'Don't die, don't die! Don't die!! Please!!'
Olga Marie stared at the flickering, disconnected screen. This Singularity hadn't been implemented normally. The Master had performed a Rayshift without even entering a Coffin—crossing a truly dangerous bridge.
Because of that, he couldn't receive proper support from Chaldea.
Aside from borrowing Chaldea's power through his contracts with Servants, he was mostly fighting alone, using his own body. That was why the visual feed wouldn't work unless a communication link was established.
At the very least, Romani was continuously monitoring his vitals, so they could at least confirm whether he was alive or dead.
But as soon as the battle with Saber began, his vital data—which had been a steady yellow—began flashing a violent red. The Chaldea staff were in a state of total panic.
Yet, this was something they had to be prepared for.
The opponent was a legendary hero of overwhelming power, King Arthur. He was fighting a legend. It wouldn't be strange if he died this very second.
If it were just mana, he could recover—albeit inefficiently—by using the Saint Quartz found only within the Singularity. His physical body, however, was a different story.
Even with the Chaldea Mystic Code, a complete recovery was impossible; it could do little more than barely halt the bleeding.
And if he moved violently, the bleeding that had finally stopped would surely start again.
Olga Marie broke into a cold sweat, clenching her fists so hard her nails left marks in her palms.
She slowly looked up to check his vital status on another screen. The number of areas glowing red was more than one or two.
He had been in a state requiring urgent treatment, glowing yellow from the start. Yet, he had forced himself to keep going using Caster, the Chaldea Mystic Code, and emergency supplies.
It was as if he were using his own body like a 'tool.'
"Director..."
"I know, I'm watching too."
His leg was broken.
They couldn't tell exactly what had happened, but his leg was snapped, and his wounds had worsened.
He must have taken a direct hit from some attack. Maybe it was a Noble Phantasm, or maybe it was just a regular strike. Either way, he was on the verge of death.
No matter how strong one's tenacity, there were limits to a living being. Yet, even in his last communication, he had cracked a silly joke and laughed.
It wasn't a smile of assured victory, nor was it a hollow smile of total surrender. It was a reckless laugh that suggested he'd just try it first and think later—a truly hopeless attitude.
If he died, the Human Order was finished.
Understanding this, Olga Marie bit her lower lip hard. She hid her agitation. She was the Director of Chaldea.
If she wavered here, the remaining staff would waver even more.
"Don't panic! Keep monitoring his vitals. He's not dead yet! And don't stop the Proof of Existence! Even if he's alive, if his existence proof is distorted, he might vanish from that spot entirely! Since he went without a Coffin, there's a chance he won't be able to return to Chaldea at all!"
Some might think Olga Marie was a wicked woman. Her attitude—prioritizing the Human Order instead of worrying about the man suffering so much—seemed cold even to herself.
But Olga Marie couldn't afford to waver. The person at the top must never show agitation.
So, when no one was looking, she furrowed her brow. Her face, pale as a sheet, bloomed with an emotion that could have been fear or desperation.
'Please, come back alive... I'll make you a homemade lunch or whatever you want!! Please!!'
Just stay alive...!!
**
Saber pronounces the end.
She says the match is already over. Yeah, I'm one step away from the end. My legs won't move, and one of my arms finally snapped. It's a miracle the other one is even functioning.
But... it is moving, isn't it?
Even my broken leg is moving. My eyes still recognize Saber, and my heart hasn't broken yet!
I don't know if it's the effect of the drugs, or if surviving that damn Excalibur made my guts swell with misplaced confidence!!
I'm still alive!
Damn right I am!
I don't care if I'm bleeding!
I don't care if my bones are broken!
I don't care how much of a wreck my body is!! The fact remains that I'm alive right now, and my body is still moving! It's way too early to admit defeat.
"Excalibur..."
Magical energy is gathering in her sword again. It seems she intends to turn me into dust.
Saber is trying to kill me right now.
She wants to eradicate me immediately.
She's decided she can't leave me alone or give me any more time. She has recognized me as an enemy, an existence that must be dealt with urgently.
...That gave me a small sense of accomplishment. Last time, she didn't even look at me, treating me like a bug. I've moved up in the world quite a bit, haven't I?
Just as she was about to fire her Noble Phantasm—Boom!!—someone lunged from behind.
A blood-soaked Caster leapt up. This time, he was truly aiming to crush her spiritual core.
That was how it looked. He didn't have a specialized Noble Phantasm like Charlotte, but he had overwhelming physical stats.
His physical abilities, already quite high for a Caster, were being boosted by Runes to a level that, while not quite reaching his days as a Lancer, was close enough.
A man like Caster might be able to pull it off without any special skills. But Saber immediately turned her head toward the lunging Caster.
I screamed at the sight.
"Run!! Caster!!!"
Saber's expression said, 'I knew you would come.' Magical energy concentrated in her tightly gripped sword.
"Morgan!!!!"
Rumble—!! The wind pressure was insane.
K-boom!!! The light of the fallen holy sword poured out, completely swallowing Caster.
Flash—!!! The light that flew out as if to cleave Fuyuki in half was nothing short of a natural disaster. The fear I had suppressed seemed to carve itself into me once again.
I was amazed by Caster's power, which had protected me enough to survive such a crazy technique. But even for Caster, a direct hit from the holy sword was too much.
Caster's form, which had been clearly visible in the air, vanished. I stared at the back of my hand, where the Command Spells had faded into faint outlines, then looked at Saber with a hollow face.
"Caster...!! No way..."
As Charlotte muttered, Saber turned back to me with the same indifferent face.
She hadn't been aiming for me from the start.
Unlike me, who was a wreck and had lost combat capability, or Charlotte, whose Noble Phantasm had been figured out and was deemed irrelevant, Caster was a threat to Saber just by existing.
That was why she intentionally targeted me, the Master, to force Caster to lunge out. And then she immediately swung her Noble Phantasm.
From the beginning, that Noble Phantasm was meant to eliminate Caster, not me.
Even after using her holy sword—which had terrible fuel efficiency—twice in a row, Saber looked completely unfazed.
...Seriously, it's not even her own mana.
"Now, you're next. Assassin. Though it seems I won't even need a Noble Phantasm for you."
Saber walked toward the fallen Charlotte.
Even if she was too exhausted to move, a Servant was still a Servant. Moreover, since that carelessness almost led to her spiritual core being destroyed earlier, Charlotte's priority had clearly risen above mine again.
I reached into my pocket and pulled out something like a pebble. Caster had told me:
It's fine to use it, but be prepared for the consequences.
But if not now, when the hell would I use it?
If this body that couldn't even move could be made to move, I'd do anything right now.
Being picky about methods is a luxury for those with leeway. I injected my last miraculously intact dose of adrenaline.
Then, I activated the Rune I received from Caster.
...I'll use my body as a tool. A tool exists for a purpose. Whatever that purpose may be, a tool is something used to achieve it.
So, for my purpose, I will use the tool called my body, the tool called my mana, and the tool called my soul.
I'll use everything I can use, and I'll squeeze out every last drop of whatever I can squeeze...!!
"Now, farewell. Assas—"
Thud!!! I lunged forward and struck the back of Saber's head with all my might.
It wasn't a massive impact, but the sudden physical force made Saber stumble forward slightly. She turned to look at me with an expression of disbelief.
The bleeding, the wounds—none of it was normal. Just being alive was a feat in itself.
Yet, I had stood up again on a broken leg, and even lunged to strike the back of her head. She looked like she couldn't believe it.
"What's with that face, acting like it's all over!? Caster's gone!? My body's trashed!? There's no way to beat the holy sword!? So what!! If we just crush your spiritual core, it's our win!! I'll brag about it later!! I'll tell everyone I'm the man who smacked the King of Knights in the back of the head!!!"
"How... did you stand up?"
"Are you the type to explain your hand to the enemy one by one? I'm not. I'm no idiot."
Rumble!! I slammed my hand onto the ground, and a shockwave pushed Saber back.
Swoosh!! Saber sliced through a rock in mid-air and lunged at me.
I kept my hand firmly on the ground. I didn't care what kind of attack it was!! Oh, I'm sure it doesn't matter to you!!! Because no matter what I do, you can just ignore it all!
Whether I launch something with Transmutation Magecraft or try to bind you with Steel or Silk Threads, you can just smash through everything and charge like a beast!
Must be nice and convenient!!
"Since I have no mystery, you can just ignore my attacks, right? ...Then how about a weapon that has mystery?"
Thrust!! A wooden staff-like object shot up from the ground toward her heart. Saber, who had intended to ignore it as usual, suddenly twisted her body.
I swear, that 'Instinct' of yours needs a nerf.
The reality-warping correction is just too much! Sensing instinctively that she shouldn't be hit, Saber had forced her body to twist and dodge.
Yes, dodging was the right choice.
That was Caster's staff. I ran forward, grabbed the staff, and lunged at Saber.
"They say a Catalyst doesn't disappear even if the Heroic Spirit retreats, right!? With this, I can pierce your heart!!"
"Vain hope is a disease at that level."
Slash!! She swung downward. Caster's staff was cleaved in two, and blood sprayed from my shoulder.
...I forced my threads out, binding the wound tightly to compress it and stop the bleeding. I can't afford to lose any more blood!
But the pain from compressing the wound was not something a sane person could endure.
"Aaaaaagh!!!!"
I rolled on the ground, screaming. The threads soaked up the blood, sealing the wound! Stop it! Stop it!! I said stop it!!
Tears flowed and cold sweat poured down, completely independent of my will. Saber said nothing as she watched me.
Only after screaming until I coughed—hack, wheeze—did I calm down and pick myself up again. Don't ask how I stood up; what else could it be but a Rune?
The Rune of Continuation. It allows one to move for a short time even after taking fatal damage. He said it was a one-time use since it was made in a hurry. But with this, I can fight a little longer.
I'll win, no matter what!
"Do you intend to move forward by winning so painfully, so pathetically?"
"Spoken like a true King of Knights! Even after being blackened, your core remains the same!? What does it matter if I'm pathetic, selfish, ugly, uncool, or disgusting!? Listen up! You're trying to steal everyone's future out of nowhere! The mastermind might have his reasons!! But those reasons don't justify stealing my future! Except for us in Chaldea, everyone else died without even knowing they were being robbed!! They just vanished!!"
I forced my cheeks upward. I pulled them hard, as if forcing a smile.
My face, a mess of tears, blood, and wounds, certainly wasn't pretty. But through dying and being wounded over and over, I realized something.
Who cares if it looks bad!? What does it matter!! I have to win!! I have to survive!!!
"I'll have the last laugh!! After I punch the mastermind hard enough to knock his teeth out!!! I'm going to live my life smiling!!! I don't want to do any self-sacrifice!! I don't want to die!! I have no intention of ending this story beautifully!! I want a long, ugly conclusion to this mediocre work until I'm an old man!! Even if someone curses me!! At least I want to end with a smile!!! I will beat the one who took away even that chance, that possibility of a future!! And you're in my way!!! Saber!!"
Coughing up blood, I stepped back.
I won't die! Dying once in a lifetime is more than enough!! I'm speaking from experience, so I'm definitely right!!
I want to die while someone—even if they're not family—watches me with tears in their eyes! Me!! I want to die peacefully! Why!? Because I'm a pacifist!! I hate chaos! I hate confusion! I might need a little excitement, but not this much! I'm taking back my stolen peace!
Damn it!! Whether that bastard despaired of humanity, the world, the future, or whatever—it has nothing to do with me! That doesn't give him the right to unilaterally steal my—our—future!!
Our future belongs to us!! And if he tries to take it by force!! I'll use any means necessary to take it back!!
That's why I'm fighting!!!
"Fine grit. But a heart alone cannot walk through this hell! Master of Chaldea!!"
Boom!! Someone lunged from behind Saber. It was Charlotte. Perhaps remembering how she was nearly stabbed in the spiritual core earlier, Saber reacted quickly despite her Instinct skill and sliced Charlotte apart.
Crumble... The Charlotte she sliced through turned into rock and collapsed.
'Could it be...' She looked at me.
This was a drastic measure. I didn't want to use it. My mana consumption was insane.
Boom! Another Charlotte lunged out, and Saber swung her sword again. But this one also turned to rock and vanished.
When she swung a wave of sword pressure at a Charlotte lunging from a distance, that one vanished too. Saber furrowed her brow and glared at me.
"Where are you getting such mana..."
I showed her the strange, rainbow-colored pebble in my hand. The Saint Quartz, slowly dissolving, was restoring my mana.
Inefficient? Absolutely!! A waste? I don't care! If I die here, it's all over!
If I lose here, then as frustrating as it is, Saber is right—I won't be able to walk forward! No!! Right now, I don't give a damn about the future!!
I!! Just!! Want to beat you!!
I don't want to lose to you! I don't want to die by your hand!! That's the only source of the grit and spite driving me right now!!
"You have many petty tricks! They only cause confusion! You cannot harm me! What you are doing is not a means to defeat me, but a mere waste of time!!"
"Then try and cut me!! You're the one talking big while being too scared of Charlotte's Noble Phantasm to even approach!! I'm right here!! You have that grand Holy Grail!! You have that powerful Holy Sword!! You have a history everyone knows!! And yet, you can't even kill one blood-soaked weakling who looks like he's about to collapse!! You're a disgrace to the name King of Knights!! Saber!!"
Boom! Another Charlotte leapt up. ...Eh? I didn't use one just now.
Saber clicked her tongue and, looking annoyed, fired a wave of sword pressure before trying to lunge at me. She was falling for the provocation and trying to close in. I widened my one remaining eye. This wasn't part of my plan.
Why...? How? That was my first thought.
Splatter—!! Blood sprayed. But Saber didn't notice and kept coming for me. If you asked why, it was simply 'luck'—Saber didn't hear the smell of that blood, nor the sound of it pouring out.
"... ...What!?"
"Char—Charlotte!!!"
Slashed and pouring blood, Charlotte lunged at Saber. She leapt with a venomous fighting spirit in her eyes.
**
Charlotte Corday is an ordinary girl.
She was just a girl who, by pure chance, succeeded in an assassination. If nothing had happened, she would have been an ordinary girl who ended her life reading her favorite books in a convent.
She was a mediocre person who would never have left her name in history. But her life changed when the convent closed in the aftermath of the French Revolution.
Blood flows, and screams are heard. She doesn't know whose blood it is, or whose scream.
She shed tears of regret as things were unilaterally taken away and vanished. Charlotte, who was incompetent, ignorant, and literally 'nothing,' could do nothing.
She couldn't do anything. An ordinary person like her couldn't change the world.
Charlotte understood that she could never be a hero.
But nonetheless, she devised a plan that could only be called reckless. She walked with a dagger in her hand.
She walked even though she understood that the path led to hell. Things were taken; she walked simply because she was frustrated. That fact was so frustrating. Things are taken unilaterally, and no proper compensation is given.
The evil known as tyranny was living by devouring the vitality of the French people.
The future vanishes, hope vanishes, and smiles vanish.
That is why Charlotte challenged it.
Countless emotions and countless thoughts swirled in her heart like a storm. There was anger, hatred, sadness, and resentment.
But as she moved toward the assassination, only one thought occupied Charlotte's mind. She was going to take back what had been stolen from France.
She was going to restore the France she knew. Her heart was impatient; perhaps she should have planned more thoroughly, but she ran anyway.
She ran, and ran, and ran, and finally reached her target.
In the end, that assassination meant nothing, but she still thought: she hoped that because of that assassination, someone would smile, and someone would regain something.
Does anyone have the right to steal the future? That's what the Master said.
Whatever the ideology, belief, pride, heart, desire, or mission—does that give one the right to steal?
Is that a reason to inflict pain on people who would otherwise live ordinary lives?
'Master... I think I know why I was summoned. I was summoned to meet you.'
The time they spent together was truly short.
They had only fought one Saber together; it was far too short to form a deep bond. But nonetheless, Charlotte thought from the bottom of her heart: she recognized this man as her Master, and as someone special to her.
He had believed in Charlotte from beginning to end.
Even after seeing her weak stats, even knowing Charlotte's history of dying pointlessly, even though her only achievement was a stroke of luck—he didn't laugh at her.
Instead, he praised her as being stronger than himself and even built a plan around her, calling luck the ultimate weapon.
Charlotte, feeling burdened and unable to believe in herself, was horrified when she heard the plan. But he, the Master, believed in Charlotte.
It was a mercilessly strong trust.
He believed in the Charlotte he had just met. Therefore, Charlotte had to believe in her Master too. She would not let her Master's plan fail.
She had to try again and again. She had to destroy Saber's spiritual core. She believed in the Master who believed in her.
She would not let the Master's plan fail.
For the first time since that assassination, Charlotte harbored a venomous intent.
She held a sense of mission in her heart that she had to be the one to do it. She had become a Heroic Spirit by mere luck. Mere luck. She was just a mediocre person who happened to become a Heroic Spirit of the Human Order through a series of coincidences.
Moreover, her deeds held no great meaning. In the midst of such discouragement and frustration, she met someone who affirmed and trusted her.
To trust Charlotte in this abnormal situation, a situation that required only overwhelming combat power.
What a foolish Master he was.
She found herself wanting to see that foolish Master's bright smile. Truly. That was why Charlotte lunged forward, covered in blood.
'La Rêve Ensoleillé!!'
The glowing Rune was a given. It was a Rune Caster had prepared. It was the same Rune of Continuation the Master had.
Normally, it would have taken much longer to create, but like the Master's, it was a one-time use, and since it was made in even less time, it had a very tight time limit.
Therefore, if this strike failed, Charlotte would retreat.
The blood flowing from Saber's strike was not normal. Even in such pain, the Master was trying to fight. He was trying to move forward while trembling with fear of Saber.
Therefore, Charlotte also lunged. Harboring a beautiful venom, determined to succeed.
'Her reaction is slower than before!'
Asking why was a foolish question.
Earlier, because Saber didn't know Charlotte—didn't know her history or her Noble Phantasm—she almost had her vitals pierced.
But there was a great secret hidden there. Charlotte's Noble Phantasm, La Rêve Ensoleillé, becomes more efficient at assassination the more the opponent knows about her.
Saber, who knew almost nothing about Charlotte, now knew her Noble Phantasm, her personality, her voice, her face, and her danger.
Therefore, with the effect of the Noble Phantasm even stronger than before, Saber was only able to notice her after she had gotten even closer than last time.
Moreover, because of the Master's puppet tactics, she hadn't even considered that it might be the real Charlotte.
If she was caught earlier because she didn't know Charlotte, this time she was caught because she did know her.
'And if you ask me which side is easier to stab! The answer is very simple!!'
Stabbing someone who knows Charlotte is several times easier!!
Squelch!!! It penetrated even the armor and pierced her heart directly.
Wham!! Saber struck Charlotte's face hard.
She had reacted even though Charlotte had gotten this close. With a crash!!, Charlotte was sent flying backward. Before she could hit the ground, someone caught her.
She didn't need to look to know who it was. The Master, despite saying it was more efficient not to, was trying to protect his Servant.
Ah, what a foolish, pure, and lovely person.
Charlotte smiled at the Master with an exhausted face and said:
"Master, you weren't wrong. ...Your plan is a success."
"..."
The Master wore a surprised face. Then, he laughed as if it were absurd.
"See... I told you. You're the best Servant."
Knowing fear, and walking forward against it. Charlotte endured the throbbing pain.
This wouldn't last long.
Charlotte would likely retreat the moment the effect of the Rune of Continuation faded. It was absurd for Charlotte, an inherently weak Servant, to hold out against the King of Knights, Artoria Pendragon.
Various strategies, various situations...
Yes, it only happened because 'luck' was on their side. She wanted to be with the Master until the very end, whether in victory or defeat, but her retreat seemed imminent.
It all depended on how long the Rune of Continuation could hold out.
"...Girl, your name?"
Saber suddenly asked for Charlotte's name.
"I-It's Charlotte Corday."
"...Your attack was magnificent. I could not block it despite it being the second time. No, rather, in this case, it might be more accurate to say it succeeded because it was the second time."
Saber seemed to have understood what kind of Noble Phantasm Charlotte's was the moment she was stabbed. Yet, she still appeared composed.
Unlike before, Charlotte had felt a definite sensation at her fingertips. Charlotte looked at the composed Saber.
...She looked terrifying. She truly understood and empathized with the Master's constant claims of being scared. That was definitely scary. As her venom vanished with her success, the fear of Saber seemed to revive within Charlotte.
But at the same time, she was certain that if the same situation arose, she could do it again.
It seemed Charlotte was quite devoted when it came to love.
"I pierced your spiritual core for sure. You're quite the bluffer."
"It was indeed pierced. ...But it was not destroyed. If it is not destroyed, it is meaningless. Your attack was magnificent, and your heart was great. I pay my respects once again to the two weaklings who drove me this far after losing Caster. But that is the end. Ultimately, a spiritual core that is not destroyed will recover with time and mana. And the Holy Grail's basic role is to replace that consumed time with mana. No matter how it's a spiritual core, if it's just a few cracks, regenerating it is simple... ...No."
Only then did Saber feel something was wrong. The wound, which normally should have been almost completely regenerated by now, was regenerating at an unnervingly slow pace.
And then—Heh, heh—someone's despicable laughter was heard. The man next to Charlotte was laughing.
He laughed as if mocking Saber.
The wicked laughter didn't sound like someone trying to save the Human Order. Slowly raising his head toward the bewildered Saber, the Master shouted:
"We won, you bitch."
Raising his middle finger, the Master spoke.
**
Saber, with cracks in her spiritual core, looks at me with a bewildered face.
Panting, I feel my death approaching. I felt an illusion as if my vision had momentarily gone dark. Even so, I keep my eyes open and look at Saber.
It felt like my body was gradually becoming paralyzed. Maybe the effect of the Rune of Continuation is finally wearing off. The pain I had forgotten through drugs and the approaching death firmly grabbed me by the scruff of the neck.
It felt like the Grim Reaper was holding his scythe, urging me that it was time to go.
Even so, it doesn't matter. I win. I win! I win!!!
"Ah, yeah. ...I wanted to see that face."
"The authority over the Greater Grail...!! But who on earth!!"
"It's Caster, who else?"
"What are you talking about? Caster definitely..."
I placed my hand on the ground. Your learning ability is quite low, isn't it?
Her reason must have been eroded by the blackening, and since she came here not for a match but to finish things off, she must have been completely off guard. Not being wary, seeing us as weaklings—I'm truly grateful for that.
The earth beside me rose up and took the shape of a person. It was Caster. As soon as she saw him, Saber's eyes widened.
"He didn't retreat. This staff isn't a Catalyst either. It was all a lie. Pretty good acting, right? Fighting you like a madman here was all to fulfill Plan B."
Plan B was, simply put, for Charlotte and me to draw Saber's aggro while Caster seized control of the Greater Grail.
But since it had not one or two, but many fatal flaws, it was honestly a suicidal plan.
The 'B' in Plan B surely stood for 'Bullshit.' This was truly not something a human should do.
If there was anything unexpected, it was that I didn't know Charlotte would suddenly lunge and stab her dagger into Saber's spiritual core.
Charlotte made my plan a success. As expected, the Servant I summoned might not be the strongest, but she was the best. I had summoned exactly the right Servant for this place.
Hahaha, as victory approached, a smile formed even though the pain felt like it would drive me crazy.
The effect of the drugs was gradually wearing off, and pain pierced my entire body. The Rune of Continuation was also losing its light. Even so, I laugh.
Look at that expression on Saber! If I don't laugh now, when the hell will I!
"You're the idiot for believing everything an enemy says so easily!! Thank you so much!! For seeing only Caster as a worthy opponent and looking down on Charlotte and me as unworthy enemies until the end!! For remaining as the one testing me until the end!! For having confidence in your overwhelming power until the end!! Thanks to that, I—no, we win!!! How does it feel!? To not be able to protect your country or the Greater Grail!? You couldn't protect anything and lost it all with those hands!! You idiot!!"
As Saber's expression darkened further, I kept shouting in an exhilarated mood, though I couldn't tell if it was because of the drugs, the wounds, or the success of the mission.
"That's why your own wife cheated on you with your subordinate! And your high-ranking officials were slaughtered by that subordinate!! And your country was destroyed by your own clone!! Thank you so much for keeping that stupidity even after becoming a Heroic Spirit!!"
Charlotte, beside me, was panting and looking at me as if she had something to say.
Yeah! You say something too! Tell her you almost got cut in half too!!
She's the one who's been tormenting us! As one half of the Chicken Duo, you have the right to say something too!!
"You say something too!! Tell her how it feels for the King of Knights to have her spiritual core pierced by an ordinary girl!!"
Charlotte went, "Um..." and after a moment of silence, she looked at me and said:
"Master... I hate to say this, but I'm starting to doubt your humanity."
"Wait, why!? After seeing the state I'm in, why are you taking her side!? Whose side are you on!?"
"I'm on your side, Master. But I still doubt your humanity."
Don't say it twice! You're pale and in pain, but you just had to say that!?
In the first place, we only won because this was Saber Alter. If it were the original, she wouldn't have fallen for my cheap provocations, even if she might have blamed herself.
The original's high Instinct is even more troublesome, and since she's not blackened, her reason isn't eroded, so she's cautious.
Her Charisma rank would also be higher, so I might have fainted the moment I met her. In the end, she gained that overwhelming power because she was blackened, but she's losing because she's blackened.
It was quite ironic.
Saber remained silent for a moment, then gripped her sword and said:
"Well thought out. But how do you plan to hold out until Caster arrives? This place is quite far from the Greater Grail. Before then, I will... eliminate you..."
I showed her the back of my hand. I used one stroke in the battle against Heracles, and two strokes while fighting Saber.
Therefore, I had consumed all the Command Spells a Master could have and lost all authority to command a Servant.
In a normal Holy Grail War, it would be the absolute worst-case scenario where, if trust hadn't been established, one might be killed by their own Servant. These Command Spells definitely appeared when I came to Fuyuki.
But these Command Spells were not granted by the Fuyuki Holy Grail. That point had to be made clear.
"Why do you think I'm explaining all this to you one by one!? It's because I'm sure I've won!!"
Chaldea's Command Spells have weak binding force.
In exchange, due to the Chaldea system, one stroke is automatically restored at midnight.
Stalling for time was partly for Caster to seize the Greater Grail, but it was also to wait for midnight, for the day to change, so I could get another Command Spell. Saber's expression began to contort.
The mask-like expression she had held in her overwhelming advantage and superiority vanished, and only now did she have a human-like face.
I told you, I'll definitely win!!!!
"By this Command Spell, I order!!"
"Tch!!"
Saber lunged at me. Charlotte stood in front as if to protect me.
"Come! Caster!!!"
Boom!! A sound echoed.
Crack!! Caster's foot, appearing out of thin air, struck Saber squarely in the abdomen. Saber, sent flying, glared at the appearing Caster.
Stumbling, I was about to fall forward. Caster caught and supported me with one hand.
...This hand didn't budge an inch, which was very reassuring. Caster looked at me and said:
"Truly... you did magnificently, to a delightfully absurd degree. Chicken Duo."
The Caster who appeared was smiling.
He looked truly proud. Charlotte and I were half-hanging onto Caster.
...Waaaaah, Caster! That bitch bullied us!
I was the one who made the plan, but Plan B was crazy no matter how I thought about it. I don't know what I was thinking when I made it. Why did I agree to do this when I suggested it?
As the tension released, fear seemed to eat away at my heart all at once.
"Ca-Caster...!!"
"Caster... can I fall for you?"
"No, obviously not."
I said, leaning on his arm:
"...Call us."
"Yeah?"
"The Munchkin Duo, will you?"
I think we deserve to be called that after cracking the spiritual core of the King of Knights while she was full of mana.
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