Chapitre 494: C494
The plane arrived in Romania.
In some hidden corners of the airport, magic circles were everywhere. Without a doubt, these were set up to restrict the entry and exit of magi. The main reason for this, perhaps, was to prevent third-rate magi from entering Trifas, obtaining command spells, and becoming a master.
Shirou quickly went over the information he'd picked up on the plane. He now knew the battleground was set in the quaint town of Trifas in Romania.
The magi managing the land were the Yggdmillennia Clan, the organizer behind this Holy Grail War. On the other side were the magi from the Clock Tower, who labeled the Clan as traitors.
At this point, the real problem wasn't the seven Masters squaring off against each other but the looming clash, something never seen before, of seven Servants against another seven.
A skirmish between just two Servants could leave nearby buildings in ruins. Thinking of a head-to-head between two groups, each with seven Servants, it was obvious the damage would be colossal.
However, when he carefully considered it from his own perspective, it felt like nothing more than a child's game.
And he couldn't help but feel exasperated about having to participate in such a childish game.
Regardless, he figured he'd head to Trifas and figure things out from there.
It took him over a day to finally land at Henri Coandă International Airport in Bucharest, Romania's capital, considering all the layovers and wait times.
Due to the Reverse Transformation, he had absorbed a substantial amount of mana during the journey, increasing his [Mortal Awakening] to approximately 8%.
By the time he set foot on Romanian soil, it was already afternoon. The sky was pretty grim, blanketed with thick, dark clouds.
Yet, even under such a dreary sky, that black ring hanging above was hard to miss.
So...
He couldn't help but think, "What on earth is that?"
He had first spotted that black ring while he was in Shinjuku. At the time, he just brushed it off, thinking it was some ordinary weather phenomenon.
Yet, as the plane continued its flight, the ring was persistently visible. Now, even halfway around the world in Romania, it was still there, looming large. It seemed like no matter where you were on Earth, this ring was visible.
Actually, it wasn't just a hunch. He'd asked around. Others saw it too, and some even had more knowledge about it than he did.
Turns out, this black ring first showed up in the sky sixty years ago.
Scientists from various countries had used various scientific methods to test it, but unfortunately, they yielded no results.
No mass, no energy, no reaction—it was as if it was just an illusion.
Countries in this world attached great importance to it, investing substantial funds in research, but gained nothing.
It didn't register in terms of mass or energy, and it didn't even disturb the magnetic field.
In simple terms, it was something that seemed to not exist at all.
However, it undeniably existed right above people's heads. By simply looking up, one could see this black ring, resembling the Sword of Damocles hanging over humanity.
Outside the airport, Shirou's eyes were fixed on the ring.
For the sake of blending in, he was dressed in a sleek black suit. His build was lean, complemented by long arms and legs and an upright posture, giving off an aura of a gentleman. But no pickpockets dared to target him, nor did any curious onlookers approach.
It wasn't because he looked unappealing. Instead, his use of the "All the World's Evil" to reverse his Saint Graph meant he naturally radiated a chill, an aura that warned people to keep their distance.
He let his eyes drop. He wasn't the kind to pry into matters that weren't his concern. If someone needed help and he could provide it, he'd jump in without a second thought. But this black ring was unfamiliar to him, and he saw no reason to be concerned about it.
The immediate concern was his current status as an unaffiliated Assassin. He had more pressing matters to deal with than some black ring.
Win the Holy Grail, connect with the old man through this Holy Grail, and then retrieve his physical body.
...
Romania was still developing, its economy in the growth phase and much of its infrastructure was quite outdated.
In the capital, Bucharest, there were signs of prosperity, but the rural towns and smaller villages were a different story, evidently lagging behind.
What was particularly important was the lack of a direct official train line from Bucharest to Trifas, meaning he'd have to arrange and pay for his travel.
Outside Henri Coandă International Airport, a swarm of minibus drivers could be seen, but given the impending Holy Grail War in Trifas, not many seemed keen on driving him there.
It might have something to do with the Yggdmillennia Clan. Still, as the saying goes, money makes the world go round. After a bit of negotiation, he found a driver willing to take the fare to Trifas, though at a rate that was two to three times the usual cost.
Shirou didn't hesitate. He had set aside a considerable budget for the war, so there was no reason to pinch pennies. Not to mention, he didn't really care about money right now.
It was almost comical. He, who had once been obsessed with dreams of wealth and luxury, was now indifferent to money.
Such irony.
His driver was a middle-aged man with a face marked by life's hardships, looking every bit the part of someone who lived simply and worked hard.
After he got in, the driver didn't hit the road right away but continued to gather more passengers heading to Trifas.
Shirou didn't mind. He wasn't pressed for time.
The world he was in seemed somewhat behind the times, lacking in ways to pass the time. So, he pulled out a copy of "The Legends of King Arthur" from his pocket to read.
This wasn't his world. There were no legends of the Eternal King here. Only tales of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.
And, well, the ending of that story was obvious. As he skimmed through it, he found himself engrossed in the book.
"..."
Maybe it was due to some influence from the Yggdmillennia Clan, who managed the leylines in Romania, but even after half an hour of drifting and all passengers from his flight being gone, he remained the sole passenger. The driver let out an exasperated sigh, preparing to leave.
Just then, a soft voice asked, "Excuse me, is this car going to Trifas?"
"Yes, yes," the driver replied eagerly.
"Oh, what a relief. I was dreading the thought of walking all the way to Trifas. This must be divine intervention," the woman said with joy, paying the fare promptly.
"Please, hop in, miss," the driver invited with a warm smile.
She stepped into the vehicle.
Even while engrossed in his book, Shirou instinctively looked up as she boarded.
She was a strikingly elegant young woman, her golden hair flowing gracefully in a straight ponytail down to her waist, compelling anyone who saw it to feel the urge to yank it with their hand.
She wore a white shirt paired with a black tie and a matching black skirt that showcased her slender legs encased in black stockings. This combination portrayed her as both refined and captivating.
However, what truly caught his attention was her face.
Her striking features were eerily similar to his Artie, save for the deep violet of her eyes.
Inwardly, he reminded himself, "She's not Artie."
Indeed, she was the spitting image of his Artie, even down to the same bust size. But the slight difference in height gave it away. His Artie towered at about 1.7 meters, while this young lady seemed closer to 1.6 meters. Their dispositions seemed worlds apart too.
This girl had a lively, modern student-like vibe. Artie, on the other hand, was generally fine, but around him, she became notably self-conscious, always lowering her head like an ostrich.
She wasn't Artie.
He muttered quietly to himself and went back to his book, seemingly disinterested in the woman.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone