Chapter 47. A Good News and a Bad News

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I Will Eventually Embark on the Path of No Return Called a Hero [Arc2] - 47. A Good News and a Bad News

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"Who are you?"

Reika Rikudou, holding Jack, looked at the white-haired priest blocking their path with suspicion.

"I am Kotomine Shirou, the overseer of the Holy Grail War," Shirou Kotomine smiled at the mother-daughter-like pair before him. "Because of some things you did earlier, I need to talk with you. By the way, I have a bad news and a good news to tell you."

"We've already spoken with the Ruler. He allowed us to attack the magi within the Holy Grail War range," Reika Rikudou did not relax her vigilance despite Kotomine Shirou's friendly demeanor.

"Yes, but what I want to discuss with you is what comes next," Shirou Kotomine nodded. "You're probably planning to hunt the homunculi in Trifas, right?"

"Kind-hearted big brother allowed it," Jack tightened her grip on Reika's hand.

"Ah, that might be difficult," Shirou Kotomine scratched his face with some embarrassment. "The bad news is that due to the battles between the Red and Black factions, most of the Black faction's homunculi are already dead, and the facilities for creating homunculi have been destroyed."

"How... could this happen!" Reika Rikudou looked incredulous. She no longer had the magus hearts to replenish Jack's magical energy.

"The remaining homunculi are in the Black faction's main base, but the remaining five Servants are stationed there. You probably won't have a chance," Shirou Kotomine shook his head regretfully.

Reika Rikudou looked at Jack, her grip on Jack's hand tightening as if afraid Jack would disappear.

"But the good news is that I can help you," Shirou Kotomine extended his hand to Reika Rikudou. "I am also the Master of the Red faction's Assassin."

"You're... the enemy!" Reika Rikudou instinctively shielded Jack behind her.

"No, I am your ally," Shirou Kotomine did not mind Reika Rikudou's tense attitude but was curious about her instinctive reaction. "My Assassin has some knowledge of magecraft and can help you with the supply of magical energy."

"I will never hand over the Command Seals," Reika Rikudou stepped back with Jack.

"Don't worry, you will still be her Master; it's just that the target for supplying magical energy will be someone else. However, you must help me fight against the Black faction," Shirou Kotomine lowered his hand. "Since you are participating in the Holy Grail War, you must have a wish. The Black faction is all aligned against you, and they might demand you surrender your Command Seals. But we are different. As long as you are on our side, that's enough."

Reika Rikudou hesitated. She didn't want to trust this priest because his appearance was too sudden. But his message had forced her into a corner. Without magical energy, Jack would gradually become immobile and eventually disappear. Witnessing such a process was almost as unbearable as dying herself.

"I understand. I will join you," Reika Rikudou sighed, bending down to embrace Jack.

"Welcome to the Red faction," Shirou Kotomine spread his arms and smiled brightly.

However, he was still quite nervous. Unlike Avicebron, he couldn't grasp Jack's wish. At least Avicebron was a somewhat eccentric, normal person. Despite his warped values, he felt self-loathing for betraying Roche.

But Jack was different. Undoubtedly a reverse-heroic spirit born from the world's fear, such a spirit was difficult for Shirou Kotomine to understand. He couldn't imagine what kind of wish a twisted murderer would have. Normally, he wouldn't think of bringing her into their ranks, but the situation was too dire.

The Black faction still had their Saber - Siegfried; Rider - Astolfo; Archer - Chiron; Lancer - Vlad III; and Berserker - Frankenstein, all still alive, meaning they had not suffered any significant losses in combat capability.

On their side, things were awkward. Assassin Semiramis was alive, but the Hanging Gardens had been captured, and the external defense mechanisms were completely dismantled. Rider Achilles was strong but refused to follow orders, focusing solely on dueling Chiron.

Nevertheless, Chiron, in his centaur form, was very strong. Lancer Karna spent his days thinking about how to find his captured Master. Even though he didn't hold back in battle, he was difficult to control.

Archer Atalanta had been behaving selfishly, constantly chasing Cyd and ignoring the Holy Grail War. Saber Mordred made Shirou Kotomine suspect that they were planning to act as a third-party force.

The only potential ally left was the Black faction's Assassin, Jack the Ripper.

"Let's go to our base first. The Holy Grail War might end tonight," Shirou Kotomine stepped aside. "Whether the wish will be realized depends on tonight."

Reika Rikudou nodded, holding Jack tightly.

…

At the Hanging Gardens.

Semiramis bit her thumb, looking as aggrieved as a wife abandoned by her husband. From a certain perspective, this was indeed the case. The Hanging Gardens was empty except for her, and she had to stay there. Only she could act freely within the Hanging Gardens. To ensure the Black faction didn't sneak up and steal the Holy Grail, she had to keep constant surveillance.

However, the Black faction's Servants were indeed doing nothing, as Cyd said. Achilles, the big brute, was chatting and eating with Chiron and other Servants, creating a cozy scene that made Semiramis momentarily believe they were all allied, with herself as the only one in the Red faction.

It's fine! I still have my Master. At least he won't abandon me.

Just as Semiramis was thinking this, Shirou Kotomine brought a mother-daughter pair up. The little girl had the same white hair as Shirou Kotomine.

At that moment, the Empress Semiramis's mentality broke down, and resentment flowed from her throne.

Why must I be here, monitoring the other Servants below like a paranoid voyeur, trying to separate the spiritual veins from the Holy Grail, clean up the iron stakes in the Hanging Gardens, and always be on guard against the Black faction's surprise attacks?

All the work falls to me, and yet you go and bring a woman and her daughter?

Although Semiramis did not speak, Shirou Kotomine could still see these feelings from the face of the noble Empress, who was chewing her thumb with a look of deep resentment.

"Assassin, she is the Master of the Black faction's Assassin. For some reasons, she has decided to join us in fighting the Black faction," Shirou Kotomine immediately raised his hands to explain, fearing this woman, who had poisoned her husband, might decide to attack him.

"I didn't question you. Why do you need to explain?" Semiramis snorted coldly and crossed her legs.

Because you look like you'd kill me if I didn't explain…