"Sakutsuki..." Saber's blue-green eyes widened slightly, while Lancer calmed from his endless resentment and realized that he might yet survive.
Was it because Sakutsuki's strength was so extraordinary that they had unconsciously regarded the golden-eyed young man as a Servant?
Why had they failed to consider that Sakutsuki himself was also a Master?
"Lancer, please hurry!" Before Diarmuid could speak, Saber urged him even more anxiously.
Logically, as rivals, Saber should have stood by and watched—or even stopped Lancer from forming a new contract with a Master.
Yet anyone could easily read the will of the girl knight from those unwavering blue-green eyes.
Please live, Lancer.
It had nothing to do with sides or right and wrong. One knight simply did not wish to see another meet such a miserable end.
The chant continued.
"Obey me, and I shall entrust my fate to your sword!"
At last, Lancer stepped forward, pulled the dagger from his chest, and replied without regard for the blood pouring from his wound:
"In the name of Lancer Diarmuid, I accept this contract!"
The instant he responded, the golden particles drifting around Diarmuid immediately gathered together and reformed his body.
Saber, who had watched all this from the side, finally let out a breath and sheathed her sword.
Kiritsugu Emiya's order had merely been to "stop Lancer's pursuit." Now that Lancer had found a new Master and had no reason to fight, retreating was the best choice.
But a golden-yellow magic spear barred her path.
"...Lancer?"
"Our battle is not yet over, Saber."
After casting one final lingering glance at the dead Kayneth, Diarmuid turned toward Sakutsuki, his expression apologetic.
"I understand. I'll see that the two of them are properly buried afterward." Sakutsuki nodded.
"Thank you, Lord Sakutsuki. And... I'm sorry."
Lancer, who had always