Chapter 77

"Jeanne d'Arc?" Rin asked incredulously.

"Fake Jeanne."

"You bastard!!"

"Anyway, I do know a bit about the connection between Emiya and the Einzbern family, but I'm not planning to tell you or Emiya. It's not my business, and I don't want to get involved. Understand?"

"Fine! If you don't want to tell, then don't. It doesn't matter; I'll win in the end anyway!"

Seeing Rin cross her arms with a smug expression, Shinji smiled lightly and changed the subject: "Of course, if you beg me, I can give you some very useful information."

"What information?" Rin glanced at Shinji.

"Beg me."

"Are you that perverted? I won't beg you!"

"It's about the locations of two Servants, other than Saber, Berserker, and Lancer."

"!!!"

Rin stopped in her tracks, eyes wide with disbelief, staring at Shinji.

"It seems you're not very interested in this information, so never mind."

"Wait!!" Rin snapped back to reality and called out to stop Shinji. She gritted her teeth and walked up to him. "How come you, who aren't a Master, know such information?!"

"Oh, don't misunderstand." Shinji waved his hand, realizing her suspicion. "The Matou family doesn't have a Master right now, and Sakura isn't one either. I just happened to come across this information while taking a walk."

"Really?"

"Really."

"Alright then," Rin sighed in relief, then crossed her arms again with a haughty expression. "Anyway, I don't need that information. I'll find out myself eventually."

"Good luck with that."

With that, Shinji waved his hand and started up the slope back home. But...

"Watch out!"

Archer materialized instantly, summoning his twin swords and positioning himself in front of Rin.

"A Servant?" Rin asked, readying herself for battle, holding her breath and scanning the surroundings.

"Whoa, whoa, calm down."

Lancer's voice rang out as he appeared before them, carrying his spear and looking directly at Shinji.

"Lancer?!" Rin exclaimed.

"I said calm down, little lady. I'm here for the blue-haired kid."

"Archer!" Rin called out.

"I told you, I'm here for the blue-haired kid," Lancer said, but then he looked at Rin with interest. "Oh, I see, little lady, you have a thing for this blue-haired kid, don't you?"

"What are you talking about?!" Rin's face turned red, shouting vehemently.

Lancer put away his spear and shrugged: "Anyway, relax. I'm not going to kill him. My Master has ordered me not to harm him."

"That fake priest sure works fast," Rin said, surprised. "He managed to contact Lancer's Master so quickly..."

"But..." Lancer shifted his gaze back to Shinji, his expression turning mischievous. "I'm still not satisfied. Kid, let me beat you up once, and we'll call it even for tonight. How about that?"

"No." Shinji didn't hesitate for a second. What kind of joke is this? Why should he let himself get beaten for nothing?

"What do you think, Archer's Master?" Lancer asked, turning to Rin. "I won't kill him, just make him lie in bed in pain for a day or two."

"Hey, why are you asking her?" Shinji interjected.

"Hmm..."

Rin pondered, considering Shinji's usual behavior. For some reason, she found the idea quite appealing.

"Alright then," Lancer cracked his knuckles and stretched his neck and arms as he walked toward Shinji. "Consider yourself lucky, kid. You're the only one who's insulted me and still lived."

"Wait, I haven't agreed—"

Before Rin could finish speaking, Lancer blurred into motion, charging at Shinji!

Boom!!!

The loud explosion of smoke enveloped both Shinji and Lancer. Rin panicked, shouting, "I thought you were just going to rough him up a bit?!"

"Calm down, Rin. It's not what you think," Archer reassured her. "Look."

"What?" Rin asked in confusion, but when the smoke cleared, the sight stunned her.

Shinji stood there, hands in a martial arts stance, while Lancer was the one lying on the ground.

"No... way..."

"I forgot to mention, I used to be very interested in Chinese martial arts. I never thought I'd get to use it someday. Martial arts... Tai Chi!"

Shinji smiled, and with a quick backflip, he dodged Lancer's rising whip kick!

"How about we call it a draw?" Shinji suggested as he landed.

"Don't joke around! I admit I underestimated you. I didn't expect to meet such a fighter nowadays. Looks like it wasn't pure luck you avoided me so many times. But how did you train to surpass the human limits of this era? Well, in that case, I'll show you some of my true skills!"

"Surpass human limits of this era?" Rin muttered, staring at Shinji in disbelief.

"Alright then, I'll exploit your weakness, Lancer!" Shinji pointed at Lancer.

"You know my weakness?" Lancer laughed.

"I saw it immediately," Shinji chuckled, reaching into his pocket. "Your weakness is..."

"No tricks! I won't let my guard down this time!"

As Lancer shouted, he charged at Shinji again, so fast he left only afterimages!

"Women and booze!!"

"Pfft!!" Rin nearly choked. "What kind of weakness is that?!"

To her surprise, Lancer stopped in his tracks in front of Shinji, his eyes wide.

"You're pretty sharp, kid. You figured it out!"

"It worked?!"

Rin was dumbfounded, watching as Shinji and Lancer turned their backs and began whispering to each other. Midway, Lancer accepted something from Shinji.

Though she was a bit far, Rin could barely make out their words: "Are there really a lot of pretty girls and good wine?" and "Plenty of wine and women, but remember to dress casually and don't cause trouble."

Suddenly, the two started laughing and patting each other's backs.

"Hahaha, you're the first guy I've met in this era who matches my vibes. Don't worry, from now on, I've got your back!"

Watching Lancer, who was patting Shinji's shoulder and laughing heartily, several black lines formed on Rin's forehead.

"After all, we are men." Shinji chuckled, bumping fists with Lancer.

Seeing the two of them getting along so well, almost like brothers, Rin finally couldn't hold back her comment.

"Wait a minute! Weren't you about to fight just now?!"

"Maybe it's what they call 'fighting brings understanding,'" Shinji replied.

"Exactly," Lancer agreed, his face full of camaraderie.

"That's not what I meant at all!"

"Well, I'm off. See you, buddy!"

"Have a good night, bro!"

Watching the two men casually calling each other brothers, Rin was too exasperated to even comment.

Men have always been pigs since ancient times!