The woman still did not choose the thod Shirou offered.
Not because she didn't trust him, but because she knew the young man couldn't protect them forever.
A person like that must have been born with so mission.
She didn't want to delay the young man.
Besides, the Holy City was false; this world only held cruelty, and the weak had no room to survive, they were destined to die here.
So, besides accepting it, there was no other way.
———
In the night sky, the stars began to twinkle, the specks of light making the Chalk City appear all the more radiant and splendid.
At the main gate of the Holy City, nearly a thousand refugees had gathered here.
Shirou hid among the crowd, observing the inscription on the flawless gate.
[Only the pure may pass]
Judging by that, it might require special ans to see the Lion King.
Shirou certainly did not consider himself any kind of pure person.
———
"Dr. Roman, we've arrived at the Holy City," After leaving the Sun King Ozymandias's territory and a series of forced marches, Fujimaru Ritsuka finally ca to the ideal city that could be vaguely seen from the desert.
["It's incredible… In such a broken age, there stands such a magnificent wall,"] Roman's amazent ca through the comms.
Imdiately after, a blue holo-screen appeared before Fujimaru Ritsuka, Mash, and Leonardo da Vinci.
On the screen the weary youth continued to sigh, ["Judging by this, this must be the domain where the holy land is located."]
["A huge chalk wall that seems to isolate it from the world… the so-called Holy Capital?"]
Olga Marie's voice ca from the screen, then her exquisitely tsundere face appeared within, ["Fujimaru Ritsuka, I don't need to repeat your mission briefing, do I?"]
Olga Marie assud the tone of a director, ["In short, act carefully. That red-haired Archer who rcilessly hunted Assassin out in the wastes (Tristan), you saw him; he's absolutely not a Servant we can contend with. So prioritize your own safety; my only requirent is one thing, co back alive, and complete the mission."]
Olga Marie issued the order.
After the burning of Fuyuki City, she no longer indulged in self-pity.
At least surviving is more important than anything.
That would also repay the man for saving her life.
Really, back at Chaldea she'd found out that fellow was still only half-grown.
Much younger than herself.
By comparison she felt so immature and useless.
"I understand, Director."
Facing Olga Marie's earnest admonition, Fujimaru Ritsuka nodded seriously.
Having gone through five Singularities and now arriving at the sixth, she had long since shed her initial naivety and grown more mature.
Mash gazed at the Holy City and for so reason felt sad, just like when she'd seen that red-haired Archer.
A pain hard to express filled her chest; she said, "If Emiya-senpai were here, surely he wouldn't let these things happen…"
The sudden words quieted those around them.
Silence stretched between them, and Mash realized she had misspoken, lowering her head, "Sorry, I shouldn't have said that."
"It's fine, Mash," Fujimaru's voice was calm, her expression resolute, "We move forward not to part, but to et again. Believe that one day we will surely see Emiya-senpai again!"
"Ritsuka…", The two exchanged looks.
"Pause, pause!", Da Vinci, stashing away the Sphinx, said, "Although it's a mood-killer, let this great genius play the bad guy for a bit."

"Now please focus all your attention here; lant later when we're back at Chaldea."
"Da Vinci is right."
Olga Marie took a deep breath, cast off the mont's lancholia and said bluntly, ["You sneak in quietly and wait for the opportunity to enter the Holy Capital. No matter what, you must see the Lion King."]
"Got it~", Da Vinci replied in her enthusiastic tone:
"Our outfits do draw attention though…"
"Wait… who's peeking from behind that rock?"
Upon hearing that, the group imdiately prepared for combat.
"Could the Lion King have noticed the refugees?", Fujimaru guessed.
After being spotted, the hidden person revealed themself.
Dressed like a Middle Eastern rchant traveling the desert with cals:
"Heh heh heh… top quality goods here. Your clothes are real luxury, did you co from the desert?"
The rchant sported a thick beard and spoke with greasy slickness, "Are you here to participate in the Holy Selection Ritual? If you listen to , you'd best return to the desert. Of course, before that please hand over all your belongings… Don't worry, I'll buy them at market prices."
This was the bandit-rchant Shirou had ntioned.
Unexpectedly, even after being beaten by him, he hadn't changed his ways.
As Shirou had judged, the man was actually not such a bad guy.
So at first he didn't plan on extorting them.
"Who is this guy?", Fujimaru almost gave a deadpan stare.
"A bandit rchant… typical, huh," The great genius Da Vinci imdiately worked out the man's intention, "As long as soone stays around the Holy City, fools like us will keep coming by. But sothing about his behavior feels off."
She just had a sense of incongruity about the man's thod.
Robbing refugees and buying up their stuff at a single coin price.
What valuable things could refugees possibly have?
"Who cares how weird he is," Fujimaru cut the comm, "Bullying the weak is bad enough, but doing it to us too… Mash, give him a little punishnt."
"Understood, Master!"
Mash imdiately set aside the dining tray and jumped forward with a punch to the face.
Thud!
The bandit-rchant was hit hard, seeing stars and staggering.
Sensing Mash might keep going, he hurriedly dropped to his knees begging for rcy, "Wait… I surrender, I give up!.Why are all the people who ca today so p*rverse. That red-haired hungry ghost earlier was like that, and you lot too."
"Surrendering already?"
Mash was a bit surprised he gave up so quickly, but she really did stop.
If Shirou were here he definitely would have taunted, ["Idiot, you can't stop without any precautions, what if they're tricking you?"]
Fortunately, the bandit truly did surrender; he lanted, "If I don't surrender I might lose my life. It's not worth dying over such paltry gain."
"Didn't expect a bandit with a sense of self-preservation."
Da Vinci mused, "From your accent, are you not a Muslim rchant?"
"…Such a familiar na," The bandit's eyes showed nostalgia, "Not long ago your words were not wrong."
"Mix pleasure and greed together, even with those Crusaders things are a good business."
"But then, when the Holy Capital appeared… the Crusaders were imdiately wiped out. If I hadn't been clever and quick to kneel and beg, I would have died too."
"But when I ca to my senses, all my companions around had already been killed…"
"How… how could this happen!"
Mash was shocked, "Even unard rchants… weren't spared!"
There had been too many such grueso scenes along the way; the corpses strewn about weren't exaggeration.
"Good opportunity!"
The bandit did a sit-up, "You were careless, little knight girl, bye bye!"
"You're leaving now?"
Da Vinci lanted, "I wanted to ask more questions."
"Information costs money. But looking at you lot and that red-haired hungry ghost, you're all the sa type; I really don't want to trade with you."
"So farewell… If you can sense sothing off, listen to , get out fast… That city, it's not a place for the living to enter."
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