Deceive Them, Then Strike!

Rovey abruptly opened his eyes, then flipped his palm and snapped his fingers in midair. The powerful magical energy hidden within him immediately stirred anew.

Then, an abnormal and overwhelming force directly tore apart the meticulously woven dream world before his eyes.

White feathers descended from the spiritual realm, and the immense energy they radiated dispersed the sea of flowers completely in an instant.

Within the dream, the murmuring whispers like those of flower spirits also vanished completely, just like that sea of flowers set ablaze.

"Someone actually tried to tamper directly with my spiritual realm?!"

In reality, Rovey suddenly opened his eyes, a trace of alarm flashing through them.

Although the memories from just now would soon be forgotten by his brain, much like the fleeting dreams experienced by most living things in this world, and even their details would be difficult to describe clearly.

Forgetting did not mean disappearing.

Since it had come, it would inevitably leave traces behind.

And he was no stranger to the culprit behind it all.

"...Merlin. What a troublesome bastard. He actually went this far."

Clutching the two shattered Talisman Stones in his hand, which had been meant to guard against curses and special mental attacks, Rovey muttered inwardly.

He already had an answer regarding what had just happened.

He just did not know why the other party kept targeting him.

Was it merely because he was interesting?

Perhaps. For that guy, it truly could count as a reason. But was it really worth going to such lengths to drag him into a woven dream?

Rovey felt that this matter was not as simple as it seemed.

What exactly did he, Merlin, want?

Starry Sky.

"Eh? What kind of person does that? Who puts several layers of mental defenses on themselves even when sleeping?"

"And that's not all. He even specially set up magecraft to force himself out. He didn't give big brother a chance at all. He has so many defenses inside his own Magic Workshop—just how afraid is he of being plotted against? Is there really any need to be this cautious?"

Atop the white tower in paradise, a flower Magus who had just suffered a setback at someone else's hands abruptly opened his eyes.

Clearly, Merlin was also immensely surprised that his attempt to enter someone else's dream had ended with him being kicked out.

After all, he had never expected anyone to set up dual magecraft barriers before going to sleep—one layer to protect the spiritual realm, and another to guard against curses or special contact.

His dream illusion was also a type of spiritual magecraft. The instant he completed contact, the other party forcibly severed the connection and broke free from the spiritual realm.

That gave Merlin quite a headache.

Originally, he had planned to use this dream tea party to properly explain some of the current circumstances, take credit for the help he had provided regarding Queen Scáthach, then use the opportunity to earn some goodwill and make a deal with him, asking Rovey to help him accomplish a few things.

"And he didn't give me a chance at all..."

Recalling what had just happened, Merlin sighed helplessly.

He was the great flower Magus, a Nightmare, a legendary existence qualified to succeed as Grand Caster, yet he had been driven out of a dream. That was truly embarrassing. If Morgan and Vivian found out, they would definitely laugh at him for a long time.

Still, considering that the other party was a magecraft inheritor who governed the Law Book in this generation, and also a Foreniger whose soul strength was off the charts, it was not that hard to accept.

If it had been an ordinary Magus, even if they had been on guard beforehand, they should not have been able to block his magecraft.

So... what should he do now?

Give up just like that?

Of course not.

Leaving aside the wager he had made with the Jewel Magician, where losing meant becoming magical girl Merry, the other party's form of existence and the peculiarities he carried made it impossible for Merlin to let go so easily.

He had already sampled enough ordinary and tedious Holy Grail Wars. No matter how he calculated things, he had never been able to accomplish his goal.

Now that this variable existed, it gave him a rather good opportunity, though he did not know whether it would prove good or bad...

Still, he had waited through such long years, and this time was the most special of all. Naturally, there was no reason to let go so easily.

Besides... honestly, he was extremely interested in that Foreniger, as well as this story development that had broken free of the established framework.

Thinking that, Merlin's lips slowly curled into a smile. His rainbow-bright Clairvoyance crossed the distance between worlds once more and settled upon the young man.

"Hey, interesting young man... I hope you can bring a different answer this time. I hope you can awaken my lost, immature, and stubborn king, so that she may truly rest..."

He murmured softly, while his hands never stopped moving.

"Though his soul strength exceeds the limit and he has all sorts of defenses, don't underestimate me, a legendary Grand Caster... Even if the difficulties are many, as long as I make sufficient preparations in advance, I can still find a chance to slip in."

"So... get some proper rest first."

"Sleep, sleep... interesting boy. Our tea party will still begin in the near future, but for now, let big brother make some preparations first..."

His frivolous voice quietly echoed through the tower, carried along by the warm breeze, blowing and blowing...

Until it reached the far shore of dreams and quietly echoed beside Rovey's ear.

"Merlin... him again. He really is impossible to get rid of."

Listening to the whisper echoing by his ear, Rovey slowly spread open his palm, allowing the petals within it to drift away from his fingertips and disappear into the air.

"Looks like he's set on finding me..."

Although Rovey did not think very highly of Merlin, he was well aware of the abilities Merlin possessed.

Setting aside Merlin's personality and all the unreliable things he did, his Clairvoyance was genuinely useful. If Rovey could draw him over to help, he would indeed gain a great advantage.

As for why Merlin kept seeking him out, Rovey had roughly guessed the reason already—

For the king he served, Saber Artoria Pendragon.

If that was all, then perhaps they could cooperate.

But for now, my preparations are more or less complete. It's time to go out and take a look.

After thinking seriously for a while, he slowly rose from the bench and stretched toward the sunlight outside the window.

"I wonder where Scáthach and Aozaki Touko went wandering off to? Is it really alright to run around everywhere during such a tense time as the Holy Grail War? They said they would help improve the purification ritual together, yet they keep going shopping during the Holy Grail War. Looks like I need to cut their allowance a little..."

Looking at the flawless white sky outside, Rovey rubbed his chin and thought to himself.

Elsewhere, on the streets of Fuyuki City.

A white-haired beauty strolled leisurely beneath the sun.

"Irisviel, how do you feel?"

A blonde beauty dressed in a sharp black suit linked arms with the pure and beautiful woman beside her and asked.

"Mm... It feels wonderful, Saber."

"This is my first time leaving the castle back home. There are so many things outside that I've never seen before. I'm so happy."

Irisviel Einzbern stood on tiptoe and happily spun around Artoria, a delighted smile appearing on her face.

This was also her first time seeing a city beyond the icy castle she had never left. Everything the outside world possessed felt so fresh to her. As innocent and pure as a blank sheet of paper, she experienced true freedom in this unfamiliar city, and the most sincere smile of her life appeared on her face.

"Irisviel..."

Watching that flawless, beautiful smile, Artoria, who followed behind her, was somewhat lost in thought.

Such a pure and innocent smile moved her deeply, making her uncontrollably recall her past self.

Had Artoria, in the beginning, also been as beautiful and pure as Iri?

Yet Irisviel, who had little experience with the world, clearly had not realized just how attractive her appearance was to ordinary people.

Her light steps and that smile capable of melting winter snow constantly drew the gazes of passersby, making them stop and stare.

Not to mention the guard beside her. As the Heroic Spirit of the sword—Saber—Artoria possessed beauty no less striking than Irisviel's.

On this street blanketed in winter snow, two beautiful flowers bloomed to their fullest in the pure white world, both wearing happy smiles.

At this moment, Emiya Kiritsugu, Saber's true Master, had already arrived in the city ahead of them.

However, in order to conceal his tracks and facilitate his special operations in the coming Holy Grail War, Emiya Kiritsugu had not chosen to travel with Artoria. Instead, his wife Irisviel stood openly beside her as a cover.

There was still some time before the Holy Grail War began, so he had first allowed Saber to accompany Irisviel outside, while he hid himself away to investigate information about the Servants of the other groups.

Although Artoria strongly opposed Emiya Kiritsugu's decision to place Irisviel in danger and did not support her going out on such an adventure.

Even so, even a strict knight of the sword would soften when faced with the request of a beautiful princess and choose to accompany her on an outing.

"Don't look so worried, Saber. Kiritsugu allowed us to move freely anyway... So, Saber, let's go try some food we've never had in the outside world."

Sensing Artoria's tension and seriousness, Irisviel, who had rarely gotten the chance to come outside, took the initiative to suggest eating something together to cheer her up.

"That shop looks like it..."

After saying that, Irisviel pointed at a Japanese restaurant by the roadside. Just as she was about to make a suggestion, a cool female voice suddenly sounded beside them.

"If you want something decent to eat, it would be better not to go to that awful shop. The food in this country is truly not to my taste. If you want a recommendation, follow this street all the way to the end. There's a good restaurant there called Enma Hall."

The cool voice sounded beside her ear, causing Saber, already on alert, to widen her eyes. She abruptly turned around and warily stared at the person who had spoken.

The woman standing before them merely gave her a slight smile.

A well-fitted brown-and-black trench coat perfectly displayed her tall figure. Purple hair, wine-red eyes, slim trousers, a white sweater, and a black shoulder bag—an elegant woman brimming with a distinct charm had appeared behind them. Beside her stood another red-haired woman with a cigarette between her lips, her face showing confusion and surprise.

When she saw Artoria and Irisviel openly appearing on the street, a trace of shock could not help appearing in her eyes.

For the same reason Saber was on guard...

As they approached, both sides had sensed the powerful magical energy emanating from one another, far beyond that of ordinary Magi, as well as an aura that did not belong to this era.

In any other place, Aozaki Touko might have thought she was seeing things...

But where were they?

Fuyuki City, the site of the Holy Grail War.

Which meant... it was not just the ancient monster beside her. Other Magi and Servants also wandered around the streets in broad daylight?

That really was unusual...

Still, surprise was one thing. Upon seeing this strange Master-Servant pair, especially the blonde girl beside her who radiated powerful magical energy, Aozaki Touko immediately became alert.

Before coming over, she had already quietly removed her glasses, switched personalities, and prepared herself to enter battle at any moment.

Scáthach beside her, however, showed no particular reaction, whether toward the wary Artoria or the tense Aozaki Touko at her side.

"There's no need to be so guarded."

She directly voiced what they were thinking, then smiled calmly.

"Though it is the Holy Grail War, it's daytime right now. Those from the past should not disturb the peace of the present, so we can't possibly start fighting in the middle of the street, can we?"

"And don't look at me with that suspicious gaze. I wasn't following you. On the contrary, the ones openly strutting down the street at a time like this are clearly you two."

Scáthach spoke with a calm expression. She would not do anything to the two people she had encountered by chance, nor did she disdain to hide anything.

Lying in Wait, a Sneak Attack!

"Saber, we..."

On the streets of Fuyuki City, sensing that something was off, Irisviel took a few steps back and hid behind Artoria, her expression becoming slightly tense.

As a special homunculus, she was highly sensitive to magical energy, and she was far more familiar with the aura of Heroic Spirits than ordinary Magi.

So naturally, she knew why Saber was now on guard...

The purple-haired woman before her, dressed in a fashionable trench coat, radiated magical energy and pressure that were simply too terrifying. It was entirely different from that of modern Magi—a terrifying aura originating from the distant Age of Gods. Just seeing her for the first time was enough to make one's skin crawl.

Although the aura she emitted was not as aggressive as that of the Heroic Spirit of the sword, Saber, it felt just as deep as an abyss to Irisviel. The danger she presented could even be said to far surpass that of Saber beside her.

Though Irisviel had little experience with the world and possessed a pure, innocent personality, she was not foolish. On the contrary, she could assess her circumstances and understand her place.

Before setting out, Kiritsugu had repeatedly warned her to be careful.

This was no ordinary city of the outside world. From the moment the Holy Grail War began, Fuyuki City had become a battlefield for heroes from myth and legend.