[You… like eating this?]
The Shogun asked.
'Hmm… the taste is good, I'm satisfied.'
[Then you should ask if there's a recipe.]
Since Ei liked it, she would try to make it herself… These thoughts were subconscious. After all, she often cooked for her. Ei could do everything except cooking, and as a puppet, the Shogun had culinary skills. She could add a new dish to her list, and maybe even promote this foreign cuisine to other restaurants in Inazuma.
"By the way, is there a recipe?"
"Eh? A recipe?"
Fiore froze…
"Yes… the Shogun learns very quickly."
Ei explained for her.
"Ah… there isn't really a recipe on the plane. This one was actually made for me by a Servant earlier."
Fiore shook her head regretfully.
"I see… then forget it, I—"
"Wait a moment, Caules!"
The girl suddenly thought of something and turned to call her brother, who was busy searching data on the computer.
"…Sister?"
Caules, deep in thought, immediately looked up toward the two in the cabin lounge.
"Um… can you look up the recipe for pizza?"
"Hah?! Sister, what are you talking about all of a sudden?"
Caules blinked, confused. They were about to face a major battle—why bring up food now?
"Don't worry about it. (The Shogun wants to see!)"
She covered her mouth with her palm, whispering to Caules.
"Hah? Oh… got it, I'll look it up."
Though baffled, if Saber wanted it, he couldn't refuse. Would he dare lose face? So, he set aside his research and searched for how to make pizza.
"It's done."
Caules pointed his thumb at the monitor, gesturing to Ei.
"Thank you… sorry for the trouble."
Ei gave a small nod, stood, and passed through Astolfo's line of sight before approaching the computer. Narrowing her eyes, she studied the text and images on the screen.
"Hmm?"
Astolfo noticed something was off, glanced over, and saw Fiore and the others gathered around the computer.
Ei's violet eyes scanned back and forth across the words and pictures, partly to broaden her knowledge, but also to let the Shogun in the Plane of Euthymia see clearly.
[So that's how it is…]
'You… learned it?'
[Though not perfectly.]
Ei understood. A puppet's learning ability was far faster and more efficient than that of ordinary humans—even gods. That was one of the defining traits of an intelligent puppet.
"Oh~ you're checking out pizza recipes? Perfect timing, there's even a cooking channel on now."
By chance, Astolfo flipped the TV to a live cooking show, where a chef was demonstrating how to make pizza on stage before a full audience.
It was almost too much of a coincidence, as if fate itself wanted her to learn cooking.
Everyone turned their attention to the large wall-mounted TV, watching the woman in chef's clothes prepare the pizza.
"Amazing… is there anything this 'television' cannot show?"
Ei stroked her chin, marveling at the advanced technology.
"Uh-hehe…" ×2
Fiore and Caules exchanged awkward smiles.
Minutes later, the matter came to an end. Fiore finished her meal, Caules returned to his research, and Astolfo, after watching TV for a while, fell asleep on the sofa clutching a pillow. Sieg leaned against the wall, relaxing his body.
The cabin once more sank into peaceful quiet…
"Hehe… it feels like we're on vacation."
Fiore chuckled to the Shogun.
"Though caution is needed before battle, too much caution yields only loss. This is just right."
The Shogun, who had switched back with Ei, sat cross-legged on a chair with eyes closed, resting. She could have meditated kneeling on the floor, but as the saying goes—when in Rome. With a good chair available, there was no need to discomfort herself.
"Ei… did she say anything about me just now?"
"Eh? She did, but she didn't say anything bad about you, Shogun."
Fiore shook her head. Their voices were both soft, like whispers in the quiet cabin.
"Is that so… You seem rather afraid of her. Is it because you're unfamiliar? Once you get to know her, you'll find she's easier to get along with than me."
After all, she was only Ei's puppet… Though she didn't say it aloud, otherwise Ei would scold her again. But it was true—Ei rarely lost her temper. When interacting with others, she carried a calm, gentle presence. Yet, if she truly grew angry, she became terrifying. Fiore had never witnessed it herself—these were only stories from Miko.
"But… whether it's Lady Ei or the Shogun… both have their own unique charm. I… like the Shogun. I was drawn by her charm."
The girl, though blushing, spoke firmly.
"Hah… To think you'd feel that way. Truly rare and precious."
"Hehe…"
The girl smiled sweetly at her. She took it as praise.
"Won't you rest a little? Battle will begin soon."
"No… if I fall asleep, it'll only dull my focus. I'll stay awake."
The girl shook her head lightly.
Tick… tick…
The second hand of the wall clock advanced rhythmically, each crisp sound marking how close the great battle drew.
The Shogun rose and went to the window, gazing at the distant horizon where the faint silhouette of the Aerial Garden slowly came into view. Around them flew other aircraft, and on the bows stood Jeanne and Chiron. Through the window, they signaled to her with hand signs.
"The time has come."
The Shogun turned back and reminded Fiore.
"Mm… Caules!"
Fiore instantly tensed, turning to call out loudly to her brother.
"I know! Everyone, wake up!!"
Caules stood, shaking awake Astolfo, who had been sleeping soundly on the sofa, and Sieg, who was still drowsy.
"U-ugh? Wh-what is it? Is it here already—ah!"
Thud!
He fell face-first onto the floor.
"Rider!"
Sieg hurried over, helping him up quickly.
"I-I know, I know!!"
Clutching his reddened nose, Astolfo staggered to the cargo hold at the rear of the plane.
"Rider, wait! I'm coming with you!"
Sieg was about to follow.
"Hold it!! Masters must stay aboard!"
Caules stopped him.
"But—!"
Sieg protested. How could he let Rider charge alone into enemy defenses? Even if he was weak, at least he could help a little!
"Hey—"
"It's fine, it's fine~! Come along, Sieg. You're my Master. Fighting side by side is the most romantic thing, don't you think?"
Astolfo agreed anyway. His mount could easily carry two people, so why not? He would protect him.
"There's no time… Caules."
Fiore urged.
"Ah… I know! All right, you can go."
Caules relented, letting Sieg and Astolfo into the cargo bay.
On the monitor, he watched them prepare, then pressed the release button.
Hiss… Whoosh!!!
A deafening rush of air roared through the widening crack of the cargo door.
Rider braced against the pressure and wind, walking slowly to the edge. Then he grabbed Sieg tightly and leapt out together!
Fweee~!
Whistling sharply, a massive hippogriff swooped down through the skies, catching them securely on its back. It veered away from the plane, soaring toward Jeanne and Chiron's position.
"Rider deployed!"
Caules pressed the button to close the cargo bay door and reported to Fiore.
Though a private jet, the plane was sizable, complete with such a cargo hold. That convenience was the reason they chose it for this mission.
From the Shogun's vantage point, she could see Rider now regrouping with Jeanne and Chiron outside. Ahead, the Aerial Garden loomed ever larger, its vast form becoming clearer as they approached.
Suspended in the sky, the Aerial Garden radiated an ominous red aura. In the pitch-black night, it resembled a blood-drenched moon, chilling to behold. At this moment, the Red Faction's Servants gathered in the throne hall of the garden—
Buzz~
The Red Faction's Assassin, Semiramis, materialized from spirit form, leisurely taking her seat upon the towering throne.
"Everyone… they've finally arrived."
Resting her chin upon her hand, her proud voice carried a lingering echo. Projected onto a suspended screen was a real-time image of the skies outside the fortress. A swarm of planes approached in dark formation—a clear sign of how much the Black Faction had invested in this assault.
"Are you all prepared to intercept them?"
With a wave of her arm:
"Rider, use your chariot to destroy those planes in the sky first!"
Her first order was to Achilles, commanding him to deal with the airborne threat. Against Servants, those planes were fragile as paper. Of course, the enemy might use reinforcement magecraft, but even then it would hardly matter.
"I don't really mind…"
Achilles folded his arms casually, still looking relaxed.
"But… it might take a bit more time."
He subtly gestured with his chin toward the approaching fleet of planes on the screen.
"What? Ugh!!"
Only then did Semiramis notice something odd—the fleet carried no Servant presence. They were simply planes, their signatures veiled as if by some unknown barrier.
Her brow furrowed.
"Most likely a kind of barrier magecraft. The Black Faction's magical responses are faint—I can't even tell who's aboard which plane."
Karna also frowned slightly as he explained.
"But there's one exception."
Amid the fleet, Jeanne stood openly at the head of a central plane. She made no attempt to hide, as though daring them to see. A trap, perhaps—or maybe she truly sought battle.
"Jeanne!!"
Still under the influence of Jack's Noble Phantasm, Atalanta had yet to recover. Agitated and confused, the sight of Jeanne sent her into a frenzy.
"To rely on numbers… how disgraceful! But… even so, none of them can approach this garden!"
Though Semiramis spoke proudly, a bead of sweat trailed down her cheek. The Black Faction's force was no joke.
Crack…
She raised her hand, crimson light glowing from her palm, resonating with the jewel upon the throne's armrest. Both shimmered faintly in response.
Rumble…
The fortress trembled for a moment.
Under the eyes of those watching the projection, the fortress' floating structures shifted position. Massive latticed slabs unfurled like wings, their pointed ends rotating to aim outward. In an instant, the fortress became a colossal fortress-cannon—equally suited for offense and defense.
"These chunks of iron… let them all be blown away!"
"Oh~ how arrogant~"
Achilles teased with a grin.
"Rider, don't idle. Leave the Black Faction's Servants aboard those planes to you."
"Yeah, yeah… I get it. When I take down Black Archer, I'll cut down those flying hunks of junk too!"
Flexing his muscular arms, Achilles boldly agreed. His target was his teacher—Chiron.
"Next… Archer, you'll provide rear support, sniping the Masters—"
"I refuse."
"What? You—!"
Semiramis was stunned. Hadn't they agreed on this beforehand?! Clearly, she had not realized Atalanta's mind was still corrupted by madness. To her, it looked like simple betrayal.
"Missy… don't be like that…"
Achilles tried to calm her.
"I'll slay that woman—that filthy saint!!"
"…Are you certain of this?"
Semiramis lifted her hand, about to restrain her. But Achilles stepped forward, blocking her path.
"What's the meaning of this, Rider?"
"It's fine, Empress… I'll take on Black Archer. That way, missy can fight Ruler. Isn't that just right?"
Semiramis relented. She didn't care for Atalanta's life or death anyway. All that mattered was the Grail.
"Very well. Then I'll take down the Black Rider… Lancer, Black Saber is yours."
The Black Faction's most dangerous asset was Saber. By combat ability, Karna was the perfect match. With this, the roles were neatly distributed. Now it depended on performance.
"…That suits me."
Karna nodded silently, expressionless. He lifted his gaze toward the screen—yet he still could not sense the woman's powerful aura. Where exactly was she?
"Then go, annihilate them! The Greater Grail is ours!!"
The Empress rose, raising her arm with a sweeping gesture. Her proud voice echoed thunderously through the hall, filling all present with the thrill of the final battle.
...
The distant Aerial Garden loomed ever closer…
"I see it!"
Standing upon the lead plane's nose, Jeanne shouted toward Chiron.
"Mm, here too."
"Wow… no matter how many times I see it, that's amazing!"
Flying above, Rider voiced his usual carefree amazement.
The wind was fierce in the sky. Standing exposed outside, balance was hard to maintain. Their hair whipped wildly, while the dull roar of rushing air battered their ears.
In the next instant, flashes of light like stars glittered from the enemy's side.
"They're here!!"
Jeanne reacted instantly, crying out to the others.
Whoosh!!
Like a green dragon, Achilles surged forward on his chariot, weaving rapidly through the sky. Within seconds he had pierced into the Black Faction's fleet.
"Hahahahaha!!!"
Laughing like a wild child, he charged.
"Chiron!"
"Leave it to me!!"
Chiron raised his bow, tracking the enemy's erratic path.
Whizz! ×N
His arrows fired like machine gun fire, each shot releasing immense wind pressure. In the darkness, they streaked like lasers, raining ceaselessly toward the weaving chariot.
"Black Archer!! The time has come—enjoy yourself!!"
Achilles deftly avoided the barrage, his glowing green dragon-like chariot twisting through the fleet. It dove beneath one plane, aiming directly at the wings and fuselage, then surged upward—
Whizz!
BOOM!!!
A flash of green light, and the entire plane exploded violently, split cleanly in two by the dragon's strike!
"!"
Seeing danger, Chiron leapt onto the wing of the adjacent plane, drawing aim once more.
"Where are you going, Archer?!"
Infused with pale green mana, the chariot streaked like a beam of light, descending upon the next aircraft.
Chiron fired several more arrows into its path—but Achilles evaded each, forcing Chiron to relocate again.
BOOM!!
The plane beneath Chiron erupted in fire as Achilles pierced through, the blast illuminating the night sky, thunderous in its roar.
Chiron flipped midair, loosing arrows toward Rider like a hail of bullets before landing on another plane. Placing his palm firmly upon its surface:
"Solidify! Redirect course!"
Green sigils spread across the fuselage. The fragile aircraft instantly transformed into steel-like hardness, then veered sharply toward Rider, a massive hammer swung to crush him!
"Don't underestimate me!!!"
Bang!
To Achilles, such a tactic was nothing. He leapt from his chariot, both feet slamming into the belly of the oncoming plane. With brute force alone, he resisted the colossal strike.
Crack…
The steel beneath his feet buckled, denting inward. The entire plane groaned under the impact, its frame warping.
"Heh… reckless as always."
Chiron smiled faintly, springing into the air. Drawing his bow, he loosed a single arrow straight at the aircraft's core.
BOOM!!
The plane was obliterated, engulfed in a tremendous fireball that swallowed both itself and Achilles whole.
Crack…
Yet in the very next second, Achilles emerged unscathed—standing atop the wreckage, right before Chiron's eyes.