Chapter 15: The Bamboozled Saber
For Waver, who was blessed with neither lineage nor natural talent, it was actually more difficult to give a crude or incomprehensible lecture than a clear one; it was as simple as that.
After all, although he had managed to scrape together enough credits to become a third-class instructor, he was fundamentally lacking in ability and could only rely on the strength of others. In his youth, Waver had spent day and night desperately studying and researching magecraft for the sake of the day his revenge would come; presumably, the wrinkles between his brows were formed during that time. Regardless, he had maintained the El-Melloi classroom for three long years.
It could almost be called a miracle. Although it held little value compared to other privileges, the management rights of spiritual grounds were attached to the classroom. For someone like Waver, who had no backing, a single misstep would have resulted in them being snatched away immediately; the fact that he had held on for three years was entirely the result of him racking his brains.
"A Saint Relic? No need. I've made preparations long ago," Waver said to Reines.
"Do you really not need one? The relic I prepared is related to the Mahabharata," Reines said nonchalantly.
"None of that matters. I have great confidence in the 'King' I intend to summon," Waver replied with a firm tone.
"Fine then." Reines nodded and promptly left with her maid.
Waver, meanwhile, immediately went to prepare the materials needed for the summoning ritual. This time, no matter what, he had to prove that the reason his "King" had failed to win in the previous Holy Grail War was not due to a lack of strength, but simply because he, at the time, lacked the qualification to fight alongside the King. Now, after ten years of growth, Waver had improved significantly in both state of mind and strength. Though his magical energy levels were still third-rate, after so many years of teaching, his attainments in magecraft were no longer what they once were. Leaving the mansion, Waver was full of confidence, his pace brisk.
.
.
.
However, after less than a week had passed, Waver came running back to the El-Melloi mansion in a wretched state.
"Reines! Is the Saint Relic you prepared before still there?"
Seeing Waver's frantic appearance, the blonde girl cast a puzzled look at him. "Huh?"
"That... my Saint Relic was stolen by someone unknown..." Waver said with a dejected face.
Truly, the cycle of karma is fair; he finally had a taste of his own medicine. To think that after less than a week, Waver would have to return here in disgrace and bow his head to this devilish girl.
"As expected of you; to encounter such bad luck even at a time like this." Reines raised a hand to cover her lips, letting out a silver-bell-like mocking laugh.
Waver's old face instantly turned red, feeling utterly humiliated.
"The Saint Relic is in the storage room on the second floor," Reines said, then added a smiling reminder. "By the way, the current head of the Barthomeloi family has also obtained Command Spells. Did you know about that?"
"Barthomeloi Lorelei, the one with the alias 'The Queen'?" Waver showed a surprised expression.
In the Clock Tower, there was a young Queen who was the contemporary head of the prestigious Barthomeloi family. Although she had not yet reached the realm of True Magic, she was acclaimed for her Magic Circuits—the crystallization of talent equivalent to a magical miracle—which far surpassed those of her predecessors.
"That's right. It seems that she, standing at the pinnacle of magi, will be your greatest competitor," Reines said with interest.
"Heh..." Waver just gave a light laugh. "In a Holy Grail War, it's meaningless no matter how strong the magus is..."
Just as he subconsciously blurted that out, the image of the red-haired youth he had seen back then surfaced in his mind. The power displayed within that "Ionian Hetairoi" caused Waver's words to halt abruptly. "Though there are exceptions..."
Under Reines' somewhat confused gaze, Waver uttered those words. Shaking his head, Waver temporarily pushed those matters to the back of his mind and decided to focus all his attention on the upcoming summoning ritual. He went to the storage room on the second floor and began to draw a magic circle in the room layered with a thin coating of dust. Taking one last look at the sky outside, which had already entered twilight, Waver retracted his gaze and raised his right hand toward the circle on the floor with full concentration.
"—Answer me!"
"I hereby swear: I am willing to achieve all the evil in the world, and I shall purge all the evil in the world—!"
Having gone through the ordeal of fire, life, and death ten years ago, the current Waver was undoubtedly calmer and wiser. Yet even so, his heart still contained the same burning heat of his youth.
"King... even if I cannot go to war alongside you, I will bring the Grail to prove my worth as your subject. When I hold up the Holy Grail, let us share once more the joy of conquering the world!"
In the brilliant light of the activated summoning ritual, Waver declared loudly.
-
-
-
Simultaneously, within a certain mansion belonging to the Barthomeloi family, an identical summoning ritual was being conducted. A woman with chestnut hair tied in a ponytail carefully finished drawing the magic circle and stood at the perimeter. Her features were extremely beautiful, and her noble aura made her appear like a dazzling star; her status dictated that no matter where she went, she would become the center of the crowd.
The aristocrat among aristocrats, the youngest Vice-Director of the Clock Tower, the pinnacle of modern magi.
Barthomeloi Lorelei.
"How ridiculous, that I should end up walking the same path as that Archibald," Lorelei laughed self-deprecatingly, then raised her right arm.
"I declare—"
Despite having the same goal, the girl did not believe she would meet the same end as Kayneth. This Holy Grail War would only become another entry in the illustrious resume of Barthomeloi Lorelei. The girl firmly believed so.
"Thy body shall be under my command, and my fate shall be at thy sword. If thou wilt abide by the Holy Grail's accord, and if thou wilt yield to this will and this reason, then answer me!"
The chanted incantation reached its final verse.
"I hereby swear. I am the one who shall achieve all the good in the world; I am the one who shall lay out all the evil in the world. Seven days clad in the three great words of power, come forth from the circle of deterrence!"
Under the girl's clear and determined gaze, the light of the magic circle burst forth.
Boom—!
...
After eating a meal that could arguably be called dinner, Shirou intended to return to his room. Saber followed him, her reasoning being that a Servant should stay by their Master's side for easy protection. However, Shirou naturally couldn't let her sleep on the floor, so he ended up
pulling the girl onto his bed. Even for Saber, seeing a man sleeping beside her after climbing into bed made her blush slightly.
"Shirou... would this... be a bit inappropriate..."
"How could it be? We're just sleeping together. No 'extra' things are being done, okay?" Shirou explained seriously to Saber. "Nothing has happened between us; we are pure, clean, and have a clear conscience."
Hearing this, Saber felt there was no problem either. She nodded in agreement, the ahoge on her head swaying slightly.
"Yes. Between us, we are pure, clean, and have a clear conscience!"
Read ahead (60 chapters) by supporting me on buymeacoffee com/varietl or ko-fi edwriting