Zoe couldn't believe what she was seeing.
She was following Drako's orders, watching the entrance and exit of the Fuyuki airport. Zoe was waiting for Irisviel Einzbern and Saber to arrive in Japan so she could report to Drako, but she didn't expect this surprise.
"That's... Mordred?" Zoe mumbled unconsciously.
The first woman had long silver hair with red eyes, so she should be the Einzbern homunculus Drako mentioned. Irisviel wore a burgundy blouse with a brooch, a white skirt, thigh-high white boots, and black tights.
She was undoubtedly beautiful, someone who unwittingly emitted an air of nobility.
And the person accompanying her was the one Zoe had mistaken for Mordred.
Servant, Saber.
A young woman in her early-mid teens with a slender physique, soft skin, and green eyes. She has finely textured blonde hair that looks as if sprinkled with gold dust. Her face shows some signs of naivety and displays elegance. She is a really beautiful girl, but...
"Why is she dressed as a butler?" Zoe asked, talking to herself.
The Saber Servant of this Holy Grail War was dressed as a butler, with a dark blue dress shirt and necktie with a French continental dark suit. To be honest, those clothes suit her with her cold and hard face that does not give off a feminine complexion.
If she didn't know Mordred better, she would have confused the young girl for a man. However, her experience with Drako's Saber Servant was that this Servant is a girl.
"She is not Mordred; that idiot can't have that cold, serious air. But her appearance is exactly the same. She looks like a clone... Besides, she is a Saber... so she can only be..."
Zoe soon connected all the dots, correctly guessing the identity of this Servant.
"Servant Saber, Arthur Pendragon."
...
"Someone is watching us," Artoria told Irisviel.
"Huh? Never mind," Irisviel smiled in reply and looked at the butler's clothes she had asked to be made for Artoria. "I chose these clothes to create a balance with my appearance, maybe you don't like them?
"Oh, not at all. These clothes allow me to move freely, and I'm used to pretending to be a man."
The need to take her out of the armor was obvious. Still, it could not be denied that Irisviel had taken her fashion hobby too seriously.
Entrusting the suitcases leaving the cargo area to the maids who came with them, Irisviel and Saber went to the customs office empty-handed. After these two maidens sent the bags to the Einsbern's village in the forest outside the city of Fuyuki by a different route, they would arrange for their return home. They would not stay by Irisviel's side for the rest of this Heaven's Feel. There was no need to endanger unrelated people. On top of that, Irisviel would take care of her belongings herself, and the brave Saber would be the one to stay by her side.
Completing the procedures to enter this country without delay, it didn't take long before they were allowed to enter the airport lobby. But until they got there, every single officer on the road was surprised by Irisviel and Saber and averted their eyes as they passed, quickly making them uncomfortable.
"As I thought... Is there something wrong with my clothes?"
Feeling the looks of the people in the hall, Saber muttered this as if she was uncomfortable.
"Well, maybe they're too fancy..."
Irisviel could only smile bitterly, but to tell the truth, she was also the center of attention. Either way, they were both unrivaled beauties. Their eccentric clothes, so far from common sense, balanced their appearance quite well. The attention of the surroundings came not only from surprised looks but also from envy.
"Let's go. Worrying won't change the situation much."
Saying this, Irisviel pulled Saber by the hand with an annoyed face.
"At last we are in Japan. We must enjoy it as much as possible before the battle begins."
"No, Irisviel, it's not an enjoyable affair --"
While Saber continued to mumble, Irisviel walked as if she had springs in search of a cab. Somehow, Saber had not noticed until now how brightly she was shining.
…
"They have already arrived," Drako guessed when he saw Zoe arrive.
"That's right," Zoe said with a strange look on her face. "As for that Servant..."
"Sshh," Drako took a finger to his mouth. "It's a surprise for Mordred."
Zoe nodded her head.
"My work is done," Servant Archer said as she walked to her room. "I'm retiring for now, so tell me if you need my help."
"Rest easy," Drako said. "Now it is Mordred's turn to work."
"Are you sure about this?" Zoe asked Drako before entering her room.
"Of course," Drako responded with a smile. "Have I ever been wrong?"
"Sigh, whatever you say," Zoe said as she sighed. "You're going to do what you want anyway."
Drako shrugged, as Zoe was right. No matter what she told him, he was going to continue with his plans.
Zoe went into her room, and Drako opened the door to the next room. Inside, a blonde girl was reading a comic book.
"Get ready, tonight we're going to fight," Drako told her.
A smile appeared on Mordred's face.
…
Shortly after they both arrived in Fuyuki City, the sunset colored the eastern sun since some time had already passed since the beginning of the afternoon.
"How lively..."
As the rental cars drove through the park square in front of the station, the expression in Irisviel's eyes lit up as she was exposed to the afternoon traffic.
But for Saber, who was at her side, she was simply studying the surroundings just as a commander would study the battlefield's topography.
"Kiritsugu has already arrived here, right?"
"Yes. His arrival was arranged to take place half a day before ours."
Once inside the country, Kiritsugu had to hide its existence and followed a different route than Irisviel's group. He took a second class flight to the international airport of Shin-Ōsaka, and from there, he took a train to the city of Fuyuki.
"Will we meet him again?"
"We'll be fine. He will be the one who comes to us."
Saber didn't dare to show it, but she was quite surprised by the bread from Kiritsugu and Irisviel. So she didn't find them satisfactory enough.
"So, what's the plan now?"
"Right... For now, we must observe the changes in the situation and adapt accordingly."
"You mean we have nothing to do?"
"Exactly."
Irisviel let out a childish smile that Saber thought was naughty.
"What a waste. After we finally arrived in this distant country."
Smiling as she watched the traffic, Irisviel walked as her morale seemed low. At her side, Saber, feeling confused, followed her step steadily.
"And - how about trying to find the location of an enemy Servant?"
"Hmm. No way."
Rejecting the proposal without any expression, Irisviel turned around, watching her companion as if she were waiting for something.
"Tell me, Saber. Since we have this opportunity, we could take a look around the city. It might be interesting."
"..."
For a moment, Saber was surprised by the unexpected proposal but immediately recovered with a worried face.
"Irisviel. We cannot be unprepared. We need to consider Fuyuki's land as if it were enemy territory from this moment on. The Heaven's Feel has already begun."
"Yes. I will depend on you for that, Saber. If we approach a Servant, will you be able to notice?"
"Well... That's right."
"Dematerialized or not, Servants can perceive the presence of other Servants. Of course, everyone has his own affinity for seeking the enemy, and there are those like Assassin who can eliminate their presence."
"In my case, I can perceive presence within a radius of about 200 meters. Moreover, an opponent with the proper skill can alter that perception."
"I see... But here and now, there is no Servant of whom we are a target, is there?"
"That's right. But..."
"And what if he is not a Servant?" A man's voice caught them off guard.
"Who is there?" Artoria asked as she turned in the direction of the voice.
A young man and woman were barely ten yards away from them.
"You are..." Artoria's gaze was fixed on the woman. "Irisviel, get back!"
"Master, where are we going?"
"To the beach."
"Huh? What are we going to the beach for? I didn't bring my swimsuit," Mordred said as she made a confused face. "Ouch! Master!"
Drako hit Mordred's head when he heard her comment. It was necessary, something that had come out of instinct.
Was this idiot thinking of going to the beach to swim?
"Idiot, we're going to fight," Drako said. "Tonight, one of the more important events of this war is going to happen, so I hope you're ready to fight several Servants."
"Oh, are several Servants going to meet?" Mordred asked curiously. "How many of them?"
"The vast majority," Drako answered. "Saber, Lancer, Rider, Archer, and Berserker will be actively present, while Assassin will be watching in the shadows."
A smile appeared on Mordred's innocent face. This was why she had waited so long, to fight the Servants in the war and proclaim herself the victor.
As they advanced into the Fuyuki dusk, Drako turned to look at Mordred.
"What is your dream?" The dragon asked.
"Why do you ask that, Master?" Mordred asked in reply. "I told you that my dream is to repeat my father's test, pulling the sword from the rock. Thus I will prove that I too can be the king of Britain."
Yes, Drako already knew that. After all, one could say that Drako knew Mordred very well even before he summoned her. Fate/Apocrypha had shown him all of Mordred's faces, so how her innermost thoughts.
Well, almost four years with her had also made Drako get to know her much better. That's why Drako couldn't hold back; he wanted Mordred to accept her true desire.
"Are you sure that's what you want?" Drako asked.
"Of course," Mordred said. "I have to prove my father wrong, that I can be a king."
They had already arrived at the beach as they spoke. It's not as if they were walking, but running at high speeds. That's why it had only taken them a few minutes to get to this one.
"Have you ever thought of showing your father in person?" Drako asked Mordred seriously.
"What do you mean?"
"We're here," Drako didn't answer Mordred's question. "Don't do anything until I tell you to. This is an order."
"Yes, Master," Mordred answered without hesitation.
They arrived at the beach, where they found two women talking. Mordred thought the platinum-haired woman was special, but her gaze was fixed on the one dressed as a butler.
Although she looked like a boy... Mordred knew she was a woman. There was no doubt about it. She was never, ever going to forget that person.
"Master, let me fight," Mordred muttered, her face hidden by her bangs as she was bending over.
"Of course, I wouldn't have brought you if you weren't going to fight," Drako replied with a smile as he stroked Mordred's head. "How about this surprise? Didn't you want a chance to show that person what you're worth?"
"Thank you very much, Master. I really didn't expect this," Mordred said as she raised her head, a crazy smile on her face. "But I really appreciate it."
They approached Irisviel and Saber. The Servant was unable to sense the presence of the two as Drako was using [Stealth]. Still, it did not seem to last long as Mordred was broadcasting an intense assassination attempt.
Irisviel was talking to Artoria.
"It's true, but..."
"And what if he is not a Servant?" A man's voice caught them off guard.
"Who is there?" Artoria asked as she turned in the direction of the voice.
Her gaze was fixed on us, though she was shocked to see Mordred.
"You are..." Artoria's gaze was fixed on the woman. "Irisviel, get back!"
"What's happening?" Irisviel asked as she turned in the same direction as Artoria. "Who are you?"
Irisviel's gaze was also fixed on Mordred.
"Saber?" She asked unconsciously.
No, Irisviel realized that this person was not Artoria. Although her physical appearance was the same, the girl's own aura was not the same as Saber's. Her attitude, posture, and gestures were entirely different from those of the Knight King.
"Irisviel," Drako called the homunculus by her name, surprising her. "I don't think we should get involved in a father-son talk."
"You... how do you know my name?" Irisviel asked.
"I know many things, many of which affect you or your relatives that you have no idea about," Drako said. "I want to talk to you about something important, so why don't we step back a little?"
Irisviel was confused by what was happening but still nodded her head.
"Come on," she said before walking away from the beach.
"Irisviel!" Artoria called her. "Don't walk away from me, or I won't be able to protect you."
Saber was worried.
This man... he gave her an aura similar to her own, which made her feel that they both shared something in common. That's why she couldn't trust him. This boy was dangerous.
"Don't worry, King of Knights," Drako told her. "Irisviel is someone very important to the outcome of this war, so I won't let anything bad happen to her."
"How do I know you won't try to take her for yourself?" Artoria asked.
"I understand your concern, and Irisviel is fundamental to your goals," Drako said, making Saber shudder. "For you to have your wish, she has to die, doesn't she?"
"Yes, but..."
"Master said not to worry, so you don't have to worry," Mordred interrupted. "We're not interested in this Holy Grail."
Mordred's words calmed Artoria down a bit, but did not end up reassuring her. She knew who the woman in front of her was, more than anyone else. And that's why she couldn't believe his words.
"Well, it's not like you can stop me if I really want to take Irisviel," Drako said in a nonchalant tone as he followed Irisviel, leaving Mordred alone with Artoria.
Mordred and Artoria looked at each other. The tension was palpable in the air.
"What are you doing here, Mordred?" Artoria asked. "I am the Servant Saber. Have you degraded yourself so much that you are a Berserker?"
Even now, Artoria remained calm. Mordred hated that, she was still the same unemotional king. The same king who couldn't understand people.
"I am a Servant of the Saber-class too," Mordred said confidently.
Saber frowned. "That is not possible; there is only one Saber in each war."
"Master has already said we are not interested in this war," Mordred said. "We don't belong in this war. We are outside agents."
"I see," Artoria nodded, understanding Mordred's situation. Although she found the whole situation very odd, she didn't give it much thought. "So, what is your objective?"
An unpleasant smile appeared on Mordred's face.
"To kill you."
…
"How do you know my name?" Irisviel asked Drako.
"I told you, I know many things," Drako said with a smile. "All the details of the Servants of this war, their Masters, their backgrounds, and even their best-kept secrets."
"That's... very hard to believe," Irisviel said.
Drako understood that Irisviel would doubt the credibility of his words.
"How is Illya?" Drako asked.
This was his secret weapon. No one outside of Castle Einzbern should know of Irisviel's daughter's existence.
"You...!" Irisviel exclaimed in shock.
"Do you believe me now?" Drako asked. "I know everything; that's why I can say that Kiritsugu's dream is doomed to failure."
Irisviel was silent for a few seconds.
"The Holy Grail can grant Kiritsugu's wish..."
"It can't," Drako shook his head. "If it were a regular Holy Grail War, then... I might have a chance. And even then, it's very difficult to make it happen."
"It can't be..."
"Tell me, does Kiritsugu know an exact way to fulfill its dream?"
Once again, Irisviel was silent.
"The Holy Grail has a way to fulfill Kiritsugu's dream," she finally responded.
"That's right, but this Holy Grail is corrupt. It was the Einzberns who took care of that," Drako informed her to Irisviel's shock. "Stop the wars in this world... to do that, the grail will eradicate the humans."
"It can't be; that's not Kiritsugu's wish!"
"No, it is," Drako shook his head. "That way, wouldn't the wars end?"
Paragraph comment
Paragraph comment feature is now on the Web! Move mouse over any paragraph and click the icon to add your comment.
Also, you can always turn it off/on in Settings.
GOT IT