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IBHJ Chapter 563
🕑 Added 2023-11-08 22:43:23 +0000 UTCSaber sighed, wondering when her Master would use a Command Spell to summon her away. She couldn't take much more of this. No, "couldn't take much more" was an understatement. She really couldn't endure it any longer!
Mordred was like chewing gum stuck to her shoe, following Saber everywhere she went. Even at night, Mordred insisted on Saber holding her as they slept. Worst of all, Mordred would reach out and hug Saber's waist in her sleep with that incredible strength of hers...Saber was sure her spine would snap in two one of these nights.
Truthfully, Saber was at her limit. Just last night, as Mordred slept defenseless beside her, Saber had considered taking action. Strategically, it was the perfect opportunity. However, in the end, Saber stayed her hand.
She now understood the unique relationship between her alternate self and Mordred. They were definitely an intimate mother and daughter pair. That was the only reason she had not done something despicable.
Saber smiled wryly. As the King Arthur, she had a sacred spirit and solemn mind. She could not bring herself to exploit the trust of this alternate Mordred to cause her harm.
Indeed, Saber still could not harden her heart enough to resort to such underhanded means.
Moreover, could this even be called a war anymore?
Saber was extremely distressed looking at the innocent Mordred clinging to her. She desperately wished her Master would use a Command Spell to summon her back, or that she could find a chance to slip away.
But unfortunately, her Master still seemed oblivious to her plight. And Mordred stuck to Saber like chewing gum, leaving her no opportunity to escape.
"What's wrong, mom? Thinking about your lovely daughter?" Mordred gazed up at Saber as she hugged her tight.
Saber's headache pounded.
"Strange," Sisigou suddenly muttered with a frown, drawing Mordred and Saber's attention.
"What's the matter, Master?" Mordred asked.
Sisigou sat facing away from them, but his brows were knit in disbelief, as if witnessing something unimaginable.
Long before the Holy Grail War began, at Mordred's suggestion, Sisigou had set up familiars along the highway between Bucharest and Trifas. This allowed them to detect incoming magi and Servants for intelligence.
That's how they had witnessed the battle between Karna and Arjuna.
But with all Servants now present, that surveillance seemed pointless.
Yet in this moment, Sisigou showed an incredulous expression.
"What do you think, Sir Galahad?" He said solemnly. "Another pair of Servant and Master has appeared!"
Mordred laughed. "What's so strange about that? It should be our Red faction's Caster and Master, right?"
Saber frowned. When Mordred had spoken, she made no attempt to hide this information from her at all. Was she looking down on Saber, or simply unguarded?
"The priest already notified me earlier that the Red faction's Caster has joined up with him," Sisigou stated solemnly.
Mordred's fading smile turned into a frown. "You mean...the Black faction's Servants and Masters from the Yggdmillennia clan and Ruler have already appeared. Master, are you saying this is a new player on the board?"
"Yes," he nodded.
"Where did this extra Master and Servant pop out from?" she furrowed her brows.
This question plagued not just Mordred and Sisigou, but all who observed this phenomenon. Where could this new Master and Servant have possibly come from?
The Holy Grail War was meant to be 7 vs 7 Servants, plus one Ruler - totaling 15 in all. But even that was bizarre compared to a normal War.
Now, something even stranger had occurred!
Another pair had appeared - a 16th Servant belonging to neither Black nor Red faction! And this 16th Servant somehow had a Master too!
The smile vanished from Mordred's face, replaced by a thoughtful look.
"What are you thinking, Sir Galahad?" He turned and asked her.
Mordred considered a moment before replying. "I'm thinking this could be someone's smokescreen."
He looked puzzled.
"This whole War is already anomalous," she explained. "And now a 16th Servant appears? It makes one wonder who created this smokescreen and why. Of course, it's also possible it really is a new pair."
"So what should we do?" He asked.
"We'll do nothing," she laughed. "I doubt we're the only ones who noticed this. Let's see how the Red and Black factions react first - we can just sit back and watch."
He nodded. The defending Yggdmillennia clan and Red faction must have noticed too. As schemers themselves, it was best to quietly observe the outcome.
Things progressed just as Mordred predicted.
The 16th Servant's appearance was noticed not only by them, but by Kotomine who had high hopes for the War, and Darnic who coveted the Grail.
Kotomine's eyebrows furrowed deeply. This extra Servant showed that the War had gone completely off course.
"What do you think, Karna?" He turned to the ever silent lancer.
Though Semiramis was his Servant, he relied more on Karna's blunt honesty. Karna would reliably share his thoughts if asked, with one condition - do no harm to his Master.
Karna was strong, insightful... praise upon praise. Just sadly lacking in EQ.
"It could be a Black Faction scheme, but a real 16th pair can't be ruled out either," Karna replied calmly, as expected.
Semiramis was greatly displeased. Her Master asked Karna instead of her! Did this mean she was less reliable?
The perceived slight from Kotomine irritated the proud queen, especially since it involved Karna, who always annoyed her yet she couldn't do anything about it. But Kotomine's sweet talk soon soothed her anger.
He also asked Semiramis and Atalanta's opinions, getting the usual conjectures of schemes or accidents.
After considering, Kotomine decided: "We'll monitor this 16th Servant for now. With Assassin's fortress completed, we have little to fear except Eternal King. If it is a real 16th Servant, I'm sure the Black Faction will investigate. We just need to keep close watch."
"A wise choice, Master," Semiramis smiled, then added unpleasantly, "But I'm displeased you said I'm inferior to Eternal King."
"It's simply the truth," Karna stated calmly.
"You--!" Semiramis glared at him.
Kotomine quickly smoothed things over before her anger grew.
"Right, Assassin, have you captured Kiara Sessyoin?" he asked, changing topics.
Semiramis nodded, "Of course she's already been captured. But unfortunately, our Caster has been eliminated."
"Eliminated?" Kotomine frowned. "Unfortunate news indeed. So from our side, Berserker, Rider, and Caster are gone?"
"Plus one Saber not under your control," Karna added plainly.
Kotomine felt even more depressed inside. No one probably knew that he had prepared for this Holy Grail War for a full 60 years. Yet its progression had gone far beyond his preparations.
Semiramis pointed to luggage in the corner. "What should we do with Sessyoin's belongings? Discard them?"
Kotomine shook his head. “What I pursue is victory in the Holy Grail War, not depriving others of their lives and possessions. Keep them safe, and return them after the war ends. This goes for your Masters as well, rest assured.”
He looked at Karna and Atalanta with a gentle smile.
Karna remained silent, while Atalanta just scoffed softly, neither fully trusting his words.
In one corner sat Kiara Sessyoin's luggage that Semiramis had brought back - several thick books on advanced magecraft as well as an intricately crafted golden harp.
Kotomine decided not to take any direct action to investigate the newly arrived 16th Servant pair. Due to his weakened state after unsuccessfully ambushing Shirou, he thought it better to take a conservative approach like Mordred was - waiting to see what the Black Faction would do first before making a move himself.
On the Black Faction's side, Darnic waved his hand grandly after hearing the report of the 16th pair's arrival and commanded, "Use familiars to monitor them for now. We'll wait and see what the Red Faction does first before taking action."
So both the Black Faction and Red Faction decided to passively wait and observe what the other would do first regarding the mysterious 16th pair. With both sides composed of veterans who wouldn't act rashly, a stalemate emerged where neither made a move.
This lack of reaction allowed the 16th Master and Servant pair, Gray and her Servant, to arrive in Trifas without incident.
Having expected hostility, Gray was greatly surprised when their arrival went unimpeded. She stuck her head out the passenger window as they drove, scanning left and right for the ambushes she had anticipated but finding none.
Gray felt rather apprehensive about the lack of opposition. As a seasoned Chaldea Master, her wealth of experience could fill handbooks. She knew intervening in the Holy Grail War should provoke attacks, yet there were none at all!
This not only surprised Gray, but also rendered all her preparations pointless.
Comments
JeanMartin Freites
Hopefully that reunion happens soon.
