Chapter 584: First Match, Begin
Gawain, nephew of the great King Arthur, the most radiant presence among the Knights of the Round Table, and the origin of the term "Prince Charming."
[Gawain possesses threefold grace, glory, and strength at noon, blessings bestowed by three fairies.]
This is the unique legend imprinted upon Gawain. Bearing the blessings of saints, he is renowned as a peerless knight unmatched by any during daylight.
For such a gallant and radiant knight to sense a connection with Sakatsuki, a traveler, there could only be one possible explanation—a bond shared among the Round Table.
Unlike Assassin, who abandoned this skill, Sakatsuki, manifested as the Archer class, had not forgotten it. However, suppressed by the Moon Cell, it had turned gray, which was why Gawain could vaguely sense it.
"What's wrong, Gawain?" Noticing Gawain's unusual behavior, Leo turned to him. Without hesitation, Gawain reported his feelings to his Master.
"Hmm... You're saying you sensed an aura similar to that of you Round Table Knights from Sakatsuki?"
Even Leo was slightly taken aback, never expecting Sakatsuki to have ties with heroes from a thousand years ago. Not just him—Rin, Shinji, and even Hakuno couldn't help but glance at the composed young man upon hearing Gawain's explanation.
Could it be that Sakatsuki, who appeared so young, was actually an ancient monster who had lived for a millennium?
"N-no way, right?" Rin forced a laugh, interrupting everyone's wild imaginations. "Maybe he inherited a relic from the Round Table Knights, so he carries their aura? Like a legacy bearer from the old era."
"Indeed, that's also a possibility..." Leo mused, unable to resist scrutinizing Sakatsuki again. He suppressed his doubts, deciding to ask his brother Julius to investigate as soon as they returned.
After all, he was backed by the Western European conglomerate, an organization that truly controlled the planet. How could they not have records on 'legacy bearers'?
Yet Rhongomyniad, the Spear of the Vanguard, had been lost, and the magi guarding King Arthur's tomb had perished in the calamity... By now, all relics of the Arthurian lineage should have been completely scattered.
Sakatsuki, appearing out of nowhere, and an aura even Gawain could sense...
It was truly fascinating.
Encountering such a mysterious opponent in this tournament was incredibly intriguing.
The boy's eyes sparkled, but just then, an unmistakable sneer sounded beside him.
"Tch..." Shinji, the blue-haired boy, scowled darkly as he leaned closer to Leo. "You bastard, you really dare to ignore the champion for this long!"
Talking to Rin, talking to Sakatsuki, talking to Hakuno... yet completely ignoring him, who was standing right there!
This kind of arrogance, identical to the others, was even worse than Sakatsuki's sharp tongue—at least Sakatsuki acknowledged his existence!
"Let me make one thing clear—I'm the one who's going to win this game! Whether it's Harvey or whatever, I don't really get it, but you're all way too full of yourselves!"
Frogs in a well.
Faced with Matou Shinji's provocative words, those who heard them couldn't help but cast pitying glances, as if looking at a naive child in elementary school who thought they were the greatest in the world just because they received an award.
Any magi who had stepped into the harsh reality of their world could not ignore the towering presence of the Western financial conglomerates. Even if one didn't become their vassal, all magical materials and literature had to be obtained through the conglomerate's various facilities.
Just what kind of backwater hick would act like a stray dog, barking provocatively at a napping tiger?
And the tiger merely lazily lifted its eyelids, utterly indifferent to the dog's yapping.
"How terribly rude of me. My apologies for inadvertently causing you displeasure," Leo said with a laugh, his smile devoid of any shadow of offense. "Might I ask your esteemed name?"
This was the greatest challenge to Shinji's pride. Under Leo's polite yet distant smile, the last thread of Shinji's rationality snapped.
"Damn it... How dare you look down on me!" Shinji slammed his tray onto the table, scattering food everywhere as he raised his arm and loudly summoned the blade representing his status as a Master. "Come forth, Rider!"
A flash of light appeared, and the red-haired female pirate clad in leather, with scars on her face, opened her eyes and glanced back with visible displeasure.
"Shinji, I'm a hired pirate. Extra work comes with a hefty fee, you know."
"Money's no object! Teach that guy's Servant a lesson!"
"Hah... A Servant, huh? Fine." Drake sighed as if resigned, her ornately decorated flintlock pistols slipping into her palms. With a crisp click, the previously peaceful cafeteria instantly transformed into a turbulent battlefield.
"If we're playing the villains, might as well do it right!"
Without hesitation, Drake raised her arms and pulled the triggers aimed at Gawain, then kicked off the ground, darting forward like a nimble leopard.
"Idiot, you're really picking a fight here...!" Rin Tohsaka quickly dragged Hakuno away from the battlefield, leaving Sakatsuki sitting alone at the edge of the fray, watching the nearby conflict alongside Leo, who remained motionless.
Facing the incoming bullets, Leo merely gave a glance, and Gawain's aura shifted instantly. The holy sword of the sun, sister blade to 'Excalibur,' was now in his grasp, followed by a mighty downward slash!
A fierce gale instantly overturned the surrounding tables. Just moments ago, he had been the refreshingly smiling prince charming, but as he swung his holy sword, it was as if he had seized the authority of the sun itself—his domineering, radiant presence seemingly capable of cleaving through all obstacles before him!
Such a dazzling sword flash!
As the brilliance of the blade stole everyone's vision, no one noticed the two bullets being crushed into dust by the sheer pressure of the sword's swing, their owner brushing past the imposing knight in a fleeting moment.
"Hmph." Her severed red locks fluttering, sweat trickling down her face, Drake glared at Gawain, whose expression hadn't changed since the fight began. With a flick of her wrist, she reloaded fresh ammunition, clearly preparing to attack again.
"Rin, if we don't stop them soon..." Hakuno looked urgently at Rin Tohsaka, only to find the girl staring intently at the battlefield, showing no intention of intervening or looking away.
Not just Rin Tohsaka, but everyone present had their eyes fixed solely on Leo and Gawain from the very beginning...
"Judging by the weapon, the class should be Saber."
"No way, does that mean Gawain is his true name?"
"He doesn't seem to be trying to hide it."
"What's the countermeasure..."
Amid the clamor, Hakuno helplessly looked to Sakatsuki, but he too was staring intently at the confrontation between Gawain and Drake. Sensing his Master's anxiety, he casually waved a hand behind his back.
No need to rush. Did they really think they could fight in the cafeteria without consequences? Did they take the Moon Cell for granted?
"Enough, both of you."
The sound of steady footsteps broke the tense standoff between the two Servants. A man clad in solemn priestly robes with a purple stole, a cross necklace swaying at his chest, stepped forward before the crowd.
"While participants may have acted recklessly during the preliminaries, private duels are prohibited in the main tournament. I trust you will exercise self-restraint."
"Stay out of this!" Shinji, consumed by rage, paid no heed. He raised his arm, dangerous magical energy gathering in his palm.
Yet the man merely glanced at him, effortlessly nullifying Shinji's magecraft.
"My name is Kirei Kotomine, the NPC overseeing this Holy Grail War." The man with the familiar name stood with his hands behind his back, announcing his presence to all in the cafeteria. "Save your battles for the appointed days. Do not engage in combat within Tsukimihara Academy, or you will face the consequences."
An invisible force descended, separating the two Servants. Shinji clutched his arm, writhing in pain from the punishment, and gritted his teeth. "You got lucky this time, Leo. Just you wait!"
But Leo didn't respond. He simply nodded to Kirei Kotomine before leaving with the unscathed Gawain.
"Shinji... are you okay?" Hakuno looked worriedly at her friend, but then she suddenly felt Kirei Kotomine's gaze turn toward her.
"Speaking of which, Shinji Matou and Hakuno Kishinami—supposedly opponents in the first round—getting along so intimately is rather amusing. Or are you two plotting something behind the scenes?"
"...Huh?"
————
"I'm home~"
The door to her room slid open, and warm light flooded in as the young man flicked the switch, illuminating the girl sprawled listlessly on the bed.
The cafeteria incident had ended. As the overseer of the Holy Grail War, Kirei Kotomine's appearance wasn't just about the two Servants fighting—he had come to announce a message to all Masters:
After recalculations by the Moon Cell, the matchups for the first round had been rearranged.
And Hakuno Kishinami's opponent was none other than Shinji Matou, the friend she had made during the preliminaries.
"Having to fight a former friend without even knowing the reason or purpose?" the girl muttered incoherently. "It's like a nightmare..."
"Such despondency doesn't suit you, Master." The mattress dipped as Sakatsuki sat beside Hakuno. Moonlight streaming through the window cast a serene glow on his calm face. "Hesitation won't get you anywhere. Answers and meaning—you'll only find them by moving forward."
"Even so," the girl flopped over like a salted fish, her hazel eyes fixed on Sakatsuki's chin. "Speaking of which, aren't you angry, Sakatsuki? Shinji said such things, you know?"
After receiving the news from Kirei Kotomine, rather than being shocked, Shinji had burst into laughter with an air of absolute confidence.
[Ha ha ha, how LUCKY! My first-round opponent is Hakuno? And some mere magi-turned Servant is going to face me? This is practically a guaranteed win!]
[Ahhh, I can't wait to see Sakatsuki kneeling before me, weeping in despair!]
That behavior was hardly befitting of a friend—it was more like something an enemy would do. Yet Hakuno could sense that Shinji bore no murderous intent toward them. If that was the case, there could only be one reason for such words—
"That idiot Shinji... could he still not understand what the Holy Grail War truly means?"
"You can't expect a fledgling to learn resilience until it leaves the shelter of childhood and is battered bloody by reality." Sakatsuki sighed softly. "It's just a shame that the moment he steps out of the greenhouse, full of hope, he's faced with the abyss of death. The price of such ignorance is far too cruel."
"..."
"You're making a face like a rain-soaked puppy."
Hakuno's cheek was poked by a finger. She turned her gaze away in annoyance, only to catch a glimpse of Sakatsuki's teasing eyes.
"Such a helpless expression—my, my, how delightful."
The more he savored the girl's vulnerable look, the more pleased Sakatsuki became, relishing the familiar amusement.
You're wavering, Hakuno.
Is it the fear of crossing blades with a friend? Or is it pity for one who knows nothing?
Or perhaps... have you already begun to question the necessity of this battle?
"All we can do now is believe in the possibilities of the future and move forward, right?"
Gently stroking Hakuno's cheek, Sakatsuki chuckled, his golden eyes brimming with moonlight. "Who knows? By the time we reach the end, everything might just fall into place."
Though she knew it was mere comfort, the warmth radiating from the young man's palm made Hakuno close her eyes and sigh silently.
"I hope... so..."
And so, the first round drew near. When the next morning arrived after the dream, standing before the finals venue side by side with her friend, Hakuno still felt a sense of unreality.
"Welcome to the battleground. It seems the two of you are prepared."
The priest who called himself Kirei Kotomine stood at the entrance, his expression devoid of joy or sorrow. "There is only one entrance and exit to the finals. Only one pair will return to the academy. If you are resolved, then push open the gates."
Master—Kishinami Hakuno stepped forward.
Master—Matou Shinji stepped forward.
Two arms pushed open the door of fate.
The first round—begins.