Chapter 31: Sakura Joins the Fray
The battlefield between the magi and their Servants was gradually reaching a fever pitch, but at this very moment, Sakura sat at the desk in her room. Resting her cheek in her hand, she gazed blankly at the bright moon outside the window. The textbooks laid out on the desk had not been flipped open once from start to finish.
"What is Shirou doing right now...?"
Sakura couldn't help but murmur to herself. As if reflecting her state of mind, the Command Spells on the back of her right hand glowed with an eerie red light. Since they appeared yesterday, these blood-colored Command Spells—which looked like tattoos—had not given Sakura a good impression. Moreover, she was somewhat worried that she might end up causing trouble for Shirou.
However, the thought of Rin and Shirou both participating in the Holy Grail War while she remained an outsider with no common ground made Sakura feel an indescribable restlessness. Finally, unable to endure the feeling any longer, Sakura summoned a Heroic Spirit using the method she had learned from Leysritt.
Leysritt was the maid who stayed by Irisviel's side. Originally created as a homunculus by the Einzberns, she was intended to fulfill the role of the Holy Grail, but the attempt failed. On the verge of being discarded as waste, her life was extended by becoming Irisviel's maid. Leysritt usually wore a black-and-white maid outfit; she had silver hair, fair skin, and a quite voluptuous figure—especially a bust size that made even Sakura feel a sense of inferiority.
"My Praetor! It's quite lively out there; let us head over and take a look as well!"
An enthusiastic female voice echoed in her ear.
"I told you not to disturb me while I'm studying, didn't I, Rider?" Sakura sighed.
"What does it matter? You aren't studying at all anyway, Praetor~!" the woman's voice chimed back teasingly.
"..."
Sakura flipped open her textbook without a word. However, the woman spoke once more as if seeing right through her.
"You're clearly thinking about that man, aren't you? Why not just go and confess your feelings? If you keep your thoughts hidden like this, Praetor, the person you want will be snatched away by someone else~"
"—!!"
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Under the night sky, a red sprite was dancing. This "sprite" had brilliant golden hair and hummed a self-composed, out-of-tune song with a heavy Latin flavor. On her feet, high-heeled boots made of metal—looking as if they were cast from brass—never stopped their dance steps. They moved gracefully and in perfect rhythm, turning her skirt into a beautiful red rose in the middle of the silent street.
Following behind the girl was Sakura, who wore a mask of pain as she listened to Nero's singing.
Even a polite reminder wouldn't stop this self-centered Tyrant of Rome; it might even provoke her resentment and cause an even bigger mess. Just like last night, when Sakura stopped her from singing to her heart's content in the house, the Tyrant of Rome simply switched to her spiritualized form and sang at the top of her lungs, torturing Sakura's eardrums. It was like a private voice channel that only Sakura could hear—only she could "enjoy" the Tyrant's "wonderful" singing voice.
When it finally stopped and Sakura fell asleep, she found the out-of-tune singing followed her even into her dreams. It was utterly despairing. Before this, Sakura didn't know much about Nero, which was how she eventually learned that Nero—who loved art and performance and called herself an "artist rivaling the god Apollo"—was actually tone-deaf.
With eyes that had lost their luster, Sakura followed the girl in the red dress as they strolled through the deserted streets. Suddenly, Sakura noticed the girl's singing gradually fade. The air grew thick with tension, and a dangerous aura began to waft toward them, causing her to instinctively become alert.
"Are they here... Rider?"
"Mm, yes, my Praetor. My next opponent is just ahead."
With a relaxed and cheerful tone, Nero looked toward the two figures appearing in front of them.
"Rin?"
Sakura stared at the twin-tailed girl in the red coat, momentarily stunned. Rin was looking at Sakura with an equally surprised gaze.
"So it's Sakura. I really didn't expect that you'd be involved in this as well."
"I..."
While Sakura was still trying to construct an explanation in her mind, Nero suddenly spoke up.
"Could reminiscing be saved for after the battle is over, my Praetor?"
At that moment, Sakura saw a flame seemingly ignite in Nero's hand. A twisted, dark-red greatsword appeared in her grasp. Without a doubt, it was the crystallization of magical energy and fantasy—a Noble Phantasm.
"Eh? As a Rider, are you going to wield a greatsword?"
Since only a day had passed since the summoning, Sakura's understanding of Nero's strength was limited to the information she could see:
Class: Rider Master: Orihara Sakura True Name: Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus Height: 150cm Weight: 42kg Strength: C | Endurance: D | Agility: A | Mana: B | Luck: A | Noble Phantasm: A
Class Skills:
Magic Resistance: C Riding: B
Innate Skills:
Imperial Privilege: EX Migraine: B Thrice Sets the Sun: A
Noble Phantasms:
Aestus Domus Aurea: A++ Aestus Estus: A
"What's so hard about that~" Nero said cheerfully, easily swinging the dark-red greatsword that looked incredibly heavy to Sakura.
"You are too rigid, my beautiful Praetor~" Nero turned and spoke to Sakura in a pleasant voice. "And who stipulated that a Rider must fight on horseback? You are a person of a future generation that has surpassed me by so many years, yet your thinking is so old-fashioned?"
"I..." Sakura was momentarily speechless.
Nero continued with a smile, "Originally, compared to the magecraft of Master Simon Magus, I prefer swordsmanship a bit more. The class that suits me best should have been Saber. This is
a failure on the part of my Praetor, but no matter—I shall correct it myself. As an Emperor, if I didn't even have this much 'Privilege,' I wouldn't be fit to reign over the mighty Roman Empire."
Nero possessed the highest rank, EX-rank, of Imperial Privilege. It is a skill she originally shouldn't have, but which she can obtain for a short time through her own insistence. Applicable skills include Riding, Swordsmanship, Art, Charisma, Tactics, etc. In cases where the rank is A or higher, even physical burdens (such as Divinity) can be acquired.
In the Roman Empire, the Emperor was no different from a god. If the Emperor called a deer a horse, then it truly was a horse. However, one cannot obtain skills without any actual aptitude. Because she is a universal genius with boundless curiosity, she has experienced most professional skills already. Even if she suddenly claimed she could fly a commercial airliner, she really could figure it out on her own—though due to her short attention span and the influence of her chronic Migraine, the knack for what she learns is often forgotten shortly after.
"Alright, then do your best, Rider!" Sakura cheered Nero on with her small fists.
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