Though Artoria wasn't entirely sure what Ludwig intended by going out, as his Servant, she accepted the proposal. They left Merlin behind in the hotel and stepped out into the streets of Fuyuki.
At first, Artoria felt a lingering sense of unease. She walked half a step behind him, clutching the collar of her coat tightly, looking very much like a young girl on her very first date.
However, her bashfulness gradually dissipated under Ludwig's casual, steady demeanor. Her heart eventually found its way back to a state of calm.
"The Mion River looks like nothing happened at all," Ludwig noted, pointing toward the upstream section. "As if that massive battle last night was just a dream. Well, except for those two sections of the embankment that have completely vanished."
Those were the scars left by the two clashes between his Magic Sword and Gilgamesh's Sword of Rupture. The rest of the devastation had been swallowed by the rising river, hidden beneath the shimmering surface.
"It is fortunate the battlefield was centered around the river," Artoria said with a nod. "Otherwise, the collateral damage to the surrounding city would have been catastrophic."
"I didn't kill the Masters of Lancer and Archer," Ludwig said. "I wonder if they've followed the rules and sought sanctuary at the church."
"They might also be planning to seize Rider," Artoria suggested. "The King of Conquerors' Master is not nearly as formidable as the others. To the Masters of Lancer and Archer, he represents an opening they might try to exploit."
Ludwig couldn't help but chuckle. "Do you really think Rider would give them that chance?"
"...No, I suppose not," Artoria replied, shaking her head.
They continued along the riverbank, walking toward the Fuyuki Church. Ludwig slowed his pace, pulling level with Artoria.
"Feeling better now?" Ludwig asked.
"Yes." Artoria placed a hand over her heart; her pulse was no longer racing as it had been moments before, even though she could still clearly feel Ludwig's presence beside her.
"Regarding what happened between us... and the things Merlin said... don't dwell on them too much," Ludwig said softly.
Artoria looked at him with slight surprise. "Are you telling me to act as if it never happened?"
"How could I? Even if I said that, you wouldn't be able to do it," Ludwig said with a shrug. "Since it has already happened, all I can do is my best to ensure you don't feel ashamed or insulted by it. You still have a heavy responsibility on your shoulders; my only job is to help you reach the end."
As for whether Artoria would eventually become a Guardian sent to eliminate him as a potential threat to humanity, that was a problem for another day.
Ludwig was not a machine, and he had no intention of thinking like one. A vital part of being human was the drive to work toward a better tomorrow, rather than merely discarding and excluding everything for the sake of self-preservation.
He believed that Ado Edem must have felt the same. That was likely why, despite being feared and sealed away, Edem didn't seek revenge upon being released. Instead, he simply swung "Slash Emperor" and did what needed to be done for the sake of that world.
Ludwig had considered the possibility that he was wrong, but in his eyes, actions spoke louder than thoughts. The results of one's deeds were what truly mattered.
"Lud..." Artoria started, struggling to find the right words.
"To put it bluntly, even though Merlin forced our hand, we do have a relationship now," Ludwig said, shaking his head. "I just wanted to talk to you more. I want to understand you better."
"..." Artoria fell silent.
Truthfully, she also wanted to understand Ludwig better. she wanted to know the thoughts in his heart and learn more about the distant, desperate future he hailed from—a world she could never reach or touch. Furthermore, she wanted to save this person who was being rejected by both humanity and the planet, even if she didn't yet know how.
"Could I... hold your hand? Just consider it a selfish wish of mine." Ludwig smiled and extended his hand toward her, his expression bright and warm.
When Artoria hesitantly reached out and let him take her hand, his smile grew even more radiant, and she found herself unable to suppress a smile of her own.
"This path... is it leading to the Fuyuki Church?" Artoria asked, noticing their direction.
"Technically, there's a Command Spell reward for the subjugation of the Caster faction. Even though Caster's end was more or less a side effect of my fight with Gilgamesh," Ludwig explained.
Caster and his summoned Sea Demons had been like stray dogs on the side of the road, caught in the crossfire and kicked aside as Ludwig and Gilgamesh clashed.
"But Rider eliminated Caster's Master," Artoria pointed out. "Perhaps they will receive a Command Spell as well. If they haven't spent any, that would give the Rider faction four Command Spells in total."
"It's possible," Ludwig agreed.
In a sense, the words Rider had spoken back at the warehouse docks had come true. Because Ludwig had been so active, he and Saber were now the final enemies standing before the King of Conquerors. Moreover, whether Rider possessed other Noble Phantasms besides his Gordius Wheel remained a mystery.
"However, my Master even defeated Archer. Rider will be no different," Artoria said with sincere confidence.
"Then let's finish off the rest of our enemies with ease, just like before." Ludwig grinned, his smile like a crescent moon.
They continued to analyze Rider's situation based on his True Name, and using that as their topic, they soon arrived at the Fuyuki Church.
The gates to the courtyard were open during the day. Ludwig and Artoria walked straight in. Pushing open the wooden doors of the chapel, Ludwig entered the somewhat dim interior for the first time. There, he saw a man in a red suit sitting alone on a front-row bench.
"Tohsaka Tokiomi?" Ludwig recognized him.
"...And you are Saber's Master, Ludwig van Brunestud." Tokiomi blinked in surprise. Though the church was neutral ground, he instinctively grew guarded.
"Are you taking refuge here?" Ludwig asked.
"Having lost my Servant, I have no choice but to come here," Tokiomi replied. "Besides, I have matters to discuss with the Supervisor."
Artoria looked skeptical. "You didn't attempt to seize a new Servant?"
"A grand joke, truly. With a Servant like Rider, even if I could find a way to capture his Master, he would never agree to a change in contract." Tokiomi seemed to have a clear grasp of his situation; his smile was bitter. "The end of the Holy Grail War is at hand. I can only remain here as a surviving loser, witnessing the advent of the Grail in my capacity as the head of the Tohsaka family."
Ludwig understood. Just as he was about to ask where the priest in charge of the Command Spells was, a low female voice drew their attention toward the inner chambers of the church.
"Saber."
"Maiya? Why are you here?" Artoria asked.
Hisau Maiya looked haggard. "As more Servants fall, the Lady, serving as the Grail's vessel, has become unable to move. I have been here caring for her while she takes refuge."
"The church is one of the four great spiritual lands of Fuyuki," Tokiomi added. "I imagine Lady Einzbern chose to seek shelter here out of a sense of responsibility."
"How is Irisviel?" Artoria asked, concern etching her features.
"She has lost almost all of her five senses. She is unconscious most of the time," Maiya replied in a flat, monotone voice.
Artoria glanced at Ludwig. He gave her a silent nod, and only then did she speak: "I would like to see Irisviel one last time."
"I understand. Please, follow me."
With that, Maiya led Artoria toward the inner rooms of the chapel, leaving Tokiomi and Ludwig alone in the sanctuary.
"So, Ludwig-kun, what brings you here?" Tokiomi asked.
"I'm here to see if the reward for subjugating Caster still counts," Ludwig said. "So, where's the priest in charge?"
"...Father Risei lost his only son last night. Kirei was just buried; the Father is currently in the depths of mourning," Tokiomi said, his expression darkening. "It was my mistake. I should not have sent Kirei to intercept you."
"So that's how they're related." Ludwig finally grasped the connection. "To be honest, I gave that priest a chance, but he chose to make a move against me anyway. If he hadn't, he could have survived, just like you."
Tokiomi did not respond, falling into a heavy silence. Once again, the chapel was swallowed by a deathly quiet.
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Type-Moon: The A-Ray Knight's Holy Grail Journey(91 Chapter - Ongoing)
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