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IBHJ Chapter 489
🕑 Added 2023-09-26 06:06:47 +0000 UTCOn the eve of Germany's invasion of Poland, igniting the flames of World War II, Fuyuki City hosted the Third Holy Grail War. Seven Servants and seven magi fought each other to the death to fulfill their wishes. However, along the way, an unexpected incident led to the destruction of the Lesser Grail.
At that point, the Holy Grail War itself came to an abrupt end. However, a problem arose afterward.
Hidden in the cavern of Mount Enzou, the all-powerful wish-granting device, the Greater Grail, remained. It's unclear when fate took a different turn, but magi aligned with Germany discovered it and attempted to move it with the support of the military.
Despite the efforts of the Einzbern, Tohsaka, and Matou families, along with the military, to stop this operation immediately after the Holy Grail War, but they were exhausted from their recent battle and failed.
The Greater Grail, a creation born from the collaborative efforts of the three major families, fell into the hands of Germany.
This war, shrouded in secrecy, left no trace on official records, nor did it linger in the collective memory of the people. Yet, there's no denying that it was a brutal conflict, pitting the military against the magi.
So, did Germany's acquisition of the Greater Grail grant them the power to shape the world as they saw fit? Such a future, however, never came to fruition. During its journey to Germany, the Greater Grail mysteriously vanished.
Was it forcibly taken by the Japanese military, or was it attacked by Soviet forces? Regardless, the Greater Grail, which should have symbolized the Third Reich's dream of world domination, disappeared without falling into anyone's hands.
Leadership changed hands, associates were sent to the battlefield, and Germany, who should have been the victors, had no idea where the Greater Grail had gone.
In fact, all the humans who knew of the Greater Grail's existence were no longer exist; even the group of magi who called themselves Yggdmillennia, which belonged to Germany, were also missing.
The Greater Grail had vanished. The dreams, or rather, obsessions of the three major families, dissipated like smoke, and Fuyuki City welcomed the end of the war in a state of peace and tranquility.
Time moved on, long enough for children to grow old.
However—
"...During World War II, did the Yggdmillennia Clan really take the Greater Grail from Fuyuki City and hide it?"
In an office at the Clock Tower—the central point of the Mage's Association in Britain—Sisigou Kairi questioned the older man, Rocco Belfeban, seated in front of him.
Rocco Belfeban affirmed with a nod. "Exactly."
Sisigou Kairi continued, "And its hiding place?"
"Romania. Just outside Trifas, in the Transylvania area. Word is, it's in the oldest building around there, the Fortress of Millennia,"
"So, El-Melloi II and you brought me on board to get the Greater Grail?"
"That's right. While that's definitely part of the deal, there's a little problem we have to deal with first."
Rocco stood up from his chair and walked over to the window, pointing at the sky. He turned to Kairi and asked, "You see that thing?"
Kairi followed Rocco's gaze through the window and spotted a massive black ring up in the sky.
"Oh, come on. Everybody's heard of that thing; it's just a matter of how much they know," Kairi said, his frustration evident. "That's the black ring that popped up in the sky sixty years ago, right after that Holy Grail War in Fuyuki City. It's just hanging there in the sky, visible from every corner of the planet. America, Britain, the Soviet Union... they've all probed it, but they've come up empty. No mass, no energy readings—nothing. It's like a darn illusion, floating up there for a full sixty years. They even call it the ring of darkness now."
"Hold on a sec..." Kairi sensed something amiss and shot Belfeban a look. "You're not telling me this task has something to do with that thing up there, are you?"
Belfeban nodded solemnly. "That's right. About three months ago, the Clock Tower had a run-in with some people from 'Chaldea.' According to them, the ring of darkness was summoned during that Holy Grail War in Fuyuki City sixty years ago. And apparently, ignoring it could lead to a major catastrophe. So, the Clock Tower wants to get their hands on the Greater Grail."
Kairi raised an eyebrow. "Wait a minute... if this is some major catastrophe stuff, shouldn't they be sending in their A-team? What's the deal with sending me?"
Belfeban sighed, his expression grave. "Actually, we had already sent outstanding magi to retrieve the Greater Grail, but, well... none of them made it back. Only one person managed to transmit a message before dying."
Kairi leaned in. "What did they say?"
Belfeban sighed, "The Yggdmillennia Clan has betrayed the Mage's Association. They've declared their intention to establish a new association centered around their own family. What's more, they've already used the Grail to summon seven Servants and are preparing to restart the Holy Grail War. As you can imagine, it's a dangerous situation. Sending magi, no matter how exceptional, would only lead to their doom. To confront them, we'll need to summon seven Heroic Spirits as well."
"So, are you sending me to my death?" Kairi asked incredulously.
Belfeban leaned back in his chair and then retrieved an ebony box from the desk drawer, opening it with care.
Inside, there lay a piece of wood, bearing strange marks and no particularly remarkable features. However, as Kairi spoke, he couldn't help but notice his voice taking on an inexplicable intensity, as if the piece of wood emanated a unique warmth. "What is this?"
Belfeban explained, "This is the 'Round Table.' In days gone by, numerous knights who could stand against a hundred foes would gather around this 'table' to share their thoughts. They defended their homeland, Britain, not with swords, but with words."
"The Round Table of Britain... could it be King Arthur's?" Sisigou Kairi almost couldn't resist reaching out to pick up the catalyst but quickly restrained himself. The Knights of the Round Table... they were, needless to say, the knights under King Arthur's command.
Each individual who could sit at the Round Table was a legendary hero. Naturally, King Arthur himself, and knights like Lancelot, Gawain, Tristan... From the perspective of summoners, each one boasted impeccable renown and strength.
"...However, it's impossible to predict which knight will be summoned. I suppose it will depend on which Heroic Spirit aligns better with your disposition," Belfeban explained.
"No problem. As long as it's a Knight of the Round Table, any of them would make an excellent Servant," Sisigou Kairi replied.
"Well then, may I assume that you have accepted the commission?"
Sisigou Kairi hesitated for a moment, then looked at Belfeban and said, "Before I accept, I have one question."
"Go ahead."
"The information about this disaster comes from those visitors from Chaldea, as you mentioned. Does that mean these visitors are here to handle this matter? Why the need for additional effort then?"
Belfeban chuckled before responding, "You don't know the whole story, so it's natural to have this question, Sisigou. Let me explain. They're not from our world; they're visitors from another world. The Lords of the Clock Tower have chosen not to oppose them due to Lord Zelretch's endorsement, but it's undeniable that they remain outsiders. Can we truly entrust the fate of our world to people from another world?"
Sisigou Kairi nodded thoughtfully. "I see, that makes sense."
"Oh, and just so you know, we've already sent some of our outstanding magi after the Yggdmillennia Clan. We have Rottweil Berzinsky, who people call the 'Silver Lizard,' and then there's Jean Rum, also known as the 'Gale Wheel.' The Pentel brothers are involved as well, along with the first-class lecturer from the Clock Tower, Feend vor Sembren. And the Church has also dispatched someone."
Kairi raised an eyebrow, "An overseer?"
Belfeban nodded, "That's right."
Sisigou Kairi tilted his head, "Why the need for an overseer in this war?"
Belfeban sighed, "Well, if we just ignore the Church, they might form an alliance with the Yggdmillennia Clan. That's a headache we don’t need."
Sisigou gave a thoughtful nod, "Got it."
Belfeban leaned in a bit, "So, are you in?"
Sisigou took a moment, then nodded, "I'm in."
Belfeban leaned back, "You'll need to go to Romania. I'll contact the overseer and the other Masters. They should get in touch with you once you arrive."
Sisigou was about to walk out when he paused, turning back, "One last thing. Who's the overseer?"
He wondered if he might know them—when it came to these kinds of wars, people from the Eighth Sacrament tended to get involved.
Belfeban paused, thinking, "I haven’t met him in person, but if I recall correctly, he’s a priest named Shirou."
Unfortunately, it was a name he hadn't heard of before.
Comments
JeanMartin Freites
So now we are at a modified Apocrypha timeline. Interesting.
