The woman still did not choose the method Shirou offered.
Not because she didn't trust him, but because she knew the young man couldn't protect them forever.
A person like that must have been born with some mission.
She didn't want to delay the young man.
Besides, the Holy City was false; this world only held cruelty, and the weak had no room to survive, they were destined to die here.
So, besides accepting it, there was no other way.
———
In the night sky, the stars began to twinkle, the specks of light making the Chalk City appear all the more radiant and splendid.
At the main gate of the Holy City, nearly a thousand refugees had gathered here.
Shirou hid among the crowd, observing the inscription on the flawless gate.
[Only the pure may pass]
Judging by that, it might require special means to see the Lion King.
Shirou certainly did not consider himself any kind of pure person.
———
"Dr. Roman, we've arrived at the Holy City," After leaving the Sun King Ozymandias's territory and a series of forced marches, Fujimaru Ritsuka finally came to the ideal city that could be vaguely seen from the desert.
["It's incredible… In such a broken age, there stands such a magnificent wall,"] Roman's amazement came through the comms.
Immediately after, a blue holo-screen appeared before Fujimaru Ritsuka, Mash, and Leonardo da Vinci.
On the screen the weary youth continued to sigh, ["Judging by this, this must be the domain where the holy land is located."]
["A huge chalk wall that seems to isolate it from the world… the so-called Holy Capital?"]
Olga Marie's voice came from the screen, then her exquisitely tsundere face appeared within, ["Fujimaru Ritsuka, I don't need to repeat your mission briefing, do I?"]
Olga Marie assumed the tone of a director, ["In short, act carefully. That red-haired Archer who mercilessly hunted Assassin out in the wastes (Tristan), you saw him; he's absolutely not a Servant we can contend with. So prioritize your own safety; my only requirement is one thing, come back alive, and complete the mission."]
Olga Marie issued the order.
After the burning of Fuyuki City, she no longer indulged in self-pity.
At least surviving is more important than anything.
That would also repay the man for saving her life.
Really, back at Chaldea she'd found out that fellow was still only half-grown.
Much younger than herself.
By comparison she felt so immature and useless.
"I understand, Director."
Facing Olga Marie's earnest admonition, Fujimaru Ritsuka nodded seriously.
Having gone through five Singularities and now arriving at the sixth, she had long since shed her initial naivety and grown more mature.
Mash gazed at the Holy City and for some reason felt sad, just like when she'd seen that red-haired Archer.
A pain hard to express filled her chest; she said, "If Emiya-senpai were here, surely he wouldn't let these things happen…"
The sudden words quieted those around them.
Silence stretched between them, and Mash realized she had misspoken, lowering her head, "Sorry, I shouldn't have said that."
"It's fine, Mash," Fujimaru's voice was calm, her expression resolute, "We move forward not to part, but to meet again. Believe that one day we will surely see Emiya-senpai again!"
"Ritsuka…", The two exchanged looks.
"Pause, pause!", Da Vinci, stashing away the Sphinx, said, "Although it's a mood-killer, let this great genius play the bad guy for a bit."

"Now please focus all your attention here; lament later when we're back at Chaldea."
"Da Vinci is right."
Olga Marie took a deep breath, cast off the moment's melancholia and said bluntly, ["You sneak in quietly and wait for the opportunity to enter the Holy Capital. No matter what, you must see the Lion King."]
"Got it~", Da Vinci replied in her enthusiastic tone:
"Our outfits do draw attention though…"
"Wait… who's peeking from behind that rock?"
Upon hearing that, the group immediately prepared for combat.
"Could the Lion King have noticed the refugees?", Fujimaru guessed.
After being spotted, the hidden person revealed themself.
Dressed like a Middle Eastern merchant traveling the desert with camels:
"Heh heh heh… top quality goods here. Your clothes are real luxury, did you come from the desert?"
The merchant sported a thick beard and spoke with greasy slickness, "Are you here to participate in the Holy Selection Ritual? If you listen to me, you'd best return to the desert. Of course, before that please hand over all your belongings… Don't worry, I'll buy them at market prices."
This was the bandit-merchant Shirou had mentioned.
Unexpectedly, even after being beaten by him, he hadn't changed his ways.
As Shirou had judged, the man was actually not such a bad guy.
So at first he didn't plan on extorting them.
"Who is this guy?", Fujimaru almost gave a deadpan stare.
"A bandit merchant… typical, huh," The great genius Da Vinci immediately worked out the man's intention, "As long as someone stays around the Holy City, fools like us will keep coming by. But something about his behavior feels off."
She just had a sense of incongruity about the man's method.
Robbing refugees and buying up their stuff at a single coin price.
What valuable things could refugees possibly have?
"Who cares how weird he is," Fujimaru cut the comm, "Bullying the weak is bad enough, but doing it to us too… Mash, give him a little punishment."
"Understood, Master!"
Mash immediately set aside the dining tray and jumped forward with a punch to the face.
Thud!
The bandit-merchant was hit hard, seeing stars and staggering.
Sensing Mash might keep going, he hurriedly dropped to his knees begging for mercy, "Wait… I surrender, I give up!.Why are all the people who came today so p*rverse. That red-haired hungry ghost earlier was like that, and you lot too."
"Surrendering already?"
Mash was a bit surprised he gave up so quickly, but she really did stop.
If Shirou were here he definitely would have taunted, ["Idiot, you can't stop without any precautions, what if they're tricking you?"]
Fortunately, the bandit truly did surrender; he lamented, "If I don't surrender I might lose my life. It's not worth dying over such paltry gain."
"Didn't expect a bandit with a sense of self-preservation."
Da Vinci mused, "From your accent, are you not a Muslim merchant?"
"…Such a familiar name," The bandit's eyes showed nostalgia, "Not long ago your words were not wrong."
"Mix pleasure and greed together, even with those Crusaders things are a good business."
"But then, when the Holy Capital appeared… the Crusaders were immediately wiped out. If I hadn't been clever and quick to kneel and beg, I would have died too."
"But when I came to my senses, all my companions around had already been killed…"
"How… how could this happen!"
Mash was shocked, "Even unarmed merchants… weren't spared!"
There had been too many such gruesome scenes along the way; the corpses strewn about weren't exaggeration.
"Good opportunity!"
The bandit did a sit-up, "You were careless, little knight girl, bye bye!"
"You're leaving now?"
Da Vinci lamented, "I wanted to ask more questions."
"Information costs money. But looking at you lot and that red-haired hungry ghost, you're all the same type; I really don't want to trade with you."
"So farewell… If you can sense something off, listen to me, get out fast… That city, it's not a place for the living to enter."
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