Chapter 60: I'm Going to Speed Up!
However, Shirou could already foresee what would happen next if he refused. He had no wish to see the tragedy he already knew repeat itself. Originally, Shirou intended to resolve things alone, but if he could gain an extra hand, that was naturally for the better.
"Hmm... Alright, I promise you. But there's no need for the money."
Having received Shirou's definite answer, a gentle smile appeared on Irisviel's face.
"That money is already useless to me. If it can be of some help to you, that is good; please accept it."
Irisviel's gaze met Saber's somewhat worried eyes before moving back to Shirou.
"Then... I leave it to you."
After Shirou accepted Irisviel's request, the maids of Castle Einzbern arrived and took her away. Until the Holy Grail War ended, Irisviel would remain in a deep sleep within the castle. Speaking of which, this plot point gave Shirou the feeling of a sleeping princess in a game.
While at Castle Einzbern, the maids took the opportunity to change Shirou into a brand-new white western suit and handed the twenty-odd million to him.
Standing in the dressing room, Shirou looked at the handsome youth in the full-length mirror wearing the white suit and couldn't help but joke: "I guess once you pass seven years old, you really can't dress like a child anymore."
"You are very humorous." The maid standing by looked at him expressionlessly.
After Shirou left the fitting room, Saber also emerged from the room where Irisviel was resting.
"Well then, let us form the contract."
The girl raised her gaze toward Shirou, her lapis-colored eyes filled with determination.
"Yeah, okay."
Shirou nodded and raised his right hand, which was adorned with Command Spells. Even after Karna had departed, the Command Spells remained, as if resonating with Shirou's still-burning heart.
"I declare—"
Hearing Shirou's voice, Saber's heart suddenly felt as though a certain magical connection was pulling her in.
"Thy soul shall dwell in me, and my fate shall rest upon thy sword. In accordance with the mandate of the Holy Grail, answer, if thou wilt submit to this will and this reason!"
The scarlet Command Spells released a brilliant light, and blue magical energy transformed into a whirlwind, surrounding the two of them.
"Then, if thou dost submit to this will and this justice, obey me and follow my thoughts to achieve our wish!"
Every magus and Servant can have their own style of forming a contract; Shirou was simply altering the contract slightly now. Hearing Shirou's declaration, Saber's eyes flickered slightly as she spoke.
"In the name of Saber, I accept this contract and acknowledge you as my Master—Orihara Shirou!"
The magical energy changed into an ascending current, causing their clothes and hair to float slightly in the air. At this moment, both Shirou and Saber could feel that a special connection had been established between them.
Shirou took the opportunity to check Saber's attributes.
Class: Saber Master: Orihara Shirou True Name: Artoria Pendragon Height: 154cm Weight: 42kg Strength: A | Endurance: B | Agility: B | Mana: A | Luck: A++ | Noble Phantasm: A++ Class Skills: Magic Resistance: A, Riding: A Personal Skills: Instinct: A, Mana Burst: A, Charisma: B Noble Phantasms: Excalibur: A++, Invisible Air: C
Looking at Saber's stats, Shirou showed a delighted smile.
"Truly impressive. With your help, Saber, I feel like we'll get twice the result with half the effort."
Thinking back to the scene of Shirou fighting Gilgamesh, the praised Saber felt a bit bashful instead.
"Mm... Is that so... I'm glad if I can be of help to you."
After that, wasting no more time, Shirou and Saber left the misty forest surrounding Castle Einzbern together.
"Suddenly becoming a wealthy person..."
Sitting in the passenger seat of the Mercedes-Benz, Shirou looked at the bank card in his hand with some emotion. Because Saber was present, Irisviel didn't think Shirou would go back on his word, so she had handed the money over directly.
Furthermore, the funds for traveling to the "Clock Tower" were now secured.
"Shall we set off immediately, Shirou?" asked Saber, her hands on the steering wheel, looking eager to try it out.
Shirou nodded: "Yeah, let's not waste time. Go straight to the airport."
"Then sit tight. I'm going to speed up!" Saber warned.
Shirou was taken aback for a moment, and then he heard the roar of the engine.
Vroom!
The moment Saber gripped the steering wheel, under the boost of her A-rank Class Skill "Riding," the entire sedan underwent a qualitative change. The power increased more than tenfold, and the previously somewhat aged appearance became brand-new. This car, its internals altered by magical energy, displayed a speed surpassing racing levels just at the start.
Strong winds poured in through the windows that hadn't been closed yet, messing up Shirou's red hair as the cold air of the winter night rushed in. In the silent night, the roar of the engine reached a level that could be considered a public nuisance, but not a single person dared to complain.
Given the various eerie events that had occurred over the past few days, even the most slow-witted person should have noticed something was wrong. No one dared to wander in a night filled with such unknown horrors, nor did anyone dare to voice any opinion on the abnormalities occurring outside.
As they were driving along a ring road, the abnormal magical energy in the air made Saber alert. No enemy figures were in sight, nor could she sense any killing intent hidden in the darkness... In that case, where would the enemy be hiding?
Under the condition where the moonlight was covered by clouds, the only source of light was the car's headlights. Saber observed the dense darkness around them; under that pitch-black shroud where one couldn't see their own hand, it felt as if the world outside this car had turned into an alien dimension.
Thump!
A loud noise suddenly came from the roof of the car. Saber's legs shifted slightly as she slammed on the brakes. The sound of tires suddenly screeching to a halt against the ground rang out immediately.
Screeech!
"Who is up there?!"
Once the car stopped, magical light surged in Saber's right hand. Her golden holy sword appeared instantly and, as she thrust it upward, it pierced directly through the roof! Following
Saber's strike, the enemy on the roof suddenly leaped up, a pitch-black figure landing in front of the car, facing them.
It was a tall, broad-shouldered Servant, completely covered in armor.
However, compared to Saber's tightly fitted blue-and-white armor, it was entirely different. This Servant's armor was black, without exquisite decorations or polished colors—only an extreme blackness like hell itself.
Even his face was covered by a helmet; deep in the narrow slits of the visor, only the scarlet light emitted by eyes burning like raging fire could be seen.