Bab 39: Unnamed
Clash of ideals?
---
As Rin and Accelerator returned to the mansion, Accelerator remained in a trance, lost in thought. His mind raced, calculating and recalculating how he could defend against an attack like Gáe Bolg. He considered preparing another layer of calculations after the first reflection, but the thought quickly seemed impossible, especially after Archer explained that it was a conceptual attack.
Rin noticed his state and sighed. "You're such a loser," she said, breaking the silence. "Can't even accept a loss."
Accelerator's eyes narrowed, irritation bubbling up within him. "In my defense," he retorted, "I can still fight in this state, and I have another trump card hidden."
Rin wanted to mock him further but seeing as the hole in his shoulder had already patched up, she couldn't find the words. Instead, she commented, "Your body is absurd. You're able to fight against Servants and even have regeneration."
Accelerator shrugged. "Yeah, well, it comes in handy."
"Are there more attacks like that in this war?" Accelerator asked, his tone serious.
Rin nodded. "Of course. Every Servant has a Noble Phantasm. You better be prepared."
Accelerator's expression darkened. He had thought he could handle everyone easily, but now he realized that wasn't the case. He needed to rethink his strategy.
Rin then brought up a name that made Accelerator's blood boil: Shirou Emiya. "We should consider forming an alliance with Shirou," she suggested. "He has Saber on his side, and Saber is supposed to be the strongest Servant in a Holy Grail War."
Accelerator scratched his head in annoyance. "Do whatever you want," he muttered.
Rin sighed, knowing how much Accelerator loathed Shirou. "Look, I get it. You hate him. But having Saber on our side is a huge advantage."
Accelerator sneered. "That guy has huge ambitions with no sight of his surroundings. Focused on a goal yet not understanding the consequences or risks. It's what I loathe the most."
Rin tried to calm him down. "Still, it's better to have allies than enemies."
Accelerator looked away, clearly displeased but not stopping her. "Tsk, do what you want."
Rin smirked. "Naturally."
Accelerator then turned to Rin, a mischievous glint in his eye. "About earlier... You mocking me during my fight with Lancer. You think that was funny, huh?"
Rin crossed her arms, a smirk playing on her lips. "Well, it was. You should have seen your face."
Accelerator's eyes narrowed. "You're asking for it."
Rin rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. Like you can do anything."
The two continued to bicker, their banter filling the air as they walked towards Shirou Emiya's house. Archer, observing from a distance, couldn't help but feel amused. The dynamic between Rin and Accelerator was unlike anything he had seen before.
As they walked, their banter grew more ridiculous.
"Magic is better than what you know!," Rin said, trying to push his buttons.
"Hah! Magic? Do you think it is capable of defeating an esper?," Accelerator shot back. "It was quite pathetic even back then"
Rin snorted. "At least I don't drink it black like a psychopath."
"Oh, and what does that make you? A child who can't handle real coffee?"
"Better a child than a lunatic who thinks coffee is a meal."
Archer chuckled softly to himself. It was clear these two could go on forever. Despite their constant bickering, there was an underlying respect between them, even if neither would admit it.
As they approached Shirou's house, Accelerator's irritation flared again. "I still think this is a bad idea."
Rin waved him off. "You always think everything is a bad idea unless it involves blowing something up."
"Well, blowing things up does solve problems," Accelerator quipped.
Rin sighed. "Just try not to blow up Shirou's house, okay?"
"No promises," Accelerator muttered, earning another eye roll from Rin.
Their banter continued right up to the door of Shirou Emiya's house, setting the stage for what would undoubtedly be another contentious meeting.
Rin and Accelerator arrived at the Emiya Residence, still snarking at each other as they walked up to the door. Rin knocked loudly, and it didn't take long before the door opened to reveal Shirou, drenched in sweat from his practice session with Saber. He blinked in surprise at the sight of Rin and Accelerator bickering on his doorstep.
"What are you two doing here?" Shirou asked, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand.
Rin didn't bother with pleasantries. She smiled and brushed past him, entering the house without waiting for permission. Shirou sighed at her audacity but stepped aside to let them in. Accelerator followed, his usual gruff expression firmly in place.
"Nice place," Accelerator muttered sarcastically, eyeing the modest surroundings.
They made their way to the living room where Saber was seated, calmly sipping tea. The knight's eyes narrowed slightly upon seeing Accelerator, but she said nothing.
"Alright, let's get to the point," Rin said, sitting down on the tatami floor. "We're here to propose an alliance."
Shirou blinked in confusion. "An alliance?"
"Yes, an alliance," Rin repeated, rolling her eyes. "With the Holy Grail War in a stalemate and no one willing to make the first move, it makes sense to form an alliance. Your Saber is a powerful Servant, and we could benefit from working together."
Shirou glanced at Saber, who remained silent but alert. "I suppose that makes sense," he said slowly. "But why now?"
"Because Accelerator here had a lovely run-in with Lancer," Rin said, smirking. "And while he managed to hold his own, it was a reminder that we're up against some seriously tough opponents. We need all the help we can get."
Accelerator scoffed. "Help? From this guy?" He jabbed a thumb in Shirou's direction. "Please, I've seen tougher kids back in Academy City."
Rin shot him a glare. "We're not here to insult each other, Accelerator. We're here to make a strategic alliance. Can you keep your ego in check for five minutes?"
Shirou watched their exchange with a bemused expression. "Is it always like this with you two?"
"Pretty much," Archer said, leaning against the doorway with a smirk. "They have a... unique dynamic."
Rin huffed and turned back to Shirou. "Anyway, what do you say? We join forces, pool our resources, and take on the other Masters and Servants together. It increases our chances of survival and victory."
Shirou hesitated, looking at Saber again. She met his gaze and gave a slight nod. "Alright, Rin. We'll ally with you. But we need to set some ground rules."
"Of course," Rin agreed. "First, we share information about our opponents. Second, we coordinate our attacks and defenses. Third, we protect each other's identities from the other Masters."
Accelerator rolled his eyes. "Ground rules, shmound rules. Just point me at the enemy, and I'll take care of the rest."
Rin ignored him. "Shirou, do you agree to these terms?"
Shirou nodded. "Yes, we do."
"Good," Rin said, a satisfied smile on her face. "Then it's settled. We'll work together to win this war."
"Great," Accelerator muttered. "More people to babysit."
Rin shot him a warning look. "Try to play nice, Accelerator."
"Yeah, yeah," Accelerator grumbled, crossing his arms. "Just don't expect me to hold hands and sing kumbaya with you lot."
Saber, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke. "Your presence is... unusual," she said to Accelerator. "What exactly are you?"
Accelerator smirked. "I'm what you call an anomaly. Don't worry about the details, woman. Just know that I'm on your side for now."
Saber's eyes narrowed further, but she didn't press the issue. "Very well. But remember, we are allies now. Cooperation is key."
"Got it," Accelerator said, though his tone suggested otherwise.
Archer watched the exchange with a thoughtful expression. "This is going to be an interesting alliance," he murmured to himself.
Rin and Shirou continued to discuss the specifics of their alliance, while Accelerator and Saber exchanged wary glances. Despite the bickering and sarcasm, there was a sense of mutual respect starting to form among the group. They all knew that in the deadly game of the Holy Grail War, alliances could make the difference between life and death.
As they wrapped up their conversation, Rin stood and stretched. "Alright, we've got a plan. Let's stick to it and watch each other's backs."
Accelerator grunted in acknowledgment, while Shirou nodded earnestly. Saber remained stoic, but there was a glimmer of determination in her eyes.
"Just remember," Rin said, giving Accelerator a pointed look. "We're a team now. Try not to get us all killed with your recklessness."
Accelerator smirked. "No promises."
Saber watched Accelerator closely, her eyes narrowed with curiosity. "Accelerator, may I have a word with you?"
Accelerator glanced at her, then shrugged. "Sure, why not? Not like I have anything better to do."
Saber nodded and led him to a quieter corner of the Emiya residence. Shirou and Rin watched them go, with Rin giving a small smile. "This should be interesting," she remarked.
Once they were away from the others, Saber began the conversation. "Accelerator, I've noticed you have a unique approach to combat. It's... unorthodox, to say the least."
Accelerator leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "Unorthodox? Yeah, I guess you could say that. I don't exactly follow the rulebook."
Saber continued, her tone measured. "In my time, warriors adhered to a code of chivalry. Honor, loyalty, and respect were paramount. I'm curious about your perspective on these principles."
Accelerator smirked. "Honor, huh? Sounds like a fancy word for people who want to justify their actions. Loyalty? That's just another way to chain someone down. Respect? You earn it by being strong, not by following some outdated code."
Saber's eyes narrowed. "You speak of strength as if it's the only measure of a person's worth. But strength without honor is meaningless. A true warrior fights not just for themselves, but for others. For something greater than personal gain."
Accelerator shrugged. "Yeah, well, I don't buy into that fairy tale. You fight to survive. You fight to win. All that other stuff is just fluff to make people feel good about themselves."
The conversation continued in this vein, with Saber trying to explain the importance of chivalry and honor while Accelerator responded with his cynical worldview. His answers were half-hearted at first, more out of obligation than interest.
"Chivalry, loyalty, and respect... they all sound nice on paper," Accelerator said, scratching his head. "But in reality, they're just chains. Chains that hold you back, that make you weak."
Saber's expression turned serious. "They are not chains. They are what make us human. They give us a reason to fight, a purpose beyond ourselves."
"Purpose? The only purpose I need is staying alive and making sure those I care about are safe. Everything else is just noise," Accelerator retorted, his voice tinged with frustration.
Saber's patience was wearing thin, but she pressed on. "There is more to life than mere survival, Accelerator. Honor is not a chain, it's a guiding principle that elevates us above mere beasts."
Accelerator's smirk turned into a scowl. "Honor gets you killed. Loyalty gets you betrayed. And respect? Respect doesn't mean jack when you're six feet under."
Saber's eyes flashed with anger. "You misunderstand. Honor is not about seeking death, it's about living a life worth living. A life that leaves a legacy."
Accelerator's patience snapped. "Legacy? You think I care about a legacy? The only thing that matters is the here and now. Honor, loyalty, respect—those are just words people use to make themselves feel better about the choices they make."
Saber took a step closer, her anger evident. "You mock what you do not understand. Honor is the foundation of a just and righteous world. Without it, we are nothing but savages."
Accelerator glared back at her, his voice cold. "Savages? Maybe. But at least savages survive. I don't have time for your delusions of grandeur."
Shirou, who had been listening from a distance, grew increasingly worried. "Rin, shouldn't we step in?"
Rin shook her head, a small smirk on her lips. "Don't worry about it, Shirou. Accelerator is all bark and no action. He's just trying to get under Saber's skin."
Accelerator's eyes flicked to Rin, his anger boiling over. "You bitch," he spat. "You think this is funny?"
Rin's smirk faded slightly, but she remained composed. "I just think it's amusing that someone like you, who prides himself on being so strong and independent, gets so riled up over a simple conversation."
Accelerator clicked his tongue in frustration. "I don't have time for this. Talking about pointless crap with a bunch of delusional people who think they can change the world with ideals and honor... it's a waste of my time."
He turned his back on Saber, his tone dismissive. "Find someone else to lecture about chivalry and honor. I've got better things to do than debate with an autistic knight."
Saber's anger flared at his words, but she held her tongue. It was clear that trying to reason with Accelerator on these matters was futile.
As he walked away, Saber and Rin exchanged a look. "He is a complicated one," Saber said softly.
Rin sighed. "Yeah, he is. But he's our ally, and we'll have to find a way to work with him, rough edges and all."
Accelerator returned to the group, his mood dark. Despite the tension, they all knew that they needed to focus on the task at hand: winning the Holy Grail War. Personal differences would have to be set aside, at least for now.
---
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone