Saber felt a flicker of confusion regarding the current situation.
Was that woman who looked so much like Merlin an ally of Ludwig van Brunestud? If so, why had she intervened in the matter with Caster? On the surface, allowing Caster to run rampant would have been an effective way to delay Saber, granting Ludwig more time to deal with Kiritsugu Emiya.
Looking at the scene before her, Saber had no doubt that Kiritsugu hadn't even found the opportunity to use a Command Spell to summon her to his side. This forced her to sprint back to the castle to provide reinforcement, only to arrive and see Kiritsugu with Ludwig's sword at his throat. She could only let out a silent sigh, realizing she was one step too late.
Regret was useless now. Saber gripped her invisible sword, maintaining a cautious standoff with Ludwig. At this distance, if there were no hostage involved, her abilities would allow her to close the gap and launch an attack with ease. But she knew that the moment she made a move, that sword would tear through Kiritsugu's throat. Even if she managed to strike the white-haired youth, her Master would certainly die.
"The Master is here, and the Servant has arrived as well." Ludwig stood sideways, glancing at Kiritsugu before turning his gaze to Saber. "I'll say it once more: if you relinquish your status as Saber's Master now, I can choose not to kill you."
"...Why should I believe you?" Kiritsugu asked, clutching his chest and gasping for air.
"That's a good question, and one I can't really answer for you," Ludwig replied. "But your life currently hangs on a whim of mine. If I wanted to kill you, I wouldn't have given Saber time to get here."
Kiritsugu gritted his teeth. The strain of his magecraft and the agony of his broken bones made every word an ordeal. Ludwig was right—from the moment their engagement began until now, the youth had at least four opportunities to kill him on the spot. He hadn't dragged it out until now because he was incapable, but because he seemingly had no desire for wanton slaughter.
"By the way, what happened to Caster?" the boy asked Saber. "Did you see him?"
"Caster has been repelled," Saber answered succinctly.
If the boy was indeed connected to that woman in the white hood, he surely wouldn't need to ask further.
"I see. That's good then." Ludwig withdrew his gaze and looked back at Kiritsugu. "Make your choice. Die here and now, or give up your status as a Master and leave this place alive."
"Will you truly let Kiritsugu go?" Saber asked.
If the Master lived, even if he lost his Servant, he could find a way to seize another Servant from a different Master and continue the Holy Grail War. By choosing to spare a Master whose Servant had been taken, the youth was displaying an immense level of confidence.
"I'm an easy man to talk to. If you don't try to kill me, I won't kill you. That logic holds up regardless of the era, doesn't it?" Ludwig explained calmly.
Saber nodded slightly. Though it sounded somewhat naive, she didn't dislike someone so straightforward. If they were to form a Master-Servant bond, they might actually be able to cooperate. However, that was a matter for after Kiritsugu relinquished his rights.
"...I understand." Kiritsugu shifted his uncomfortable sitting position slightly, giving himself more room to move. "Put your sword away. I will sever the contract with Saber now."
Hearing Kiritsugu say this, Saber froze for a moment. Her sword hand relaxed, her shoulders slumped, and she stood there with her weapon lowered. She had heard from Irisviel about the grand wish Kiritsugu had entrusted to the Grail—a wish for which Irisviel was willing to offer her own life. Was Kiritsugu now forced to abandon it because his own life was on the line?
Though Saber had never spoken to Kiritsugu face-to-face—only observing him as he ignored her to speak only to Irisviel and Maiya Hisau—she could sense the cold, ruthless way he viewed Servants as mere tools. He was cold-blooded, willing to discard anything for the sake of his goal.
Even so, Saber had no intention of criticizing his behavior now. The Masters participating in the Holy Grail War were magi living in the present; they were humans with reasons to fear death and a desire to live. No one participated in this war simply to seek a grave.
"Fine then." Ludwig nonchalantly moved Durandal away, sliding the blade into the scabbard he held in his left hand. Then, he reached out toward Saber. "What do you say? Do you have any objections, Saber?"
"Let it be known first: my left hand is currently affected by a wound from Lancer's Noble Phantasm. Without the use of my left hand, I cannot release my Noble Phantasm's True Name. I am not in peak condition." Saber raised her left hand, which still lacked any strength.
"That's simple enough. We'll just deal with Lancer next," Ludwig said. "The two of us together."
"...You certainly are confident." Saber carried her sword as she walked toward Ludwig. To re-establish a contract with a new Master after one is severed usually requires physical contact.
But she had only taken two steps—entering the range where a single swing would strike the youth—when her body suddenly lost control. Both her hands raised the invisible sword and swung it down toward Ludwig.
BOOM—
Saber's heavy strike did not cleave the boy's body. It was parried by Ludwig, who held Durandal while it was still inside its sheath.
"What is the meaning of this?" The youth frowned.
"...No! That wasn't..." Saber realized the problem instantly. She looked toward Kiritsugu, who was sitting nearby.
One of the Command Spells on the back of his hand had vanished.
Despite her Magic Resistance, being caught off guard by a Command Spell issuing an order she didn't entirely find repulsive meant Saber had been helpless. She had attacked almost by instinct, and only managed to pull back her strength a split second too late.
An expert magus does not necessarily need spoken words to trigger a Command Spell; internal mental suggestion and mana induction work just as well. Kiritsugu possessed that level of skill. Injured as he was, unable to speak with force, he had naturally seized the chance to use a trick. He used a Command Spell to force Saber to attack Ludwig and tie him down, while he desperately attempted to activate "Time Alter" once more to escape.
Seeing that Saber's Magic Resistance might cause the first Command Spell to fail at any moment, Kiritsugu spoke again.
"...Once more, I order with a Command Spell: Kill the enemy—"
"Stop—!"
Hearing the start of Kiritsugu's command, Saber cried out in a panic, trying to stop him. She wasn't trying to stop the order; she was trying to stop Kiritsugu from seeking his own death.
But she was too slow.
Before the second Command Spell could take effect, Kiritsugu's body—before it could even begin to run—split apart like a piece of timber. He was severed into three pieces along the lines of the slashes.
One cut sliced through his head diagonally across the bridge of his nose; a second cut tore through his torso, severing the arm he held in front of him along with it. A murderous expression was still etched onto Kiritsugu Emiya's face; he died instantly, without even realizing he was dead.
The bone had been sliced smooth and clean. Only after the severed segments of his torso collapsed did the blood finally catch up, surging out to pool beneath his remains.
And the one who had killed Kiritsugu Emiya was the very target he thought he could trap by ordering Saber to ambush him.
Ludwig, who was currently holding his sword to block Saber's strike, turned his head slightly. He looked coldly at the fool who had discarded his chance for life and died in the blink of an eye.
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Type-Moon: The A-Ray Knight's Holy Grail Journey
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