It Can Be Destroyed / Ready...

"...I wanted to use it, but the situation doesn't allow it right now."

Mikaela spoke very calmly. "You should understand that in this Holy Grail War, I am merely my Master's tool. I may want to save people, but without my Master's orders, I cannot use my Noble Phantasm on my own."

"..."

Diarmuid fell silent. Naturally, he understood that principle as well. In the Holy Grail War, though they were heroes of the past, in the eyes of magi, they were merely familiars.

When he had first been summoned, his Lord had also emphasized that he needed to mind his status. He was merely a familiar sustained in this world by magical energy, not one of those heroes who created miracles with their own flesh and blood.

Of course, his Lord treated him well. No matter what it was, as long as he said he "didn't understand," his Lord would look at him with disdain before explaining the underlying principles.

Mikaela's claim that she could not use her Noble Phantasm naturally did not mean its activation requirements were difficult. It was simply that her Master would not permit her to release that Noble Phantasm.

Seeing that Diarmuid had nothing more to say, Mikaela naturally would not waste her breath. It was enough to make clear that she could not casually use her Noble Phantasm. She would not say anything unnecessary.

"Hm?" Just then, Mikaela noticed that the King of Conquerors had not continued attacking. Instead, he had turned his ox cart around and charged back.

"Is there no other way?" Watching the King of Conquerors return, Diarmuid gripped his spear tightly, seemingly rather furious. He was not angry that the King of Conquerors had come back.

He was angry at his own helplessness. Though he possessed Yellow Rose of Mortality and could inflict irreparable wounds on that Sea Demon, the creature was simply too enormous. What use was destroying a few tentacles?!

If he could not find its "core," then all he could accomplish by going over there was destroying a few tentacles.

"Don't be so discouraged, Lancer." The King of Conquerors returned with a hearty grin. He had already noticed that his Little Master, Lancer's Master, and Saber's Master had left the area. It seemed they were preparing to stop other civilians from approaching.

"At this point, even holding it back is extremely difficult. If this continues, there will be no way to completely destroy it. If Archer and Berserker were here, perhaps their Noble Phantasms could destroy that monster in one blow. But right now... they have not come. Though I do not like making wild guesses—"

"The fact that they have not come may mean they are watching us from nearby."

As soon as those words were spoken, Diarmuid and Mikaela's expressions turned exceedingly grim. The human heart was treacherous, and both of them began to suspect that Archer and Berserker might indeed be observing from the sidelines.

"Despicable cowards." Diarmuid cursed, but quickly reined in his anger and looked at the King of Conquerors. "Then what should we do now?"

"..." Mikaela said nothing. Her gaze swept the surroundings, hoping to find Archer and Berserker's hiding places. It was genuinely possible. If Tohno Shiro had rescued Matou Sakura, Matou Kariya might hand Berserker over to Tohno Shiro.

The King of Conquerors' smile gradually faded. He stared solemnly at the Sea Demon and spoke in a serious tone. "What should we do now? I do not know either. But that monster is moving its body. I can sense that the 'devoured' Caster still has the power to control it. He wants to approach the shore and feed on humans to replenish his magical energy."

That was right. Being closest to the Sea Demon, the King of Conquerors could clearly sense its intentions. Its target was obvious: it wanted to enter the city... then destroy everything at will and devour those consumed by fear.

"First, once our Masters deploy a barrier to drive away ordinary people, we find Caster's Master and eliminate him. Though he is not the source of Caster's magical energy, a Servant without a 'Master' will soon vanish from this world. Then all we need to do is patiently keep it from reaching shore."

"That man is an ordinary person with no magical foundation. If we are being precise, he is just an 'ordinary person.'" Diarmuid could not help speaking up. He was the Servant who had gotten closest to Ryunosuke, so he naturally knew that the man was merely a "lucky" ordinary person, with no magical energy in his body whatsoever.

According to what his Lord had said, although that man possessed no magical energy, perhaps his ancestors had belonged to a mage family that had since declined.

The chaotic magic circle shown in the news made that clear. It had been drawn "deliberately," so he obviously knew something.

To magi, such an existence was harmless. Yet now... precisely because he was so "ordinary," the problem before them had become even harder to resolve.

"...Then there is only one way." The King of Conquerors looked at the Sea Demon in the river and said seriously, "Saber, I can hold it down for a few minutes. Then it will be up to you."

"..." Mikaela had a headache. She knew the King of Conquerors had been waiting here to trap her.

Looking at the silent Mikaela, the King of Conquerors said evenly, "I do not know whether you are truly this so-called 'Judas,' but I can sense that the cross in your hand contains an immensely powerful force. If released, it likely would not be inferior to an Anti-Fortress Noble Phantasm."

"Archer and Berserker are not here. The only one who can stop that monster now is you. Once I use my Noble Phantasm, I can restrain it for several minutes. As for whether you will use your Noble Phantasm afterward, I do not know."

"I know only one thing: we cannot turn a blind eye to the people before us. Heroes and kings stand at the forefront to protect more people! They shoulder every burden upon themselves."

"Though you are a woman, there is an old Chinese saying: women are no less than men."

PS: "One more chapter."

Can Be Destroyed

Women are no less than men.

Hearing those words, Mikaela's mouth twitched. For a moment, she did not know what to say. She admitted that her appearance was a little feminine, but surely ancient times had boys with delicate features too, right?

Though she had hidden her gender, had the King of Conquerors really failed to realize she was a boy?!

But now was not the time to dwell on that. Under the "sincere" gazes of the King of Conquerors and Diarmuid, Mikaela remained silent. However, a conflicted look appeared on her young face, as though she were considering whether to obey her "Master's" arrangements or heed the King of Conquerors and release the true power of her "Noble Phantasm."

"But how exactly do you intend to hold that thing back?" Diarmuid pointed at the Sea Demon approaching the shore and looked helplessly at the King of Conquerors. "Even if you and Saber fight together, you can only hold it back temporarily. While you are adapting to fighting it, it is adapting to your methods as well."

Diarmuid had seen it clearly just now. When the Sea Demon had first been summoned, it had practically been taking hits passively, barely fighting back at all. Only after a minute had it slowly begun to retaliate.

The time the King of Conquerors' ox cart had been caught was proof of its retaliation. It was not particularly fast, but it had sheer numbers on its side! They had barely cut off several tentacles when more than a dozen appeared the next second, pouncing at the King of Conquerors. There was not even time to cut them down.

"Do you know of an Inherent Domain?" The King of Conquerors smiled and looked seriously at Diarmuid. "It is the Noble Phantasm of which I am most proud, and also my trump card."

"An Inherent Domain?!"

Both Mikaela and Diarmuid displayed "surprised" expressions. The former's was fake surprise; the latter's was genuine.

Diarmuid knew of it as well. There was no need to discuss the specifics. In short, an Inherent Domain was a grand magecraft capable of changing the world. This kind of grand magecraft... even the present-day genius Kayneth could not use it. Even among ancient magi, ninety percent would be incapable of deploying an Inherent Domain.

Yet the King of Conquerors said he possessed an Inherent Domain?!! How was that possible??? Wasn't he Rider?

"There is no need to go into detail. In any case, I will first trap that thing. What happens after that will depend on you. If my Master returns, have him notify me, because I cannot know what is happening outside while inside the Inherent Domain." The King of Conquerors gave his instructions solemnly, then drove his ox cart toward the Sea Demon.

Three parts depended on people, seven parts on fate. That was all he could do. The rest depended on whether Saber was willing to activate her Noble Phantasm.

Honestly, the King of Conquerors was truly interested in Saber's identity. If she really was Judas, why did she wear a modern maid outfit? Could it be that after once betraying Jesus, she now wore a maid outfit to say... that for the rest of her days, she would serve the Lord as a "servant"?

If that were true, it would be rather hilarious.

After the King of Conquerors left, the atmosphere became somewhat strange again. Diarmuid looked at Mikaela, while Mikaela gazed at the Sea Demon ahead and the King of Conquerors' retreating figure.

I am not a hero, nor am I a king, and I am certainly not a woman.

If the King of Conquerors delivered that grand speech to those ancient heroes, they might get fired up and immediately unleash their Noble Phantasms to bombard the Sea Demon, disregarding their Masters' wishes.

Just like Diarmuid beside her. He kept saying that he wanted to bring victory to his Lord, but if he possessed an Anti-Fortress, Anti-Nation, or even Anti-World Noble Phantasm right now, he would likely activate it immediately and destroy the Sea Demon climbing toward the shore.

How ironic. In Mikaela's original ideal life, she should have been staying peacefully at home, chatting with her mother, teaching her students without a care, and trying to awaken her father.

Yet she had come here, to this so-called Holy Grail War. She had no choice but to rack her brain over the relationships between all parties, assess everyone's strength, and pair them with "appropriate" opponents. She herself hid behind the scenes, watching them fight one another and determine victory or defeat.

Meanwhile, they would survive until the final moment and wait for the Greater Holy Grail to descend.

Before Mikaela's eyes, the King of Conquerors deployed his Inherent Domain and took away the Sea Demon, which had already "adapted" to this area.

Not long afterward, roughly a minute later, Kayneth was the first to return. As soon as he arrived, he asked Diarmuid why the Sea Demon had vanished?!

Diarmuid told Kayneth everything that had just happened. The Clock Tower Lord's expression became exceedingly strange. He stared at his Servant and asked in a somewhat sinister tone, "Are you certain it was an Inherent Domain?! That man is not even Caster. Why can he use such grand magecraft?!!"

"My Lord, I would not dare deceive you." Diarmuid naturally understood his Lord's feelings. Inherent Domains had always been something magi aspired to possess. Once such grand magecraft was deployed, even Servants could be fought against.

If Caster had used an Inherent Domain, Kayneth's expression would not have been so strange. At most, he would have snorted and declared that he would master something of that level sooner or later.

But!! The King of Conquerors did not know even a shred of magecraft. What gave him the right to use an Inherent Domain that countless magi could not?!

"Huff, huff, huff... What happened?" At that moment, Waver and Irisviel arrived as well. The areas they were responsible for were relatively close, so they had deliberately run over together.

Diarmuid repeated the explanation. Since Irisviel had arrived, he also revealed that Mikaela possessed an "Anti-Fortress" Noble Phantasm.

"Saber." Irisviel stood beside Mikaela and looked at Oath of Judas by her side. For a moment, she seemed surprised as well. Was the cross in her hand truly an Anti-Fortress Noble Phantasm?

"Can it kill it?"

Kayneth did not waste words. He looked at Mikaela rather bluntly. "Can your Noble Phantasm destroy that Sea Demon? If not, I will contact the Holy Church and the Mage's Association and have them send people."

To Kayneth, the Holy Grail War was something dispensable. This "Sea Demon" now carried a serious risk of exposing the Mystery.

Though they had tried to remedy the situation just now by deploying a Magic Barrier to drive away ordinary people, a Magic Barrier only treated the symptoms, not the cause. People could still observe the area through telescopes. If this dragged on and Fuyuki City was destroyed—

Both the Holy Church and the Mage's Association would have a severe headache.

"I can." Mikaela naturally did not want the Holy Grail War to end. She said calmly, "However, my Master must make that decision."

At that moment, everyone's eyes turned to Irisviel, because she was the Master on the surface.

PS: "I owe fourteen chapters."

Preparations Complete

"Um..." Irisviel looked as everyone turned their attention toward her, and for a moment, she felt immense pressure. Though she truly wanted to say, Saber! Release your Noble Phantasm!

However, Mikaela was her side's trump card, and Irisviel would not make any promises without authorization. Besides... after the Sea Demon had been sealed away, she had calmed down. Their side possessed a trump card that could defeat Caster.

Then the others likely possessed similar trump cards as well. Perhaps Rider's Inherent Domain could defeat Caster, but he did not want to do so. Instead, he had deliberately let Caster go to see what strength their side possessed.

Because in Irisviel's heart, Kayneth and Waver were a master and apprentice with a good relationship, while she was completely an "outsider."

"What is it?"

Seeing Irisviel suddenly hesitate, Diarmuid frowned slightly instead. He looked at her very seriously. "Right now, we need Saber's Noble Phantasm to exterminate that monster. Though I know Archer and Berserker are watching from nearby, we cannot let countless people die because of those two."

"This..."

Irisviel hesitated indecisively, her gaze turning to Mikaela. Mikaela also appeared to be considering Diarmuid's words.

"Fine, but I need to speak with our ally first." Mikaela nodded slightly. She spoke in Irisviel's stead, then looked at Kayneth and said calmly, "Lord of the Clock Tower, perhaps this Holy Grail War is insignificant to you, but to us, it concerns our entire lives. There is no harm in being cautious. What my Master, our ally, and I discuss next cannot be heard by you."

"No matter. He is merely a filthy mage killer." Kayneth sneered. Naturally, he knew whom Mikaela wished to speak with.

Or rather, anyone who had seriously investigated the intelligence knew very well that Einzbern had found the infamous mage killer—Emiya Kiritsugu—and brought him into the Einzbern family as a son-in-law, marrying him to their most functional homunculus at the time, Irisviel.

When Kayneth had first received that information, he had been somewhat puzzled. He had not understood what madness had possessed the Einzbern family to bring such a despicable man into their household.

But after entering this Holy Grail War, Kayneth understood. The Einzbern family wanted someone with powerful combat experience and the ability to see through the present situation to assist their homunculus in winning the Holy Grail War.

The so-called marriage into the Einzbern family was nothing but a joke. The Einzbern family likely did not value Emiya Kiritsugu at all. They merely regarded him as a tool, a tool to secure victory in the Holy Grail War.

"My apologies."

Mikaela did not grow particularly angry, as though Kayneth's words were correct. She placed Oath of Judas on the ground, seemingly to "watch" the three of them. Spears of light and chains stood ready to fire at any moment.

She then led Irisviel to a place not far from the riverbank and began calling Emiya Kiritsugu. Under normal circumstances, Emiya Kiritsugu should have just "happened" to arrive near them by now.

"Have you found Caster's Master?" Once the call connected, Mikaela did not waste words. She directly asked whether he had found Caster's Master.

Given Emiya Kiritsugu's ability to act, he was probably already at a high point with a sniper rifle, observing every place from which the "battlefield" could be seen.

Though Waver had proposed setting up Magic Barriers in the places where the largest crowds had gathered to reduce the exposure of Mystery, there were still some locations he could not account for. It was a good idea, but even the most perfect plan had flaws.

That was why Kayneth had said it only treated the symptoms. Still, at present, this was the best solution they could manage.

"I have." Emiya Kiritsugu replied evenly. "Do you want me to tell you his location?"

Just as Mikaela had expected, Emiya Kiritsugu was fast. After learning that Caster was about to cause a major incident, he promptly blew up Tohno Shiro's house and headed this way. With smooth travel, he quickly found a place that overlooked the entire "battlefield" and began observing which one was Caster's Master.

However, with Mikaela's precise information, Emiya Kiritsugu quickly found Caster's Master and locked onto his position.

"No need. You deal with that man; I will deal with Caster." Mikaela said with complete calm. "At present, neither the King of Conquerors nor Diarmuid can completely destroy Caster. Only I can eliminate him."

"What are the odds?"

Emiya Kiritsugu did not ask what Mikaela intended to use against Caster. Instead, he asked her odds of success, because some things could not be hidden.

After spending so many days together, Emiya Kiritsugu had more or less grasped his Servant's temperament. She was excessively cautious, considering the best possible outcome in everything. Even he had subconsciously begun relying on the intelligence she gathered.

"Seventy percent. The King of Conquerors' Inherent Domain has weakened the Sea Demon Caster summoned considerably. If you kill Caster's Master the instant I launch my 'attack,' there is a seventy percent chance of success." Mikaela sensed Oath of Judas and found that Waver had begun calling for his Servant, asking about the Sea Demon's condition.

A soldier came to Waver's side and explained what was happening within the Inherent Domain.

No matter what, she had to take Artoria's place from the original story and kill that Sea Demon. Even if she could not kill it, she had to make it appear as though she had "given everything."

"Is that so?"

Emiya Kiritsugu was silent for a moment, then said flatly, "Give it everything you have. How certain are you?"

"Slaying it will not be a problem." Mikaela spoke with considerable pride. Over these past days, she had more or less figured out the strength of the Servants.

"Good." Emiya Kiritsugu sounded as though he had breathed a sigh of relief. He then hung up. There was nothing more to say now.

"Let's go." Mikaela looked at Irisviel beside her and walked back toward Waver and Kayneth. Deep inside, she took a breath and hoped Judas could successfully destroy that massive thing. Otherwise, she would inevitably have to expose something next.

From Emiya Kiritsugu's tone, if Mikaela continued holding back, he would probably use a Command Seal without hesitation and order her to use every means at her disposal to kill that Sea Demon.

He... really would do it.

Divine Grace Barrier

"Looks like you have reached an agreement."

Watching Mikaela and Irisviel return, Kayneth seemed to have already read what would happen next from their expressions.

"First, let me make one thing clear." Mikaela glanced at Irisviel, then turned her gaze toward Kayneth and Waver. She said calmly, "My Noble Phantasm is not an Anti-Fortress Noble Phantasm. More accurately, it is something that suppresses 'magical energy.'"

Since this world had no Honkai energy, Mikaela could only roughly describe Oath of Judas: Zero Rated Power—Divine Grace Barrier.