For a full twenty-four hours, they unleashed an assault that was both monotonous and yet relentless, leaving no room for a single breath of respite.
Since Kiyohime had collapsed from exhaustion, Greek fire was used in her stead. Yet even that could not incinerate the endless tide of siege towers and wooden idols charging toward the ramparts. They brought scaling ladders and makeshift siege-engines of unknown origin, hooking them onto the battlements to begin their ascent. Siege cannons and catapults, numbering twice as many as in the previous engagement, rained destruction across the walls.
Though the wall itself remained unbreached, the golems—hewn from the shattered remnants of catapult stones—frequently bypassed the front lines to attack residential areas and civilians within the city. The Enforcement Knights were forced to scramble frantically to extinguish fires and clear the debris.
Mordred, who had been tasked with overseeing the firefighting and interception within the residential sector, eventually lost her patience and lunged back up onto the walls. In her place, Gareth—whose martial prowess was slightly lower but who possessed a more suitable anti-personnel Noble Phantasm—was sent down to command the urban defense.
...Yes, the process remained much the same as before.
Attack, attack, and attack again.
It was a siege so repetitive it bordered on the tedious, yet so precise and merciless that one could not afford to be bored for even a second.
Ritsuka herself had narrowly escaped being crushed by a falling boulder, and the number of Enforcement Knights stationed atop the walls had dwindled to a mere third of their initial count since the battle's onset.
Naturally, when the enemies finally withdrew for a temporary lull, the atmosphere in the war room was abysmal.
"...Status report?"
"Sir Percival and the Emperor are slightly wounded, but their Spiritual Cores have sustained no lethal damage. They will make a full recovery. Sir Gawain, what of your Noble Phantasm?"
"It was not deployed, so there are no issues."
As a final gambit, the enemy had sent dozens of suicide carts—laden with prana bombs and oil—charging toward the main gates. Mordred had quickly vaulted down to intercept them before they reached the threshold, and the Crusaders retreated as soon as they saw their plan thwarted.
"What were the King’s words, Agravain?"
"The Enforcement Knights shall be replenished to match the numbers lost. However..."
"However?"
"To secure victory, the Master of Chaldea must be brought within our fold. Furthermore, the King remarked that the enemy's assault could not yet be called their primary thrust... or so she said."
"...This wasn't the primary thrust?"
Ritsuka asked, her face turning pale.
Yet none of the Heroic Spirits present refuted those words. Bedivere, who was quietly polishing his blood-stained prosthetic arm, explained in a low voice.
"Because there were no Heroic Spirits among the enemy ranks. Had even one been present... they would have scaled the walls of Camelot. We, too, would have been forced to unleash our Noble Phantasms to hold them back."
"Ah..."
"Well, in a sense, it could be considered good news. The situation is still hopeful enough that the King does not need to intervene personally... And it likely means the enemy is not yet fully prepared. There is a possibility they haven't mastered the use of that 'Corruption' yet."
"But should it reach completion, we cannot know the scale of the disaster it will bring."
"Not even through the King's vision?"
"Unknown."
Agravain asserted sharply.
"The King possesses a power that is infinitely close to omniscience and can be described as omnipotent. Yet, she is neither truly omniscient nor truly omnipotent. Therefore, the King stated that even she does not know the nature of this 'Corruption.' Our duty as subjects is simply to clarify its mystery and respond accordingly."
"You speak truly. Its nature is irrelevant; it shall simply be cut down."
Lancelot nodded in agreement.
"But... how?"
"...That is the problem, Master Ritsuka."
"Master..."
"No, her point is valid. Thus far, we have faced several assaults from the legions joined by enemy Servants, and though Camelot has taken minor damage, we have achieved total victories without civilian casualties. However, none of those engagements included attacks from 'corrupted' Servants."
"...So, whatever it is, it's definitely dangerous."
"Currently, those who have encountered a Corrupted Servant at closest range are the other Master of Chaldea, Karma Kirigaya, and Sir Tristan. We must bring them back within these walls by any means necessary."
"I'm with you. Besides, without Tristan around, there's nobody to properly coordinate the Archer-knights," Mordred added, lending her support.
Indeed, to win this siege, they needed every ally they could get. Though none of them yet knew exactly what form that victory would take.
"And one more thing."
"Master Ritsuka?"
"What about the Old Men of the Mountain? Are we just going to leave them be?"
"...That is out of the question. It is because they have continuously harassed the enemy's rear that Camelot has been able to maintain a strategic advantage thus far."
"But Senpai, for Heroic Spirits, pride is... Moreover, they are believers. Whether the leaders of such a religious order would ever compromise with us..."
"So you're saying they acted that way because the person sent to represent Chaldea was Mr. Karma?"
"...That is not entirely wrong. They refused even to speak with Karma Kirigaya."
"Hmm... In that case, how about I go?"
In that instant, Mash, Gareth, and Mordred cried out in unison.
"Absolutely not!"
"Ack, you scared me!"
"Listen here, Master... do you have any idea where you're talking about? That place is a nightmare swarming with an army of at least 500,000! Even I don't go there for reconnaissance; I only pass by to hit and run for info exchange before riding the 'Arash Flight' back to the Holy City! If you go now, you're dead no matter who you bring!"
"...But there's no other way right now, is there? Reaching out like this is the right move, isn't it?"
"I’ll bet my eyes you’ll be captured and killed before you get halfway there," Mordred said, pressing a hand onto Ritsuka’s shoulder, while Gawain and Lancelot shook their heads in disapproval.
Bedivere stepped forward carefully and eased Mordred’s hand off.
"What’s with you, buzzkill?"
"She is a civilian, Mordred. Your grip is far too strong for her."
"...Tch, I know that much."
"Master, you see? Those outside are capable of crushing you with their bare hands. We cannot guarantee your safety in reaching the 'Mountain' through such a gauntlet."
"Is that so...?"
"Yes. Even if you were accompanied by either Sir Gawain or Sir Lancelot."
"But Mr. Karma went with Mr. Tristan."
"Master Karma is a different case. He possesses combat capabilities rivaling our own and techniques specialized in handling large numbers. That is why it was possible for him."
"Ungh..."
Ritsuka looked disappointed, but she soon nodded in reluctant acceptance. If all the core combatants deemed it impossible, then for all intents and purposes, it truly was.
However, one man who had been listening silently to the conversation gave a slow nod.
"Is that so, Master of Chaldea? Not bad."
"What?!"
"I believe it is a fine strategy. Depending on the execution, we might actually re-establish contact with the 'Mountain.'"
"Hey, you birdbrain! This girl is a Master too, not just that guy with the creepy eyes! Are you planning to use her as a sacrificial pawn?!"
"You are quite mistaken, Sir Mordred. I have no intention of using her as a pawn."
"Then you're going to send our Master into a place swarming with those crazy fanatics and incomprehensible phantoms? Get a grip! Not even that Potato Gorilla over there could guarantee safety in a place like that!"
"Why are you assuming that combat is the only option?"
Agravain opened his closed eyes and looked up at Mordred.
"By utilizing my vision, there is a high probability of finding a safe route to the Mountain that circumvents the enemy's perimeter. And if the Master of Chaldea’s hypothesis is correct, returning will not be an issue. The Saracen Archer will be able to fly her back to Chaldea directly."
"War isn't as simple as you make it sound! Maybe if Chaldea were relaying communications, it’d be different, but that Mage King bastard is halfway to trashing Chaldea right now! If we try to transmit, you think those Crusaders are just going to let us be?"
"That is precisely why you are going, Sir Mordred."
"...What?"
"The blessing the King bestowed upon you—the Gift of 'Insight.' Is that not the Gift that allows one to see through to the essence of things and make rational judgments in any situation?"
Mordred stared at Agravain as if he were talking utter nonsense.
In fact, it wasn't just Mordred; every Heroic Spirit in the room looked at Agravain with either disbelief or complete incomprehension. Yet Agravain continued, addressing Ritsuka as if his proposal were the most natural thing in the world.
"Master of Chaldea, though my vision is borrowed from the King, it is effectively the sight of a Divine Spirit. I can pave a route for you that will allow you to enter the Mountain safely, undetected by their forces. If we minimize the number of accompanying Enforcement Knights and Sir Mordred manages to suppress her temper and refrain from acting recklessly, I believe you will arrive safely at the Mountain. What are your thoughts on this operation?"
"It's madness! Hey, Master... I mean, Ritsuka, you’re not actually thinking of doing this, are you? Even a Gift isn't omnipotent! He calls it 'Insight,' but those guys have a Holy Grail! We can't even communicate in real-time, and you think we can breach a siege just because he took a quick peek? Even the King's power isn't all-powerful!"
"...Yeah, I agree. This is madness... Agravain."
"...I see."
All the other Servants breathed a sigh of relief.
Except for one... Mash.
Ritsuka let out a sheepish laugh, scratching the back of her head.
"So let's do it right now."
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