Matou Shinji—no, it should be Matou Zouken—had naturally already summoned a Servant.
But given who he was and what he'd done, there was no way he could explain things clearly to a heroic spirit. He couldn't admit what was really happening in that basement, and he certainly couldn't confess the truth of his own identity.
So the Servant he summoned could only stay upstairs.
That was precisely why it was even easier for Shichen to deal with him. Even if there'd been one more Servant to handle, it wouldn't have been a problem.
"No need," Shichen shook his head. "Once the Master is dead, the Servant won't last long unless they form a new contract."
He'd already checked who Zouken had summoned. Inside Shichen's barrier, he could basically confirm anything he wanted.
Of course, the barrier had attracted the Servant's attention—but it didn't matter. They couldn't break it.
Not unless Shichen's mana ran out.
And with his mana being essentially endless, that was never going to happen.
The Servant Zouken summoned was still Medusa—the mature version. It wasn't "fate" so much as the fact that Zouken had a relic tied to her.
Shichen didn't know Medusa very well. He only knew that in her younger days she'd been innocent, while her adult self was a bit… restrained and quiet.
But Shichen doubted Medusa would seek out a new Master.
He had no grudge against her, and there was no need to exterminate her. Without a Master supplying mana, a Servant wouldn't be able to remain in the world for long anyway.
"I'll follow Master's lead," Lily said obediently.
"Is that really okay?" Rin Tohsaka still looked uneasy. "Won't it leave loose ends?"
Shichen chuckled. "Why are you so bloodthirsty?"
"I'm not!" Rin protested. "I'm just thinking 'what if,' just in case."
"Relax," Shichen said, reassuring her. "Servants aren't ordinary people. They're heroes. Aside from a few twisted exceptions, their morals are usually fine. They won't go around harming civilians."
"How would you know that?" Rin shot back.
"What don't I know?" Shichen countered.
"…Always so mysterious," Rin muttered, but she did relax.
"Alright," Shichen said. "Next stop. Hopefully there are multiple Servants gathered there—we'll take them all in one sweep."
"Multiple? Where?" Rin asked.
"Ryuudou Temple."
Shichen took Lily and Rin to Ryuudou Temple.
Like the Matou estate, it felt gloomy and deserted—but there wasn't that same corrupt stench. Instead, the place was quiet, almost serene.
Ryuudou Temple sat atop a mountain. Beneath it lay a major leyline, and the Greater Grail was actually hidden here.
Shichen planned to deal with the Greater Grail while he was at it—so there would never be another Holy Grail War in this place again.
Instead of flying straight into the temple grounds, Shichen led the two girls up the long stone steps.
Climbing stairs was good for your body—training your lungs and heart…
…Okay, fine. He didn't need the exercise. He just wanted to meet that swordsman.
"I remember the student council president lives here," Rin suddenly said halfway up. "Does that mean he's a Master too?"
They'd already climbed a good portion of the steps, yet her breathing was steady as if nothing happened.
Lily was the same, of course.
Lily was a Servant, but Rin's physical condition really was impressive. Shichen even remembered her nickname—something like "Muscle Devil Rin."
He definitely wasn't going to say that out loud.
"The student council president… Issei Ryuudou?" Shichen recalled the name.
"That's him," Rin nodded.
"Are you close with him?"
"No, not really…" Rin started, then noticed Shichen staring at her. "Shichen-nii?"
Was there something on her face?
"It's nothing," Shichen looked away and nodded. "So you're not close with him."
"Shichen-nii, what's wrong?" Rin asked suspiciously.
"Nothing," he replied flatly.
"There's clearly something…"
"Master's probably feeling a tiny bit jealous," Lily cut in.
"What jealous? Don't talk nonsense!" Shichen denied immediately.
Rin blinked at him—then smiled.
Lily had obviously hit the mark.
He actually cared about Rin's relationship with the student council president.
"What are you smiling about?" Shichen complained. "Lily's just talking nonsense. She's never even been in a relationship—she's a kid who doesn't understand anything."
"Master, I'm not a kid!" Lily pouted. "I may be inexperienced, but I'm a graceful young lady."
"Who calls themselves 'graceful'?"
"Do you think I'm not pretty?" Lily tilted her head.
"…Fine," Shichen couldn't bring himself to lie. "You're pretty."
Because Lily was Artoria—of course she was pretty. She'd always been one of his favorite types.
"Hehe!" Lily beamed.
"So, Shichen-nii, you really were jealous?" Rin asked, clearly amused.
"I wasn't. I'm not. Stop making things up."
"I want the truth!" Rin said seriously.
"…Fine. A little," Shichen admitted.
He knew Rin and Issei didn't have that kind of relationship. Still—he also knew they tended to clash at school, like they were natural rivals.
Almost like a bickering "frenemy" pair.
But with everything that had changed, Rin barely interacted with Issei anymore anyway.
"Aww~" Rin looked delighted, her steps suddenly lighter—and faster.
Shichen got dragged into speeding up as well, and since he was still holding Lily, the three of them went from walking side by side to moving in a single line.
Just before reaching the top, Rin abruptly stopped.
"Shichen-nii…"
"Mhm." Shichen stepped up beside her and patted her shoulder, signaling her to stay calm.
"Master." Lily's whole aura sharpened. She moved to the front, protecting them both.
Because up ahead stood someone unusual.
He didn't look modern at all—blue hair tied into a long ponytail with a pale purple ribbon, long side locks hanging down to his collarbones.
Handsome features. A deep purple sleeveless vest over a purple kimono. Purple wrist wraps. Straw sandals. A twig in his mouth.
A long sword in a purple scabbard rested on his shoulder as he stood there casually, watching them with calm eyes.
"Visitors," he spoke, his voice rich and magnetic. "This path is forbidden to you."
"Sasaki, huh?" Shichen called out his name.
"Oh?" Sasaki lifted a brow, clearly pleased. "To be recognized at a glance—this nameless swordsman is honored."
"Sasaki… Sasaki Kojirou?" Rin blurted out in shock.
She knew the name too—but she also knew Sasaki Kojirou wasn't supposed to be a proper Heroic Spirit.
A figure from folklore was harder to establish as an official Servant than someone from recorded history or major myth.
And yet… here he was.
"The young lady knows me too?" Sasaki smiled. "Seems this wandering ghost is more famous than I thought."
"Well, your Tsubame Gaeshi is hard to forget," Shichen said with a grin.
"Oh my. You've exposed my trump card already?" Sasaki sighed, though his tone remained calm.
"You're the one who's exposed now," Shichen replied.
"…Fair enough. If I'm exposed, then I can only fight to the death."
His tone didn't change, but he drew his sword, a pressure rolling out as he leveled it at them.
"Huh? That escalated fast!" Rin jumped.
"My duty is to guard this place," Sasaki replied. "To prevent anyone from entering."
"You can't stop us," Shichen said lightly.
"Even so, I must. That is my Master's order."
"Then you can stay here and guard it," Shichen waved a hand.
A circular, translucent barrier formed in midair and drifted toward Sasaki.
Sasaki frowned, not understanding what it was, but he still swung.
A pale arc flashed—yet the barrier wasn't harmed at all. It reached him and enclosed him.
"Hm?"
Sasaki didn't sense immediate danger. He tested it with his hand—and realized he was trapped.
"Sasaki, just behave and stay here," Shichen said casually. "We're going in."
With that, Shichen took Rin and Lily and walked into the temple grounds without even looking back.
"Wait!" Sasaki tried to stop them—but he couldn't leave the barrier.
This sort of thing was… far too unfair for someone like him.
Shichen didn't stop. He led the two girls inside, leaving Sasaki behind.
Sasaki fell silent for a moment, then let out a helpless sigh.
"Well. I suppose this is as far as I can—…Hm?"
Before he could finish, the barrier suddenly glowed with a soft green light, bathing him.
It wasn't threatening. It felt warm.
He tried to understand what was happening, and then he realized the aches in his body were fading—then vanishing.
He lifted his clothing at the waist and saw it clearly:
His fatal wound… was gone.
"…What is this? I've been saved?"
Shichen's voice drifted back to him from afar.
"I'll finish things quickly. With what little time you have left—go take a look at this world."
Sasaki could only shake his head with a wry smile.