Neco Arc watched as Assassin was driven into a panic by Akatsuki and the black shadow, momentarily dazed. The next moment, she realized that Akatsuki wanted the black shadow to devour Assassin!
After all, she had been present when Lancer was devoured last night and Berserker just now; once devoured by this black shadow, it was no different from being defeated in the Holy Grail War.
"Could this black shadow be a Holy Grail Vessel researched by some Magician, nya?"
Neco Arc stroked her chin. Although she didn't particularly want to save Assassin, given the current situation, she still needed Assassin's help to obtain the Holy Grail.
"You fellow, can't you just behave yourself?"
A voice that sounded somewhat familiar to Neco Arc came from behind her. Upon hearing it, all of Neco Arc's fur stood on end.
"Nya?! Why are you here!!"
Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg, commonly known as the "Jewel Owner," is one of only five "True Magicians" in the world and one of the Twenty-Seven Ancestors of Dead Apostles. Affiliated with the Mages Association, he forcibly organized Magicians into an army as the "Marshal of Sorcery" during a conflict with the "King of the Moon" in 300 AD, and he is also a collaborator of the True Ancestors in this world.
He is also the existence who killed the "King of the Moon" in a human body!
"Huh? You're asking me? I wanted to ask you, why are you interfering with this world's Holy Grail War? Do you know how much extra workload this has added for me?"
Kishur scratched his all-white hair in distress, then turned his gaze toward Crimson Moon not far away. "This fellow..."
"Nya, you noticed it too, right? A perfect vessel capable of fully receiving Crimson Moon, yet without the 'Gate' left by Crimson Moon inside her body. This means she wasn't created by Dead Apostles or the Ancestors."
"Those two 'the counter forces' that returned not long ago? They really do nothing but increase my workload!"
Since she was an existence capable of fully receiving Crimson Moon, Kishur couldn't just leave her alone. Moreover, if he truly ignored a Dead Apostle, those people from the Church wouldn't let it slide easily.
"If word gets out, those guys from the Burial Agency will probably come charging in like madmen."
"By the way, you're coming back with me immediately. As for Assassin, return control of him to his original Master!"
"But the heroine, nya..."
"Hmm?"
Kishur frowned, his majestic face instantly silencing Neco Arc.
After sending Neco Arc away, Kishur turned his gaze back to the center of the battlefield nearby. Come to think of it, he hadn't expected to return to this city again.
"The last time I came was as a witness to this ritual. I wonder how Nagato's descendants are doing."
Upon seeing the black shadow, Kishur frowned.
"Has that fellow Makiri fallen to such an extent? This really gives one a sense of how things have changed while people remain the same..."
Feeling many emotions, Kishur decided to resolve the immediate trouble first. He leapt into the battlefield, standing between Akatsuki and Assassin, and raised his hands.
"That's enough."
Akatsuki frowned. She naturally knew who this old man was—the famous Marshal of Sorcery, Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg, known by everyone in the magecraft world!
Assassin also realized at this moment that his contract with Neco Arc had vanished. With Akatsuki and the black shadow pressing in, he finally had a chance to breathe; he quickly flickered and merged into the darkness, disappearing.
At the critical moment, Kishur's intervention allowed Assassin to escape, and the black shadow, having lost its target, vanished as if melting away.
Only Akatsuki and Kishur were left staring at each other.
"Is there something you need, old man?"
Akatsuki calmly put away the Black Keys in her hand, squinting at the True Magician who had suddenly appeared.
"Don't worry."
He reached out to pat Akatsuki's head, but when he saw the sharp blades held between her fingers, Kishur withdrew his hand.
This girl isn't cute like Arcueid at all!
Thinking of Arcueid, Kishur suppressed his impatience, his gaze toward Akatsuki full of kindness.
"Though it's a bit late, congratulations on your birth, True Ancestor Akatsuki. I came in a hurry this time and didn't bring a gift, but I will surely bring one that satisfies you the next time we meet."
At first glance, he looks like a kind old grandfather, but compared to his battle record, he is nowhere near the word "kind"!
"Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg..."
"Oh? I didn't expect you to know of me. Did those two 'the counter forces' tell you?"
Akatsuki looked away.
"Hmm... as expected, you aren't cute at all... No, it's nothing."
Seeing that Akatsuki didn't want to talk to him, Kishur didn't push his luck. Instead, he gave his advice with a smile, "Don't make too much of a commotion, and don't let yourself fall into becoming a Demon King. Otherwise, even I won't be polite."
With those words, Kishur's figure vanished from the Einzbern Family castle. The battlefield, which had been in a fierce struggle, was now left with only Akatsuki and a mess.
Akatsuki snapped her fingers, and the bloodstains on her body detached directly, which she discarded onto the ground nearby.
"An old bag of bones and I still have to deal with these things, it's really exhausting..."
She stretched and then walked out of the Einzbern Family castle.
She wasn't surprised by Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg's appearance. After all, if Neco Arc could appear in this world, then it wasn't strange for the Marshal of Sorcery to show up.
Just as Kishur said, as long as she didn't make too much noise or get discovered by certain powerful existences, he wouldn't intervene, and she could live quite well without wasting too much effort.
But this was destined to be impossible. Currently, Matou Sakura was being eroded by Angra Mainyu. Once Matou Sakura devoured Gilgamesh, she would likely be completely blackened.
Akatsuki had three ways to deal with this problem.
First, kill Matou Sakura directly while she hasn't blackened yet.
Second, kidnap Caster and have her stab Matou Sakura with her Noble Phantasm.
Third, have Shirou Emiya or Archer project Caster's Noble Phantasm and let them do it.
The first one was definitely ruled out, while the second and third could only be implemented after meeting Caster. However, given Caster's current stance, unless Akatsuki held a knife to Souichirou Kuzuki's throat, she wouldn't cooperate obediently.
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