Fate/Zero:Act 3 Part 3
154:15:41
The broad bridge straddling the widening Mion river spans majestically over 665 meters, arching with a diameter of over three roads.
The top of the arch is over 50 meters high. Anyone standing so high and receiving the full force of the sea wind would miss a step and fall to his end into the river below, unable to go back up without great skills and a lifeline.
Atop that cold steel frame, Waver Velvet had nothing like a lifeline, clinging with only both arms and legs; thus of course he was giving up the dignity and composure he usually always had.
Right next to him, his Servant Rider is sitting cross-legged with his odious dignity.
"Ri, de, r, quick... Let's go down... Now!"
With his teeth continuously clicking from the cold and terror, Waver's complaining voice is like the blowing wind to the giant Servant.
"This place is perfect for a look-out. Well, this isn't the time for fancy sight-seeing in a high place."
With a wine bottle in his hand, sipping from time to time, he rambles while looking down at the west bank of the bridge, toward the wide seaside park hidden from the estuary. Waver can't see it, but what Rider is looking at― are the marks a Servant has been leaving around for 4 hours.
Rider has been wandering in the streets looking for a contact with the enemy, but he noticed that Servant only late in the afternoon.
While thinking whether he should rush down on him immediately, Rider has kept observing him from a distance, without moving onward. When Waver asked about it, Rider answered with a snort.
"He's clearly luring us out. For him to not pick up on us, that's strange. And it's not just me anymore, other Servants must be studying his aspect.
An impatient Master would just get tired of waiting at some point, or something. That's what we should be looking forward to."
Rider's plan had no opening that Waver could see. Rather, it was unexpected. This broad-minded giant Servant could actually set up sly tactics.
Indeed, as Rider said, only a helpless fool would take the bait and accept the challenge. Those falling for it would only be eating each other and decrease the count. However self-confident a so provocative Servant is, anyone other than Rider going for a brawl would be good riddance. Whoever gets defeated, Rider can smash the winner. There is definitely a profit in the fight of others.
So, after it is decided so, it becomes a matter of endurance. Remaining at a fixed distance from the traces of the Servant wandering aimlessly in the city, Waver and Rider followed and are still surveying.
Nonetheless― there are obvious reasons behind taking a high point of view, but there are limits. Nevermind Servants, Waver with his flesh and blood body definitely dies if he falls. It shouldn't be possible to ignore that, so how come this giant cares so little about Waver's safety?
"Co, come down! No, get the hell down! I, I've, I've had it!"
"Ah, just wait. You're a restless guy. Sitting and waiting is also part of the battle."
Sipping in his wine bottle, Rider doesn't even look at Waver's half crying face when answering so gratuitously. "High places are dangerous", such common sense hasn't been aknowledged for yet between the two.
"If you're bored, read the book I entrusted to you. It's a good book."
Hearing that, Waver remembers about the stupid weight in the knapsack hanging on his shoulder. In this situation where they shouldn't afford even one unnecessary gram, the poetry anthology with its thick hard cover really is a dead weight.
That was the one book Rider looted from the library he raided right when he arrived in the present world. The 'Iliad' written by the poet Homer in the ancient Greece― the epic poem describing the trojan war, in which fought gods and humans jumbled together.
The atlas can be okay. Exaggerating about world conquest, Rider takes interest in the geography of the modern world, even if it sounds foolish.
But what's with a poetry anthology? Rider set up a library at home even though he was preparing for war, and yet he still insisted in bringing the Iliad with him. Naturally, if he wants to bring anything that isn't his regular equipment, he would need to remain materialized; if he needs to dematerialize to hide from the other people, then afterall, it's Waver who ends up having to carry the luggage.
Certainly, Rider insisted that the book was "preparation for war". But how on Earth can a book that isn't even about war strategy be helpful on the battlefield?
"Rider... Why, did you, bring this book?"
At Waver's bitter question, the Heroic Spirit answered with a grave expression.
"The Iliad is very profound. At the height of battle, I suddenly get the urge to read a verse of poetry. At a time like that, I feel bad when I can't reread something immediately."
"..."
He feels like his interlocutor just gave him a bullshit answer, but fear stops him from arguing back.
"At a time like that, you mean... In battle?"
"Yes."
Rider nods nonchalantly as if his reply was perfectly normal.
"... But how?"
"With my left hand, when I hold my sword in my right hand. If I need to hold the bridle with my left hand, I get a page to read it aloud."
"..."
Waver lost his word at the unimaginable answer.
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