29. Bad day

After watching the story unfold, Kotomine Kirei orders his Assassins to return from the field, and stops the mutual perception.

As Kotomine stopped his abilities and stopped the smell of the wind blowing over the sea and the feeling of assessing the battlefield, he returned to the church basement.

Kotomine Risei appeared out of nowhere as she stood right next to Kirei. It was as if he was listening to Kirei's report to Tokiomi about the battle. As soon as the fight ended, Kirei took his position as controller, quickly giving orders via his cell phone.

"…Mion District. Yes, streets and warehouses next to the sea. Disappeared... Ah..ah. Alright, move the city guards to clear the battlefield… Use Plan D…I will depend on you for on-site identification…"

They had previously made an agreement with the police and local government. Perhaps in the newspapers, a completely distorted and covered up report regarding the tragic incident at the warehouse would appear.

As he looked at his father from the corner of his eye, Kirei began his analysis of the people who had appeared in tonight's battle.

The elite wizard of the Clock Tower, El-Melloi, has lost the artifact of the great Alexander, which he once possessed.

Tokiomi's spies also reported this. Alexander entered the Holy Grail war as a Rider-class Servant, and his young Master seems to have an unusual relationship with Master Lancer.

But – there was no doubt that Master Lancer was El-Melloi. After Alexander's artifact was stolen by a young man named Waver, he definitely got Diarmuid's Heroic Spirit artifact.

When Kariya Matō summoned Berserker, he had reported the incident to his father. At that time, neither Kirei nor Tokiomi paid much attention to it. However, they did not anticipate the Berserker Servant's immense power or its extraordinary abilities in battle. She is Tokiomi's Gilgamesh's natural opponent, she is even able to make all the servants on the battlefield have to retreat.

"What a crazy fate, when we hope that the destiny of the Holy Grail is in our hands... that destiny suddenly escapes... hahaha.. is this God's punishment for our sins"

So that the fight is in Tokiomi's favor. The other Servants must defeat the Berserker first. This task is best completed by Lancer and saber. Diarmond's Noble Phantasm, Gáe Dearg, was the best artifact for defense while the Berserker and Noble Phantasm saber would deal the final blow, he didn't know whether the Berserker had a protective Noble Phantasm or not, but at least it could make the enemy waste information without the cost of losing a powerful Servent like archer.

The Caster and the Master are still an enigma because they haven't appeared yet. But considering Caster's class, this was nothing surprising. Apart from the Berserker who calls himself Jibril, all the other Servants have revealed their real names. Apart from being a big threat, Saber and Lancer also lost in their respective battles. Especially Saber, whose injury will greatly affect the next match. Gilgamesh displays his Noble Phantasm to great fanfare and puts himself at a disadvantage, but he does not reveal his real name. Also, no one was aware of the fact that Assassin was still alive. So, if you look at the current situation, Tokiomi is still at an advantage.

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Further removed to the west than Miyama town of Fuyuki, the winding state highway stretched westwards with its back towards the city's lights. Meanwhile, an undeveloped piece of forest waited for visitors further up the road. Continuing beyond even the prefectural border, the state highway, silently meandered on.

Although, there were two lanes on the road, no crossing cars can be seen even with the sparse street lights. The state highway in the dead of night seemed to fade from memory and into the silence.

In such a silent night, a silver beast flew by.

Mercedes-Benz 300SL Coupe. The flowing, elegant, streamlined body with a scent of antiquity resembled a noble lady, while the roaring of the Inline-6 SOHC engine was like that of a fierce beast's. And behind the steering wheel of the classic sedan, recklessly going beyond 100 kilometers per hour - were unexpectedly the slender wrists of a young lady.

"Hey hey, this goes pretty fast, doesn't it?"

Irisviel, who held the steering wheel and whose face was full of pleased smiles, said. Sitting in the passenger's seat, Saber's face was full of nervousness, and she barely managed to squeeze out a stiff smile and a nod.

"In-Indeed, unexpectedly, this is...some rather... skillful... driving..."

"Right? I had special training, even though it may not look like it."

That being said, based on the unfamiliar way, she dealt with the gears, she's far from being a proficient driver.

"Among all the toys Kiritsugu brought to the Einzbern castle, I favor this one the most. I was always just running circles in the castle grounds, and today is the first time for me to drive in such a wide space. It's wonderful!"

"A toy, huh..."

There won't be any objections to call something like a skateboard or bicycle, a toy. But for a machine with a speed of over 100 kilometers per hour on a serpentine road, it is a mismatch of classes. People would never call things that can put their lives in danger with the smallest mistakes as "toys" in ordinary situations.

Although, it is a classic sedan made more than forty years ago, it possesses a 2996cc. M198 engine and its maximum speed is 260 kilometers per hour. Irisviel's reckless roam, compared to the car's potential ability, is merely a beginning prelude.

Apparently, Emiya Kiritsugu had specially prepared this car in the Einzbern castle earlier on, so Irisviel and Saber can have transportation apart from walking, once they enter Fuyuki.

For over half a month, this car had been parked in the hotel's underground parkade. Now they are driving their precious car towards the Einzberns' castle residence.

"Hmm. Wait a minute, Irisviel. Haven't you been driving on the right side until just a moment ago?"

"Ah, that's right."

Irisviel nodded casually as if it was a very small mistake, and the car gave a jerk and moved onto the cruising lane.

Irisviel had never been outside of the Einzbern castle ever since she was born; for her, it is obviously her first time driving on a highway. Saber has been paying attention to her line of sight since they took off. Obviously Irisviel does not know anything about street signs. Although, driving on the left is written in the law, it appears that Irisviel doesn't even know this.

At least, she could understand a little of what traffic lights mean, but that only went as far as considering slowing down, when she saw the red light.. Although, right now it is midnight with little traffic, it would be a miracle for them to be able to safely arrive at their destination.

"...Do we still have a long way to go to reach the Einzbern castle in this land?"

"I heard it will only take one hour to reach by car. When we get close, we should be able to see it..."

Saber did not stop wishing for this dangerous journey to be over, even if only a second sooner. It is already very fortunate, that no cars are coming towards them on the midnight highway, but the fact, that the winding road still posed a great danger, filled Saber's blood with adrenaline, as if it were right before a battle. As a Servant, she possesses extraordinary reflexes and strength, and can immediately carry Irisviel outside the car to escape if danger presents. However, this legendary sports car, worth ten million yen would then be reduced to an unrecognizable pile of scrap iron. That doesn't fit with Saber's frugal economics.

"...Wouldn't it have been better to hire a chauffeur?"

"Of course not. That would be borin- no, that would be too dangerous. After all, once we enter Fuyuki city, we can be attacked by other Masters at any time. You're the one who doesn't want to see innocent people being dragged into this, Saber."

"That is true..."

Just which one is more dangerous on this mountainous road: being attacked by other Masters and their Servants, or Irisviel's driving skills? - Saber was half-seriously considering this question, when a cold wave reached her senses like the edge of a blade.

"Stop the car!"

"Aye?"

The tires of the Mercedes skidded on the asphalt, emitting the clouds of white smoke. As the car's uncontrollable slide continued, Saber once again confirmed the feeling, that set her nerves on edge.

Without a doubt, it was definitely the scent of a Servant. "Speak of the devil, indeed.."

"Saber, that's-"

Saber opened the gull-wing door and stepped into the frigid night. Mixed with the smell coming from the trees rustled by the night wind, was the acrid stench of a burnt tire.

The figure in front of her eyes was different from the five, she's seen before. If it's a Servant, that she hasn't met yet, it would be Caster, or perhaps an Assassin... so the Saber thought.

Although, both Saber and Irisviel, who didn't know about the ruse that occurred in the Tōsaka residence, the other night, could not eliminate the possibility of an Assassin, this Servant, who was neither running away nor in hiding, but standing proudly in front of them doesn't seem to be Assassin. Using the process of elimination, there's only one conclusion - the figure in front of them is the Caster.