Chapter 24 Isn't This an Existence That Can Dominate This Holy Grail War?
It all started with her elder sister.
"How should I put this... it's completely unexpected, but a burst of Noble Phantasm-class magical energy suddenly appeared at a point in the leylines. I cross-referenced it on the map; that location is the Snowfield Opera House. If you're willing, you can go check it out, but please prioritize your safety. It's best to observe from a distance."
Nee-san had called, sounding deeply worried, her gentle phrasing packed with concern and admonitions. Sakura accepted her sister's care, responding with a few quiet, composed acknowledgments.
After hanging up, Sakura's smile faded. She immediately used a series of displacement magecrafts, rushing toward the Opera House with Illya and the others without a moment's pause. As a result, they collided head-on with the Dead Apostle fleeing the theater.
"Illya, the time you bought was enough. I've rescued the people inside the Opera House."
Sakura waved her hand, beckoning her black silk ribbons back to her. Although the strike had pierced his chest, it didn't seem lethal to a Dead Apostle.
"????"
Jester, standing opposite them, had become unnervingly quiet. Taking advantage of the lull, Sakura lowered her head and asked softly:
"...Illya, um, is it really okay for me to take over the fight?"
Illya, who could only be seen by looking down, smiled—a radiant, sun-drenched smile. "No need!"
"?"
"I leave it to you, Sakura-emon!"
"Who—who are you calling Sakura-emon?"
"Illya is certain she can't even beat a guy like this, so I'm casting a vote of withdrawal! Anyway, I'm just the 'weakest of the Four Heavenly Kings,' a side garnish for sashimi, a commercial break during a baseball broadcast. I've accepted my fate! No matter how hard I practice magecraft, it's useless; this puny attack power can only bully the ancient version of Rin! The 'Plan for Status Upheaval' is hereby declared over—!"
Looking closely, the mask of her smile was gradually crumbling; she was clearly incensed by the Dead Apostle's goading.
In an era where everyone had grown significantly stronger, the fact that she still couldn't handle a high-ranking Dead Apostle seemed to pain her deeply, leading her to blurt out wild statements that might make a first-class magus cough up blood.
"Goodness, don't despair, Illya... Pull yourself together, I'll work hard alongside you!"
"Words are useless! No matter what Sakura says, it just sounds like irony~!"
"It does not!?"
Illya, now sulking, crossed her arms and ignored everyone. Pouting her pretty lips, she obediently stepped back, giving Sakura ample space to operate.
At the same time, Jester's sinister gaze swept over. Correction: that was Sakura's illusion. He was actually rubbing his eyes.
"Huh?"
He blinked again, his face stuck in an expression like he'd seen a ghost. After standing frozen like a statue for a long time, he finally moved. He lunged at Sakura with maximum speed, as if intending to cleave her in two with a velocity an ordinary magus couldn't possibly react to.
" Der See steigt, die Welt wird größer (The lake is rising, the world is growing larger.)"
Even so, Sakura reacted. The black tide swelled. The field interposed between the attacker and the attacked easily swallowed the front portion of the body that had forcefully slashed in, ensuring there was no return. Tangled black ribbons vied to erupt from the ground, piercing toward the Dead Apostle standing there.
But Jester had no intention of prolonging the fight. He flicked his severed hand and retreated with a sliding motion, pulling back instantly to open the distance. Once he was far enough from Sakura, Jester went still. He withdrew his claw-blades, harboring no killing intent but rather a certain kind of reverence.
"I see."
He spoke:
"Isn't this an existence that can dominate this Holy Grail War?"
"?"
As if confirming her nature through a bone-deep personal contact, the Dead Apostle spoke with utter naturalness. Sakura's movements paused. She looked up at the Dead Apostle who had retreated to the spire of the Opera House. She was about to ask a question but suddenly realized something and changed her query:
"Why do you think I can dominate this Holy Grail War?"
Sakura tilted her head in confusion. Her cascading long hair swayed to one side with the motion. Actually, what Sakura originally wanted to ask was, "How do you know I'm related to the Holy Grail War?"
But before she could ask, Sakura realized there was a more critical issue within the Dead Apostle's words.
It was a fact that Sakura had controlled Servants in the Fuyuki Holy Grail War under abnormal conditions. But that should have no connection to the Snowfield Holy Grail War.
If even the magical foundations called the "Greater Grail" were different, Sakura, as an "Abnormal Grail," shouldn't be able to intervene in other wars—though she hadn't tried. Even Sakura didn't understand the logic behind the Dead Apostle's words.
In that case... there was definitely something wrong!
The Dead Apostle didn't answer at all; instead, he let out a laugh. Though his mouth was laughing, his actions were the complete opposite, as if he were avoiding something taboo; he began to back away while facing Sakura. After reaching a certain point, he kicked off the roof of the theater, sprinting away from Sakura in a sprinter's dash. It was an attitude of avoidance similar to an ordinary person spotting a bear.
Only after widening the gap did he let out a wanton cold snort: "Who would tell an aberration among aberrations like you! Just go ahead and run amok in this Holy Grail War to your heart's content!"
To be accused of being an aberration by a member of an aberrant race... Miss Sakura was just about ready to get angry.
However, Sakura failed to show her usual reaction today. She simply stood in place in a daze, only snapping out of it after a moment. Pressing her knuckle to her lip, she remained quiet for a beat before finally calling out tentatively:
"Ri—"
Sakura turned around and was startled. An unidentified person with an eyepatch over one eye stood ten meters behind her. He wore a non-typical priest's outfit, with a cross-patterned necklace hanging over his chest. The mysterious man, with hair reaching down to his neck, looked over with an expression of surprise.
He gave a wry smile. "My apologies, I haven't introduced myself. Miss, you seem to be a magus, so you must know there is a war in this city. I am the supervisor of that war."
Due to the appearance of an outsider, the presence of Rider, who had been constantly attending Sakura, became imperceptible, consciously fading away.
Another priest? Sakura awkwardly adjusted her tone and spoke decisively:
"Forgive me, but I cannot trust the Holy Church to the same extent that I cannot trust that Dead Apostle from just now—"
"Sorry, no time for a detailed chat. Looking at the traces nearby, it seems you fought a Dead Apostle I'm tracking. Do you know which way he ran?"
The interrupted Sakura pointed reluctantly toward the distance. Before the priest, who would be considered the "refreshing type" by others, vanished behind the theater wall, he praised her without looking back:
"Little lady, before I rushed here, I thought there was going to be another victim. To be able to drive that Dead Apostle away... you're super strong."
The sun had just reached its zenith.
Watching the direction the man had so vigorously departed, Sakura looked slightly puzzled. Yes, Sakura was beginning to understand his inexplicably well-intentioned desire to kill Dead Apostles, but what she didn't quite understand was...
"If I just let Rider use her Mystic Eyes to glare at him, wouldn't he just die?"
What exactly was he so busy with, looking so serious?
Read ahead (60 chapters) by supporting me on buymeacoffee com/varietl or ko-fi edwriting