C507

Once he'd sorted things out with Astolfo, he stepped out of the castle. Saber was already there, having waited for a while. Jeanne was quick to join them.

Jeanne looked at Saber and said, "You know, you look a lot like me, Saber. I thought my mother might have had another daughter."

"It's quite common to have similar faces," Saber remarked with a slight smile. "Please don't worry about it. I've been mistaken for someone else before, and it can be quite a hassle."

"I see, that's quite unlucky then," Jeanne laughed softly, her smile warm. She then introduced herself, "I'm a Ruler, so I don't hide my True Name. Just call me Jeanne."

Saber's smile abruptly stiffened. "Can I be blunt? Do you know someone named Gilles de Rais?"

Jeanne nodded with a hint of pride. "Yes, Gilles was a charismatic and highly competent general in his time."

Saber's face turned even more stiff, memories flooding back. She couldn't shake off the memories of the Holy Grail War where she was constantly haunted by that figure with those large, intense eyes.

— Jeanne, Jeanne...

That voice from the last Grail War echoed in her mind, always calling out to her. Could this woman before her be the reason for those misfortune?

Jeanne, sensing the change, asked with a puzzled look, "Is everything okay, Saber?"

Saber hesitated for a moment, then replied, "It's nothing. It's just... unexpected to run into a Heroic Spirit who had once stood against my kingdom. It brings back memories."

Jeanne gave a light laugh. "I understand. Actually, meeting King Arthur stirs up some emotions for me too."

"Oh? Why's that?" Saber tilted her head curiously.

"Because I met my end being burned at the stake in front of the statue of King Arthur," Jeanne said with a hint of distress. "It's quite embarrassing to think about."

Saber looked thoughtful. "Based on what you've said, that statue couldn't have been of me. In my time, and even in the present day in Britain, there aren't any statues of me. In fact, during my reign, neither the citizens nor the nobles made statues in my honor."

"Yes, they referred to him as Eternal King. Are you familiar with that name, Saber?"

Saber's eyes showed a hint of recognition. "I've come across mentions of him. He's like an alternate version of me who managed to achieve the very wish I desired."

Shirou: "..."

Jeanne, noticing the change in his expression, turned to him with a puzzled look. "Assassin, what's wrong? You've been wearing this odd expression."

He shifted uncomfortably, "Oh, uh... don't mind me. Just... lost in thought. Carry on with your conversation."

He couldn't help but wonder how he should react in such situation.

...

While walking through the city streets of Trifas, Saber kept a vigilant eye out for any suspicious activity, specifically signs of other Servants who might have entered the area.

Shirou felt somewhat out of place in his role. Typically, those of the Assassin class came with Innate Skills that made tasks like this easier, including specialized detection skills. To make matters worse, his [Presence Concealment], a Class Skill that allowed Assassins to hide their presence, was barely functional at a D- rank. For all intents and purposes, he was an Assassin who was suck at being stealthy.

But what he lacked in stealth, he made up for with his [All the World's Evil]. It served as a unique reconnaissance tool. The malice emanating from Servants had a certain resonance that was distinct from that of ordinary people. And he could pick up on this difference quite well.

Unless the Servant was completely void of any kind of malice like King Solomon, or was purely virtuous, they couldn't hide from his evil detection.

It was a fact that genuinely virtuous Servants were quite rare. Even figures revered as saints, such as Jeanne, or paragons of purity like Saber, harbored some degree of malice that he could sense or even absorb. This skill was the very reason he sensed Karna's presence even before Jeanne did.

Saber turned to him with a serious expression. "Any leads yet?"

He simply shook his head. "Nothing so far."

The two of them continued their patrol through the streets.

Trifas was a small city in Romania. The residents lived peacefully, seemingly unaware of the imminent otherworldly war.

This unassuming city was on the brink of hosting a clash between legendary killers.

As Shirou and Saber patrolled the streets, Jeanne, true to her word, was simply exploring the modern metropolis. 

She didn't accompany them but was looking around like a country girl visiting the city for the first time, frequently expressing her astonishment. 

Neither Shirou nor Saber said anything about it.

Being a Ruler, Jeanne wasn't tied to the Black Faction, which meant they didn't have the authority to dictate her actions.

Moreover, even if she was, neither Shirou nor Saber would have taken it upon themselves to tell her what to do. Both of them were known for their respectful and understanding nature.

"This area seems clear," Shirou remarked after they finished combing through Trifas' second commercial street.

Yet Saber seemed distracted. Instead of responding to his comment, she made noncommittal sounds like "Mm-hmm... Uh-huh..." and wasn't looking at him. Instead, she was intently gazing in another direction.

Curious, he traced her gaze to its source and spotted a fast-food restaurant.

Saber looked absolutely captivated, almost entranced by it.

Undoubtedly, she was probably hungry again.

It seems like no matter which version of Artoria it is, they're generally reliable, but when it comes to delicious food, they become somewhat unpredictable.

The situation was amusingly inevitable.

"Um, Assassin," Saber began, a bit sheepishly, "Do you happen to have any money on you?"

He nodded.

"Could you please lend me some?" She asked hesitantly.

He chuckled, "No need to borrow. I'm also hungry."

Walking into the fast-food joint, he ordered a sizable amount of burgers. Exiting with a hefty bag in hand, he drew curious glances from bystanders. He pulled out a single burger for himself and then passed the entire bag to Saber.

She looked a bit sheepish. "I'm sorry; I get hungry pretty quickly."

With a chuckle, he responded, "I've noticed. Don't worry about it."

They found a spot in Trifas city's central park and settled down for a meal. Saber unwrapped a burger, and as she took her first bite, a look of sheer joy lit up her face.

Seated against a statue, Shirou savored his burger, his eyes trained on Saber's joyful expression.

Such a sight... He realized he hadn't seen that kind of pure, unbridled happiness on the face of his own Artie. In fact, he was sure he hadn't seen it, ever.

Back in Camelot, right from the start to its eventual end, his Artie was always involved in countless trials and tribulations. She never had the chance to experience a genuine, happy moment while savoring a simple meal.

After the chaos in Cornwall, they had faced Vortigern in a war. Following that, Crimson Moon had taken its revenge on her.

Now, as he saw Saber's simple and innocent smile, his guilt towards his own Artie deepened.

Setting her half-eaten burger aside, Saber looked intently at him. "Assassin," she began, "In your world, are you close with the 'me' from there? Are you her knight?"

"Why do you ask?"

Saber paused, choosing her words, "Your attitude towards me is a bit overly intimate. There's a certain familiarity in the way you interact with me, as if... as if we've known each other for a long time."

He chuckled, "Maybe it's because you're both echoes of the same souls in different universes? Yes, in my world, I do share a connection with another version of you."

Intrigued, Saber leaned forward slightly, "What is the 'me' in your world like?"

After pondering for a moment, he came up with an odd yet fitting description, "One who would hurt herself."

Saber blinked in confusion. What kind of description was that?

However, given how sincere Assassin's expression was, she deduced that maybe in his world, he had been a loyal knight, or perhaps even more, to her other self.

There was a moment of silence before Saber met his gaze with a serious expression. "Assassin, although I don't know the exact nature of your relationship with the 'me' from your world, I must obtain the Holy Grail. So when the faction war ends, I will not show mercy to you."

Looking at the hamburger in her hand, Saber earnestly added, "I will not be swayed by your food."

"Don't worry, I'm not trying to win over King Arthur with burgers. Once the faction war is over, we'll have a real test of our abilities," Shirou said with a smile. "Now, finish your meal quickly. There are still several unexplored areas to cover in the east."

Saber nodded, taking another bite of her burger, a satisfied smile playing on her lips.

This time, she felt that luck was on her side.

In comparison to her previous summoning experiences, her current situation felt more favorable. Whether it was her enemies, allies, or her Master, everyone seemed more reasonable and understanding.