Fate: Question And Answer System of Traversing Heroic Spirits

"Are you ready?"

In the basement of Chihiro's house, a summoning circle had been drawn. Chihiro looked at Gunnar and spoke.

Chihiro had no intention of participating in this Holy Grail War himself, leaving the spots instead to Gray and Gunnar.

After all, wasn't the original Holy Grail War also missing one participant?

"Mm."

Gray was the first to step forward. She raised her hand, revealing the Command Seals, and began the summoning.

"I declare. My fate shall rest upon your sword—"

Gunnar, choosing not to use a catalyst, was ready to rely on luck for her summoning, just as Chihiro had done in the Fourth War.

As the chant continued, a bright white light flashed within the summoning circle, and a knight clad in silver armor emerged from within.

"Knight of the Round Table, Kay, has arrived."

The knight let out a sigh and said helplessly, "Ah… I'd refuse if I could, but with the King present, it would be disrespectful not to answer the call."

"Long time no see, my King."

"...Yeah, long time no see, Sir Kay."

Seeing his sworn brother again, Artoria was filled with emotion.

After all, this was the knight who had followed her throughout her entire life.

Unlike in The Case Files of Lord El-Melloi II, where his face had never been clearly depicted, the Kay standing before them now was a fully materialized Heroic Spirit.

It wasn't surprising that Gray had summoned Kay.

[Name: Kay; Class: Saber; Gender: Male; Alignment: Lawful Good.]

[Strength: B; Endurance: A+; Agility: B; Mana: D; Luck: D; Noble Phantasm: B.]

[Class Skills: Magic Resistance A, Riding A+.]

[Personal Skills: Nine Days Without Rest A, Blazing Heat A+.]

[Noble Phantasms:

Stretched Body (Rank D, Anti-Personnel, Range: 0m, Max Target: 1)

Irreversible Sword (Rank A, Anti-Personnel, Range: 0-1m, Max Target: 1)]

So this was Kay's data. He truly lived up to the legend of a knight who could single-handedly fight a hundred enemies and battle for nine days without sleep. His endurance even surpassed that of Lancelot.

Stretched Body likely stemmed from the legend that "As long as he wished, he could stretch his body taller than the tallest tree in the forest."

Irreversible Sword was undoubtedly his cursed blade.

It was said that once cut by Kay's sword, no doctor—no matter how skilled—could heal the wound.

Once the blade was drawn, there was no turning back, thus earning it the name "The Sword of No Return."

"Are you my Master?"

Looking at Gray, who was still staring blankly, Kay reached out and roughly ruffled her hair.

"Stupid Gray, you're still as slow as ever."

Gray: "???"

"Ah, sorry, sorry."

Kay pointed at Add and chuckled. "Since I received his memories, things feel a bit mixed up."

Add laughed as well. "Hehehe, well, technically, we are the same person."

"I refuse to be a talking box."

Kay frowned and said, "And your laugh… it's a little—"

Gray immediately covered Add's mouth and shot Chihiro a glare.

That devilish laughter, Chihiro had been the one to teach Add that.

"Ahem, alright, it's Gunnar's turn now."

Chihiro coughed lightly and quickly changed the subject.

Gunnar stepped forward and repeated Gray's chant. Suddenly, a brilliant light erupted from the summoning circle.

A white-haired figure, clad in a flowing white robe, materialized within the light.

Everyone present, except for Gray and Gunnar, instinctively held their breath.

[Name: Merlin; Class: Caster; Gender: Male; Alignment: Lawful Good.]

[Strength: B; Endurance: E; Agility: D; Mana: A; Luck: C; Noble Phantasm: C.]

[Class Skills: Territory Creation C, High-Speed Incantation C, Item Construction C, Mixed-Blood EX, Independent Manifestation A.]

[Personal Skills: Charisma B, Dreamlike Charisma A, Illusion Arts A, Hero-Creation EX.]

[Noble Phantasm: Garden of Avalon (Rank C, Anti-Unit, Range: 1-5m, Max Targets: 7).]

Chihiro had thought Gunnar might summon Gawain, but instead, she had summoned Merlin.

That damn peeping tom. Why couldn't he just stay in Avalon?

"Ah, your beloved big brother Merlin has arrived!"

The newcomer smiled and waved cheerfully. "Hey, Artoria, Kay-chan, long time no see!"

"I'm not the least bit happy to see you."

Kay, not bothering to hide his irritation, scowled. "Why didn't you just stay in Avalon? What are you doing here? Bored and looking for people to scam?"

"Now, now, how could you think of me that way?"

"Mm!"

Artoria and Kay both nodded in perfect sync.

Back in the day, when Artoria had first set out on her journey, both Kay and Merlin had accompanied her. Over time, she had come to see the true nature of the so-called Grand Magus—a shameless old trickster.

Unfortunately, she had been far too naive back then, often stepping in to mediate whenever Kay reprimanded Merlin.

Kay crossed his arms. "What are you really doing here?"

"My, Kay-chan, so heartless."

Merlin grinned. "I simply noticed all of you gathering here, so I thought I'd come and catch up."

That was a lie.

No one would believe him. If he had that much free time, he would have come long ago. Why wait until now?

Chihiro hadn't missed it, when Merlin first arrived, his gaze lingered on both him and Artoria for a second each.

Just like Goetia back then, Merlin was undoubtedly trying to investigate the Q&A group.

"Merlin… the magus who followed King Arthur?"

Gunnar frowned. "I don't know why, but the moment I saw you, I felt annoyed."

"Hahaha, that's just your imagination."

Merlin smiled faintly. "We're teammates now, Master. That kind of attitude isn't very nice."

Gunnar sighed. "...Got it."

Kay smirked. "It doesn't matter. You can torment him however you like, better yet, use him as cannon fodder."

"Hahaha, Kay, you haven't changed at all."

"Heh..."

It was too late to change things now, Merlin had already been summoned. There was no way to send him back. They would just have to accept it.

It was time to pack up and head for Fuyuki City.

—

In the Einzbern Castle, Emiya Kiritsugu stood in the grand hall, ready to summon his Servant.

Behind him, Irisviel and Fujimura Taiga watched with anticipation.

Ever since the fourth Q&A session, Fujimura Taiga had joined the group and become quite familiar with the Emiya family.

Much like in Please! Einzbern Consultation Room, Taiga had come to admire Irisviel, even going so far as to call her "Master" and proudly claim the title of Disciple No. 0.

In reality, Taiga had already been acquainted with the Emiya couple before that, though their relationship hadn't been as close as it was now.

Kiritsugu had originally met Fujimura Raiga through mutual acquaintances. It was through Raiga's connections that he had purchased a home in Fuyuki City, what later became known as the Emiya residence.

After all, Einzbern Castle was too far from the city, and sending a child to school from there would have been highly inconvenient.

This time, Taiga had specifically requested to witness a Servant summoning.

"By my command, I summon thee—"

Emiya Kiritsugu began the incantation, while both Irisviel and Taiga watched intently. Neither of them noticed that two figures were quietly lurking on the second floor.

"Kiritsugu is the worst! He won't even let me summon a Servant!"

Illyasviel pouted in frustration as she peered down at the scene. "I was supposed to be the Master in the Fifth War!"

"Hehe, Kiritsugu's just looking out for your safety. After all, this is a dangerous ritual, isn't it?"

Beside her, a red-haired young man chuckled.

That's right, the one crouching beside Illyasviel von Einzbern was none other than Emiya Shirou.

After watching the Q&A videos, Kiritsugu had naturally sought out Shirou. However, upon seeing that Shirou's biological parents were still alive and that his family was happy, he had chosen not to interfere.

But fate had other plans.

A year later, tragedy struck, Shirou's parents died in a car accident.

With no other family to turn to, Shirou had become an orphan.

Thus, Emiya Kiritsugu took him in, bringing him back into the Emiya family.

When it came to Shirou's education, Kiritsugu had always been careful, afraid of leading him down the wrong path. Fortunately, Shirou was independent and determined, sparing him from undue worry.

As for how Shirou learned about the Q&A group?

Naturally, it was thanks to Illya—that bigmouth couldn't help but tell him.

After all, Shirou had spent a long time wondering why his family members kept staring into the air and making strange gestures, leaving him utterly confused.

Back below, Kiritsugu's chant came to an end, and a figure materialized in the summoning circle.

The moment Kiritsugu saw the Servant's face, he froze.

White hair, tanned skin, a red overcoat.

"I didn't expect it to be you, No Name."

Archer: "..."

Wait—what?

He hadn't even spoken yet, and his Master already knew him?

And what was this? "No Name"?

Hold on…

The moment Archer saw his Master, along with Irisviel and Taiga standing behind him, he was completely stunned.

(To be continued.)