Emiya Shirou doesn't want to work overtime

Since it was an open selection process involving the entire population, the empire had no intention of hiding anything.

Of course, they did hide some things. In fact, the members of the organization to deal with the Night Raid had already been selected. This selection competition was for Esdeath to find a boyfriend.

Even if you succeed, you won't be able to join that organization.

Unless it's a Teigu user, they won't be considered.

"This is an opportunity, an opportunity to spy on the Empire's internal affairs."

Najendan slammed her hand on the table and looked around at the other members.

"It's you!"

Najendan pointed to the completely exhausted Tatsumi.

“Emiya will definitely go. This is an excellent opportunity for him to return to the Empire, but we should also have two other plans.”

Najenda analyzed that the selection process did not specify that only one person could be selected, and besides, it was very likely that Emiya was not recruited by Esdeath to become one of the people who would fight against them.

Emiya is traveling with the Three Beasts, so he might become Esdeath's direct subordinate rather than a squad she manages.

"Tatsumi, you are the only one among us besides Lubbock who has never shown your face in Night Raid, and you are also one of the few who have excellent strength without needing Teigu."

During the night raid, apart from Akame and Brand, Leone basically relied on her Teigu for combat. Whether it was fighting or gathering intelligence, Leone needed the support of her Teigu, otherwise she wouldn't have such a strong physique.

Needless to say, Mine and Lubbock would lose their fighting ability if they lost their Imperial Arms.

Akame herself comes from an assassination squad, and even without Murasame, her combat strength is not to be underestimated.

Brand was once a very powerful general of the Empire, and the [Demon Possessed] ability further enhanced his strength. However, now he can only fight using counterfeit items.

Tatsumi himself possesses considerable strength and the genuine [Demon Possession], which has extremely strong defensive capabilities. Even if he is being pursued by Esdeath, escaping will not be a problem for him.

Safety is also highly guaranteed.

"But I don't know how to gather intelligence, so there's no point in me going."

Tatsumi weakly explained the problem.

"Emiya-san doesn't know either, but he still has to go."

Emiya nodded; he had to go inside the Empire.

"Some things are inevitable; accidents don't wait until you're ready."

Lubbock patted Tatsumi on the shoulder and gave him a sip of chicken soup.

The main problem is that there aren't many other candidates. As for Lubbock, he would have to gather intelligence himself, which would be more convenient and easier for him to obtain information than for an informant.

He couldn't leave his post for long; he was responsible for the people who launched the night raid.

"it is good--!"

Tatsumi nodded weakly. The intense training he did every day had left him with no capacity to think about anything else.

Aside from eating, this was his happiest moment.

However, there's no need to worry too much. Tatsumi will be lively and energetic again the next day. He has a strong ability to recover, and minor injuries will usually heal in less than an hour.

Even a disembowelment wound can heal in just one or two days. Although it doesn't heal instantly, it's still extremely abnormal.

Emiya took a deep breath and drew the reverse blade he had just forged.

Although he can now project it perfectly well and doesn't need the original at all.

But since this was the first weapon he had ever forged, he still wanted to keep it as a keepsake.

Are we going to meet again?

Thinking of his previous battles with Esdeath, Shirou's expression turned serious.

He already knew how to deal with Esdeath's ice, but he wasn't sure if he could withstand it. He needed to put it into practice to determine if his method was feasible.

If he doesn't break Esdeath's ice barrier, Emiya has no chance of defeating her.

The next day arrived quickly.

Chapter 87 Battle, an Unavoidable Conflict

The blazing sun cast its radiance upon the entire arena.

The nobles sitting in the audience were extremely excited; they hadn't seen anything so bloody and thrilling in a long time.

Such a large-scale battle scene has not been seen in this arena for decades.

Whether it's executioners who slaughter hundreds of people, slaves who are constantly tortured and transformed, ambitious young people, or extremely despicable wanted criminals, they all come to such a stage.

It wasn't just to gain Esdeath's favor, but also because of her extremely generous rewards.

Aside from night raids, the Empire generally treats wanted criminals with terrifying strength in a recruitment-like manner.

Those ruthless fugitives may not have caused as many casualties as a nobleman in the empire.

They didn't care about the losses of the empire's citizens; they cared more about whether these powerful fighters could provide strength for the empire.

The more powerful an empire is, the longer it will survive.

The people of the empire? They are nothing but toys for pleasure.

Esdeath sat atop the entire arena like a queen, scrutinizing the contestants with a critical gaze.

Although she had some ulterior motives in this competition, if a contestant truly stands out, Esdeath will not hesitate to reward them and will choose to recruit them into her team.

Furthermore, she also received news of the deaths of her direct subordinates, Riva and Daidas, and the unknown fates of Shirou Emiya and Neu.

After all, the entire ship was rendered unconscious by Niu's flute, and they had no idea what had happened on board.

Completely bewildered, they were also unable to find a way to defeat Tatsumi, who possessed the [Demon Possessed] ability.

Therefore, in reality, Esdeath didn't obtain much information at all.

Especially the new Teigu user who can use [Demon Possession], Esdeath had absolutely no information about him.

The only conclusion that the night raid has added new members can be drawn.

"As long as I kill you, I will gain Lady Esdeath's favor!"

In the center of the arena stood a burly man wielding an extremely large greatsword.

His physique was also extremely robust, three times the height of Emiya, like a giant beast. His body exuded an extremely powerful aura and fierce killing intent as he stared intently at Emiya Shirou, who was wearing a black cloak.

Unlike Tatsumi, Shirou Emiya cannot reveal his appearance in the arena.

He can enter the arena through registration, but he cannot remove his hat while fighting.

The Empire didn't know him, but Esdeath did.

Emiya's bright red hair was so striking that Esdeath could basically identify the boy just by looking at it.

Therefore, he needs to conceal his identity, at least in front of Esdeath.

"Clang!"

The slow, deliberate sound of swords being drawn echoed through the bustling arena.

Emiya lightly brandished his reverse-bladed katana, pointing it only at the bloodthirsty man before him.

His hands must be stained with the blood of many innocent people.

"The blade... is it reversed?"

Esdeath, sitting atop the mountain, also became interested in this person hiding his head and feet. The blade was even pointed at her. What kind of swordsman could create such a useless weapon?

"A weapon with a blade inside! Hahaha! Are you trying to commit suicide during the battle?"

The man laughed wildly and slammed the greatsword in his hand into the ground.

A violent tremor resounded throughout the arena, and everyone present could feel the weight of the stone sword in his hand.

That's right, it's a stone sword. He made this weapon himself by holding a large rock and grinding it down.

"I must become Lady Esdeath's subordinate! All those villages slaughtered over the years were for this moment!!!"

Without saying a word, he hoisted the extremely heavy greatsword, and with a sudden stomp of his feet into the ground, a powerful impact created a hurricane that made the facial muscles of the audience behind him twitch uncontrollably, their mouths agape.

Despite its enormous size and the fact that it wields a stone sword, its speed is not weak.

With a single push off the ground, his figure transformed into an arrow, rushing towards Emiya's position.

The terrifying force made everyone present's hearts pound as he ran at breakneck speed, and their faces turned completely red.

He lost!

Esdeath announced the results to the man with the extremely strong physique.

"Your opponent is a murderous maniac who, in order to emulate Esdeath, slaughtered dozens of villages around the Empire, indiscriminately killing everyone, regardless of age or gender. He is a wanted criminal of the Empire and the target of our night raid."

"If you're willing, could you help us kill him to prevent him from continuing his evil deeds?"

This was a message from Tatsumi to Shirou Emiya before the match, relaying the Night Raid's intelligence gathering. After all, Shirou Emiya wasn't part of Night Raid, and Night Raid wouldn't have given him a command in the first place.

If Emiya doesn't get rid of him, Night Raid will find time to bring this murderer to justice.

Back in the arena, Emiya heard the man muttering to himself, and he gripped his reverse-blade katana tightly.

He doesn't intend to forgive such criminals; he simply wants to see this fact for himself.

One must have one's own judgment in everything. Emiya does not want to become a knife in someone else's hand, a knife that kills without hesitation.

"Burial!"

In an instant, without any prelude or violent explosion, he moved.

Emiya vanished from his position in an instant and reappeared behind the man.

The man wielding the giant stone sword suddenly slowed his pace as he charged toward Emiya's position.

To the utter bewilderment of the audience, he slowed his running pace until he began to walk, eventually coming to a stop.

“Puff——!”

A stream of blood, several meters long, gushed from his neck, and as he stopped, his head fell to the ground.

The man who instilled such oppression in everyone was so easily beheaded.