You call this a projection?

Time began to flow once more.

But precisely because time had resumed, the awareness of those present followed suit—especially Lancer. He understood Bazett and her [Fragarach] intimately, and unlike Rin and the others who were merely stunned that Shirou could drop Bazett while she was fully prepared, Lancer had observed the entire process from a third-person perspective.

He understood the sheer weight of Emiya Shirou’s actions far better than anyone else!

—”I’m strong... I remember this kid saying that earlier.”

—”Because he’s strong, he has no ill intent toward us... Give me a break, this isn’t just ’strong.’ This is straight-up invincible!”

—”Anyway, I can’t think of a single way to pull that off after Bazett has already brought out [Fragarach]!”

—”Is this kid really the person I met earlier, or is he someone else who just looks like him?”

Lancer complained inwardly. One thing was certain, though: he was truly impressed. Emiya Shirou had intended to give Bazett a show of force, but in the process, Lancer had been just as intimidated.

Lancer’s mind hadn’t quite grasped it yet either.

He never imagined that the solution to [Fragarach] could be so simple. It wasn’t some ability that surpassed causality; it was simply that Bazett couldn’t see the Stand, couldn’t lock onto the Stand, and didn’t know where to direct the counterattack.

This prevented the ”striking later to arrive first” effect of [Fragarach] from ever triggering.

”Now then, do you have any more questions?”

Emiya Shirou, striking a flamboyant ”DIO Pose” alongside [Pseudo-The World], spoke into the newly resumed flow of time.

”Or, if you want to try a few more times, that’s fine too.

I don’t mind if you challenge me again.”

It was useless, no matter how many times she tried. As long as Bazett couldn’t figure out Shirou’s method or see the Stand, her [Fragarach] could never lock onto [Pseudo-The World], let alone interrupt the time stop.

”Someone I know once said—to live is to seek peace of mind.

Being betrayed by someone you trusted, even to the point of nearly being killed, has made you uneasy. It’s made you instinctively want to grab onto anything that gives you a sense of security.

Like the strength you’re proud of, or the [Fragarach] passed down in your family... In that case, what about forming an alliance with me—someone stronger than all the things you rely on—and following my lead? Why would that cause you any unease?”

Emiya Shirou reached out his hand toward Bazett.

”I...” Bazett, lying on the floor again, looked at Shirou with a lost expression.

-

-

-

Fuyuki City, Kotomine Church.

Thanks to the fact that Kotomine Risei had been the supervisor of both the Third and Fourth Holy Grail Wars, Kotomine Kirei, inheriting his father’s legacy, naturally became the best candidate for supervisor of the Fifth.

Though he rose to the position through succession, Kirei was more than qualified. Beyond his traditional Church education and his history as a member of the Eighth Sacrament, he had apprenticed under Tohsaka Tokiomi—a magus whose lineage traced back to a disciple of the Wizard Marshall Zelretch—to systematically study magecraft.

Even if Kirei hadn’t inherited the Tohsaka family’s Jewel Magecraft, and even if being a ”descendant-disciple of Zelretch’s student” isn’t a massive deal unless one learns the Second Magic, the status remained. Consequently, Kirei had decent connections within the Mages’ Association. By all accounts, he was a perfect fit for the supervisor role.

That is, if Kirei only wanted to be a supervisor. Unfortunately, ever since Gilgamesh lured out his inner desires during the Fourth War and showed him what truly resided within the Grail, Kirei’s goal had changed. He went from being the supervisor to being the biggest cheater in the war!

However...

”Lancer’s connection has been lost?

Not just Lancer—even the Command Spells restraining him have vanished?”

The Holy Grail War hadn’t even officially begun, yet events had already veered off Kirei’s intended track. He looked at his arm in shock, staring at the spot where Bazett’s stolen Command Spells had abruptly disappeared.

”Archer, has anyone broken in here?”

”Ah, Kirei? What kind of nonsense are you talking about?”

Facing Kirei’s inquiry, the blond man—who had only come here out of boredom to find some amusement—replied irritably. After bathing in the black mud and achieving incarnation during

the Fourth War, he could hardly be considered Kirei’s Servant anymore. He could exist in this world through his own power without Kirei’s mana supply.

Besides, even if he were still Kirei’s Servant, he had no obligation to watch the door. He wasn’t that ”hound,” after all.

But then again...

”I thought this would just be a boring play before I reclaimed my throne. I didn’t expect such an interesting scene to occur.”

The blond man said in high spirits, ”Kirei, I look forward to your next performance. Don’t disappoint me.”

With that, the blond man laughed and left the church without giving Kirei a chance to speak. It was as if he weren’t worried about the impropriety of his actions, nor the possibility of a Command-Spell-free Lancer returning for revenge.

”This is truly... the worst-case scenario.”

Kotomine Kirei, unable to stop the blond man’s departure, could only offer a helpless, bitter smile to the empty church. One of the reasons he had backstabbed Bazett and stolen Lancer was because the blond man was simply too difficult to manage. He needed a Servant who would at least follow orders while his true plan unfolded.

But now, it seemed he had truly shot himself in the foot.

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