Dating Caster

Saber glanced back at the unconscious Emiya Kiritsugu in the backseat:

"Given Kiritsugu's current condition... it would be better to minimize the jolting."

"Eh, is that so?"

After hearing Saber's words, Irisviel said with a troubled expression, "But I don't know how to drive slowly."

"..."

Hearing Irisviel's words, Saber fell silent for a moment before saying:

"Then let me take the wheel." After all, as a Servant, Saber possessed the Riding skill; these vehicles were no problem for her at all.

"Eh... alright then."

Saber, now in the driver's seat, asked Irisviel:

"Do we have any other bases here?"

After all, the Einzbern Castle could no longer be used as a refuge. What happened tonight could not be hidden from the other Masters, and it would be troublesome if others came to "visit" at any moment.

"Kiritsugu once told me there was a Japanese-style house over in Miyama Town."

Irisviel said to Saber.

"Understood, let's head there first."

With that, the silver car started up again and drove steadily toward Miyama Town.

Setting aside the situation with Saber's group.

After seeing Saber turn and leave, Lancer naturally would not ambush an unguarded opponent. Instead, as if realizing something, he sped off toward the Einzbern Castle.

On the way, he happened to encounter Irisviel, who had already reunited with Saber.

However, Lancer had no time to spare for them; through the connection of the Command Spell, Lancer could vaguely sense his Master's furious emotions...

When Lancer arrived at the Einzbern Castle, he happened to see Kayneth walking out of the structure, which had essentially been reduced to ruins.

Kayneth had no wounds on his body; he was merely covered in dust and grime.

Seeing this, Lancer couldn't help but heave a sigh of relief.

Fortunately—

"Lancer..."

Lancer, having arrived before Kayneth, was just about to report on the battle when he suddenly heard Kayneth's eerie voice.

"My Lord?"

Sensing that something was wrong with Kayneth's mood, Lancer looked up, only to find Kayneth's irrepressible rage.

"Why didn't you intercept that woman?"

That woman?

Lancer suddenly thought of the silver-haired woman who had driven away before he began his duel with Saber.

"My Lord, I once swore..."

Lancer knelt on one knee, just about to explain, when he heard Kayneth's angry shout:

"Shut your mouth!"

Immediately following—

With a loud crash, the Volumen Hydrargyrum that always accompanied Kayneth transformed into a whip and lashed fiercely at the ground beside Lancer.

The impact sent dirt and debris flying everywhere.

"..."

Looking at the silent Lancer kneeling before him, Kayneth's eyes were filled with infinite disappointment... and regret.

Just a little bit more—

He had been just a hair's breadth away from slaying Saber's Master right there.

Kayneth's plan this time had been nothing if not thorough. After learning of Emiya Kiritsugu's trump card from Wang Xiaoming, he first used familiars to lock onto his location, then went to challenge him while Saber and Irisviel were out.

He then had Lancer intercept Saber and Irisviel on the road. If Lancer could kill Saber, that would be for the best; even if he couldn't, stalling them would have been enough.

Kayneth, who had stopped relying on the Volumen Hydrargyrum and instead used his own magecraft to corner Emiya Kiritsugu, had never expected Emiya Kiritsugu to have a grenade hidden nearby.

Although protected by his Mystic Code, Kayneth, still left covered in dust and grime, watched Emiya Kiritsugu's retreating back, determined to wash away this stain with his blood.

He just hadn't expected...

When Kayneth chased Emiya Kiritsugu out of the Einzbern Castle and saw that woman pick up Emiya Kiritsugu in the car, one could only imagine the mood of Kayneth, who was left eating her exhaust fumes.

But it was too late to say anything now—

Taking a deep breath, Kayneth walked forward without another word.

He left behind the still-silent Lancer and the Einzbern Castle, which had been largely destroyed by Kayneth's venting of his rage.

When Kayneth returned to the Matou House, he was greeted by Wang Xiaoming, who had been waiting in the living room for news, Medea, who was constantly by his side, and Sola, who was waiting for news from someone, though it was unclear who.

As for Kariya, after finishing dinner, he had volunteered for the role of nanny to coax the two children to sleep.

"So, in order to uphold your chivalry, Lancer, you let the Einzbern participant go, which resulted in you failing to kill Emiya Kiritsugu."

Wang Xiaoming's incisive summary left Kayneth quite depressed and left Lancer, standing to the side, unable to find a retort.

Honestly, it's a miracle you came back safely; I never expected you to take him out anyway.

Although he grumbled inwardly, Wang Xiaoming decided it was better not to mention it, considering Kayneth's current mood.

"My Lord, I..."

It seemed he wanted to explain himself to Kayneth, but Lancer was interrupted before he could finish.

"Enough. I don't want to hear any more of your ridiculous excuses!"

With that, Kayneth rose from his seat, cast a deep look at Lancer, and turned to walk toward his room.

"Chivalry, hah—"

Wang Xiaoming shrugged and signaled to Medea, and the two of them walked back to their own room.

The living room was left with only the helpless Lancer watching his master's retreating back, and Sola, who stood to the side not knowing what to say.

After watching the scene play out in the living room, Wang Xiaoming and Medea went straight back to their room.

It must be said that Kariya was truly grateful to Wang Xiaoming's side, as even the room he arranged for them was among the best in the Matou House.

It was a suite that even included a desk, which faced the window; at night, one only had to look up to see the bright moon hanging in the sky.

Come to think of it, tonight was a full moon.

However, Wang Xiaoming had no time to appreciate the moonlight at this moment.

Wang Xiaoming sat at the desk, leaning back and putting all his weight on the chair behind him, staring at the bright full moon in the sky in silence.

It's all a mess, everything is a mess—

If things had followed Wang Xiaoming's memories, the result of Kayneth's night raid on the Einzbern Castle should have been him returning heavily wounded.

Although there was the reason that Wang Xiaoming had leaked information, in the end, he had only done so to ensure his own survival in this Holy Grail War.

So, my influence has unknowingly reached the point where it can alter the trajectory of this war.

While feeling a sense of self-satisfaction, Wang Xiaoming suddenly thought of a question:

If Emiya Kiritsugu's trump card was the Origin Bullet, then his own trump card must be the memories of the future in his head. But what if the future [plot] no longer unfolds according to his memories...

Thinking of the man who had been heavily wounded tonight, a vague fear of the future began to sprout in the depths of Wang Xiaoming's heart.

He sighed in distress, his chaotic thoughts constantly assailing him, making him feel miserable.

"What are you thinking about?"

Suddenly, Medea's voice rang out by Wang Xiaoming's ear, followed by a cool sensation pressing against his temples on both sides.

Medea was currently standing behind Wang Xiaoming, using her slender hands to massage his temples.

"Uh..."

Wang Xiaoming, who had never expected Medea to lean over to help him relieve stress, froze for a second before coming to his senses, only to be surprised to find that his troubled thoughts seemed to be dissipating and his mind was gradually clearing.

"It's just a little bit of magecraft."

Although Medea said this, her hands did not stop their movements. At this moment, she suddenly thought of a question:

Come to think of it, when was the last time she did this for another man?

Was it when her father, the King of Colchis, was troubled by official business?

Or was it when that man... was exhausted from fleeing for his life while being hunted?

"..."

The strange atmosphere made Wang Xiaoming hesitate, and he subconsciously wanted to turn his head to look at Medea behind him.

"Don't move!"

The somewhat cold tone from Medea behind him made Wang Xiaoming stop his movement.

However, to Wang Xiaoming, it sounded more like... embarrassment at having her thoughts exposed?

The atmosphere between the two fell into silence once again, and Wang Xiaoming felt a bit of surprise at the change in Medea.

"What were you worrying about just now?"

Medea's question from just a moment ago echoed in Wang Xiaoming's ears once more, though the tone sounded significantly stiffer than before.

"...My memories have deviated, or perhaps taken a turn."

After a moment of silence, Wang Xiaoming opened the floodgates.

"The original outcome for tonight was that Kayneth would launch an attack on the Einzbern stronghold and return severely wounded, but after I revealed Emiya Kiritsugu's trump card to him... well, you've seen the results today."

With the floodgates open, Wang Xiaoming faced the woman who had guessed his origins, seemingly wanting to pour out all the secrets pent up in his heart in one go.

Medea pursed her lips, patiently listening to the man who stood with his back to her.

He always acted so carefree, yet it seemed he had plenty of worries of his own.

"If everything that happens from here on out deviates from my memories, then what is the point of all my planning?"

After finishing everything he had been holding inside in one breath, Wang Xiaoming let out a long sigh.

Humans are creatures who seem to dislike bearing a secret alone; if there is someone else to help share the burden, they feel much lighter.

Selfish and realistic.

"Are you finished?"

Medea's ethereal voice drifted into Wang Xiaoming's ears.

"I'm finished..."

Wang Xiaoming scratched his cheek, feeling a bit embarrassed by his loss of composure.

"You really are..."

As Medea took her hand away from Wang Xiaoming's temple, he felt a vague sense of loss, but her next action caught him by surprise.