"What do you mean, some self-taught mage...?"
It was over. It was over.
His Master had screwed him over.
Columbus had heard Shinji's description before. He had genuinely thought that White's side was just some self-taught bunch.
On top of that, when White first arrived, she had put on a bit of a show, which made Columbus let his guard down even further.
"...This is troublesome." He swiftly assessed the battlefield in his mind. The situation was giving him a headache. "That quality of mana, that presence... so she really is Saber? Meeting her head-on isn't wise. I need to use the terrain to maneuver and find a chance to retreat."
What a joke.
Who wanted to fight?
Time to run.
Unlike Shinji, who seemed determined to court death, Columbus had no intention of fighting this out head-on.
Yet on the surface, he still maintained that calm, unhurried smile. "Of course, Master. The harbor is my stage." He slowly drew his longsword and pointed it at Saber. "Come. Though I don't know your True Name, that bearing can't hide what you are. Let me see how sharp your sword is!"
"..."
White was rather speechless.
If she hadn't seen Columbus's thoughts from the stage, who would have guessed that this guy was actually planning to run...
Artoria did not respond to his provocation. She merely shifted slightly, shielding White behind her, then fixed her gaze on Columbus before her.
"White, please step back. Leave this to me."
Artoria was very displeased right now.
Earlier, as she listened to that seaweed-haired fool making light of her Master, Artoria had felt a nameless fury rising within her.
"Mm." White took several steps back, leaving the battlefield to her Servant. She herself turned her gaze toward Shinji Matou, who stood atop a shipping