In retrospect, it was the first time that Alice Phil had felt uneasy since she set foot on the land of Fuyuki.

Once again, she realized the importance of Saber who was always by her side. The quiet confidence and tolerance that emanates from that petite body gives Alice Phil great peace of mind.

Maiya Kuyu, who is now following her instead of Saber, is not untrustworthy as a guard, and Kiritsugu also has a high opinion of Maiya's abilities, not to doubt her.

So what's going on with this wonderful sense of unease?

Leaving the castle in order to retreat, there is no dialogue between the two walking in the Forest of Enchantments. It's true that Maiya doesn't seem to be the type to gossip, but that utter silence is too heavy for Alice Phil.

Would she respond if she spoke first? There's nothing to lose by trying. The two are now in a safe zone cut off from the fighting. Not in a critical situation where you need to be quiet.

That being the case. Just as she was about to muster up the courage to speak, but didn't know what to say, Alice Fell forced her voice again.

There are so many things I want to ask like a mountain. An encounter with Kiritsugu. Memories of spending time with him. Maimi's character in Kiritsugu's eyes is very concerned about any question, but no matter which Alice Phil asks, she feels hesitant.

What she doesn't know about Emiya Kiritsugu, Kuyu Maiya knows.

If Maiya said the answer from the mouth. Words that are impactful enough to ruin the image of her husband in Alice Fair's heart

There can't be anything like that. There is absolutely no basis for such a denial. Because for Alice Phil, just nine years from the time they met was all for Kiritsugu.

The silence continued as he circled in annoyance. Despite the obvious awkwardness of the atmosphere, Maiya moved forward silently without paying any attention.

I'm really not good at dealing with this woman

With her head down and a deep sigh, an alarm flashed in Alice Phil's head.

「！？」

Maiya looked at Alice Phil, who suddenly stiffened and stopped, with a surprised expression.

"What's the matter, ma'am?"

"There's a new intruder. Just a little ahead of us. If you go on like this, you'll meet. 」

This was to be expected, Maiya nodded calmly.

"Then take a detour, it's safe to take a detour north from here. 」

Alice Phil, who was using clairvoyance magic to examine the intruder's appearance, did not answer immediately.

A tall man dressed in a pitch-black monk's robe, full of a sense of coercion. The short hair and serious appearance are exactly the same as the photos on Kiritsugu's collection of materials.

"It's Yanfeng Qili!"

What surprised Alice Phil even more than this was the change in Maimi's expression when she told the news.

At all times, she is a woman who is as expressionless as ice and can't peep at all emotions. I thought she must be as cold as ice in her heart

Alice Phil's expression on Maiya's face that she saw for the first time now. Restlessness and anger are intertwined. What you can see there is a sense of crisis that is completely different from horror. What she was afraid of should not be the character of Qili, but the state of affairs in which Qili appeared here at this time.

Sensing this, Alice Fell realized. Although it is abrupt, Alice Phil understands the heart of this woman.

"Maiya-san, the order you received from Kiritsugu was to ensure my safety, right? 」

"Yes, but ......"

"But what? You're thinking that only that man can't let him go to Kiritsugu, right?"

When Alice Phil smiled a little wickedly and pointed out her thoughts, Maiya became speechless for a moment.

"Madame, you ......."

"By chance, I'm exactly the same as you. 」

Yan Feng Qili. The man who was probably the biggest threat to Kiritsugu was evident from Maiya's reaction just by hearing his name.

Although Alice Phil is Homecruise (android), she falls in love, achieves that relationship and even becomes a mother. In that way, she acquired a supersensory that a puppet could not understand, but that humans possessed, that is, a woman's intuition.

"It's up to the two of us to stop it, okay, Miss Maiya?"

After a moment's hesitation, Maiya nodded with a wondrous expression.

"I'm sorry, but please be conscious, ma'am. 」

"It's okay, don't worry about me. Your fulfillment of your duties is not an order from Kiritsu, but something you yourself deem necessary. 」

"Yes. 」

In retrospect, I may have been aware of it. That's why I'm afraid to confirm.

Now Alice Phil understood. The reason why he avoided Maiya was not because he was afraid of her, but because he was afraid of knowing her heart.

Afraid of the fact that she is not the only woman who cares about Emiya Kiritsu.

In the high-spirited feeling of nearing deathmatch, Alice Phil couldn't help but laugh. Maiya, who had pulled out his Calico submachine gun, glanced at her with a surprised expression.

"What's wrong?"

"The human heart is incredible. 」

In order for Kiritsui to gamble her life, a woman with such determination has someone else besides herself. It should be that alarming answer. Now that fact feels incredibly reliable.

It is not very difficult for Yan Fengqili to speculate on the next course of action chosen by the Ainsbelen camp.

The other masters all target Caster, and Caster targets saber. Then there is no need to act in a special way, staying in the position and being completely prepared to meet the attack, waiting for the enemy's attack is the best strategy.

If you think about it, you don't need to look for it at all, and the Einzberen Forest on the outskirts of Fuyuki City shouldn't go unused. It can't be wrong that Kiritsugu Emiya is still there.

Of course, Qili had no intention of throwing herself into the fight. The east side of the forest has a high chance of being the battle site, as enemies coming from the Fuyuki side will generally invade from that direction.

So, Qili waited on the western edge of the forest to wait for the battle to begin. And bet on the chance of attacking the castle from the opposite side if, as expected, the battle starts on the east side as expected.

The Spirited Assassin was released in the forest as a Scout. An Assassin with the Breath Cutting Skill, able to penetrate deep into the barrier and invade undetected. Although you can't get close to the castle, it's okay to observe the battle from the outside of the forest.

Sure enough, the clash between caster and Saber unfolded on the east side of the forest. Luckily, Einzberen only left the Servant alone, and the Master himself was closed, and the Assassin's report was a great opportunity for Qili.

If Emiya Kiritsugu was a hound hired by Ainsbelen, he would have been guarding the Master who was defenseless away from the Servant. Now is the time to push it to the brink.

Although she was later alerted by the Assassin and learned that the red-haired boy and the others who suddenly appeared and Rhodes Elumeroi were also heading towards the castle, Qili did not hesitate, but was even a little anxious. Although the boy's arrival was indeed due to his own notice, and he was interested in him, if Emiya Kiritsugu was killed by Kenes, the purpose of the ceremony would not be achieved. In order to come face-to-face with Kiritsugu, Kiri is prepared to be aware of the worst-case scenario and has to clash with Kenays, and quickly advances through the forest.

In addition, depending on the situation of the battle, it is also possible that Einzberen abandoned the castle and fled. At that time, of course, the opposite direction of the eastern battlefield where the Servant was fighting should be used as a retreat, so there was a possibility of an encounter with Kirei.

Just in case, Qili began to prepare for the battle situation in advance, and because of this, she was able to react to the unexpected murderous aura smartly.

He sighed and leaned over to avoid the thunderous rain of bullets overhead. In the case of unexpected machine-gun fire, even skilled veterans are sometimes demoralized and lose their judgment. But the exception is for the vicarious Church of the Templars. Qili didn't even shed a drop of cold sweat, calmly inferring the situation.

The enemy was a person, and, judging by the sound of gunfire, a short submachine gun of caliber 9mm or less. Because pistol bullets that lack penetration do not have the power to penetrate tree trunks. It is less dangerous in the forest than a sniper rifle.

Qili judged the enemy's position from the direction of the gunfire and threw two black keys. Contrary to what he expected, only the sound of a blade stabbing into the trunk of a tree was heard.

"Huh?"

On the side of the surprised Qili, the murderous edge struck again.

Again from the left-hand direction, gunshots were heard. Although he dodged at the last moment, this time it was more dangerous than the previous shooting. The previous judgment that the enemy was alone slowed down his reaction slightly.

The location of the second shot was completely different. It's too fast to move. However, if there were two gunmen from the start, a well-timed crossfire should indeed be able to solve the situation.

When I was puzzled, I felt four breaths this time. Qili quickly took two hands in one hand, and a total of four black keys took a stance, and a new intuition flashed in her head.

So it's an illusion?

It's not impossible. I've gone quite deep into the forest barrier. The composition of the enchantment contains illusions, and if there is a sorcerer who can manipulate spells nearby, it is possible to target Qili personally and cause confusion.

Is the invisible sniper really alone? Is that the same person who is performing the illusions? Or is there someone else in charge?

Anyway, until we find a way to break the illusion. Can only follow the rhythm of the enemy. Qi Li swung out four black keys and threw them continuously at the aura of the four directions in an instant.

Unsurprisingly, there was no feeling of hitting anywhere.

At the same time that Qili was anxious because of the fruitless unfolding. He was hit directly by a bullet in the back.

The third shot was not even breathless. It should be said that the first two shots were a feint to confuse Qili. Originally, since it was possible to manipulate the illusion trap that emitted a murderous aura, it was theoretically possible to seal the real killing intent.

Before he could scream, the tall man in the monk's robe collapsed on his back with his feet tangled, neither spasmodic nor moaning in pain.

……