Fate: I Will Eventually Become the Hero of Justice

Gray felt rather apprehensive about the lack of opposition. As a seasoned Chaldea Master, her wealth of experience could fill handbooks. She knew intervening in the Holy Grail War should provoke attacks, yet there were none at all!

This not only surprised Gray, but also rendered all her preparations pointless.

"What do you think, Your Highness?" Gray couldn't help but turn to look at the woman in the driver's seat.

"Ah, but this is your job, Gray. My brain is for artistry, not constant thinking," she replied airily. "Hmm, do your best, Master!"

Gray grew worried. "They said bringing a newbie would be easy...just following a routine script. But as soon as I came in, I lost contact with Mash, and now I can't reach Chaldea either..."

She shook her unresponsive silver bracelet, identical to Mash's.

Gray sighed, "I hope Mash doesn't get into trouble..."

"Don't worry, Gray. Mash has invaluable backup from Chaldea with her," the woman reassured. "Who knows, maybe she's summoned a Heroic Spirit already."

"The backup is still on my terminal though," Gray shook her bracelet again.

"Oh, pretend I didn't say anything then," the woman stuck out her tongue cutely.

Gray looked puzzled as she said, "Now that I think about it, why haven't we been attacked by any Heroic Spirits? When Ilya and I went to a connection point in the middle of a Grail War before, we were immediately attacked by the Servants. So why hasn't that happened this time?"

"I don't know either," the woman shook her head, equally confused.

In fact, it wasn't just their question.

Mordred, Kotomine, and Darnic all wondered the same thing:

Why aren't they making a move?

They were completely baffled, suspecting conspiracies.

...

Shirou and Mash returned to the camp, relaying their exploits in Vâlcea. The news sparked lively celebration and song among the homunculi.

However, the cheerful atmosphere soon cooled when scouts reported the Black Faction's arrival. Shirou was unsurprised, having merely used a blind spot rather than truly disappearing. He knew it was only a matter of time before they were found.

With the Black Faction now here, Spartacus was surely ready for battle. In his childhood, Shirou had owed the rebel leader a profound life debt he could never repay. Since siding with Spartacus after binding Saber, Shirou had resolved to fully support him this time, no matter what.

Unless Arjuna, Karna, and Vlad all came together. Against the three of them, Shirou would turn and flee without hesitation. He knew even the strongest had limits. In single combat, the specialized anti-Servant capabilities stored in [Heroic Mortal] meant none could defeat him, not even mighty Karna. At best, a prolonged stalemate until Shirou exhausted Karna's magical energy reserves.

But together, just Karna and Arjuna could likely defeat Shirou. After becoming a Noble Phantasm, [All the World's Evil] had changed - though it could still reverse Shirou's Saint Graph, it could no longer contaminate others'. The corruption was now an embodiment of malice rather than a natural enemy of Servants.

So if Karna came with the Black Faction, Shirou would definitely flee. He could not fall here! Not after learning about the connection points and Chaldea. Where once he would have fought to the death recklessly alongside Spartacus, now he could not take such a risk.

Shirou had to ensure his own survival at all costs!

At Spartacus's command, the camp prepared for battle. Homunculi who had laid down arms now had to take them up again, to defend their newfound freedom and right to live.

Even the usually slow-witted Mash became serious in the tense atmosphere.

But despite the heavy air, the Black Faction's army was led not by Arjuna or Vlad, but by Astolfo alone, riding a hippogriff.

Circling overhead, Astolfo quickly spotted Shirou's camp. His eyes lit up and he dove down eagerly, only for Spartacus to grab the hippogriff's legs and slam it heavily into the ground.

With a loud thud, Astolfo was thrown from his mount, crashing hard into the ground.

"Oww... that hurt!"

As Astolfo stood up rubbing his behind, what greeted him was not the warm welcome he imagined, but Spartacus's sword, and the hostility from the surrounding homunculi.

Astolfo hurriedly raised both hands in surrender, panic on his face.

Just as Shirou was about to call out to stop them, Spartacus stayed his hand himself.

"There is no aura of exploitation in you, only a pure spirit," he pronounced, sheathing his sword with a smile as he extended a hand to Astolfo. "You are a friend."

A-11072 also hurriedly ordered the homunculi to stand down. As the one who proposed their escape, he held great prestige and was their true leader.

At his word, the homunculi ceased their aggression.

"Huh? You're not killing me?" Astolfo looked around, then patted his chest in relief.

Spartacus smiled, "We resist all who enslave, but welcome those with goodwill."

He spoke eloquently, with an unfazed, strange smile. But to Astolfo, this was utterly terrifying.

Especially that strange smile, it made him shiver all over.

Spartacus touched his face, puzzled. Was his smile not charming?

"Why are you here?" Shirou asked, approaching.

"Shirou!" Astolfo brightened. "I knew you guys were hiding here!"

"You figured it out?" Shirou looked shocked. With Astolfo's intellect, he located them?

"No, Lancer did!" Astolfo said.

"Vlad huh..." Shirou raised his eyebrows. "Where is he? He wouldn't just send you alone to defeat me, right?"

"Why couldn't it be just me sent to defeat you?"

Shirou smiled, "If it was just you coming here as a friend, I'd give you a handicap by not using both my arms and legs. What do you think?"

Astolfo looked unhappy, "Isn't that underestimating me too much, Shirou?"

"Want to give it a try then?" Shirou asked lightly.

"Uh, let's not. Lancer just sent me to scout this place out, not to fight you." Astolfo quickly waved his hands in refusal.

He had no fear of fighting or death, since as a Heroic Spirit he was already dead. Dying again held no terror for him - he just had no reason to do so here.

At that moment, the homunculus army led by Astolfo finally emerged from the mountains, arriving at the camp. However, without orders from their master, they did not attack, only standing armed and ready.

The liberated homunculi also held their weapons, pointing them warily at their former comrades.

Shirou glanced at them, raising a hand slightly towards the Yggdmillennia homunculi, "Not here for battle? Doesn't seem that way. If you weren't here to fight, why did Vlad have you bring these homunculi?"

"I was wondering about that too," Astolfo hugged himself with a puzzled expression, "Lancer knew I could move fastest unencumbered. But he insisted I bring them along anyway."

Strange.

Shirou's brows furrowed as he pondered Vlad's intentions.

If Astolfo was just sent to scout them out, then sending the homunculi with him was a blatant mistake. And if they came to subdue Shirou's group, just Astolfo alone wouldn't be enough.

Most importantly, Astolfo claimed to have integrity - perhaps he did. But according to his values, being forced to fight an ideological battle, even if he wouldn't betray his stance, he would surely hold back. After all, not every lord could make Astolfo devote himself wholeheartedly to a task against his values, like Charlemagne did.

But now, Shirou was unclear about Vlad's intentions in sending Astolfo here in this strange manner.

Regardless of whether it was from a monarch's perspective or from a logic perspective, Vlad's actions made no sense - they seemed like a careless, arbitrary decision made while drunk.

But to say the wise Romanian monarch would decide arbitrarily was laughable. A king would not make casual decisions, but decide after careful deliberation.

"Enough of that. Mind if I join you guys for a bit?" Astolfo asked.

"Come on." Shirou smiled and said, "Didn't Berserker already say so? We welcome all friends here, plus A-11072 seems to have a lot to discuss with you."

Shirou pointed to A-11072.

A-11072 and Astolfo caught up, and he told the liberated homunculi about Astolfo's aid, sparking cheers of approval. They welcomed Astolfo warmly, making him a little embarrassed instead.

One said, "We welcome all friends. We praise all who see us as people." The homunculi were even more welcoming to Astolfo.

But one thing concerned Astolfo.

"You guys don't have real names yet?" He asked.

The homunculi shook their heads, "We have names."

"I'm called A-3347." One homunculus said.

Another added, "I'm B-7724."

Astolfo listened to their serial numbers and shook his head. "Those are just the model codes Caster assigned when making you guys. Not real names."

"Then what are names?" A homunculus asked.

"Like me, I'm called Astolfo. Or Berserker is called Spartacus."

The homunculi said, "That style of designation? We don't have any, could you give us some?"

Astolfo asked puzzledly, "Why don't you guys name yourselves?"

The homunculi fell into thought.

But Shirou noticed something. He looked to Astolfo and asked, "Astolfo, you know Berserker's True Name?"

"Of course! Berserker is the leader of the rebel army that led a slave uprising against Roman slaveowners in ancient Rome!" As Astolfo spoke, he looked at Spartacus with admiring eyes.

Spartacus gave him a smile. But this smile made Astolfo shiver all over, and made him inch closer to Shirou.

Spartacus touched his face, looking vexed. Did his smile...look scary?

...

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