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Chapter 9 - Chapter 08: Shock

"You are—"

"Yo, long time no see, golden bastard."

The vessel's memories are evoked.

The true name of the Heroic Spirit before him is 'Cú Chulainn.'

Ireland's Child of Light. The great hero of Celtic mythology who wielded Gáe Bolg and established various legends.

—Once, somewhere not here, in a Holy Grail War of another dimension, he crossed swords with this hero. This is recorded in this vessel, or rather in the main body of the Heroic Spirit in the Throne.

A Servant is something summoned by extracting an aspect of the Heroic Spirit's soul that exists in the Throne of Heroes, manifesting as one facet according to their Class. In other words, they are the shadow of a Heroic Spirit.

Even if they finish their role in one dimension and are summoned again in another, they are merely "a different person infinitely close to the same person" or "the same person infinitely close to a different person."

The experiences accumulated during summoning are returned to the Throne as "records," and when newly summoned, one views them—that is the truth.

To use an analogy, it's like reading a movie or novel where you're the protagonist. You feel affinity, but you're never the actual person involved.

Therefore, while saying they're acquaintances isn't wrong, continuing their mortal combat here and now shouldn't be possible... or so it should be.

"—Heh."

However, what's going on? Upon witnessing the great Celtic hero before him, his whole body trembles and irrepressible emotions well up.

What's going on...? Before he can even feel this way, unable to restrain himself, he fires the opening shot.

"Heh—Hahahahahaha!! What's with that outfit! What kind of joke is this, hound! Where's your prized spear! What are you going to pierce with that wooden staff!?"

"Ah, y'know. It's that Class aptitude thing. I was just summoned as a Caster this time."

"Wait, restrain yourself, my stomach is twisting! Your hidden talents are quite impressive! To think you could even become a Caster with the single skill of being good at reading and writing! This is a failure—I should have taught you some tricks back then! I knew you were pointlessly dexterous, but I never imagined to this extent! Fuhahahahahahaha!!!"

Gilgamesh laughs so hard his stomach might twist, unable to restrain himself as he repeatedly slaps his knee.

"Tch, you're as insufferable as ever. You better brace yourself too. Someday you'll be summoned in an ill-fitting outfit to an ill-fitting Class."

"Fool! I would never stoop to imitating a magus! Unless in times of crisis for Uruk, when I must unite with the people! Ha—hahahahahahaha!!"

...The King of Heroes Gilgamesh seems to be in high spirits. Until he calms down, there seems to be no role for me to play. 

"Form an alliance, you say?"

When they finally calm down and resume conversation, I find myself asking back when Caster suddenly brings this up out of the blue.

"Not with you by any mistake. With your Master."

According to him, this Caster is a hero summoned to this Singularity, and for some reason only this Caster wasn't corrupted and managed to avoid going mad.

And to restore this Singularity, he's been fighting Shadow Servants, struggling alone.

"I've been flying around here and there trying to put down the Servants who've gone mad. Just when I thought I'd finally finished off Assassin, I sensed a strange magical energy taking down Lancer, Archer, and Berserker. Who could it be but an unwelcome familiar face. How unlucky."

"How diligent of you. Truly befitting of a hound."

"Shut it. What about you, what whim possessed you? Methodically kicking around Servants like that. How starved are you for ways to kill time?"

"Killing time, is it? Well, I suppose that's how it looks to you."

"Huh?"

"—It's nothing, forget it."

"Sure. But still, to think even you would learn to economize. I've gained a hair's breadth more respect for you."

"Economize?"

"Huh? It's your signature move. You always throw and shoot your Noble Phantasms all over the place. That's why you're an Archer, isn't it?"

...

...

......

"THAT'S the reason I'm an Archer——!!?"

This is the greatest shock among everything I've experienced so far.

Is that how Archer... is that what it is? If you shoot swords from your treasury—or rather, if you shoot, you're an Archer? Is that acceptable? What is an Archer? What is an Archer... what is an Archer...

"Why are you surprised now? Your golden pattern is shooting Noble Phantasms with your arms crossed, isn't it?"

"Was that so... was that how it was..."

"...Did you hit your head? Was there some defect in your summoning? It's a wonder your Master is still alive."

My shoulders slump. What was the point of me carefully selecting the right tools to fight with?

The King of Heroes fighting style was crude... I didn't know...

"...I thank you, hound."

"Huh?... Huh?"

"Thanks to you, I remembered something. Your imitation of a sage isn't just for show. Impressive."

"——Oi, what's with you? Are you really Gilgamesh? Thanking someone?"

Now it's Caster's turn to freeze. He's left speechless at such an unexpectedly courteous statement.

The King of Heroes thanking someone... His mouth hangs open as if to say, could such a thing even be possible?

"Indeed, when one speaks of the King of Heroes, it would be me. I could never tolerate a counterfeit."

—That said, if asked whether he's the genuine King of Heroes, it's a delicate matter... but having reincarnated, he is unmistakably the King of Heroes. So he defines himself.

"Alright. I acknowledge your knowledge and will accept your alliance proposal. Be grateful."

"You haven't even heard the details yet... Well, whatever. I'll talk to your Master about the specifics."

"Very well, I especially permit it. Heh, they'll be surprised. What a find!"

Perhaps because the vessel is in good spirits, I'm also feeling cheerful.

Gilgamesh chuckles as his shoulders shake, while Caster shrugs with a "good grief."

...I wonder if everyone has rested a bit. Thinking such things, I started walking to rejoin everyone.

--

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