"Could it be that Assassin has returned?"
"..."
The small girl with purple hair and tanned skin nodded.
Hey, don't just give away my information to a stranger…
Hassan of the Hundred Faces pressed a hand to her twitching forehead in exasperation and canceled her spirit form.
Shirou looked her up and down with curiosity.
Setting aside the overly suspicious Lady Avalon and the overly adorable loli Hassan, this was his first time seeing a living Heroic Spirit up close.
Hassan of the Hundred Faces crossed her arms, her gaze sharp with caution, and questioned him in a threatening tone.
"Who are you? How did you get in?"
Little Hassan walked up beside her and silently tugged at her black robe.
"..."
It was probably meant as something like "don't fight." Hassan of the Hundred Faces paused for a moment.
She frowned, then let out a small sigh as if giving in.
"Fine… I understand. Go wait in the next room for now, alright?"
The Little Hassan nodded obediently and headed into the adjacent room, waving at Shirou before leaving.
"You're good with kids," Shirou remarked.
"What did you do to that child?" Hassan of the Hundred Faces asked.
"Nothing. I just watched magical girl anime with her all night. We've become good friends."
"..."
Hassan of the Hundred Faces gave no particular reaction and said coolly, "You don't seem like an ordinary child… are you involved in the Holy Grail War?"
As someone who possessed nearly a hundred personalities, no one understood the meaning of "don't judge by appearances" better than she did.
The red-haired boy in front of her was definitely not normal.
Shirou saw no reason to hide it and answered frankly, "That's right. I'm one of the seven Masters in the Holy Grail War."
Hassan of the Hundred Faces' brow twitched, and she immediately asked the question that mattered most to her.
"How did you find this place?"
Shirou replied, "Don't worry, Assassin. Your location hasn't been exposed. I have my own intelligence network."
Shirou was the unofficial leader of the kids in Miyama Town. As long as he put his network to work, it was easy to gather reports of any foreigners spotted nearby.
This time, he had simply been lucky. A child had happened to see Hassan of the Hundred Faces checking into this hotel with the Little Hassan a few days ago.
Even in modern clothing, a dark-skinned woman and a young girl stood out far too much in an East Asian country.
Damn, I slipped up.
As the leader of the Order, she had exposed her own movements just by bringing a child along.
If "that person" found out, she would lose her head again.
Hassan of the Hundred Faces cursed her own carelessness inwardly, then continued,
"You're alone?"
"My Servant is a bit shy and doesn't like showing herself.
She won't interfere. Can we talk like this?"
"Is that so… I've been underestimated."
The moment she finished speaking, her figure vanished from Shirou's sight.
In the next instant, she appeared behind him, a blade pressed against his throat.
Hassan of the Hundred Faces spoke coldly,
"Just because I'm an Assassin, you think I'm weak… how unpleasant."
So fast, I couldn't even see it…
Shirou thought to himself.
Putting aside his future self, at eight years old, he couldn't track her movements at all.
So this is Assassin…
While their overall combat strength might be the lowest, when it came to speed alone, they were unmatched among heroes of any era.
Even a Magus accompanied by a Servant in spirit form would likely be killed before their Servant could materialize if they got this close.
Shirou gained a new understanding of battles between Heroic Spirits.
"I never thought you were weak."
Shirou tilted his head all the way back to look up at the terrifying skull mask.
"If anything, I came to find you because I believe you're more than capable.
People say, 'Assassin can't fight head-on. They're Servants only good for carrying out assassinations.'
But that statement carries another meaning too. Assassin is a class specialized in killing Magi.
Now that I've experienced it for myself, you definitely didn't disappoint me.
So? If you're not planning to kill me, put the knife away. It's dangerous."
Hassan of the Hundred Faces frowned and lowered the dagger.
She had only meant to intimidate him a little, and he saw right through it?
No, that couldn't be right.
"What exactly are you trying to say?"
Shirou answered, "Assassin, let's work together."
A sharp gleam rose in Hassan of the Hundred Faces' eyes.
"You want me to betray my Master?"
Shirou replied, "Your Master clearly doesn't understand your true worth. He actually sent you out to die. Is someone like that really worth your loyalty?"
Hassan of the Hundred Faces was startled.
Less than five hours had passed since the battle at the Tohsaka residence.
This brat had not only tracked her down, he had even seen through the scheme between Tokiomi Tohsaka and the Kotomine father and son?
Was that even possible?
Her voice wavered slightly.
"How exactly did you figure out that Kirei Kotomine and Tokiomi Tohsaka were secretly working together?"
"I was just guessing... so it really was true?"
Shirou rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"I see. So tonight was a joint performance put on by Kirei Kotomine and Tokiomi Tohsaka."
"...Ugh!"
Realizing she had let that slip, Hassan of the Hundred Faces looked thoroughly embarrassed.
This brat...
Shirou spoke seriously.
"The part about your Master deliberately sending you to your death was just a guess. But I'm serious about wanting to work with Assassin."
Hassan of the Hundred Faces let out a scornful laugh.
"You say that as if you actually understand my value."
"Of course I do."
The boy answered with complete confidence.
Even though she knew he was trying to win her over, for some reason Hassan of the Hundred Faces still found those words strangely satisfying.
"The one who was killed tonight was another one of you, right?
How many of 'you' are left now? Ten? Twenty?"
Sorry, eighty seven.
Having been pushed onto the back foot ever since entering the room, Hassan of the Hundred Faces finally curled her lips into a faint smile.
So this kid doesn't know everything after all.
Zabaniya was the divine art she had pursued over the course of her entire life, and the pride she held as the leader of the Order.
If this boy had managed to completely figure out that ability just by observing through familiars, she would have wanted to smash her head into a wall.
Hassan of the Hundred Faces regained her composure and said, "Sorry, but I can't accept your invitation."
Shirou asked, "Even after your Master treated you like that? Don't you feel any resentment at all?"
"Resentment? Of course I do. My Master's actions infuriate me."
Hassan of the Hundred Faces' clenched fist trembled.
Under Shirou's careful prodding, her emotions had begun to rise.
"I have indeed started to question whether I should continue serving him. We entered the Holy Grail War to win it ourselves, not to serve as a stepping stone for someone else's victory.
But that still isn't enough reason to betray my Master. I will not betray my Master and work with you, but..."
"I swear that Zaid's death will not be in vain.
Tonight, for that child's sake, I'll spare your life.
I'll pretend you were never here, and I won't tell my Master about you.
Leave now. Don't let anyone see you... before I change my mind."
"Concealing the fact that I came here is already the greatest betrayal of your Master, you know."
Hearing that, Hassan of the Hundred Faces let out a cold laugh.
"So what? Are you going to report me? Do you think Kirei Kotomine would believe you?"
Shirou said nothing. He simply reached into the pocket of his shorts.
[Beep.]
Along with a sharp mechanical sound, a woman's voice began playing in broken fragments through the room.
[Resentment? Of course I do. My Master's actions infuriate me.]
[I have indeed started to question whether I should continue serving him.]
[We entered the Holy Grail War to win it ourselves, not to serve as a stepping stone for someone else's victory...]
[I swear that Zaid's death will not be in vain...]
[I'll pretend you were never here, and I won't tell my Master about you.]
[Leave now. Don't let anyone see you...]
Hassan of the Hundred Faces: "???"
Shirou took the voice recorder he had bought from an audio shop out of his pocket and smiled.
"Assassin-onee-san, you wouldn't want your Master to hear this confession, would you?"