"Hmm..."
Something's strange. It's strange, too strange.
"Is something the matter?"
"No, it's nothing major... It's just, haven't you become too strong too suddenly?"
"Does it look that way? I practiced getting the knack all night. Is it alright?"
"Yes... No, it's beyond alright, I'm surprised at how fast you are."
At least one parameter rank has gone up. This is absurd... To be this strong even with Shirou as her Master. Can dragon power overflow this much in just one day? Especially that skin. Usually, it's the skin of an ordinary woman, but when she draws out dragon power, it becomes hard like scales... like armor. It's not at Siegfried's level of defense yet... But will she reach that level soon? Even with Shirou as her Master, her Strength is A and Endurance has risen to B?
Her magical energy core, the dragon blood has begun to activate. Even so, the progress is too fast. What kind of change happened?
"You're more talented than I thought. I'm surprised again."
"Is it that much? Thank you."
"Let's stop here for today and have a meal."
I glossed over it for now... but something's off. Why has such a rapid and big change occurred? Did Merlin do something?
No, there's absolutely no trace of anyone's interference... Hmm, is it a big change in her state of mind? Perhaps she felt a lot from watching our battle last night?
"... It's delicious."
"Huh?"
"It's always delicious. The meals Fergus makes are always delicious. Is there some secret?"
"A secret...? Affection? I just want whoever eats it to enjoy it."
"Affection... So that's why it feels this warm?"
"Ah, yes..."
*Sigh*... Something, something... It feels like something's bothering me.
"..."
"Why are you like that?"
"No, it's... I feel like Deirdre is watching from somewhere..."
Whether it's Artoria's gaze or a gaze felt from elsewhere, it feels a bit chilly...?
"Deirdre, your fifth wife, right?"
"Yes, that's right..."
"... By the way, about yesterday? After the battle, you kissed Rin... Are the two of you lovers?"
Artoria asks me with a faint smile. It feels a bit cold...?
"Ah, no, that's not it. You see, if you saw Rin's appearance yesterday, you'd know, but that was actually my wife Scáthach transformed. It's just an imitation of the outfit and abilities. But Scáthach intervened and borrowed Rin's body, you see? Originally that shouldn't happen, but somehow... Haha, this is embarrassing."
"Hmm... So that means, you essentially kissed your wife, not Rin?"
"Well, yes? Rin was embarrassed too, but we don't have any romantic feelings for each other."
"I see..."
"Is there something bothering you?"
"No? Nothing."
It's cold... The atmosphere is particularly different today, isn't it? Did I do something wrong? I don't think I did...? As usual, after finishing the meal, I was thinking of taking a walk around Fuyuki with her...
"Ah~ Seems I sweated quite a bit. I'll go take a quick shower."
"Huh? Ah, go ahead."
Did she... sweat a lot? Now that I think about it, I heard Shirou muttering last night that the body wash had run out... Did she replace it? Finding the one body wash in the house, I head to the shower room. First, I knock.
Knock knock~
"Artoria, may I come in?"
[Yes~]
Hearing from beyond the door that I may enter, I immediately open the door and go in...
"Is there some problem?"
"Of course there are many! No matter how young I look, I'm older than you!? Really... you should have at least covered up with that towel. Here, the body shampoo..."
"Thank you. But, saying that... Do you perceive me as a woman?"
"It's not that I'm insulting you or anything, it's just... we're man and woman, you know. I'm sorry."
I quickly close the door. Something. I think I saw a faint smile right before it closed... Am I tired lately?
I come to the living room and watch TV. Well, there's nothing interesting... Variety shows and such, nothing particularly fun.
A short while later, the sound of Artoria's footsteps after finishing her shower is heard. Splash... I hear a bit of water sound, perhaps?
"That was refreshing."
"... Indeed."
"..... Hey, Fergus? Why are you averting your eyes?"
"Please put on clothes first, Artoria."
"But I'm wearing a towel?"
"That's why... Sigh. A grown maiden, please don't be like that. It's troubling, so I won't look until you're dressed."
"Fergus... Are you saying my body is unsightly...?"
"No, that's not what I meant, why does it come out like that!?"
"No, sigh... It's just, I'm a man too, you know. Please exercise restraint."
"... Understood."
It sounded like a satisfied voice. Was Artoria this kind of person? It makes me wonder... She's become a personality that reminds me of Deirdre. Did she eat something wrong?
Artoria and I go out for a walk as usual. Soon, Caster will attack, and shortly after, Gilgamesh will raid the Einzbern castle. The important thing is to defeat Gilgamesh there...
But, I wonder about the timing...
"Soon, the Holy Grail War will end, right?"
"... Nearly a week's worth of time has passed. It should end soon. Rider and Lancer have been eliminated, and we too will eventually have to fight."
"Fight... is it..."
"Looking at Shirou, he'll refuse, but you know Rin's personality, right? She will fight. Probably, this leisurely time you and I spend together will also end."
"..."
She makes a bitter expression. I too enjoyed these short times. That's why it's a bit regrettable... but I'm just a visitor after all.
"Fergus. Do you enjoy the time spent with me?"
"That's sudden? ... I think I do. Honestly, spending time with you, a descendant of an acquaintance from the same cultural sphere, has been enjoyable. It's a good thing to have someone to spend such peaceful moments with. So it's regrettable... I liked you."
"I see... I also──"
"I also enjoyed my time with you."
"... I see. That makes me happy."
Has she come to know the preciousness and joy of an ordinary life? Perhaps... Has her obsession now been resolved? No longer imprisoning herself in the name of king, but coming out of that prison as the human Artoria to enjoy freedom.
She's not my daughter, but... I feel somewhat proud.
By the way... Did she originally call me by my name? ... Whatever. It's not that important anyway.
Meeting the two as they finish school as usual, we return to our respective lodgings again.
"Huh? You're out of ingredients?"
"Uh... Archer, just where have you been going out to play with Saber lately!? You said you'd handle the shopping!"
"Ah... I forgot. I'm 600 years old, you know. I'm an old man, so cut me some slack."
"Doing that with that cute face has zero persuasive power!?"
[I agree~]
"Fine, fine~ I'll go buy some."
Having no choice, I go to the city alone to shop. What should I buy...
Tap tap tap...!
"Huh? That's..."
But then, I see Shirou running in the distance. What's he doing alone? I quickly block Shirou's path.
"Archer!?"
"What's going on that you're running like that? It doesn't seem like a stroll."
"That's... huff, huff... It's an emergency!"
"Huh? What emergency──"
Wait... Shirou doesn't have Command Spells on his hand.
"... Where's Artoria?"
"That's... Caster attacked the house!"
"Oh no..."
Did she get caught before I could even use communication? Listening to Shirou's story, not only did they attack with Kuzuki, but they also used Fujimura Taiga, who was coming over to play, as a hostage and took Artoria away. No matter how much stronger she got, was it a surprise attack? Did she let her guard down because she got stronger? Or was it because of her chivalry after all... This is troublesome.
"First, let's go to the Tohsaka residence. I think I know where she is, but as a Servant, I need my Master's permission."
"Got it!"
This is problematic...
*Slash...!*
Medea, who attacked the church with Saber and Sōichirō. Kirei, who was alone at the church, fought against them but...
*Thud...!*
"A ten-year grudge, I suppose. Irisviel's enemy has been avenged."
In the end, he met his end by Saber's hand.
"You're being proactive? Saber. I thought you wouldn't acknowledge me as your Master."
"... Honestly, I didn't want to hurt Shirou either. But perhaps, I thought this might be the best. Turning crisis into opportunity, as they say. A relationship of mutual use is sufficient, isn't it?"
"Scary, unlike your cute appearance... But I am your Master. Don't forget that fact."
"It doesn't matter. Whatever humiliation there may be... I rather like it."
Medea flinches seeing Saber grinning. The woman who previously showed an obsession with the Holy Grail now seems to possess an obsession in a different direction. Medea, who tried to make a dragon her possession, was feeling a bit of regret.
So, she uses a Command Spell.
"..."
"... Huh, what the?"
"..... Ah, so that's the development. You should have said so. To deceive his eyes, you'd have to actually do it..."
"Wh, what...?"
"? I am a dragon. A Command Spell or two is nothing to me."
Saber shows resistance at the level of nullifying the Command Spell Medea used, as if it were nothing, with her Magic Resistance, her even higher Magic Resistance. And yet, she seems to be trying to play along with Medea's tune.
"So, how did you plan to subdue me?"
"... You're not Berserker, are you?"
"I'm Saber. If you're going to do it, do it quickly. If he comes right now, what will you do then?"
"You're really shameless."
"I've come to understand. This world is one where, if you're not shameless like Lancelot, if you're not shameless like Merlin, it's a difficult world. Sometimes, I think it's okay for me to be like that too."
"... Why do I feel like I'm the one who got kidnapped."
"Ah, how about filming a video of me struggling in resistance? According to modern knowledge... that, video tape? Sending something like that to apply psychological pressure, you know."
"No wonder you're the succubus's apprentice, you're worse than me... That also seems fun, though."
The two unexpectedly found common ground. Seeing this, Sōichirō helped out with the mindset that it's fine as long as Medea is happy.
"Haa... haa..."
"No matter how many Command Spells you use... I will never yield..."
Click...
"... Did it record well?"
"You're good at acting. It gave me chills..."
"Well, I learned a thing or two from Merlin... He said acting ability is essential as a king. Using something I didn't use when I was king, during my time as a Servant."
"I see... I'll send it as you said... but I wonder if it will really go as you intend?"
"It's intuition."
With her unique intuition, Saber was certain Fergus would come to save her and was playing along with Medea. Truly, she was Merlin's prized pupil...