Chapter 38: Day 9 ①

I wonder how I should even describe that red-haired boy.

He is, above all else, naive and irrational. A novice who would surely be deemed a failure as a magus. And yet, he was a strange boy—one I found myself unable to look down upon.

After seeing them off until they were out of sight, I found myself reflecting on those recent events as I made my way back to Souichirou-sama’s room.

Even if I cannot reach the domain of True Magic, I have the confidence that my skill alone surpasses those who wield it. Perhaps that is why my existence as a magus was so absolute. Furthermore, as long as I am participating in the Holy Grail War as a Servant, I have always conducted myself rationally—acting as a magus should—to maintain my advantage.

That boy was supposed to be a magus and a Master. While he had every reason to eliminate me as an enemy Servant, there was absolutely no necessity for him to lend me a hand. To a magus seeking rationality, his way of thinking is the polar opposite. It was something that should have been incompatible with the way I have lived until now.

"Heh..."

Unwittingly, a small smile escaped my lips.

However, it is thanks to such a naive magus that I am able to spend this time—brief as it may be—with my Master. Even without invoking the reason of obtaining the Holy Grail, my Master stays by my side.

Peace—the thing I had yearned for.

The one I love—the thing I could never obtain.

Even if it is merely a fleeting dream, I have them both now. As a Servant in the Holy Grail War, an attack from other Masters or Servants is always a possibility, but simply avoiding them is not difficult. No matter how much they call Caster the weakest class, I can manage well enough if it is only a matter of escaping. In fact, precisely because I am a Caster, I am second to none when it comes to a tactical retreat.

What will happen when this war reaches its conclusion—whether I will eventually have to fight that boy—I do not yet know. But for now, I wish to be honestly grateful to him.

"..."

Souichirou-sama stopped in his tracks and looked at me. Reacting to my slight chuckle, he seemed to be wondering why—though his expression did not betray it. If he were to put it into words, he would likely ask, "Is something the matter?"

I shook my head slightly, saying "No," and he began to walk again as if he had lost interest.

Ah, my Master... Souichirou-sama is so dear to me.

He may seem indifferent, but in truth, he cares for me. To the me of yesterday—the me who thought this was nothing more than a fleeting illusion that would end if I did not seek the Grail—I had not a shred of composure. In the past, I surely would have failed to notice his kindness.

But now, it is different. The greatest obstacle to my continued manifestation has been removed. I can find happiness in even such trivial things.

That’s right. Since it has grown so late, perhaps I should prepare a midnight snack for Souichirou-sama. As a Servant, I do not feel hunger, but surely his stomach must be empty.

Ah, but I am not particularly skilled at cooking. Though the compounding of magical potions is effortless for me, this is somehow a different matter entirely. The knack for it is different.

While I would hate to serve him something poorly made, I feel it would be inappropriate for a mere live-in guest to wake the disciples at this hour to ask for help. Besides, I have already placed them under magecraft to ensure they sleep soundly. Come to think of it, I haven't deactivated the Bounded Field for warding off people and sound yet, either.

Well, even if I de-spell those later, it seems I have no choice but to make it myself... I wonder if it will suit Souichirou-sama’s palate? I wonder if he will find it a nuisance?

But, perhaps... he might be pleased.

Perhaps I can grow a little closer to him.

I am happy now, but perhaps I can become even happier.

Yes. Since this is a perfect opportunity, it might not be a bad idea to study the culinary arts.

Just as I prepared to walk ahead, a sudden, piercing chill ran through me. Cold sweat trickled down my spine. My pseudo-heart began to throb violently.

The presence was close to that of a Servant. And yet, while similar, it was decisively different. The Prana held within that presence was enormous, but its existence was so alien that I could not even comprehend the scale of the threat.

A frog before a snake. A mouse before a cat. That thing was "above," and we were "below." Between us lay a gulf that could never be crossed.

It was radiating from the top of the Ryudou Temple stairs. Why... why did I not notice it approaching this closely?

Souichirou-sama stopped as well, noticing my unnatural halt.

When I turned around, I saw a blurred, black mass approaching us. It swayed to and fro, drawing nearer at a steady pace.

Against this... I cannot win.

"Souichirou-sama, please, stay behind me."

He gave a single, firm nod and stood by my side.

I began to weave my magecraft. The Prana saturated within Ryudou Temple acted as a substitute for my own, concentrating into a focus.

——Bullets of Prana. A spell with a higher rate of fire than any complex ritual.

Except for Saber and Archer—who, despite being of the Three Knight Classes, should technically be inferior to Saber—excluding those two outliers, this spell is a sufficient threat to any Servant.

And yet, I cannot fathom this shadow being defeated by such a thing.

On the contrary, for us—for Servants—there is likely no means of defeating that thing. Not even Saber or Archer, with their tremendous Magic Resistance. That is simply what that "thing" is. My very existence recognizes it as such. I would be lucky if these Prana bolts even acted as a diversion.

I fired, fired, and fired again. Three volleys in total.

I did not scatter them as I did against Archer’s Master. At that time, my goal was to exhaust the opponent and ensure the other Masters did not escape. Hurling attacks you know will not work just to obscure your own vision is the height of folly.

I followed up with High-Speed Divine Words. I summoned familiars to block the shadow’s path.

I deployed a physical and magical warding barrier around us. And with myself and Souichirou-sama at the center, magic circles began to fill the ground beneath our feet.

To be honest, is there a need to go this far?

I don't know. I don't know, but if I am to do this, I will pour everything I have into it. I will not be arrogant. My mistake would lead directly to Souichirou-sama’s peril.

——Escape. That is my conclusion. This is what I have decided to accomplish using all my might.

Leaving this place is not ideal. Due to my Class traits, I could move to another location and still receive support from the Leylines, but the Prana I could gather would be just enough to stay on the run.

It is a waste to leave. But it would be putting the cart before the horse if we were destroyed here.

But where exactly could we flee?

The first person who came to mind was that strange boy. Though we haven't formed a solid alliance, if I used Spatial Transportation to his stronghold, I doubt we would be struck down on the spot.

Normally, such a thought would be fatal, yet for some reason, I believed it. In fact, I felt that that boy might even fight for our sake. While one part of me thought, "How absurd," another part of me believed in him.

Setting that aside, the place where we could most safely wait out the storm was by their side.

Everything I have done up to this point was calculated. The nickname "Caster the Schemer" is not just for show. I calmly analyze combat potential and never lose sight of my objective.

I give my all to what is necessary——where I lack in power, I compensate with strategy, thought, and wisdom.

However, I was forced to doubt my own eyes.

The Prana bolts were swallowed by the shadow the moment they reached it.

The shadow’s speed remained unchanged. It didn't flinch at the Prana bolts; it didn't even seem to notice them.

The familiars emerging from the ground were consumed by the shadow, only to be reborn on the spot as the enemy's pawns.

Tentacles lashed out from the shadow. My remaining familiars were cut down in a single swing.

Approximately two seconds since I fired the Prana bolts. That was all the time it took for the majority of the defenses I had constructed with my full power to be neutralized.

To think there was such a gap in power...

To absorb an opponent's familiars and force them to change masters requires either an extraordinary magus or an entity with a truly twisted existence. Regardless, my intuition was correct. One must not engage that thing.

The familiars that had turned traitor were blocked by my barrier and could not enter the magic circle.

If this holds, I can still make the Spatial Transportation in time...!

It was just as that thought crossed my mind. Tentacles surged from the shadow toward us.

The few remaining familiars of mine were being slaughtered by the traitorous ones; they couldn't even serve as a shield.

But even though I had shortened the incantations, the barrier I had built with all my strength should have blocked those tentacles.

"Caster!"

Souichirou-sama’s voice. It might be the first time I have ever heard him sound panicked.

——The tentacles were not repelled by the barrier, nor did they break or absorb it.

They simply "slipped through" as if nothing were there at all.

And they were already right before my eyes...

Just one more breath until transportation.

In order to complete the Spatial Transportation magecraft, I couldn't even take evasive action.

Just one more breath.

Even if I could have moved, there was nothing else I could have done.

That’s right——I was simply out of time. This was not arrogance, nor was it a mistake.

A mere grace period of less than a second.

I simply lacked that tiny, infinitesimal fragment of time.

"Sou, ichirou-sama——————"