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IBHJ Chapter 319
🕑 Added 2023-06-17 01:06:59 +0000 UTCGray has always known that her birth served as nothing more than a ceremonial tool for her clan's ambitious quest to resurrect the King of Knights.
In a Welsh village, a clan associated with the witch Morgan Le Fay has been meticulously planning the age-old ritual to bring back the King of Knights.
This intricate ritual demands the merging of the King's body, mind, and soul into one cohesive entity. Therefore, the clan creates descendants who bear a striking resemblance to the King, with the intention of using them as substitutes for her physical form. Through this means, they hope to summon the King's spirit and soul from the distant throne and manifest it within these chosen vessels, thus achieving the long-awaited resurrection of the King in the present world.
Unfortunately, despite spanning thousands of years, this ambitious ritual has been plagued by one failure after another, leaving the clan with a string of disappointments.
At first, Gray held the belief that she, too, was destined to be another failed attempt, destined to lead a tranquil and unremarkable life, much like those who came before her. However, something extraordinary happened nine years ago when her muscles and bones began a sudden and remarkable transformation.
Over time, not only did her facial features undergo a profound change, but her entire body gradually morphed into an uncanny replica of the legendary King of Knights from the distant past.
Ever since that transformation took place, the villagers began to worship and idolize Gray as the divine child. Yet, deep down, Gray understood that their reverence was directed not towards her, but towards the hero whose appearance she now possessed.
Because of this, Gray grew scared and hesitant to look in the mirror. It wasn't that she disliked her face; it was more that every time she caught a glimpse of her altered reflection, she couldn't shake the unsettling feeling that the hero's soul would somehow take over her body, making her completely disappear.
The fear that gripped her was intense.
However, this was London, not some Welsh village, and at least her daily life here remained relatively normal and calm. No one knew about her ancestry, and there was no reason for anyone to connect her with that King of Knights.
It brought her a great sense of relief.
Gray didn't have many hobbies, but reading detective novels was definitely one of her favorites. When she came to London and became friends with Reines, she discovered a new hobby: indulging in desserts. It turned out she had quite the sweet tooth! Luckily, her appetite wasn't huge, so it didn't put a strain on her wallet.
In her spare time, she found joy in taking care of her collection of small shoes. It became a kind of personal project for her. She even decided to take on a part-time job to fund her newfound passion and invested in a shiny new shoe polishing tool.
To her, the quality of the tool wasn't the most crucial factor for her shoes, but rather the overall experience. She believed that using the tool with the right mood would make a difference.
London was a far cry from the quiet simplicity of Gray's village days. The city bustled with its complexities, filled with countless things that the country girl struggled to comprehend. Yet, there was a silver lining in her new life here: no one knew about her origins, and nobody treated her as a vessel for the King of Knights. In this vast metropolis, she was just Gray—a girl with her own identity.
No longer confined to being a vessel for someone else's resurrection, Gray now had the opportunity to truly live as herself. It was a liberating feeling, even though the chaos of London still made her uneasy. Nevertheless, a sigh of relief escaped her lips, as she found peace in her heart.
However...
"Artoria!"
They trailed behind her teacher as they made their way to the waiting station.
While the teacher went to purchase tickets, Gray found herself alone with a rather peculiar person named Fujimaru Shirou. Before she could lower her hood to hide her face, a blonde girl standing next to him suddenly approached with a wide smile on her face. The girl pounced on Gray, causing Gray to stumble and fall, and then the blonde girl affectionately rubbed her own face against Gray's cheeks.
"Um... um..." Gray was caught completely off guard and felt a wave of panic. She had never encountered such a situation before, leaving her unsure of how to respond.
With her timid nature, she didn't dare to resist and could only hastily whisper, "Um... um... you... you've mistaken me for someone else!"
Arcueid halted her actions and locked her gaze onto Gray, her eyes filled with intensity. She pointed to her own face and said, "It's me! Arcueid Brunestud! Your dear friend! Can't you recognize me?"
"You... you've mistaken me..." Gray stuttered, her voice filled with uncertainty.
Arcueid's emotions overflowed with passion and sincerity, which both awed and frightened Gray, causing her to tremble. To make matters worse, the attention of the people around them had shifted, their curious gazes adding to Gray's distress. She felt tears welling up in her eyes, threatening to spill over at any moment.
Under normal circumstances, Gray's friend, Add, would have likely seized the opportunity to tease her relentlessly. But this was not a normal situation.
Shirou intervened, swiftly grabbing hold of Arcueid's collar, lifting her up slightly, "Arcueid, cut it out."
"But, that's Artoria..."
"Take a good look at her hair!"
She scrutinized Gray's hair attentively, finally noticing the subdued silver hue. She turned to him and couldn't help but asked, "Did she dye her hair?"
Shirou: "..."
Shaking his head, he ignored her comment and focused on Gray. He extended his hand toward her and apologized, "I'm sorry, my friend mistook you for someone else."
"It's... it's okay." Gray hastily waved her hand, declining his offer of assistance. She stood up on her own, pulling her hood down to conceal her face. Trembling, she stood there, her slender legs clad in black knee-high stockings and boots quivering like that of a frightened white rabbit.
Shirou turned to his companion and reprimanded her, "You scared her, Arcueid. You need to apologize properly."
"I'm sorry. Here, have some candy. Don't be mad at me." she retrieved a piece of candy from her pocket and extended it to Gray as a peace offering.
"Um... um... please... please don't mind..." Gray stammered, her whole body trembling with nervousness. Initially hesitant to take Arcueid's candy, she reconsidered, realizing that refusing might come across as impolite. With her hand trembling, she cautiously reached out and accepted the candy.
"She really does resemble Artoria," she commented, noting the resemblance.
Gray trembled, her fear escalating as she worried that she might lunge at her again.
Just as her anxiety peaked, Waver returned with the purchased tickets, casting an odd glance at the group. "What's going on?"
Gray, her voice quivering, responded, "It's... it's nothing, teacher. This person's friend mistook me for someone else."
"I see..." Waver nodded in understanding and handed out the tickets to the trio, "Here you go."
Gray clutched the tickets, stealing a quick glance at Arcueid, who had already shifted her focus to Fujimaru. Relief flooded through her, and she blurted out, "Thank you, teacher."
Waver waved off her gratitude. "I'm the one in need of assistance, so no need to mention it."
Gray's appreciation went beyond just the tickets. It was a weight off her shoulders that Waver's presence had diverted Arcueid's attention.
Two weeks ago, she had been placed under Waver's care, a teacher who always seemed tired. Since then, she had been thrown into a whirlwind of encounters and events. Like an orphan finding a new home, she was still cautious and unfamiliar with her surroundings. Yet, she had grown to rely on Waver as her guardian.
But the fact that Arcueid mistook her for someone else raised eyebrows. Did Miss Arcueid actually have a connection to the King of Knights?
That seemed pretty far-fetched since the King had kicked the bucket over 1,500 years ago.
Well, it is said that the King of Knights was summoned during the Fourth Holy Grail War in Fuyuki City. So, it's possible that Arcueid had some connection or encounter with that heroic figure at that time, right?
Either way, it's best to steer clear of the topic.
With that in mind, Gray lowered her hood to conceal her face, hoping to avoid any further complications.
However, once they boarded the train, her teacher ended up sitting with Fujimaru Shirou and delved into a conversation about the City of Separation. Meanwhile, Arcueid pulled Gray to the side and settled down beside her.
Gray took the window seat, while Arcueid occupied the aisle seat.
The exit was sealed off!
Gray bowed her head, her slight frame quivering with nervousness.
"Is your name Gray?" Arcueid looked at her with her crimson eyes and asked.
"Yes—yes, I'm Gray... just a humble person," Gray stammered, her whole body trembling with anxiety.
Observing Gray's tense and anxious demeanor, she flashed a smile and remarked, "You really look like Artoria. If I can be great friends with her, I'm sure we can be good friends too."
"Um... I..." Gray began, but before she could complete her sentence, Arcueid leaped onto her seat and hugged the delicate and fragile girl. Arcueid's smiling face pressed against Gray's, creating a sensation akin to being playfully tackled by a large golden retriever.
A-Add, save... save me...
Gray's expression showed that she was about to cry.
...
The Castle of Separation or Adra Castle situated in the western mountainous outskirts of England.
The bus could only take them as far as the public bus stop at the foot of the mountain, leaving the rest of the journey to be completed on foot.
Waver grabbed his suitcase and confidently took the lead.
However, it didn't take long for him to lag behind the others, hunching over and desperately gasping for breath, unable to continue walking any farther.
Shirou turned his head, glancing at him before asking, "Need another break?"
"Huff... huff... Just... just give me five minutes, let me sit for a while..." Waver gasped for breath.
"I mean, haven't you been keeping up with any exercise all these years?"
"My teacher dumped everything on me, so how can I find time to squeeze in some exercise?"
"Time's like a sponge; you can squeeze it if you really want to get things done. Just admit that you're being lazy. You've got, at most, three minutes. If you blow it and can't make it in time, that's not my concern."
Waver, sweating profusely, pulled out El-Melloi's invitation letter and managed to say, "D-Don't worry... I've got the timing under control."
He leaned against a towering tree, feeling helpless as he muttered, "You've become just like my teacher, all sarcastic and everything."
Shirou adjusted his collar. "Not just 'like,' I am indeed a sarcastic person."
Gray gazed into the distance, her eyes fixed on the breathtaking view ahead.
As they made their way up the mountain, they reached a point where they could overlook the majestic Angel City of Adra. It stood proudly amidst the valleys, a sight to behold.
From a distance, Adra appeared as a dazzling white speck nestled in the valley, and the three angelic figures atop the city's structures caught her attention.
"What are you looking at?" Shirou walked over and asked.
Gray became flustered and quickly said, "Oh, um, nothing, Fujimaru-sama. I was just taking in the view of our destination."
"I see. By the way, your friend Add seems to be unusually quiet."
"Ad... Add is already fast asleep."
"I see... Waver seems to have had enough rest and is almost ready," Shirou commented, stealing a brief glance at Gray before averting his gaze.
"O-okay," Her voice slightly hesitant, but she quickly nodded and fell in line.
As they continued their journey, Gray couldn't resist the urge to steal another glance at the mountainside below, where the magnificent Castle of Separation sprawled.
Nestled in the depths of the mountain valleys, she couldn't help but notice the city's resemblance to a vast cemetery.
Comments
JeanMartin Freites
I did like the I thought we got to delve into Gray quite a bit in this chapter.
