Chapter 96 The first night battle is over, but the night is still long!
On the scorched earth of the port, after successive fierce battles, the sound of waves crashing against the cliffs became clearer.
Lingering flames still flickered on the twisted steel plates of the warehouse, and in the distance, the siren of a fire truck could even be heard.
Evidently, Kenneth, who had set up a spell to drive people away beforehand, had quietly departed.
The severely wounded Diarmuid had also dissipated into spirit particles, leaving no trace.
Arthur was too lazy to pursue the two, as a single test revealed that they were not his mission targets and would not live much longer, making it not worth the effort.
He glanced at Artoria and Iskandar, who were wary of each other yet closely watching him, and asked in a loud voice,
"The commotion tonight has already become quite large. Do you still intend to continue fighting?"
Artoria's gaze swept over Arthur with a complex expression, then she silently retreated to Irisviel's side and turned to leave with her.
Iskandar, however, looked Arthur up and down with interest, and once again issued his characteristic invitation.
"Lionheart King, are you willing to submit to this King's command and share the joy of conquering the world?"
Hearing this simple-minded fellow actually dare to invite him to surrender, Arthur couldn't help but feel a headache, sighing as he pressed a hand to his forehead.
"I must say, participating in a Holy Grail War has made me fully understand the diversity of Servants."
"Stop joking, Conqueror. The only answer I can give you is this Holy Sword in my hand!"
Iskandar, not angered by the refusal, raised a hand and thoughtfully stroked his chin, analyzing,
"A Holy Sword—"
"Legend has it that the Lionheart King greatly admired King Arthur, even wielding anything he got his hands on as a Holy Sword. So, do you possess the same Noble Phantasm as Saber?"
As he spoke, Iskandar's mouth stretched into a wide grin, reaching his ears. He looked directly at Arthur, who did not show his true face, and teased,
"Although your words and actions just now were awkward, your fundamental purpose was still to avoid fighting King Arthur, wasn't it?"
"…Think what you like."
Arthur raised a hand to pull down his hood and turned to walk out of the port.
Seeing this, Iskandar laughed heartily, tugged on the reins, and the Gordius Wheel, enveloped in rolling thunder, soared into the sky.
From this moment on, the first night's battle officially concluded.
Not long after, Fuyuki City's fire department arrived at the port.
All that met their eyes were charred ruins, as if left behind after a saturation bombardment.
…
Fuyuki outskirts.
The silver-white luxury car sped along the forest path like an arrow released from a bowstring, so fast that it left afterimages!
Artoria, sitting in the passenger seat, gripped the armrest, a drop of cold sweat on her temple, and praised with a slightly dry voice,
"Your… your driving skills… are better than I imagined."
"Right? Don't look at me like this, I practiced hard."
Irisviel let out a soft exclamation, and the steering wheel sharply turned in her hands, causing the car to sway violently, nearly fishtailing!
"Don't worry~ We'll reach the castle soon, and then we can discuss the next strategy with Kirisugu, right?"
Artoria pursed her lips, a deep solemnity on her face that wouldn't dissipate, and slowly nodded.
Irisviel, with her divine driving skills, managed to observe her expression in a spare moment and asked with a puzzled tone,
"What's wrong, Saber? You've been distracted ever since leaving the battlefield. Are you worried about Kirisugu's scolding?"
"No."
Artoria calmly shook her head, her gaze fixed on her left hand, which was still unconsciously trembling, and said in a deep voice,
"Failing to detect the enemy's trap in time was indeed my negligence, but I was actually thinking about the Lionheart King."
"Lionheart King?"
Irisviel stomped on the accelerator, speeding through the intersection that was flashing yellow, and asked with unusual calmness, turning her head,
"Does Saber think there's something wrong with him?"
Artoria frowned deeply, speaking in a tone that was even uncertain to herself.
"I'm not clear yet. He is a Heroic Spirit who appeared after my era, and my interactions with him should only be limited to legends, but—"
She clenched her right hand, which was still free to move, and said seriously, word by word,
"But I always feel that his connection to me is even closer, as if…"
In a daze, a small knight in silver-red full armor flashed through her mind.
Artoria bit her silver teeth lightly, and her eyes instantly became even more complex.
Irisviel, driving, stole a moment and repeated,
"As if what?"
Artoria calmly shook her head and quickly changed the subject.
"Nothing, we've arrived."
Looking ahead, a European medieval-style castle stood in the mountains, which was the base of the Einzbern family.
Irisviel skillfully drifted around a bend, stopping with Artoria at the castle gate, then pushed the door open and got out of the car.
A man in a trench coat, with an unkempt beard and a face showing undisguised fatigue and vicissitude, stood silently beside the door.
The moment he saw Irisviel get out of the car, he quickly extinguished his cigarette and nodded steadily.
The man's name was Kiritsugu Emiya, Artoria's true Master.
He, who always adhered to highly efficient combat methods, had his wife act as the overt Master, while he himself hid in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity.
For instance, the many battles that took place in the port tonight had all been seen by this old fox through a high-precision sniper scope.
King Arthur's temporary setback, and the formidable strength of the other Servants, added a touch of gloom to the heart of this "Ally of Justice."
Kiritsugu Emiya forced a stiff smile at Irisviel and instructed,
"The castle's internal magical reactor and defensive fortifications have been activated. You two should rest for a while first."
"I still have some things to attend to tonight. I'll come and meet up with you later."
A hint of worry flashed in Irisviel's eyes, but then her expression became calm as she nodded, choosing to completely trust her beloved.
Artoria nodded solemnly: "Please rest assured, Master, I will always protect the lady."
"Ah, I'll leave it to you."
Kiritsugu Emiya took the car keys from Irisviel's hand and sped away in the roaring beast.
…
The ancient and elegant Matou old residence.
The black-armored Servant swept over the high wall like a ghost, casually put down his Master, and then stood silently.
Matou Kariya clutched his chest tightly, his life like a candle in the wind, staggering step by step to the main house door, weakly knocking twice.
Clatter—!
The wooden door suddenly opened, but no one was behind it.
A decaying and ancient voice drifted eerily from the depths of the mansion, filled with disdain for Matou Kariya.
"Ho ho ho, sure enough, you are still that useless failure."
"You've even missed your only chance for a sneak attack. What do you plan to trade with me now?"
Matou Kariya struggled to raise his head, his face, twisted and writhing by the Crest Worms, was hideous and terrifying, yet his eyes showed no hint of retreat.
He squeezed out his remaining strength from his body, letting out a resentful roar like a demon from hell.
"Anything is fine!"
"Take whatever you want!"
"Only that guy, Tokiomi! Only he must pay the price!!!"
After an unknown amount of time, the shriveled-headed, dwarfish old man—
Matou Zouken, slowly shuffled out from the shadows.
A viscous, inky blackness flashed deep within his cloudy eyes, and a sinister, evil smile spread across his lips.
"Good, then I'll help you one more time."
In the shadows, countless tiny insects stirred, responding to his words.