This system is kind of ridiculous.
Why would it even collect such weird CG achievements?
Isn't this XP a bit too.. diverse?
When the system notification appeared in his vision, Alvin's expression became increasingly strange.
After a brief silence, he cleared his throat and said.
"Why would you suddenly ask such a strange question?"
Manaka Sajyou's small, fair foot was still dangling in front of him.
She elegantly tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, closely observing the young man's expression, and said: "Because you've been staring at my feet since earlier.. I thought you were interested."
As she finished, she lightly tapped her glossy lips with her fingertip, tilting her head. "Was I mistaken, then?"
It wasn't exactly a misunderstanding.
In fact, Alvin wasn't a foot fetishist in the strictest sense..after all, his preferences were quite broad and often shifted depending on the woman he was facing.
To be honest, with a girl like Manaka Sajyou.. even if he wanted to be into something like a chest, there wasn't much to work with, was there?
Of course, the pure and vibrant charm of a girl her age was something mature women lacked.
Alvin opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, Manaka Sajyou continued. "Just kidding! If you had actually agreed, I'd have been a bit embarrassed."
If you'd answered any slower,
I might've taken it seriously.. Alvin thought to himself, instinctively glancing at the girl.
Even in the dim light, her skin was still fair and delicate, her bare feet under the long dress pale and almost translucent.
Her toes seemed to be lightly painted with faint pink nail polish, sparkling subtly.
"Saber..?"
Noticing the young man's gaze, Manaka Sajyou instinctively curled her feet, looking at him suspiciously.
"You weren't seriously considering it just now, were you?"
As her words fell, the two options from earlier faded, replaced by a CG image appearing in the system.
The scene was Ryudou Temple at night, blanketed in heavy snow.
The girl sitting on the veranda had one hand propping up her chin, her azure eyes tinged with a hint of shyness.. and a slight, amused curve at the corner of her lips.
[You have completed the current special achievement: One Night at Ryudou Temple, Part One]
Part one..? So there's a part two or even part three to this achievement?
"Let's put the jokes aside for now. It's about time we got to serious matters," Manaka Sajyou suddenly said, looking up at the young man, her gaze turning more serious.
She reached out, her small hand gently grasping one of his.
"Saber, form a contract with me again."
"As long as I'm your Master, no matter what your goal is in this Holy Grail War, we can definitely achieve it."
You don't think *that* was the serious matter..? Alvin nodded lightly: "..Alright."
Seeing the young man accept her "invitation" so readily,
Manaka Sajyou was the one caught off guard this time.
"You're not worried that, after becoming my Master, I might use Command Spells to force you to do something?" She asked.
After all, with the Command Spells she had previously taken from Irisviel, Manaka Sajyou currently had a total of five Command Spells.
If she became Alvin's Master and used those Command Spells.. with the power of five, even the White Dragon's magic resistance wouldn't be able to withstand them.
Hadn't he considered that possibility?
"If I was worried, I wouldn't have come to you so openly in the first place," Alvin said, looking up at the girl with a smile: "Besides, didn't you choose to trust me too?"
"Because I don't think you'd lie to me," Manaka Sajyou said matter-of-factly, as if stating something completely ordinary.
Looking at her figure and her radiant smile, Alvin suddenly grew curious about how Manaka Sajyou had lived in her own era.
Her initial interest in him stemmed from the fact that Alvin was outside the scope of her "omniscience and omnipotence." There was likely no one else in the world who could shield themselves from her all-knowing perception.
Alvin suddenly asked. "Do you have any friends to hang out with? If you stay at the Clock Tower in the future, won't you feel lonely?"
"Friends?" Manaka Sajyou thought for a moment. "If I had to say, there's one—my little sister."
"Most of the time, I'm by myself. When I was little, I loved studying all kinds of magecraft. Many elders praised my talent, but people in my family said I was too reclusive because sometimes, after creating a new spell, I'd giggle to myself in a corner."
Manaka Sajyou recalled her experiences in the Sajyou family.
"But my parents were pretty confident in me. They both thought I'd become an excellent mage in the future."
Perhaps it was because of the busyness of the past few days, or perhaps it was simply because of Alvin's presence, her body was extremely relaxed, she rested her face on his legs and closed her eyes lightly.
Alvin looked at her soft, golden hair in the dim light.
A candle flickered on the veranda amidst the wind and snow, and the cool air carried a faint chill.
His fingers twitched slightly, suddenly feeling an urge to touch her face or ruffle her hair.
Come to think of it, he had never asked about Manaka Sajyou's family.
Omniscience and omnipotence didn't guarantee a happy life...no, it was quite the opposite.
On the contrary, the dazzling talent likely made her feel even more isolated.
Because there was no one who could resonate with her.
When he first arrived at the Clock Tower, Alvin had also been a loner, often playing games alone in his room.
When it was late at night and everyone was asleep, he would look out the window at the night sky and suddenly feel inexplicably empty inside.
If he hadn't met Kayneth and his sister, he might still be an ordinary student at the Clock Tower, without all the extraordinary experiences that followed.
Even though his teacher could be harsh with other students.. he had always been quite caring toward Alvin.
That's why, this time, he had deliberately manifested as a Servant, hoping at least to ensure Kayneth's safe return to the Clock Tower.
"You're already an excellent mage," Alvin said suddenly.
Manaka Sajyou opened her eyes, saying earnestly. "But whether I become an excellent mage doesn't matter to me."
"I don't need anyone else's approval."
Those who seek others' approval are usually people who didn't receive much attention as children or lack confidence in themselves..
But Manaka Sajyou had been the most dazzling presence in her family since childhood, a genius with high expectations placed upon her.
The flattery and praise from those around her, the envy of her peers, and even her younger sister's admiration..
She had experienced such feedback so much that she had long grown numb to it.
But there was only one thing Manaka Sajyou truly wanted.
And the only person who could fulfill that wish was one person.
"Saber, before the real battle begins, I have one more question," Manaka Sajyou said, gazing into Alvin's eyes. "You said you'd wait for me at the Clock Tower.."
"That means you're not a Servant in the truest sense, right?"
Alvin nodded as the girl looked up, staring into the young man's eyes, and said softly. "..Even after the Holy Grail War ends in the future, will you always stay with me?"
As she asked this, her gaze was fixed intently on Alvin.
If he showed even the slightest hesitation, it might shake her heart.
But Alvin had already made up his mind on the way here, so he nodded immediately.
"..Of course."
Upon hearing the young man's unwavering response, Manaka Sajyou let out a sigh of relief.
Then, she suddenly felt an almost unbelievable sensation.
When she asked that question just now, for the first time in her life, she felt an inexplicable "nervousness."
Despite her omniscience and omnipotence, she couldn't read Alvin's thoughts.
She didn't know how she would have reacted if he had hesitated or rejected her.
Disappointment? Sadness?
Or perhaps.. her already dull life would have become completely devoid of any joy?
Of course, thinking about that now was meaningless..
After hearing Alvin's words, a sweet smile bloomed on the girl's pure and radiant face.
She knelt beside the young man, one hand lightly resting on his thigh, and said softly. "Then let's form a contract again, Saber~"
..
At the Tohsaka mansion.
A man dressed elegantly sat quietly in a secret room, an antique telephone placed on the desk.
"How's the situation at Enzou Mountain?" Tokiomi Tohsaka asked in a low, serious tone.
"I've sent Assassin to scout the area. Not long ago, there was a battle at the mountaintop. The ones involved were the mage killer hired by the Einzbern family, Kiritsugu Emiya, and Saber's former Master," Kirei Kotomine's deep voice came through the receiver.
"But we still don't know that girl's true origins or what her goals are."
Hearing this, Tokiomi Tohsaka closed his eyes silently, rubbing his temples as if plagued by a headache.
A mage connected to the Root, though now seemingly parted ways with Saber, was already troublesome enough on her own, even without a Servant.
Moreover, the other party had found the core of the Greater Holy Grail and even summoned it prematurely..
If they didn't hurry to Enzou Mountain as soon as possible, there was a chance other Masters might beat them to it.
Even knowing there could be a trap, the Masters would still head to Enzou Mountain for the Greater Holy Grail.
It was an open scheme, but an effective one.
Servants summoned for the Holy Grail War carried their own pride and dignity.
From the moment they answered the call, they were prepared to fight for their Master or their ideals.
Manaka Sajyou's awakening of the Greater Holy Grail deep within Enzou Mountain was like playing an open hand, sending an invitation to all parties.
How many Servants needed to fall for the Greater Holy Grail to truly manifest?
Even Tokiomi Tohsaka, one of Fuyuki's "three founding families," didn't know.
But if he didn't go to Enzou Mountain now, he might spend the rest of his life in endless regret.
Yet, heading to Enzou Mountain so openly would render all the meticulous plans he had made for the Holy Grail War utterly useless.
Moreover, exposing a Master to open view was incredibly foolish.. Tokiomi Tohsaka had always believed so.
Kirei Kotomine said in a low voice: "Teacher, why not let Archer scout Enzou Mountain first? If something goes wrong, we can use a Command Spell to recall him.."
Tokiomi Tohsaka frowned, remaining silent.
If Gilgamesh were the type to follow orders, he wouldn't be Gilgamesh.
While they could be fairly certain of the King of Heroes' combat prowess.. they still didn't know what Saber's former Master was planning or whether she had set traps on Enzou Mountain.
If something happened to Archer, this Holy Grail War would have nothing to do with him anymore.
"Archer won't listen to me. He might already be preparing to head out," Tokiomi Tohsaka said in a low tone soon after. "And if I'm not mistaken, Rider is probably ready to move as well."
Rider..?
Kirei Kotomine paused, instinctively asking: "How do you know about Rider's situation..?"
"Because the Conqueror King is in my courtyard right now," Tokiomi Tohsaka said, his tone laced with a strange mix of emotions.
In the serious context of the Holy Grail War, where all Servants were supposed to be rivals, the Conqueror King had boldly shown up in his backyard tonight.
Even now, he was chatting freely with the Hero King..
Even Tokiomi Tohsaka couldn't help but feel a bit overwhelmed thinking about it.
"Are you planning to stay at the mansion for now?" Kirei Kotomine asked.
Tokiomi Tohsaka was silent for a moment before saying: "For the Holy Grail War, a Master shouldn't expose themselves to the enemy's sight. It's best to act cautiously.."
"I understand. I'll have Assassin keep watch in secret and report any new information to you immediately,"
Kirei Kotomine replied.
Tokiomi Tohsaka let out a soft "mm" and hung up the phone.
Alone in the quiet secret room, his expression wavered for a moment before he pushed open the door and headed toward the backyard.
..
In the backyard
Snow fell heavily.
After the two kings drained their cups, the king of Conquerors let out a hearty exclamation of satisfaction.
"Tonight has been quite an interesting time. I've fully understood your perspective as a king, Hero King."
Clearly, the two kings had just discussed their understanding of what it meant to be a "king" in the backyard, each appreciating the other's unique perspective on rulership.
"It's a pity Saber isn't here..
My Master says he's called the 'Lowly King.' Maybe we could've heard his take on kingship," The Conqueror King said soon after, his tone carrying a hint of regret.
Gilgamesh snorted coldly.
"If he truly had the qualities of a king, he wouldn't settle for serving others."
As he spoke, his crimson eyes narrowed slightly, and he said quietly: "Having lost his Master, I doubt he can entertain me to my satisfaction anymore."
Since their last clash, Gilgamesh had wanted to defeat Alvin head-on in a true battle, but too much had happened in recent days, and Alvin seemed to have lost his Master.
Without a supply of magical energy.. even an exceptional Servant like him wouldn't be a match for Gilgamesh.
"Seems like you're determined to claim the Holy Grail, huh?"
At this time, Conqueror King said, setting down his cup and standing up. He turned to look toward Enzou Mountain, a playful smile spreading across his face. "But the final victor might not necessarily be you."
Gilgamesh silently glanced at the rugged man.
"I hope you won't disappoint me, Conqueror King," He said, before transforming into golden particles and quietly vanishing into the night.
The Conqueror King looked toward Enzou Mountain, his gaze calm and profound.
"Rider.. what are you thinking about?" Waver, finally finding a chance to speak, asked cautiously from the side.
The Conqueror King pondered for a moment, then said thoughtfully.
"A big battle is coming, Master. Would you rather stay at the apartment?"
Waver's eyes widened immediately, and he said excitedly: "Are you saying you're going to Enzou Mountain alone? Saber's former Master might have set traps there. How could I let you go by yourself?"
"But I might not be able to keep you safe on this trip," The Conqueror King said as Waver's expression faltered for a moment.
After hesitating briefly, he said in a low voice: "My teacher was right, I really don't have much talent for magecraft, and I'm not suited for this Holy Grail War."
The Conqueror King raised an eyebrow, silently watching him.
"But—" Waver suddenly looked up. "Even a Master with no magical talent wouldn't let their Servant face danger alone while hiding in a safe place, waiting to reap the rewards of victory!"
As if making up his mind, he said solemnly. "Rider, I want to go to Enzou Mountain with you as your Master!"
The Conqueror King paused, his expression softening for a moment.
Then, slowly, his face grew serious, then excited.
He thrust his right hand into the air, and with a roar, a chariot surged forth from a flash of lightning.
Grabbing Waver and tossing him onto the chariot, the Conqueror King stepped aboard with bold, unrestrained confidence.
"Then come with me to conquer, and let's witness the final victory of this Holy Grail War, Master!!!"
He bellowed with a hearty laugh, driving the chariot toward Enzou Mountain.
At the entrance to the backyard, a pair of eyes quietly observed the scene.
Tokiomi Tohsaka.
He stood silently at the entrance, watching the Conqueror King leave and the now-empty backyard.
In his mind, he replayed the conversation between Rider and his Master.
After a long struggle, Tokiomi Tohsaka dialed a phone number.
"Aoi.." He took a deep breath and said slowly. "If I don't make it back, take care of Rin and Sakura."
Aoi Tohsaka, who had been half-asleep, snapped awake at his words, speaking in a tense voice. "What's happened?"
"Nothing's happened yet, don't worry," Tokiomi Tohsaka said, looking toward Enzou Mountain. "I just need to step out for a bit."
"Where..?" Aoi asked instinctively.
"Enzou Mountain," Tokiomi Tohsaka said slowly.
"..I want to witness the end of this mythical battle with my own eyes."
.
.
.