"Since you've already made up your mind, Hassan, I will do my best as well."
"I'll return to the wilderness to prepare for the assault on the Holy City. There are still villages that can be persuaded. One way or another, I'll try to gather at least a thousand more warriors. Chaldea, let's regroup later at the Eastern Village."
Leaving those words behind, Hundred Faces departed.
"Eh? Resolve? What resolve?" Fujimaru and the others were still confused by her words. Only Gawainiel showed a look of realization.
"It's nothing," Hassan of the Cursed Arm said evenly. "I've decided to seek out a certain powerful figure to join us, one who will become our decisive trump card in the battle for the Holy City. Please, follow me. Beyond this village lies a deeper, more hidden valley, where even the people of the mountains dare not tread—the Sanctuary of Azrael."
"Azrael? The Angel of Death, Azrael?" Romani's spiritron projection flickered into view, his expression startled.
"Yes. Under Heaven's decree, the great archangel who manifests to proclaim death to mankind. But the one we seek is not truly that angel—it is the Assassin forced to bear his name against his will: the very first 'Old Man of the Mountain,' the founder of our order."
"If that lord is willing to lend his aid, the Round Table will be nothing to fear. Perhaps even the Lion King could be dealt with."
"The First Old Man of the Mountain… the ancestor of all Assassins? If he truly joins us, that would be incredible." Fujimaru, though not fully understanding, instinctively felt this was a formidable ally.
"Mm, but I'm not so sure," Romani interjected, doubtful. "Even if he's the First Hassan, he's still an Assassin, isn't he? Assassins excel at striking down humans, but… can he really contend with the current Knights of the Round and the Lion King, who wields blessings so freely?"
"?" Gawainiel raised an eyebrow. He admired Romani, but the man often said puzzling things.
"You're right, Doctor," Hassan said. "But remember—even Solomon, famed as he was, was still just a Caster. Yet if you hadn't seen it with your own eyes, would you believe a Caster could bring all of humanity to the brink of extinction?"
"Eh? W-well…" Romani stammered, suddenly looking flustered. "Th-that's different! He's a Grand Caster! Not the same as a normal Caster…"
"Then tell me this, Doctor: as the very first Assassin, who else but him could truly be the Grand Assassin?"
"...Damn. When you put it that way, you're right," Romani admitted. "If he joins us, then even the Lion King won't be a problem!"
Thus, the group resolved to accompany Hassan to the Sanctuary of Azrael.
Meanwhile, at the Eastern Village's rear mountain, under the blazing sun, Bavanzi was still searching desperately. She wandered tirelessly through the barren wasteland, trying to find even a few small blossoms.
The children had once said that flowers blooming in such a land symbolized the will of their mountain people. If flowers could survive here, then they too could find a path through hopeless circumstances.
On the day of the attack, she had gone with the children to search for such flowers, but they never found any. When they returned, the village was already aflame.
She clenched her teeth. She could not accept it.
Did this mean the children were never meant to live in the first place?
She remembered their smiles at that meager banquet, when they had listened to her tales of battle with shining eyes full of admiration. Their joy was sincere. Their hope was real.
She thought of her younger self, before meeting her mother.
Back then, she had only known how to smile, thinking perhaps the cruel fae would spare her. But reality was different: if you were not strong enough, you were doomed to be bullied, abused, and killed.
"Bavanzi."
As she searched fruitlessly for flowers, a familiar voice suddenly called from behind.
Her body froze. Slowly, disbelieving, she turned around.
There she was—the silver-haired queen. Standing quietly, holding a bouquet of flowers.
"I've learned the truth of what happened. Now, you wish to find flowers here, don't you?"
"But you need not. Bavanzi, whether you or those children are allowed to live is not decided by others, nor by this land."
"I will teach you. A spell to make flowers bloom here."
"And if you desire, I will also teach you the sorcery needed to exact vengeance upon that man."
The queen's voice was calm and resolute.
Even with Hassan guiding them, the journey to and from the Sanctuary of Azrael would take two full days. To avoid leaving the Western Village defenseless against further attacks, only Hassan, Mash, Fujimaru, and Gawainiel went. The rest stayed to protect the village.
Thus began a long and arduous trek.
The road tested them with deadly cliffs so narrow only half a foot could pass, and flying beasts that attacked along those precipices. The horrors rivaled even the Pillar World and the diseased village…
Even if the enemies were weak by ordinary standards, the terrain was merciless. Gawainiel ended up dying several times—all from falls—just to cover the others and ensure safe passage.
At last, after defeating the deathly guardians at the temple's entrance, they reached the Sanctuary of Azrael.
The temple was ancient and mysterious, blending Eastern and Western styles. Weathered stone bore carvings of time, and even from afar, one could feel its solemn presence.
As they stepped within, the howling mountain winds faded, replaced by a silence so profound it felt like another world. The air itself seemed heavy, suffused with death, daring none to disturb it.
"So this is the Sanctuary of Azrael… Doesn't seem all that special," Romani muttered from the safety of his projection.
"No, Doctor," Mash said tensely. "It's a crushing pressure you can't feel remotely. There's no magical reaction, no Servant signatures, no sound or life at all. And yet… my whole body trembles. It feels like both flesh and soul want to flee."
"So it's that bad… then maybe I should keep quiet," Romani admitted. "But wait, Gawainiel doesn't look bothered at all."
"Huh?" Mash and Fujimaru turned, surprised.
Gawainiel stood calmly before a skeletal statue, examining the skull motifs carved across the walls. "Your Assassins really have a strange aesthetic… why so many skulls?"
"...Sir Gawainiel, could you please show some respect? This is our sacred ground," Hassan said gravely.
"Uh—sorry?" Gawainiel scratched his cheek.
"No need for apologies… but I must ask," Hassan pressed, unable to hide his curiosity. "Why are you so calm? Here, the stench of death is overwhelming. Any being with a desire for life should fear it. Even I, trained long to walk on the edge of life and death, find it suffocating. Yet you are utterly unaffected. How?"
"What? Death's aura?" Gawainiel blinked. "Oh, is that what this is? Honestly, I don't feel any pressure. If anything… it feels oddly familiar. Like coming home. Maybe I've just died too many times—I've gotten used to it."
At that moment, a solemn voice rang out from the temple depths:
"I see… the waters of annihilation, symbol of death. An unexpected guest indeed."
Hassan instantly fell to his knees, trembling, not daring to speak.
The voice echoed strangely, near and far, drifting through the air:
"Disciples of magecraft, and you who embody death yet deny it—I have heard your voices, and your desire to save this era. This blade shares your intent."
"Yet know this: the sword and the death knell I wield do not come from my own power. They are the embodiment of fated demise—the destined death of all things."
"The enemies you seek are already bound by their fate. Their deaths are decreed. My hand is not needed. Return."
"Beyond these walls, you will find the Lion King's destined enemy."
As the voice faded, a storm of sand swept through the temple, blinding them and casting them outside.
When they regained their senses, they were already at the entrance.
"Were we… thrown out?" Fujimaru muttered. "But didn't he also say he'd help us?"
"I think so," Mash said, rubbing her head. "But it sounded like we'd meet the Lion King's destined foe outside. Wait—when did someone else get here?"
She suddenly noticed a figure hanging upside down from one of the temple statues.
Gawainiel froze at the sight.
"Artoria? Why are you here?"