Chapter Twelve: Partners in Justice

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My name is Lin Hao.
I’ve been discovered by Kiritsugu!
287:54:21

"Pfft—Who are you fooling! You’re obviously a cannon fodder! You must have bugged out and crossed over with Unlimited Dash!"

I was so busy transforming the hospital building into a mage’s workshop that I missed Assassin’s appearance. When my spirit form rested, I only just caught Kirei Kotomine seeing off Tōsaka Aoi and her daughters leaving Fuyuki, and Father Makomo’s farewell. As a result, I witnessed all sorts of wildly out-of-character scenes and couldn’t help but rant.

[Notice: Assassin’s true name is “Hundred-Faced Hassan.” The current appearance was created as a personality to endure interrogation if caught during assassination attempts. This personality knows nothing about the organization and doesn’t even realize it is Hassan.] The prompt sister said a long string of words.

No, no, judging by the mask, short outfit, scarf, and cloak, it looks like someone who can shoot a fatal arrow with a flick of the wrist. If there were a little rolling companion, it’d be even more convincing…

I looked at the scene where Kirei Kotomine was sending off Tōsaka Aoi and her two daughters—his leg charm dangling.

The little black-clad girl, wearing a tiny skull mask tilted on her forehead, timidly clutched the back hem of Father Makomo’s cassock. Surrounded by Tōsaka Rin and Sakura talking, she looked lost and on the verge of tears.

Nearby, helping to carry suitcases to the car’s trunk was the laborer… ha, it really was Ryūnosuke Uryū.

“Hmm… where’s Tokiomi?”

I wanted to complain about this from the start—when the wife and daughters are leaving, shouldn’t the father come see them off?

[Tōsaka Tokiomi is currently in the underground workshop melting gems and drawing magic circles.] The red cube system opened a picture-in-picture next to the live feed. [Looks like he’s almost used up all his stored resources and seems very confident.]

“He’s controlling three of the seven heroic spirits battling each other on the battlefield himself, so confidence is natural… By the way, where are the other Assassins? There should be seventy-nine more.”

[They seem to be conducting a net search outside.]

A panoramic map of Fuyuki unfolded beside the video, showing dozens of flickering points moving rapidly, mostly around the Einzbern forest and the hotel where Kennis is staying.

If I used Caster’s avatar to appear in the world, I wouldn’t be able to watch the live feed from this perspective—after all, the “screen” isn’t big enough. That’s how I just realized how obvious heroic spirits look at the root.

“Looks like I’ve been underestimated. Although I was the first to appear, they don’t seem to be searching for me at all.”

After summoning “myself,” the church’s spiritual sensor should have “noticed” Caster’s summoning. I originally thought they didn’t dare search on their own due to insufficient strength, but not even when Assassin appeared did they try?

[I guess… if Assassin suddenly loses contact at a location, wouldn’t they know it’s because he wandered into your territory?]

“Hey, dumb system, you’re not being stupid for once.” I glanced sideways.

[I’m not stupid to begin with—]

“But I’m not that kind of Caster. The mage’s workshop I built is completely non-aggressive!”

That’s right, all Casters have the “territory creation” ability, allowing them to control the environment within a certain range, turning it into a deadly domain. Simply put, it’s like a wizard’s tower in a fantasy world.

But my home ground is the root, so the workshop I spent time modifying is just to perfect Master Lin Hao’s character.

[I don’t think anyone will scrutinize your settings carefully… Most heroic spirits, upon discovering a Caster’s workshop poses no threat, will just rush in.]

At that moment, a black-clad Hassan flashed across the rooftop of Fuyuki General Hospital. Even though I had transformed it into a mage’s workshop, he neither noticed nor was affected. He just used the roof for leverage and flew off.

[Notice: Without using DNA points, ‘PAX-201’ autonomously mutated with symptoms of ‘awakening self-awareness.’]

…Huh?

“This symptom is a bit strange. Could it be because Assassin is negative and those personalities basically have consciousness that caused the mutation?”

I pondered whether to regress this state.

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[It shouldn’t matter. Their multiple personalities already have self-awareness. Other mana-infected beings are the same.]

Hmm… that seems to be the case.

“By the way, where exactly do the ‘DNA points’ show?”

[Notice: Available DNA points: Unlimited.] The prompt sister answered instantly.

“……”[……]

Why are you shocked when you’re a system! I waved my hand, dismissing the ellipsis on the red cube floating in midair.

[Waaah… I can’t use my best evolution route guide anymore…]

Even though this isn’t the original game setting, they’re still making guides—can’t help but call it stupid.

[Notice: Special setting in this world: The symptom is classified as a magical attack, power level E+, transmission limited to mana contact, special abilities disabled.]

The prompt sister added a sharp remark.

“Stop whining here. The normal ‘PAX-201’ is what you threw to Mr. Worm. Though he can’t be called ‘Worm’ now, he still eliminated the initial infection source.”

[Waaah…]

With that, mana floating dragons should be able to spread to almost all Masters and Servants. After all, direct contact is required, and Ryūnosuke would be killed instantly if he tried to touch a heroic spirit… right?

In the live feed before me, Ryūnosuke Uryū and Kirei Kotomine had just sent off a rather unhappy Tōsaka Aoi, and little Rin and Sakura. They were heading inside, and Ryūnosuke casually patted the head of the little Assassin girl.

Big fail! I was previously considering Golden Flash and normal Hassan, both of whom clearly wouldn’t let anyone touch them, but this one…

“…So, the reason there was no infection alert earlier is because they had already come into contact?” I sighed and asked the prompt sister.

[Notice: Assassin was infected with ‘PAX-201’ 30 hours and 27 minutes ago.]

My Master (fake) acted early indeed.

“Alright, alright, what about the other Masters?”

Though I knew Illya had returned to Germany, I hadn’t paid attention to when the others arrived.

[Notice: Kennis and Sora have checked into a hotel and are modifying their mage workshops.]

“As expected from the genius lecturer… Speaking of which, where’s his student?”

[Notice: Command spell just appeared on hand, smiling idiotically at Iskandar’s relic.]

Such a vivid picture… background sound of roosters crowing…

Well, I’ve already checked all the Masters, might as well see the last group.

“What are Kiritsugu and his wife doing?”

[Notice: Irisviel is drawing a summoning circle.]

The screen flashed. The silver-haired, red-eyed beauty in white was in the Einzbern annex chapel, pouring mercury into the carved summoning circle on the floor.

“Is this guy serious? Making his wife work while he just watches—hey, where’s Kiritsugu?”

[Notice: Fuyuki General Hospital.]

Suddenly, a picture-in-picture popped up in the corner of the map, then enlarged to full screen.

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A man and woman dressed in matching black suits, presumably Emiya Kiritsugu and Mai Kujou, were both looking up at something.

#818 That scumbag who makes his wife work but secretly meets his mistress#

No, wait… their position looks a bit familiar?

I waved my hand twice over the surveillance screen, changing the angle to reveal what they were watching.

…Isn’t that right below my building!

#Emiya Kiritsugu giving my house the death stare like a demolition crew, what do I do#

#Don’t panic, first find some Moon Spirit Marrow#

Damn it. Since the original Saber group only arrived in Fuyuki before the warehouse battle, I completely overlooked Kiritsugu’s threat and only asked the prompt sister to keep an eye on his possible discovery of me.

But I forgot about the other person—the woman who handled external matters during his silent nine years, Mai Kujou.

If she arrived in Fuyuki a year before the Einzbern family and conducted various investigations…

“Anyway, just bluff it out. He’s not going to blow up the hospital or shoot a paralyzed pretty girl, right?”

[There’s no pretty—]

“Shut up, stupid system!” I punched the cube and began the simulation for Servant embodiment.

[I haven’t even said anything yet… I’m not stupid…]

When Caster’s spirit form is at the root, “Lin Hao” will be in a vegetative state, but since it’s hidden by suggestion magic, no one will come to check.

But Kiritsugu papa doesn’t look like someone who’d fall for suggestion, does he?

Anyway, what illnesses did I fake in my records?

[Notice: Patient Zero evolved symptoms ‘insomnia,’ ‘anemia,’ ‘coma,’ ‘paralysis,’ and ‘organ failure’ successfully.]

Uh—

…These old friends, it’s been a long time since I last saw them—familiar recipe, familiar taste.

[Araya, are you okay? Try lowering pain sensitivity.]

“No, no, if I pretend, I’ll be found out immediately—that guy is a mage killer.”

To divert attention, I began thinking about how to deal with Kiritsugu.

Come to think of it, the Tōsaka family’s goal is to reach the root; the two disciples can be ignored. Neither Kennis nor Weber has a particular desire for the Holy Grail. The most dangerous is this mage killer, who, under the grand premise of “world peace,” can kill as many and whomever he wants.

If I can’t fool him, he’ll kill this avatar without hesitation… Then the plan will need a major revision.

But seriously, where does a Master without a summoned heroic spirit get the confidence to mess with a Caster?

I waited in the darkness for Emiya Kiritsugu to come calling.