ESF CH1-8 (Patreon)

ESF CH1-8

Chapter 1: The Girl Named Erwin**

“A person with delusions like you is not suitable for magic research, Waver.”

In a word, this was probably the most humiliating scene in Waver Velvet's 19 years of life. He would never forget the expression on his mentor, Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald's face, when he tore up the thesis Waver had spent four years compiling.

Because of this, when he learned that Kayneth was going to participate in a magic competition called the Holy Grail War held in the Far East, he began to search for information about this competition overnight. That night, holding a lamp and strolling through the library of the Clock Tower, he tried to find information about the Holy Grail War.

“Umm... Umm...”

He heard a cute girl's voice coming from the other side of the tall bookshelf not far away.

'What’s going on? It’s already this late.'

Unable to overcome his curiosity, Waver went to the end of the long bookshelf and saw a girl in a windbreaker. The white windbreaker resembled a researcher's lab coat but exuded an aristocratic aura due to its golden patterns and decorations.

Under the windbreaker, she wore a cute sweater embroidered with cat patterns and a plaid skirt, paired with knee-high socks and pretty leather boots. With her long golden hair and clean face, she easily made a good impression.

The girl was not tall—or perhaps a little short—as evidenced by her attempts to tiptoe to reach the books on the shelf, making an effort that produced audible sounds. Even so, the distance between her fingertips and the books remained considerable.

“Do you want that book? Let me get it for you.”

Unable to bear it, Waver walked forward to help the girl retrieve the book she wanted.

“Hey? Thank you.”

The girl nodded politely, and only then did Waver see her full appearance, especially her pair of blue eyes, which sparkled like sapphires and captured hearts.

“Um, which book do you want?” he asked.

“The one on the top titled The Origin of the Holy Grail War.”

“Huh?”

Her words surprised Waver, but after some thought, he realized that Kayneth's participation in the Holy Grail War was not a secret at the Clock Tower; rumors were everywhere.

'It’s normal if someone is interested.'

Thinking this, he reached for the book.

“...”

It was a bit too high.

“Hmmm…”

Standing on tiptoe still wasn’t enough.

“Ah!”

He jumped up, but it was still out of reach.

Plop.

Waver lost his balance and fell to the ground.

“Um, are you okay?”

The girl lowered her head and looked at him with sympathy.

So, in just a few days, Waver Velvet once again experienced an overly humiliating moment in his 19 years of life.

“In that case, I have a suggestion.”

The girl thought for a moment and then said.

"What’s the proposal?”

“It’s like this, um…”

“Ah, my name is Waver, Waver Velvet.”

Noticing that the girl didn’t know how to address him, Waver offered his name considerately.

“Waver… then I’ll call you Waver-san. You can call me Erwin.”

The girl, named Erwin, thought for a moment and said, “Waver-san, please kneel on the ground.”

“Huh?”

“Why are you so surprised? If you kneel on the ground and I step on you, I can reach the book, right?”

Facing the surprised Waver, the girl stated this matter-of-factly.

“Wait, wait, even so, I don’t want to be stepped on!”

“Hate shoes? Oh, it’s okay; I took them off.”

The girl smiled.

“It’s not about shoes or socks!”

“Does Waver want me to ride on your shoulders and feel the girl’s soft thighs and silky knee-high socks? Hentai!”

The girl stretched out her little paws, showing her small tiger teeth, and made a playful “super fierce” face, like a kitten with its fur standing up.

“I don’t know what is the hentai you’re talking about, but I’m angry! Really angry!”

“Hehe, Waver is really interesting.”

The girl stopped her nonsense and stuck out her tongue with a smile. Faced with such a pretty girl, Waver had to admit that it was difficult to be truly angry.

---

Finally, a ladder specially used to retrieve books from high places was found unexpectedly close.

“Thank you, Waver,” the girl said with a smile.

“Yeah, yeah.”

It was Waver’s first time talking to such a beautiful girl, and he couldn’t help but feel a little nervous and shy.

'I've been staying up late recently; my hair… isn’t messy?'

Waver thought uneasily.

“By the way, Erwin, are you interested in the Holy Grail War?”

He suddenly remembered that her purpose might also be to understand the Holy Grail War.

“Well, is Waver interested too? If possible, I hope we can communicate with each other,” Erwin nodded and said.

“I…”

Although he was embarrassed, Waver had gained little during this period.

“The so-called Holy Grail War is actually…”

As if she sensed Waver's embarrassment, Erwin began to explain the story of the Holy Grail War.

The Holy Grail War is a magical ritual in which seven Magi (Masters) summon seven Heroic Spirits (Servants) to fight each other. The winning group of Masters and Servants will obtain the Holy Grail. It’s like a battle royale.

After an unknown period of time, Waver gained a general understanding of the Holy Grail War.

“I see; if I can win the Holy Grail War, I can prove my ability!”

The more he learned about the Holy Grail War, the more excited Waver became.

“Waver-san… do you want to participate in the Holy Grail War?”

Erwin noticed Waver's expression and tilted her head in inquiry.

“Ah, of course!”

“Really? Then I’ll wish you good luck in martial arts, Waver-san.”

Erwin nodded and stood up to leave.

“Erwin-san, the book…”

Waver noticed that Erwin had forgotten to take the book from the table.

“Waver-san, take it. It seems… you need it more than I do.”

Erwin smiled and said, “After all, for Waver-san, the Holy Grail War is a bit too cruel.”

The girl turned her back to Waver and whispered as she slowly walked into the darkness.

After that, two things happened in the Clock Tower.

The holy relic carefully prepared by Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald, which was the tool used to summon Servants, was stolen.

And Waver Velvet disappeared from the Clock Tower.

The former caused quite a stir, while the latter… no one cared at all.

Just like that, after a while, Kayneth boarded a plane bound for the Far East region—Fuyuki—with his newly collected holy relics and his fiancée, Sola-Ui Nuada-Re Sophia-Ri.

---

The plane was a man-made secret room, an iron box flying thousands of meters high—a place of murder where the criminal could never escape.

The premise was: if the murderer was not a Magus.

“Hehe, it’s almost time to start.”

The girl displayed a mischievous smile.

“Wait a minute, guest… that’s where the luggage is stored…”

“Please open the door for me.”

“… Yes.”

Her blue eyes sparkled like dazzling gems, instantly captivating the heart of the flight attendant.

This was the luggage storage area in the passenger plane, filled with various magical costumes and props prepared by Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald for the Holy Grail War.

“Three dedicated magic furnaces and dozens of demons. Ah, what a big deal, worthy of being a Lord.” The girl smiled and stretched out her fingertips, touching the early warning system arranged among these ceremonial clothes.

“Huh?” On the other side, Kayneth, who was sitting in the cabin, immediately noticed that his ceremonial clothes had been touched.

“What’s wrong, Kayneth?” his fiancée, Sola, asked.

“Someone triggered my early warning Magecraft. It’s not destruction, nor is it accidental; it was triggered intentionally, as if to tell me something.” Kayeneth said unhappily.

“On the plane?”

“Humph, it looks like the Holy Grail War has begun. Well, no matter who it is, I’ll go and play with him.”

“I’ll go with you, Kayneth.”

Kayneth looked at Sola, hesitating. But soon, showing his bravery in front of his fiancée overcame the caution and prudence expected of a Magus.

“Let’s go.”

He and Sola made their way to the warehouse where the ceremonial costumes were kept, and there they saw a little girl.

She was between twelve and fourteen years old and had not yet lost her childishness; she should have been surrounded by innocence and happiness.

“Are you the one who called me over, Ms. Erwin?” Kayneth asked unhappily. He recognized the girl in front of him; she was a student who had chosen the Spiritual Evocation and Mineral Departments.

“Hello, Mr. Kayneth. Let’s save unnecessary trouble and get straight to the point—I hope to participate in this Holy Grail War. Can you please give me your seat, Mr. Kayneth?”

The girl said with a smile.

“What a pity. I wanted to make my lovely student happy. Erwin, a mortal like you should have a stable life that only belongs to mortals.”

Kayneth sighed and spoke as if he were very sorry.

“What on earth has driven you to try to take away the honor that does not belong to you? There is no other way; I will give you extracurricular tutoring on the true meaning of killing between Magi—the horror and pain of killing. I will give it to you without reservation. You should feel very honored, right?”

The Magus exuded a cold, slimy killing intent, like a poisonous snake crawling on the ground, which made people shudder.

“Yes, please.”

The girl smiled and accepted the other party's killing intent. She lifted the hem of her windbreaker and said politely.

Then, Kayneth saw that appear behind the girl.

Impossible.

You can’t win.

How could there be such a thing?

This is no longer the field of magic.

Run, run, run... Run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run.

The moment he saw that, Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald probably realized that he was doomed.

Swish!

Flesh was torn, muscles and tendons were pulled from the skin.

Sizzle!

Blood vessels broke, and blood splashed against the wall, steaming.

Gudong!

The head fell to the ground, the eyes full of fear, yet there was no life left.

“Ah, it’s over. It’s over now.”

The girl walked forward, held up Kayneth’s head, and ignored Sola, who had also turned into a corpse beside him, as she said, “I’m sorry. If it weren’t on the plane, maybe Kayneth’s life could have been saved. However, it’s too troublesome to do it in the Clock Tower. But if I save the teacher's life on the plane, it will become a headache for me if the Holy Grail chooses the teacher first in Fuyuki City.”

With the girl’s unapologetic words, Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald’s journey to his destination came to an end.

“Next... Mr. Waver Velvet, I look forward to meeting you again.”

The girl discarded Kayneth’s head, licked the blood from her fingertips, and smiled—her smile far too charming for her age.

---

Chapter 2: Magus's Workshop

"Hum♪Hum♪Hum♪"

As the giant steel bird landed at the airport, people slowly disembarked. This was Fuyuki, the destination and battlefield that belonged to Erwin.

"Is this... the magic spear of destruction?"

The girl tossed a short gun up and down. It was called a short spear, but in reality, it was only a part of one. The spear was broken, and its magical power was completely lost, stripped of the mystery of the Age of Gods.

If one had to describe it, it was just a historical relic, useless for Magecraft—except in the context of the Holy Grail War.

"The Yellow Rose of Destruction... It was prepared as a holy relic. Is Kayneth-sensei going to summon Diarmuid?"

Erwin gazed at the holy relic in her hand, muttering to herself. It only took a little hint for her to piece things together. Though she was holding equipment that could be called a controlled knife, no one realized it.

"Ah, no, it's just this level."

Using the spear as a medium, there was a high probability that the Lancer-class Heroic Spirit Diarmuid, who had lost his two swords, would be summoned.

Clearly, this was not the ideal top Servant. Rather, it was a desperate move to compensate for the loss after the original holy relics were stolen.

"Just try your luck."

The hard-to-find holy relic was tossed into the trash can, and the girl chose to believe in her European ancestry.

But before that, the most important task was to build a magic workshop.

For a Magus, the workshop is the most crucial position. Caster, one of the seven classes, possesses the skill of Territory Creation. It is precisely because of this skill that no Servant dares to attack Caster's territory easily, except for Saber, who has high magic resistance.

Although ordinary Magi do not have Caster's ability to create a temple, there is no doubt that breaking into a Magus's workshop is akin to a siege.

"Speaking of the workshop, I can't ignore the Holy Grail summoning, right?"

In Fuyuki, there are four locations with spiritual qualities suitable for summoning the Holy Grail.

The first is Mount Enzo, which has a natural large cave known as Dragon Cave, or Ryuudo Temple located on the mountain. In terms of Fuyuki City, it is the primary spiritual vein.

The Tohsaka family, the providers of the land, have the priority to occupy the best spiritual vein as a base. However, the magical energy overflowing from Mount Enzo is too strong, making it too dangerous for training the next generation of Magi, so they established their residence in the second spiritual vein, which is now the Tohsaka residence. Although it is slightly lacking for the Holy Grail, the spiritual power there is sufficient to support its advent.

Although the third spiritual vein was assigned to the migrated Matou family, the spiritual power there does not match the attributes of the Matou family.

Consequently, the Matou residence was built elsewhere, while the original spiritual vein was occupied by the later-intervened Holy Church, which is where the current Fuyuki Church is located. Although it is far from the mountain, it lies on the opposite side of the river in the suburbs of Shinto, and its spiritual energy is no less potent than that of the first and second veins.

The fourth spiritual vein did not originally exist in this land; rather, it was the source of magical power processed from the three major spiritual veins. Over a hundred years, it accumulated at a single point, becoming a later spiritual land.

In subsequent investigations, it was confirmed to possess sufficient spirituality for rituals and was marked as a candidate site since the third Holy Grail War.

Currently, it is in the center of a new residential area, with the key point being the new citizen hall built there.

"Let's not consider the Tohsaka family mansion and the Cathedral Church for now..."

One serves as the workshop for the three families, while the other is occupied by the supervisor of this Holy Grail War. Both are difficult to contend with.

"Over at Enzo... Ryuudo Temple and I are very poorly compatible, which is truly unfortunate."

Erwin sighed. Originally, it was the best place to summon the Holy Grail. Unfortunately, the effects of her Magecraft would be significantly diminished there. Conversely, building within the modern civic hall would allow her to exert her power more freely.

As for whether the quality of the spiritual veins would impact the advent of the Holy Grail, it would not be too late to evaluate that when the war is nearing its end. For now, the suitability for the Holy Grail War is the top priority.

"I've decided; let's go there!"

Erwin hailed a taxi and headed toward the civic hall.

---

The barrier that disperses the crowd is the most basic of fundamentals. Only simple suggestions are needed to create an atmosphere that makes people feel reluctant to come here. As for the workers in the area, the stronger suggestion of taking a holiday this week serves as a perfect solution. After all, activities like the Holy Grail War won't last too long.

Since it was confirmed as land with spirituality after the third Holy Grail War, it does not currently belong to any force, nor does it possess any spells or defenses. However, being a blank slate makes it even more suitable for imbuing with one’s own essence.

"Well, let's get started."

Erwin arrived at the power equipment center of the building. This hall has its own backup generator, which serves as the best magic core for Erwin.

"Connect."

With a section of chanting. Although Erwin herself is Austrian, since her mother is half British, and the Clock Tower is the base camp of Magi, she still prefers to chant in English.

By sunset, this municipal hall had transformed into an immovable fortress resembling a temple.

Although it still appeared to be a modern building from the outside, the interior had been replaced with something entirely different, executing a mystery that did not conform to scientific laws at all.

Of course, such a powerful magical reaction could not go unnoticed, but it didn’t matter. After all, the so-called Magus's position is to invite the enemy and trap them.

Even if the enemy ordered their Servant to use an anti-city or an anti-military Noble Phantasms to obliterate this place in one blow, the consequences of choosing the municipal hall would soon be revealed.

This is the center of the residential area. As Magi, the Masters will conduct the Holy Grail War in secret, so they will not easily adopt such an ostentatious strategy. It would be far too conspicuous to suddenly drive through the residential streets with lights blazing. In other words, even if both the Master and the Servant were criminals, the Holy Church would not allow it.

"Next..."

Looking at the dusk in the Far East, the girl opened her suitcase.

Bang!

Out of the suitcase fell countless comics, games, and a rather outdated laptop.

"Okay, let's play games for a while before summoning the Servant!"

The girl, who had built a steel barrier, instantly transformed into a happy stay-at-home girl.

--

Chapter 3: Servant Summoning

"It's time."

A bright moon hung high in the sky as Erwin turned off the game he was playing, Grand Strategy. It was rumored that a sequel to this game would be released soon.

"Why do I have to hurry these days? Really, ugh..."

The girl glanced at the Command Spell in her hand and muttered discontentedly. With the Holy Grail War underway, there was no time to play.

"I'm dissatisfied. Anyway, I want to summon a Servant."

After making such a big fuss in the Civic Hall without summoning a Servant, what would happen if the enemy's Servant arrived first?

"Well, let's start."

A huge magic circle was drawn on the ground in front of her. The circle was made of wires, which completely contradicted the traditional rules of Magecraft. If other Magi saw it, they would probably be left in disbelief. After all, materials like electrical equipment that lean towards the scientific realm are generally at odds with the mysteries of magic.

Many Magi struggle with machinery. For example, they might have advanced fax machines but prefer to use the resonance of gems for long-distance communication.

"Connect."

As the magic began, what flowed through the circuit was not electricity, but Mana (magic power).

"Declare!

Your body is under my command, and my fate is tied to your sword!

..."

Since no holy relics were used, it was uncertain what kind of Servant would be summoned. Given the nature of her Magecraft, it might be Nikola Tesla, which would be a significant boon. However, Edison would also suffice.

"I am the one who accomplishes all the good deeds in the world, and I am the one who gathers all the evils in the world."

...

The light of the magic circle grew stronger and stronger.

"Seven days entangled with the three great words!

Come through the wheel of suppression!

Guardian of the scales!"

Finally, the concentrated magic power gushed out, forming a strong vortex!

[Success!]

The girl eagerly awaited the Servant who would respond to her call and fight for her and the Holy Grail.

---

"Servant Kiyohime. Don't look at me like that; I'm a Lancer. Anyway, please take care of me, Master!"

As the thick fog of magic power dissipated, a girl emerged from the magic circle.

Swim... swimsuit?

Erwin stared in astonishment at the girl who had stepped out. She wore a white furisode kimono with gold edges, a completely open collar and hem, and a honey-gold bikini underneath, complemented by white knee-high socks. She held a naginata and had long, water-blue hair. For the first time in her life, she doubted her qualifications as a Magus.

"Kiyohime, uh... is that really Kiyohime?"

Servants are Heroic souls who have been elevated to a superhuman existence after death, also known as "Heroic Spirits." They are summoned to the world through rituals and become beings that can be commanded, known as "Servants."

In other words, Kiyohime should be the one from Konjaku Hyakki ShūiI [who fell in love with the monk Anchin passing by, but Anchin was afraid and did not fulfill his promise to meet Kiyohime again. As a result, the angry girl turned into a fire-breathing snake and burned Anchin to death in the bell].

"Yes, that's me."

The other party smiled gently.

"Kiyohime..."

Erwin sighed inwardly. As a Master, she could see the attributes of the Servant before her, which were as follows:

- Strength: C+

- Durability: D

- Agility: B++

- Magic: E

- Luck: A+

- Noble Phantasm: Ex

All attributes were rated from A to E, with A being the relatively insignificant luck. Strength and durability were quite weak, agility was decent, but only the attribute of the Noble Phantasm seemed particularly promising.

Considering her own abilities as a Magus and the fact that this was Japan—where Kiyohime would have a bonus due to local popularity—her original quality might be enough to make a row of E's.

After all, the legendary Kiyohime was just an ordinary girl.

[A Servant specialized in Noble Phantasm? I'm more interested in one with excellent overall quality.]

Erwin thought helplessly.

"Master, are you dissatisfied with me?"

Kiyohime asked somewhat uneasily.

"No, not really. Then, the contract is hereby concluded..."

Although there was a hint of dissatisfaction, it would be rude to show it in front of her.

"You lied..."

At that moment, Erwin heard a voice like a devil emerging from the depths of ice.

"Huh?"

Coming back to her senses, she noticed that her Servant was staring at her with lifeless eyes—a fatal crisis, like a large snake preparing to swallow its prey.

"Master, you lied, didn't you? You're not satisfied with me at all, right?"

Kiyohime approached her step by step.

"No... not at all, but... there are indeed some things that I'm not satisfied..."

Not knowing what was wrong with her Servant, Erwin responded uneasily.

"That's a lie. But since the contract has not been officially signed, let's overlook it this time. I am your Servant, Kiyohime. Please don’t lie to me, Master."

Kiyohime smiled brightly and continued.

"Otherwise, please pay a Command Spell as a price... Then, the contract will be established here."

Command Spells are the absolute command authority of the Master over the Servant. There are three in total, and just lying would consume a Command Spell—this was not a trivial matter.

"I understand. I won’t lie. By the way... are you really not a Berserker?"

Staring at the berserk Ex rating on her Servant's panel, Erwin grasped something and said weakly.

"Well, you are worthy of being my Master."

Kiyohime showed a satisfied smile, but the next moment, Erwin pressed her to the ground.

"Then it's my turn to ask you."

Erwin straddled Kiyohime's waist. With a mischievous smile, she stretched out her finger and poked Kiyohime's chin.

"Lancer, what is your wish?"

"If it's a wish, Master, wouldn't it be wonderful to have a world without lies?"

The finger slid from Kiyohime's chin down to her plump chest. Erwin poked the softness beneath the swimsuit and asked:

"Why a swimsuit?"

"Because... I don’t know... I always feel that if I'm summoned as a Lancer, I must dress like this."

Her slender fingertips glided from Kiyohime's chest to her flat belly.

"In exchange for not lying to you, Kiyohime, what are you willing to do for me?"

"Then... become your servant, your wife, your family, your lover. Is that enough?"

Looking at Kiyohime's flushed cheeks, Erwin sighed helplessly. The more she inquired, the more she regretted throwing Kayneth's holy relic into the trash can.

In summary, her own Servant's wish was terrible, her equipment was subpar, and even her personality left much to be desired.

"We're both girls, Kiyohime. We can’t be called lovers in this case, right?"

"Why not, Master? If we love each other, it’s fine. And... if you ride on me like this, we can be considered a couple, right?"

After hearing this, Erwin wanted to get off Kiyohime, but Kiyohime pressed her down instead, straddling her.

"Hey, Master, as for me, as long as you don't lie to me, I will do anything you want."

Upon hearing this, Erwin was taken aback for a moment.

Since Kiyohime was a Servant who despised lies, her statement of "it's okay to do anything" was likely the truth in the most genuine sense.

"Forget it. In that case, let’s support each other."

Although she was more or less a troublesome character, Kiyohime was willing to listen. Erwin thought this, then reached out to stroke Kiyohime's cheek and said:

"Well, let's support each other until we grow old together."

Kiyohime smiled in response.

----

Chapter 4: My Servant Can't Be a Yandere

Morning.

"Master, wake up, Master."

"Woo... just let me sleep for another ten minutes..."

The little loli curled up in the quilt, trying to cover her head with it. She responded to all calls urging her to get up with an attitude of "no, no, I'm not getting up."

"Master has slept for three ten-minute periods."

"Then let me sleep for another one."

A pair of hands gently pressed the quilt, not allowing her to continue her intimate embrace with it.

"Ah, are you looking forward to a good morning kiss? I see, you won’t get up without kissing me Master. You are really mean."

"Huh? Wait... that's not the case!"

All sleepiness disappeared instantly. Erwin opened her eyes and pushed Kiyohime away with force.

"Huh? Isn't that the case?"

"No, after all, isn't it because of you that I feel sleepy?"

My Servant is a Berserker under the banner of Lancer, and she is also very twisted and crazy, such as crawling into the Master's bed to sleep together no matter what.

"But you clearly agreed to the Master's request that the Master should sleep alone."

"I said, you clearly tried to crawl into the bed after I fell asleep, right? You promised not to lie."

The girl showed her little tiger teeth, flexed and stretched her little claws, and put on a [super fierce] look as she said.

Thanks to her, the Magecraft alarm that prevents intrusion kept beeping, and for a while, she thought it was Assassin who had come to kill her. But when she woke up, she saw that her bedroom door was opened a crack, and her Servant was peeping into the bedroom through the gap.

"I promised to let the Master sleep alone. The bed is only after she falls asleep, so it's not a lie." Kiyohime stroked her head with a smile, just like one would stroke a cat's fur. Although her own Servant can't lie, she can play word games. What a twisted personality.

As a result, this night attack was repeated about six times until she agreed to sleep with Kiyohime. Because of this, Erwin now feels a little sleep-deprived, while the instigator, her own Servant, still looks very energetic.

---

Breakfast.

"Wow, it's delicious."

The girl's eyes lit up. The vegetable porridge that was put into her mouth was just right in terms of freshness and heat, making her unable to help but eat it all in one breath.

"If the Master likes it, that would be great."

Kiyohime also looked very happy.

"By the way, Master."

"What's the matter?"

Erwin spoke happily while putting the grilled fish into her mouth.

"Excuse me, can I make something like a love potion? The kind that can make the other person fall in love with you wholeheartedly by adding it to the rice."

Happiness froze, and fear grew and spread from it.

[Calm down, Erwin. Lancer asked if you can make it, which means she can’t make it herself. The rice should be safe; it must be! It must be!]

She tried to convince herself in her heart.

"No... I can't make it, but I won't give it to you even if I could, hum."

The girl turned her head away with a full display of arrogance. She wanted to say [No], but she changed her words the moment she realized it was a lie. The characteristic of her own Servant that does not allow lying is more troublesome than expected.

"It's a pity, but since it's the truth, there's nothing I can do."

Kiyohime looked very disappointed.

"Lancer, even if it's you, you should understand the purpose of my summoning a Servant, right?"

Erwin put down the bowl and looked directly at Kiyohime as she spoke.

"Well, it's for the Holy Grail, right? As long as it's something the Master wants, I will definitely give it to you."

Kiyohime nodded.

"No lying, no sleeping together at night. I can tolerate all of this. But, Lancer—when you judge that you can help me get the Holy Grail, do you—have the corresponding awareness?"

The girl smiled sweetly, but there was a murderous look in her eyes that was not inferior to that of a Servant. She was serious.

If the Servant in front of her couldn't help her win the Holy Grail, then there would be no value in accommodating her.

"Yes. Not being able to help the husband (Master) is the dereliction of duty of the wife (Servant), and it is natural to be punished."

But the other party took it for granted and accepted it.

In other words, she had the awareness that [If I can't let the Master get the Holy Grail, it doesn't matter even if I am ordered to commit suicide by the Command Spell].

[My Servant is really mentally abnormal.]

Once again, Erwin realized that the attribute of the Berserker Ex is not a decoration.

"But then again, what is the Master's wish?"

"Me? I'm a Magus, so there is only one wish for the Holy Grail, and that is to reach the root."

Erwin answered as a matter of course.

"I don't know much about Magi. Is reaching the root so important?"

"I don't know much about Berserker in Lancer's skin, but you can understand that if the Holy Grail can let me reach the root, I will get it even if I risk my life."

Erwin answered calmly.

"I understand. Then I will definitely offer the Holy Grail to the Master."

So Kiyohime smiled.

---

*After breakfast.*

"Hey, Master, let's go on a date together."

"No, I want to be lazy at home all day and read all the comics!"

Kiyohime looked at Erwin and said. But Erwin was lying on the bed, supporting her head with her hands, her feet up, holding potato chips in her mouth, reading comic books as she spoke.

"Oh, if you do this, people will think you're a NEET."

"Did the Holy Grail teach you even knowledge like NEET?"

"I learned it by peeking at the Master's comic book."

"Well, I recommend this series of comics to you. After reading it, you'll be as useless as me, and then we can stay at home together."

The day passed, and night came with the girls' conversation.

"Kiyohime, bring me my computer, that thin machine."

Taking the notebook Kiyohime handed to her, Erwin skillfully turned on the computer.

"Connect."

It was not an ordinary home computer; or rather, in this era, laptops and the like were still in a slightly advanced high-tech position.

Not to mention the exaggerated function of projecting the entire map of Fuyuki City into the air from the opened notebook.

"Let's see if there will be any impatient groups who will take action tonight."

Erwin smiled.

As a result, Assassin was eliminated faster than expected, and the assassin who tried to invade the Tohsaka mansion was killed by the golden Servant.

"Ah, someone was eliminated so soon. But there's nothing Assassin can do."

Kiyohime and Erwin watched the whole process together, holding popcorn and cola in their hands, just as if they were watching a movie.

"Without Assassin, the other Masters will act more actively."

Erwin thought for a while and said.

"But... I always feel suspicious."

From a tactical point of view, letting Assassin rush into the enemy Servant's base like this is a completely brainless act, and it is too careless for Assassin's Master.

"Well, it doesn't matter; it's just Assassin."

Even so, Erwin agreed with Kiyohime's judgment.

---

Chapter 5: First Battle (Part 1)

Early morning.

"Wake up, Master."

"Uh-huh..."

"Wake up quickly; it’s morning."

"Uh-huh... got it."

As she did the day before, Kiyohime pulled Erwin out of bed. After breakfast, she smiled at her and said, "Hey, let’s go on a date, Master."

"Eh? A date..."

Erwin pondered for a moment, pointing at her chin as she stared at the ceiling, and finally said with a smile, "Okay, let’s go."

The Holy Grail War was about to begin, and Kiyohime needed to familiarize herself with the layout of Fuyuki City.

It’s not that she really wanted to stay home; she had already read all the comics she brought!

And so, the two of them went out, their first destination being a clothing store. Kiyohime was wearing a swimsuit for some reason, and it wouldn’t be appropriate for her to walk down the street in that outfit.

While her dragon horns were unavoidable, they could be considered a unique decoration rather than something too outlandish, perhaps a remnant of her transformation into a large serpent (dragon) when she burned Anjin to death.

"What kind of clothes does Kiyohime like?" Erwin asked.

"Well, for me, as long as the Master likes it, that’s all that matters."

"Is that so? Then let me choose."

As a result, Erwin bought Kiyohime a very distinctive dress from the Far East—a kimono.

"How is it? How is it? Cute, right, Master?" Kiyohime asked excitedly, spinning in circles while wearing the white and blue kimono.

"It suits you very well."

Being a servant from ancient Japan, she exuded a timeless beauty in the kimono.

"If the Master likes it, then I’m happy."

They held hands and walked down the street. Seeing Kiyohime’s joyful expression made Erwin feel that occasionally stepping out of her usual home attire wasn’t so bad.

"Hey, Master, do you think we look like a couple in the eyes of others?" Kiyohime asked.

"Ah, yes, what lovely sisters."

At that moment, an elderly woman walked by and smiled at them, echoing what Erwin wanted to say.

"...Hey, Master, can I go and burn her?" For a brief moment, Kiyohime displayed a dull, yandere expression.

"Stop it now, or I won’t go on a date with you."

"Yes—" Kiyohime replied unhappily, dragging out her response.

---

As night fell, the two of them enjoyed various delicious foods around Fuyuki City and bought many comics and games.

Although Kiyohime wanted to visit a place called a love hotel, Erwin used a Command Spell to suppress her unruly behavior.

"It's about time to go back, right?" Erwin said. Soon, it would be completely dark, and daily life would cease to exist, transforming the area into a battlefield.

"Before that, Master, can you accompany me to a place?" Kiyohime asked.

"Where?"

"The beach... Look, it's rare for me to manifest in a swimsuit. Although I’m a little shy, I still want you to see me at the beach."

Kiyohime said, blushing like a girl in love.

"Well, let’s go. But if you sense an enemy, you must tell me."

Erwin smiled and accepted her invitation. Sometimes, she wondered—if a male Magus had a love-struck servant like this, he might be very pleased.

The two arrived at a location not far from the port. Unfortunately, they couldn’t reach the beach because others were already there.

"Master, I sense the presence of an enemy Servant," Kiyohime warned.

"At the beach?"

With the help of magic to enhance her vision, Erwin spotted a woman with silver hair and red eyes, along with a beautiful woman in men’s clothing, playing on the beach. Unfortunately, the other party noticed her as well.

"That attribute is not good."

The enemy Servant was the beautiful woman in men’s clothing, and the other figure was likely an Einzbern Homonuclus.

"Retreat, Lancer."

"Huh? We’re not fighting?" Kiyohime asked, surprised at Erwin’s decision to withdraw so quickly.

"Do you want to fight a monster with primarily A-rank attributes, including its chest?"

"Let’s go, Master."

Erwin was pleased that Kiyohime didn’t exhibit the pride of a Heroic Spirit; she knew when it was time to run.

---

On the other side...

"The enemy is moving. What should we do, Saber?" Irisviel von Einzbern asked her Servant, Saber, known as the strongest class in the Holy Grail War.

"Let’s chase them, Irisviel," Saber replied, nodding. There was no reason to let the enemy escape. As the strongest swordsman, she was ready to confront anyone face to face.

The two headed in the direction where Erwin and Kiyohime had retreated.

Erwin and Kiyohime didn’t walk quickly, nor did they worry that Saber and Irisviel would launch a surprise attack. It was still a city, and although night had fallen, it wasn’t deserted yet. They believed the enemy wouldn’t recklessly initiate a battle with ordinary people around.

"They’re following us, Master."

"Hey, does that mean we can choose the battle location? You really are a graceful knight," Erwin said, turning around to smile cunningly at Irisviel and Saber, who were not far behind.

They returned to the workshop. Once they arrived, the barrier that had been activated to disperse pedestrians ensured no one else was around.

"Will the enemy come?"

"If they do, treat them well, Lancer," Erwin replied with a smile. This was her workshop; even if Saber showed up, they still had a high chance of winning.

"The two have entered the building ahead, Saber." Irisviel, who had been following closely, tugged at Saber's arm. "Ah, I’m afraid that’s where they chose to fight. Be careful, Irisviel; I have a bad feeling."

Saber nodded. "That strange magical power... could it be Caster?"

Among the seven classes, Caster, who had the ability to manipulate territory, was most suited for positional warfare, and their workshop was a temple-level, immovable fortress.

"It seems so," Saber said. Unfortunately, Servants of Saber's class possessed extremely strong anti-magic capabilities, making Caster’s magic attacks ineffective against her.

However, Saber’s instincts warned her that once they stepped inside, she and Irisviel would face a fierce battle.

"Let’s go in, Irisviel." The enemy awaited inside, making it her mission as a Servant to defeat them.

"Yes, I believe in you, Saber."

"Ah, leave it to me."

A brilliant light enveloped the girl’s body as Saber donned her armor and walked into the hall with Irisviel.

---

Chapter 6: First Battle (Part 2)

"Ouch!"

The moment she entered the hall, Saber felt a heavy pressure coming toward her.

"This feeling... a Bounded Field?"

As a Magus, Irisviel immediately understood that some kind of Bounded Field was set up in this hall, one that could affect Saber, whose [Magic Resistance] was A.

"I didn't expect the enemy's magic to be so powerful. It's worthy of Caster."

Saber frowned and spoke. Even with her magic resistance, she did not underestimate the servants of Caster. However, since she could feel such heavy pressure, it seemed that the other party was indeed a servant worthy of the name of Castee.

[Strength, flexibility, and magical energy were all affected.]

Saber secretly assessed the damage caused by the Bounded Field and arrived at a rather grim conclusion: her attributes were being suppressed by Caster's Bounded Field.

[But for Caster, this is only natural.]

Even so, Saber remained confident of victory. However, her intuition told her that she must go all out in the upcoming battle.

"Good evening, ladies."

Upon entering the hall, they found a vast space. It seemed Caster had transformed it into a suitable arena for servants to fight. Combined with the Magecraft outside that blocked sound and hindered visibility, even if the entire hall were to be blown up, it was likely that the outside world wouldn’t notice.

"My name is Erwin, and this is my Servant."

Erwin introduced herself politely.

"Irisviel von Einzbern. This is Saber."

Irisviel added, also with courtesy.

"As a Caster, you want to fight me head-on? I commend your bravery."

Saber looked at Kiyohime with a fighting spirit. If the enemy wanted to win in a fair fight, it would be a blessing for her. However, she had made a grave mistake.

"Caster?"

"Oh, are you referring to my Master?"

Erwin and Kiyohime exchanged glances.

"Hahahahahahaha... Caster, you actually think I'm Caster? I see; I’ll accept that as a compliment. It’s an honor."

Erwin laughed heartily, holding her belly.

"Then let me introduce my Servant to you."

"Servant Lancer. The naginata is what maidens prefer... the Blue Dragon Crescent Blade and the like. Pretty good, right?"

With a flash of light, Kiyohime transformed into a swimsuit and furisode kimono, holding a naginata and pointing it at Saber.

"What?"

Not only Saber but even Irisviel was stunned.

The enemy was Lancer, one of the three knight-class. What was going on in this temple-level workshop?

The magic that completely suppressed Saber, whose magical energy was A, had been created by a modern Magus. It was simply absurd.

"I understand... You are Saber, right? For Magecraft... Sorry, that doesn't work on me."

Erwin looked at Saber triumphantly and said.

"You don't expect to defeat me with this little trick, do you, Lancer?"

Saber regarded Kiyohime and asked. For a Servant, the opponent was always another Servant.

"Ah, ah, ah. Although I’m not good at fighting... I really can’t help it."

Kiyohime held the naginata in her hand and took a stance.

The next moment, the two Servants disappeared at a speed imperceptible to the naked eye, colliding like cannonballs. The shockwave shattered the floor of the hall.

The intersection of light and shadow saw the naginata sweep through the air, cutting the atmosphere.

The shadowless sword, charged with magical power, fell like a heavy hammer, causing the earth to crack.

The dragon-like thrust hit Saber's head directly, as if to blow the top of her head away.

The holy sword flashed from the sky, and the magical energy burst out, shattering the windows around them.

Irisviel watched the spectacle before her. It was clearly a battle between melee weapons, but the scenes resembled the reemergence of a myth.

"I can’t see clearly..."

That was a battle a Master could not intervene in, as they couldn’t even grasp the most basic aspects of the conflict.

"…"

On the other side, Erwin smiled at the two fighters in the center of the field, while her thoughts still a mystery.

[This woman is a troublesome opponent.]

As she ran, Saber evaluated Kiyohime's strength. Due to the Bounded Field's pressure, she couldn't gain the upper hand in strength and speed. What was more concerning was the woman's excessively cruel tactics—every strike was fatal, and she fought with the reckless momentum of someone willing to die together.

It was like a desperate girl trying to protect her lover. In an instant, this strange evaluation formed in Saber's mind. Although the next strike could cut through the opponent's chest, Kiyohime's naginata was also rushing toward her neck. If Saber didn’t want to die in a mutual assault, she had to fight back to defend herself.

[Strange sword…]

On the other side, Kiyohime's heart raced with growing anxiety. The invisible sword in Saber's hand made her uncomfortable. She couldn’t confirm the weapon’s length or width, meaning she couldn’t gauge the distance to her enemy. She could only rely on the length of her naginata to force Saber back.

[The Master's Bounded Field had consumed Saber's power, but…]

Kiyohime understood that there was a significant gap between herself as a warrior and the Saber before her. If this continued, would the Master's evaluation of her decline?

Saber noticed Kiyohime’s anxiety. Although the opponent was ruthless, she had little combat experience. Kiyohime left an opening, and Saber was ready to exploit it.

[Success!]

Saber grabbed the naginata with her gauntleted hand, then closed in on Kiyohime, ready to deal with her. However, the next moment, she saw Kiyohime smiling.

"Breakthrough! Love, Love, Pursuit!"

Kiyohime, whose naginata had been blocked, parted her lips slightly, and azure flames whistled out, racing toward Saber.

"What?"

Saber, who had never expected the enemy to breathe fire, looked astonished. She released her magical energy and leaped back, but the arm holding the holy sword still felt a burning pain as it was burned.

"Saber!"

Irisviel, seeing Saber's burned arm, wanted to use healing magic. However...

"How could it be?"

The magic dissipated instantly, failing to work on Saber.

"Ah, do you think I would allow others to use Magecraft in my workshop?"

Erwin covered her mouth and chuckled. The mana (magical energy) of the entire workshop was under her control, allowing him to nullify the opponent's Magecraft.

The situation was dire. Irisviel was completely suppressed by the opposing Master. Saber was more concerned that Lancer had seen through her feigned moves. Compared to the fact that the enemy could breathe fire, the counterattack was clearly a trap set by sensing her thoughts.

In other words, it wasn't that Lancer lacked combat experience; she had deliberately pretended to be inexperienced to deceive Saber. However... her intuition told her otherwise.

[No matter what, the outcome must be decided quickly.]

Saber moved her fingers. The burns were not as severe as she had feared; at least the movement of her hands wasn’t hindered. The night was long, and she worried that the opposing Master would take advantage of her being occupied with Kiyohime to attack Irisviel.

With this in mind, she rushed to Kiyohime’s side.

"Haa——!!!"

It was a full-strength attack utilizing magical energy, completely inconsistent with the girl's petite figure, akin to a monster sweeping in like a red dragon.

"Ugh! What a rude woman!"

Kiyohime was unable to defend against such an attack, and she was pushed back several meters, falling into a passive position.

Saber quickly decided to remove the wind barrier of the holy sword, letting the airflow propel herself forward to strike the enemy with unparalleled speed.

"Connect! System Start! Constraint of Iron!"

Even faster than that was the three-bar chant. Beneath the floor, cables and steel bars seemed to come alive, entangling Saber, who had yet to release the wind king's barrier.

[I was careless!]

It was not the Servant who she should have been on guard, but the Master.

This was the only thought in Saber's mind after observing Erwin's cunning movements—blinking her eyes and tapping her lips with her fingers.

"Come on... It's time to burn all the troubles, okay?"

There was no time to break free from the restraints of the steel cables, and the steel bars were enhanced with magic.

In the sky, a nauseatingly strong magical power began to gather, and a massive ancient bell descended from above, enveloping Saber.

"Ah... Master, are you watching closely? [Dojo-ji Bell Form 108 - Fire Dragon Mow Down] one shot --!!!"

The enemy directly unleashed a hidden trump card—their Noble Phantasm!

-----

Chapter 7: First Battle (Part 2)

The Noble Phantasm is the ultimate weapon of the Servant, a miracle in material form, the hero's certificate held by the Servant. It is the crystallization of humanity's wish for miracles, the strongest weapon called "Noble Phantasm," similar to magic.

The weapon is constructed with human fantasy as its framework. It serves as the weapon, symbol, and ultimate move held by the Servant. It may be an excellent weapon or a skill.

Kiyohime's Noble Phantasm is the embodiment of the legend that she burned Anjin, who was hiding in the big bell, to death with flames!

The antique bell began to emit billowing smoke, and then flames rose up. It was the dragon's flames that burned fiercely, fueled by the girl's passionate love and deep hatred.

However, this is not the end.

Countless naginatas are burning and hanging around the ancient bell. Accompanied by Kiyohime's magical energy, the naginatas whistled and flew toward the ancient bell that imprisoned Saber.

There is no doubt that no Servant can completely withstand this blow. Although Kiyohime's attributes are not as strong as Saber's, she is a rare Servant specialized in Noble Phantasms. The flames she emits embody dragon breath, the powerful breath released by a being at the top of the fantasy hierarchy.

"Wind..."

However, it is the power of Saber, who stands at the top of all classes, that can turn the impossible into possible.

Boom!

The wind roared, hitting the ancient bell like a hammer, and then the dazzling golden light broke through the cage built by the girl with the strong wind, opening a hole in it!

"Wake up, Lancer!"

The girl's agile figure rushed out of the ancient bell like a cannonball.

"What!?"

Kiyohime raised her naginata at the critical moment, and the golden holy sword struck her weapon like thunder.

"Ouch!"

This blow sent Kiyohime flying. The girl thrust her naginata into the floor, but she still slid for a long distance, leaving a long trail on the ground before coming to a stop.

The Noble Phantasm was broken by Saber before it could be fully unleashed. The ancient bell turned into particles of magical energy and gradually dissipated in the hall.

"As expected of Saber, she actually blocked it," Erwin sighed, speaking helplessly. The so-called Noble Phantasm is a killer move and the last trump card. Once revealed, if you can't kill the opponent, you will find yourself in a very passive position.

"Dojoji Bell... So that's it, Kiyohime?" Saber stared at the Servant with dragon horns on her head and said cautiously.

"Ah, ah, I've been discovered," Kiyohime replied as she returned to Erwin's side, her smile sickly sweet. After all, the so-called Noble Phantasm is also the pride of the Servants. If you can't kill with one blow, it is enough to make people angry.

"You don't have to be so angry, Lancer. After all, the opponent is the famous King Arthur."

Erwin covered her mouth and smiled, "I didn't expect it to be a cute girl. It's really unexpected."

"…"

Saber said nothing but gritted her teeth in her heart. Although she had blown away Kiyohime's Noble Phantasm, she had not come away unscathed. No, it should be said that the greater loss was on her side because she had completely released the Wind King's barrier and broken the ancient bell with a hammer-like attack, exposing her sword.

The holy sword Excalibur, which is one of the most revered holy swords, is the sword held by King Arthur. There is no doubt that its true identity can be inferred just by looking at its appearance, so it is usually hidden by the Wind King's barrier.

Now it was exposed in front of the opponent. More importantly...

[This injury...]

Even though she had rushed out of the ancient bell, the Noble Phantasm was still a Noble Phantasm. The Dragon's Flame had already swept through Saber's body before she broke through. Even if the armor could be restored by magic, Saber's body was already covered with scars. After all, being directly hit by a Rank A Noble Phantasm, it was good enough that she didn't die.

Both sides had exposed their true names. Saber was seriously injured, but Lancer had only consumed magical energy. The situation on the battlefield was clear at a glance.

[We can't drag this on any longer.]

Kiyohime and Erwin's cooperation made Saber suffer. Although neither of them would be Saber's opponent if they were alone, their combined strength far exceeded 1 + 1. Coupled with her serious injury, Saber would definitely be at a disadvantage in the following hand-to-hand combat.

This is an empty civics hall. If you use [that], you won't have to worry about burning the earth.

"Okay, let's get to know each other."

Saber raised the sword in her hand, and the sword of the King of Knights exuded an unusual light and magic.

"Noble Phantasm? In that case..."

Erwin smiled at Kiyohime.

"Master, please watch!"

Kiyohime's body was also entangled in blazing flames, as if something was about to break out of the cocoon at any moment.

It was a collision of legends and a duel of Noble Phantasms. For a moment, the magical energy unleashed by the two was enough to completely evaporate the entire Civic Hall of Fuyuki City.

—Dividing Line—

For Emiya Kiritsugu, the appearance of Erwin was somewhat unexpected.

The enemy Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald, who was originally considered to be a bit tricky, did not leave the plane alive, and was replaced by the girl in front of him, who was not much older than his daughter, Illya.

Emiya Kiritsugu was the [Magus Killer] hired by Einzbern, the true Master of Saber, and the husband of Irisviel, who was fighting with Erwin in the hall.

As early as when Irisviel and Saber entered the hall, he had quietly lurked near the hall. This was a civilian's house. The owner of the house had fallen asleep under the influence of magic. Emiya Kiritsugu used this place as his sniping location.

Yes, it was sniping. Emiya Kiritsugu was a Magus who did not play by the rules. He was skilled at using modern weapons that Magi would typically overlook to launch a fatal attack from the blind spot of their common sense.

At that moment, his sniper scope had completely captured Erwin standing in the hall through the large window.

The only reason that stopped him from shooting was...

"Assassin!"

Just as the battle began, Emiya Kiritsugu spotted Assassin hiding in another observation point with a better view. The Servant who should have died was still alive and was overlooking the Holy Grail War in a way that no one had expected.

So a very realistic problem was already in front of Kiritsugu—if he sniped Erwin, he would be discovered by Assassin. An ordinary Magus could never compete with a Servant, which meant that he would die at the hands of Assassin.

Even if he summoned Saber with the Command Spell, it would be like handing over defenseless Irisviel to Lancer, who had lost his Master, to be slaughtered.

With no other choice, Emiya Kiritsugu had to give up the sniper position.

[Let me see your strength, lovely King of Knights.]—Not long after saying this, Emiya Kiritsugu regretted it.

Right now, his Saber and Lancer were preparing to fight with their Noble Phantasms. Saber's Noble Phantasm was the Holy Sword of the Stars, and if she released her True Name, it would turn into a torrent of light. Theoretically, Lancer had no chance of winning.

But the problem was...

[That smile.]

In the sniper scope, Kiritsugu clearly caught Erwin's smile.

He knew that smile. It was a somewhat cruel smile that he would show to prey that had been determined to die when he walked on the battlefield as a Magus killer.

Although he was very unwilling, Saber would lose.

Even if he didn't know the reason, this Master must have some cards in hand that could overturn the situation.

If he wanted to win, he had to start from his side!

---

Chapter 8: Intruder

“ALaLaLaLaLaLaLaLaLa!”

Just when Emiya Kiritsugu was about to pull the trigger to give Erwin a headshot, a thunderous sound came from the sky.

“Huh?”

“What?”

Kiyohime and Saber, who were about to release their Noble Phantasms, both stopped and looked up in the direction of the sound.

Boom!

Then, a big hole was blown open in the hall that had been cast with countless defensive Magecraft.

Perhaps it is not accurate to describe the opponent's actions as booming because it was violently hit by some giant monster with strong Magecraftal power.

“Chariot?”

Erwin looked at the object that broke through the wall and fell from the sky. It was a huge chariot pulled by two bulls. The chariot was emitting thunder, and it was obvious that it was a Noble Phantasm of a Servant.

“Both sides put down their weapons—in front of the King!”

On the chariot was a burly man. In terms of physique alone, he might be the strongest in this Holy Grail War.

[What is this guy going to do?]

Erwin looked at the big man in front of her with a silly face.

It was not impossible for a Servant to use a Noble Phantasm to penetrate her workshop. What she couldn't understand was the purpose of the big man in front of her.

[A sneak attack? No, no, no... How could there be such a blatant sneak attack?]

That chariot looked like an anti-army Noble Phantasm. If it attacked seriously while the two were fighting, it would be possible to wipe out Saber and Lancer.

However, this person didn't do that at all. Instead, he rushed into her Magus workshop openly and then landed between Saber and Lancer.

“My name is King of Conquerors Iskandar, and I am participating in this Holy Grail War as a Rider!”

The stupider thing was still to come. The other party roared out his real name in a booming voice. You know, whether the real name is exposed is related to the key point of the Holy Grail War strategy.

“You, what are you doing, idiot!”

The next second, a familiar figure emerged from the operating console of the chariot. With a look that was about to break, Waver Velvet hit the big man's chest with his little fist.

“What... I see.”

Then Erwin understood everything. This was natural. If it was Waver Velvet, he would not be able to control the Servant's recklessness.

“So, what do you want to do as a king who trespassed into a girl's boudoir? Or is this the way the people of Macedonia treat ladies?”

Erwin walked forward, stretched out her hand to lift her hair that was messed up by the wind, and said with a pout, pretending to be angry.

“Oh? Boudoir?”

Rider held his chin with his hand and looked around. The sword and halberd cut through the wall, leaving scars on the ground that were difficult to repair, and combined with the pressure brought by magic. This place had nothing to do with the boudoir at all; it should be a battlefield in the true sense.

“How rude. If the Magus is a girl, then the workshop is naturally a boudoir. Only invited gentlemen can enter, right?”

“Really?”

Erwin looked at Kiyohime and asked cutely, and the other party smiled and affirmed in the same tone.

“Oh... That's true...”

Faced with the little loli's cute nonsense, even the burly Rider didn't know what to say.

“Huh? Erwin... san?”

At this time, Waver noticed that Lancer's master was someone he was very familiar with. Although he had sent familiars around the Civic Hall because of the strong magical energy not long ago, he was unable to find out who had entered the hall.

However, the familiar finally noticed the battle between Saber and Lancer, so he and Rider watched from a distance until his own Servant couldn't hold back and suddenly decided to join the battle, which led to the scene in front of him.

“Good evening, Waver. Long time no see.”

The girl lifted the hem of her coat and smiled sweetly at Waver.

“Why... are you here?”

“Of course I'm here to participate in the Holy Grail War.”

The girl's voice was sweet, but it made Waver feel a chill. The girl who had discussed the Holy Grail War with him for a long time that night turned out to be a Master.

“Wait, where's Mr. Kayneth? Didn't Mr. Kayneth participate in the Holy Grail War?”

An ominous premonition came to his mind. The Clock Tower candidate who was supposed to participate in the Holy Grail War had not yet appeared, which was really abnormal.

“Ah, Mr. Kayneth, I dealt with him on the plane. Because he was troublesome.”

The girl smiled and tapped her lips and said something that made Waver feel devastated. She was obviously a child, but she killed her teacher for the reason of “very troublesome,” and she had no psychological pressure at all.

This was the first time that Waver Velvet felt how cruel the so-called killing between Magi was.

“What's wrong, Waver? You can't show that expression right at the beginning of the war, okay?”

Instead, the other party looked at him worriedly..

“Why?”

“Hmmm?”

“Why didn't you kill me? I'm also a participant in the Holy Grail War, right? That's what Erwin said, 'very troublesome,' right?”

Waver asked angrily. Even he himself couldn't figure out the reason for his anger.

Could it be that he was upset because he knew that Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald, whom he hated so much, was dead? That would be too ridiculous.

“No way.”

But the girl smiled and shook her head.

“Waver is special.”

She said so.

“What?”

Even though she was a Magus capable of killing Kayneth, such a girl said that he was “special” in person, which made Waver, who was suffering from not being recognized, feel his heartbeat quicken.

“Because Waver is really weak. So, I think if Waver becomes a Master, then one group will win the Holy Grail War without fighting.”

However, the girl's next words made him feel like he was falling into an ice cave.

[I am very weak.]

[The reason why she treat him differently from Teacher Kayneth is that she can kill him anytime she wants.]

[Servants who have signed a contract with Waver Velvet are out of the game from the beginning.]

The girl's words made Waver hold his head in his hands. In the end, even the girl in front of him denied the existence of Waver Velvet like the others. Very weak, not a qualified Magus; there was no hope at all. For a moment, negative emotions hit Waver like a tide.

"Oh, if that's the case, then I, the king, who was summoned by this very weak boy, and you, the little girl, who just got her workshop broken by me like it was made of paper - aren't you even weaker?"

At this time, a big hand gently pressed on Waver's back, stopping his trembling.

“Say, what nonsense are you talking about? I just let you in because I saw you were Waver, really!” The girl showed a [super fierce] expression, stretched out her little paws, and looked at Rider and shouted.

Hahaha, is that so? Hey, Lancer, and Saber, are you willing to join me? In this way, I am willing to share the joy of conquering the world with you.” Rider looked at Erwin and changed the subject with both anger and amusement.

“I refuse!”

“Ah, this is impossible.”

As expected, it was rejected.

“The treatment can be discussed.”

“You are so long-winded!”

“Please stop joking.”

Then it was rejected again.

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