Chapter 42

Wasn't he just trying to get him to kill the King of Conquerors?

The moment last night's battle broke out, he had immediately flown over in the Vimana. Though he hadn't seen the beginning, he had witnessed most of it. That clown's limits went far beyond that—she was still hiding her true power. Once that power erupted...

That would be the finale of this Holy Grail War.

"...Yes."

Knowing Gilgamesh's foul temperament all too well, Tohno Shiro didn't dare say anything more. He sighed inwardly.

They were both Servants, both immensely powerful in combat, so why was everyone else's Servant so obedient and well-behaved? They could even cook.

His own Servant acted like a lord, preferring to go off alone. His mouth was foul, and worst of all, he was powerful enough that Tohno Shiro had to rely on him to win this Holy Grail War.

"Heh." Gilgamesh sneered at Tohno Shiro's lowered head, then turned into golden particles and vanished from the room.

As though he had only come here to sample a bite of Mikaela's cooking.

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These Waters Run Deep

Likewise, after breakfast, Waver followed the King of Conquerors to the hotel where Kayneth was staying.

"Hehehe." Waver was in an exceptionally excited mood. To put it in perspective, he was like a student who had always failed, only to suddenly score above ninety and prepare to show off to everyone else.

I wonder how badly those flames injured Lancer.

The King of Conquerors, standing protectively beside Waver, had also fallen into thought. From the sky last night, he had seen everything clearly. The instant Diarmuid entered spirit form, his body had been transported away.

Clearly, Lancer's Master had realized that Diarmuid was in mortal danger and decisively retrieved his Servant.

"You're here?"

The moment Waver and the King of Conquerors arrived at the hotel entrance, they saw Kayneth standing there with an extremely grim expression, seemingly waiting for them.

Seeing Kayneth's current expression, Waver's lips twitched. His urge to show off quietly vanished.

"Looks like you're not in a very good mood." The King of Conquerors flashed Kayneth a broad smile, while the others looked around in confusion, not knowing who he was talking to.

Kayneth had set up a Magic Barrier around himself, so ordinary people couldn't see him. Standing at the entrance now, he had naturally been waiting for Waver and the King of Conquerors.

"..." Kayneth fell silent for a moment. He glanced at Waver, then looked at the King of Conquerors and said sternly, "He told you all the information from last night, didn't he?"

The atmosphere seemed somewhat stifling. Waver's heart pounded wildly, and his sixth sense told him that what was about to happen would likely far exceed his imagination.

It was the first time he had seen his teacher wear such a frightening expression.

Kayneth had always appeared so calm and composed, as if nothing could ever trouble him. Though he flew into rages at the slightest provocation, Waver had truly never seen such a grave look on his face.

"My Little Master naturally told me everything. He's quite talented, after all." The King of Conquerors wrapped an arm around Waver and smiled at Kayneth. "Having a Master like him is an honor."

The King of Conquerors had also noticed that something was wrong with Kayneth. He seemed to understand what Kayneth was about to say, so he told him in advance that Waver was far more outstanding than he imagined.

"Heh."

Kayneth gave a mocking smile and waved his hand slightly. The Magic Barrier he had set up earlier unfolded, instantly enveloping Waver and the King of Conquerors.

Kayneth couldn't be bothered to waste words on the King of Conquerors. Fixing his gaze on Waver, he said coldly, "Do you know how terrifying the Holy Grail War truly is?"

Waver remained silent. He had investigated some information about the Holy Grail War, but when it came to intelligence, he knew he couldn't compare to his teacher, so he chose silence.

Sometimes, silence was a good answer.

"You don't know? Of course not. If you knew this information, how could you possibly have come to participate in the Holy Grail War?" Kayneth instinctively mocked him, then clutched his head in frustration.

If he had known, how could he possibly have come to take part in this Holy Grail War that bore traces of Magic?

Every Magus held both the highest reverence and deepest fear for Magic.

"..." Waver was left speechless by the rebuke. He wanted to argue, but seeing his teacher's pained, faintly regretful expression, he felt that he might really be in serious trouble.

"Anyway, I won't waste words. If you stay here, you will die without a doubt. If you truly want to survive, hand over the information and leave Fuyuki City immediately. Get back to the Clock Tower." Kayneth only cared about the intelligence in his student's hands now. He felt that he might not even be able to protect himself in the battles ahead.

If this were an ordinary Magus war, Kayneth was confident he could protect his foolish student. Once the Magus war was over, he would take him back to the Clock Tower and properly teach him a lesson, making him understand just how shameful theft was.

But although this Holy Grail War could be called a Magus war, it had touched upon the "Magic." It might seem unremarkable on the surface for now, but what about later? What would happen then?

Kayneth didn't know. Not even his wisdom, talent, and gathered intelligence could let him see the road ahead.

"Is it really that terrifying?" The King of Conquerors shielded his Little Master. He could naturally tell at a glance that although the Magus before him seemed rather unpleasant, he was fundamentally a good person. He would never make alarmist claims.

If anyone else had spoken to Waver like that, the King of Conquerors would certainly have angrily rebuked them and told them not to force their own views onto others.

But when Kayneth said these things, it was because he truly believed that Waver would not survive this Holy Grail War. Perhaps... even he himself might not survive it.

"How could a mere Servant understand the terror of this Holy Grail War?" Regardless of how glorious the King of Conquerors' achievements had been in life, Kayneth harshly reprimanded him. "You ignorant fools joined the Holy Grail War thinking that all you had to do was win?!"

"Isn't that so? As long as we win, then all this so-called terror will no longer be terrifying." The King of Conquerors still smiled cheerfully. The word "terror" did not exist in his life. He might summon the courage to challenge an enemy because they were strong.

But he would never halt his conquest because of so-called terror.

"What exactly is it, Professor?" At last, Waver spoke. He knew this was no time for jokes. He wanted to know... what exactly his teacher feared.

Kayneth gave his student a deep look, seemingly hoping to make him retreat in the face of difficulty. In an even tone, he said, "The Second Magic and Third Magic may very well appear in this Holy Grail War. The Einzbern family likely came here to bring the Third Magic back into the world. As for the Second Magic... that person came as a witness during the first Holy Grail War, intending to witness its success."

"These waters run deep. Even I have no confidence that I can make it out alive. Waver Velvet, if you're not an idiot, you should obediently hand over your Command Seal right now, then get the hell back to the Clock Tower."

Once Kayneth voiced the matter he feared, Waver felt as if he had been struck by a bolt from the blue, utterly stunned by the explosive information.

The Holy Grail War I'd joined on a whim had actually involved two "Magics"?!!

If what his teacher said was true, then even as a Lord, he couldn't participate in a war of this level. Only the Clock Tower's combat faction was qualified to intervene in it!!!

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Terrifying Saber

"Now you know fear? If you know you're afraid, then hand over your Command Seals and get back to the Clock Tower. Someone like you has no business involving yourself in this kind of magus war."

Seeing Waver trembling all over, Kayneth wasn't particularly surprised. Anyone would tremble in fear upon hearing such news.

Even a genius like him had fallen into panic after hearing it. After all, the word "Magic" was deeply engraved into every magus's very being.

"D-Don't joke around!! Doesn't that mean I have even more reason to stay?!" Though he was terrified inside, Waver still refused to give up and go back. To him, this Holy Grail War had practically staked his entire life's "dignity."

Borrowing money, stealing a Holy Relic, and... risking his life to steal information from Saber's side—he had obtained all of it through his own efforts.

If he backed down now, what use would it be to save his own life? He would live in the shadows for the rest of his life, never able to hold his head high before anyone else.

"Since this Holy Grail War bears traces of Magic, I have to stay! I'll prove that I can survive!" Waver shouted at Kayneth with resolute force.

He had nothing left to fear. Even if death awaited him, he had boldly taken this step.

So what if this Holy Grail War contained traces of Magic? He wouldn't care. Since he had entered this Holy Grail War, he had to fight until the very last moment.

"Boring. Drown in everything you cling to." In Kayneth's eyes, Waver was an idiot. He had offered him a way out, allowing him to return to the Clock Tower completely unharmed and obediently spend his days in that thing called boredom.

Yet he had rejected his goodwill and even brazenly claimed that he would survive this Holy Grail War. A newborn calf truly feared no tiger. Someone who didn't even qualify as a third-rate magus dared say such things.

Even as a Lord, he had little confidence that he could survive this Holy Grail War... He was actually a little envious of that mindset.

"Since you're not afraid of dying, then come in." Kayneth still wore a gloomy expression. With a cold snort, he said, "Don't expect me to protect you from here on. If you die, I'll abandon you without hesitation."

With that, Kayneth dismissed the Magic Barrier and headed toward the elevator.

"Huh?" Waver stared at Kayneth, who had suddenly removed the Magic Barrier, and froze for a moment, seemingly unable to process it.

He had already braced himself for his teacher to harshly scold him after he said those things. He hadn't expected him to simply leave like that.

"Not bad." The King of Conquerors patted Waver on the shoulder, a trace of approval flashing through his eyes. He was growing more and more impressed by this Little Master.

When they had first met, the King of Conquerors had been thoroughly dissatisfied. He had thought the other man was utterly unqualified as a Master—not only was his magical energy insufficient, but he also loved making grand claims, and his wish had been pitifully small.

But now, the bright points within him were shining. Perhaps he wasn't perfect, but he was definitely a very good Master.

"Huh?!!!"

Waver froze again. What the hell?! Why was the King of Conquerors suddenly praising him?!

"Enough standing there like an idiot. This is the recognition you needed." Seeing Waver standing there foolishly, the King of Conquerors became dissatisfied again. He slapped Waver's thin body hard, then dragged him toward Kayneth.

The three of them took the elevator to Kayneth's room.

"My Lord, you've returned."

The moment the door opened, Diarmuid, wrapped up like a mummy, gripped his red spear and looked at Waver and the King of Conquerors as they entered the room. He seemed to reveal a faint smile.

"Mm." Kayneth gave a slight nod. He sat down on the sofa by himself and poured a cup of black tea. Without even looking at Waver, he gazed calmly at the King of Conquerors. "You made such a scene last night. I trust you obtained some fairly important information."

"It was indeed very important, though in a sense, it wasn't especially important either." The King of Conquerors sat opposite Kayneth. Looking at Diarmuid's condition, his expression turned solemn. "He still hasn't recovered?"

"Although we used the best healing magecraft currently available, his injuries haven't healed that quickly." Kayneth took a sip of tea and said calmly, "These aren't injuries caused by a curse, but in a sense, Saber's flame attack can also be considered a kind of curse."

Because he knew Diarmuid's Noble Phantasm, the Yellow Rose of Mortality.

Kayneth had more or less determined that the flaming greatsword Saber had used last night was completely different in nature from the Yellow Rose of Mortality.

The Yellow Rose of Mortality was a cursed spear capable of inflicting wounds that could not be healed. As long as it struck someone, no healing magecraft could heal that wound.

To treat it, one either had to kill Diarmuid or destroy the Yellow Rose of Mortality itself.

But the Noble Phantasm Saber had used last night was like raging fire, constantly burning the person it struck. Even after the flames went out, the burned areas could only be restored with healing magecraft at an extremely poor rate.

However, Kayneth had discovered something in the process. After personally performing "surgery" on Diarmuid, his recovery speed had increased. But since the process had been rather bloody, there was no need to describe it in detail.

After the surgery, Diarmuid had ended up looking like a mummy.

"Oh? I'd guessed as much already, but Saber's second Noble Phantasm is truly terrifying." The King of Conquerors looked once more at Diarmuid, who could barely stand, his eyes filled with gravity. It seemed his injuries would still need some time to recover.

If he had taken an attack like that last night, he would probably have ended up just like Diarmuid.

"Everyone has weaknesses, so I need your information." Kayneth clasped his hands together. They didn't have much time now. Saber would definitely attack again tonight, and when that happened, they would be at an absolute disadvantage.

The only reason the King of Conquerors and Diarmuid had managed to leave safely last night was because Saber had her Master and other related personnel on her side. She couldn't take the initiative to pursue the King of Conquerors and Diarmuid, which greatly limited her mobility.

That was the disadvantage of being on the defensive—they could only passively take blows.

"Well, let my Little Master explain it. After all, he was the one who obtained that information." The King of Conquerors shrugged, pulled over Waver, who had been examining Diarmuid's injuries, and forcibly pressed him onto the sofa.

The author was trying to find a song, or rather, a scene from an MV.

It was an MV I saw on television when I was very, very young. I remember the visuals vividly, but I've forgotten everything else.

Roughly speaking, a man and a woman rode a motorcycle and got into an accident. From the man's perspective, the woman died, and he was deeply saddened. From the woman's perspective, the man died.

Then, it seemed the woman was in a castle, constantly receiving letters. She saw the mail carrier and rushed over, removing his mask. In the end, she discovered that beneath it was a skull, which then scattered away in the wind. ()

PS: If someone finds it, the author will post five chapters!

Chapter 108: Guiding Mapo Down a New Path

"May I ask what you want?"

On the way back, Mikaela found Kotomine Kirei's calm demeanor rather strange. What was wrong with him?

Did he know that she had allied with Tokiomi, so he had come to see Emiya Kiritsugu? But that did not seem right either. At this point, Kotomine Kirei was still fairly obedient and had yet to pursue pleasure. No matter how foolish he was, he would not possibly stand alone before a Servant.

They were cooperating with Tokiomi, but that did not mean they were cooperating with the Holy Church.

"Hello. I am Assassin's Master." Kotomine Kirei looked at Mikaela and Irisviel and said calmly, "Though we have met before, my teacher has now formed an alliance with you. Therefore, I hope you can answer the doubts in my heart."

"Doubts?"

Irisviel's expression became somewhat strange. For some reason, she suddenly recalled the conversation between her husband and Mikaela.

That conversation, almost like a romance. Although Emiya Kiritsugu and Kotomine Kirei had never met, there had been a period when they had constantly kept an eye on each other.

"I won't give Kiritsugu to you!" Seemingly imagining something bizarre, Irisviel declared righteously, "Although I do not object to the sacred love between men, Kiritsugu is my husband. It is impossible for you."

Bang—!

With a speechless expression, Mikaela gave Irisviel a sharp knock on the head, making the married woman, whose mind was filled with inappropriate thoughts, squat down while clutching her head.

Even an idiot could tell that Kotomine Kirei's target was the two of them, not Emiya Kiritsugu for the moment. Otherwise, he would not have stopped them. He only needed to walk up and say, 'I want to meet Emiya Kiritsugu.'

"????" Kotomine Kirei also looked at Irisviel strangely, not knowing what Saber's Master was thinking. Although his target was still Emiya Kiritsugu—

After speaking with Matou Kariya, Kotomine Kirei had remained somewhat confused, but he seemed to have understood something. That was why he now wanted to speak with Irisviel.

"Is there something you need?" After knocking Irisviel on the head, Mikaela turned her gaze toward Kotomine Kirei. He no longer mattered much for now. Her current great enemies were the King of Conquerors and Kayneth.

After dealing with the King of Conquerors and Kayneth, their true great enemy would be Gilgamesh.