Fate: I Will Eventually Become the Hero of Justice

She concealed herself well, and the assassination dagger was hidden even more meticulously.

The dagger she prepared was very short, able to be hidden in the belly of a fish during a banquet meal.

Mordred would use this fish-concealed dagger to assassinate Shirou.

...

The illusion focused more on kingly aspects, so there were restrictions like on Noble Phantasms and Magecraft.

Of course, owing to the illusion's nature, these restrictions were voluntary. They could be used if one wished.

However, she did not use any Noble Phantasms or Magecraft, so Eternal King probably wouldn't either, right?

Certainly, if he did use them, she would have no counter.

But she was quite certain that, noticing the restrictions in this game, Shirou would definitely not use his abilities, otherwise just his black mud alone would be enough to defeat her.

Shirou held a banquet to entertain the defecting warlord generals. Mordred followed beside her trusted general, harboring murderous intent.

Shirou walked down from his throne, toasting each of the defecting generals in turn. Then he leisurely approached Mordred.

Getting close.

Even closer!

Harboring killing intent, Mordred suppressed the excitement in her heart. She deeply understood the moment one deems themselves successful is when defenses are weakest.

Twenty steps.

Fifteen.

Ten.

Five.

Three steps...

Seeing Shirou getting closer and closer, she grew calmer and calmer.

One step!

In that moment, a glint flashed across her eyes. She stretched out her palm, and swiftly drew the dagger from the fish belly.

The icy blade glimmered coldly.

Everyone present was shocked.

"Protect His Majesty!"

"Defend the King!"

"Impudent thief, cease your insolence!"

Sounds of panic rose in an endless stream.

The cold blade reflected the flustered faces around her. Clutching the dagger, she took a lunging step toward Shirou to stab him.

However, as she stepped forward, her trusted general suddenly kicked out beside her.

Damn it! 

As expected!

Mordred cried out as she was tripped, her body toppling toward Shirou.

Shirou stretched out his palm, grabbing her slender wrist holding the dagger in one hand. His other hand reached for her slender waist, pulling her into his arms to prevent her falling.

The soldiers reacted belatedly, swarming over with weapons to surround Mordred.

Shirou held her waist in one arm, while his other hand gripped her wrist.

Having been pulled into his arms, she was stunned for a moment, but quickly regained her senses and tried to keep assassinating.

She was indeed of the dragon-kind, very strong. In raw strength she outmatched him.

As he was about to be overpowered, the soldiers placed blades to her neck.

Shirou's black eyes gazed into Mordred's stubborn teal ones as he said gently, "Well played, Mordred."

Mordred: "..."

She glanced at her trusted general who had a blade against her neck, and sighed heavily, "As expected, you bought him over..."

Shirou simply smiled. "Of course."

Looking at the gently smiling Shirou, she was frustrated beyond words, and said indignantly: "Next time, I won't fall for your tricks again!"

Mordred knew her failure was from being led by the pace - always one step behind him, leaving no room to maneuver.

"You still want to play? Fine. However many more times in the future, I'll entertain you," Shirou said gently, not annoyed at all.

His gentleness sent a chill down her spine. She was used to being disliked, and couldn't stand others' goodwill. Especially this man's.

"Let...let me go. How long do you plan to keep holding me? Could it be...you're actually one of those perverts interested in little girls?" she questioned.

"I can't say anything to that...but refrain from such crude words."

He released Mordred's wrist, then placed his hand on her head, patting her.

"Ah...ah...you, you..."

Feeling the warmth on her forehead, she looked at him with a shuddering expression.

She was patted on the head. Moreover, so gently. Just like...just like the first warmth that caressed her.

Such warmth...

Mordred, often walking in a cold world, could not help but tremble.

She could not stand it.

She really could not stand others' goodwill.

Because she was long accustomed to malice.

If approached with malice, she could retaliate just as viciously. But if treated well, she found it unfamiliar.

Those staying too long in an icy world grew accustomed to the cold. Warmth became something extremely unfamiliar.

However...

She still remembered. 

That warm manor, her mother's warm touch.

For a moment, she didn't know what expression to show.

Shirou gently embraced her and said gently, "I am back."

Mordred: "..."

Her body stiffened. Stiffened like ice.

She did not know the surging emotions in her heart...emotions that could not be expressed in words.

She had no extra words, no actions, and certainly no cliche emotional crying scene...

Indeed, when she died, she was only thirteen.

But she was no thirteen year old child - she was a king bearing the deaths of hundreds of thousands.

Since she was king...how could she shed tears?

A monarch... All tears had long since flowed away in suffering.

What remained, was only pride filling her body, and will as tough as steel.

So...

"Let me go... You're hurting me, Black Assassin!"

...

Shirou formed an alliance with Mordred, and the two of them went to a cafe to exchange information.

Allying with Shirou gave Sisigou a strange feeling. Initially, they had joined forces with the Red Faction to oppose him. But now, they were allied with him instead.

Perhaps this was also due to the relationship between Shirou and his Servant.

From the start of this Holy Grail War, Sisigou had handed over the initiative to Mordred. He had planned to leave this alliance with Shirou to Mordred as well. But unexpectedly, she walked right out of the cafe, leaving just him and Shirou behind.

Sisigou sighed. As a Master conversing with a Servant that did not belong to him, especially one as powerful as this, it was very stressful.

After all, the other party could easily take his life at any time.

The waiter brought over two cups of coffee and set them before Shirou and Sisigou.

Shirou picked up his cup and took a sip. With a gentle smile, he said, "Firstly, thank you for summoning Mordred, necromancer."

"Ah, it was nothing," Sisigou dismissed with a shake of his head. He looked at him and asked, "You are King Arthur, correct?"

Shirou nodded. "I am King Arthur, and Mordred is indeed my daughter, no mistake about it."

"To be honest, I'm quite surprised you acknowledge Mordred."

At this, Shirou glanced out the window at Mordred listlessly kicking pebbles outside. He sighed, a tinge of regret in his voice. "I'm not the King Arthur you know. In fact, I only recently learned I had a daughter."

Shaking his head, he continued, "But let's not dwell on that now. My goal is not the Holy Grail. If we win this war, I don't mind you taking it."

Sisigou looked at him in astonishment. "Could it be that you, summoned by the Holy Grail, have no wish you want granted, King Arthur?"

"None at all," Shirou said calmly. "In fact, I have no interest in the Holy Grail. I was summoned into this war by circumstance, not desire."

Sisigou furrowed his brows.

He felt it was somewhat unbelievable. Any Heroic Spirit summoned by the Holy Grail would naturally have a wish they needed the Grail to fulfill.

And this King Arthur, hailed by all as the Eternal King... had none?

Or could it be...

He had already fulfilled his life's wish?

After a thoughtful pause, Sisigou asked, "Then what is your goal here?"

Shirou smiled. "My Master and I have a different objective in this war."

"A different objective?" Sisigou raised his brows.

"That's right," Shirou nodded, clasping his hands together. "My goal is to eliminate the connection points."

...

Mordred loitered by the entrance, listlessly kicking pebbles on the ground out of boredom.

Things were different from what she had imagined. Or rather, her impression of her father was somewhat different.

Although it was long ago, she remembered very clearly her impression of her father. Although it was just a fleeting glance, she remembered just how majestic her father had been back then.

From the moment she found out about her identity, Mordred was very clear that she would not be acknowledged by her father.

However, reality differed greatly from what she had imagined.

She thought her father would react with disgust and killing intent upon learning her identity, refusing to acknowledge her.

Wasn't that the natural response?

The greatest stain in the life of the slumbering Eternal King was probably her, right?

Yet Shirou had acknowledged her.

Moreover, his attitude was very gentle, unlike the majesty she briefly glimpsed in the capital of Camelot.

This confounded Mordred. His receptiveness made her uncomfortable in a way she couldn't articulate.

That was why she had fled the cafe, unsure how to face this unfamiliar side of the father she never truly knew.

"Ah, so annoying!" she scratched her head in irritation.

Feeling vexed, she saw Saber nearby, looking through a notebook. 

She went over and embraced Saber's slender waist.