Fate Q&A: Chapter 285/286

Chapter 285: Sieg, the Man Who Attracts Both Men and Women

["Synchronization—time reversal."]

["Time flows backward, accelerates—stops, replays."]

["Aaaaaaaaah!"]

[After experiencing the agony of the deceased firsthand, Caules nearly suffered a mental breakdown, but he finally understood Jack's objective.]

[What Jack wanted was the signal that would deactivate Yggdmillennia's security measures.]

[Realizing the severity of the situation, Caules urgently tried to contact Fiore. However, before he could explain, the connection was abruptly cut off.]

[Without hesitation, Caules turned to Chiron.]

[Caules: "Chiron, hurry back and support them! We'll follow as soon as we can!"]

[Astolfo, upon realizing what was happening, also sped up, because Sieg was currently inside Yggdmillennia's castle.]


---

Gordes: "What the hell?! That brat is targeting us now?!"

Fiore: "It's not surprising. After all, we're the only place near Trifas with such a high concentration of magi."

Sisigou: "They timed this well, attacking just when the Black Faction was at its weakest."

Fiore: "I don't think it was planned. Jack likely didn't expect things to turn out this way."

Jack: "Hah? Are you underestimating me?"

Fiore: "I'm just stating the truth."

Fiore: "But Caules, don't ever do something that dangerous again."

Using a spell to synchronize his mind with the victim's had forced Caules to experience the pain of being burned alive. If he had lost control, he could have suffered brain death.

Caules: "Sorry, Sis."

---

[At Yggdmillennia's castle, Sieg was sparring with Toole outside when a dense fog suddenly descended.]

[Toole, the homunculus girl who had stepped forward to support Sieg the night before, was now the temporary leader of the homunculi.]

[Unfortunately, she only had two or three months left to live.]

[The fog quickly engulfed the castle. Sieg, unaware of its danger, was caught off guard and struck directly.]

[However, thanks to Siegfried's heart, he managed to withstand the effects. Carrying Toole, he rushed back inside. After ensuring she was safe, he prepared to head back out to rescue the other homunculi.]

[Gordes arrived and handed Sieg a fragment of the Tapestry Woven by Arachne, a relic linked to the legendary weaver who had challenged Athena. Worn over the face, it provided limited protection against foul air, but not against attacks on the eyes.]

[Braving the deadly mist, Sieg climbed to the rooftop and managed to save three homunculi.]

[Unfortunately, the last one he reached was already dead.]

[At that moment, the sound of shattering glass and Fiore's terrified scream echoed through the castle.]

[Sieg, enraged, charged toward the source of the noise without hesitation, ignoring even Gordes' attempts to stop him.]


---

Sieg: "..."

Jeanne: "You did everything you could."

Sieg: "I know… but watching them die in front of me is still painful."

Jeanne: "That's okay. Feeling this way proves how much you care about them."


---

[Fiore, realizing the abrupt communication cut-off meant trouble, quickly maneuvered her wheelchair toward Darnic's study, where a set of defensive Mystic Codes was stored.]

[But the thirty-meter distance felt impossibly long.]

[Seeing the thick fog creeping outside the window only increased her urgency.]

[Just as she unsealed the study's door, Jack appeared, breaking in through the window.]

[Fiore hurried inside and locked the door. However, it was just an ordinary wooden door, unlikely to last more than five seconds.]

[Sure enough, Jack kicked it down moments later and entered.]

[Instead of killing Fiore immediately, she toyed with her like a cat playing with a mouse. Every time Fiore reached for a Mystic Code, Jack flicked a dagger to knock it away.]

[Fiore refused to sit and wait for death. She deliberately misled Jack, pretending to go for a briefcase on the table while actually reaching for an older prosthetic limb stored nearby.]

[The briefcase contained the enhanced Mystic Code she was currently using, while the prosthetic limbs were an outdated version.]

[She no longer had the luxury of choice.]


---

["Synchronization—Activate!"]

[Fiore's old prosthetics activated, expanding into four mechanical arms that immediately fired a barrage of light bullets.]

[Though temporarily forced back, Jack wasn't defeated, and the sulfuric acid fog had already seeped into the room.]

["All arms set to automatic—target: disperse the fog!"]

[Covering her mouth and nose with a handkerchief, Fiore shut her eyes and leaped through the window.]

[There was no retreat. She had to fight.]

[Her skin began to sting—Jack's mist wasn't ordinary fog. It was the corrosive smog of Industrial Revolution-era London.]

[Although her prosthetic limbs were immune, her body was not. Once she was fully within the mist, she would be at Jack's mercy.]

[A woman, fog, darkness—all the conditions needed to activate Jack's Noble Phantasm were now in place.]


["Three—two—one—zero!"]

[The prosthetic limbs, equipped with heat sensors, immediately fired a shot at Jack, but it was meaningless.]

["Shhh..."]

[The prosthetics abruptly ceased functioning, and Fiore collapsed to the ground.]

[Just as Jack prepared to deliver the finishing blow, Chiron finally arrived.]


---

Caules: "Phew, that was close."

Gordes: "Really? You have Command Seals, why didn't you use them?!"

Fiore: "I… I'm sorry…"

Sisigou: "She's still just a girl. Faced with that kind of terror, it's natural for her mind to go blank. Not everyone can calmly use a Command Seal in a life-or-death situation."

Chiron: "I apologize for putting you in danger."

Fiore: "It's not your fault. We were the ones who underestimated Jack."

[In the video, all their attention had been focused on the Red Faction. As a result, they had overlooked the looming threat of Jack.]

[Now, they were paying the price.]

[Terrified by Chiron's overwhelming presence, Jack retreated into the mist and disappeared.]

[However, just as she was about to vanish completely, a sudden slash severed her arm.]

[The attack came from Sieg, who stood in the corrosive fog, his body wracked with pain but the fury in his heart outweighed the agony.]

[Jack: "I'll kill you!"]

[Sieg: "That's my line."]

[Grinding her teeth, Jack vanished into the mist, which soon dispersed.]


---

Astolfo: "That's the angriest I've ever seen you."

Jeanne: "He thought he could finally live peacefully… but now, another of his comrades has died. This must be a heavy blow."


---

["Two days. We have to eliminate the Assassin within two days."]

[After this attack, everyone agreed—Jack had to be dealt with first.]

[However, they could only afford two days. They couldn't waste too much time before the final battle against the Red Faction.]

[Fortunately, they now had a better understanding of Jack's abilities and could formulate a strategy.]


---

[Sieg volunteered to act as bait.]

[Astolfo: "Do you even know her?"]

[Sieg: "No. We've never even met, let alone spoken."]

[Sieg: "But does that matter? Do I need a personal connection to be angry over what she's done?"]

[Sieg reasoned: "Even if I die, Yggdmillennia still retains control over the Master system. As long as my authority is transferred immediately, Rider won't disappear. Logically, I am the best choice as bait."]

["Idiot!!!"]

[Astolfo slapped Sieg and ran off, tears in his eyes.]

[Sieg: "…Did I say something wrong?"]

[Fiore: "Uh… yeah, pretty much."]

[Chiron: "That was a bit much."]

[Jeanne: "Sieg, you need to be more mindful of other people's feelings. Go find Rider and apologize later."]

[Sieg: "Understood."]


---

Astolfo: "Stupid, stupid! Sieg, you're a big idiot!"

Sieg: "Well, I…"

Jeanne: "You still have a lot to learn, Sieg."

Siegfried: "It's alright. You've only just begun to understand these things. Take your time."

Tohsaka Rin: "Hey, isn't something off here? They're just two guys, but why does this feel like the setup for a romance drama?!"

Kayneth: "Ahem… this is a bit…"

Chihiro: "Children shouldn't be watching this."

Celenike: (grinding teeth) "Crack… crack…"

---

[The next morning, Jeanne took Sieg out for a walk to lighten his mood, but the atmosphere felt... different.]

[Watching their interaction, everyone could sense the air of budding romance.]

[The clueless Sieg even asked Jeanne if she could have children, leaving her blushing in embarrassment.]

Tohsaka Rin: "Tsk tsk tsk, Sieg-kun, you're bolder than I expected."

Ishtar: "Is this what they call gender equality?"

Sieg: "Huh?"

Chihiro: "Love comes too fast—like a tornado~?"

Bluebeard: "AHHHH! Sieg, I will kill you! How dare you defile my saint?!"

Astolfo: "Ahh! So unfair! You two went out without me!"


__________
Chapter 286: Assassination, the Unlucky Jack Group

[Time passed quickly, and night fell once more, the start of Sieg's bait operation.]

[However, the weather was less than ideal. As soon as night fell, rain began to pour.]

[While walking through the city, Sieg passed by a mother and daughter. They seemed familiar, and after a moment, he recalled seeing them earlier at a restaurant during lunch.]

[He was about to continue on his way when he suddenly heard the mother and daughter scream. Turning back, he saw that the fog had silently crept in, completely engulfing them.]

[Sieg immediately covered his mouth and nose before rushing into the fog. He quickly found the mother collapsed on the ground, but there was no sign of the child.]

[Sieg: "Stay strong, I'll find your daughter…"]

[He helped the mother up, preparing to escort her out of the fog—when he suddenly felt the cold barrel of a gun press against his chest.]

[The next moment, he was shot straight through the heart.]

[The woman was actually Reika in disguise. Without hesitation, she fired three more shots into Sieg's body.]


---

Astolfo: "Sieg!"

Waver: "Come on, how did you fall for such an obvious trap?"

Sieg: "But what if it was real? I couldn't just stand there and let them die just because I had doubts."

Kayneth: "Hmph. That's just sentimental foolishness."

Chihiro: "Shut up. He did the right thing, he's just still too naive."

Siegfried: "Yes, but one should always stay vigilant."

Chihiro: "You shouldn't be heartless, but you also can't afford to be soft. Got it?"

Sieg: "Yeah… I understand."


---

The First Emperor: "You seem to have taken a liking to this boy."

Chihiro: "At the very least, he's much more pleasant to deal with than most magi."

Kayneth: "Hmph."

Waver: "Hey, let's not make blanket statements about all magi here."


---

[Meanwhile, Jeanne realized that the entire city had been engulfed by Jack's fog. She had lost sight of Sieg and was searching for him amidst the thick mist.]

[Jeanne: "Sieg!"]

[Hearing a gunshot, Jeanne called out his name in concern—but instead of Sieg, she heard the voice of a child responding.]

[However, Jeanne was far more cautious than Sieg. She first confirmed that the child was indeed human before approaching.]

[Jeanne: "Don't worry, I'll take you to your mother right away."]

[Wrapping the girl in her holy shroud, she prepared to escort her to safety only to suddenly sense intense killing intent.]

[Not only was the murderous intent directed at her, but also at the child in her arms.]

[Jeanne tightened her grip on her flag and scanned her surroundings warily, unaware that the girl had reached into her own mouth and pulled out a scalpel from her stomach.]

["Hell starts here, We are the fire, the rain, the power. Let the slaughter begin."]

["Maria the Ripper!"]

[Jack's Noble Phantasm activated. The conditions were met. She aimed to carve out Jeanne's heart with a single strike.]


---

Jeanne: "???"

Astolfo: "Wait, you got caught too?!"

Jeanne: "That's impossible! I checked, this was clearly a human child!"

Fiore: "Yes, and Jack doesn't have the ability to shapeshift."

Sisigou: "So that's it… she's controlling the child like a puppet."

Atalanta: "How dare you use innocent children like this?"

Jack: "Hmph, kids like this are easy to find. Just pick one up from the streets."

Waver: "Where the hell did you even learn this stuff?"


---

[On the other side, Sieg had somehow survived three bullets to the heart, surprising Reika.]

[However, she swiftly reloaded, preparing to finish him with a headshot.]

[At the last moment, Sieg, regaining control over his body, cast a defensive spell. The barrier blocked the shot, and he slowly stood up.]

[Sieg: "Are you the Master of Black Assassin?"]

[The situation had instantly reversed.]


---

[Back with Jeanne, as Jack's dagger fell, her Noble Phantasm Luminosité Eternelle, activated on its own, successfully blocking the assassination attempt.]

[Jack's Maria the Ripper was essentially a "curse," and Jeanne, a saint whose existence embodied faith itself, was one of the worst possible opponents for it.]

[What had been a carefully planned assassination had turned into a complete miscalculation.]


---

Tohsaka Rin: "Wow… as expected of Siegfried's heart. Even getting shot through the heart isn't a big deal."

Waver: "So Jack's Noble Phantasm is curse-based? Jeanne was the worst possible target to use it on."

---

[Sieg: "Can Black Assassin control spirits?"]

[Jeanne knocked the girl unconscious, then sprinkled her with holy water. Immediately, a black mist dissipated from her body.]

[Jack: "Why aren't you dead?!"]

[Jeanne: "Unfortunately for you, I have resistance to curses."]

[Jack: "It's that flag… Are you a Lancer? No, the numbers don't add up. A Saber?"]

[Jeanne: "Neither. I am the Ruler—the overseer of this Holy Grail War."]

[Jack: "Ruler? Never heard of it."]

[Jeanne slammed the base of her flag into the ground, dispersing an evil spirit that had been attempting to secretly possess the girl.]

[Jack had tried to distract her with words while continuing to manipulate the child.]

[Jeanne: "Assassin, the Holy Grail War is a battle between Servants. I won't let you go if you continue harming innocent children."]

[Her voice was sharp with anger. A child's spirit was delicate, if possessed for too long, even exorcism wouldn't save them. They would be left as an empty shell.]

[However, her words seemed to trigger something in Jack. Instead of responding, she suddenly threw a scalpel at the unconscious girl.]

[Jeanne swiftly intercepted it.]

[Jack: "There are plenty of children out there. If you want to protect them, then do your best."]

[Jack materialized, holding several scalpels, her intent clear.]


---

Waver: "Jack can control spirits? But there's no historical basis for that."

Kayneth: "Was Jack the Ripper actually a necromancer?"

Sisigou: "Kid, where the hell do you even get these ideas?"

Jack: "None of your business!"


---

[Meanwhile, on the rooftop of Trifas' town hall, Atalanta gazed at the horrifying state of the city.]

[Because Jack had released her fog as soon as night fell, countless residents—still outside at the time—were caught in it. The city was filled with wails, shifting from confusion to terror, and finally, to hoarse cries for help.]

[Atalanta had little concern for adults, but when it came to children, she was different.]

[This was due to her own past.]

[Born a princess, she was abandoned as an infant simply because she was a girl. Raised by Artemis, she later reunited with her father, only to be treated as nothing more than a pawn for political marriage.]

[Even in her fated race for marriage, she was deceived by Melanion's trickery, forced into a relationship she didn't want. Ultimately, she was punished by the gods, transformed into a lion to pull Aphrodite's chariot until her death.]

[Her experiences led her to despise adults.]

[Hearing the voice of a child in distress, she immediately leapt into the fog without hesitation.]

Fiore: "Looks like Red is stepping in now."

[Back on Sieg's side, Reika fired several more shots, but Sieg blocked them all. Seeing the fight turning against her, she immediately turned and fled.]

[Sieg was about to give chase, but Jeanne and Jack arrived at the scene.]

[Jack: "I won't let you lay a hand on Mom."]

[Jack blew a whistle, and countless children wielding scalpels emerged from the fog.]

[Jeanne and Sieg were immediately forced into a difficult battle, protecting the unconscious girl while fending off Jack's relentless assault.]

[In a brief moment of distraction, the two found themselves separated. By the time they realized the danger, it was too late. Jack had already scaled the wall and was lunging toward Sieg, aiming to take his head.]


---

[Video paused.]


---

[Question: What happens next?]

A: Sieg is beheaded by Jack.
B: Jack is severely wounded and killed by Jeanne.
C: Jack is severely wounded and killed by Sieg.
D: Jack is severely wounded and killed by Chiron.
E: Jack is severely wounded and killed by Atalanta.
F: The battle turns against them, and Jack flees.

[Please answer within one minute. Failure to respond within the time limit will be considered forfeiture.]


---

Tohsaka Rin: "Six choices this time?!"

Fiore: "This is tough. It's hard to judge what the correct answer is."

Astolfo: "What's so hard about it? It's obviously C!"

[Ding! Astolfo answered incorrectly. 1 Saint Quartz deducted.]

Astolfo: "Ah…"

Gordes: "I told you not to answer so recklessly."

Caules: "Well, at least that eliminates one option."