บท 2: Chapter 2: Attack!
Fuyuki City.
This peaceful city had now welcomed several uninvited guests.
"I say, Rider..."
"How did you manage this?"
Waver asked weakly, his voice trembling as he looked around at their luxurious surroundings.
"Of course, I had a friendly conversation with the homeowner."
"They were so delighted that they just gave it to us."
Rider's casual response left Waver completely at a loss for words.
This lavish villa, something Waver would never have dared to dream of, had been obtained with just one simple phrase from Rider: "I'll take care of it."
The most surprising part? It wasn't through killing anyone or forcing their hand.
'Did he use a suggestion?'
Waver recalled that he had tried using magic to suggest the idea to the owner initially, but clearly, Rider's methods had been far more effective.
Then again, thinking about Rider's class, he doubted Rider had any abilities like a Caster would.
'There's no way Rider can perform magic like that... right?'
Shaking his head, Waver dismissed the idea, a bitter smile on his face.
'What a transparent Master,' thought Lelouch, sipping an old-fashioned cup of tea as he watched the boy before him.
Though Waver was far sharper than Suzaku, Lelouch still found him easy to manipulate.
'Command Spells...'
Lelouch's gaze shifted to the red markings on Waver's hand. He wondered if he should take the opportunity to remove them.
The best course of action would be to use his Geass to completely control the boy—that would ensure everything went smoothly.
However, considering that Masters might come into contact with one another, it would be risky if someone with a keen eye noticed the manipulation.
The power of the Geass was Lelouch's trump card. Whether against other Servants or enemy Masters, it was the perfect weapon.
With Rider's class as cover, no one would suspect a "pilot" like him of wielding magic.
But if the power of Geass was revealed too early and countered, it wouldn't be worth it.
That was why Lelouch hadn't acted on Waver just yet.
'For now... let's wait and observe.'
---
"Assassin, it seems you've gone out without permission."
Kirei Kotomine sensed movement in the room and suddenly spoke up.
"I just went to take a look around," came the cold, detached voice, matching the Servant's emotionless demeanor.
"Himura Battousai... I've scoured countless historical texts and found no one exactly matching your identity."
"..."
Himura Kenshin did not respond, though a strange gleam appeared in his eyes.
"Well, it doesn't matter. You may not have the recognition boost that comes with fame..."
"But I trust you'll be more than capable of completing the tasks ahead."
Kirei didn't press any further, merely giving instructions as per his father's and teacher's guidance.
However, deep down, Kirei harbored a small doubt.
The man before him might just hold the answers he sought.
As the sky shifted and time passed, it marked the slow rise of the stage they were all about to perform on.
---
"Wow, this is truly fascinating!"
"You've never been out to see the city?"
Saber and Irisviel, disguised under her false identity, were out on a drive, unaware that their every move was already being watched.
"So, that's Saber and her Master?"
"A combination that's far too careless. If it weren't for concerns over maintaining secrecy, they would have been eliminated by now."
Standing on a high building, his body in spirit form, an Assassin observed the carefree pair below.
If they were offering such an easy opportunity, he certainly wouldn't hold back.
The only concern was that Saber might have some strange method to shield her Master from a fatal blow.
---
"Hmm?!"
Saber and Irisviel were taking a stroll along the beach, but even in the quiet night, they suddenly felt the unmistakable presence of killing intent.
"Saber?"
Even the usually optimistic Irisviel could sense the shift in the atmosphere.
"Such blatant bloodlust..."
"Are they trying to say that they'll kill their target, no matter what?"
'How bold,' Saber thought as she spotted a figure in the distance. The sword at the stranger's waist made it clear that they weren't here with good intentions.
Saber immediately took the stranger's actions as a challenge.
*Sching!*
But before any words were exchanged, the figure drew their sword, their movements as swift and eerie as a ghost, and charged straight at them.
"Watch out!"
"Danger!"
Saber's instincts screamed at her. She quickly pulled Irisviel aside, just narrowly avoiding the strike.
*Crash!*
The ground split open, leaving a deep gash where the sword had struck, yet no one was in sight.
'What the...?'
With a glance at the sharp cut, Saber immediately realized that the opponent was a master of swordsmanship, extremely skilled and precise.
She held Irisviel's hand, pulling her back to a safe distance while keeping her eyes trained ahead.
*Swish!*
'So fast...'
'That footwork...'
In this wide-open area, the enemy was able to move freely. Saber could sense their agility and precise movement.
A flash of motion flickered in the air, and Saber, in response, quickly switched to her battle attire, drawing her invisible sword.
The blade, wrapped in a shroud of wind, made it impossible to determine its length, forcing the approaching enemy to pull back.
"A sword hidden by the wind?"
No longer hiding, the enemy appeared before her, and Himura Kenshin carefully observed Saber's invisible sword.
"Are you an Assassin?" Saber asked, noting his weapon was a sword and the way he wielded it with such finesse.
"An Assassin, attacking head-on?" Irisviel, who had a basic understanding of the Holy Grail War's common knowledge, found this odd.
Normally, Assassins lurked in the shadows, relying on stealth. So why would this one openly challenge Saber, the strongest class?
"For me, if I must fight..."
"It doesn't matter what time or place."
These were not empty words. As Battousai, Kenshin had killed countless enemies and officials. Aside from a few exceptional warriors like the Shinsengumi, few had survived his blade.
Only a deep personal connection had softened his relentless killing intent, but this time was different.
If he won this war, then both his gravely injured beloved and the world could be saved.
No matter the cost, Kenshin was determined to cut down every enemy that stood in his way—even if that enemy was a defenseless Master.
"An Assassin facing Saber head-on...?"
"Hmph, then let's enjoy a good show, mongrel."
Gilgamesh, far off in the distance, sensed the confrontation and found it amusing.
A reckless challenge? He didn't see it as anything embarrassing. At the very least, it would entertain him.
Assassin, despite the good in his heart, was still a "manslayer."
Once he committed to a fight, there would be no mercy.
"Hm?"
"It seems some vermin have mixed in..."
---
Emiya Kiritsugu's expression shifted slightly as he lay flat on the rooftop.
After receiving communication from Irisviel, he had set up his sniper position, preparing to provide backup. But unexpectedly, another Servant had appeared.
The figure clad in golden armor instantly marked them as a Servant, and Kiritsugu held his breath, hiding his presence.
Revealing himself now would be unwise, but the unfolding battle below worried him.
Saber could probably handle Assassin on her own, but if she had to face another Servant lurking in the shadows, the situation would become perilous.
On their first day in Fuyuki City, things were already turning "exciting"—the situation was escalating too quickly.
"If necessary..."
"I'll have to pull Saber back."
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