In an alley.
Countless feathers scattered everywhere as if blown by the wind, and Naoki, wrapped within them, fell directly to the ground.
Holding his bruised buttocks, Naoki stood up with the help of the wall: "Ouch... Falling into Morgan's trap twice in a row. I really can't learn from my mistakes. However, this also made me realize the weakness of my Mystic Eyes."
No, this couldn't be called a weakness of Naoki's Mystic Eyes, but rather a common weakness of all Mystic Eyes—they are only effective on things within the line of sight. If the opponent is well-prepared, then no matter how powerful the Mystic Eyes are, they will only become a decoration, or even be used against the user.
For example, Morgan's two consecutive substitute plans.
In the end, Mystic Eyes are essentially a one-hit kill. Once someone understands their principle and effect, it becomes difficult to use them again. Only a few Mystic Eyes remain effective even after being thoroughly studied.
"By the way... where have I been taken?"
Judging from the surroundings, they should still be in Fuyuki City, still in Miyama Town, and not even out of the residential area. However, they should be far from Arthur, so it should be impossible for him to come immediately.
Moreover, Naoki didn't think Morgan would just find a place to drop him off. Given her personality, she must have prepared something here, like some magical monsters or something similar.
Just as Naoki was thinking this, a flash of light suddenly appeared in his vision.
*Pu-chi!*
Then, a second later, his shoulder suddenly felt a sharp pain as if it had been stabbed!
Huh?
He reached out to his shoulder and touched it. Looking at his palm and his shoulder, which was glowing red, Naoki let out a delayed scream: "AHHHHHH—"
It hurt, it hurt so much, as if something had pierced his shoulder!
Leaning against the wall and clutching his shoulder tightly, Naoki gasped for breath as if he were lacking oxygen, desperately trying to calm his confused mind.
Was this feeling from a gunshot? But from where? The location of the flash earlier...
'The second-floor window of the house across the street! Only there! And the sniper—Emiya Kiritsugu!'
At this moment, Naoki understood why Morgan had sent him here.
Master against Master, Servant against Servant, let Morgan and Lancelot face Arthur, while Naoki would face Kiritsugu alone. Judging from the result, this was a nearly certain victory!
Because there was no way Kiritsugu would lose to Naoki, especially since Naoki's position had been exposed and Kiritsugu was in the shadows. Once Naoki died, Arthur would have no choice but to return to the Throne of Heroes. Morgan and Lancelot wouldn't even need to defeat Arthur; they just needed to stall until Naoki was killed.
'Really... you have a good calculation...'
In a sense, this was an open conspiracy. If Naoki insisted on running away, this plan wouldn't work, but he didn't run away this time, or in other words—
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
'Just as Caster thought, he is a completely inexperienced young man.'
In a room, Kiritsugu thought this while observing Naoki through binoculars.
If they are constantly harassed, they will get angry and start fighting, and the originally perfect defense line will also have flaws—Morgan's understanding of human nature made Kiritsugu shudder again.
Every normal teenager would feel angry after being harassed repeatedly, and after gaining a strong supporter, they would try to fight back. No matter the era, this common issue among young people wouldn't change.
'His shoulder was shot. Too bad his head couldn't be hit from this position, or it would all be over. But that's fine. The rest is just a matter of time.'
Staring intently at Naoki, Kiritsugu placed his finger on the trigger.
'Come on, Natsukawa Naoki, when you leave there, that's when you die.'
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
'Emiya Kiritsugu must be staring at me from somewhere!'
Naoki thought while leaning against the wall.
'Except for the first shot, there were no follow-up attacks... There's no way there's a problem with Emiya Kiritsugu, which means it's not him causing the lack of attacks, but me. My actions are preventing him from ensuring a one-shot kill.'
In other words, Naoki's current position is a position where Kiritsugu cannot kill him. As long as he stays here, he will be safe—as long as Kiritsugu doesn't move to a place where he can shoot him.
'But at least, I really can't leave this place now. I just have to wait until Arthur finishes his business and comes to save me.'
Feeling the Mana constantly draining from his body, Naoki knew that an extremely intense battle was happening on Arthur's side. Because he believed in Arthur, he didn't think Arthur would lose at all.
Lancelot and Morgan were indeed strong, but Arthur was no pushover; he was a wielder of the Holy Sword of the Star, capable of fighting against the enemy's Noble Phantasm with normal attacks. The fact that Arthur would lose was never considered by Naoki.
"The next step is to wait...?"
Holding his shoulder and grimacing in pain, Naoki couldn't help but laugh: "This is really the first time I've been injured this badly... But... it's true, could this be a normal thing in the Holy Grail War?"
Because Arthur was always by his side and protected him every time he faced danger, Naoki didn't fully understand the reality of the Holy Grail War. Moreover, he always tried to stay away from the center of the war, so he only had an impression of the cruelty of the Holy Grail War.
And now, he was using his body to turn that impression into experience.
"This is what I'm like when Arthur isn't here..."
Naoki raised his hand and looked at the Command Spells on the back of his hand. The Command Spells, which resembled the Millennium Eye, seemed to have a life of their own and made him feel as if someone was watching over him.
'Come to think of it, if I use the Command Spells, I should be able to summon Arthur directly, right?'
This could be done. Command Spells are absolute power to command Servants. As long as they are used, even magic like spatial relocation can be done.
'Do you want to summon Arthur? Then we can definitely leave this place immediately and return to safety.'
Yes, just use the Command Spells.
"With the Command Spells—"
'Is this really okay?'
As if another self was speaking in his mind, Naoki couldn't help but ask himself as soon as he opened his mouth.
'Is it really okay? Call Arthur to protect me and keep standing behind him. Just that?'
From a common-sense perspective, yes. Standing behind a Servant is what a Master should do. Would he really step out from behind the Servant and fight other Servants? Not everyone is Emiya Shirou. Naoki could only assist with his Mystic Eyes.
Therefore, if the Master is attacked, there's absolutely no problem with summoning the Servant at the first moment. No one would say he's shameful, and no one would blame him. There's nothing wrong with what he's doing.
Except for his own sensitivity.
'Because the previous Masters were extraordinary people, I can't possibly be worse than them. Even if I can't support you in the Holy Grail War, I can't hold you back.'—This was what Naoki told Arthur last night. For this reason, he planned to become Kenneth's apprentice and chose to become a Magus.
So as not to be a burden, so as not to hinder him, so as to be able to fight alongside him, so as... to be able to live with him until the end.
"As expected... it didn't work."
Naoki lowered his hand and let out a long sigh.
He couldn't rely on Arthur anymore.
Arthur had his own battle, and now he was fighting desperately for himself. As his Master, what Naoki should do is not disturb him, but support him so that he can fight without worry!
For this reason, he cannot escape from this Master's battlefield now! The place where he should be is not behind Arthur, but on the battlefield called the Holy Grail War of the Masters!
He cannot and will not keep running away!