"You two should be thanking me for this," Arthur said as he pulled his beloved Mustang Boss out of the Gate of Babylon, as if that were the most normal thing in the world.
Why was it there?
Obviously, because a treasure should be kept with other treasures.
They could have reached Japan using a spatial portal without any effort, but Irisviel wanted to experience traveling by airplane.
And Arthur… saw no problem in turning everything into a complete experience.
"So… do you want to drive, or would you prefer that I take the wheel?" Arthur asked, casting a sideways glance at Artoria, a faint teasing smile on his lips.
"I'll drive."
Without hesitation, Artoria responded immediately.
Since she had never driven a modern car before, it felt more like an opportunity than a problem.
"Eh?"
Irisviel blinked in surprise.
"You know how to drive?"
"Certainly."
Already seated in the driver's seat, Artoria replied in a firm tone, with a hint of pride she couldn't hide.
"If necessary, I can also pilot that airplane with ease."
Thanks to the "Riding" skill, controlling human-made vehicles was trivial for her.
Irisviel was completely stunned.
"A simple car means nothing to me," Artoria added, crossing her arms briefly before starting the engine.
Arthur let out a low chuckle.
"Really?" Irisviel still looked somewhat uneasy.
And then—
"Aaaaaah!"
"Artie, slow down! Slow down!!"
On the road toward Fuyuki, the Mustang Boss roared like an untamed beast.
The tires screeched.
The engine vibrated.
And Irisviel… screamed.
Meanwhile, Arthur was laughing.
Laughing as if it were the greatest thing in the world.
"Now this is driving worthy of a king!" he commented, holding onto the seat, clearly enjoying himself far more than he should.
In just a few minutes, they arrived in Fuyuki City.
The car slowed down smoothly, blending perfectly into urban traffic as if nothing had happened.
Irisviel, now calmer, gazed out the window with shining eyes.
"What a beautiful city!"
She turned excitedly.
"Artie, Arthur, shall we go shopping first? Since we've come all the way to Japan, we should enjoy it before the war begins."
Hearing that, Artoria raised an eyebrow slightly. "Irisviel, don't you think you're a bit too excited?"
Then—
"Arthur, what do you think? ✪ω✪"
Irisviel turned to Arthur, who had his head resting on her lap, pretending to be asleep… very unconvincingly.
Without opening his eyes, he raised a hand.
"I vote in favor of shopping. I urgently need to change this suit."
"Nice!"
Irisviel clenched her fist excitedly.
"Artie, that means it's two against one!"
"Shopping! Shopping! Shopping!" ×2
Arthur and Irisviel cheered in perfect sync, like two children.
Artoria let out a deep sigh.
"…I really can't do anything with you two."
Even so, she smiled and didn't refuse.
...
After parking the car properly, the trio quickly immersed themselves in the bustling streets.
Within minutes, they had already visited several shops.
And, as the only man in the group, Arthur was carrying all the bags.
"This is starting to feel like labor exploitation…" he commented, though he didn't seem bothered at all.
At his recommendation, Artoria also changed clothes, abandoning her usual black suit.
The result was impossible to ignore.
She now wore a slightly open-collared dress shirt with thin black-and-white stripes, fitting her body elegantly. The neckline accentuated not only her ample chest but also her curves in a striking way. Over the shirt, she wore a well-fitted black blazer that outlined her silhouette perfectly.
The fitted pants complemented the outfit, emphasizing her long legs, while elegant shoes completed the look naturally.
Her long blonde hair was tied into a high ponytail, with a few strands falling softly around her face, softening her expression.
Artoria exuded a mature, elegant, and dangerously attractive presence—effortlessly.
"…I thought you looked good in that black suit, but now I realize I was still underestimating you," Arthur said.
"Do you think so?" she asked, looking at herself with genuine curiosity.
"I think you have no idea how beautiful you are."
He tilted his head slightly.
"What do you think, Iri?"
"I completely agree," Irisviel replied without hesitation, smiling.
Arthur and Iri crossed their arms, analyzing Artoria from head to toe without the slightest shame.
"If we keep this up, I might start getting jealous of all the attention you're attracting," Arthur said suddenly.
As for Arthur himself, he kept the suit, only changing its color from black to red.
After all, he looked much better in red—and he knew it.
---
Amid Irisviel's laughter, night fell quickly.
The full moon rose on the horizon.
On the beach, the cold moonlight illuminated the trio.
A gentle sea breeze carried the faint salty scent of the ocean.
In front of Arthur and Artoria, Irisviel crouched down, removed her shoes, then her socks, and walked barefoot across the sand.
Her movements were light, almost like dancing.
As if she were savoring every second of freedom that moment offered.
Arthur watched in silence, a faint smile on his face.
Meanwhile, Artoria stood beside him.
Both observed Irisviel walking freely along the shore.
A small smile could be seen on both their faces.
"It's been so long since I felt this happy!"
"Arthur, Artie, thank you for being with me."
Irisviel suddenly stopped, spinning lightly on the sand before facing them, her face faintly flushed.
"I'm glad you're enjoying yourself, Iri," Arthur replied.
"This is my first time in the outside world. My entire life until now was spent inside the Einzbern castle."
"Before today, my understanding of the outside came from movies, photographs, and Kiritsugu's stories."
"So being able to spend today with both of you truly made me happy."
She placed her hands over her chest for a moment, as if trying to preserve that feeling.
"So… thank you for spending the whole day with me."
Arthur stepped closer.
"It's nothing."
He placed his hand on her head, gently stroking it in a protective manner.
"We'll stay with you until the end," Artoria added, her voice firm yet sincere.
The three exchanged glances and smiled.
However, moments like that never lasted long.
"Arthur."
Artoria's expression changed instantly, turning serious.
The previous lightness vanished as if it had never existed.
"I know."
Arthur didn't even need to look at her.
His eyes were already fixed across the street, beyond the beach, where an apartment building stood under the city lights.
"An enemy Servant?"
Irisviel interlaced her fingers, her posture growing more cautious.
"Yes."
Artoria nodded.
"He's about 2.5 kilometers from here. It feels like he's inviting us."
"Inviting us, huh?"
Irisviel brushed a strand of hair aside and smiled calmly despite the tension.
"Seems like he's quite confident in his abilities," Arthur commented, a faint smile mixing interest and amusement.
He quickly sent a message to Kiritsugu to inform him.
Turning around, Arthur extended one arm.
Without hesitation, Irisviel approached and settled at his right side, allowing him to hold her by the waist.
"I know you can go on your own… but this will be much faster."
He then opened his other arm.
Artoria watched for a second, then sighed in resignation.
She stepped forward and positioned herself at his left side with surprising naturalness.
Arthur smiled, satisfied—and in the next instant, vanished.
---
With his arms around Irisviel and Artoria, Arthur appeared on a deserted road.
Streetlights illuminated the area.
Low buildings surrounded the silent street.
The moment they appeared, a male voice echoed.
"I spent the whole day walking around the city trying to draw attention, but no one showed themselves. You're the only one who accepted my invitation. I assume you're the Lancer-class Servant, correct?"
Standing before them was a man holding two swords.
A distinct mole rested beneath his right eye.
His gaze was fixed on Arthur.
Hearing his confident—and completely wrong—assumption, Irisviel and Artoria exchanged a quick glance behind Arthur.
Both discreetly raised their hands to their lips.
Their shoulders trembled slightly.
'He's been fooled.' ×3
The trio shared the same thought.
"Yes… I am Lancer."
Arthur answered naturally as Longinus appeared in his hand.
The man in front of them prepared to attack, but then—
"I am the Servant of the Lancer class. My 'true' name is Arthur Morgan. In the name of my Master, I will obtain the Holy Grail."
'…That sounded better than I expected…' Arthur muttered internally.
---
(End of Chapter)