Chapter 28: Day 7 ⑥

Shinji no longer had any means of escape from us. His Servant, Rider—his last lifeline—had been blown away by Lia and was being held at swordpoint within the shattered wall.

I don't know why, but the Bounded Field's effects were clearly weakening. Yet, the core Bounded Field itself seemed intact. The uncomfortable feeling clinging to my body hadn't vanished. Students were still having their life force absorbed.

"Damn it... damn it!"

Looking down, Shinji's back, muttering curses, came into view. He desperately tried to stand up, but for some reason, his legs wouldn't bear his weight, and every time he lifted his body, he crumbled back down.

I approached Shinji, gripped the collar of his school uniform with both hands, and forcefully lifted him.

"Shinji, stop the Bounded Field immediately."

My voice was low, unlike anything I thought I was capable of. As I put strength into my grip, Shinji's body floated in the air.

"Huh? W-why should I take orders from the likes of you—"

"Shinji."

From what I saw earlier, some students were in a very dangerous condition. There was absolutely no time for this kind of back-and-forth. Besides... more than anything, I felt like I was losing control.

"Stop the Bounded Field."

Thud, a dull sound echoed. I slammed Shinji hard against the corridor wall and pinned him there.

"G-gah, cough... If... if you want to stop it so badly, just kill me then!"

Even pinned against the wall, Shinji showed a weak resistance. Whether it was because of the red bullet Rin had fired or not, his face was flushed.

Shinji looked down at me with clouded eyes, twisting his mouth with malice, as if certain I wouldn't be able to kill anyone.

And with that, my resolve solidified.

"...Is that so?"

I released his collar and gripped his neck. My left arm, weakened by the hole pierced through it, couldn't exert much force, but my right arm was fine.

Shinji's body tried to collapse, but my right hand wouldn't allow it, pinning him to the wall.

He frantically clawed at my hand, trying to loosen the constriction on his neck, but it was weak. It was barely resistance.

It's thin. I can break it.

Shinji, who involved innocent civilians—acquaintances, no less—in the school. And he did something unforgivable to Sakura.

The damage is increasing even as I hesitate like this—I cannot hesitate any longer.

A gasp of air leaked from Shinji's throat. I continued to tighten my grip without pause.

"I, I u-underst... I'll stop the Bounded Field, stop! I'll have her stop it immediately, j-just don't—"

...............

"............Em... miya..."

"Wha—wait! What are you doing, Shirou! Shinji said he'll stop the Bounded Field! That's not like you!?"

Tohsaka rushed over and peered at my face. An expression of shock was plastered on her face.

What is she rushing for?

What is she so surprised about?

Puzzled, the blood finally drained from my head. At the same time, I released my grip. Shinji slid down the wall, succumbing to gravity, and choked violently.

"R-Rider, stop the Bounded Field now!"

"...Is that what you wish?"

"Hurry up! What if I die because you're dragging your feet!?"

"...Understood, Master."

Rider, still bent over in the dented wall of the corridor, gave a slight nod and muttered something. Instantly, my vision returned to normal.

In the corner of my eye, Shinji, making no sound and minimizing his presence, was crawling along the floor toward the stairs, trying to escape.

"Where do you think you're going, Shinji?"

It's not over yet. I grabbed the back of Shinji's school uniform collar, pulled him toward me, and tossed him onto the floor.

"W-what do you want... I stopped the Bounded Field, didn't I? This Bounded Field can't be set up here again, isn't that enough?"

"You're still a Master, aren't you? Get rid of your Servant immediately, either by using all your Command Spells or cutting off your arm. If you rush to the Church, they'll give you protection."

"Cut off my arm?"

"Just break the contract already."

"Why are you so angry? No one at school died, they just lost a little life force, right?"

At those words, the blood rushed back to my head. That's not the only reason I'm angry.

His treatment of his sister, Sakura. I don't know what happened to Shinji to make him do such a thing, but it's not something that can be forgiven, and I won't forgive it.

If he says any more foolish things, I will truly kill Shinji.

"O-or is it about what I said about Sakura just now! That was a lie! Just a joke!"

"—Ha."

What did Shinji just say?

"I, I didn't do anything to her this time! I just wanted to provoke you. I figured Tohsaka would arrive soon, so if I didn't provoke Emiya into making the first move, we'd be at a disadvantage. So... it was unavoidable to prevent a two-on-one, you understand, right!?"

I slammed my right fist hard into Shinji's cheek. The tip of my punching fist throbbed, and blood started to flow.

Shinji, who was crawling on the floor, was now knocked against the corridor wall. Rider tried to move to help her Master, Shinji, but couldn't because Lia was there.

There are good lies and bad lies in the world. Has Shinji become so lost that he doesn't even know that anymore?

I grabbed Shinji's lapel again and forcefully pulled his upper body up.

"You really, truly didn't do anything?"

"Ugh, I didn't do anything. I, this time, didn't do anything to her. —Sakura should be at home with Grandpa."

His voice was nasal, as if his stopped nosebleed had started again.

"............"

I looked deep into Shinji's eyes, trying to read his true intentions. ...He seems to be holding something back, but he doesn't seem to be telling a complete lie.

...I see. Well, whatever the case, that's good. It seems Sakura is safe for now. That idiot Shinji deserves a massive scolding for telling such a stupid lie, but for now, I feel relieved.

"...What is going on, Emiya-kun? What happened to Sakura? From what I've heard, it sounds like that idiot Shinji did something to her."

Tohsaka, standing behind Shinji, glared at him and coldly interrogated him. Judging by her reaction, she is completely and utterly furious. The fact that she's calling me 'Emiya-kun' is solid proof of that.

"Shinji provoked me by saying he violently abused Sakura. Well, it turns out it was just a lie to provoke me, though."

Even if it was a lie, I probably shouldn't mention the part about rape to Tohsaka. I don't know why Tohsaka gets so angry when something happens to Sakura, but she seems quite enraged. At this level of anger, if I said anything more, Shinji might actually be killed by Tohsaka.

Shinji, paralyzed like a frog stared down by a snake due to Tohsaka's intense anger, didn't move an inch. No, he couldn't.

"Remember this. The mouth is the source of all misfortune. If you say something foolish again... I will kill you without question."

"Hie... gasp!?"

She grabbed Shinji's lapel, just as I had, but after delivering her threat, she shoved him away, causing the back of his head to hit the floor.

"Now, Shinji. Let's get back to the matter at hand. Destroy your Command Spells immediately. If you don't, I will cut off your arm, Command Spells and all."

"L-like I've been asking, why do I have to cut off my arm...? I mean, Sir?"

Clutching his head, Shinji corrected himself into formal language, intimidated by Rin and me glaring at him. Tohsaka must be extremely terrifying to him. I doubt I'm the one he fears.

In any case, what is Shinji talking about? I considered that he might be trying to fool us to keep the Command Spells, but Shinji genuinely looks confused.

"Shinji, show us your Command Spells."

"A-are you kidding me! If I do that, I won't be able to command my Servant!"

"Matou-kun, do you understand your position? The moment you lost, you forfeited your right to choose. I could just as easily put an end to you directly, you know."

"—Guh!"

He tried to argue against Tohsaka's words, but when faced with his life being on the line, he reluctantly pulled a book from his back pocket.

Rin took it, rested her hand on her chin, and muttered something softly. I didn't know what to do and could only wait for Rin's decision.

"This is like a written transfer of command for the Servant. I'm not an expert, but it seems this is substituting for his Command Spells."

"In that case... uh, what should we do?"

"In most cases involving contractual documents like this, it should be fine if we just burn it."

"Though we need to be careful with curse-related things," she added, then chanted a spell, and the book substituting for the Command Spells immediately burst into flames. The book crackled as it lost its shape.

"Ah, aaaah..."

Shinji watched the sight of it burning with profound regret.

It was when the book was about halfway carbonized. Suddenly, a heavy thud resonated in our stomachs, and a vibration ran through the school building.

"Rider!?"

Shinji, who noticed her action first, called out her name, but she had already leaped out of the school building.

Rider, perhaps having lost her reason to protect Shinji, broke through the rear wall without hesitation, jumped into the classroom, and continued her momentum to leap outside.

"Damn it! Damn, damn, damn, damn, DAMN!!!"

Shinji, left behind, tore at his hair, turning his frustration toward Rider into a torrent of abuse and screams. Ignoring Shinji, I questioned Tohsaka.

"Tohsaka, what about Rider?"

"...If she ran, there's nothing we can do. If Alto was here, we could have pursued her, though!!"

No, please, Tohsaka. Don't be mad at me.

"Hey, Shinji. Like I said earlier, get protection from the Church. That way, at worst, you should be able to survive."

I called out to Shinji, who was in a state of shock. Although I believe he should be fine since he's no longer a Master, it would be safer for him to entrust himself to someone during this Holy Grail War.

"..."

Shinji put his hand on the wall to stand up, glared at us, and then slowly started walking toward the stairs. Humiliation was plastered on his face as he muttered something to himself.

Just then, Lia suddenly jumped in front of me and glared at a single point outside the window.

"What is it, Lia?"

"I know you are there. Come out."

"What—?"

It was then that I finally noticed the abnormality. A black robe was floating about ten meters outside the window, staying still.

We are on the third floor. Even if the wind had carried the robe up this high, it shouldn't be possible for it to remain suspended in the same spot.

To make it easier for Lia to defend, Rin, who was next to me, hurried over to my side.

As a Magus, Tohsaka must have sensed something about that robe. She had a stern look on her face, glaring at the robe outside the window along with Lia.

If it's reacting this strongly, that object must surely be a Servant.

Lia readied her invisible sword. Simultaneously, a hand stretched out from the black robe floating outside toward us. A white, slender finger. It was likely a woman's hand.

It felt unreal. The fact that the black robe was floating. The fact that a hand was extending from a robe that looked empty. And most of all, the immense Prana swirling around that hand, noticeable even to me.

In an instant, a roar echoed. It thundered around us like a bombardment, deafening our hearing.

A torrent of Prana masses was spewed out toward us without stopping, like a waterfall. A terrifying amount of Prana was compressed into each one. Concrete was pulverized, and steel beams were blown away. Fragments of the wall flew, and shards of glass danced in the air.

When the storm-like attack ceased, I turned my body and saw that the wall separating the school building from the outside had been completely removed for as far as I could see.

And then, pain shot through my back. It was a combination of sharp, stabbing pain and blunt force trauma, filling every gap.

I instinctively covered my face with my arms and embraced Tohsaka to shield her, causing the damage to concentrate on my back.

But thanks to that, Tohsaka was safe. As far as I could tell, she wasn't injured. Looking around, Shinji was also alive. He was crouching, clutching his head, and trembling.

The area around us was safe because Lia had protected us, but sections of the corridor floor were cleanly gouged out in perfect circles, and a hole gaped right beside Shinji.

"...!"

Lia took one step forward, intending to attack, but hesitated when she saw us behind her.

I've heard from them that most Magecraft doesn't affect Lia or Alto. That would mean Lia has an overwhelming advantage, but the spellcaster is airborne. Lia could leap over in one bound, but if she were evaded, Rin and I would be left defenseless.

Rin might be able to negate some of it, but it would be impossible for her to handle that volume of attack. It was clear that we, the Masters, were the hindrance in this situation.

"I'm sorry, but I don't have time to bother with you."

The black robe spoke?

In my line of sight, the direction of the hand extending from the robe changed and fixed on one spot.

The one at the end of its aim was Shinji, cowering and trembling.

"I will eliminate those who pose harm to my Master."

"H-no, stop, stop it..."

"Shinji!!"

Shinji seemed to have lost his nerve and couldn't move. His face pale white, he shook his head and tried to back away, but the wall was behind him.

(Damn it!)

I ran. I put all my strength into moving Shinji out of the line of fire. If he took that mass of Prana to his body, he wouldn't last a moment. He would definitely die.

However, if I could get Shinji away before the Magecraft activated, then maybe.

"—Αερο."

I couldn't catch the language of what she said.

That one incomprehensible word. With just that single word, a Magic Circles of equal power to the previous attack was completed.

As I ran, I felt goosebumps all over my body. The chant was too fast. I have never heard of a Magecraft of such destructive power being achieved with a single Single Action process. Furthermore, that raging Prana level was not just two or three times the total Prana I possessed.

Along with the word, the mass of Prana was unleashed toward Shinji.

There was absolutely no time to grab Shinji, make him stand, and run clear.

I could get him to stand, but there wasn't enough time to run away together. I couldn't stand in front of Shinji and negate the attack, as I had neither the technique nor the Prana.

My strength is insufficient. At this rate, I won't reach what I aim for.

Tohsaka twisted her face and shouted something.

If only I could solidify Prana and strike back to negate it, like Tohsaka. —Even with nightly Magecraft training, all I possess is Reinforcement.

Lia looked at me in surprise at my unexpected action and tried to rush over, but even for Lia, the distance was too great.

If only I had the physical ability to escape with Shinji, like Lia. —Even with constant physical training, I am no match for a Servant.

I know I'm wishing for what I don't have. Still, I curse my own powerlessness.

I pulled Shinji's arm, made him stand, and then used that momentum to pull him toward me and switch our positions.

For now, Shinji should be safe. Shinji himself remained stunned, looking at me as if I were something unbelievable.

Ah, if I were a true Hero of Justice, I wouldn't have helped in such a clumsy manner.

As the pale purple glow of Prana rushed toward me, that thought surfaced in my mind.

My body reflexively crossed my arms in front of my face, bracing for the imminent danger. However, the result wouldn't change, arms or no arms.

I closed my eyes against the death rapidly approaching.

But it never came, no matter how long I waited. And I felt the presence of those around me gasping.

I cautiously opened my eyes, and right in front of me, amid the dissipating mist of pulverized Prana, was the back of a red-cloaked knight confronting the robe.

"My apologies for the delay. —However. Despite telling you to be cautious, you are being reckless, Shirou."

A clear, firm voice reached my ears. A girl similar in appearance to Lia.

But it wasn't Lia. No matter how fast Lia was, she wouldn't have made it from that position, and the accent on 'Shirou' when calling me was different from hers. A tone of voice that felt direct and conveyed a strong, unwavering will.

————My dream. The Hero of Justice I want to be.

Perhaps the ideal I should strive for is right here, in front of me.