C506

Shirou wandered the Yggdmillennia Clan's castle, taking in every detail.

Apart from Artoria, Astolfo, and Avicebron, he discovered that Hercules was the Berserker of the Black faction. That filled in the last piece of the puzzle for the Black side. But something was different from the 'Fate/Apocrypha' he knew...

Other than Vlad III, Astolfo, and Avicebron, the lineup had changed. He wondered if the Red faction had any changes too. But regardless of those changes, it didn't really matter since the storylines he remembered from 'Fate/Apocrypha' weren't helping that much. Instead, he had relied on his adaptability and his own abilities to make it this far.

He spent a good part of the day exploring the castle, getting a feel for its layout.

Once back in his room, he barely had a moment's rest when Astolfo burst in, saying, "Shirou!"

Shirou propped himself up from the bed. "What's wrong?"

"Lancer's asking for you," Astolfo replied. "Let's go."

"Alright then." he nodded, rising to his feet and trailing behind him.

"Speaking of which," he turned to Astolfo. "You're on a first-name basis with me now?"

Astolfo gave a light-hearted shrug. "Does it matter? We all know each other's real names and we're on the same team. I think it's nice to be a bit more friendly. And hey, if you want, you can call me Asto. Or even Fofo."

"Then why do you still refer to Vlad III as Lancer?"

"Well, Lancer's king, you know? Seems right to give him some respect."

Shirou smiled, pointing to himself, "Last I checked, I'm king too."

Astolfo thought for a moment and then said, "Yeah, but Lancer gives me a very aloof feeling, and his kingly aura makes him a bit hard to approach. On the other hand, you feel more like someone I could grab a drink with."

"So, are you telling me I don't have this kingly aura?"

"No, no, that's not it. I just... I mean..." He stumbled over his words, realizing he might have said too much.

Shirou laughed, "I'm just messing with you. I'm not hung up on that kind of stuff."

Astolfo let out a sigh of relief, "Phew, you had me worried for a second there."

Shirou gave him a reassuring smile, "We may not go way back, but I think we can be a bit more open with each other."

They kept on chatting and having a good time together.

Astolfo found Shirou to be incredibly easygoing and chatty. Talking to him was like a breath of fresh air.

Shirou came across as rational, well-informed, and a great conversationalist. Even though he was a king himself, he didn't carry that distant and icy king-like vibe, unlike someone like Vlad III. Instead, he was full of humor and friendliness, making their conversation feel like a friendly chat. He seemed like the kind of friend Astolfo could easily get along with.

Little did Astolfo know, Shirou struggled to keep his hands to himself as he looked at Astolfo's bouncing pink pigtails.

"Why on earth did I end up with such a bizarre and embarrassing fetish?" Shirou lamented silently.

After thinking it over, no matter how he looked at it, this was Artie's fault.

He couldn't help but think about playing with her hair once he got back. Such thoughts swirled around in his mind.

As they chatted and laughed together, they headed towards the court.

Vlad III was still perched high on his throne, radiating the regal aura of the King of Romania.

Beside the throne, there were two figures.

One was Saber, and the other was Jeanne.

Saber's face was a mix of emotions, especially when she glanced at Jeanne. Her expression became even more complex.

Jeanne felt the same way. It was hard to put into words, but it was as if they were looking at a mirror image of each other.

"You're here, Assassin," Vlad III looked at him.

"Is there something you need from me?"

"Since you've joined our faction, there are some matters where your assistance is required. But first, please wait for a moment."

Vlad III carried himself with the grace of a seasoned leader. He treated kings like peers and had a way of instilling trust and respect in those who served him. The guy knew how to rule.

Vlad III turned his gaze to Jeanne, "Ruler, I assume you've investigated our castle. Did you find any anomalies you were looking for?"

Hearing his question, Jeanne shifted her gaze from Saber back to Vlad III and replied, "Yes, Lancer of Black. I've thoroughly explored your castle, but unfortunately, I haven't found what I was looking for."

"In that case, where do you plan to go? If you're thinking of heading to the Red side, I can arrange an escort for you. But some of them aren't too keen on having you around. Once you're out, you're on your own, and I can't vouch for your safety."

"I know. Would it be acceptable for me to remain with the Black faction a bit longer?"

"As long as you keep a low profile and avoid causing any disruptions, you're welcome to stay until the war concludes," Vlad III responded calmly. "But if you overstep, your presence won't be tolerated."

Jeanne gave a slight smile, "Don't worry, I'll be on my best behavior."

Vlad III gave a nod before shifting his attention back to him. "Assassin, there's a task I'd like for you and Saber to undertake."

"By all means, King of Romania."

"I need both of you to do some scouting in Trifas, keep an eye out for any Red Servants sneaking about."

"But hasn't the Yggdmillennia magi set up a decent amount of surveillance in Trifas already?"

Vlad explained, "They've set some up, sure. But modern magecraft might fall short against Servants with 'Presence Concealment' or those who have unique concealment Noble Phantasms."

"So, your plan is for me, an Assassin with keen senses, to detect enemy Servants, and then have Saber take them out. Sounds like a solid strategy."

After a brief pause, he added, "I have some time on my hands, and a walk around the town doesn't sound that bad. But it's really up to Saber."

"Why would you say that, Assassin?" Saber raised an eyebrow. "Isn't it a given for Servants to patrol? Wait, are you worried because I was a king? Don't be. Right now, I'm just another Servant, and my only goal is the Holy Grail."

Saber's expression revealed her genuine sincerity.

"You're fighting for the souls of your fallen subjects. That's quite noble, Arthur. If you best me when the time comes, the Holy Grail is yours," Vlad III said with a chuckle.

"I appreciate your understanding, King of Romania. When the time comes, I'll honor your sentiment with my blade."

A subtle smile graced her lips. Unlike the kings she had met in the last war, who seemed to only ridicule her, this King of Romania was more tolerant and understanding of her kingly path.

But it was thanks to one of those kings, who had shared with her the stories of the other Arthur's exploits, that she had found the strength to persevere until now.

No, not only did it help her preserve, but it also boosted her confidence and passion.

After all, there was already one Arthur who had accomplished what she wanted to achieve!

Since they were both Arthurs, why couldn't she do the same?

Shirou and Saber were preparing to patrol Torifas City, which was just a short distance away from the castle.

At this moment, Jeanne suddenly asked, "Um, I'm sorry, but do you mind if I come along?"

Shirou arched an eyebrow, "I thought you were planning to spend some time in the castle before making your way to the Red faction?"

Jeanne smiled, "I've always been curious about modern cities. There's so much I haven't seen. Don't worry; as a Ruler, I'll keep to myself. I won't meddle in your business, but I won't be lending a hand either."

Turning to Vlad III, he asked, "Any objections, King of Romania?"

"I am not a narrow-minded king. As long as she doesn't do anything unnecessary, it's fine," Vlad III said. "The victory I seek is an honorable one."

Shirou acknowledged with a nod.

"Hey, hey, hey! If everyone's going, I wanna come along too!" Astolfo shouted.

Vlad III glanced at him and calmly stated, "You're staying here."

"Why the heck not? C'mon, Lancer! I want to have fun... erm, I mean, I want to help too!"

"You'd just get in the way. The best way you can help is by staying here and not stirring up any trouble." Vlad III replied flatly as he stood up and walked away.

"That's just... mean, Lancer! Always picking on me!" Astolfo huffed, stamping his foot in frustration.

Shirou chuckled, "Easy there, Astolfo. I'll bring back something tasty for you."

His eyes lit up. "Deal!"

Shirou turned to leave, with Saber waiting patiently beside him.