Chapter 18: Am I the Weak One?
It seems I might have startled the snake out of its hole.
Shirou thought this to himself.
But it couldn't be helped; he had intended to make a preemptive strike, but Caster just happened to be absent from his magical workshop.
Logically, after he killed Ryuunosuke Uryuu, the Masterless Caster would certainly need a supply of magical energy.
And given Caster's methods, he would likely capture a large number of ordinary people and use their lives as the prana to continue existing in the world.
The power of the 'Prelati's Spellbook' could indeed accomplish such a thing.
However, it now appears to be different from his assumption.
"He might be looking for another Magus to ally with, but would any Magus really accept Caster?"
Caster's conduct and personality are simply not something an ordinary Magus can handle, and there are very few Magi participating in the Holy Grail War who would accept Caster.
There was one similar one, but they are already dead.
"Since that's the case, I'll just have to think of another way."
Shirou instructed Karna to destroy the magical workshop here, and they left immediately.
Not long after leaving Caster's hideout, Shirou ran into two familiar people on the coast.
"Huh? Isn't that the child from the daytime...!?"
.
.
.
No matter the time, the combination of Irisviel and Saber was always so eye-catching.
Although Irisviel had already changed into what she considered "common" clothing, she seemed to have some misunderstanding about common attire. Her luxurious white dress and ethereal temperament were completely unlike those of ordinary people.
After all, although Irisviel had only been created for about nine years and was only nine years old in some respects, she had been subjected to extensive magical knowledge and the aristocratic etiquette of the Einzbern castle throughout those years.
This knowledge subtly influenced Irisviel's every move, making it impossible for her to act like a common person who had never entered the upper class.
As for Saber, it goes without saying. As the King of Britain, although she looked like she was still fifteen, her actual age and experience already surpassed that of any adult; an ordinary person's lifetime couldn't even compare to hers.
Passersby often only needed their eyes to linger on her face for a second before they couldn't look away, and even after she had passed from their sight, they would still look back at her figure with reluctance.
Irisviel and Saber completely ignored the stares of those around them. They wandered through the city on their own, leaving their footprints in the bustling streets, shops, parks, and other places.
Thus, time quickly passed into night. The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky a fiery red at dusk.
Looking at the incredibly beautiful twilight, Irisviel's gaze was somewhat captivated.
"I wish time could slow down a little," she murmured.
Because she knew clearly that once night fell, the city would enter a state fraught with danger, and she and Saber would have to begin fighting.
Irisviel didn't actually like fighting. She had asked Saber, and Saber's reply was the same—she didn't like fighting either.
"But... sometimes we don't have a choice..."
Fate seemed to be playing tricks on the world, always bestowing a little happiness before dropping more pain, and then, when people were suffering, granting a little happiness again, as if by charity.
The destiny of both Illya and Saber seemed to have been decided from the moment they were born.
"I'm just... feeling a little down."
Irisviel said sadly, watching the sunset finally disappear below the horizon.
"How many people get to see the moment the sun sets..."
"There's no need to be so melancholic, Irisviel, you still have Illya."
Saber didn't know Illya's condition, so she didn't realize that what she was saying was tantamount to rubbing salt in a wound, but Irisviel looked at her and showed a gentle smile.
"Yes, you are right. To be able to go back and see Illya again, we must win."
The sadness was hidden away, put somewhere hard to notice.
Seeing Irisviel's smiling expression at that moment, Saber immediately believed she had recovered her spirits.
"Let's go to the beach," Irisviel suddenly suggested.
"Mhm, alright," Saber nodded.
Although she had said earlier that they couldn't waste too much time, she still ended up playing with Irisviel until evening.
Saber couldn't help but smile wryly. She was someone who yielded to gentleness but not to force. If faced with a tough enemy, she would ruthlessly draw her sword and hack the opponent to pieces, but she found it difficult to refuse Irisviel's straightforward pleas.
They walked together in the seaside park and arrived at the beach, feeling the gentle sea breeze and listening to the sound of the constant incoming tide.
The sea breeze rustled Irisviel's beautiful silver hair, making her strands drift in the air like meteors.
"Did you know, Saber, this is the first time I've ever seen the ocean."
Irisviel looked at the seemingly endless sea surface, confessing to Saber in a soft voice, somewhat captivated.
Saber couldn't help but smile bitterly.
"In my era, there were only enemies across the sea."
That single sentence was enough for Irisviel to imagine what Saber's impression of the sea must be like.
"Is that so... I'm sorry, Saber."
"It's alright, Irisviel. You don't know these things, and it's not your fault. It's always the fault of the invaders."
Saber gently shook her head.
"It's almost time, let's go meet up."
Hearing this, Irisviel nodded.
"Mhm, let's go."
The two walked together, just about to leave.
Suddenly, they saw two figures walking towards them.
"Huh? Isn't that the child from the daytime...!?" Irisviel exclaimed first.
Saber followed Irisviel's gaze and saw Shirou, who was with Karna and heading towards the Mion River Bridge.
When she noticed the Command Spells on the back of Shirou's hand, Saber couldn't help but show a surprised expression.
"We already met by accident during the day, didn't we..." Shirou shrugged and joked.
"Good thing the Holy Grail War is usually held at night, otherwise you might have finished me off."
Shirou was only joking, but Saber spoke with a serious expression.
"I won't attack the weak!"
Shirou was momentarily stunned when he heard this, and then realized Saber was referring to him.
"The weak one, huh..."