While Rulers and the others were waiting, several homunculi began to enter the meeting room, bringing in modern clothes that had been tailored to Rider's size.
"We've brought in most of the ones we had in ready, but we are not sure whether or not they suit your taste."
"Ok, ok, no problem! Man, these ones are cute, those ones are too… I can't wait to show them off to Master after!"
"How's Uncle Gordes right now?" Fiore asked.
"He's been pretending to be finishing up his work at his room, but he's actually been drinking. We homunculi are truly grateful that he had helped in saving our lives, but we are honestly quite unsure on how to approach his current situation."
The rest of the homunculi were nodding simultaneously, signaling agreement with the one that had just spoken up.
"…For now, please just keep an eye on him."
Fiore replied somewhat apologizingly.
"Alright. Both of you, please change your clothes."
"Ehh? You're not going with us?"
"Fiore, you are staying?"
Both Rider and Ruler asked her. Fiore gave off a somewhat troubled smile to that, and gestured her eyes to her legs.
"With my legs as they are, it is a bit hard for me to investigate around during daytime. It'd be no problem if I use magecraft, but the circumstances being what they are…"
She compensated for her legs' disability via things such as
Bronze-Link Manipulator
Coupled Reinforcement Mystic Code
that functions via spiritualism magecraft. However, it is the kind of Mystic Code that one simply cannot use in the middle of the day.
"I can perform analysis from my room just fine."
"Very well. We are to act as your limbs and search about physically, then."
"Please do. I shall also have one of the homunculi particularly well-versed in magecraft to assist you."
Upon Fiore's words, the homunculus that had stayed behind in the room bowed to both Servants. A female type. She shared similar features with Sieg, albeit with a longer hair.
"I am Althea. It is a pleasure."
"Likewise," said Rider and Ruler as they all shook hands.
"Searching about for any Servant's presence, traces, and the likes would be the role of you two. Anything else magecraft related, Althea can handle. I shall be listening through via telepathic communication and handling analysis."
In Trifas, a land under Ygddmillenia's management, there are large numbers of accomplished magi deployed all around. However, they do not quite have the skillset to track and pursuit Servants.
It would not be unthinkable that Assassin and their Master had already slipped past through them and were roaming about Trifas' street. If they managed to get their hand on any clue while it is still daytime—and ideally, if they could somehow pin down the Master, that would be the best case of scenario.
※※※※※
"
" was slipping pass through.
To begin with, her small stature made it easy for her to sneak into just about anywhere. With the clothes that "
" had given to her and her Presence Concealment skill added to that, she could easily merge inside a crowd.
That being said, Trifas' streets are narrow and sparse with tourists. The eyes of magi were always looking about as well, so she could not act recklessly. Although she had already killed ten of those magi already yesterday.
Right now, she was not with her mother. Each of them had found their ideal hiding places, with no intention of leaving currently. To be honest, she wanted mother to play her the piano right now, but she could be patient. Ambush being her specialty, patience was the one thing that she has in spare.
There were 3 opponent Servants—maybe even 4. Archer of Black, Chiron. Rider of Black, Astolfo. And… one not of Black faction; someone else's. The problem was Saber of Black, Siegfried. Was he here, or was he not? It was confusing.
She restored her appearance and voice, then carefully began to listen. The amalgamation of vengeful spirits born murderer by nature; as far as she was concerned, murder was neither a hobby nor a job. Put to words, it was simply her reason to be.
As if trying to make that known everyone, she proved her own existence by murder. As if trying to say "I exist."
She carefully, earnestly,
cautiously waited for her chance to come.
The best time for her to act is always at night. She would never gamble. The key was whether or not the chance to kill would present itself, and how much she could seize on it.
Combat is one on one. But murder is only one way. With that taken into account, as far as she was concerned her encounter with Saber of Red, Mordred, turning into a battle had been an unexpected occurrence.
"…We would've probably lost, huh?"
Simply remembering what had happened irritated her even more, but she knew that she would've lost indeed.
She had not been able to slit her throat in one strike, while one blow from Saber of Red would've decapitated her completely.
There were many factors; the difference in their ability's status, her disadvantage in combat situations, or the difference between their ranks as a Heroic Spirit. All those and more had all been working against her, but—none were too much to take advantage of, she thought.
The difference in their ability status could be overturned with her own ability. If she suppressed her presence during the night, nobody would be able to even perceive her.
And she knew this; kill the Master, and any Heroic Spirit becomes worthless. As far as she—as far as the devilish murderer was concerned, be it magi or prostitutes… they were all preys.
※※※※※
Originally Posted by Arashi_Leonhart
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