"You're saying Sakatsuki is likely to act before the official battle begins?"
It was after the Blue faction's retreat, when the Black and Red factions had reached an agreement, that Sieg knocked on Chiron's door and shared her thoughts.
"Though there's no concrete evidence, that's what I believe." The homunculus girl said earnestly, watching the slightly surprised sage. "The Sakatsuki-sensei I know would never pass up an opportunity to weaken our forces."
Chiron fell silent for a moment before shaking his head. "I find it hard to believe that a hero who accepted Achilles' challenge to settle things honorably as warriors would resort to assassination before the declared decisive moment... But I also trust you, Sieg. After all, among us, you were once the closest to Sakatsuki. No one understands a teacher better than their student."
As a hero, he instinctively hoped the one who defeated his disciple would be a noble warrior. But as a strategist, Chiron had to admit that decapitation tactics were the fastest and most efficient way to end a war.
"Then let's proceed like this." Soon, Chiron devised a countermeasure. "To prevent Sakatsuki from causing destruction in the Fortress of Millennia, if he does appear, I'll lure him away—our destination will be the great forest to the west. Meanwhile, I'll relay information to you through certain means, and you, Sieg, will gather the Servants and Masters for an ambush."
To avoid potential spies Sakatsuki might have, Chiron and Sieg didn't inform anyone else. Instead, they repeatedly discussed the plan until finalizing it. As Sieg stood to leave, Chiron called out to her.
"Though it may be presumptuous, I have a question I'd like you to answer, Sieg."
"I'd be happy to. Please go ahead, Lord Chiron." Sieg obediently sat back down on the stool.
So Chiron spoke bluntly:
"The one who saved you from your tragic fate, rescued your life, and guided your growth wasn't us—it was Sakatsuki."
"And I can see you still feel gratitude toward him even now."
Wild geese flew across the high horizon as the sun cast its last rays upon the world. The candle by the windowsill was surrounded by melted wax, and Chiron's voice took on the hazy hue of twilight:
"Given that, why did you choose to help us instead?"
It was a simple question, free of calculation or ulterior motives. Even so, Sieg gathered herself and answered earnestly:
"Because I was taught about freedom—that was the very first lesson Sakatsuki-sensei taught me."
"I returned to the Holy Grail War to save the homunculi. No matter what happens, who becomes my opponent, or who leaves my side, my goal won't change. This is a choice made by my own will—the freedom I uphold."
"I see. It seems the Master's decision to defy all opposition and form a contract with a homunculus was truly a great help." Chiron smiled.
"I'm truly grateful for your help, Master Chiron, and everyone who's supported us... including Teacher Sakatsuki," Sieg smiled as well, recalling her gentle yet ruthless mentor.
"And even if I stand against him now, as long as it's the answer I've reached myself, though he'd never say it aloud, Teacher would surely feel gratified in his heart."
To rejoice in a student's growth, to feel gratified when they finally spread their wings beyond their teacher's shadow—perhaps every mentor secretly hopes their students will surpass and overcome them, for that is the greatest reward of teaching. And as students, they should prove through outstanding achievements that they've grown strong enough to no longer need their teacher's protection.
"That's a beautiful answer, Sieg." Chiron studied Sieg's face, feeling an inexplicable twinge of regret. If Sakatsuki hadn't disrupted this Holy Grail War, if Achilles were still a Red Faction servant and he himself still fought for the Black Faction... Could he too have stood as a teacher, witnessing how far his student had grown?
————
Time returned to the present, in the western Great Forest.
All remaining participants—Ruler Jeanne d'Arc, Saber Mordred, Archer Atalanta, Lancer Karna, and Rider Astolfo—had spread out, maximizing their sensory range to conduct a meticulous, grid-by-grid search for Sakatsuki's possible hiding place. Only Amakusa and Semiramis had yet to regroup.
"Counting them now, it suddenly feels so few..." Kairi sisigou muttered, watching the five servants gradually tightening their net through his familiar's aerial view. "Weren't there fourteen servants at the start? Maybe even more?"
"Red Caster, Black Saber and Black Assassin were recruited by Sakatsuki. Black Lancer, Black Berserker, Black Caster, and Red Rider all fell by Sakatsuki's hand. Red Berserker Spartacus self-destructed." Caules sighed. "Unconsciously, this Holy Grail War has claimed so many servants."
Just then, a heavy voice joined the conversation.
"Please wait—updating with new intelligence..." The white-haired, red-eyed homunculus girl spoke gravely. Caules noticed his elder sister trembling, suppressing quiet sobs.
"Black Archer, the great sage Master Chiron, has also fallen."
Jeanne d'Arc, as Ruler, must have sensed this truth. Her golden figure paused momentarily before resuming the search. Meanwhile, the Masters recovered from their shock—Caules stepped forward to comfort his grieving sister.
"In other words, Sakatsuki, Archer's killer, couldn't have gone far." Kairi lit a cigarette pensively, his expression obscured by swirling gray smoke. "If only we could end everything here and now."
"The teacher isn't someone who can be defeated so easily." Sieg shook his head, having quietly become the de facto leader among the Masters while Fiore was despondent. "Chiron and I never intended to kill Sakatsuki either. Our plan was to use Sakatsuki as bait to lure out as many enemy Servants as possible, then eliminate them one by one."
If their leader was surrounded, the Blue Faction's Servants would surely intervene. But not all possessed Sakatsuki's escape methods. Though they might wield considerable power, they'd stand no chance against the combined might of five Servants.
Indeed, both Chiron and Sieg had aimed to weaken enemy forces. However, Sakatsuki's decisiveness exceeded all expectations. A single miscalculation meant Chiron never lived to see reinforcements arrive—his spiritual core was pierced, forcing his early exit from the war.
Yet the time bought with his life allowed this counter-strategy to achieve its intended effect—
"Detecting magical energy fluctuations—got you now, Sakatsuki!"
Astolfo, blessed with Luck Rank A+, detected traces of displacement magecraft through his Noble Phantasm 'Trap of Argalia.' Without hesitation, he drew his second Noble Phantasm 'La Black Luna,' puffing his rosy cheeks before blowing with all his might.
HOOOOON—
The demonic sound resembling dragon roars or divine horse whinnies expanded as invisible shockwaves. Trees toppled, leaves scattered, and amidst the chaos, a figure clutching its ears was forced out of concealment.
The instant Sakatsuki materialized, everyone except Atalante and Jeanne d'Arc sprang into action. Mordred roared while hurling magical energy blasts, Karna activated his 'Eye of the Mind' while gathering flames of mana around his invincible spear—prelude to unleashing an anti-country Noble Phantasm. Even Astolfo tugged his reins, courageously charging atop Hippogriff with a battle cry.
Three-pronged assault in an instant!
The temporarily deafened Sakatsuki floated midair, seemingly immobilized. Yet when energy streams swept through, they only shredded an afterimage. His true form flickered elsewhere—only to find Astolfo already upon him, Hippogriff's full weight slamming into his kidneys!
BAM!
The black-cloaked youth went flying into the thicket, leaves rustling wildly. Even with his myriad techniques, Sakatsuki struggled against three furious Servants—especially after Astolfo's ambush. Worse still, the Black Faction had activated a bounded field sealing the entire forest, making escape impossible.
"No choice then..." Sakatsuki murmured, about to activate a Command Spell for teleportation when gray mist seeped through the night woods. His partially restored hearing caught a child's earnest shout:
"Daddy don't worry! Jackie and Mama are here to help!"
"Jackie?" Sakatsuki blinked in surprise, spotting Reika Rikudou waving at him nearby. "Reika? Why are you here?"
"Mr. Shakespeare said you were in danger, so he sent us to assist."
Reika still maintained her graceful demeanor, though without the power of the dark magi, she appeared much more fragile in the darkness. "But with so many Servants here, Mr. Sakatsuki, you've really caused quite a mess. You'll have to face a proper scolding from Miss Artoria when we get back. For now, let's take advantage of Jack distracting them and make our escape quickly."
Shakespeare, that troublemaker...
Sakatsuki could almost see the triumphant grin of the great playwright. Before he could explain anything, Reika Rikudou grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the other end of the forest.
As the mist cleared, the Black Faction's Servants searched around, but Sakatsuki was nowhere to be seen.
"Dammit, after them!"