Cassandra and... (One Update Owed)

A cool night breeze has begun to blow.

Even though Fuyuki aren't usually very cold, this one has a chill that's quite different from usual.

"But it gets dark so quickly."

As if someone had pressed the fast-forward button, the entire city was enveloped in night in the blink of an eye. Sakura looked up at the sky and found that even the bright moon was now covered by a thick layer of clouds.

However, the lights that had come into view in the distance gave Sakura a sense of reassurance.

Sakura, who had subconsciously quickened her pace to reach the mansion, hadn't taken two steps when she suddenly noticed a figure appear in front of her!

"Oh?"

At that moment, a girl who was lounging in her Tohsaka Residence, enjoying the night view, seemed to sense something and turned her gaze towards a certain spot outside the window—

Looks like mice are coming!

A hint of interest curved the corners of the girl's mouth.

"Heave-ho!"

The girl leaped up from her seat and gave a deep yawn.

"Now it's time for the goddess to make her appearance!"

Using the dim light from the streetlights on both sides of the road, Sakura noticed a dark, shadowy object leaning against the wall of the street not far in front of her.

However, due to the light and distance, Sakura couldn't see what the "shadow" was.

Who's there?

Sakura, already on guard, asked the dark figure a question, but received no answer.

Moreover, with the cool night breeze, Sakura suddenly smelled a strong stench of blood.

Are you injured?

Looking at the almost motionless dark figure in front of her, Sakura felt conflicted.

Logically, I should have ignored everything and gone straight to the Tohsaka Residence, but--

A figure suddenly flashed into Sakura's mind... If it were her brother, what would he do?

The answer is self-evident.

After taking a few steps forward, Sakura quickened her pace as she noticed the increasingly strong smell of blood.

Upon closer inspection, Sakura realized that the so-called "shadow" was actually a young girl. Although she was completely shrouded in a black robe, it still couldn't completely conceal her distinct gender characteristics.

"Excuse me..."

Before Sakura could even ask a question, the other person made a move first—

"... Can you help me?"

As if enduring some immense pain, the girl's voice was suppressed and weak.

Seeing this, Sakura disregarded everything else and immediately knelt beside the girl, gently pulling open the girl's black robe. Then, a large wound on the girl's abdomen came into Sakura's view.

Please be patient.

Recalling the healing Magecraft Lily had taught him, he felt it was perfectly suited to handle this situation.

After the magical light faded, the wound on the girl's abdomen healed as if watching a movie replay. Without anyone touching it, it healed completely, leaving no trace.

"Magecraft?"

After her wounds healed, the girl opened her eyes and saw Sakura.

The girl's tone was much calmer than before, but it still carried a hint of weakness, indicating that the pain from her wounds had not completely subsided.

"Hmm, you must be Servant, right?"

Sakura nodded, then asked the other person.

Although she looked no different from an ordinary person, Sakura could still sense a fairly solid magical power emanating from the girl, but this magical power was dissipating at an alarming rate.

"Yes, just a Servant has lost their Master."

After hearing Sakura's question, the girl answered gently.

For Servant, the significance of Master goes beyond simply providing magical energy; they serve as the "possession" through which Servant remain in the world. If Servant loses their Master, it can essentially be said that they have exited the Holy Grail War.

Unless a suitable Master is found before leaving the stage--

"That..."

After seeing the questioning look from Sakura, the girl hesitated for a moment before shaking her head.

"It's nothing. Can you tell me your name?"

"Matou Sakura."

"Matou... Sakura..."

He murmured the name softly once, then gave Sakura a smile;

"Thank you for your help, Sakura."

"You..."

Sakura suddenly noticed that faint golden spiritual particles were emanating from the girl's right fingertips.

"Don't worry, I was just a wandering soul. I'm simply returning to where I came from."

Seeing Sakura hesitate to speak, the girl stretched out her right hand and waved it in front of Sakura's eyes as if to comfort her.

"I can--"

"No need~"

The girl interrupted Sakura before she could finish speaking.

"Although I had this thought before, the Holy Grail War is far too dangerous for a girl like you. If my brother knew I was doing this, he would definitely give me a good scolding."

"Brother? Is he a very capable person?"

Seeing the girl's nostalgic expression, Sakura couldn't help but feel curious.

"That's right. My brother is an upright and reliable hero."

"That--"

"Alright, stop wasting time."

The girl, who saw through Sakura's little scheme, gently patted her hand and gave her some advice like an elder.

"Even if you stay here with me, Sakura, it won't make any difference. I'll be leaving sooner or later anyway. But meeting you before I leave is a nice memory for me. Now, let's go back quickly. This place isn't safe."

"That's right."

As if in agreement with the girl's words, a dazzling golden light flashed before the two of them.

The sound and the light caused the girl's body to stiffen instantly.

How... did you find this place?

As if encountering a natural enemy, the girl's voice unconsciously carried a hint of fear.

How did you find this place?

The newcomer burst into laughter as if he had heard a joke.

"Are you trying to say you have the protection of Athena? If the opponent were someone else, they might have been fooled by you."

But have you forgotten that it was I who led the army to conquer Troy, and it was I who personally dragged you from the temple of Athena?

My dear Cassandra! [Note 1]

It's like a satellite landing (probably).

As for Servant cards... I'll release them when I have time this weekend.

Chapter 392. Cassandra and... (One chapter owed)

"Indeed, with Athena's protection, you can evade most pursuits... But have you forgotten, my dear Cassandra— "

The man, emerging from the golden light, was clad in golden armor and his face was covered in golden patterns. He shone like a large, walking piece of gold, even under the dim streetlights.

His flamboyant behavior, like the ornaments on his body, loudly boasted of his achievements.

"Back then, it was I who led that unparalleled army to conquer Troy, and it was I who led the men to find you in the temple of Athena."

Therefore, your pitiful protection is utterly meaningless to me! Besides—

"God never favored Troy!" [Note 1]

Cassandra, Troy...

This statement, which contained a great deal of information, made Sakura, who was standing next to her, seem thoughtful.

Thanks to her uncle, Sakura had some knowledge of Greece mythology. After listening to what the man said, Sakura had a rough idea of the identity of the girl beside her.

Cassandra, the most beautiful daughter of Priam, King of Troy.

Because of Apollo's favor, he became his priest and gained the ability to prophesy, but because he resisted Apollo, he was cursed that "prophecies will not be believed."

According to legend, after the deaths of Hector and Achilles, both Troy and Greece lost generals who could determine the course of the battle.

The war thus reached a stalemate, with the two armies continuing to engage in battles, but neither side was able to achieve a decisive victory.

But neither side could find the final straw that would break the camel's back.

Until the enormous wooden horse appeared outside the city of Troy, it became the final straw that broke Troy's back.

Although Cassandra had warned the people of Troy from the beginning that the Trojan Horse would bring destruction to Troy, Human Order her prophecy because of Apollo's curse.

Ultimately, the city was destroyed.

The ten-year Trojan War came to an end. The victorious Greece chose to plunder the city, and as a prisoner, Cassandra, of royal lineage, met a predictable fate...

So, according to this man's previous statement, he should be a general in the Greece coalition forces.

"Agamemnon!" [Note 2]

The girl—no, it should be Cassandra —was glaring angrily at the burly man before her, but the fear deep in her eyes did not escape his notice.

Are you afraid of me?

The man named Agamemnon wore a mocking expression.

It was impossible not to be afraid. Having been captured by Agamemnon after the Trojan War, Cassandra knew all too well the cruelty and wickedness of the man before her.

Even so--

"Agamemnon, if you wish to plunder the spoils, then I am right here! But this child is innocent, and you have no reason to harm her!"

"How familiar this folly is, my dear Cassandra."

Cassandra's words elicited a look of pity from Agamemnon.

"But that makes sense. If it weren't for the Troy's ignorance, how could we have ended that long war so easily?"

"If my brother hadn't died young, how could your foolish scheme have succeeded?!"

"Hector? Indeed, if he were still alive, he might have easily seen through the Trojan Horse. But—"

Upon hearing Cassandra's reply, Agamemnon's lips curled slightly. But the next second, an even more wicked smile spread across his face.

"But--

So what?

Whether it was Hector or that demigod brute, they both died in the war. In the end, only I, Agamemnon, triumphed in that war!

"..."

Seeing Agamemnon's almost arrogant face, Sakura frowned slightly. Just as she was thinking about how to inform her brothers, a voice suddenly entered her consciousness—