Red Branch Knights

# Chapter 45 〈Red Branch Knights〉

"Say, kid, how about forming a contract with me?"

When those words left Caster's mouth and reached Luo Zhen's ears, Luo Zhen almost didn't react.

"A contract?"

Mashu and Olga Marie were similarly stunned for a moment, then surprised.

Only Caster, who had brought up the matter, remained composed.

"This Holy Grail War is just too abnormal. Not only have all the Servants become abnormal, but even the rules have become abnormal. The defeated are revived, and the 〈Holy Grail〉 has even fallen into Saber's hands beforehand. Logically speaking, that one shouldn't need to fight anymore."

After all, the reason Masters and Servants participate in the Holy Grail War is to obtain the 〈Holy Grail〉, a wish-granting device.

Now that Saber has already obtained the 〈Holy Grail〉, there shouldn't be any need to provoke the Holy Grail War any further.

This made Luo Zhen faintly realize.

(Perhaps that 〈Holy Grail〉 is the source of everything.)

The abnormalities in Fuyuki City, the appearance of the Singularity, are likely all because Saber obtained it ahead of time.

Otherwise, the Holy Grail War wouldn't have become like this, and Chaldea's records would definitely have a report about this.

But in Chaldea's records, although the final victor of this Holy Grail War was indeed Saber's Servant, there was no record of it obtaining the 〈Holy Grail〉 beforehand.

(The order of events is reversed, and that's the fundamental reason why history has become distorted, and the Singularity has formed.)

So, the question is.

How exactly did Saber obtain the 〈Holy Grail〉?

In the Holy Grail War in Fuyuki City, the 〈Holy Grail〉, as a trophy, only descends when only one Master and Servant pair remains.

Before the ritual called 〈Holy Grail War〉 is over, the 〈Holy Grail〉 will absolutely not take shape, let alone descend ahead of time.

In other words, the 〈Holy Grail〉 in Saber's hands isn't the one that must be completed in the grand ritual of the Holy Grail War.

(A 〈Holy Grail〉 that doesn't belong here ended up in Saber's hands, and that's what caused all of this.)

If that's the case, the second question arises.

Where did this 〈Holy Grail〉 come from?

Luo Zhen felt that he had grasped a clue leading to the truth.

Which is to say...

"Although I don't know where you came from, Master, or why you have a Servant who wasn't summoned by the Holy Grail War, your goal should also be the 〈Holy Grail〉, right?"

Caster smiled, as if seeing through what Luo Zhen was thinking.

"If that's the case, then your goal is the same as mine."

Just as Caster said.

If all the abnormalities are due to the appearance of a 〈Holy Grail〉 that doesn't belong here, then Luo Zhen must obtain that 〈Holy Grail〉 in order to eliminate the distortions of this era, re-establish the foundation of human history, correct the entire Singularity, and restore human history to normal.

But the 〈Holy Grail〉 is in Saber's hands.

If he wants to obtain the 〈Holy Grail〉, he will inevitably have to fight Saber.

Caster clearly didn't know these things, but he keenly sensed Luo Zhen's next goal.

"My goal is also to defeat Saber." Caster said, "So, joining forces with me shouldn't be a bad thing, right?"

Hearing this, Luo Zhen put it aside for the moment, but Olga Marie crossed her arms.

"I see, you want to borrow our strength to defeat Saber?"

That's what Olga Marie thought.

The opponent is a Servant who can even defeat Berserker, who possesses a Noble Phantasm.

With Caster's power alone, facing Saber alone, there's simply no chance of winning.

Not to mention, Saber isn't alone either.

"Those blackened Servants are running rampant in this city, but Archer is in league with Saber."

Caster didn't hide its thoughts.

"Dealing with Saber alone is already difficult enough, not to mention having to face that insidious guy. It's also very difficult for me."

In this situation, Luo Zhen's appearance is indeed the last hope for Caster.

As long as he forms a contract with Luo Zhen, he can not only obtain the magical energy provided by the Master to strengthen his own strength, but also join forces with Mashu to obtain sufficient manpower to challenge Saber and Archer. That's the reason Caster proposed the contract.

"Of course, it's just a temporary contract."

Caster said such words.

The so-called temporary contract, as the name suggests, is a contract formed temporarily, with a time limit. Once the purpose of the contract is achieved, the contract will automatically disappear.

The contract between Luo Zhen and Mashu is a formal contract. Even Mashu herself cannot break it, unless the Command Seal representing the contract is peeled off from Luo Zhen, or the contract is discarded by means of dissolving the contract. Otherwise, until Chaldea's Heroic Spirit Summoning system stops operating or runs out of magical energy, this contract will be permanently valid.

Generally speaking, the contracts formed between Masters and Servants are formal contracts, and even the contracts between Magus and Familiars are of this type.

As for temporary contracts, those mostly appear in places of trade.

Incidentally, the Familiars summoned by Luo Zhen were etched into his soul due to the Miracle, belonging to another category.

As long as Luo Zhen's soul does not perish, they will always be used by Luo Zhen, absolutely obedient, and will never truly die.

This has surpassed the scope of a contract, reaching another level that can be called an Absolute Contract.

This is a contract method that belongs only to Luo Zhen and cannot be copied or imitated.

And Luo Zhen can also independently conclude this kind of absolute contract.

At the beginning, Luo Zhen wanted to use this method to form a contract with Mashu and engrave Mashu into his soul.

In this way, even if Mashu died, Luo Zhen could summon her by consuming magical power, and she could also pass through the gate of the Otherworld.

Of course, this kind of contract cannot be concluded at any time and also has limitations, but that's another story.

In short, now Caster just wants to conclude a temporary contract and fight alongside Luo Zhen until Saber is defeated.

"You don't have to worry about me betraying you. Even with a temporary contract, you can still use a Command Seal to restrain me. With such mandatory command authority, my credibility is much greater, right?"

Caster extended a hand towards Luo Zhen, their eyes fixed on him.

"My purpose is to end this abnormal Holy Grail War."

"And your purpose is to recover the Holy Grail."

"How about we achieve our wishes together in this Holy Grail War?"

An all-encompassing expression appeared on Caster's face.

Anyone who saw this fearless expression would be involuntarily drawn to the confidence of this Heroic Spirit.

To this, Luo Zhen had only one question.

"What is your true name?"

This was Luo Zhen's last question.

Likewise, it was the most important secret of a Heroic Spirit.

But Caster spoke it out.

"My name is Cu Chulainn, a member of the Irish Red Branch Knights."

The Servant, who had revealed their true name, grinned.

"Pleased to meet you, Master."

Hearing this, Luo Zhen also smiled.

Immediately, Luo Zhen reached out and shook the hand of the Servant in front of him.