Dating Caster

"Saber, I won't hold back just because you're injured."

Lancer's teasing remark made Saber sneer:

"Then once I achieve victory, I shall wash away this curse with your blood!"

"Then that is truly... exactly what I desire!"

Lancer took his stance with the Two-Colored Roses, his expression radiating boundless fighting spirit.

Saber stepped forward with a sudden, violent force!

The battle between the two was on the verge of erupting!

A bit late—

I'm truly sorry for wandering off until now...

Chapter 40. Rematch!

The evening breeze blew, yet the fighting spirit radiating from the two seemed capable of turning this cool air into something scorching. As the scent of gunpowder grew heavier, it felt as if both were waiting for a fuse to ignite this suffocating, tense atmosphere.

"Saber, believe it or not, I am glad that you are my opponent right now."

Even though they were in the midst of battle, Lancer's smile remained refreshing.

Whether it was her performance in the warehouse district or her decision to let the woman leave first just moments ago, every action aligned with the chivalry in Lancer's heart. Furthermore—

This Saber before him was the most communicative opponent he had encountered in this Holy Grail War. His satisfaction with his adversary filled him with anticipation for this fight.

"As an opponent, I am honored."

As Saber spoke, the Invisible Air wrapping her golden holy sword quietly dissipated. The previous battle had already proven that when facing the red magic spear in Lancer's hand, Invisible Air was nothing more than a futile effort.

As if a signal had been given, both stepped forward at almost the exact same time!

A fierce battle was about to break out; this was both a recreation of the duel from two days ago in the warehouse district and a more intense, direct confrontation than the last!

Neither side resorted to probing tricks anymore, for the battle two days ago had given them enough understanding of their opponent!

Close-quarters combat—

This was the strategy Saber had decided upon before the fight. As a Lancer-class servant, Lancer would always be at a slight disadvantage in melee combat, given the nature of his weapon...

Thus, Saber took the initiative, rapidly closing in on Lancer and swinging a lethal blow toward his wide-open chest, intending to end the fight quickly.

However, Saber seemed to have forgotten one thing—

The Lancer before her—Diarmuid Ua Duibhne, the foremost warrior of the Fianna Knights—though summoned under the Lancer class, was a hero from the same Celtic Mythology as King Arthur. More famous than his spear technique was—

His swordsmanship.

Instantly seeing through Saber's intent, Lancer raised his red long spear...

In an instant, blades clashed, and sparks flew everywhere!

The long spear in Lancer's hand easily deflected the pressure from the holy sword. Seeing this, Saber could only grit her teeth and continue her assault, knowing that if she stopped, she would be the one to fall into a disadvantage!

Lancer did not show weakness either; under his command, the weapon in his hand displayed the true essence of a spear to the fullest.

The holy sword and the magic spear entangled, clashing head-on, the sparks flying in a dazzling display. Driven by strength and speed far exceeding that of humans, these legendary treasures collided at speeds breaking the sound barrier. Observation had lost all meaning; at this critical moment of fierce combat, they were engaged in a supreme contest of god-like skills.

Lancer seemed incredibly happy. Even though Saber's left hand was sealed, her strength was unexpectedly formidable. This caused the blood of the Celtic warrior to begin to boil.

It was unknown how many rounds had passed—perhaps dozens, perhaps hundreds. It was impossible to judge with the naked eye. After their spear and sword crossed, as if receiving some signal, they simultaneously pulled back a distance.

"Lancer... you..."

There was a hint of realization in Saber's tone.

Because her left wrist had been sealed by Lancer's Yellow Rose earlier, Saber had been guarding against the yellow magic spear in Lancer's left hand all night. If she were to be pierced by that short spear again, the consequences would be unimaginable!

But—

The more she paid attention, the more Saber felt that Lancer's spear technique tonight was somewhat off compared to before.

He had been using the Red Rose in his right hand for his main attacks, while the Yellow Rose in his left hand had remained motionless; even when used occasionally, it was only for parrying.

"So you noticed."

After Saber pointed it out, Lancer revealed a wry smile.

Facing an opponent who was already at a disadvantage, Lancer, as a knight, had said he wouldn't hold back, yet he had made no moves to target Saber's injured left wrist. He hadn't even continued to use the Yellow Rose.

However, this nobility that commanded such respect was, to Saber, a great irony.

Yet, her anger did not burn away Saber's reason; at the very least, she could still distinguish the current situation—to weaken the enemy as much as possible to increase her odds of winning the duel.

This was the only thought in Saber's mind at this moment.

"If you think this victory is already in your pocket, then you are too naive, Lancer!"

With that, Saber charged toward Lancer.

The sound of spear and sword clashing rang out once more, filling the empty, deserted national highway.

On the national highway leading from Fuyuki to the suburbs, two figures were locked in an incessant, fierce battle.

Even though both were merely cold weapons, they unleashed power far more terrifying than modern firearms. Looking at the surrounding environment, which had been ravaged by the mere stray shockwaves of their battle—

The area around the two was already littered with rubble and the wreckage of public facilities; how could one even recognize its former appearance?

"Saber, you're reaching your limit, aren't you?"

In the midst of the scorching battle, Lancer actually had the leisure to pay attention to Saber's condition.

"The same could be said for you."

Even knowing that Lancer was deliberately trying to disturb her focus, how could Saber show any weakness?

"Heh—"

Lancer chuckled, the momentum of the spear in his hand growing increasingly fierce. Saber gritted her teeth and held on as the pressure surged.

"Just talking big won't get you anywhere, Saber!"

Seeing Saber's grave expression, Lancer said this, but he was secretly growing vigilant. Having experienced countless battlefields, he understood that an enemy was most terrifying during their final, desperate counterattack.

But if Saber had no other trump cards—

Then taking her life was merely a matter of time.

However, fate always loves to play a joke.

The battle between the two came to an abrupt halt, as if a rest had been marked on a musical score.

The two Heroic Spirits stopped mid-clash, turning their gazes toward the direction of Einzbern Castle.

"You noticed it too, Lancer." Saber frowned.

"Indeed—"

Lancer replied, "It seems it is not yet time for us to decide the victor."

Judging by the aura, something seemed to have happened to his master, and by the looks of it, a crisis had emerged on Saber's side as well.

"Shall we continue?"

Saber frowned. Due to the connection through the Command Spell, she had suddenly felt Emiya Kiritsugu's life signs become extremely faint.

Lancer fell into hesitation. The order he had received was to kill Saber, but his own master...

The loyal knight was caught in a dilemma.

"Apologies, my master requires me."

Without waiting for Lancer to make a decision, Saber had already turned and leaped into the night, rushing toward Einzbern Castle at top speed.

There was no time to hesitate.

Judging by the way the magical energy supply had almost been cut off just now, Emiya Kiritsugu's condition must be dire.

Before Saber had gone very far, she suddenly heard the sound of tires screeching against the road echoing through the highway, growing closer by the second.

"Iris—"

Rushing toward the source of the sound, Saber soon saw a silver-white "beast" drifting along the winding road.

The Mercedes' headlights shone onto Saber.

Screech—

The inertia of the car body was countered by the friction of the tires, the emergency braking performance pushed to its absolute limit.

"Saber!"

Irisviel, stepping out from the driver's seat, seemed to have found her backbone, her panicked expression calming slightly.

"Where is Kiritsugu?"

Saber asked about the whereabouts of her master.

"Kiritsugu is here."

After Irisviel opened the rear car door, Saber discovered her master—Emiya Kiritsugu—lying on the seat with his eyes tightly shut. If not for the slight rise and fall of his chest, one might have mistaken him for a dead man!

Emiya Kiritsugu—

Severely injured!

Book recommendation, book recommendation~ Not a trade.

A new book, gender-bender series. The author seems to be a newcomer, and as a fellow newcomer, I naturally have to support them~

Snow White Has a Strange Stepmother

Synopsis: [Whoever calls me Snow White again, I'll kill them!] Snow White: My stepmother has been looking at me strangely lately. What should I do? Urgent, waiting online!

[Snow White's Dear Stepmother] Audelia: (Wiping nosebleed) Lie down on the bed and wait for her.

Snow White, who will likely be a legal loli for the rest of her life.

A Queen who harbors ill intentions in every sense toward the cute daughter born to her husband's ex-wife.

This is a story about the two of them, with ten thousand words omitted in between.

That's all~ Goodnight~

"Saber, what's wrong?"

Sitting back in the driver's seat, Irisviel noticed Saber suddenly casting her gaze outside the window and asked with concern.

"It's nothing, Lancer just passed by us a moment ago."

Saber shook her head to indicate it was nothing, then asked Irisviel about what had happened earlier:

"By the way, Iris, what did you see when you went back just now?"

"I had just driven up to the Einzbern castle when I saw Kiritsugu stumbling out, and he fainted the moment he saw me."

Irisviel started the car as she recalled the situation:

"After I used healing magecraft to temporarily stabilize his injuries, I helped him into the car and drove back here."

"I see..."

Saber fell into deep thought after hearing Irisviel's answer—

It seemed that the target of Lancer's master wasn't her from the beginning; arranging for Lancer to intercept her here was likely just to stall for time.

Vroom—

The engine of the Mercedes-Benz 300SL let out a low roar, interrupting Saber's train of thought.

"Uh... Iris..."

"What is it?"

Irisviel looked at Saber, who was hesitating in the passenger seat.

"Could you please drive a little slower?"