"You actually recorded our conversation behind my back!"
Hassan of the Hundred Faces was furious.
And he even edited it!
Back when preparing for the Holy Grail War, Shirou had already asked Byakuya Matou to get him things like pinhole cameras, trackers, and listening devices.
After returning to Proper Human History, he quickly became fascinated with modern technology, spending his days online learning about these incredible tools.
Every time he learned about a new device, he felt a strange sense of déjà vu, as if he had always known what it did.
Makiri looked down on modern technology, dismissing these few-decade-old "toys" with contempt. That attitude reflected the general disdain Magi held toward modern civilization.
But Shirou saw things differently.
He believed these devices could play an unexpectedly powerful role in the Holy Grail War.
Most Magus illusions and bounded field camouflage relied on suggestion to deceive human perception. Because of that, many Magi were careless when it came to electronic devices.
Servants were no exception.
Even someone as cautious as Assassin would never expect the boy in front of her to be recording the entire conversation.
"Hand it over!"
Hassan of the Hundred Faces shouted and kicked off the ground, striking toward the red-haired boy.
This time, Shirou had improved. He barely managed to catch Assassin's movement.
"…Guh!"
At the last possible moment, Shirou projected the "Blades of Chaos" and raised both arms to block.
But the difference in size and strength was overwhelming. He was still sent flying straight into the wall, a sharp pain like his spine had snapped running through his back.
The instant his back hit the ground, he used the recoil to force himself back up.
At nearly the same moment, a thrown dagger stabbed into the spot where he had just been.
"So that's your weapon?"
Missing her strike, Hassan of the Hundred Faces stared warily at the flame-wreathed chain blade in Shirou's hand.
Her instincts told her it was dangerous.
From that last exchange alone, she could tell the boy possessed combat experience far beyond what his age and build suggested.
Not killing.
Combat.
When it came to killing techniques, Hassan of the Hundred Faces believed she surpassed anyone.
But in direct combat, she had almost no experience at all.
As the leader of the Assassins, being forced into a head-on fight already meant failure as an Assassin.
No way. No Assassin should ever be fighting face to face like this.
And more than his experience, what truly made the boy dangerous was his terrifying rate of growth.
The first time she showed her speed, he hadn't even realized what had happened before she was already behind him.
But just now, Shirou had actually reacted.
Hassan of the Hundred Faces immediately judged that a prolonged fight would be disastrous.
She could not allow him to keep adapting to her speed.
She would end it in the next exchange.
"..."
The female Assassin lowered her center of gravity, curling her body low like a hunting leopard preparing to pounce.
She was about to unleash her maximum speed when something caught the corner of her eye.
A chain was wrapped around her ankle.
When did that happen!?
Shirou yanked the chain hard.
"Ah!"
Thrown off balance, Hassan of the Hundred Faces let out a startled cry as her body was pulled into the air, then slammed down hard onto her back.
The impact knocked the wind out of her for a moment.
By the time she regained her senses, the boy was already straddling her waist.
"So that makes it one win and one loss, Assassin-onee-san."
Shirou spoke as he pressed the blade against her throat.
Hassan of the Hundred Faces gritted her teeth, eyes blazing with fury. "Guh… kill me."
Shirou sighed inwardly. Makiri said it too… why does everyone love that line so much?
Beneath the skull mask, Hassan of the Hundred Faces remained resolute.
"I am also the leader of the Order. I will not beg an enemy for mercy out of fear of death. Rather than hoping I'll submit, you'd be better off killing me now."
Shirou remained unfazed. "Assassin-onee-san, a quick death isn't an option with me, you know? I won't let you die cleanly. I'll send that recording to the Tohsaka Family. Tokiomi Tohsaka and Kirei Kotomine will surely think you've betrayed them, and Archer will wipe out every remaining 'you.'"
"…You."
Hassan of the Hundred Faces was shaken. What a vicious little brat…!
"Assassin, work with me," Shirou repeated.
"..."
A flicker of hesitation surfaced in Hassan of the Hundred Faces, but she still shook her head and coldly spat out three words.
"Impossible."
Shirou continued, "I know. Assassin, you… 'you all' have wishes too. Sacrificing yourselves to pave the way for others—that's not the outcome 'you all' desire, is it? If you keep serving your current Master, you'll only be consumed by meaningless tasks in the end. Just like tonight… nothing will remain. Only pointless death and emptiness."
Hassan of the Hundred Faces retorted, "It is not meaningless. Even if we cannot obtain the Holy Grail, if our sacrifice grants an advantage to the overall situation, then even total annihilation is a worthy end. Shadows like 'us' exist for that purpose. Victory is not defined solely by obtaining the Holy Grail."
Shirou said, "Then we're back to the original question. Do Kirei Kotomine and Tokiomi Tohsaka truly intend to make use of your strengths?"
"!"
Hassan of the Hundred Faces' eyes widened.
Shirou had seen straight through her innermost thoughts. With carefully chosen words, he steadily deepened the Assassin's wavering.
Because her faction had an overwhelmingly powerful existence like the Golden Archer, there was no need for Hassan of the Hundred Faces to contribute in terms of combat strength.
Not only was she unlikely to obtain the Holy Grail, she could hardly even make use of her own abilities—
"Assassinating the Master," the very task that should have been Assassin's greatest pride… had been abandoned by her own Master.
All because that composed gentleman refused to pursue a victory lacking elegance. At least for now, Tokiomi Tohsaka saw no need to assassinate a Magus.
"No one is born into this world just to die for someone else."
Shirou spoke with quiet conviction. "Assassin-onee-san, let's find a path to victory that doesn't rely on sacrifice."
"Shut up! I told you to stop talking!"
Hassan of the Hundred Faces screamed, drawing the dagger hidden beneath her wrist, intending to take him down with her—
"…Is that child expendable too?"
"!"
The face beneath the skull mask froze.
Following Shirou's gaze, she turned and saw the little girl Hassan trembling behind the door.
"..."
The dagger slipped from Hassan of the Hundred Faces' hand and clattered to the ground.
"I concede."