[Frankenstein's original lore states she was born as Professor Victor's "Eve." However, Victor's theories were deformed; he didn't want to simply create "Eve" and "Adam." He wanted to create "Eve," marry her himself, and then give birth to "Adam." Therefore, Frankenstein was born as the prototype of Victor's wife.]
[Thus, the Host obtaining Frankenstein is equivalent to cuckolding Professor Victor!]
[Frankenstein is judged as a B-rank "Lady."]
[Reward: New skill "Overload C." Allows the Host's bodily functions to overload, increasing Noble Phantasm power by at least 30%! However, this causes backlash damage to the body.]
Emmm... This reward is decent.
Haruka Kasugano rested for a moment and then told Frankenstein to get up. Being a Servant, she could restore her clothes simply by having enough magical energy. After "mana replenishment" with Haruka Kasugano so many times, her mana levels were through the roof. The bodice he had torn was restored in an instant.
"From now on, I am your lover, understand? Did you feel that feeling of being loved just now? Remember it for the future!" Haruka Kasugano bluffed.
Under the influence of his multiple skills, Frankenstein was completely taken in. "Mhm! Mhm! Nnh~!" she nodded vigorously.
Haruka Kasugano then distanced himself from the area and deactivated the Reality Marble. In Caules's surveillance feed, only a well-behaved Frankenstein remained, clutching her large hammer.
"Berserker is back to normal!" Caules cried out excitedly.
"Mhm, your brother-in-law really is impressive!" Fiore praised. "Have Berserker return."
"Eh? Not let her keep fighting?" Caules asked.
"There's no need," Fiore shook her head. She was doing exactly as Haruka Kasugano had instructed. Caules, being a bit of an idiot, would only send Frankenstein to her death. Since Mordred was on their side, there was no need for a suicide act; it was better to have her stay back.
Thus, Caules ordered Frankenstein back to the castle gate to prevent Dragon Tooth Warriors from breaking through. Meanwhile, Haruka Kasugano headed toward where Mordred and Artoria alter were.
-----------
Artoria alter and Mordred stood with their hands on their hips, watching the distant battle with zero intention of joining in. According to Haruka Kasugano's plan, their goal was to deal with the Black Rider, but there was currently no sign of him.
CRASH!
Suddenly, Astolfo was shot down by a light beam from the Hanging Gardens, crashing violently right in front of them.
"AAAAHHH!!! I told you I couldn't win... Eh? You guys are..."
Artoria alter and Mordred looked at each other and then flashed indistinguishable smiles. "What a coincidence~!"
-------------
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Mordred swung Clarent at Astolfo in a flurry of slashes. Astolfo sat on the ground, weakly resisting with his chain mail and spurs.
"A Rider without a horse? Just surrender and die already!" Mordred shouted provocatively.
"AAAAHHH! I'm one of the Twelve Paladins of Charlemagne, how could I give up? Ahhh, can I surrender and only lose half?" Astolfo cried out from the ground.
Artoria alter stood behind them with her arms crossed, watching. She didn't use any force. Her role was to pose as Mordred's Master for the Black Faction's benefit. She had no contract and possessed a physical body; as long as she didn't summon her armor or Holy Sword, she wouldn't be exposed.
She hadn't expected Mordred to be so much stronger than Astolfo; even while holding back, it was a total stomp.
Sensing Haruka Kasugano was close, Artoria alter decided it was time to follow the script. "Saber~! This is the middle of the battlefield, I'm retreating first~!" she recited her lines lazily, yawning.
"What?" Mordred, being genuine, forgot they were acting. "Aren't you going to stay and admire my heroic posture? I finally managed to—"
"Ahem?" Artoria alter reminded her.
"...Fine, just go!" Mordred finally remembered the plan.
"I'm off then~!" Artoria alter strolled away at a leisurely pace.
Mordred turned back to Astolfo. Since Artoria alter wasn't watching her "heroic posture," she had lost her chance to show off her growth. She was irritated, and she took it all out on Astolfo.
"Die, you trashy country Rider!" Mordred roared.
Just then, Haruka Kasugano arrived. He drew the longsword Astolfo had gifted him and shouted at Mordred: "Let him go~! Fight me instead~!"
"You are..." Astolfo was instantly moved. He recognized Haruka Kasugano as the homunculus he had saved.
Mordred looked at Haruka Kasugano and scratched her head. Following instructions, she lazily swung her sword at him.
CLANG!
Astolfo immediately rushed over to block the hit with his spurs. "Are you stupid?" he shouted at Haruka Kasugano.
"...What were the lines again? Sorry... Rider!" Haruka Kasugano muttered.
BOOM! Both were sent flying by Mordred's casual swing.
Astolfo struggled to stand, facing Mordred while yelling at Haruka Kasugano: "Why did you come back to save me? I didn't save you just so you could die for me!"
"Uh... Rider~!" Haruka Kasugano forgot his lines again.
THUD! Astolfo was sent flying once more by a kick from Mordred.
In the original plot, this was where Frankenstein would come and blow herself up. But since Haruka Kasugano had sent her back, he had to fill the role.
Flash! Haruka Kasugano revealed the [Silver Arm] and slashed at Mordred.
Clang! Mordred blocked with [Mana Burst].
"What... what's going on?" Astolfo was stunned to see Haruka Kasugano wielding a Noble Phantasm.
Mordred had also forgotten her lines, but she winged it: "Ahhh... are you the Black Saber? Didn't the intel say you were dead? Why are you still here..."
"How can this be..." Astolfo was bewildered.
Haruka Kasugano thought for a second and then said awkwardly, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine... you idiot..." Astolfo's eyes welled up, his face turning a deep shade of red.
"What's your deal?" Mordred asked—this line was short, so she remembered it.
"I... I received the heart of Siegfried, so I have gained his power..." Haruka Kasugano recited. He even used [Camouflage] to make his parameters look like Siegfried's.
"Ahhh, so what if there's an extra Servant? I'll kill you all the same!" Mordred said her lines clumsily. Then, she and Haruka Kasugano began a choreographed duel, clashing with [Mana Burst].
------------
Up on the Hanging Gardens, Shirou Kotomine, Semiramis, and Shakespeare were watching via Clairvoyance.
"What is this? Why did that lowly man jump to the other side? And... why has his Saint Graph changed to the Black Saber's?" Semiramis was completely fooled by [Camouflage], her face full of confusion.
Shirou was calmer. He was collaborating with Haruka Kasugano; even if he didn't know the specifics, it looked interesting. Is he doing this to gain Ruler's favor? He didn't understand. Shirou was a "stone-cold" man who knew nothing of romance, but he could appreciate the entertainment value.
"Is it a Possession? Wow! A Possession manifesting like this, even for a second, is a miracle!" Shakespeare helped fill in the blanks with his imagination.
"Possession? Ridiculous. Can't he just die properly? Why make it so complex?" Semiramis bit her lace glove, looking at Haruka Kasugano with pure irritation. She raised a finger, readying a light beam from the Gardens. "Shirou, should I just wipe out this traitor in one go?"
Shirou shook his head. "No need. Leave him be. Our plan remains unchanged."
"Hmph!" Semiramis retracted the spell, though her toes were curling inside her high heels with annoyance.
"Splendid! Is this the ultimate 'infiltration' into enemy ranks?" Shakespeare continued to babble.
-----------
Elsewhere, Jeanne finally arrived on the scene. However, Atalanta was already waiting for her.
"Ruler, I've been expecting you!" Atalanta smiled.
"Red Archer, what are you doing?" Jeanne asked, brandishing her flag.
"Don't worry, I don't intend to harm you. But... he's a different story!" Atalanta laughed.
Whoosh— Atalanta fired an arrow into the distance. A moment later, a gargantuan figure appeared before Jeanne.
"MY IRON WILL SHALL NOT STOP!!!" Spartacus roared. Under the effect of his Noble Phantasm, having absorbed damage from Atalanta and the Dragon Tooth Warriors, his body had mutated into a multi-headed, multi-legged monstrosity!
Click— Atalanta fired another arrow at him.
"Ah! This delightful pain!" Spartacus laughed. He looked down and saw Jeanne, mistakenly thinking she was the one attacking him. "Was it you who just obstructed me?"
BOOM! He began a relentless bombardment toward Jeanne. Seeing that she had successfully lured Spartacus into attacking Ruler as Shirou had planned, Atalanta immediately retreated.
As Spartacus attacked Jeanne, he was drawn by the magical energy of Mordred and Haruka Kasugano's "duel" nearby and began charging in their direction.