Chapter 83

At the Emiya Residence

After Shirou's heartfelt apology, which included offering delicious food and new clothes, Saber graciously forgave him.

Upon hearing Shirou's decision to visit the Kotomine Church to inquire about the Einzberns, Saber, after a brief moment of consideration, agreed and shared her experience of partnering with Kiritsugu during the Fourth Holy Grail War.

With that, Shirou, accompanied by Saber, made his way to the Kotomine Church in Shinto. Shirou entered the church alone and obtained some crucial information from Kirei.

Kirei revealed his perspective on Kiritsugu, Kiritsugu's connection with the Einzberns, and the long-standing obsession both the Einzberns and the Matou family had with the Holy Grail—a relentless pursuit spanning a thousand years and five hundred years, respectively.

—Until the Grail is obtained, neither family can be redeemed!

It was only then that Shirou truly understood the magnitude of what his friend, Shinji, had accomplished. As an ordinary person, Shinji had forcibly ended the Matou family's five-hundred-year-old obsession with magic—a feat almost unimaginable. Shirou couldn't fathom the immense pressure Shinji must have endured, despite his always carefree and nonchalant demeanor.

Noticing Shirou's contemplative expression, Kirei smirked, clasping his hands behind his back as he turned away.

"Are you thinking about your friend? That boy is quite unique. Even I can't fully see through him. This world is like that—the simpler something seems, the more complex it likely is behind the scenes. Just like the seemingly different but fundamentally similar 'justice' pursued by Kiritsugu Emiya and Shirou Emiya."

At that moment, Shirou realized that the man before him bore some resemblance to Shinji's occasionally enigmatic side. However, unlike Shinji, who guided him to find answers, Kirei seemed more intent on leading him astray and undermining his resolve.

Although Shirou wanted to argue, he decided not to engage further with the priest, given that he had already obtained the information he needed. He bid farewell to Kirei.

Before Shirou could leave, Kirei stopped him, mentioning his proficiency in healing magic and suggesting that any injured civilians caught in the crossfire could be brought to the church for treatment.

Shirou acknowledged this and left.

Outside the church, Shirou's eyes were resolute as he once again clasped hands with Saber. This gesture signified the elevation of their strategic partnership to a comprehensive collaboration against the Holy Grail War's tragedies.

Together, they resolved to prevent any further tragedies and agreed that the Grail should ultimately be used by Saber.

However, just as Shirou was about to take Saber home, she hesitated.

"What's wrong, Saber?" Shirou asked.

Saber revealed her other hand, holding a plump, nearly lifeless rabbit.

"Shirou, I found this rabbit on the roadside. It's likely another Master's familiar, but don't worry, I've taken care of it. So, um..."

Seeing Saber's hesitant expression and her longing gaze at the rabbit, Shirou fell silent.

Later That Night

By 8 PM, having returned home a bit late, Shirou asked Saber if she enjoyed the meal he had prepared from the rabbit.

"Was it really good?" Shirou asked, still unsure.

Saber, looking satisfied as she sipped her post-meal tea, replied, "Yes! It was delicious. Though it might not match your friend's cooking exactly, the thought behind it is what counts. After all, you made it especially for me! That sentiment more than makes up for any minor differences in taste."

Blushing from the compliment, Shirou quietly went to wash the dishes.

After cleaning up, Shirou, following Saber's suggestion and after much thought, decided to patrol the area. Since he lacked the ability to detect other Masters, he would act as bait, as Kirei had mentioned.

That night, it wasn't just Shirou and Saber out patrolling. Rin and Archer were also on the lookout, having already detected some signs of the "witch" during the day.

Elsewhere, Rider was patrolling alone, while Lancer, who had been tasked by Kirei to find Rider's Master, decided to head to the address on a card Shinji had given him.

At the Matou Residence

Shortly after 8 PM, Shinji greeted Sakura and then left the house, heading directly to the large hollow beneath Mount Enzou.

Rider's Thoughts

At 9 PM, while patrolling Shinto, Rider found herself deep in thought—an unusual occurrence, signaling the importance of the matter at hand.

She pondered her true Master. Although the current Command Spells bound her to Bazett, the fact remained that they were merely "false" Command Spells.

Realizing this, Rider recalled an image of Sakura. However, this image quickly faded, replaced by that of Shinji, who had consumed the Command Spells.

A crucial question now dawned on Rider: why had Shinji waited until after summoning her to take down Zouken? Wouldn't it have been easier to eliminate Zouken beforehand to free Sakura from the Holy Grail War?

To assist Bazett? That seemed unlikely. Shinji's attitude towards women was too casual for him to act solely for one woman.

Could it be... Rider's thoughts crystallized. Could she be Shinji's planted spy? Deceiving the enemy often required deceiving one's allies first.

Remaining aloof, only to turn traitor at a critical moment—was this Shinji's plan all along? He only acted against Zouken after summoning Rider because he needed her.

"Damn that man, what a schemer..." Rider muttered, revealing herself atop a building. Though unsure of Shinji's true intentions, she believed she had uncovered the truth.

With this realization came a growing resentment towards Shinji. Having received only a fraction of the magical energy she needed, Rider pondered making another visit to Shinji to claim her "salary."

Just as she was about to act, Rider sensed something.

—A lone young woman had just exited a store below.

Surely, a little extra snack wouldn't hurt, right?