Chapter 362: Kill Command

Chapter 362: Kill Command

The empress, having already drunk quite a bit, was half-leaning against the table in the courtyard. She casually swirled the blue and white porcelain cup in her right hand, completely unaware that her languid grace was more intoxicating than a century-old vintage wine.

Sitting opposite her, enjoying the sight of the drunken beauty before him, Shirou half-closed his eyes in admiration, pity, and relaxation, but without a hint of possessiveness. He grabbed the wine jar, poured a cup for both himself and his companion, and then picked up a piece of boiled egg, placing it in his mouth.

"I say, assassin, do you regret making that contract with me?"

"At this point, you still ask about that? Master, your proposal was intriguing. As long as you can endure my poison, I have no hesitation in assisting you."

"Even if I do not want the Holy Grail?"

"But you still aim to seize the Holy Grail, do you not?"

Semiramis turned her head and looked at Shirou through a haze.

Shirou nodded. "Because I promised someone I would help him make a wish on the Holy Grail for the salvation of all humanity, even though I do not favor this wish. Well, a promise is a promise, and I've already received the reward, so I have to see it through. Moreover, there's the influence of that guy's lingering consciousness. Saints are always so troublesome."

"Saint? Consciousness?"

"I can't tell you now. Just wait a bit longer."

Since Shirou was unwilling to say more, Semiramis did not press further. Many things, like wine, become more fragrant and flavorful with time.

"If that wish is fulfilled, the new world—"

"—will be very dull. That's why I didn't tell you."

"I see. An interesting Holy Grail War, an interesting Master, and a dull wish—such contradictions are interesting too. I've started to think that even without our pact, assisting you wouldn't be unacceptable—if you could curb your tongue a bit."

"Forget it, I can't change my mouth for the rest of my life." Shirou laughed, raising his wine cup. "To an interesting Holy Grail War, cheers."

"Cheers."

The two cups clinked, and each drank their fill.

A gray pigeon landed between their cups, its small head nuzzling against Semiramis's hand.

Semiramis lifted her head, sweeping away the drunkenness from her face, and met the gaze of the familiar that had come to deliver a message. She was both an assassin and a caster.

"Double Summon"—an extremely rare skill allowing one to retain both assassin and caster class abilities.

Thus, Red Assassin had familiars typically exclusive to casters.

Semiramis had been abandoned by her mother at birth, and the pigeons had raised her in place of a wet nurse. Since then, the pigeons have become her eternal friends.

"A report. It seems our berserker has just arrived in Trifas. Archer and Rider are also ready as reserves."

"Oh my. Rider too?"

Both Shirou and Semiramis were aware that Archer was tracking something. Now it seemed Rider had joined in as well.

"He seems to be following Archer—well, it's that Rider. He's likely trying to persuade his fellow countryman, Archer."

There was a slight hint of slyness in Semiramis's voice.

Shirou answered decisively, without a trace of hesitation: "They are all more beautiful than you."

"I don't believe it!" Semiramis protested. She had a rather contradictory personality, disliking others judging by appearances, yet also hating when her beauty was overlooked.

"Believe it or not, it's up to you—in my eyes, they are the most beautiful, unparalleled in the world, no, in the entire multiverse."

"Them? You have more than one wife?"

"Yes."

"Hmph, as expected, all men are greedy and unfaithful." This answer had offended Her Majesty the Empress once again.

Just as Shirou was about to say something, another pigeon landed.

Semiramis set aside her distractions and listened to the pigeon's report.

"The person you asked me to watch for has finally arrived."

"The Ruler, right?"

Upon hearing this, Shirou immediately sat up straight, his right hand rhythmically tapping the table as he carefully calculated various matters.

"Yes. It's confirmed that the Ruler has infiltrated Romania."

Thanks to the network of pigeons spanning the entire country, Shirou and Semiramis could monitor the whole situation without leaving their quarters.

The moment the Ruler materialized and infiltrated the battleground country (Romania), Semiramis's scout pigeons sensed the Servant's inescapable flow of magical energy.

"What should we do?"

"Leaving it alone isn't impossible, but we'd miss a good show."

"A good show?"

"You'll see soon enough. Have Lancer test him. If he can kill her, all the better, though that's unlikely."

"If Rider were here, they could team up," Semiramis lamented.

Among the seven Red Servants, excluding Saber who was acting independently, there were six remaining. Lancer and Rider stood out compared to the other four. Especially Rider, whose fame in Romania could rival that of Vlad III.

Shirou shook his head. "Rider wouldn't accept this task. Even if it were a command from his Master, he'd refuse no matter what—that's the kind of person he is. Ordinary people might call it stubbornness; in a hero, it's called heroic spirit."

Rider wasn't a rebellious Berserker, but he was far from a knight serving a king. If something didn't suit him, he'd openly defy even a king's command. He'd take up arms again only to avenge a friend.

Such a man would never accept an order to kill the Ruler alongside Lancer.

"Lancer is different; he is purely a warrior, loyal to the Lord he recognizes. As long as it's a command from his Master, he wouldn't have the slightest thought of defiance and would act immediately."

This assessment clarified many things for Semiramis.

"This is also why, even though you could directly strip Lancer's Master of their Command Spells, you chose not to and had me control him with poison instead."

"Exactly. To the Red Lancer, I declare: Follow the guidance of the Red Assassin and eliminate the Ruler. The release of your Noble Phantasm is at your discretion!"