Fate Q&A: Chapter 385/386

Chapter 385: Red

"Are you ready?"

In the basement of Chihiro's house, a summoning circle had been drawn. Chihiro looked at Gunnar and spoke.

Chihiro had no intention of participating in this Holy Grail War himself, leaving the spots instead to Gray and Gunnar.

After all, wasn't the original Holy Grail War also missing one participant?

"Mm."

Gray was the first to step forward. She raised her hand, revealing the Command Seals, and began the summoning.

"I declare. My fate shall rest upon your sword—"

Gunnar, choosing not to use a catalyst, was ready to rely on luck for her summoning, just as Chihiro had done in the Fourth War.

As the chant continued, a bright white light flashed within the summoning circle, and a knight clad in silver armor emerged from within.

"Knight of the Round Table, Kay, has arrived."

The knight let out a sigh and said helplessly, "Ah… I'd refuse if I could, but with the King present, it would be disrespectful not to answer the call."

"Long time no see, my King."

"...Yeah, long time no see, Sir Kay."

Seeing his sworn brother again, Artoria was filled with emotion.

After all, this was the knight who had followed her throughout her entire life.

Unlike in The Case Files of Lord El-Melloi II, where his face had never been clearly depicted, the Kay standing before them now was a fully materialized Heroic Spirit.

It wasn't surprising that Gray had summoned Kay.

[Name: Kay; Class: Saber; Gender: Male; Alignment: Lawful Good.]

[Strength: B; Endurance: A+; Agility: B; Mana: D; Luck: D; Noble Phantasm: B.]

[Class Skills: Magic Resistance A, Riding A+.]

[Personal Skills: Nine Days Without Rest A, Blazing Heat A+.]

[Noble Phantasms:
Stretched Body (Rank D, Anti-Personnel, Range: 0m, Max Target: 1)
Irreversible Sword (Rank A, Anti-Personnel, Range: 0-1m, Max Target: 1)]

So this was Kay's data. He truly lived up to the legend of a knight who could single-handedly fight a hundred enemies and battle for nine days without sleep. His endurance even surpassed that of Lancelot.

Stretched Body likely stemmed from the legend that "As long as he wished, he could stretch his body taller than the tallest tree in the forest."

Irreversible Sword was undoubtedly his cursed blade.

It was said that once cut by Kay's sword, no doctor—no matter how skilled—could heal the wound.

Once the blade was drawn, there was no turning back, thus earning it the name "The Sword of No Return."

"Are you my Master?"

Looking at Gray, who was still staring blankly, Kay reached out and roughly ruffled her hair.

"Stupid Gray, you're still as slow as ever."

Gray: "???"

"Ah, sorry, sorry."

Kay pointed at Add and chuckled. "Since I received his memories, things feel a bit mixed up."

Add laughed as well. "Hehehe, well, technically, we are the same person."

"I refuse to be a talking box."

Kay frowned and said, "And your laugh… it's a little—"

Gray immediately covered Add's mouth and shot Chihiro a glare.

That devilish laughter, Chihiro had been the one to teach Add that.

"Ahem, alright, it's Gunnar's turn now."

Chihiro coughed lightly and quickly changed the subject.

Gunnar stepped forward and repeated Gray's chant. Suddenly, a brilliant light erupted from the summoning circle.

A white-haired figure, clad in a flowing white robe, materialized within the light.

Everyone present, except for Gray and Gunnar, instinctively held their breath.

[Name: Merlin; Class: Caster; Gender: Male; Alignment: Lawful Good.]

[Strength: B; Endurance: E; Agility: D; Mana: A; Luck: C; Noble Phantasm: C.]

[Class Skills: Territory Creation C, High-Speed Incantation C, Item Construction C, Mixed-Blood EX, Independent Manifestation A.]

[Personal Skills: Charisma B, Dreamlike Charisma A, Illusion Arts A, Hero-Creation EX.]

[Noble Phantasm: Garden of Avalon (Rank C, Anti-Unit, Range: 1-5m, Max Targets: 7).]

Chihiro had thought Gunnar might summon Gawain, but instead, she had summoned Merlin.

That damn peeping tom. Why couldn't he just stay in Avalon?

"Ah, your beloved big brother Merlin has arrived!"

The newcomer smiled and waved cheerfully. "Hey, Artoria, Kay-chan, long time no see!"

"I'm not the least bit happy to see you."

Kay, not bothering to hide his irritation, scowled. "Why didn't you just stay in Avalon? What are you doing here? Bored and looking for people to scam?"

"Now, now, how could you think of me that way?"

"Mm!"

Artoria and Kay both nodded in perfect sync.

Back in the day, when Artoria had first set out on her journey, both Kay and Merlin had accompanied her. Over time, she had come to see the true nature of the so-called Grand Magus—a shameless old trickster.

Unfortunately, she had been far too naive back then, often stepping in to mediate whenever Kay reprimanded Merlin.

Kay crossed his arms. "What are you really doing here?"

"My, Kay-chan, so heartless."

Merlin grinned. "I simply noticed all of you gathering here, so I thought I'd come and catch up."

That was a lie.

No one would believe him. If he had that much free time, he would have come long ago. Why wait until now?

Chihiro hadn't missed it, when Merlin first arrived, his gaze lingered on both him and Artoria for a second each.

Just like Goetia back then, Merlin was undoubtedly trying to investigate the Q&A group.

"Merlin… the magus who followed King Arthur?"

Gunnar frowned. "I don't know why, but the moment I saw you, I felt annoyed."

"Hahaha, that's just your imagination."

Merlin smiled faintly. "We're teammates now, Master. That kind of attitude isn't very nice."

Gunnar sighed. "...Got it."

Kay smirked. "It doesn't matter. You can torment him however you like, better yet, use him as cannon fodder."

"Hahaha, Kay, you haven't changed at all."

"Heh..."

It was too late to change things now, Merlin had already been summoned. There was no way to send him back. They would just have to accept it.

It was time to pack up and head for Fuyuki City.

—

In the Einzbern Castle, Emiya Kiritsugu stood in the grand hall, ready to summon his Servant.

Behind him, Irisviel and Fujimura Taiga watched with anticipation.

Ever since the fourth Q&A session, Fujimura Taiga had joined the group and become quite familiar with the Emiya family.

Much like in Please! Einzbern Consultation Room, Taiga had come to admire Irisviel, even going so far as to call her "Master" and proudly claim the title of Disciple No. 0.

In reality, Taiga had already been acquainted with the Emiya couple before that, though their relationship hadn't been as close as it was now.

Kiritsugu had originally met Fujimura Raiga through mutual acquaintances. It was through Raiga's connections that he had purchased a home in Fuyuki City, what later became known as the Emiya residence.

After all, Einzbern Castle was too far from the city, and sending a child to school from there would have been highly inconvenient.

This time, Taiga had specifically requested to witness a Servant summoning.

"By my command, I summon thee—"

Emiya Kiritsugu began the incantation, while both Irisviel and Taiga watched intently. Neither of them noticed that two figures were quietly lurking on the second floor.

"Kiritsugu is the worst! He won't even let me summon a Servant!"

Illyasviel pouted in frustration as she peered down at the scene. "I was supposed to be the Master in the Fifth War!"

"Hehe, Kiritsugu's just looking out for your safety. After all, this is a dangerous ritual, isn't it?"

Beside her, a red-haired young man chuckled.

That's right, the one crouching beside Illyasviel von Einzbern was none other than Emiya Shirou.

After watching the Q&A videos, Kiritsugu had naturally sought out Shirou. However, upon seeing that Shirou's biological parents were still alive and that his family was happy, he had chosen not to interfere.

But fate had other plans.

A year later, tragedy struck, Shirou's parents died in a car accident.

With no other family to turn to, Shirou had become an orphan.

Thus, Emiya Kiritsugu took him in, bringing him back into the Emiya family.

When it came to Shirou's education, Kiritsugu had always been careful, afraid of leading him down the wrong path. Fortunately, Shirou was independent and determined, sparing him from undue worry.

As for how Shirou learned about the Q&A group?

Naturally, it was thanks to Illya—that bigmouth couldn't help but tell him.

After all, Shirou had spent a long time wondering why his family members kept staring into the air and making strange gestures, leaving him utterly confused.

Back below, Kiritsugu's chant came to an end, and a figure materialized in the summoning circle.

The moment Kiritsugu saw the Servant's face, he froze.

White hair, tanned skin, a red overcoat.

"I didn't expect it to be you, No Name."

Archer: "..."

Wait—what?

He hadn't even spoken yet, and his Master already knew him?

And what was this? "No Name"?

Hold on…

The moment Archer saw his Master, along with Irisviel and Taiga standing behind him, he was completely stunned.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 386: Shirou's Fate, Enemy's First Meeting

"Uh... are you No Name?"

Kiritsugu was no fool. The moment he saw Archer's confused expression, he sensed that something was off.

So, while questioning the newly summoned Servant, he also sent a message to No Name in the Q&A group.

"Servant Archer, responding to the summons," Archer finally spoke, regaining his composure and forcing a calm demeanor. "Sorry, but I'm not No Name."

Kiritsugu: "I see. My mistake."

By then, No Name had already replied in the group chat, confirming that the person before Kiritsugu was indeed not him.

It seemed this Archer was a version of Shirou Emiya who had become a Heroic Spirit in this world.

Kiritsugu: "Why won't you tell me your name?"

"...I am just a nameless nobody. If you wish, you may call me Nobody. Or simply Archer."

"You..."

Seeing Archer act this way, Kiritsugu wasn't sure what to say.

The Moon Cell Holy Grail War and their own world were completely different, so logically, this Archer's past should also be different from No Name's.

Yet, strangely enough, he seemed even more detached than No Name.

Kiritsugu: "Well, don't you have any questions?"

Archer: "..."

Of course, he had countless questions, but he didn't even know where to begin.

"Hey, what are you two doing?"

Taiga, unable to hold back any longer, stepped forward and scolded Archer.

"Shirou! Why are you acting so distant? You're meeting your long-lost father, and instead of running up and hugging him, you're standing there like a statue?!"

"???"

Hearing his real name spoken so casually, Archer was completely stunned.

His appearance was nothing like his younger self. Anyone who had known him in the past would never have recognized him at first glance.

"Alright, stop just standing there. Sit down already."

Irisviel laughed and called toward the second floor. "Shirou, take your sister back to bed."

"Hey, I'm not even sleepy!"

Seeing that she had been discovered, Illya no longer bothered to hide. Instead, she ran downstairs, throwing herself into Irisviel's arms and acting spoiled.

Naturally, Emiya Shirou followed along.

The moment Red Archer laid eyes on his younger self, his gaze sharpened, and he instinctively suppressed the urge to attack.

But how could his actions escape Kiritsugu's keen perception?

A veteran of battle, Kiritsugu immediately noticed Red Archer's hostility. The thought of using a Command Seal flashed through his mind, ready to restrain his Servant before anything happened. But at the same time, doubt crept in—was he wrong?

Was this man really Shirou Emiya?

Why would his future self want to kill his past self?

Kiritsugu exchanged glances with Irisviel, silently signaling her. She nodded and quickly took Illya and Shirou away, dragging Fujimura Taiga along as well.

Now, only the two of them remained.

"Now that it's just us," Kiritsugu said, his voice firm, "let's have a proper conversation."

Red Archer remained silent for a moment before finally speaking. "...Tell me, how did you figure out my identity?"

"You'll find out soon enough," Kiritsugu replied, keeping his guard up.

The one certainty in all this was that Red Archer was his summoned Servant. That meant that when the next Q&A session began, he would undoubtedly be pulled into the group.

And once that happened, he would learn everything.

Kiritsugu's expression hardened. "Archer, tell me the truth. Were you about to attack Shirou just now?"

"...Yes."

Kiritsugu narrowed his eyes. "Why?"

"...I just want to break this damn cycle."

A long silence followed.

Kiritsugu could hear the weariness in his voice—the weight of countless burdens.

He exhaled lightly. "Tell me what you've been through. If you want to."

"...I can."

Perhaps it was because he had held it in for too long, but now that he had finally found someone willing to listen, the words spilled out.

He spoke of how he was dragged into the Fifth Holy Grail War and, together with Artoria, destroyed the Grail. He spoke of how he had gone to the Clock Tower, studied under Tohsaka Rin, and later became a wandering magus in the Middle East, acting as a vigilante.

Ten years later, he failed to stop the meltdown of a power plant's core, and in desperation, he signed a contract with the Counter Force, becoming its enforcer—just as Emiya Kiritsugu once had.

In the end, he was betrayed and died.

And even in death, there was no peace. He became a Heroic Spirit, trapped in an endless cycle of killing—slaughtering as he had in life, over and over again.

By the time Red Archer finished his story, Kiritsugu was stunned.

Except for the first half of his life, wasn't everything else exactly the same as No Name's story?

The similarity was too great. It made Kiritsugu wonder if the Counter Force had deliberately orchestrated this.

Now, it was Red Archer who broke the silence. "Now you understand why I wanted to kill my past self."

"If that's the case," Kiritsugu said, "then you can give up now. Your future in this world has already changed."

Red Archer finally snapped out of his daze.

Everything had happened so fast that he hadn't fully processed it. But now, he finally noticed the most important detail.

"Wait… Father, what year is it?"

"2004."

"!!!"

Red Archer's expression froze. "That's impossible! You should be—"

"Dead?" Kiritsugu smiled faintly. "I should have been. But everything changed after the Fourth Holy Grail War."

"You don't have to worry about Shirou following your path anymore," he continued. "At least in this world… he won't."

—

A few days later, at the Tohsaka residence…

"Sakura!"

Rin's eyes lit up as she rushed forward to embrace her long-lost sister.

"It's been a while, Sister," Sakura smiled. "Even though we talk every day in the group."

"Yeah, but it's been years since we've actually seen each other." Rin took a step back, giving Sakura's arm a firm squeeze. "You've gotten so strong!"

"Luvia-neesan trains me every day," Sakura said with a chuckle.

Not long after the second Q&A session, Tohsaka Tokiomi had arranged for Sakura to be adopted by the Edelfelt family.

After reading about the Case Files timeline, Tokiomi had come to believe that Luvia was a far more suitable guardian than the old worm ever could be.

Sakura squeezed Rin's arm in return. "You're not bad yourself, Sister. You're in great shape."

Rin grinned proudly. "That's because I train in Bajiquan every day!"

When she saw Luvia's wrestling skills in the Q&A videos, Rin had felt an overwhelming sense of competitiveness. For some reason, she wanted to surpass her.

So, she pestered Tokiomi until he let Kotomine Risei teach her Bajiquan.

After Young Li Shuwen joined the Q&A group, Rin frequently consulted him for advice. Thanks to that, her strength steadily improved.

Unfortunately, Kotomine Risei had already passed away last year due to old age.

"Enough about that," Rin said, dismissing the thought. "You're sleeping with me tonight! We have to make up for lost time as sisters."

"Ahem."

A deliberate cough interrupted them.

Tohsaka Tokiomi stood nearby, subtly reminding his daughter that they had guests.

A girl with golden twin-drills and a refined air stood at the entrance, looking around. Luvia Edelfelt.

That's right—Sakura hadn't returned alone.

Her current sister, Luvia, had accompanied her.

Luvia silently observed Rin's attitude toward Sakura. Internally, she was quite satisfied.

But for some reason… she still didn't like her.

And so, fate brought Tohsaka Rin and Luvia Edelfelt together at last.

"So, this is where Sakura used to live?" Luvia glanced around. "What a small, rustic little home in the countryside."

The second she spoke, Rin's temper flared.

"What the hell did you just say?! No one even invited you here!"

"Hmph. You really are a country girl—so uncouth." Luvia crossed her arms. "And what do you mean no one invited me? I graciously agreed to come because my sister asked me to see her former home."

She emphasized the word "sister."

The meaning was obvious.

Rin immediately erupted. "Sakura is my sister, not yours!"

"Oh? Sorry, but she's my sister now. She has nothing to do with you anymore."

"You little—!"

The distance between them closed as the tension rose, their glares sparking like fire.

"Alright, enough," Sakura said, stepping between them with a smile.

She wasn't angry.

She knew Luvia meant no harm. It was just her personality.

"You're both my sisters," Sakura said firmly. "But if you can't settle this peacefully, how about we just have a duel?"

Rin blinked. "...What?"

Luvia sighed, rubbing her temple. "...Of course."

Rin was confused. Luvia, however, knew her sister all too well.

Sakura may seem sweet, but deep down… she was terrifying.

(To be continued.)