City Hall.
Roy had just stepped into the main hall with Utaha when he saw a familiar figure sitting on a long bench to the side of the lobby.
With her signature wine-red short hair and magenta suit, the figure sitting there was like a mighty pine tree. Even while seated, her back remained perfectly straight. Amid the bustling crowd, her eyes swept around like a hunting hawk, creating an immense pressure. Passersby who suddenly met her gaze were visibly startled.
"Bazett? What is she doing here?"
Roy was still surprised when Bazett spotted him entering through the door and immediately stood up to approach them.
Though her steps were powerful and swift, she didn't appear hostile—it probably wasn't a confrontation.
"Mr. Roy, I heard about what happened last night. It seems you escaped with your lives from the blackened King Arthur. Congratulations!"
"…That's not really something to celebrate."
Roy was speechless at her dry greeting. No matter how you looked at it, congratulating someone for barely escaping death felt like sarcasm.
"What are you doing here?"
Utaha quietly stepped aside to let the two of them talk.
"Well, actually, I have a request."
Skipping over the awkward greeting, Bazett sighed in relief.
"I came to see Mayor Tohsaka, but I haven't seen her yet. Has she been attacked again?"
"You could try hoping for something better."
Roy's mouth twitched slightly, then he explained.
"She's in a dangerous situation right now and has no plans to go out. Even her work at City Hall is being handled through familiars."
Rin was undoubtedly being targeted.
As the host of the spirit-repelling barrier, she was directly linked to the lives of over two hundred thousand Fuyuki City residents. Whether for the sake of the citizens or her own safety, she couldn't go out lightly. She hadn't even come to City Hall in recent days and was holed up at Roy's house instead.
After all, familiars could share vision and hearing and communicate with others, making it possible to handle most work. The rest could be postponed for a few days.
"I see. No wonder she hasn't shown up."
Bazett understood. If only a familiar had been dispatched, it likely went straight to the mayor's office. Waiting here, she wouldn't even see the familiar, let alone Rin herself.
"You had something to discuss with her?"
"Yes, sort of…"
Bazett paused, scratched her cheek, and revealed a rare look of embarrassment.
"What you said last night… you were serious, right?"
What I said last night? Roy looked confused.
"What did I say?"
"About… switching sides."
Bazett leaned in, lowering her voice slightly.
"Oh, that."
Roy suddenly understood.
A lot had happened last night, and it had slipped his mind.
"You're thinking of switching sides?"
Now that the topic had come up, Roy looked intrigued.
Bazett was powerful—a top enforcer of the Mage's Association. Among modern magi, she ranked at the very top, capable of fighting even a Servant alone and not losing. With such strength, anyone would welcome her jumping ship.
"To be honest, I am considering it."
Bazett nodded with a sincere, if somewhat helpless, expression.
"After returning to the Association yesterday, I… ran into some trouble."
To put it simply, she was severely punished.
Bazett held two values for the Mage's Association.
First was the family heirloom Mystic Code—Fragarach. It was a relic of the Age of Gods, and in the Association where mystery level was almost religiously valued, it was an ancient and highly respected legacy, even coveted.
Second was her Servant, Caster. Bazett was the only one from the Mage's Association with a Servant in this Holy Grail War, and so was naturally given importance.
But in last night's battle, her Caster was killed.
And due to Roy taking part of her Magic Crest, her Fragarach could no longer be properly used, putting her in a compromised state.
Magic Crests were, at their core, portable magic foundations.
A magus would inscribe their life's work into a crest on their body, to be passed down through generations—refined, expanded, and optimized over time. The accumulated Magic Crest was the heart of a magus family.
Once a Crest was damaged or destroyed, the entire family could fall apart. It's no exaggeration to say magi families were built around their Crests.
Kenneth from the Fourth Holy Grail War was a perfect example. After his Crest was destroyed, the El-Melloi lineage lost its influence in the Clock Tower.
Since it was a portable foundation, Roy successfully stole part of Bazett's Magic Crest.
Of course, it was just a small part—most of it still remained with Bazett.
But that small part contained the core of her family's legacy.
Having lost her core legacy and her Servant Caster, Bazett's standing in the Association plummeted.
Those ancient geezers who used to at least pretend to respect her now openly looked down on her. Their words were full of contempt, calling her a useless waste who lost her inherited crest, and they punished her harshly.
Bazett had thought about it all night.
Then, first thing in the morning, she came to City Hall.
The message was clear:
I'm done with you!
Let someone else be the Association's enforcer!
"You don't hate me?"
Roy looked deeply at Bazett, his gaze holding an unclear meaning.
If she said she hated him, maybe he'd have to do something about it.
"I just lost to someone stronger."
But Bazett's expression was unexpectedly calm.
"To say I don't resent you would be dishonest. The family crest is very important. But I lost in a fair fight, having done my best. Surviving was already your mercy—I can't ask for more."
Although Roy did ambush her with Mystic Eyes, ambush was a legitimate tactic in battle. Besides, Master and Servant fought as one. Expecting a one-on-one was naive. Roy hadn't used any despicable methods during the battle—it was simply her own inadequacy. She accepted defeat.
"Of course, if possible… I'd still like the crest returned."
"I'll talk to Rin for you."
Roy smiled and turned to contact Rin's familiar.
"…Alright."
Bazett gave a bitter smile and nodded.
Then suddenly, she remembered something.
"Oh right, as a sign of good faith for switching sides, I have some intel for you."
"That Lancer's Master—he's called Uemon or something. He's your enemy, right?"
"I saw him at the Association branch last night."
***
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