- Warning: This story is now tagged Mature(+15) mainly for violence and strong language. Nothing graphic, and still a lot milder than the original Visual Novel -

“Listen, worthy adversary! The king now declares his next quest. This time, the goal of The King’s Journey is that woman. No obstacle shall remain in my way.”

They see the servant take a fighting position.

“Now, we fight!”

“What an idiot.”

A man that is wearing only a towel around his waist is watching the fight alongside a woman. They are in a wide room with no doors and no windows. The only apparent exit is a crude ladder leading up to a big metal trapdoor in the ceiling.

They are watching the fight from a round table, which is currently functioning as a far-seeing device much like a screen version of the classic crystal balls. Again, like the classic crystal balls, their round table doesn’t require familiars, or pre-set beacons to function. As long as the one that activates the round table has been to a location, it can monitor there.

The man keeps looking at the table and continues. He sounds irritated.

“The fool openly declared that he’s gunning for his master. And right after getting his ass kicked too.”

“His ass, yeah.”

He glares at the woman for a bit, then goes back to looking at the table.

“I was talking about him being a fool.” The irritation in his voice is even clearer now.

“At least he is a cute fool.”

The man puts his hand down hard on the table. The vision on the table vibrates.

“Don’t tempt me woman. Not when you are wearing nothing but one of my shirts.”

The woman smiles mischievously, reaches down and lets the man’s towel fall down.

“Perhaps you’d like to do something about it, master.”

The master doesn’t try to cover himself, and just looks at the table.

“Not now. We have a fight and five servants to observe. Besides, I’ve been doing something about it like a rabbit. Haven’t you had enough?”

The servant puffs her cheeks and looks away.

“You don’t let me drain from the townspeople. You have to take responsibility for that.”

She puts her smile on again, and reaches down to where the master’s towel were covering before.

“Sooo… Come on.”

“Not now.” He doesn’t budge an inch.

“Spoilsport.”

She too turns toward the table. They watch the second phase of the Greek Warrior vs. Lancer fight, side by side.

“…”

“…”

“Hey, master.”

“Yes?”

“Is it just me, or has Saber been doing better lately?”

“It is not just you. He’s been moving a lot better since he switched to his sword.”

“To be expected of a Saber-original I suppose.”

“Not just that. He’s been… What, reading Lancer’s moves? Guessing them right with bullshit luck? Orrr, Lancer misses thanks to his own bullshit luck? Something about those lines, I guess; luck or foreseeing.”

“Then, did he just use his Noble Phantasm, or some strong skill there?”

“Most likely. Although, Miss McRemitz’s Fragarach didn’t fire. It can’t be his Noble Phantasm.”

“Or, it can’t be his strongest one.”

“Or that, yes.”

“How does that metal ball understand whether the enemy is using his strongest move, anyway?”

“How should I know? Learning what it does was a challenge already, so I didn’t get the chance learn how it does it.”

The servant looks at her master in the eyes.

“You’re cute when you’re angry, master.”

Her master answers her look.

“Being cute is the woman’s job.”

“Then let’s do something about both of us being cute, shall we?”

“Not now.”

He tries to turn back to the table, but she holds his chin, and keeps looking him in the eyes. She gets half a step closer and presses her body against him. Their faces are now next to each other.

“I can record it to be watched later anyway, like… what was that machine upstairs called?”

He takes her in his arms.

“Does it matter?”

* * *

“Tch!”

Lancer clicks his tongue when his enemy, for the twenty seventh time, dodges one of his attacks seemingly by chance. This all started when he made that ridiculous declaration. He started becoming a problem. He had fought well before that, but if Lancer had fought aggressively from the start, he would have won quite fast.

In fact, he didn’t actually become stronger or faster. Despite getting a big disadvantage in reach by switching to sword, he somehow became better at evading attacks.

It seems he actually is more proficient at using his sword than his spear, but that is not all. Something about him changed. It is as if he is getting some outside help now. Like a blessing from gods.

Lancer doesn’t know what it is, but there are two things he definitely knows.

Son of a bitch said he’s gunning for Bazett.

Son of a bitch won’t be getting any Bazett.

Lancer’s voice cuts through the music of continuous metal clashes:

“If you’re reading my moves, then I’ll crush you with simple savagery!”

He leaves complex moves behind. He no longer uses feints. He no longer changes the direction of his attacks mid-swing. Using the difference between their strength and speed, he just keeps raining down one heavy blow after the other.

One can foresee a feint, or luckily evade a tricky attack. But if one lacks the necessary speed, foreseeing lightning-fast attacks would not help. If one lacks the necessary strength, no amount of luck would lighten the weight of incoming heavy blows.

The balance in the fight once again tilts toward Lancer, as he overwhelms his enemy with brute strength and speed. His fighting style is no different than a berserker now.

An upward blow from Lancer lands on the other servant’s shield and sends him flying. He manages to land on his feet.

He is beat up. His arms and legs are full of scratches with blood trickling down from many of them. If this was a chess match, the time to resign would have long come.

But he is not done yet.

“Master, I ask for permission to use my Noble Phantasm.”

Lancer stands at the ready. He is ready to use his own Noble Phantasm and he is confident that he can strike before the enemy does anything big. His next move depends on the enemy master’s decision now. If his enemy gets permission, Lancer will finish this immediately by using his Noble Phantasm. If he doesn’t get permission, Lancer won’t have to reveal his hand.

He’d rather not unnecessarily reveal his hand in a fight during the day where others are surely watching, and simply charging ahead when his enemy is willing to use his Noble Phantasm is risky, so he waits.

But neither Bazett, nor Lancer hear the enemy master’s answer. Instead, they hear the voice of a newcomer.

“You look like shit, Saber.”

A big newcomer.

“Wha-?! You are..!”

A big newcomer wearing what looks like the pelt of an even bigger lion.

“You still got it in you for another fight?”

A big newcomer carrying a silver haired little girl on his shoulder.

* * *

“Is it possible to make this audible?”

She seems curious. Indeed, with the arrival of the third servant, it would be nice to hear what they are talking, but…

“No. At least not now. That would require some preparation.”

“I see.”

Little glance. She still has her eyewear.

“You do?”

A little pause. Is she making something up?

“I see enough.”

“Sten!”

Rin has the sister in tow.

“Can’t we hear them?”

“I’m afraid not, master.”

“So you can zoom in like using binoculars, but no audio, huh? All right.”

Zoom in? A modern term? Binoculars, it seems they did invent something similar. Then, what I’m doing isn’t anything special? Damn, there goes my…

“Sister…”

“What is it, Sakura?”

She blushes. Why does she blush every time she asks something of Rin? Aren’t they sisters? Though, apparently they live apart. Did their parents separate and the two sisters went different ways? Then, the one looking after Rin died? Maybe. I’ll ask Rin in the evening.

“Is… is Mister Sten the Caster?”

Have I told Rin that? No. I’d better interfere here.

“I am the servant Archer, miss. But call me Sten. How may I call you?”

Changer?

Annnd, another blush. Is she Rin’s actual blood related sister?

“Ehm. Sakura is fine.”

Just Sakura? That’s easy, and so unlady-like.

“I admit, I’ve dabbled with magic too. Though what I can do is quite limited.”

“I see.”

You too? Heh. Oh, shut up.

Changer, what is this about being Archer?

The servant is still here. Now, feel indebted and tell me all your secrets.

“What about you, miss? By which class name should I call you?”

Now, look at my heart-warming smile, if you can see, and speak.

“Sakura.”

The ball's in your court now, Sakura. Tell your servant to cooperate.

Heeey, Changer?

“It’s alright. He has told us his class too.”

“I am Rider. Nice to meet you.”

Hell yeah, more information.

“You too, Rider.”

We’ll talk about this later, Changer.

“Look.”

Seriously, how does she see? Anyway. Oh, boy. Did he really run?

“He ran away.”

You said it without blushing. Way to go, Miss Sakura. But, that Greek warrior. He looked pretty worn out, but I still wouldn’t have expected him to shamelessly run away like that.

“I think that is Heracles.”

Heracles? Lion pelt, check. Mass of muscle, check. A servant ran the moment he appeared, so great aura, check. Indeed, you may be right, my fellow sexy servant.

“You may be right, Rider.”

“His stats are extraordinary.”

“Well said. Lancer has high stats too, but this one is trouble.”

This one is trouble? If he is Heracles, of course he is! But, can’t lose face now.

“Hey now, ladies. Don’t go underestimating us now.”

“I agree with Sten. Underestimating enemies is a big mistake. But underestimating friends is an unforgivable mistake too. Sakura, Rin, don’t do that mistake.”

Well said, girl. You finally showed that smile of yours, too.

“No! I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it like that, Rider!”

“Don’t worry about it, Sakura.”

They seem to get along. Did she summon her without a relic, I wonder?

“You two are quite confident aren’t you?”

“Of course-“

Wait, Heracles pulled out… a bow? He is an Archer? How? I’ve been summoned as a Changer with the base class of Archer. Meaning I’ve been summoned in the place of Archer class. There shouldn’t be any Archers!

“He has a bow.”

I know! How? Wait, he can be Assassin. Heracles as an Assassin using a bow?

He’s pointing that thing here! I must-!

“Stay together!”