Chapter 27: Roses Bloom Under the Moonlight
Under the cool, clear moonlight, the girl stood quietly amidst the forest, like a blooming rose. Yet, this was a rose of dangerous beauty.
Waver Velvet found himself momentarily entranced as he stood atop the Gordius Wheel, unable to look away. She was stunning, an ethereal beauty, like a celestial being not of this world.
This was not some seductive charm like a magical glamour, the kind that Rider would have dismissed by running her over with the chariot. No, it was a pure and overwhelming beauty.
Though it was the second time encountering Avenger, Waver, whose mind could normally process thousands of magical concepts, found his thoughts muddled and incapable of describing her properly. She was simply otherworldly, as if plucked straight from a fable.
For a fleeting moment, Waver felt a pang of envy—why was it that the Servants summoned by the Einzbern family were always so breathtaking, while he had summoned a towering, two-meter-tall, muscle-bound brute?
Soft blue stardust, formed from condensed magical energy, slowly rose from the ground, casting a mystical glow upon the land.
The girl's hair, black as shadows, was tied into two ponytails, one long and one short, resembling the hands of a clock in a deliberate and ritualistic manner.
One of her eyes, a cold and mechanical gold, gleamed like a clock's face. The other, a large, blood-red orb, radiated an aura of overwhelming dominance, as though her very lineage demanded submission.
Her delicate and gentle features were so perfectly crafted, they seemed more fitting for a doll than a human. Beneath her black and red gothic choker lay expanses of pale, flawless skin. Her slim black straps appeared so fragile they might snap at any moment, while her figure was both graceful and enticing.
Of course, it would have been better if she wasn't pointing a gun at them.
This delicate girl exuded a terrible, ghostly malevolence, as if she had personally killed tens of thousands of people.
Waver shivered, shrinking back into the safety of Rider's chariot.
Rider's large hand patted Waver on the head, leaning down with a teasing grin.
"I say, lad, are you falling for her? You seem quite smitten."
"Shut up, you idiot! What are you talking about!?" Waver snapped back, trying to stand up but finding himself pinned under Rider's heavy hand.
Ignoring the banter between Master and Servant, Kurumi's cold, distant voice echoed through the forest.
"Do you want to die?"
Her voice, naturally soft, carried a bitter chill now, each word like a blade of ice. It was as if a noblewoman, resting peacefully, had been rudely interrupted by commoners.
"Hmm." Rider scratched his head, clearly unbothered. "It seems Avenger really is allied with Saber."
"I already told you that, you idiot!" Waver protested, his small fists pounding Rider's side in frustration.
"Well, you were mumbling so much, I didn't catch half of it." Rider's hand gently pushed his Master back down.
"I'm just here to have a drink with Saber," Rider said cheerfully, gesturing with his thumb to the large wooden barrel of wine behind him. "See?"
"Hey! Saber! I came all this way to have a drink with you! Hurry up and come out!" he called loudly toward the barrier, addressing the hidden castle beyond Kurumi.
Kurumi's eyebrow twitched, barely suppressing the urge to shoot Rider on the spot.
"Let them in," came Kiritsugu's voice through the mental link, calm but firm. "That fool is harmless."
Kiritsugu had already encountered Iskandar, the King of Conquerors, in a previous Holy Grail War. To him, Rider's straightforward nature was so predictable that it bordered on idiotic.
Saber glanced at Kiritsugu in confusion. What is this man thinking?
...
"Irisviel, lower the barrier. We have more guests arriving," Kurumi said to the shadows before lowering her gun and slipping into the high winter uniform.
"Follow me," she said, her tone once again prim and proper, as if she were the noble lady she appeared to be.
"See? She's quite friendly," Rider grinned, flashing his white teeth in a broad smile.
With a tug, Rider pulled Waver back to his feet, preparing to follow. However, Waver remained curled up in the chariot, his face plainly expressing his desire to run away and go home. Iskandar, you idiot! How could he just barge into someone's magical workshop like this?
"Oh, by the way," Kurumi turned her head slightly, her blood-red eye glaring at Rider and Waver with cold intent. "If you knock over even a single tree, I'll kill you both."
Gulp.
Waver swallowed hard, clutching Rider's pants in near panic. "R-Rider, let's walk instead!"
"Well, I suppose there's no choice then. Seems she really doesn't like us pruning trees." Casually tucking the large barrel of wine under one arm, Rider grabbed Waver by the scruff of his neck, lifting him up like a kitten. "Let's go, boy."
Kurumi led them toward the castle's outer terrace.
Meanwhile, Waver's eyes widened in shock as he saw another Kurumi standing there, identical to the first. A clone! Just like Assassin, she could create multiple versions of herself!
Sensing his realization, Kurumi's lips curled into a faint smile. "Other guests are coming, after all. Isn't that right, Rider?"
"Indeed. That flashy golden fellow should be here soon."
But Rider had little time to ponder this, as they reached the castle terrace, where Saber and Irisviel awaited, standing with the elegance befitting their station. The Conqueror King gave a mighty thump to his chest.
"Saber! How do you like my attire, huh?" He tugged at the fabric of his large, emblazoned tunic.
"You idiot, you're wearing a t-shirt, and she's in a suit!" Waver yelled, pummeling Rider's side again.
"Hmm, so it's not formal enough?" Rider pondered, scratching his chin. "Oh well, no matter!"
"And what are you doing here, Rider?" Saber's voice was stern, her gaze sharp as she questioned him.
"Isn't it obvious? I came to have a drink with you!" Rider boomed with laughter. "No need to stand around, show us to the banquet hall! Got any good spots for a party?"
Despite the absurdity of his request, the group from Einzbern could only look at each other in confusion. How could they even be angry at such a man? He seemed more like a friendly tavern keeper than a fellow participant in the war.
"Follow me, then."
...
At the forest's edge, Kurumi watched as the golden figure aboard a radiant vessel of gold and emerald approached.
The final "guest" had arrived.
As for the others?
Kurumi's blood-red eye gleamed with a cold, murderous light.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone