Irisviel smiled as she replied, "Because you and Mr. Demon Sword Wielder were fighting so passionately, I was completely stunned watching from the side~
What? Was Saber jealous of me?"
"Irisviel!!"
Artoria's expression was furious, but a blush spread across her cheeks.
At that moment, she received someone's gaze.
"..."
Saber turned strangely toward the boy who had just fought alongside her. "Is there something wrong with my face?
Let me make this clear first: things absolutely weren't as Irisviel said, so please don't misunderstand."
Artoria frowned inwardly. Was it just my imagination? Why did I feel that his gaze was especially... complicated?
"..."
Shirou stood there dumbfounded, unable to say a word.
"Mr. Demon Sword Wielder, aren't you going to read this book?"
Irisviel asked as she took the Tome of the R'lyeh from his hands.
Shirou brushed her off. "Destroy it immediately. This thing is extremely dangerous. Like Caster, it can't be allowed to remain in this world."
Throughout the earlier battle, Shirou had maintained a cold and aloof attitude.
From the moment he joined the battle until he defeated Caster, the two of them had worked together flawlessly, but he had never once looked at Saber's face.
Only after the battle ended, when Saber took the initiative to approach him again, did Shirou finally get his first chance to observe her from up close.
As he had expected, Saber's appearance was exactly the same as the hazy features he had seen inside the crystal ball.
Her flowing, soft golden hair and impeccably refined beauty.
Her cherry-colored lips, her eyes that had become slightly greener yet remained beautiful and noble, and her petite figure, which conveyed a solemn bearing no man could surpass...
Most importantly, that Sword of Promised Victory (Excalibur) was undoubtedly the Holy Sword of the Stars, forged by the Paradise Fae through the sacrifice of her own life.
That was right.
This should have been a moving reunion spanning multiple universes, and yet—
What???
Shirou's mouth fell open.
...She wasn't Morgan.
Although Saber and Morgan looked exactly alike.
Although Saber held a genuine Holy Sword of the Lake in her hands.
But Shirou couldn't possibly mistake her. He would never mistake her.
No matter how similar their appearances and auras were, no matter how dazzling and noble the light of that Holy Sword might be.
She wasn't Morgan. She absolutely wasn't Morgan.
"So..."
Shirou stared at Saber's face and asked blankly,
"You're not actually King Arthur, are you?"
Volume One 057 Artoria: Good heavens! He's practically me! (6.5K)
"...Huh?"
Saber was stunned by Shirou's sudden question.
Do you think you're King Arthur?
I think I am.
Saber answered solemnly.
"That is correct. My name is Artoria Pendragon, daughter of Uther Pendragon, King of Britain."
After announcing her name, she fixed her eyes on Shirou.
Regarding this boy who had suddenly descended from the heavens, Artoria actually had a great many questions she wanted to ask.
Who are you?
Are you friend or foe?
Why did you help me and Irisviel?
However, what concerned her most was clearly the Reversed Holy Sword in the boy's hands.
Why... was my Holy Sword of the Lake (Excalibur) in his hands?
And why had the nature of its magical power changed, transforming it from a Holy Sword into a Demon Sword?
"Demon Sword Wielder, since I've already answered your question and given you my true name, shouldn't you also follow proper etiquette and state your identity?"
Saber stared at Shirou's black Demon Sword and asked eagerly.
"If my senses aren't mistaken, you're also a King from somewhere, just like me."
Because of the interference magecraft cast by Lady Avalon, she couldn't discern anything unusual about Shirou.
But Artoria still sensed a certain quality in him.
Something different from her, the King of Conquerors, and the King of Heroes—a certain kingly aura.
Yet the boy said nothing. He seemed to have no intention of giving his name. Instead, he quietly reached toward his mask.
Huh? Huh! Was he going to take it off?
He had hidden his face until now. Was he really sure he wanted to remove it?
Saber suddenly panicked. Nervous yet expectant, and even somewhat at a loss, she stared intently at him.
Shirou, however, looked completely unconcerned.
Since he had come to the Einzbern Forest, he had already prepared himself mentally to reveal his identity to Saber and her Master.
Shirou removed his mask, and Artoria saw—
Beneath the bone mask was the childish face of an elementary-school boy.
"S-so cute..."
Saber realized she had misspoken and hurriedly closed her mouth. No, I actually said what I was thinking aloud. How careless of me.
But... the person who had fought alongside her earlier was actually such a young child?
If she hadn't experienced it herself, she simply wouldn't have believed her eyes.
Just as she was about to say something else—
"Shinji-kun, it really is you! Thank goodness, you're all right!!!"
Irisviel suddenly cried out excitedly and rushed up from behind, wrapping her arms around Shirou.
Saber: "Huh?"
Irisviel held Shirou tightly in her arms and affectionately rubbed her cheek against his red hair.
"What's going on, Irisviel?"
Saber asked in confusion. "Did you already know each other?"
Irisviel nodded. "Saber, do you remember?
He's the especially cute boy I mentioned before—the one I met while I was out shopping."
"Uh, you mean..."
Saber froze for a moment, then immediately understood. Suspicion appeared in her gaze as she looked at Shirou.
"So you really are involved in the Holy Grail War?"
The gentleness and ease on the girl's face vanished in an instant, replaced by her usual serious expression.
Although she had been captivated by the Reversed Aurora just now, she had since realized that the beautiful radiance actually represented destruction and ruin.
Saber said sternly, "You approached Irisviel while I wasn't paying attention... Just what is your purpose in getting so close to us?"
"Saber, about that..."
"Wait, Saber. Shinji-kun is a good boy. He isn't like you think! This is a misunderstanding!"
Irisviel defended Shirou while holding him, but Artoria didn't relax her vigilance. Instead, she became even more tense.
"Irisviel, get away from him at once! Stand behind me!"
She even gripped the Holy Sword wrapped in wind with both hands, making the atmosphere even more tense.
"Even if he is a very cute child, he could very well be an enemy Servant!"
Irisviel: "Right? Saber thinks this child is cute too, doesn't she?"
Saber: "That's not the point!"
For the past few days, she had been blaming herself for getting separated from her Master that time.
That knightly self-reproach had left her nerves taut, making her even stricter than usual.
"Saber, aren't you being rather rude? Shinji-kun is my savior. Please put down your sword.
The King of Knights' sword isn't meant to frighten adorable children, is it?"
Seeing that Saber remained completely unmoved, Irisviel slightly furrowed her delicate brows, looking somewhat displeased.
"No. He's simply too suspicious..."
Irisviel tilted her head and examined Shirou's face. "Is he? What's suspicious about him?
All I see is a cute and well-behaved boy...
Wow! He really is too cute! Come back to Einzbern Castle with me right now, Shinji-kun!"
Shirou said, "Please calm down, Saber. And you too—especially you, Irisviel."
"I am calm!"
Irisviel and Saber said in unison.
Shirou sighed. "I'll explain everything clearly. Saber, put down your sword first."
The golden-haired girl shouted, "Give my Master back first!"
"No way~"
Hearing that, the Silver-haired homunculus hugged Shirou even tighter. Her large, soft breasts repeatedly pressed and rubbed against his chest, leaving Shirou barely able to breathe.
Seeing how much her Master trusted and clung to Shirou, Saber's expression grew even more troubled.
"Guh, what exactly did you do to my Master... Was it some extremely sophisticated charm magecraft?"
Shirou: "I didn't do anything!"
Saber: "How did this happen if you didn't do anything?"
Shirou: "Ask your Master! I want to know too!"
Irisviel: "Aww, Shinji-kun is so cute?"
Oh my, oh my... It was the same stable love-triangle battlefield as always. As expected of a Master~
Above the three of them floated Lady Avalon, happily enjoying the chaotic scene.
Although she had already guessed it would turn out this way, Master really had seen through Saber at a glance... Amazing.
It was a little unfortunate that Master hadn't mistaken Saber for Morgan, but...
The meeting between two Arthurs was so interesting as well. Coming along today had definitely been the right choice.
The way things would develop between the two of them also felt like it would be very interesting~
Before you continue