Shirou's Return from the Fae Kingdom

"I, I guess you could say we know each other. She's an enemy of Merlin Brother, so we're not that close..."

"That's why I'm calling you a stray!"

"Guh...!"

Lady Avalon's forehead vein twitched. Suppressing her anger, she asked with a cold laugh, "Master~ What exactly are you trying to say?"

Shirou grabbed Lady Avalon's shoulders and pointed at the image in the crystal ball. "Don't you think she looks a lot like someone you know?"

"Not at all."

The Flower Magus shook her head blankly.

"Morgan!"

Shirou shouted, "The Servant of the Einzberns—is Saber's true name Morgan? The evil witch from the legends of King Arthur, the 'Fae Consort' Morgan!"

"Huh...?"

Lady Avalon's brain froze.

Master... No, what nonsense is this brat spouting? Did he drink bad alcohol?

The red-haired youth shook his head. "No, what I said earlier was indeed inaccurate. Because she might not be the Morgan you know..."

Shirou quickly cut himself off.

Bad, bad, bad. I got too excited and almost revealed everything about the Fae Kingdom.

Shirou had decided that he wouldn't mention the other Britain in this life. He would keep it as the most beautiful memory (treasure) deep within his heart—

But now, Morgan might have also come to Pan-Human History.

Did he still need to stick to his previous decision?

...Wait a minute, Shirou.

Calm down and think. Is this cute beautiful girl really Morgan?

Maybe she's just someone who looks very similar?

No, this isn't just 'looks very similar'! She's exactly the same!

Her pitifully delicate beauty, her adorable figure, and that reckless charging combat style—

Everything, absolutely everything, is just like Morgan!

Makiri once said that Heroic Spirits who manifest in the Holy Grail War would display different "facets" depending on the situation.

Saber Morgan...?

If it's Morgan from her "Witch of Rain" period, she'd favor direct Magic attacks over close combat.

So she should be Morgan from when she called herself the "Savior Ash," right?

The Savior lady who wields a greatsword imbued with fairy tale Magic, brutally sweeping away enemies before her.

Isn't the girl in the crystal ball also using a holy sword imbued with wind Magic?

This is exactly Ash's combat style!

And the most decisive proof is the holy sword in the girl's hand...

This alone, I absolutely can't be wrong.

But--

Shirou still felt a trace of strangeness in his heart, preventing him from being completely certain that Saber was Morgan. Something felt off.

"...Ah."

Lady Avalon, who had been stunned for a long time, suddenly had a spark in her eyes.

So that's how it is...

The Artoria and Morgan here, now that I think about it, they really are...

"Pfft."

Lady Avalon covered her mouth and bent over, her curled-up body trembling—she was holding back laughter.

Meanwhile, Shirou got up from the tatami.

The image in the crystal ball was too blurry. He really had to go confirm it himself.

Thinking this, he stood up, put on his jacket, and strode out the front door.

"Lady Avalon, let's go."

"Yes! Master!"

Meli cheerfully followed him.

Volume 1, Chapter 046: A New Development (2/5)

"Chira--"

The sound of blood pouring onto the ground like a waterfall.

When Lancer rose to his feet again, leaning on his spear, all the former elegance and composure of the handsome warrior had vanished.

A massive wound marred the front of the Knight of the Spear's body, running diagonally from his shoulder to his waist. It was so deep that bone was visible—a masterpiece left by a single flash of the Golden Holy Sword.

"To think he dodged a fatal blow in that instant."

Saber's expression was unchanged, her voice filled with genuine admiration.

"True Eye of the Mind."

This was a skill Lancer had acquired through years of arduous training.

Even in a seemingly certain death situation like the one just moments ago, he could find the single thread of survival in absolute peril.

As a result, Lancer had narrowly avoided the full force of the Golden Sword Flash at point-blank range.

However, he had also lost the strength to continue fighting. He had merely avoided returning to the Throne of Heroes.

"...Saber."

"I know, Irisviel."

The golden-haired King of Knights expressionlessly raised the magnificent scabbard in her hand, entwining it with another wind-imbued sheath.

"I'm sorry, Lancer, but I have no intention of holding back. Let's end this duel decisively."

Diarmuid kicked the short spear he had thrown to the ground earlier, shakily assuming a stance, then forced a tragic smile.

"Even if you hadn't said it, that was my intention, King of Britain."

Through the previous exchange, Lancer had paid a heavy price and seen through Saber's true name.

—A "scabbard" capable of blocking all attacks, possessing the world's strongest defense.

—A "sword" that pierced the Demon-Slaying Spear with a single flash, without even unleashing its true name.

Combining these two points, only one identity could be concluded.

The undefeated king of the Knights of the Round Table legends, the wielder of the holy sword, Arthur Pendragon.

Similarly, Saber had also recognized Lancer's identity.

"Diarmuid of the Radiant Visage, the foremost warrior of the Knights of the Fianna. It is my honor to fight you."

Hearing the praise from the powerful enemy who had crushed him, Lancer felt no shame. Instead, he calmly accepted the sincere compliment.

"Well then, now that we both know each other's true names, we can finally have a formal duel as knights...

Or, Saber, are you dissatisfied with the current situation?"

Anyone could see that Diarmuid was at the end of his rope, a candle in the wind. This was not a duel, but an execution.

Yet Saber replied with a serious expression, "Not at all. You are the opponent I have always dreamed of."

To grant a worthy opponent a dignified defeat—this was Artoria's chivalry.

"Prepare yourself, Lancer."

"As for preparation, I discarded that the moment I stepped onto the battlefield."

Both assumed their stances, ready to end this glorious knightly duel in the next instant, but just then—

"Both of you, stop right there!!!!"

The roar of the sky and a man's shout echoed from above the battlefield.

Saber and Lancer simultaneously turned their heads, gazing intently at the distant sky.

Accompanied by crisscrossing purple lightning in the night sky, a chariot descended from above towards them.

It was a classical chariot pulled by two muscular, strong, and well-built bulls.

After circling in the night sky for a while, it descended to the ground, wreathed in lightning and divine aura, stopping right between Saber and Lancer.

As the dazzling lightning receded, a red-haired giant appeared imposingly in the driver's seat.

"Both of you, lay down your weapons! You stand before a King!"

His voice was louder than any thunder, his presence more imposing than the divine aura emanating from the divine bulls.

The giant who had intruded upon the battlefield instantly suppressed the aura of the two knights and declared with a solemn expression.

"I am King of Conquerors Iskandar, who has appeared in this world by claiming the seat of Rider in this Holy Grail War."

"Wh—"

Everyone was stunned. In the battlefield of the Holy Grail War, hiding one's true name was one of the most important strategies. There was no way a Servant would reveal their true name.

As expected, the young man who appeared to be Rider's Master in the passenger seat began to shout.

However, the most astonished person among them all was Waver, who was crouching in the driver's seat next to Rider.

"What, what are you thinking in your head? You idiot~~~~~~~~~~!"

But the Master's strong protest was easily dismissed with a flick to the forehead from the Servant.

As if nothing had happened, Rider turned his head to look at Saber and Lancer on his left and right.

"Stop, Saber! It's a shame to just kill Lancer like that.

Before you do anything, just listen to what I have to say."

"...What!?"

Saber was stunned, while Lancer's face was contorted with rage from the insult.

Rider spread his arms dismissively.

"Heroes and champions from every era, from every land!

I do not know what wishes you intend to make of the Holy Grail, but think carefully now. Is that wish truly more important than the grand ambition of conquering the world?

Consider this: will you not submit to me and yield the Holy Grail?

In return, I shall treat you as dear friends and share with you the joy of conquering the world."

"..."

Everyone was speechless and at a loss.

With Rider's interruption and Archer's subsequent arrival, the battlefield in the warehouse district spiraled towards its predetermined chaotic conclusion.

Meanwhile, there were also those who were arriving late and rushing towards the scene.

"Hey! Hurry up, Lady Avalon! We're going to be too late!"

At this moment, Shirou was held in Lady Avalon's embrace as they leaped and weaved across the rooftops of the high-rise buildings in Shinto.

"Waaah, I'm already doing my best to hurry! I'm a magus who enjoys traveling, not one who's good at running away."