Fate: How About a New Savior?

The area where the Tohsaka residence once stood had completely vanished, replaced by a crater over ten meters deep.

With two ideal rest points rendered useless, heading back to search for the Emiya residence would've been extremely inefficient. So, Shiomi led the group toward Homurahara Academy, which was more conveniently on the way to Mount Enzou.

Unlike the rest of the burning city, the school was only slightly damaged. There were no signs of fire.

"This place… even the school's ended up like this..." Shiomi sighed and guided everyone to a relatively clean classroom. They decided to set up a temporary base there.

While the others rested, Shiomi stepped outside and re-established contact with Chaldea.

Caren was no longer at the console—Romani had taken her place. She had likely gone off to oversee the containment of the Masters caught in the explosion, making sure they survived through emergency cryopreservation.

"We're uploading the Singularity F data so far. Have your team analyze it," Shiomi said. "Pay special attention to the Tohsaka residence—or rather, the large crater at unconfirmed coordinate X-G. Let me know the moment anything new comes up."

Romani nodded, accepting the data and distributing it to the surviving operators in the control room. As he monitored the live feedback of the four on screen, he couldn't help but smile in relief.

"Having you here has made a huge difference. Neither the director, Fujimaru, nor Mash has any real combat experience."

"I'm just glad we've gotten this far, but I can't say how long our luck's going to hold," Shiomi replied. "Besides, you heard what Mash said earlier, right? The Servant who entrusted her with power never revealed their True Name or even the name of their Noble Phantasm. Right now, even though Mash has the shield, she can't use it as a Noble Phantasm at all."

"That's a serious issue. I'll have to count on you to find a workaround," Romani said.

"Whoa, don't make it sound like this is all on me," Shiomi replied with a half-laugh. "You got to Chaldea before I did. Don't tell me you don't know the True Name of Heroic Spirit No. 2?"

"When that Heroic Spirit was summoned, it immediately launched an attack on Chaldea," Romani said, voice turning grave. "We barely managed to contain the damage, but ever since, that Heroic Spirit's refused to show itself. Even the former director couldn't determine their identity."

Shiomi figured Mash's involvement as a catalyst might've rubbed the Servant the wrong way—perhaps that was why it refused to reveal itself or fight.

Now it had changed its mind... likely because if it hadn't, Mash would have died in the control room blast.

"Well, can't be helped then." Shiomi nodded. "I'll keep a closer eye on her."

He continued, "Romani, I'm sure you've noticed—there's been a shift in the lineup for the Holy Grail War in Singularity F."

"...Yes," Romani replied after a moment of silence, finally nodding.

Just then, footsteps approached from behind. Cú Chulainn emerged from the building, and Shiomi told Romani they'd talk later before ending the transmission.

"Oh man, I got kicked out by the girls—and all I did was compliment their figures a little..." Cú Chulainn looked exasperated.

"If it were master, you'd already be nailed to the wall, Senpai," Shiomi said, arms crossed.

Cú Chulainn, having already guessed Shiomi's origins, wasn't surprised by the title and simply replied, "Heh! You're not wrong."

"Didn't expect you to really show up as a Caster. If you weren't injured, I probably would've challenged you again."

Sitting on the steps of the school building's main entrance, he asked, "From the way you're talking, you've fought me as Lancer before?"

"Yeah, but it ended without a clear result," Shiomi replied, stepping up beside him.

"That's a shame." Cú Chulainn sighed. "Too bad I couldn't bring that record back with me. Still, there's a reason I appeared as a Caster this time."

"What?" Shiomi was momentarily stunned.

Cú Chulainn glanced sideways at him. "It's something I only found out after the Holy Grail War went off course. 'Someone' arranged for me to wait here for you."

"Wait for me?" Shiomi narrowed his eyes. "They knew I'd show up from the start?"

"Well, technically, 'that person' just said the one who holds Gae Bolg and the Primordial Runes," Cú Chulainn muttered.

"Who is this 'someone'?"

"You'll find out sooner or later." Cú Chulainn extended a hand, and a wooden staff appeared in his grasp.

It was the weapon he used in his Caster form.

"My mission is to hand this over to you." He casually passed the staff forward.

Shiomi hesitated for a moment before taking it. As soon as it touched his hand, he felt the ownership shift—he was now the staff's master.

"A staff made from white ash... Don't tell me..." His eyes widened.

"Good. You get it." Cú Chulainn's body began to turn translucent.

"Hey! Not again—" Shiomi barely had time to inspect the staff before he noticed Cú Chulainn starting to fade.

But Cú Chulainn had clearly expected this. "It's fine. You were right—I've long since lost my Spirit Core. If I didn't have that staff, I wouldn't have lasted this long waiting for you."

Shiomi couldn't say a word. The reality was worse than his predictions.

"I think it's a pity too." Cú Chulainn clenched his hand. "But we're both disciples of the Land of Shadows. What I couldn't finish... I'm counting on you to handle, junior."

"You can count on me." Shiomi raised the staff, mana beginning to flow through it. "Whether it's Archer or Saber, I'll take them down and fix this Singularity."

Cú Chulainn nodded. "Good mindset. But be careful—especially of Saber and Archer. We don't know the latter's true name, but he can project all kinds of weapons—"

"Archer... Don't tell me—" Shiomi was already piecing it together.

With time running out, Cú Chulainn didn't waste any more words and went on.

"Saber's true name is even more widely known." He stood up. "It's Arthur, King of Britannia."

Shiomi's pupils contracted sharply. "That's impossible! If it's Artoria, she should've disappeared after the Fourth Holy Grail War..."

But the next moment, he calmed himself.

This was Singularity F—any anomaly could be justified here.

"The reason King Arthur, who should never have been summoned again, appeared here... that's something only you can find out." With that, Cú Chulainn vanished into the night of Fuyuki.

Shiomi gripped the staff tightly and muttered to himself with a sigh,

"He always leaves behind a mess..."