Lancer Bows Out (Part 2)

When Kenneth saw her suddenly appear and urge them to get in the car quickly, Kenneth was actually stunned. However, the situation was too urgent, and his familiar had already sensed the approaching deadly threat, so he didn't have time to think and could only pull Weber into the car with him.

The subsequent series of explosions and towering flames in the forest confirmed his findings and proved that his choice was absolutely correct.

Some damn guy actually started using missiles to bombard the area, trying to wipe out all the Master who came to attack him once and for all.

As for who that damn guy is...

Kenneth could have guessed it even with his toes.

It's Emiya Kiritsugu again, that damned scoundrel of Magecraft.

Kenneth knew about the other party's underhanded tactics as early as the first night. It was supposed to be a battle between Magus, but he not only used firearms such as pistols or submachine guns, but also pulled out an RPG.

Furthermore, in order to hunt down Magus more efficiently, they created targeted bullets that would terrify Magus.

Upon seeing this, Kenneth thought that Emiya Kiritsugu had already used all the tricks he could muster.

However, to his surprise, the opponent's methods were far more despicable and extreme than he had imagined, even resorting to weapons like missiles. They completely disregarded the rules and principles of the Holy Grail War, seeking only victory and aiming to kill them.

The mess is so huge that even if the supervisor of this place were to personally lead the entire Mineralogy Department, they wouldn't be able to handle it. A slight misstep could trigger a large-scale leak of secrets. For now, the only solution is to report it to the Clock Tower.

And the Church is also involved in this incident; they are undoubtedly responsible for the dereliction of duty by the supervisors.

I wonder what the attitude of the magic organizations in East Asia, such as the Spiral Manor, is?

After all, the fact that he and Weber caused such a commotion in the Far East while participating in the Holy Grail War was practically the same as blowing up someone's gate. If they weren't careful, it could lead to friction between the Clock Tower and the Spiral Manor, two magical organizations. He might even have to go out and lay low because of this.

"Ugh... what terrible luck!"

Thinking about how he had set out full of confidence, only to end up in a disheveled state and fleeing in panic, Kenneth felt a mix of emotions and couldn't help but sigh.

However, when he looked at Weber beside him, his mood suddenly improved a lot.

Regardless, the fact that he not only survived the hellish battlefield but also found his two traitors was the greatest achievement.

Besides that...

The Holy Grail? Heroic Spirit?

They're all a bunch of damned bastards; he's not going to play along.

Even during the retreat, he used a three-stroke Command Seal to have Fionn mac Cumhaill block the threat for them, then broke the contract and decisively withdrew from the Holy Grail War to avoid being pursued by Gilgamesh.

"Well..."

After calming himself down a bit, Kenneth controlled his emotions and looked at Aozaki Touko, who was driving ahead, with a questioning look.

"Um... Miss Aozaki, where are you taking us?"

Kenneth's tone was somewhat doubtful and uneasy. Although he was able to escape unscathed thanks to Aozaki Touko's help, he did not intend to let his guard down towards his savior.

After all, no matter how you look at it, this could never be a coincidence.

After all, how could someone possibly happen to be passing by the battlefield where you are, then coincidentally encounter them just before the missiles hit, and even more coincidentally have prepared a means of transportation to escape, sending them away in an incredibly coincidental way?

Anyone with a brain would know that Aozaki Touko was obviously waiting for them there beforehand.

However, this matter puzzled Kenneth greatly, since he had neither enmity nor favor with Aozaki Touko, so why would she come to pick him up?

Moreover... before Gilgamesh's Ea Star completely shattered his dream of winning, he always seemed confident of victory. How could he possibly arrange for someone to help him escape? That's why Kenneth was extremely puzzled by the current situation.

Meanwhile, Kenneth's wariness of Aozaki Touko had reached its peak. He secretly held the two gems in his hands, ready to throw them out as soon as he sensed something was wrong, then grab Weber beside him and jump out of the car to continue their escape.

"I'll take you to Tokyo, Mifune City, or Mifune City, and then we'll fly directly back to Britain from there."

Upon hearing Kenneth's question, Aozaki Touko didn't hide anything and directly told them about the itinerary that Rovey had arranged in advance.

"Huh? Back to Britain..."

Kenneth was taken aback by Aozaki Touko's answer.

He had initially thought that Aozaki Touko would take him to some ominous place, or take the opportunity to extort something from him. After all, unlike ordinary Magus, the crests on his body and many of his Mystic Codes were treasures that even Grand Magus could not ignore.

Just as Kenneth had thought, Aozaki Touko originally intended to take this opportunity to extort some benefits from Kenneth, the incredibly wealthy Lord of the Mineralogy Department.

However, a message from Rovey made her abandon this tempting idea.

With the Holy Grail War reaching its final moments, and with the withdrawal of Kenneth, Weber, and others, the only ones capable of competing for victory on the battlefield were him and Gilgamesh.

The situation will become increasingly out of control and will be completely beyond our expectations. We need to get Kenneth and the others out of here immediately and not come back.

So, given the critical situation, Aozaki Touko was too lazy to argue with Kenneth. After all, she had already made a huge profit this time, and she had also received so much kindness and favor from him. If she messed things up again at such a crucial moment because of her greed, then this matter would become completely unmanageable.

"Of course, I'll only take you out of Fuyuki City to meet up with Sakura. I've already arranged for her to stay in my safe house. After that, you just need to pick her up and fly back to Britain immediately. I'm not going back to that damned Clock Tower."

Aozaki Touko stubbed out her cigarette and then said casually.

"Sakura... you wouldn't be talking about something like this?!"

"What else did you think?"

Upon hearing this, Kenneth's eyes widened slightly. He had clearly figured something out, and his fragile heart was struck by an immense shock.

"Haha, that's right, that's exactly what you think, Lemon Head."

"Surprised? Unexpected?"

Seeing Kenneth's astonished expression in the rearview mirror, Aozaki Touko couldn't help but burst into laughter.

She had actually been looking forward to this moment for a long time.

Aozaki Touko had already felt sorry for Kenneth, the teacher who knew nothing from beginning to end and was kept in the dark by his good apprentice and led by the nose, when Lo Rovey contacted her and told her about his plan.

She often complained that Kenneth was lucky to have such a gem as Rovey, who was a perfect student.

You could say he was both lucky and unlucky.

Unfortunately, that guy always manages to trick you without you even realizing it; fortunately, he will always help you on matters of principle and in important situations.

"... Rovey, where is that guy? Where is he now?!"

To Aozaki Touko's surprise, Kenneth's first reaction was not anger, nor did he care about anything else. Instead, he hurriedly asked about Rovey's whereabouts.

He no longer cared why his student was involved with Aozaki Touko, a wanted and dangerous individual, or what role he actually played in the Holy Grail War.

Kenneth just wanted to know how Rovey was doing. Was he in any danger? Now that he had brought them both out, was Rovey also waiting outside Fuyuki City to withdraw from the Holy Grail War, so they could fly back to Britain together for refuge?

"... Huh?"

When Kenneth saw that Kenneth's first reaction to Rovey was not anger at being deceived and misled, but rather worry and concern, Aozaki Touko's expression faltered slightly.

He then turned around and looked seriously at Kenneth's earnest gaze, before letting out a helpless sigh.

"Now I understand why you two could become master and disciple... Although your personalities are completely different, your concern for each other is a perfect match."

She shrugged, then sighed helplessly, and replied,

"Don't worry, Crowley will be fine. He just has more important things to do right now, so he won't be going back with you. He wants you to trust him."

"Nonsense! Believe him...? -- What?!"

The car suddenly accelerated, causing Kenneth, who was about to continue asking questions, to stumble and lean back, almost hitting the handrail beside him.

"Hehe, it's nothing, it's just that the police have started blocking the road ahead."

"Hold on tight, Lemon Head! We need to speed things up!!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Aozaki Touko didn't give Kenneth a chance to refute her. She glanced at the city exits that were now under martial law and blocked due to tonight's missile strike, a smile playing on her lips. Then, she stepped on the gas, crashed through the guardrail, and sped away amidst the shouts of the police behind her, heading straight into the distance.

At the same time.

On the other side, at the edge of the forest.

A golden figure leaned on his spear, silently observing the devastation before him, gazing at the forest reduced to scorched earth.

A hint of sadness crept into his deep blue eyes, which were as blue as flowing water. A special blue magic surged around him as he did his best to heal this war-torn land.

With the protection of the elves, he vaguely felt the harm that nature suffered.

However, his unreserved consumption of magic power was not solely for the purpose of healing the damage to the forest.

—Da da da.

This sadness didn't last long. With the sound of footsteps echoing in the darkness, Fionn mac Cumhaill turned his gaze and looked at the figure he had been waiting for.

A smiling black-haired youth and a bewitching purple-haired beauty beside him.

That is, Rovey Crowley and Scáthach, who appeared beside him.

"What a coincidence, Lancer, it's amazing to run into you here, um..."

They followed the immense magical energy deliberately emitted by Fionn mac Cumhaill and found him there. When they saw Fionn mac Cumhaill waiting for them at the edge of the forest, Rovey smiled, then casually raised his hand in greeting and asked,

"Since you're here, that means Mr. Kenneth and the others have already evacuated safely, right?"

"Don't worry, Mr. Crowley..."

Upon seeing this, Fionn mac Cumhaill could only manage a wry smile.

"Thanks to your arrangements, the Lord and his men have now retreated safely."

"So they've already left... that's great."

Rovey strode slowly toward Fionn mac Cumhaill. After hearing that Kenneth and Weber had already left, he seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and smiled. Scáthach, standing nearby, and Fionn mac Cumhaill, standing in front of him, couldn't tell whether this smile was merely an act or genuine.

Or perhaps it's a combination of both? Even Rovey himself doesn't know the answer to this question.

However, after hearing that Kenneth and the others had left, Rovey narrowed his eyes, looked at Fionn mac Cumhaill in front of him, and asked him a crucial question.

"Lancer, now that Professor Kenneth has left, why didn't you follow him or leave? Instead, you're staying here. Do you still want to participate in the Holy Grail War? Do you have any wishes that you want to fulfill through the Holy Grail?"

Although it was just a frank inquiry, Fionn mac Cumhaill could sense a certain emotion mixed in with Rovey's words.

Scáthach, standing behind him, was also smiling at him, her Crimson Magic Spear twirling slightly, clearly prepared to send him to his death in battle.

Looking at the smiling master and servant duo before him, who were actually brimming with murderous intent and ready to personally intervene at any moment to save his dignity, even the well-informed Fionn mac Cumhaill couldn't help but smile bitterly.

Sometimes, this feeling is actually quite helpless...

"My wish? If you insist on asking, then yes, I do have one."

He then shook his head and answered Rovey's question.

"However, it's not like the King of Knights who stubbornly wants to change the past; it's just about looking to the present and doing something to make up for the regrets of the past."

"For example?"

Rovey asked again.

"As a true knight, one should be loyal to one's lord to the end, come to this Holy Grail War as a knight, and then quietly leave as a knight."

"So, have you done it now, Lancer?"

This time, it was Scáthach who posed the question, "Are you satisfied with the result this time?"

"It couldn't be more satisfying..."

Fionn mac Cumhaill touched his long hair, then looked in the direction where Kenneth and the others had gone not long ago, a gentle smile appearing on his handsome face.

"Don't worry, I've already used up almost all my magic power. I won't go anywhere else for the rest of the time. I'll just stay here and wait for my fate."

Fionn mac Cumhaill had just sensed that Kenneth had used his three-stroke Command Seal, the commands of which were...

[—Replenish magic power.]

—They stopped the danger for us.

As well as...

"The contract is hereby terminated, Fionn mac Cumhaill. Go do whatever you want."

From that moment on, his master-servant contract with Kenneth ended, and he was alone again.

That's why Fionn mac Cumhaill has been standing here, waiting for the person who orchestrated everything to arrive, wanting to see him one last time before making his final exit.

Now he has seen it, and Rovey's appearance proves that his previous premonition was indeed correct.

This young man, who is favored by the King of Conquerors, the Queen of the Land of Shadows, and even the King of Heroes, gets along well with any hero, and is adept at balancing various forces, is indeed far more complex than he appears.

He had already noticed this when he and the King of Heroes were at the Banquet of Kings.

Even though he had noticed this and had secretly reminded his lord, his intuition and Kenneth's inexplicable trust in him remained strong.

Although I don't know what he's plotting or what his purpose is, it's enough that I know he's not my enemy and he certainly won't harm my lord...