more serious.

"I have a bad feeling... Did you sense something, Assassin?" she asked.

He tapped the ground with his foot, "Underground."

Even with the harp grabbing his attention, he couldn't ignore the surge of malice he felt through his Noble Phantasm. It was coming from below.

It had to be a Servant, sneaking around Trifas city.

Taking a moment, Shirou closed his eyes, trying to pin down the source. When he looked back at Saber, he was sure. "It's coming from the southeast underground."

Without hesitation, Saber bolted in that direction.

He was right on her heels.

Trifas City might be a bit behind the times with older city infrastructure, but it still had its share of underground parking spaces.

To the southeast, there sat an old, forgotten underground parking garage. It looked like the city hadn't gotten around to renovating this place. Overgrown plants almost hid its entrance.

Without hesitation, they plunged right in.

The parking garage was a graveyard of old cars, left to rot and gather dust. Their windows and doors were caked in it, with hand-drawn patterns etched into the grime, probably the work of idle hands or mischievous kids passing through.

"Over there!"

Saber's intuition pointed her in a direction, and she sped off.

He was hot on her trail.

Then a "Clink—"

The unmistakable sound of metal striking metal rang out, amplifying the creepy vibes of the desolate space.

Both Shirou and Saber shot each other a quick look before heading towards the scene. What they found left them stunned.

There stood Jeanne d'Arc, sliding her sword back into its sheath.

At her feet was a skeletal figure.

Jeanne, looking just as surprised to see them, turned and said, "Why are you two here?"

Saber's eyes shifted to him, silently asking the question they were both thinking.

Scanning the area with his senses, he finally said, "I don't feel anything unusual now."

Saber turned her attention back to Jeanne and asked, "Ruler, what happened?"

"You mean this skeleton?" Jeanne pointed to the scattered remains in front of her.

Saber nodded in response.

Jeanne looked clearly upset as she explained, "I was approached by a woman saying she was a devout believer. She told me about a gathering and wanted me to join. But when she brought me here, I was ambushed by this creature. Not a single believer in sight."

Saber raised an eyebrow, "And where is this woman now?"

"I don't know." Jeanne shook her head in frustration. "She disappeared. She brought me here and then vanished."

Shirou looked ahead and saw a dead-end, a sealed wall blocking the way.

Saber wasn't entirely convinced, but she nodded and said, "I understand. However, please refrain from engaging in matters unrelated to your role as Ruler."

Confused and slightly irritated, Jeanne asked, "Why do both you and Lancer always assume I'll do something unnecessary? I wouldn't have gotten involved if this creature hadn't attacked me."

"I didn't mean to doubt you," Saber said apologetically. "I just wanted to emphasize the point."

Jeanne smiled, "It's okay. I understand where you're coming from, just as Assassin said. It's natural for you to worry since I have no desire for the Holy Grail. I've been a leader before, so I understand and respect your sentiments."

Shirou approached the skeleton that Jeanne had defeated and took a closer look.

"Did you find anything, Assassin?"

"Seems like a familiar, most likely from the Red side." He shifted his gaze to Jeanne, "The woman Ruler mentioned is the real puzzle here."

He paused briefly before continuing, "In any case, we should return and inform Lancer about this. As the leader of our faction, he should naturally be kept informed. Let him make the decision."

Saber nodded in approval.

Even though both Shirou and Saber were kings, the Black faction was currently led by Vlad III. Neither Shirou nor Saber had any intention of competing for leadership.

After leaving the dim confines of the parking garage, the daylight felt refreshing.

It was still early, and Jeanne wanted to take a leisurely stroll through Trifas for a while. However, Saber was eager to head back to the Castle and share the information with Lancer. But before that, Shirou had his heart set on visiting the harp store and buying the harp he'd spotted earlier.

Even though Saber was keen on relaying the information first, there wasn't any urgency, so she accompanied him to the harp store.

"I have to admit, I never took you for the artistic type, Assassin." Saber remarked with a smile.

"I don't think of myself as an artist, just someone who appreciates good music."

Stopping briefly, a gleam of pride flashed in his eyes as he said, "Not to boast, but I've made quite an accomplishment in music."

"Oh? When you say that, it reminds me of my knight, Tristan. Among those I know, he's the most accomplished in music," Saber replied with a laugh.

"Tristan? I once had a musical competition with him. He was so enchanted by my music that he danced joyfully upon hearing it."

Saber's eyes widened, disbelief painted on her face, "Is... Is that true? He danced joyfully to your music?"

He nodded, his typically calm expression now replaced with a proud one, "If there's an opportunity, I'll play for you."

"I'd be honored."

Soon, they found themselves at the harp store's entrance.

Eager to make his purchase, he was taken aback when the shopkeeper informed him, "I'm sorry, sir. A lady came in earlier and bought that harp."

"It's... already been bought?"

His eyes widened in disbelief, and he walked out of the store, visibly deflated.

Saber asked, "Can't you pick one of the other harps?"

"It's more than just picking another harp, Saber. For a musician, finding the right instrument is like finding a part of yourself. Without the right one, it just doesn't feel right." He explained, visibly saddened.

"That's truly unfortunate. I was looking forward to hearing your music, Assassin." she lamented.

"It's okay. If the chance comes up, I'll perform for you," he replied with a smile. "But for now, let's fill in Lancer on what we found."

Saber nodded in agreement.

However, despite his attempt to appear cheerful, there was no denying that he was feeling pretty down.

Out of the countless harps, that one had struck a chord with him.

From the moment he'd laid eyes on it, he felt a connection so deep, he'd even given it a name in his mind.

But now, someone else had it. Some unknown woman had snatched away what felt like his destiny.

He should have bought it first before investigating the underground garage.

Shirou thought to himself, feeling quite upset.

...

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