Chapter 134: Unscientific

The atmosphere turned chilly in an instant, Lance's remark having cooled the air, though he had no intention of concealing his thoughts.

"There must be a hidden story behind it, right?" Ayako murmured, as if talking to herself.

"Perhaps. Everyone gathers here because they have their own dreams." Lance held every Heroic Spirit in high regard. Putting aside the Three Kings, even Caster—despite being defeated by them collectively—left an impression on everyone; no one could forget the expression he wore at the end, an expression that could never belong to a heartless demon. And then there was Lancer. Though Gilgamesh had remained silent, both the Conqueror King and Artoria had explicitly affirmed him. Finally, there was Assassin; though no one had spoken to him, his absolute loyalty was undeniable, as he had executed a suicidal mission without hesitation. As a fellow existence within the Throne of Heroes, it was impossible not to have some understanding of the Great Emperor.

"Dreams, huh?" The usually energetic Ayako suddenly fell silent. Lance offered a helpless smile, ruffled her hair, and said, "You'll discover what your dreams are one day. As for now? Just enjoy yourself."

Lance messed up her hair with a cool air and started walking forward. However, it was clear she had no intention of letting him get away with being suave.

"Hey! You idiot, you messed up my hair! And do you even know the way?" Ayako quickly recovered and shouted at him.

Lance instantly turned gray and wilted, while Ayako chased after him with a smile. Both of them, by tacit agreement, avoided mentioning what had just transpired.

***

In the end, Lance did not accompany Ayako to the Kyudo club. As the final school bell rang, Rin, a standard member of the "go-home club," used a Command Spell to summon Lance to pick her up.

"Young Miss, haven't you heard the gossip about yourself today? Or have these things become so commonplace they no longer affect you?" Although Lance complained, he obediently took her school bag. In the past, she might have wasted a Command Spell on a useless order just to vent her frustration if Shirou ignored her, but he didn't want to be the target now. The current Rin hadn't experienced those events yet, making her "black-hearted" nature even more prominent; her attribute as a "Little Red Devil" was likely even higher.

He stood by her side, ignoring the glares from the surrounding boys that felt as if they were dissecting him, and followed her toward the Fuyuki Church.

"The church, huh? I wonder how that guy is doing now." Lance couldn't help but think of the man he had originally intended to kill. He hoped the man might change.

Lost in thought, Lance followed her into the Fuyuki Church, but the scene that greeted him inside caused him to freeze instantly.

"Father, could you tell us more stories about heroes?" A group of children surrounded a smiling man, while their parents sat quietly on the pews, watching the heartwarming scene with smiles of their own.

"Of course, but which hero's story would everyone like to hear today?" The smile on the man's face grew even brighter, and the children, seeing the priest's warmth, crowded around him even more eagerly.

"I want to know what happened to the Macedonian Empire!" one boy raised his hand and said.

Lance couldn't help but nod, thinking to himself that men truly do yearn for conquest.

"No, no, I want to hear about the Knights of Fianna!" a girl said timidly.

"The Knights of Fianna? Isn't that Diarmuid's organization? Kids these days..." Lance shook his head upon hearing this. Truly, girls will always yearn for romance, he mused.

"Baron Rais! What happened to Baron Rais in the end?"

...

Hearing the topics brought up by the children, Lance realized these figures were the opponents from the previous Holy Grail War. Having personally experienced that chaotic battle, he understood their personalities far better than any historian, making his own accounts much more vivid.

Lance stayed in the church with Rin, listening to the man tell his stories. Rin, as if she had expected this, took out a book to read, while Lance listened with genuine interest. Although he was familiar with those people, he had never truly delved into their legends; hearing them now was quite intriguing, especially when the stories touched upon his own experiences.

"Goodbye, Father!" the children chimed in unison.

Watching the man wave goodbye to the children at the door, Lance couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder. The man whose eyes had once been empty seemed to have found a reason to live, changing bit by bit with each passing day.

"Rin, I didn't expect you to come to me," the man said, turning back after making the sign of the cross.

"Don't sound so familiar, Senior. Have you forgotten what you've done? I'm only sparing your life for now. When the day comes that I remember it fully, I will surely take your head." Though her words were spoken through gritted teeth, Lance could sense a hint of confusion and inner conflict beneath her hatred.

"Very well, I shall wait. My life has always been in your hands; after all, that dagger has already been given to you. But until the day you take it, allow me to do what I wish," he replied quietly to Rin's accusation.

"And state your purpose for coming here. I don't think you'd come to visit me for no reason," the man said, losing his earlier solemnity and revealing the same smile he had shown the children.

"Hmph!" Though he could sense her annoyance, Lance's intuition told him this was just classic tsundere behavior.

"Jerk! What are you thinking about!" Whether it was a woman's sixth sense or pure coincidence, just as Lance had that fleeting thought, she shouted at him. Lance, shielded by his cloak, said nothing.

"My purpose in coming here is to ask for your help. I assume you have a Command Spell as well, being the inspector for the Church," Rin said with a mocking tone.

"That is correct!" he admitted directly, then called out, "Come out, Lancer."

"Is there something you need of me?" A voice echoed from the rafters of the church ceiling following the call.

"You wanted to fight other Heroic Spirits, didn't you? Isn't this a perfect opportunity?" the man said directly.

"Are there enemies? How come I don't sense any?" As a Lancer possessing the "Eye of the Mind"—a skill that could be described as a bug—he had already scanned the surroundings, yet he had found nothing.

"Hmm?" At that moment, the man frowned, glanced at the spot where the cloaked figure had been standing, and then looked at his Heroic Spirit with a look of amusement.

"What is this?" Though he wasn't particularly fond of his Master, the look in the man's eyes made him feel something was amiss.

"Who's there!" With a shout, he leaped down from the rafters.

"It's me!" As the voice rang out, another figure appeared on the very beam where Lancer had been standing.