Dating Caster

"As an ally, he is indeed an exceptionally outstanding one. Although I do not know the source of his intelligence, every piece has proven to be accurate upon verification. However..."

"--What comes next?"

Kayneth's tone sounded as if he were asking Lancer, yet also as if he were speaking to himself:

"If we continue to act according to his plans, then in the end, the one to claim the Holy Grail will surely be one of our two parties. But what if he provides us with false intelligence halfway through?"

"..."

Lancer looked up in surprise.

"The so-called Geis is merely a means for magi to comfort themselves; those with intent can naturally find countless loopholes to exploit. If Archer is truly removed, the greatest benefit will naturally fall to the Caster pair."

The cool night breeze blew through the dense forest, causing the leaves to rustle. The Heroic Spirit of the spear, who should not have felt the chill, felt a coldness deep in his heart at this moment.

"Although this will not happen for the time being, we must seize our own initiative and prepare in advance for the coming battle."

Kayneth cast his gaze toward Lancer before him:

"So Lancer, if you still wish to persist in that so-called chivalry..."

Kayneth had originally decided to take a step back, intending to give Lancer a warning to prepare him in advance, but he had not expected—

"I am willing to be the blade for my master; I am willing to hack through thorns and brambles for my master!"

Hearing Lancer's resolute voice, Kayneth raised an eyebrow in surprise, but after a soft snort, he said nothing more and turned to walk deeper into the dense forest.

On the other side of the Tohsaka residence, a hunched figure forcibly suppressed the restlessness in his heart and looked up at the sky.

"Has he not come yet..."

Matou Kariya, who had been waiting at the agreed-upon location for a long time, suddenly sneered:

"No, he shouldn't be coming at all."

Matou Kariya held not a shred of affection in his heart for this group of magi. Since there were no helpers, then...

[Although war always demands sacrifices, as a friend I have just met, I still hope you can return alive.]

"..."

[Uncle Kariya]

"..."

The instructions of a friend and the smiling face of Sakura suddenly appeared in his mind.

His restless and uneasy mood gradually dissipated. Glancing hatefully at the building not far away, Kariya took out the communicator specially crafted by Medea that Wang Xiaoming had given him.

[There is a situation on the Matou side--]

On Fuyuki Bridge, while Wang Xiaoming was observing these Heroic Spirits clinking glasses, Medea's message suddenly rang in his heart.

Wang Xiaoming was slightly startled. On the surface, he remained calm, but he asked Medea in his heart, [What is going on?]

At this moment, Wang Xiaoming suddenly recalled the back he had felt vaguely uneasy about earlier...

[It is Lancer's master. Lancer's master did not go to rendezvous with Matou.]

Medea relayed the situation Kariya had encountered.

As expected--

[Contact Kayneth!]

Wang Xiaoming frowned, his voice even becoming more urgent as he urged her.

"Hmm? Caster's master, what is the matter?"

There was not a single ordinary person present; how could Wang Xiaoming's subtle change in expression escape their eyes? Rider asked after setting down his wine glass.

"Mongrel, you have quite the nerve, being lost in a daze while having the fortune to listen to the voice of a king." Archer's mocking tone carried a trace of anger. Even Saber, standing to the side, could not help but frown at Wang Xiaoming's behavior.

"My apologies for being distracted. I shall punish myself with a drink!"

Wang Xiaoming poured the red wine in his cup straight down his throat.

Although the alcohol content was not high, his attitude had been displayed, and the magnanimity of the kings did not lead them to dwell on the matter. Meanwhile, Wang Xiaoming was waiting for a response from Kayneth's side.

"Hmm?"

Kayneth, who was heading toward his destination, suddenly noticed a sound coming from his person. He reached out and took it out to look.

--It was the communicator Wang Xiaoming had shoved into his hand earlier.

Looking at the urgent red light flashing on the communicator, Kayneth gave a mocking laugh, tossed it casually onto the side of the forest path, and walked straight away.

The continuously blinking light point subsequently disappeared into the depths of the dense forest, and Kayneth's figure gradually moved further away.

After a long while--

[No answer.]

The attitude from Kayneth's side made Wang Xiaoming's heart sink halfway, and at the same time, he understood:

It seemed that the previous agreement was merely for show; Kayneth must have already had his own plans in mind long ago...

But if Kayneth was not there, the premise of this mission no longer existed. Was he supposed to let Matou Kariya face Tohsaka Tokiomi and Archer all by himself?

--That was suicide!

But...

Should he pull him back?

"..."

[Tell Kariya to terminate... no, forget it, can you let me speak to him directly?]

Conveying his thoughts through the contract of the Command Spell and then transmitting them to Kariya's ears via Medea's magecraft—this was a [technique] that only a Witch from the Age of Gods could achieve.

"Terminate the plan..."

Upon receiving the message from his friend, Kariya could not help but smile bitterly.

Such simple and ordinary words. Even though he understood what Wang Xiaoming meant, it wouldn't matter even if this plan failed.

[Yes, Tohsaka Tokiomi will definitely die, I can guarantee you that.]

"But that is not what I want."

Kariya's simple sentence left Wang Xiaoming speechless.

"Ming-kun, just as I said, war is always accompanied by sacrifice. Although we have been trying to avoid such situations, things do not always develop the way we imagine."

Kariya's tone was calm and carried a sense of comfort:

"You have already done enough, it's just that I..."

The pain radiating from his body was a constant reminder that Kariya did not have long to live, or perhaps, he himself no longer wished to keep holding on.

But it was enough—

Old Worm was already dead;

Sakura had been rescued;

And—

"Ming-kun, can I entrust Sakura to you?"

[Of course.]

Wang Xiaoming made his promise with an unwavering voice.

Sakura already had a place to belong.

Then—

The life of Matou Kariya was complete, wasn't it?

It was as if some kind of shackle in his heart had been removed; Kariya felt incredibly light at this moment.

In this way, perhaps he could be a little self-willed and go do his own thing.

So, regarding his friend's suggestion, Kariya could only...

"I'm sorry..."

"I'm sorry..."

Medea transmitted the original sound of Kariya's reply faithfully into the depths of Wang Xiaoming's heart. Facing such a resolute answer from Kariya, all that remained in Wang Xiaoming's heart was a bitter smile.

Just as he had thought.

Actually, from the perspective of an ally, Wang Xiaoming had no reason to stop Kariya from fighting; he might even have encouraged him.

But as a friend—

Wang Xiaoming found it difficult to equate Kariya's life with this plan.

Although he had used similar words to retort to Lancer earlier, if he really had to weigh the benefits on the scale against the life of a friend...

Wang Xiaoming smiled bitterly. This kind of choice was truly painful; no wonder Lancer's expression had been so poor at the time.

So—

Should he go and stop Kariya?

If he utilized Medea's magecraft, it should still be in time to stop Kariya now.

But...

Wang Xiaoming suddenly thought of the determined look in Kariya's eyes before he left, and the resolute tone of his voice just now.

[What should I do?]

He subconsciously turned to ask Medea; perhaps in his subconscious, Wang Xiaoming believed that Medea could give him an answer.

[Grant his wish.]

"..."

[Unless you want Matou to die with regrets.]

Medea saw it very clearly.

The hatred Matou Kariya held for Tohsaka Tokiomi was almost the only fuel sustaining his life, which flickered like a candle in the wind.

The man beside her wasn't unable to see it, but rather unwilling to face it, and all Medea could do was help him wake up to reality.

[Is that so...]

The long silence was met with a barely audible sigh; Wang Xiaoming's tone carried a hint of dejection, or perhaps relief.

[Tell Kariya to continue with the original plan. When the time is ripe... I will do my best to help him buy time.]

[And...]

[Thank you, Medea.]

"Looking at you like that, you must have finished handling your own affairs, Master of Caster!"

Rider's boisterous voice suddenly reached Wang Xiaoming's ears.

PS: First of all, I wish everyone a Happy New Year~

The first chapter of the new year, please give me a recommendation!

I managed to rush this chapter out, but I'll probably have to skip tomorrow's update 2333.

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Please give me a recommendation!