Starting in the Type-Moon World by Adopting Sakura

Sword of Promised Victory, is it...

"Just as I thought—you are King Arthur. My apologies, I was merely taken aback; I meant no disrespect, for your keen blade leaves no room for arrogance on my part."

"Best that way. However, I now have some inkling of your identity as well."

"Oh?"

The Blond Man raised an eyebrow, a flicker of interest gleaming in his eyes.

"For you to discern my identity in so short a time, you must be a hero of remarkable wisdom. Not only that face so handsome it seems cursed, but also that peerless spear technique, and a demonic lance rivaling the Sword of Promised Victory... Judging by the legends, your true name should be... Cú Chulainn, or Diarmuid Ua Duibhne!"

Artoria gripped her weapon tightly, analyzing with sound reasoning.

"Ah?!"

Yet at the sound of a familiar name, the Blond Man's face visibly twisted and twitched uncontrollably. His erstwhile grace and composure stiffened in that moment... He gripped his spear tightly, drew a deep breath, as if enduring something.

Slowly exhaling, the Blond Man mustered his spirits and offered Artoria a polite yet proper smile. Then, without hesitation, he raised his Double-Headed Spear, twirled it in a flourish midair, and—riding a surge of water—launched a thunderous strike at her with lightning speed.

--Boom!!

Propelled by the water, immense magical energy wrapped around the strange spear, crashing into Artoria's weapon with unparalleled force, sending her stumbling back several steps.

With that single thrust, Artoria felt the full weight of his formidable power. Whether it was her imagination or not, she sensed within that strike not only a sharp battle intent but also a raw, pure... fury!!

"The famed King of Knights commands my respect, but revealing one's true name in battle is no deed for a warrior."

"If you truly wish to know, then experience it yourself!!"

As the man's words fell, a glint of cold light arrived first, then the spear shot forth like a dragon.

Chapter 30: The Perfect Partner (2/2)

On the outskirts of the warehouse district, in a deeply concealed corner.

"So, having Lancer step forward to engage other Servants in battle, forcing the hidden Masters to reveal their summoned Servants, then analyzing the exposed groups to identify the most threatening opponent?"

The Old Worm—hunched, leaning on a cane, with sunken eyes and a rotting aura—asked from the shadows.

Behind him stood a pitch-black Servant with crimson eyes, exuding an ominous presence, its dark aura merging seamlessly with the gloom. The hapless Matou Kariya, serving as a mere shield, had already been arranged to wait quietly on the periphery.

"Indeed. It's a visibly effective method, isn't it? While such a tactic—issuing an open challenge to lure opponents out—might seem foolish to Magi like us, who lack honor or morality, it's the complete opposite for heroes from the Age of Myths."

"No hero who has left their name in history could refuse such an invitation, could they?"

Rovey gazed at the water mirror conjured by magic in the air, then spoke.

"Leaving aside Berserker, who's lost his reason, the ones who've shown themselves so far are Lancer, Saber, and... my queen, who's anything but a typical Caster."

At the mention of Scáthach, who had rushed off with Aozaki Touko in a flurry, a wry smile crept onto Rovey's face.

Still, he wasn't overly concerned. Even if he had summoned Caster's dog according to his original plan, the situation would be the same—those master and disciple were never ones to stay put.

"Hmph. So this Lancer's intent is to bypass the Magi and issue a direct challenge to heroes from all eras... Given the nature of most Heroic Spirits, they naturally wouldn't refuse such an invitation."

"Even if their Master as a Magus disagrees, it's hard to stop a Servant from going. If a Master tries to forcibly prevent it, they'd have no choice but to use a Command Seal. And if any Magus actually does that, not only would they waste a precious Command Seal, but it would also create a rift between Master and Servant."

Matou Zouken frowned, analyzing seriously.

"So it's an open scheme... That Lancer's Master certainly has skill."

"Indeed. Isn't that why mine went off to accept the invitation?"

Rovey nodded, then turned his gaze back to the water mirror, where Lancer and Saber were still locked in fierce combat at the center of the warehouse district.

Unlike Zouken, who was intently observing the battle and analyzing the two Servants, Rovey's eyes held a contemplative gleam.

Saber was indeed Artoria...

Her Master was still Emiya Kiritsugu.

Berserker was still Lancelot, and his Master was still the Matou Family.

As for Caster, thanks to his interference, Ryunosuke Uryu had been dealt with and thrown before the victims' families, so the original Bluebeard had become Scáthach.

Logically, aside from what he had changed, everything else should remain the same...

But when he saw this golden-haired Lancer, a peculiar shift flickered in his eyes.

From Diarmuid to Fionn mac Cumhaill...

It seemed this Holy Grail War had indeed undergone some special changes. He wondered if this Lancer's Master was still Kenneth, and whether Tokiomi Tohsaka had summoned that most troublesome of foes... the oldest king?

Rovey's eyes grew thoughtful as he began calculating his next moves.

"Well... this works too. After all, we have two Servants on our side. If a free-for-all breaks out on this first night, we'd hold a significant advantage."

"Even without a melee, tonight's gains are more than enough. Thanks to that golden-haired Lancer, we've learned Saber's true name—King Arthur—without paying any price."

"And... it seems things aren't limited to here. Something quite remarkable seems to be happening at the Tohsaka residence as well."

Matou Zouken carefully analyzed the current situation, then fell silent, standing beside Rovey to continue watching the proceedings.

They waited quietly for the right opportunity to arise.

While Rovey and Matou Zouken observed from the shadows, the other Masters were not idle either.

Inside the Hyatt Hotel.

"So this is the spear technique of the Age of Gods... Truly astonishing. Even I, a genius who stands at the pinnacle of modern Magi, cannot help but marvel at the sight..."

"Lancer, Fionn mac Cumhaill—indeed, the most fitting top-tier Servant for a genius like me."

With his hands clasped behind his back, Kenneth watched the battlefield through magecraft, a smug smile curling on his lips. Clearly, Fionn's performance on the field had left him thoroughly satisfied.

Not only had he suppressed Saber with divine-age spear techniques and mastery over water currents, but he had also used his extraordinary intellect to see through her true name.

Saber—King Arthur.

A name renowned throughout European history and mythology.

As a member of London's old aristocracy, Kenneth was no stranger to this figure. In fact, he had read the tales of King Arthur countless times as a child. Now, seeing her in the flesh, there was an odd sense of unreality.

The great King Arthur was actually a girl? That was certainly surprising...

Watching the fierce clash between Artoria and Fionn on the battlefield, a smirk tugged at Kenneth's lips.

As a Servant, King Arthur was undoubtedly powerful, but she still fell short compared to the Servant he had summoned.

Though both were heroes from the Celtic mythological cycle, the one he had summoned was the descendant of Nuada, the Celtic god of war, and the captain of the glorious Knights of Fianna.

He had slain countless fearsome monsters and even achieved the heaven-defying feat of killing a god—a great hero who had forged countless legendary tales. His status was enough to rival the great Celtic hero, the Child of Light, Cú Chulainn!

Having lost his cloak, Kenneth had initially planned to return to his family and find a suitable replacement for the battle. But who could have guessed that Rovey would be so thorough in his actions?

That one visit of his had nearly emptied Kenneth's entire collection. All that remained in the workshop were a few worthless items and a single letter from him.

The gist of it was something like: "The Holy Grail War is extremely dangerous. If you come, you'll die, so I've cleared out your material room in advance to keep you from finding a Sacred Relic to participate. I've also made a point to tell you not to come looking for me. Stay at the Clock Tower and enjoy your honeymoon with Sola-Ui. Don't come here to throw your life away." Words to that effect.

When Kenneth read that letter, his already foul mood exploded outright.

Not only had Rovey emptied his material room, but he had also cursed him to die? He, Kenneth, the esteemed Lord of Mineralogy and Ninth Generation Magus Head, was going to die in some backwater magical ritual? Preposterous!

So Kenneth simply ignored everything the letter said and rushed straight to Fuyuki City.

What to do without a suitable Sacred Relic?

Simple—he wouldn't use one at all. He would rely on compatibility summoning!

He, Kenneth, refused to believe that with his exceptional skill, he couldn't participate in the Holy Grail War without a Sacred Relic.

Today, he would prove to those two unfilial disciples that even without a Sacred Relic, he, Kenneth, could still claim victory!

And so, without a Sacred Relic, he had used compatibility summoning alone to call forth this great hero from Celtic mythology.

Not only was he powerful, but he was also obedient, had no airs about him, and more importantly... he was truly loyal!

For Kenneth, who had been betrayed twice, this was a genuine comfort.

Watching his outstanding performance now, Kenneth couldn't help but applaud him inwardly, a faint smile unconsciously tugging at his lips.

They clicked. They really, truly clicked.

How could there be a Servant in this world so perfectly suited to him?

Without realizing it, Kenneth was even starting to feel a bit grateful to that unfilial disciple Weber, who had stolen his Sacred Relic.

"Mm, the situation is about right. I'll have Lancer release her Noble Phantasm soon to finish off this King Arthur, then keep stalling any other Servants that show up..."

As for now... it was time for him to personally go out and sweep away those lurking in the shadows. The grudges between master and disciple were a private matter, and they had to be settled properly. He wouldn't allow any blind Magi to meddle!

Watching the fierce battle on the screen, a slight smirk curled on Kenneth's lips. He then walked back to his workshop and armed himself with dozens of carefully prepared Mystic Codes.

"Rovey, Weber... you two unfilial disciples had better pray you don't run into me too soon. Otherwise, I'll give you an extracurricular lesson you'll never forget!"

He muttered under his breath.

Then, he flicked out two jewels, opening a hidden door he had pre-installed in the workshop. Silently, he stepped outside the building and quickly made his way toward the battlefield.

Chapter 31: Intelligence—Kenneth (Two-in-One)

The sharp clash of spear and sword easily rent the air. Two blinding arcs of light trailed a series of sonic booms. The sheer force unleashed by the collision of their weapons alone was enough to tear the earth and shatter the surrounding environment...

At this very moment, in a place undetectable by any sensor, a battle that did not belong to this era was unfolding.

It was a fight that existed neither in the modern age, nor the recent past, nor even the medieval period. To trace its origins, one would have to look back to a time shrouded in mist and legend—an even more ancient chapter of mythology.

Two warriors from different eras, possessing world-shaking abilities, had been summoned by a magical ritual and were now locked in a battle that transcended time itself...

At this moment, whether in plain sight or hidden in the shadows, every Magus who witnessed this fight held their breath. It was the first time they had seen a clash between heroes from that age. Through this earth-shattering battle, they were granted a rare glimpse into a corner of the Age of Gods...

In the darkness, a man in a black trench coat silently endured the cold night wind, pressing his body tightly against a massive steel shipping container. Using the night as camouflage, he held his breath and focused, daring not to make a single sound. Yet his heart still pounded, unable to calm itself after witnessing this mythical battle beyond mortal comprehension.

"So this is a Servant..."

The reappearance of heroes from that distant Age of Gods.

Even before rushing here to participate in this Holy Grail War, Emiya Kiritsugu had already read up on these heroes in the Einzbern archives, and he had mentally prepared himself to some extent for these Servants who completely defied modern common sense. But when he actually witnessed this battle from the Age of Myths with his own eyes, he realized he had still underestimated these heroes far too much.

Britannia's glorious king swung her holy sword, riding the wind to launch a fierce assault; the golden lancer spun his demonic spear, commanding the water to completely neutralize it.

Those supreme martial arts that only existed in mythological records were now laid out before his eyes so effortlessly.

His trump cards: the Origin Bullet and Time Alter, along with some high-tech modern firearms. Facing these heroes who were so overwhelmingly powerful they defied reason, all he could do was laugh bitterly...

Having witnessed this battle firsthand, Emiya Kiritsugu finally understood the true meaning of Ahadon's warning from back then.

"In the Holy Grail War, use Servants to defeat Servants. Only heroes can contend with heroes. Don't act rashly—be cautious in everything." At this moment, that warning echoed in Emiya Kiritsugu's heart, and he finally recognized his own position.

He had naively thought that with Time Alter, the Origin Bullet, and the power of modern weapons, even if he couldn't defeat these Servants head-on, he could at least buy time for King Arthur to strike at other Masters. Now he realized just how naive that idea was.

Not to mention his own summoned Saber, King Arthur—just from the martial skill displayed by that golden man commanding the water, if he dared to try anything, he would be dead the next moment.

Even with the support of a magecraft like Time Alter, he couldn't last more than a few exchanges against that opponent, let alone counterattack. His only end would be to have his weakness seen through and be skewered on the battlefield by that spear.

So his mind kept warning him, "Don't do anything reckless, don't do anything reckless..." It was better to abandon that absurd idea of defeating a Servant head-on with a Magus's body as soon as possible.

"Hah..."

Letting out a slight breath, forcibly suppressing his restless heart, Emiya Kiritsugu fumbled an infrared night vision scope from his pocket, set up the Barrett M82A1 Sniper Rifle he had prepared beside him, and began scanning the surroundings for traces of other Masters.

He might not be able to beat a Servant, but that didn't mean he couldn't beat a Magus.

On the contrary, he hadn't earned the title "Magus Killer" by coincidence. The bullets in his pistol were the bane of every Magus in this world—the Origin Bullet.

It was a bullet specially crafted from his own Origin. If it hit a Magus, the moment they used magecraft or channeled magical energy, it would trigger a rampage in their Magic Circuits and meridians. If a Magus struck by this bullet still used magecraft, not even a god could save them.

This was his ultimate weapon, a key factor in how he had carved out such a fearsome reputation in this world. To this day, no Magus who had seen his Origin Bullet had lived to tell the tale.