Roland and Medea strolled through F Airport, the closest one to Fuyuki City. While Roland blended in with the crowd, Medea still wore her signature deep violet robe. Her long, porcelain-white legs occasionally flashed beneath the hem as she walked, drawing the eye. Yet not a single head turned their way.
A simple cognition blocking barrier was enough. This was the unique advantage of a Caster-class Servant, unmatched in low-profile infiltration besides Assassin.
They sat down on a soft waiting bench, seemingly just another pair of travelers.
"Master," Medea said, leaning her chin against her hand, crossing her long legs. Her tone held a note of concern. "Is it really wise to spy on the Lesser grail of the Holy grail war so brazenly? You did just kill their original Master."
"That's why I'm here. Heroic Spirits can appear as spiritual projections, after all. If this so-called Saber doesn't show up in the flesh, we could have a real headache on our hands."
Roland's gaze drifted to the window just as the passenger plane touched down. From its cabin door stepped the woman he had been waiting for.
She was stunning, a beauty seemingly carved from divine marble. Her features were flawless, her long silver hair cascading elegantly down her back. Red eyes sparkled with unnatural grace. She wore a luxurious coat made from silver fox fur, and her long legs, clad in knee-high boots added to her noble aura.
Irisviel von Einzbern. Her appearance alone betrayed her true identity: a homunculus of the Einzbern family.
Behind her came a tall man in a black overcoat, a navy-blue shirt peeking through the collar. His golden hair fluttered gently, and his warm smile could rival the sun. He looked like a prince straight out of a fairy tale.
[T/N: Here comes Minato Namikaze]
"Tch. These annoyingly handsome blonde types always come across as indecisive and untrustworthy..." Medea commented dryly as she was reminded of another blonde scum.
But her gaze sharpened, and her tone changed.
"Still, the magic power around him is dense and noble, definitely Saber. Master, seems your prediction was correct. Einzbern still summoned King Arthur."
She turned toward Roland with a satisfied smirk, only to find him... stunned.
"King Arthur?" he muttered. "That's not possible."
Medea blinked. "What? But you yourself said yesterday you wanted to confirm if Saber was King Arthur..."
"Yes, and he is," Roland replied slowly. "But how the hell is King Arthur a man?"
Medea blinked again, completely baffled.
"This isn't Artoria… this is the prototype."
Roland exhaled deeply, confirming what he feared. "So Avalon... summoned him. Not the familiar King of Knights, but the original 'male' King Arthurfrom the arthurian legends, the so-called Old Saber."
Unlike Artoria, whose holy sword's output was restricted by a limiter, the Prototype King wielded a version sealed only by unlocking conditions. The moment it was released, the full might of the Star-Forged Sword would be unleashed, capable of cleaving down ultimate beings and slaying all evil.
And Roland knew something else: this King bore the fate of "saving the world." If there was anyone meant to destroy an evil beast or end a corrupted grail, it was him.
"Shall we leave, Master?" Medea offered.
Roland almost nodded, but then, his eyes flickered with crimson flame.
"No… I've found something far more interesting."
He sharpened his focus and channeled a stream of magic into his eyes, strengthening his vision. But instead of peering at the threatening Saber, his gaze landed on Irisviel.
"...Why does she have traces of Infernal Flame Qi?"
It was faint, nearly imperceptible but as a flame demon, Roland would never mistake it. There was demonic fire clinging to her.
Medea also scrutinized her, but shook her head. "I only see the Holy Grail vessel. No abnormalities."
"It's not your fault," Roland said quietly, standing. "The demonic flame didn't merge into her. It simply passed through. And somehow, Einzbern removed almost every trace of it."
He narrowed his eyes. "There's no positive chi magic here. They shouldn't have been able to cleanse it like that. Unless..."
He recalled the strange presence within Avalon, and how the Holy Lord's soul had once clung to it.
"Why didn't he possess the Grail instead? Was it the vessel… or was it already tainted?"
Roland's expression turned grim.
"Let's go, Caster. I want to see what the previous Einzbern left behind."
---
Elsewhere – On the Streets of Fuyuki
"Don't worry, Irisviel. Your daughter's a sensible girl," Saber said, his voice kind and reassuring. "She just came out a little earlier than expected. She'll be fine."
The tall knight gazed at the bustling streets around them. Fuyuki was unlike anything from his time, a sea of glowing signs, glass, and wonder. But despite the dazzling scenery, Irisviel seemed… distant.
"This is your first time out of the castle. You should enjoy the world."
"That's exactly why I'm worried," Irisviel murmured. "Illyasviel left the castle for the first time, too. And now she's expected to act as a candidate. Does Great-Grandfather really intend to rob her of even the last years of her life?"
"She agreed because she believes you can protect her."
"I will," Irisviel whispered. "No matter what, I will."
She tried to smile and change the subject. "Shall we go shopping? The world today is so different from your era."
Saber smiled earnestly. "Actually, I was curious about that shop."
He pointed at a storefront with bright neon letters: BBQ.
"Hmm? That clearly looks like a restaurant…" he tilted his head.
Irisviel chuckled, her mood brightening. "It is. The letters stand for 'barbecue.' It usually means large portions of grilled meat."
Saber's eyes sparkled. "Truly?"
His innocent excitement made her giggle again.
"You really do eat a lot," she teased. "If you're up for it, let's treat ourselves tonight. Illya would've enjoyed it too."
She turned and began walking backward, facing him playfully. Then she observed the end of the window with her peripheral vision and realized that she had reached the corner, so she quickly turned around again.
Then —
Thud!
She collided into someone at the turn.
"Irisviel!" Saber called out in alarm.
"I'm fine Saber …" she replied reflexively, reaching to rub her forehead.
She just touched her head subconsciously, responded, and hurriedly apologized.
"I'm sorry I bumped into you..."
She looked up.
A man stood before her, youthful, smiling gently. He extended his hand to help her up, and Irisviel instinctively took it and stood up.
"It's fine, you are not hurt, are you?"
But the moment her eyes flicked toward the window behind him
She froze.
Reflected in the glass was not the smiling face of a man… but the monstrous, serpentine head of a dragon, identical to the one she had once seen engraved on Avalon