Shirou's Return from the Fae Kingdom

Let's get back to the main topic.

"What kind of person is Caster?" Shirou asked.

Kenshinnes was already that powerful, so Caster's Servant should be even stronger, right?

Hundred-Faced Hassan said, "Although I wasn't present at the time, according to the observation reports from my other selves, Caster is a madman."

"...A madman?"

Hundred-Faced Hassan nodded. "He appeared alone in front of the Einzbern vehicle. When Saber got out to prepare to fight him, this man suddenly knelt on the spot and began to cry profusely."

Shirou: "?"

What are you trying to do to Saber, you brat?

"Moreover, Caster said some strange things."

Shirou asked, "What things?"

Hundred-Faced Hassan said, "He knelt before Saber, pulling at his hair, crying and calling Saber 'Jeanne d'Arc'."

Jeanne d'Arc? The Holy Maiden Jeanne d'Arc?

It's rare to encounter a name that even elementary school boys know, but what does this have to do with Saber?

"Caster claimed his name was Gilles de Rais, Saber's eternally loyal servant— 'Oh, Holy Maiden! My destined Holy Maiden! To meet you here across the ends of time must also be a fated reunion...'"

"Uh, Shirou, are you alright? Your face looks terrible," Assassin asked with concern.

"And then, what did Saber say? She must have severely refuted this madman's words and actions, right?"

"Well, Saber said that it was her first time meeting Caster and that she didn't know him at all..."

That would be a miracle if she did.

Shirou's worried heart finally settled. Caster was indeed a madman who spouted nonsense. As for Jeanne d'Arc, who had such a crazy follower— Shirou also felt it was necessary to re-examine the character and spiritual purity of the French Holy Maiden. Could she also be a ridiculously crazy woman?

"What happened next?"

"Saber drove Caster away, or rather, she let him go. Before leaving, Caster swore that the next time they met, he would free Saber's soul from God's curse."

Shirou narrowed his eyes. Saber has gotten herself entangled with a troublesome guy. But... on what basis did Caster conclude that Saber was Jeanne d'Arc? Her appearance? Her aura? Shirou felt something was off and frowned suspiciously. It seemed he needed to go to Einzbern Castle tonight to confirm.

"Then, you must have followed Caster."

Assassin raised an eyebrow. "Who do you think I am? After Caster left, 'I' followed him all the way to his base."

"Impressive."

"But... as expected of Caster's Servant, even for 'me,' it was difficult to approach his Magic Workshop without being discovered. However, I managed to confirm the general location. We've now surrounded the area and are monitoring it. Every move Caster makes outside the workshop is completely under 'my' control."

Shirou frowned. "Did you confirm Caster's Master?"

"Yes, a young man named Ryunosuke."

As expected, Shirou thought.

"What does Caster usually do? Does he just stay holed up in his workshop?"

Hundred-Faced Hassan wasn't sure how Shirou would react to the following information. After a moment's thought, she still told him the truth. "Caster's activities are very frequent. He's been rushing around various places in Shinto and Miyama Town, constructing a city-wide soul-absorbing Barrier. You saw that gas leak news just now, right? Fuyuki City has a large number of patients with unexplained weakness, people who lost consciousness without warning, and many are even on the verge of death— That's Caster's doing. Many people had their life force drained uncontrollably in their sleep, and the Church is struggling to deal with it."

Shirou frowned. Secretly draining the life force of citizens to convert it into Magic, that's something he considered before the war started. After much deliberation, he abandoned the idea. After all, with his third-rate Magic skills, it would be difficult to control the extent of the soul absorption, and it might even lead to death.

Shirou asked, "Is Caster storing magic for the upcoming battle?"

Assassin said with a strange expression, "It doesn't seem to be the case. From Caster's muttering, he's drawing life force from the city... seemingly to save his Master's life."

In the dimness, only a single candlestick illuminated Ryunosuke Uryu's skin, ashen and corpse-like.

"Master... you're back..."

Ryunosuke Uryu, sitting quietly on the sofa, slowly turned his head like a machine, creating a scene straight out of a horror movie.

"Oh, Ryunosuke! You look well today! That's wonderful!"

Caster strode quickly to the young man and grasped his stiff shoulders with his enormous hands.

"Listen to me, Ryunosuke! That damned God still has Jeanne's soul bound and won't let go!"

Gilles de Rais babbled incessantly, his face alight with madness and excitement.

However, his Master, the listener, had eyes devoid of light, occasionally shaking his head in response.

Ryunosuke Uryu had long lost his human capacity for thought and, of course, could not understand Caster's words.

In fact, the only time he retained a sliver of consciousness after becoming a Corpse-person was on the very night he summoned Caster.

That night, master and servant, bound by their shared ideals, hit it off immediately, like friends who hadn't seen each other in ages.

Ryunosuke Uryu worshipfully called Caster "Master" and regarded him as a beloved life mentor.

Caster, too, rejoiced at finding a like-minded confidant and vowed to obtain the Holy Grail with Ryunosuke.

However--

That beautiful moment was limited to just one night.

The next morning, when Caster excitedly went to find Ryunosuke Uryu, he discovered that the young man had already become like a zombie, unable to communicate normally.

Oh, this must be God's curse! Caster thought with grief and anger.

Damn God! Not only did you take Jeanne from me, but now you're trying to take my last confidant!

He didn't discard the broken Ryunosuke Uryu but brought him to a new Magic Workshop.

Upon seeing the Holy Maiden of his destiny again, Caster immediately shared the joy of witnessing a miracle with Ryunosuke.

After being coldly rejected by Jeanne, Caster also poured out his indignation and sorrow to the young man.

Simultaneously, in order to restore Ryunosuke Uryu's health, Caster scoured Fuyuki, constructing a massive soul-absorbing Barrier.

Unfortunately, no matter how much life force he absorbed and transferred to his Master, the Corpse-person would not revive. Instead, due to his improper handling, he grew more putrid by the day.

Volume 1, Chapter 054: Fuyuki's Elementary School Students Are Truly Terrifying!

"Ryunosuke, my wish has been granted."

In the darkness, Caster murmured like a repentant lamb.

"Because of my prayer, my Holy Grail, Jeanne has been resurrected again--the omnipotent Holy Grail chose me."

"That's great, that's great," Ryunosuke Uryu responded without emotion.

"But it's not enough! It's far from enough! Because the Holy Grail hasn't chosen you yet."

Caster clutched his face in despair.

"Oh, Ryunosuke, poor Ryunosuke, God stole the Holy Grail that rightfully belonged to you! He tormented you into this state! But don't worry, Ryunosuke, I will never give up, and I won't let God play with your soul any longer! I, Gilles de Rais, swear I will resurrect you like Jeanne... That's it!"

The muttering Caster suddenly widened his eyes.

"That's right! Jeanne! If it's the resurrected Holy Maiden... Jeanne can definitely heal you with her miracle!"

As Caster shook him forcefully, Ryunosuke tossed his head forward.

"Yes, yes..."

"You think so too, don't you, Ryunosuke! Good, you truly are my comrade, our thoughts are aligned."

The joy on Caster's face lasted only a moment before he fell into anguish again.

"But Jeanne is still being deceived by God... What must we do to make her see the truth and change her mind?"

"What should we do, what should we do..."

"What?"

The Black Magus looked at Ryunosuke in surprise. "You're saying we must desecrate even more egregiously?"

"Piled high like a blasphemous living sacrifice, clearly presented before her eyes?"

Ryunosuke Uryu nodded blankly, muttering, "Yeah, yeah."

—This was already a conditioned reflex.

Caster, who had been acting like a raving lunatic moments ago, suddenly calmed down. He bent over, placed his hands on the young man's shoulders, and revealed an angelic smile.

"Understood. I will go meet the beautiful Holy Maiden tonight."

"Okay, okay."

Ryunosuke Uryu muttered with unfocused eyes.

On the outskirts of Miyama Town stood a magnificent, ancient castle.

The greatest urban legend of Fuyuki City: Einzbern Castle.

During the first Holy Grail War, the proud Einzberns, unwilling to establish a base on enemy (Tohsaka Family) territory, purchased this entire tract of land near Fuyuki.

By the eve of the Third Holy Grail War, the homunculi had directly airlifted an entire castle from Germany to Japan.

Merely investigating the history of this structure offered a glimpse into the homunculi's astonishing financial power and deep obsession.

After sixty years, the castle now welcomed its master once more, becoming the residence of Irisviel and her Servant.

"What's wrong, Irisviel?"

Saber noticed her Master's shoulders tremble slightly.

"There's an intruder."