A fully armed knight, carrying a battle intent that could only be called madness, forcibly inserted herself between the two. It was Mordred, drawn here by Gilgamesh's fierce fighting spirit.
"Isn't this the Golden Pikachū who left my Father King looking utterly miserable before...? Solomon, can you let me loosen up with this guy?"
As far as Mordred was concerned, she could strike her Father King herself, but no one else was allowed to.
If she had encountered another Servant, Mordred might have shown some consideration for her ally Solomon and figured out the situation before deciding whether to cut them down.
But Gilgamesh had attacked her Father King. To Mordred, he was like someone who had stepped on a cat's tail... she immediately bristled.
"Solomon, you mongrel servant of questionable pedigree... do you need this King to discipline you?"
After glancing at Gilgamesh, Solomon made a go-ahead gesture to the two of them, then openly cast several reinforcement spells on Mordred.
Once he had finished, Solomon calmly stepped to the side of the road, leaving the broad street to them.
Faced with Solomon's actions, Gilgamesh, whose anger had just been inflamed by Mordred calling him Golden Pikachū, suddenly returned to an unruffled state.
Solomon's attitude was obvious. He was siding with Mordred.
"Never mind. This mongrel's life shall be spared for now. But Solomon... I hope you can protect her until the end..."
I Want to Withdraw, Kischur Zelretch...
"Never mind. This mongrel's life shall be spared for now. But Solomon... I hope you can protect her until the end..."
Gilgamesh reined in his battle intent and turned to leave.
Mordred, with her twisted personality—practically an oversized brat—was never going to accept that.
"Are you trying to run away?"
"Run away? Heh... this King simply has no desire to cross blades with a mongrel of questionable pedigree like you..."
That only added fuel to the fire.
Staring fixedly at Gilgamesh's back, Mordred's teeth ground audibly at those words. Like a firecracker that had just been lit, she was about to attack Gilgamesh at once.
But just as surging magical energy erupted from Mordred's body and she prepared to charge at Gilgamesh—
A golden ripple appeared beside Mordred, along with a chain gleaming with golden light.
It moved like an agile venomous serpent, and like a soaring dragon.
The Chains of Heaven, incomparably nimble yet carrying enough force to split mountains and shatter rocks, directly stopped Mordred's charge, forcing her to watch helplessly as Gilgamesh departed at his leisure.
"As expected of a crude imitation... compared to your Father King, you truly are a mongrel of questionable pedigree..."
Gilgamesh and the Chains of Heaven, which she had nearly caught, vanished completely before her eyes.
At that moment, Mordred felt like her lungs were about to explode from rage.
Mordred shot Solomon a furious, resentful glare. With nowhere to vent her anger, she clenched her teeth, let out a roar, and swung her greatsword, turning the buildings along most of the street before her into outlets for her frustration...
It looked like news of another gas explosion would be making Fuyuki City's headlines tomorrow.
"I'M GOING TO KILL THAT GOLDEN PIKACHŪ!!!"
"Who are you going to kill?... The Servant Solomon called the King of Heroes just now?"
With two Servants mobilizing, provoking each other and shouting at the top of their lungs, how could the two Clock Tower Lords inside the temporary Magic Workshop possibly remain unaware?
In fact, Kischur Zelretch had arrived nearby long ago. He had merely remained hidden and not shown himself.
Now that Gilgamesh had left, Kischur Zelretch naturally emerged from his hiding place.
Brushing off the dust that had splashed onto him, Kischur Zelretch clasped his hands behind his back. Carrying an air of authority and nobility, he approached Mordred step by step with a gait more standard than any model's.
"Kischur Zelretch, are you here to mock me too?"
Using magical energy to dismiss her armor and changing back into a youthful, cool outfit, Mordred immediately rolled her eyes at Kischur Zelretch upon hearing what sounded like a teasing remark.
"Mock you? Of course not. You are not the only one who overestimated yourself. Wasn't I the same?... I thought this was a magical competition where I could earn achievements, only to discover in the end that I was merely an insect caught in a spiderweb... King Solomon, please allow me to withdraw from this Holy Grail War."
Bowing and placing a hand over his chest, Kischur Zelretch faced Solomon's gaze and, for some reason, suddenly uttered something rather astonishing.
"W-What! Kischur Zelretch, you intend to withdraw!"
"Yes... but rest assured, Mordred. I will retain my Command Seals until you and your Father King have determined the victor... After that, regardless of whether you win or lose, I intend to withdraw..."
A trace of bitterness mixed with relief appeared on his face. After explaining himself to Mordred, Kischur Zelretch immediately turned to Solomon.
The reason Kischur Zelretch had accepted Sakura's invitation to participate in the Holy Grail War in the first place was actually very simple: an achievement, one impressive enough to present to his "goddess" at their engagement ceremony.
But as time passed, and Solomon was summoned by his senior, Marisbury Animsphere, using a Holy Relic, Kischur Zelretch had already realized that he had no chance of winning this time.
Still, after witnessing the scale of this Holy Grail War—one capable of summoning Solomon—Kischur Zelretch chose to stay. After all, if he could assist Marisbury in winning a magical ritual "competition" of such caliber, then the trip would not have been wasted.
However... Solomon's prophecy and Kiritsugu Emiya's shot completely woke Kischur Zelretch up. He knew that if not for Solomon's prophecy, which had made him put on the bulletproof vest equipment he had always looked down on as something for "ordinary people," he would probably already be dead.
Kischur Zelretch was proud, confident, even narcissistic... but he was absolutely not an idiot.
After being awakened by that blow, Kischur Zelretch reorganized all the information he had... and finally understood his situation... making the decision to withdraw.
In fact, Kischur Zelretch had made this decision earlier and had been discussing the matter with Marisbury ever since, discussing how to safely and smoothly withdraw from this Holy Grail War.
Deliberately putting on a thoughtful expression, Solomon carefully examined Kischur Zelretch before turning to Marisbury, who was walking toward him from not far away.
"Have you already discussed this with your Master?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. Please allow me to withdraw early..."
"Since you have already discussed it with your Master, I will not inquire into the details. But Lord Kischur Zelretch, do you truly intend to violate the Covenant?"
The Covenant was a supreme magical oath created by Solomon after Marisbury had summoned him using a Holy Relic, an oath jointly signed by both sides.
Kischur Zelretch, who had signed this oath, could not simply withdraw just because he said he wanted to.
According to the terms established by the oath, behavior like Kischur Zelretch's, which was equivalent to betraying the alliance, would incur punishment from the oath.
"It is fine, Solomon. Kischur Zelretch and I have found a loophole in the Covenant... After the Perfect Finale, Kischur Zelretch's departure will not violate the oath."
"Perfect Finale... Then so be it."
After Marisbury spoke, Solomon considered it briefly before nodding.
Of course, Solomon did not care in the slightest whether Kischur Zelretch withdrew. After all... he had already basically completed all the objectives for which he had descended into this Holy Grail War.
Moreover, his current Master and future "employer" was pleading for him!
Although Solomon, in his kingly state, did indeed want to punish Kischur Zelretch and make him pay some price, he chose to yield for Marisbury's sake.
Then let him have his Perfect Finale.
Seeing Solomon agree to his withdrawal, Kischur Zelretch could not help but feel a wave of relief.
It could not be helped. Before Solomon, the King of Magi... who could truly remain at ease?
Marisbury, whose face always seemed to bear a smile, looked up at the gradually darkening sky. He looked at the relaxed Kischur Zelretch, then at Mordred, who looked displeased but neither made a scene nor said anything.
"The stars are in chaos, and the heavens are ambiguous... Kischur Zelretch... tonight, you shall have your Perfect Finale!"
I Want to Save Him, I Want to Save This Boy!
Einsbern Castle, deep in the great forest on the outskirts of Fuyuki City.
After Gilgamesh's earlier disturbance, Einsbern Castle, which had previously blended perfectly with its surroundings, now appeared particularly conspicuous in this forest.
However, no one in the castle cared about the golden color outside.
Because with Gilgamesh and King Hassan appearing, all the Servants in the intelligence gathered by Kiritsugu Emiya and Zouken Matou had revealed themselves, except for Caster, who was likely waiting for an opportunity inside a workshop built somewhere.
Although Archer and Assassin's true identities remained unknown, the two had already displayed terrifying strength in the attacks that took place today.
As for Caster, who had never appeared in Kiritsugu Emiya's and Zouken Matou's sight from beginning to end—
Zouken Matou, ancestor of the Matou Family, and Kiritsugu Emiya, representing Einzbern, had not paid Caster much attention.
After all, based on the experience of past Holy Grail Wars, although a Caster-class Servant posed a great threat to Masters, without a carefully constructed workshop, they were simply no match for Servants of the other classes.
As for Caster's combat ability within a workshop... meet Kiritsugu Emiya, the "explosives genius."
Thus, neither Zouken Matou nor Kiritsugu Emiya cared much about Caster's whereabouts.
"Old Man Matou... how many more battles can that boy's body endure?"
Flicking the cigarette in his hand, Kiritsugu Emiya, who had not had a single pleasant moment since entering the Holy Grail War, frowned as he looked at Zouken Matou, who sat cross-legged on the sofa opposite him.
Zouken Matou still looked as gaunt and skeletal as ever, but for some reason, his complexion now appeared ruddy and full of vitality. He first let out his signature eerie laugh, then extended his mummified hand and held up a number.
"Twice. If this old man does not activate the Command Seals during battle, the boy this old man picked up cannot bring out Berserker's strength at all."
Kiritsugu Emiya had naturally seen Shirou Chiko activate the Special Command Spell during the daytime battle.
Berserker had indeed erupted with formidable combat power only after Shirou Chiko activated the Command Seal.
As for Zouken Matou claiming that he had activated the Command Seal, Kiritsugu Emiya did not care. It was nothing more than the old man before him having tampered with the boy's body.
Twice... Is it because of the Command Seal's limitations?... Or some other reason?
His gaze unconsciously falling upon the four remaining Command Seals on the back of his hand, Kiritsugu Emiya silently committed that speculation to memory.
"It can only be used twice more... The situation has become even worse."
"Kekekekeke... No, Emiya, in this old man's view, twice is already enough... So long as you are willing to truly cooperate with this old man... Berserker will be enough to resolve the situation we currently face."
Indeed, if Kiritsugu Emiya was willing to deploy Artoria and Leonidas together to cooperate with Berserker—
Based on the intelligence they had gathered so far, they would be enough to deal with any Servant on their own.
But could Kiritsugu Emiya trust a snake-like Zouken Matou?
Kiritsugu Emiya did not answer Zouken Matou's words... For a time, the two, who were discussing how to break their current deadlock, fell silent.
While Zouken Matou and Kiritsugu Emiya harbored their own schemes yet had no choice but to sit together because of reality and engage in so-called "discussions" between allies—
In a room at the other end of the castle.
Watching Shirou Chiko lying on the bed with his eyes tightly closed, Artoria's mood worsened by the moment.
Perhaps noticing that something was wrong with Artoria.
Leonidas, leaning against the wall in one corner of the room with his head lowered, his expression unreadable, suddenly asked—
"Arthur... what wish did you answer the Holy Grail's summons to fulfill?"
Hearing Leonidas's sudden question, Artoria, seated beside Shirou Chiko's bed with her fist clenched until it creaked, froze for a moment before turning to look at Leonidas in confusion.
His muscles rippling, Leonidas slowly raised his head and met Artoria's gaze with sincere eyes. Whether he misunderstood her look or had already intended to do this, the moment their gazes met, Leonidas directly revealed why he had joined the Holy Grail War.
"Spartans fear no battle... Spartans enjoy every battle... That is why I answered the summons."
Perhaps moved by the presence Leonidas gave off at that moment, Artoria listened to his reason for participating in the Holy Grail War and, carrying a trace of reminiscence, slowly spoke of her own wish.
"I want to return... to Camelot, to the moment when I first drew the sword..."
Listening to Artoria's words, Leonidas could not help but furrow his brow.
"I want to return to the person I was then... and tell her... that I had not done well enough, that I needed to work even harder..."
His furrowed brow relaxing, admiration flashed through Leonidas's eyes. He immediately bowed to Artoria.
"Your people were truly fortunate to have you, Arthur..."
"Fortunate...?"
Several faces surfaced uncontrollably in Artoria's mind. She gave a bitter smile and shook her head.
"Arthur... perhaps some people could never understand you... but isn't a King meant to exist in order to protect the people?"
Leonidas recalled the final moment when he had marched willingly to his death at Hot Springs Pass.
He unconsciously recited the verse future generations had carved upon their tombstones...
"O traveler from afar, I hope you will tell the people of Sparta. Having kept our promise, we who have fallen now sleep here.
Arthur... the people will remember us from beginning to end!"
Remembering the works about King Arthur she had encountered after arriving in the present age, as well as the recognition from later generations recorded within them—
After hearing Leonidas's words, Artoria felt as though some shackle had been undone. At that moment, she felt incomparably relieved.
Before you continue