It was early winter, and a long, cold wind howled from the coastline, while heavy snow fell.
At this moment, Manaka Sajyou hugged Alvin with great affection, just like a koala, her face filled with surprise and nostalgia, as if she had completely forgotten the fight that had just taken place here, and also forgotten that the man she was hugging so tight was no longer her Servant.
She even forgot that Alvin's current Master was still watching from the side.
"Eh...?"
Tohsaka Rin's pupils slowly widened.
In her clear sapphire eyes reflected the scene of the girl tightly embracing the young man.
In the early winter with heavy snowfall, a Master and Servant who hadn't seen each other in years reunited once more...
Just hearing it sounded like a very romantic scene.
But if you added the current Master watching from the side... it wasn't a touching reunion anymore.
It was the prelude to a shura field.
Even without looking up at Tohsaka Rin, Alvin could feel her stunned expression and the faint, brewing anger beneath it.
After all, this was the Holy Grail War, and Sajyou Manaka was clearly one of the Masters participating.
They were competitors in this Holy Grail War...
Yet the girl was acting as though no one else was there, clinging to an enemy camp's Servant and refusing to let go.
...What the hell was this?
It wasn't just boldness, ut was like she completely didn't take Tohsaka Rin seriously.
"Assassin... Looks like you two are pretty close."
Fortunately, the Tohsaka family creed always emphasized elegance.
Even in a situation like this, Rin managed to force a smile.
But hidden beneath that smile was a volcano on the verge of erupting.
Alvin gently pushed the girl in his arms away. "In the last Holy Grail War, she and I made it to the end together...
By the way, Manaka, where's your Servant?"
"I haven't summoned one yet."
Sajyou Manaka elegantly smoothed the wrinkles in her skirt hem.
Her voice, clear and sweet. "After all... From the beginning, there's only ever been one Servant I wanted."
As she spoke, she looked at Alvin with a smiling expression. "If I can't have Saber, I'd rather not have a Servant at all."
"Miss Sajyou."
Tohsaka Rin finally found an opening and interrupted their conversation with a smile. "The Holy Grail War isn't some child's game... I think you should reconsider carefully."
"Having a Servant at least ensures your safety."
After all, in the Holy Grail War, there were plenty of cases where someone skipped the Servant and went straight for the Master's life.
No matter how confident Manaka was in herself, danger was inevitable.
Rin's words were both "concern" for the girl and a subtle way of saying...Alvin is mine now, so stop coveting him.
"Hmm... But I feel like if I summon a bad Servant, they might just hold me back."
Sajyou Manaka lightly tapped her lip with a finger, tilted her head in thought, then suddenly smiled brightly. "How about this, Miss Tohsaka? Once I summon my Servant... how about we swap Servants?"
"..."
Tohsaka Rin opened her mouth, but no words came out for a long while.
She stared at Sajyou Manaka's innocent smile, momentarily doubting if her ears were playing tricks on her.
"Ha... ha?!"
Soon, she let out a bewildered and shocked question.
Swap Servants...?
Did this woman even know what she was saying?!
Silence spread between them.
Even Merlin and Illya nearby were stunned speechless.
"Are you joking...?"
After a long pause, Tohsaka Rin finally spoke, breaking the silence.
Sajyou Manaka shook her head lightly, her smile unchanged. "I'm completely serious. Actually, I have quite a few relics from various eras... There might be a Servant you'd want?"
This girl...
Looking at the young woman before her, Tohsaka Rin took a deep breath inwardly, trying to calm herself.
A smile had just appeared on her face when Sajyou Manaka's voice rang out again.
"Actually, only I can bring out a Servant's true strength."
The girl said it as though it were obvious. "The White Dragon's power is certainly strong, but if the Master's magical energy supply can't keep up, it'll hold him back."
She placed a hand gently on her chest, gazing tenderly at Alvin. "And I can guarantee to provide him with ample magical energy at all times."
Digging corners right in front of the current Master...
Sajyou Manaka's actions left everyone present utterly speechless for a moment.
Tohsaka Rin's eyes flickered slightly and she unintentionally glanced at the ground beneath Sajyou Manaka's feet.
Remnants of the magecraft she had just released still lingered in the air.
As a magus, Rin could naturally sense the density of that magical energy.
Without a doubt, if Alvin went with Sajyou Manaka, he would definitely be stronger than he was now.
If it were anyone else, hearing this would probably make them waver at least a little.
But who was she... If she just gave up Alvin like that, she wouldn't be Tohsaka Rin.
"Miss Sajyou should go summon another Servant."
This time, Tohsaka Rin refused decisively and firmly, staring into the girl's eyes. "No matter what Servant you summon... I won't trade him like some commodity."
Sajyou Manaka lowered her eyes slightly. "That's really regrettable..."
"You two... I think we should discuss how to handle the Greater Grail situation here first, don't you?"
At that moment, Merlin suddenly spoke with a smile.
In the past, he would have happily watched the drama from his tower of seclusion.
But the current situation no longer allowed him to slack off.
After all... his Clairvoyance could no longer see the future of this city, or even of humanity's rationale itself.
"You two were just fighting Rider, right? How did it feel?"
Alvin seized the opportunity to speak, smoothly steering the topic back on track.
"We only exchanged blows briefly. I don't know her strength yet, but..."
Merlin paused for a moment and spoke. "Rider's Master... is probably more troublesome than Rider herself."
"How is that possible?"
Tohsaka Rin blurted out almost instinctively. "A magus stronger than a Servant...?"
Merlin's words had exceeded Rin's comprehension.
After all, normally, no matter how strong a modern magus was, they couldn't compare to Servants from the past.
After all, modern magic circuits were on a completely different level from those in the Age of Gods.
"The one behind Rider is indeed very strong."
At that moment, Sajyou Manaka suddenly said quietly. "If we're in Fuyuki, one-on-one, probably no one could beat her."
Even Manaka saying that made it quite rare...
Alvin's thoughts stirred and he instinctively turned to her. "Do you know her identity?"
After all, Sajyou Manaka was a magus connected to the Root.
Pride was etched into her very bones... If even she said that, it was enough to imagine how terrifying Rider's Master truly was.
Sajyou Manaka shook her head lightly. "She wrapped her body in 'black mud,' so I couldn't sense her aura."
Alvin's brow arched slightly as he murmured, "But if she's really that strong, why did she choose to flee just now?"
"Perhaps she didn't want to face the combined forces of two Servants at once for the time being?"
Merlin guessed.
The court mage of Britain plus the White Dragon of Britain... If those two teamed up, it wouldn't be as simple as one plus one equals two.
After all, Merlin and Alvin could be considered "old friends."
Alvin looked up along the winding charred path, gazing deep into Ryūdō Temple and murmured, "She didn't want to take the risk. Could it be because her power still has room to grow?"
Illya's thoughts stirred and she seemed to realize something. "Speaking of which, Rider's Master seemed particularly concerned about the Greater Grail...
She also showed strong emotions about not wanting the Greater Grail to be purified."
"Because the black mud inside the Greater Grail has completely fused with the 'Tide of Chaos'... She wants to fully absorb the power of the two muds combined."
Merlin said.
"In other words, she'll definitely find a chance to come back to Ryūdō Temple?"
Alvin pondered for a moment.
"If we station someone at Ryūdō Temple in advance... would that work?"
Merlin shook his head lightly.
"She probably won't return to Ryūdō Temple in the short term. Besides, I've already set up detection bounded fields. If she approaches, I'll sense it immediately."
"In that case, why do you look so worried?"
Alvin asked curiously.
Merlin froze for a second, seeming a bit surprised as he glanced at Alvin.
Then he quickly revealed a meaningful smile. "You really do understand me, Alvin."
Dream demons don't understand human emotions, and likewise, they don't let humans understand theirs.
From start to finish, Merlin's face showed little emotional change.
Yet Alvin had guessed his inner thoughts in just one glance.
"After all, we've crossed paths more than once." Alvin shrugged. "Spit it out. What are you worried about?"
"From the abilities Rider's Master just displayed... she probably doesn't even need the 'black mud' in the Greater Grail to give birth to a 'Beast'."
Merlin's tone grew more serious.
And this Beast was different from those in the past, because in Fuyuki, she might have special territorial bonuses.
Merlin had already felt this during his brief clash with Rider's Master.
"Is there any solution?"
Alvin asked.
"Find her before the 'Beast' is born, then stop her from becoming a complete 'Beast'."
Merlin said.
"Can Clairvoyance see her?"
Alvin asked.
"If only... But I'm just in a Servant body, and you know my Clairvoyance isn't much use anyway."
Merlin sighed lightly and Alvin's mouth twitched.
This won't work, that won't work—are you worthy of the Grand Caster title?
The group discussed for a bit and finally decided Merlin would set up detection bounded fields at Ryūdō Temple.
For the rest, they'd wait until they found Rider's Master before making further plans.
After all, right now, aside from them, the identities of the other Masters and Servants were still unknown.
It was necessary to gather more detailed information.
Merlin raised his staff and drew a rainbow arc in mid-air as a pink light, like a firefly, darted into the snow at Ryūdō Temple.
"I've set up multiple layers of detection bounded fields in advance. If there's any activity..."
He gestured toward Illya.
The instant the silver-haired girl stepped onto the stairs of Ryūdō Temple, countless crows flapped overhead, stirring ripples of magical energy.
"Master, we should head back too... This snow probably won't let up anytime soon."
Merlin lightly tapped the ground with his staff as pink illusion petals intertwined with the blizzard. Illya looked back at Alvin with reluctance, but in the end, she left for now.
Sajyou Manaka remained in place as she stepped forward to the young man, gently brushing the snow from his forehead, and smiled. "I'll always wait for you, Alvin."
Alvin hesitated. "Manaka..."
"Shh."
Sajyou Manaka placed a finger lightly on the young man's lips, smiling.
"Don't say it like it's final."
As she spoke, the girl untied the pale blue ribbon from her neck and gently wrapped it around Alvin's wrist.
Fine snow fell on her eyelashes, faintly reflecting the distant glow from the detection bounded fields.
Manaka lifted her lovely face and said softly, "I believe the feelings between us won't break so easily... So, I'll keep waiting for you."
The snow grew heavier, gradually blurring her figure.
Until, at some point, Sajyou Manaka's form quietly vanished into the wind and snow.
...
On the way back, Tohsaka Rin remained silent the entire time.
Her deerskin boots crunched over frozen branches.
The heavy footsteps echoed between them.
"Can you tell me about Miss Sajyou?"
At that moment, Tohsaka Rin spoke first.
She gazed into Alvin's eyes, letting the cold wind whip her hair wildly.
"I figured you'd ask about that..."
Alvin didn't seem surprised, only letting out a helpless sigh.
"Let's talk when we get home... But after that, I need to head somewhere."
"Where?"
Tohsaka Rin instinctively said, a baseless nervousness rising as she looked at Alvin with a complicated expression.
Seeing this, the latter couldn't help chuckling speechlessly. "It's definitely not to go see Manaka, anyway."
Tohsaka Rin froze for a moment, then awkwardly averted her gaze.
"I wasn't worried you'd go see Miss Sajyou. I was just... a little curious..."
As she finished speaking, she suddenly felt a warm palm on her hea and the looked up instinctively, only to see the young man gently stroking her smooth hair, causing her to stiffen
She almost subconsciously wanted to dodge Alvin's hand.
But for some reason, she ended up just lowering her head like a ghost, staying silent the whole time.
Though the cold was biting, two faint blushes appeared on her fair cheeks.
"Where are you planning to go?"
After an unknown amount of time, Tohsaka Rin calmed her emotions and asked in a low voice.
"The Matou house."
Alvin looked up toward the direction of the Matou residence.
The piece of insect wing he saw near Ryūdō Temple earlier kept nagging at him.
In this early winter blizzard season, what kind of insect would be active in winter?
The only one Alvin could think of was...
—The insect warehouse.
After Zouken's death, the insect warehouse had basically been abandoned, but the Matou family hadn't completely given up on the special "magecraft" of crest worms.
Though it felt unlikely... it was better to confirm for peace of mind.
Perhaps Rider—or even her Master—was truly connected to that place?
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