Shinji Matou at Your Service

"It's truly hideous."

In the shadow of the altar's entrance, Semiramis crossed her arms, her slender eyebrows tightly furrowed, seemingly expressing her dissatisfaction in this manner.

"Shadow Servants? They are nothing but puppets with power, Servant Shadows would be a more fitting name."

"I see, indeed a more appropriate term."

Golden spiritual particles dispersed, adding a bit of brightness to the dark space.

Upon hearing this voice and seeing this shimmer, a clear look of mockery appeared on the Empress's face.

"It's quite rare to see you leave that room."

The room Semiramis referred to was where the former five Masters of the Red Faction rested.

Before the Servants were summoned, they had been poisoned. While retaining normal thought, they were lured and manipulated into a world of madness by Shirou and Semiramis until Shirou seized the Command Spells from them.

They were all top-tier modern magi with ample mental defenses. However, these defenses were like paper armor to the world's oldest poisoner. As a result, they were neither killed nor granted freedom, merely kept alive in a state no better than waste.

Despite this, Karna continued to guard them. When not receiving orders, he stayed in the room, silently accompanying and protecting them, as he had promised earlier.

From the beginning, he never regarded Shirou as his Master. He followed Shirou's orders solely because it allowed him to better protect the Master.

While the outcome might not differ, this situation posed a hidden danger—should his Master awaken and issue orders, Karna would undoubtedly betray, regardless of the circumstances.

Before the Command Spells and contracts were stripped, any direct harm was prohibited to avoid arousing the Servants' suspicion. Even the poison's dosage was reduced repeatedly. Even Semiramis, the world's oldest poisoner, couldn't achieve satisfactory results under such harsh conditions. Thus, they never knew when the Masters might awaken.

If they awoke after everything settled, it would be fine. But if they awoke before then—

To eliminate this hidden danger, Semiramis had considered more than once dealing with those five. But she had to consider Karna's feelings, as he was their last strong combatant.

This dilemma greatly displeased Semiramis, making her naturally unfriendly towards Karna.

"Give it up, Lancer. They won't wake up during this battle, and you're not obligated to follow their orders."

"The Master-Servant relationship is not an obligation but a contract, a bond. Assassin, you probably don't assist Shirou Kotomine out of obligation either."

"Of course not. My relationship with him is based on a Master-Servant contract. But Lancer, your Master should be Shirou, not these guys."

It was a provocative smile that would be intolerable for most heroes. However, facing Semiramis's smile, Karna showed no sign of anger. Instead, he nodded seriously and said:

"You are correct, Assassin. The legitimate Master-Servant relationship exists only between you two in this camp. The Master uses you, and you use the Master. However, there is mutual dedication and trust. You cannot betray him, at most, you might think about it."

"——"

These words left Semiramis speechless.

Did this Heroic Spirit just directly point out something hidden deep within her?

After a period of silence, the Empress slowly spoke:

"…What did you just say?"

"I didn't say anything. You can't betray your Master, and your Master fully trusts you, so I was just praising you for having the ideal Master-Servant relationship."

Semiramis glared fiercely at Karna. Karna, however, looked puzzled, as if he found the situation inexplicable.

He was indeed praising her, at least from his perspective. But such words—

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

"I'm not talking nonsense. As Master and Servant, you are in the ideal state. You won't betray him, and he won't betray you either. It's not because you would exact the greatest punishment on a betrayer, but because he understands that not betraying is the most important and proper method."

——He won't betray.

These words sounded incredibly noble.

Ignoring Semiramis's agitation, Karna continued:

"I won't ask you to understand me because of this, but at least you can accept my actions, right, Assassin? The law of the jungle is the rule of the world—though we are not beasts. Beyond instinct, we should have a layer of human ethics, and that varies for everyone. Currently, it is this layer of ethics that prevents me from betraying my Master—because that's how my existence is constituted. I will protect them here; that's all I can say."

"…Is that so? Fine, suit yourself."

"Thank you, Assassin."

Karna bowed deeply.

Semiramis snorted and activated her spatial transfer magic.

Just before her body disappeared, she asked again:

"——Do you think I won't betray?"

"Of course not. Assassin, are you the kind of obsessive who would kill their beloved?"

Upon hearing this response, Semiramis showed unprecedented panic and disappeared as if fleeing.

Karna stood alone, exhaling lightly.

"Well—this way, Assassin won't have the urge to kill my Master and the others."

Unlike his relieved state, Semiramis, who had returned to her throne, looked bewildered.

——You cannot betray him; at most, you can only think about it.

What an absurd statement. Up until now, some emotion akin to anger began to surge intensely in her heart.

Her blood felt like it was boiling.

"He said I couldn't betray? I am Semiramis, the Empress who controlled the Assyrian Empire through betrayal and poisoning!"

It was utterly ridiculous. The reason she hadn't betrayed Shirou was simply that being on the same side as him was interesting.

If he became uninteresting, she could betray him at any time.

That Lancer guy was truly laughable. Of course, I can betray, just that there's no need to for now.

Should I betray him now to show him, take everything he's attached to and turn it into nothingness?

Yes, I don't need to cater to that Servant's whimsical thoughts. I can just take it all. Just like I've done more than once in the past, using words, fingertips, and sweet poison to make everything mine.

I can imagine his expression when betrayed. Shocked, as if in a daze, and as he gradually realizes the truth before him, his face would surely twist in anger. Then, he would surely cry out in agony—

"…No, that's not right. That guy wouldn't show such an expression; there's no way he'd let himself end up like that."

"Please, wait a moment. I am not your enemy."

The voice in her mind grew more anxious.

"I won't take much of your time. Please, you must believe me."

Semiramis felt a bit confused. As someone adept at weaving intrigues, she was used to assuming the worst intentions in others. However, this time, she truly sensed no malice—there were many ways to lower one's guard, and there was no need to humble oneself to such an extent.

This didn't feel like someone trying to harm her, but rather someone pleading.

Fine, let's see what you're up to.

Thinking this, Semiramis dispelled the communication spell in her hand.

"Speak, what do you want to discuss with me?"

"Let's talk about him."

"Him?"

"Yes, um... Shirou Kotomine, your Master."

"Shirou?"

Semiramis's heart skipped a beat.

"What about him?"

"It's not about him, it's about you—earlier, you said you wouldn't fall for him?"

"Hmph, so what if I did?"

"That wasn't your true feelings, was it?"

"What are you trying to say? That I like him?"

Semiramis's voice turned sharp.

"Don't joke with me. All people are just my playthings. I can turn them into heartless puppets anytime I wish."

"Including him?"

The Empress wanted to say yes, but she knew she couldn't. She could only sit back on her throne, feeling frustrated.

"I just haven't found his weakness yet. One day, I will..."

"Hehe, is that so?"

The laughter in the voice made Semiramis feel a bit uneasy.

"You... seem to know him very well."

"Yes, very well. There's probably no one in this world who knows him better than I do."

Hearing this, Semiramis inexplicably felt a surge of irritation.

"So, you are an old acquaintance of his? I'll call him right now to see if what you say is true—"

"Please don't."

"Why? Are you deceiving me?"

"I'm not deceiving you. If he finds out that I secretly projected my thoughts here, we might not have another chance to communicate like this."

"Huh?"

"Even if you don't want to trust me, at least let me finish speaking. I don't want you to regret it in the future."

"Regret? Quite bold of you to say that. Do you think you know me well?"

"I don't know if it counts as knowing, but I've been watching you all since this garden, which exists between illusion and reality, appeared."

"You..."

Semiramis felt both a chilling fear and an uncontrollable curiosity.

"Who exactly are you?"

"I am his..."

"What!!!"

Upon hearing that barely audible word, Semiramis's empress-like demeanor collapsed.