Chapter 65: Saber: Hunger is the Great Enemy!
As Inorai Valualeta Atroholm spoke, magnificent patterns flowed between the crevices of her index finger. This person was the head of the Valualeta, one of the three great aristocratic families, the Lord of the Faculty of Creation (Valual), and a magus of the highest active rank, "Brand." She was hailed as a famous heroine of the Clock Tower.
Though Inorai appeared to be over seventy with a face full of wrinkles, she gave an impression of vibrant vitality. Her silver hair was as noble as a wolf's, and she was fashionably dressed, primarily in shades of green.
Just as the two were about to break into an argument, an old man who looked as if he were already halfway in the grave lightly tapped the table to bring them to a halt.
"Stop this bickering. We should prioritize concentrating our energy on how to deal with those two heading straight for the Clock Tower." Rufus slowly pulled out a notebook.
He was the Lord of the Faculty of Evocation, Rufus Naseire Euriphis. As the one who commanded the faculty dealing with countless spirits, he was an old man who exuded a death-like atmosphere himself. He had previously held high expectations for Kayneth, even proposing a political marriage between him and his daughter, Sola-Ui. In Rufus's eyes, Kayneth of the El-Melloi faction was a genius whose mastery of magecraft made it highly likely he would reach the Root in this lifetime. However, since Kayneth had taken Sola-Ui to Fuyuki City not long ago, no news had returned, leaving Rufus constantly worried.
Rufus's gaze shifted as he pointed toward the information racing across the notes before him. "Based on the intelligence we currently have, this Saber summoned by the Einzberns is extremely powerful."
Speaking, Rufus turned to look at Lorelei.
"Barthomeloi, your strength is undoubtedly the greatest among all the Lords. Do you believe this Saber poses a threat to the Clock Tower?"
Hearing Rufus's inquiry, Lorelei narrowed her eyes, her slender finger tapping rhythmically on the table.
"If it is only one Saber... I believe there is a chance."
Lorelei's answer caused the expressions of everyone else to shift.
"So... can we match her?"
Rufus held up a report.
"The enemy is a Servant; that much is certain. As for their specific strength, we won't know until we witness it ourselves."
Someone suggested, "There is no need to fear them!"
Lorelei did not respond to the suggestion. Though she was an aristocratic young lady, she possessed an intense thirst for victory. Having trained various forms of magecraft to their zenith, she stood at the pinnacle of modern magi. Not only had she defeated two of the twenty-seven Ancestors, but she also commanded the Choir, a unit of fifty first-rate magi.
Lorelei seemed to think of something, her eyes brightening.
"A Servant... I am also curious to see what kind of power they possess."
At her words, an ominous atmosphere permeated the hall.
"So, what should be done?"
"Barthomeloi, have you decided?"
"The Holy Grail War was originally just something occurring in Fuyuki, a seaside city in Japan. I didn't expect it to spill over to our Clock Tower."
After the room fell into a clamor, Julius tapped the table repeatedly. After finally calming the noisy crowd, he spoke.
"They are coming directly toward the Clock Tower with such momentum; it is highly likely they come with ill intent!"
"Can we truly withstand them?"
Among those present were several "Brand" rank magi, all of whom possessed the strength to contend with a Servant.
"It's just a Servant!" Lorelei was the first to speak.
"Leave the direct confrontation to the Barthomeloi. I assume no one has any objections?"
It sounded like a question, but her tone was one of absolute certainty. Though Lorelei was an aristocrat, her desire for victory was stronger than anyone's, which was the fundamental reason she could reach the level of "the pinnacle of modern magi."
Hearing Lorelei say this, the others were naturally not foolish enough to object. Having someone go up first to test the waters and gather intel was the best possible scenario.
"If we can defeat that Heroic Spirit, perhaps we can suppress the Wandering Sea!"
The Wandering Sea is the giant mountain range wandering the North Atlantic itself, also known as the "Moving Stone Sarcophagus." The organization lacks a typical hierarchy and is believed to not desire the "further development of magecraft" like the Clock Tower, though the truth remains unknown. It is seen as the prototype of the Mage's Association, focusing on human body modification and Age of Gods magecraft. They consider Age of Gods magic supreme and post-Common Era magic to be child's play. The Wandering Sea exists in a state of cold war with the Clock Tower.
The three major departments are roughly equal in scale and are said to work together to operate the Association... on paper. In reality, they stopped negotiating long ago. While not hostile, their ideologies differ so much that they might as well be considered separate entities.
The Clock Tower holds most of the rights related to the Holy Grail War and coordinates with the Church to send "Overseers." Out of interest in the Grail's ability to "reach the Root," they also send magi to participate. However, failure is not permitted, and victory brings no honor. Since there is only one slot, they tend to send combat-oriented magi.
However, Lorelei's next words moved everyone.
"Eighty percent of the spoils must go to us. I assume there are no objections?"
Lorelei said this out of absolute self-confidence. The Barthomeloi had sat at the top for so many years that no one had even come close to them.
"We are willing to forfeit the spoils, provided you share the knowledge from the Age of Gods with us."
"Absolutely impossible!" Lorelei refused firmly. Compared to spoils, knowledge from the Age of Gods was undoubtedly more precious.
While the others were weighing their interests, a voice that absolutely did not belong to any of the Lords suddenly rang out in the room.
"At a time like this, you are still weighing pros and cons? Why are modern juniors always so fond of acting clever?"
"Who's speaking!?"
The Lords stood up in surprise, only to find an old man with white hair already sitting in one of the vacant seats.
"I haven't been back in a long time. Has the Clock Tower developed into this state...?"
.
.
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With the paperwork handled by the Einzbern maids as a foundation, Shirou walked out of the airport lobby with Saber at exactly nine in the morning. Faint sunlight hit his face as Shirou squinted, walking alongside the blonde girl down a street made of brick and stone.
London. The capital of England, the city known as the "City of Fog," now welcomed a ruler from the distant past.
"How does it feel to return to your homeland, Saber?" Shirou asked.
The girl didn't answer immediately, simply taking in everything with a look of slight unfamiliarity and curiosity. Saber wore no makeup, only maintaining a sense of cleanliness, yet she possessed a beauty so vivid it felt as if one could smell its fragrance. Shirou knew that from the moment she pulled the Sword in the Stone, her appearance had frozen at the age of fifteen. Thus, while her limbs looked like a bud far from blooming, she carried an air of ripening fragrance.
Ah, this is lethal.
Shirou stared a bit blankly.
At that moment, Saber suddenly stopped as if having a sudden realization.
"What is it, Saber?" Shirou looked at her, thinking the girl had discovered this era was worlds apart from her Kingdom of Britain and wanted to express her thoughts.
However, that was not the case. The girl stood there somewhat awkwardly. It was then that Shirou noticed the tips of her ears had turned red.
"..." Shirou raised an eyebrow, prepared to listen to King Arthur's evaluation of her future kingdom.
"I'm hungry."
"...?"
Shirou looked at the girl, who kept her head slightly lowered as she whispered to him, and he was momentarily stunned. He had almost forgotten—Saber was not a Heroic Spirit who had lost her physical body; she had come to this world as a flesh-and-blood entity. Therefore, since she couldn't dematerialize, it was only logical that she would get hungry.
While Shirou was in a daze, Saber frowned slightly, a bit unhappy with her new Master's denseness.
"Hunger is the enemy. Let's go eat, Shirou."
Looking at the girl staring at him with an incredibly serious expression, Shirou couldn't help but chuckle.
"Alright, alright. What do you want to eat?"
"As long as it is edible, anything is fine."
Taking Saber, whose mood was already souring from hunger, Shirou found a decent-looking western restaurant in the commercial street next to the airport. After taking their seats, the waiter brought the menu, and Shirou handed it to Saber.
"Order whatever you like. We have quite a bit of funding."
"Mm... then I'll order just a little bit more..."
As she spoke, Saber took the menu, and her eyes sparkled as she began to order.
"This, this, and this..."
It seemed that just the act of ordering had improved Saber's mood significantly. The ahoge on top of her head—the symbol of her kingship—wiggled lively and slightly.
"..."
Both Shirou and the waitress taking notes stood there in a cold sweat listening to her.
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