Fate/Zero:Act 5 Part 2
--149 : 47 : 12
Looking down from the 32nd floor--the top floor--of Fuyuki's Hyatt hotel. There is no building taller than this in all of Fuyuki.
But this title of the highest building will soon become that of the soon-to-be completed Shinto shopping center. But because the Shinto shopping center is still under construction, this Hyatt hotel is the top for already completed buildings.
Accompanying the unstoppable growth of Shinto, there will be more and more new hotels. But the Hyatt hotel which has the most advanced facilities and best service standards will not give up this spot to anyone else. It's not only the hotel's managers and staff who think so; but even the hotel's customers are amazed by Hyatt's high quality service and management.
But not even living in such a luxurious room, sitting in the real-leather sofa by the window, eased Kayneth Archibald El-Melloi's depression in the slightest.
To him, the items of this room are merely "a wasteful gathering". It's merely a somber room, some expensive furniture, and some fancy everyday items. To Kayneth who's been born into aristocracy, there's nothing he can't stand more than originally common things being dressed up in fancy outfits to falsely appear aristocratic. But right now that's exactly what this hotel room is like. There isn't the slightest bit of historical background nor cultural heritage to this room. It is merely a pigsty decorated by a luxurious appearance.
But the instigator of this lowly feeling is not limited to just this hotel; this extremely tiny island nation known as Japan is filled with things to leave Kayneth with an unhappy, ugly feeling.
Even the tiny island of Hong Kong can give off a very local, folk-style feeling. But right now Fuyuki's Shinto does not show a bit of its local culture. Like now, overlooking the city's night scenery from a high spot, there is no way for you to guess exactly in which city of which country you are. Simply gathering the most common items and putting them together--if he were to be asked what exactly this city is, Kayneth would say it is merely like a mountain of rubbish.
If this eastern-most island nation preserved its original, honest backwater fishing village feeling then it would be much more interesting than it is now.... But unfortunately when it comes to the ability to comprehend things like this, a race like the Japanese probably could not do it. This undeveloped country which did not even have a constitution a hundred years ago wants to forge forward and compete with western countries by purely relying on technological science and financial development, as if they wanted to unabashedly force their way into the ranks of the developed countries. It is indeed very difficult to speak reason with these people.
Kayneth used a finger to gently tap his head which has a slight headache due to his annoyance and sighed irately.
In reality, he isn't the type of person to get upset over small things such as these, but something else is the cause of his irritation.
The wide screen TV in front of him suddenly stopped its late night program and began broadcasting urgent news. The newscaster is at the scene live reporting on an explosion caused by sources unknown on a warehouse street by the coastline of Fuyuki.
According to nearby residents who heard the explosion, firetrucks were on the scene about four hours ago. Although there is no news yet, those police who've already begun their investigation on-site are definitely hiding their findings. How can the ignorant, common people be able to make a correct judgment on something that surpasses their knowledge?
It's not simple being the supervisor in the Holy Church either. To count the time, within 30 minutes after Kayneth canceled the barrier, all the cover-up tasks had been completed.
Now the entirity of the truth lies solely in the memories those few who were present. One of those people was Kayneth, Servant Lancer--heroic spirit Diarmuid O'Dyna's Master.
The beginning of the long awaited Heaven's Feel. And the thoroughly prepared for first battle. Although the results are different from his expectations.
Even in his youth, Kayneth Archibald appeared to be more outstanding than other kids. No matter what the problem is, nobody could find a better solution than Kayneth's; an opponent who can win against him in a competition is non-existent.
Yet his effort had not surpassed the normal sense of purpose. Simply believing that his research results would be better than someone else's at some place, some time. That was all.
Because of that, Kayneth was already seen as a "prodigy" by others in his youth.
This fact is known by everyone. Nobody had any doubts about his title of "prodigy", and nothing had ever threatened his position as "prodigy". So there was no need for him to be proud or egotistic, he simply enjoyed his deserved title as "prodigy".
He has never been in a tight spot nor has he been extremely frustrated. In the world of the young Kayneth, he was the master of everything. There isn't a need to doubt this in the slightest. He was a talented magus prodigy. He was also the heir of the well-known Archibald family. Not only did he inherit the magic crest passed down through the generations, he himself possessed talent rarely witnessed in this world. All of these "facts" made all the honors received by Kayneth seem matter-of-fact. So as to believing that there's nothing in this world Kayneth cannot achieve with his power, this kind of self-confidence is not unfounded. This is not the mistake of Kayneth himself, but the common knowledge of all those around him.
Even in the busy Clock Tower amongst the numerous, successful researchers, his crowning to the famous title Lord El-Melloi by a huge lead made everyone nod approvingly. But to Kayneth who has become used to being called "prodigy", to him who's always been the target of admiration and jealousy, Kayneth did not feel the slightest feeling of satisfaction or accomplishment. All of this is merely life's "inevitable result" to him.
The past was like that, and the future will definitely be like that. This is a sacred and inviolable "agreement of life", to Kayneth there is no doubt about that.
Because of that, to him who can already predict the entire world--if a very rare, to the point of impossible, "accident" occurred, then that is the chaos Kayneth absolutely cannot tolerate; it is an insult and blasphemy to God's order.
Such as--
The Servant, Saber, who has clearly been caught in his palm, escaped so very easily. Such an unspeakable inconceivability.
"Lancer, come."
"--Yes, awaiting orders."
As soon as the words left his mouth, the handsome heroic spirit appeared in front of Kayneth in his stooping body. To Kayneth who is the main lecturer of spirit conjuring, speaking directly with the spiritual form poses no trouble, and is in fact very familiar. But a conversation like this face-to-face is very rare.
At least, if his Servant is face to face with him, Kayneth can observe the most minute changes in his expression while conversing with him. As for calling this type of activity a conversation--it might be more fitting to call it an interrogation instead.
"Thanks for your hard work tonight. I was able to witness very well the might of Diarmuid O'Dyna's twin spears."
"Thank you, Master."
Lancer replied simply and frankly. He did not feel proud upon hearing the compliment, nor did he show telltale signs of happiness, nor did he seem dissatisfied. He only accepted it with the stringent humility of a knight.
But to the eyes of Kayneth, this definitely was not Lancer's normal expression--he's hiding something.
"Ah, please answer my question honestly. ...You, what do you plan on doing?"
"...You, what do you mean?"
Even faced with Kayneth's sudden question with an air of interrogation, Lancer still kept his very cautious attitude.
"Lancer, you swore to me as a Servant. To do everything in your power to help me attain victory in the Heaven's Feel. Right?"
"Yes, that is correct."
"Then why are you not serious about this?"
Even being scolded so by Kayneth, Lancer did not show the faintest expressions of anger or guilt, he only kept his head lowered with a serious face. Perhaps he was long since prepared for this interrogation.
"...I only did it for the Knight's honor. Not for viewing the battle as a game."
"Oh? Not admitting it?"
Kayneth made a disdainful grunting sound, then continued the questions.
"Then, let me ask you, why did you let Saber go?"
"That's because--"
"You had overwhelming advantage more than once, but both times you did not strike, do you really want me to control you with a Command Mantra?"
"..."
Lancer had no response this time, he only held his silence.
"I'll say it again. I witnessed all of tonight's battle. Only because of this am I able to ask these questions. Lancer, do you feel that battles are 'fun'?"
Looking at the silent knight with his head lowered, Kayneth sneered and continued.
"Are you that happy? To fight with Saber. To the point of not being able to bring yourself to finish her off?"
To a bystander, they might praise Lancer's bravery and finesse in battle. But from the Master, Kayneth's point of view, bravery and finesse without any results--this point enrages him.
The original relic prepared to summon his preferred heroic spirit Alexander was stolen by his ungrateful student, Waver Velvet. But this Waver's power does not match at all with that of Alexander's, in the end being unable to control his own Servant and causing Alexander to go on a rampage. Because of Waver's uselessness, the situation then descended into a chaotic status, destroying Kayneth's Lancer's chance at victory... Kayneth has never had so much bad luck. And the cause of all of this is Waver alone, but being angry at a person not in front of him is useless. He can only store this anger inside of him, waiting for his time to face Waver in battle when he could dispel all this anger at him. Regarding this sort of "external anger" Kayneth is very realistic, calm, and brutal.
But, conversely, Kayneth has no method of controlling his "internal anger". To Kayneth who has led a life of being admired, who has never had any contact with defeat his entire life, whether himself or a subordinate--even if only a little bit--anything that does not meet his expectations is definitely not allowed. For him who has been successful all his life, who has never faced any setbacks; he is very weak against defeat.
So, to Kayneth, right now, between the enemy Waver who obstructed his obtaining of victory and Lancer who was unable to bring him victory, the latter enrages him more.
"...I'm honestly very sorry. Master."
Noticing Kayneth's anger, Lancer bowed his head deeply and apologized in a serious tone.
"I swear on my reputation as a knight, I will bring you Saber's head. Please believe me no matter what."
"There's no need to swear to me again! That is only the natural result!"
Kayneth, who had gradually became excited, used an angry voice to suppress Lancer's apologetic voice.
"You already swore to me. That you would bring me, Kayneth El-Melloi, the Holy Grail! In other words, you will destroy the six other Servants; they mean the same thing. This is the entire battle's premise.
But what you are saying now... is that oath aimed at victory against Saber alone? This falls far short of the agreement at the start. What's wrong with you?"
"--I think you're the one that has something wrong with him, Kayneth El-Melloi."
It's neither Lancer nor Kayneth, but the voice of a third person. Nobody knows where the woman who emerged from the bedroom began to hear the Servant and Master's conversation.
Although sporting long, almost flame-like red hair, she gives off the feeling of an exotic, icy beauty. She looks to be a bit younger than Kayneth, a high class lady perhaps only around twenty years of age. One can tell at a glance that she's a sentimental and prestigious aristocrat. And the temperamental authority emanating from her severe eyes make her seem like an empress.
Her eyes that look as if they are scolding a subordinate are looking at only one person--Kayneth.
"Lancer has done very well. It's you who is misjudging the situation."
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