"...And now, for a breaking news update. According to the Fuyuki City Police Department, at approximately 9:00 AM today, patrolling officers discovered the headless corpse of a male along the banks of the Mion River. The head was found several meters away shortly thereafter. The deceased is estimated to be in his twenties, with orange hair..."
The midday news played on the television in the suite's living room, an unsettling report breaking through the usual broadcast.
"Quit watching the news and say what's on your mind," Ludwig said, lying on the sofa and glancing down at Merlin, who was sitting directly on his stomach.
After emerging wrapped in a bath towel and dropping that cryptic remark, the succubus had used him as a cushion, planting herself right on top of him before grabbing the remote to surf the news.
"Caster's Master has been dealt with. The news says his head looked like it was taken off with a sword," Merlin said, crossing her legs with an air of practiced leisure.
She was roughly the same height as Artoria but felt even lighter than the King of Knights. Ludwig estimated she weighed only about 20kg—yet she didn't appear thin or frail in the slightest. He supposed succubus biology simply couldn't be measured by human standards.
Ludwig pondered this as he looked at the woman perched on him. His own weight, by contrast, was comparable to that of a normal human.
"With a sword?" Ludwig recalled the atrocities Caster and his Master had committed, kidnapping children across the city. "Did you find the time to finish him off, Artoria?"
"No, it wasn't me," Artoria said, shaking her head. "A sword... Could it have been Rider? That man never showed his face during the battles yesterday."
"Given Rider's temperament, he probably couldn't stomach what the Caster camp was doing," Ludwig noted, agreeing with Artoria's guess as he recalled the boisterous, heroic king.
As he spoke, Ludwig shifted his hips slightly, giving Merlin a small jolt where she sat.
"While that news is significant, it's nothing compared to what you said when you first walked out here," Ludwig continued. "If you're just here to make fun of mine and Artoria's situation, then forget it."
Merlin toyed with a corner of her towel. It was winter, and despite the heater being on, the room was still a bit chilly, yet she seemed entirely unaffected.
"The Counter Force of Alaya is, in essence, a device for the survival of the human collective unconscious. It is the集结 (aggregation) of the directionality of human instincts—the things that exist once 'self' is stripped away—formed into a collective will."
She offered an elegant smile to Ludwig and Artoria, showing absolutely no self-awareness regarding the mess she had caused earlier as she continued her explanation.
"Of course, while I call it a 'device,' it isn't entirely mechanical. Since it dispatched a Guardian and failed to complete the mission, the Counter Force must now re-evaluate the threat you pose."
"Re-evaluate..." Artoria repeated the word. "Then isn't that extremely dangerous? It might mean the Counter Force will send even more powerful Guardians to eliminate Lud."
"Setting aside whether a Guardian of Primacy could even defeat Lutz, humans are creatures who instinctively seek benefit and avoid harm. Even without a 'self,' the Counter Force follows that basic logic. Therefore, there is still room to maneuver before the next move is made." Merlin waved a finger, dismissing Artoria's worries.
"Maneuver how? By bowing my head to the Counter Force?" Ludwig asked with a scoff.
Merlin's hand rested idly on the boy's abdomen, rubbing it distractedly. "Regardless of whether that's even possible, you aren't the type to bow your head anyway. The 'maneuver' I'm talking about refers to how the Counter Force re-evaluates you as a potential threat."
Her tone grew meaningful. "Ultimately, would a member of the next generation of Primates born after humanity truly threaten human existence? Would they cause humanity to fall from its seat prematurely?
"Or perhaps... does the existence of a 'Future Species' like Ludwig—who shouldn't belong to this era or be possible within it—signify that the world of Primacy still persists? The Human Order isn't an exclusive map for humans alone; it belongs to all sentient life."
Equipped with the Clairvoyance to see all of the present, every word Merlin spoke hit its mark, forcing Ludwig to contemplate the reality of his situation.
"Currently, the Counter Force is merely responding to Lutz's actions by sending a Guardian. But if things continue, it might turn into a declaration of war against the Planet itself. What then?" Merlin posed the question.
"...Is that why you said what you did back then?" Ludwig realized.
"Ludwig van Brunestud—as long as you walk this planet under that name, you needn't worry about the Counter Force hounding your doorstep endlessly," Merlin told him slyly. "Furthermore, as a powerful individual of Primacy, the Counter Force would rather have your strength than spend its resources trying to erase you."
Rather than paying an infinite price to eliminate a threat, turning that threat into a powerful Guardian was much more in line with the theme of human preservation.
Artoria chimed in then. "Are you saying Lud could become a Guardian?"
"In terms of sheer aptitude, if he accepted the invitation from the Counter Force, yes. However... even I wouldn't recommend actually becoming one. It's dreadfully boring." Merlin shook her head slightly, though her sweet smile made it hard to tell if she was being serious.
"..." Artoria watched Ludwig in silence.
The youth's face remained indifferent, devoid of any sense of being in danger. Or perhaps, as someone who could drive back a Guardian, he simply didn't see the need for concern.
"The Grand Class... the original purpose of the Heroic Spirit summoning system," Ludwig mused. "Is that an option too?"
"Mmhmm~ If things ever reached the point where a Grand Servant was required, I—the one with the deepest connection to you—would likely be the one granted that Grand title," Merlin said, sticking out her tongue playfully. "Better me than that Magus King doing the job."
Ludwig remembered her saying she possessed top-tier Clairvoyance; she did indeed have the qualifications for a Grand Caster.
"So, Lutz, do your best not to let things go that far~" She leaned down slightly, patting his cheek with a beaming smile.
"Thanks for the tip. I'll keep it in mind," Ludwig replied with a cheeky grin.
Merlin nodded, cupped his face, and kissed him, only to be pushed away by his helpless sigh.
"Still haven't had enough?"
"Hardly~ It's just that Lutz's magical energy is so special, it's a bit addictive," Merlin licked her lips. "Her Majesty the King of Knights should understand that, shouldn't she?"
"...That kind of thing..." Artoria's face turned bright red again.
Ludwig couldn't bear to watch any longer and cut in:
"Would you mind coming for a walk with me, Saber?"
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Type-Moon: The A-Ray Knight's Holy Grail Journey(91 Chapter - Ongoing)
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