The battle was about to break out...
A four-on-one fight seemed very fair. Even Beatrice, who had just lifted her restriction, couldn't help but loudly praise (curse) the fairness (dishonesty) of this battle! Realizing she might actually lose, Beatrice didn't hesitate to fully release her powers and enter her Dream Summon form.
Gritting her teeth in anger, Beatrice prepared to fight to the death against the two Heroic Spirits and the two humans before her. But suddenly, as if hearing something, she paused her attack, irritatedly touching her ear as she spoke to someone.
"Now, of all times, when it's getting to the best part! I got it, I got it. Jeez, fine..."
Before her conversation ended, Beatrice suddenly noticed something. She quickly raised her hammer to block Archer's twin swords.
"Attacking a lady while she's on the phone? How despicable!"
Archer sneered, "Sorry, I don't have that word in my dictionary. Only victory."
Despite his bravado, Archer was internally shocked by the sheer strength Beatrice exhibited after using that card, which made his arms and swords tremble.
"For the righteous, it's called strategy!"
Illya took advantage of the moment, pulling out a strand of her hair and summoning numerous silver threads around Beatrice. Bazett, without hesitation, coordinated her attack with the others, punching straight towards Beatrice.
Saber, although not fond of such dishonorable group... duels, stood ready with her sword, prepared to prevent Beatrice's escape.
"Tch!"
Seeing the four clearly intending not to let her leave, Beatrice growled in annoyance. She forcefully repelled Archer with her powerful right arm and then raised her Thunder God Hammer high.
"Die!!"
A thunderbolt over a meter thick instantly crashed down from the sky!
...
"Thanks, Archer."
Illya smiled gratefully at Archer, who had shielded her. She had known the true identity of this Heroic Spirit ever since Shirou first projected Kanshou and Bakuya. Although she had suspected Archer's identity for months, she hadn't pressed the issue since Archer seemed reluctant to acknowledge it.
Thus, they had maintained a mutual understanding, with no one explicitly confirming the truth.
"Hmph!"
Archer put away his shield, crossing his arms and giving a haughty snort without responding to Illya. Instead, he looked at the spot where Beatrice had just been.
"Was that some kind of magic?"
Saber, frowning, asked about the trick Beatrice used to disappear before them.
Bazett, thinking back on the scene, analyzed, "It felt like someone assisted her with a displacement magic. But it's curious someone would train such a mundane magic to this level."
"Mundane?"
Saber was confused, not understanding why Bazett considered a magic that could twist and utilize space for teleportation to be mundane. It seemed close to the realm of true magic!
Seeing Saber's confusion, Illya patiently explained.
"Saber, as Bazett said, displacement magic in our world is a basic low-level magic similar to projection. It works on the principle of degradation exchange and isn't commonly used. But it seems someone in this world has specialized in it."
Hearing Illya mention projection, Archer remained silent and unreactive.
"I see..." Saber nodded, indicating she understood.
"Overall, the biggest clue we obtained from the fight is the name Beatrice Flowerchild and the Enzworth family name she mentioned."
Illya calmly analyzed. Despite the brief battle, they had gleaned some crucial information.
They had learned names, affiliations, and confirmed that Miyu was held captive by the Enzworth family. Additionally...
It seemed someone from their side had arrived in this world earlier and was captured by the enemy, though the captive's identity remained unknown. Archer, unable to sense Rin, was certain she hadn't arrived. Illya and Bazett, through their connections with their respective servants, deduced that Berserker and Lancer hadn't arrived either.
Due to her incomplete summoning and contract, Saber could only sense Shirou in moments of life-threatening danger. They could reasonably rule out Rin and likely the servants, leaving only Luvia or Shirou as potential captives.
Everyone quickly dismissed the idea of Shinji being captured, as no one believed someone as cunning as Shinji would be caught.
After some discussion, they concluded that they needed to investigate the Enzworth name and then infiltrate their base for information.
But before they could proceed, Archer noticed something...
A ramen shop! An open ramen shop!
Saber couldn't focus on the man standing at the shop's entrance; the aroma of bone broth completely overwhelmed her thoughts. Guided by the delicious smell, she walked into the shop, oblivious to her companions' wary reactions to the familiar-looking shop owner.
"Wait! Saber!"
Illya's call went unanswered as Saber had already given up thinking, driven by two days of hunger.
"Calm down, Saber! That man is..."
Illya tried to warn her, but Saber was already seated, placing her order loudly.
"One large bowl of tonkotsu ramen!"
"So impatient!"
Illya muttered but quickly noticed Archer had also gone inside. Considering this was a parallel world, Illya thought that perhaps this familiar face was just an ordinary, hard-working ramen shop owner here.
With that thought, Illya led a bound and struggling Bazett into the ramen shop.
...
"Mmph! Mmph!"
Bound and struggling on the ground, Bazett glared at the shop owner with hatred. Illya sighed and tried to reason with her.
"Bazett, calm down. This man isn't who you think he is."
"Mmm!" Bazett continued to struggle.
"Look, if you promise to behave, I'll let you go."
Bazett eventually stopped struggling and nodded earnestly. To prevent trouble, Illya only untied the silver thread around her mouth.
As soon as Bazett could speak, she angrily ordered, "One large tonkotsu ramen! Extra soup, extra noodles!"
Illya was speechless.
...
Watching the man in the headscarf busying himself, Illya marveled at the possibilities of parallel worlds.
Archer stood silently with his arms crossed, uninterested. Saber, lost in the desire for hot ramen, had completely entered another world, not noticing that the shop owner was the same as in the other world. Bazett, on the other hand, radiated killing intent, her eyes fixed on the man's back. Illya feared Bazett might actually attack Kirei Kotomine!
"Here you go. Two large bowls and one small bowl of ramen. Enjoy."
Illya thanked the shop owner and placed the ramen before her. As she was about to pick up her chopsticks, she noticed something off about the ramen—it didn't match what she knew.
She then heard a gulping sound from beside her.
It was Bazett, who hadn't even glanced at the ramen, focused entirely on Kirei as she gulped it down.
Does she not have taste buds? Illya thought. Then she heard another slurping sound and turned to see Saber devouring the ramen.
"It's so spicy, but... it's so good..."
Saber muttered, her chopsticks moving rapidly as she slurped the ramen. This one was clearly just starved...
Illya thought, expressionless.
Bang!!
Bazett slammed her bowl down, expression unchanged, and wiped her mouth with a napkin before staring at the shop owner again. But after a few seconds, her face turned visibly pale, clutching her stomach in pain. She glared at the man, muttering before fainting.
"That man... poisoned me again..."
Illya sighed softly, "I think this time, it really wasn't poison, Bazett."
"Another bowl!"
Saber finished her ramen and requested more with a serious expression.
"Saber, you can have mine. I don't have an appetite."
Illya pushed her small bowl of ramen towards Saber. She could handle spicy food but preferred not to eat it.
"Thank you, Illya!"
"Is there any normal ramen here?"
Archer frowned, asking.
"The owner doesn't answer questions from non-paying customers. It's meaningless."
Hearing this, Archer's eyebrow twitched, and he let out an irritated sound.