Lancer fires up his spear. His Noble Phantasm again.
Can I take the hit? Of course I'll die. But there's a slight chance I won't.
And if I die, I'll be erased forever.
But… I know the trajectory of that spear. I can gamble.
Let's see if I go rich or die trying.
"Hey, Lancer! I'm back from hell!"
He glances my way...
...only to get punished instantly by Saber.
"What's with you kids? I just killed you both and somehow you come back to life?" His annoyed voice is crystal clear.
Honestly, I enjoy how irritated he sounds.
"Hey, Lancer, guess what I learned? Your true name is Cú Chulainn. That spear gives you away way too easily." Hearing me expose him. He grinds his teeth in anger.
Oh, that angry face. That's what I was waiting for.
Come on. Use your Noble Phantasm. I'm literally standing here.
Lancer knocks Saber a few meters away and charges it up.
"Gae Bolg!"
I brace for him to aim at me... but no. He goes straight for Saber.
…That wasn't the plan.
If this bastard isn't going to follow the script, why do I even bother making one?!
You've truly pissed me off, Lancer.
I sigh. Then whisper a short chant. "Ruler's Domain."
"Drop your weapons."
The bounded field expands instantly, amplifying my command seal, making it impossible for Servants to reject my orders.
Saber tries to resist, but Lancer freezes completely.
Of course Saber resists. Saber-class has magic resistance. But this isn't magic; it's territory manipulation. Magic resistance doesn't help you here.
The downside? I lose a command spell.
Well… not that big.
Sorcerers really do have broken abilities.
If I became a president somewhere, I'd dominate any meeting with "Ruler's Domain."
"Saber, relax and check on your master. I need to talk with this guy." My eyes stay fixed on Lancer.
She hesitates, but lowers her weapon, freeing herself from the command's grip.
She heads to the shed, probably to talk with Shirou.
"Hey Lancer. Even though you've killed today, I'm a merciful man. How about cutting your ties with your old master and becoming my Servant instead?"
He refuses to drop Gae Bolg.
Fine. You want to be stubborn?
"Lancer, if you don't want to serve under me, I'll just give another command… something like... 'impale your heart.'"
I raise my left hand. One of the marks already gone. Two remaining command seals starting to glow.
I step up to him and punch him across the face. "That's for killing me."
Lancer drops his spear... And immediately sweeps his leg at my head.
I bend backward at the last second.
Ow, ow, ow... My back, I did that way too fast.
Getting close was a mistake.
Lancer uses the opening to slip out of the domain's range.
I'm starting to see why the real Ryouma calls me impotent.
I really should give him a nickname or calling him real is getting annoying.
I sigh. Guess I'll check on Shirou.
As I approach the shed, Saber and Shirou run out.
Damn… I wanted to congratulate him, and he just leaves?
Man, I'm beat.
"Yeah guys go on, I'll stay and clean the house!" They're gone before I finish speaking.
"Concept Return."
The rubble flies back into place, restoring the house to its original condition.
Sadly, it drains me like crazy. And since Shirou never ate the scrambled kimchi, every ingredient returns too. Truly a waste of food.
Puff. Puff. "I hate doing magic outside bounded fields…" My head feels light.
Soon after, Shirou and Saber return with two more people.
"Rin? What are you doing here?"
Well… this is awkward.
We all sit down for explanations.
I can't take this silence. All three staring, waiting for someone else to speak, it's torture.
Ugh. Forget it.
Clears throat "What a surprise, Rin, for you to worry about us."
She doesn't answer. Great. Awesome.
"Shirou, congratulations on summoning a Servant. And a Saber class, no less."
Please. Someone speak.
"Ah, yeah… I still don't really get what's going on." Shirou scratches his cheek.
To my right: Shirou and Saber.
To my left: Rin. Archer's up on the roof, watching the surroundings.
And me? I'm stuck in the middle of the table.
You know what? Screw this.
"You're all driving me crazy! Can someone other than me speak? No? Fine! I'm going to school in the middle of the damn night to clean the bloody mess. Bye!"
So I leave, go to the school, and clean up the crime scene where Shirou died.
Couldn't stand the silence.
And that's how my night went. I end up sleeping at my desk.
In the memories… I lost my way home.
Well, technically my home is just a basement, but I like calling it "home."
Not like I had anything worth keeping anyway.
Yawn. So sleepy. A little nap won't hurt.
---
"Huh? Why am I in the mind palace?"
The mind palace is where the real Sorcerer Ryouma Junketsu stays.
A green field with endless amount of colorful flowers stretching almost infinitely.
In the middle, a small white table, chairs, and an umbrella.
If I could, I'd live here forever.
Don't even get me started on the flowers and sunsets.
It's beautiful.
"Hey, Concept."
Ah, that voice. Dark, rough like a lifelong smoker.
That's Ryouma Junketsu.
He looks almost exactly like me.
Except his clothes look like something straight out of Harry Potter.