Chapter 593: The Masters' Wager
Though he had chosen to generously allow his opponent free rein due to his overwhelming confidence...
"As expected, I still underestimated the heroes' capacity for action."
Standing at the entrance of Ninozuki Soukai, Sakatsuki rested one hand on his sword as he surveyed his surroundings. Beside him, Hakuno Kishinami's reaction was far more intense—she covered her mouth and nose, sensing the surrounding air thicken with a cloying sweetness. Her instincts screamed warnings to her gradually numbing mind.
Don't… go any closer—
In the girl's hazel eyes, the lush greenery of Ninozuki Soukai was reflected. But as static flickered across her vision, the forest was no longer green. The clear streams turned pitch-black, and the world drowned in a crimson hue like blood—an unbearable hellscape.
The phantom pain of healed wounds pulsed faintly.
I understand.
I need to escape from here.
The longer I stay, the more my lifespan dwindles.
Yet, her feet felt nailed to the coliseum floor, utterly immobile.
"This area has been poisoned. This level of contamination—there's no mistake, it's Robin Hood's Noble Phantasm." Sakatsuki's calm voice snapped her out of her sluggish thoughts. "Concealing his presence, fighting with absolute advantage. A rational tactic, even if he is the enemy."
Though his words carried admiration for his opponent, the young man stood unfazed by the poison. Only when he caught a glimpse of Hakuno's momentary distress did his brow furrow, guilt flashing in his eyes.
"Forgive me, Hakuno. As much as I'd like to fight alongside you, I can't risk my Master's life. Until I locate and destroy the source, could you please leave Ninozuki Soukai for now?"
The school's vending department carried Mystic Codes capable of neutralizing toxins, but clearly, Hakuno and Sakatsuki hadn't prepared in time. In this poison-filled arena, Sakatsuki, as a Servant, could endure for a long while—but Hakuno, as a Master, wouldn't last.
Thus, the optimal strategy was for the Master to temporarily withdraw.
"Understood, Sakatsuki. You have to win."
"Of course."
Though reluctant, Hakuno didn't stubbornly insist. She swiftly retreated. Once certain she was gone, Sakatsuki snapped his fingers, retrieving an item from his dimensional storage.
A top-tier purification Mystic Code, available exclusively at the school's vending department—Grade A, significantly boosting resistance to abnormal status effects.
"I don't want to see you hurt again. So… sorry, Hakuno."
As light shimmered, the Mystic Code merged with his Servant body. Sakatsuki stretched, ensuring everything was in order, then allowed a composed smile to grace his lips. His hand rested on his sword hilt, but he didn't move immediately. Instead, he bent at the waist, offering Ninozuki Soukai an elegant, knee-bending bow.
Like a gentleman's final ritual before a duel. When the young man straightened again, his prized blade finally left its sheath, its edge gleaming.
"Then, let the game begin."
——
In the screening room, the Masters, for once setting aside their grudges, murmured among themselves.
"A Grade A purification Mystic Code, the Atlas Academy uniform… I recall those don't come cheap..."
"I heard that this Servant named Sakatsuki destroyed the infirmary and had to pay a fine of 100,000 QP."
"Hiss... How did he get so many resources? Did he find a system bug?"
For magi with lax moral standards, they wouldn't condemn Sakatsuki's actions—figuring out the method and replicating it was the proper pursuit for those seeking the path of magecraft.
Masters with flexible moral boundaries enthusiastically discussed money laundering, but most turned their attention to the ongoing wager.
"He successfully tricked the Master, this Servant called Sakatsuki."
"Isn't this Servant's autonomy a bit too strong?"
"But in the end, he made the right choice."
No one refuted this statement. Instead, they all nodded in agreement, glancing with lingering fear at the split-screen showing another location.
For fairness, there was a slight delay between the live feed and the viewing room. During Sakatsuki's preparations, Robin Hood had already set up the battlefield—not just polluting the arena with his Noble Phantasm. The half-screen filled with honeycomb-like sub-screens displayed countless traps, many of which made Masters shudder and Servants wary.
Allowing a Servant with Rank A "Subversive Activities" to operate freely resulted in a deadly banquet where everyone felt threatened.
Even if Sakatsuki could break through, his Master would never emerge unscathed.
"Even with an Atlas Academy uniform, no one could withstand so many traps..." a Master murmured with a sigh. "Sakatsuki is too arrogant. He shouldn't have let Robin Hood act freely."
"This arrogance will be the blade that kills him."
A heavy silence fell as Masters asked themselves: Could they survive such a vicious dead end?
Most looked grim, but some scoffed dismissively. Among them, a confident twin-tailed girl stared at Sakatsuki entering the arena and declared firmly:
"No, don't underestimate Sakatsuki. His strength surpasses your imagination."
"Defeated the Asian champion? So what?" a Master familiar with the pair retorted. "That brat Matou Shinji fought like it was a game. Anyone could've beaten him—there's nothing impressive about that."
Hearing this, Rin Tohsaka turned, her lips curling mockingly. "Oh? So you could not only withstand Drake's Noble Phantasm head-on but also defeat the Asian champion without revealing your own Noble Phantasm?"
This was intel Rin had learned over tea with Hakuno. Though she had once knocked over a teacup upon hearing it, her tone was now calm—yet her words struck like thunder.
Surviving an enemy's Noble Phantasm without dying?
Defeating an opponent without unleashing one's own Noble Phantasm?
How... How was this any different from dancing in shackles?!
Many didn't know the details of Hakuno and Shinji's first match. Rin's description left them stunned, their gazes toward the young man on-screen now filled with awe—and fervor.
No wonder even Rin Tohsaka, a top contender for the championship, acknowledged his strength!
Damn it... Why would such an outstanding unaffiliated Servant end up in the hands of that third-rate magi!
Just as the Master who refuted Rin Tohsaka was defeated and the girl curled her lips smugly, a voice spoke unhurriedly from the seat opposite hers.
"Even so, I still believe he will definitely lose."
When the boy spoke, the world naturally quieted down as if listening to divine edict, hanging onto his every word.
The Masters stared in astonishment.
Rin Tohsaka took a deep breath, treating this as a formidable opponent.
"Then what brilliant insight do you have, Leo!"
The true ruler of Earth, the uncrowned king of the Holy Grail War, the ideal Holy King—Leonardo Bistario Harway.
Facing Rin's wary attitude, the boy simply smiled warmly: "Nothing much. But Rin, don't you think Sakatsuki right now resembles Shinji during the first round?"
"Equally brimming with confidence, and equally... arrogant."
Hearing this, many Masters nodded in agreement while Rin opened her mouth speechlessly.
Though accustomed to opposing Leo, Rin wouldn't lie just for the sake of it.
Perhaps his Master's injury had disturbed Sakatsuki's state of mind, or perhaps the first-round victory had clouded his judgment—in the second round, Sakatsuki displayed an air of condescension. Even this wager itself was established upon Sakatsuki's persistent demands.
Some Masters had privately asked their Servants, whether first-rate or third-rate, and all unanimously expressed unwillingness to tangle with Robin Hood—after all, hidden arrows are harder to guard against than open spears, especially against a Spirit renowned for assassination.
"Unless one believes their strength far surpasses Robin Hood's... yet a fully prepared Robin Hood could even slay top-tier Servants..." Leo, possessing extensive intelligence, analyzed the situation methodically. "While it's true, as Rin said, that Sakatsuki defeated Captain Drake, there's something I didn't mention earlier: during their clash in the cafeteria, Captain Drake was wounded by my Servant, Gawain."
"That injury required time to heal. Without using extremely precious items, it couldn't be treated before the first round began."In other words, though Sakatsuki didn't unleash his Noble Phantasm, his achievement contained some watered-down elements. Moreover, this time it's his own overconfidence at play." Leo paused, then suddenly proposed enthusiastically, "Actually, why don't we open a betting pool?"
"Let's wager on whether Sakatsuki will win or lose this match—using QP or equivalent item Mystic Codes as stakes. The winning side can split all the losers' assets!"
"Come on, place your bets now! No changes once placed!"
The young master's novelty held full sway, and naturally no one would oppose his whims. Even Rin gritted her teeth and staked a considerable sum—of course, betting on Sakatsuki's victory.
But whether due to Leo's persuasive arguments or other factors, all Masters except stubborn Rin followed Leo's lead. As the number of Masters potentially dividing her assets grew, just when Rin was grinding her teeth in frustration, the screening room door burst open with a bang.
"Mmmu! This one has heard thy heated discussions! To be witnessing such thrilling performances in the arena—how could this one possibly miss it!"
A vitality that stood in stark contrast to the gloomy magi, and a tone brimming with passion—undoubtedly, such a presence was unique even among Servants.
That was Nero Claudius, the young emperor clad in gold and crimson men's attire, boasting both a proud physique and delicate beauty.
At this very moment, this figure, blooming like a crimson rose, strode through the stunned crowd and arrived before Leo and Rin, who stood poised for confrontation.
"Are you engaged in a battle of wills? Umu, splendid, splendid! I am most pleased. Let us stake the spoils of my recent hunts as well!" Though a Servant, when Nero raised her slender hand, a magical screen flickered open, and a torrent of QP flowed into the pool alongside Rin's.
She could actually participate in the wager—meaning her Master had granted her such privileges!
Many Masters wore expressions of disbelief, unable to fathom such a "generous" opponent. Leo's gaze flickered slightly, his curiosity toward Nero unconcealed:
"To so readily assume Sakatsuki's victory... May I ask, fair lady, what basis do you have for such confidence?"
"None at all."
Nero's ahoge swayed as she answered cheerfully. Her emerald eyes, fixed on the elegantly advancing young man on the screen, gleamed with a faint crimson hue.
"If I must say, it is simply that I find this beautiful and dashing youth most pleasing."
She paused, then added, "Not just I—'we' all believe in him wholeheartedly..."
"Is that so?" Leo nodded slightly and withdrew his gaze, offering no further words.
Even with Rin and this enigmatic Servant both asserting their faith, he remained steadfast in his own judgment—or rather, in the conclusion he and Gawain had reached after a night of deliberation.
Based on Sakatsuki's performance in the first round and the arena, his strength was far from being peerless. Against Robin Hood's inescapable net, the odds of failure were exceedingly high.
Unless... in the mere days since the first round, Sakatsuki had advanced so rapidly that he now stood in an incomprehensible realm of power?
But how could that be possible?
Leo's gaze darkened. For some reason, despite his confidence in victory, an inexplicable weight settled in his chest. The boy stared intently at Sakatsuki stepping into the trap, murmuring inwardly:
Let me witness the moment Rin and that Servant's expectations are shattered.
At this point, the Holy King did not yet understand what it meant—this emotion of eagerly anticipating another's defeat, this abandonment of the courtesy his family had instilled in him. But regardless, this was the first time Leo had cast aside hollow politeness, no longer suppressing the instincts of his humanity.
So...
Do not disappoint me, Sakatsuki.