The news of the Osarei envoy's arrival spread through the Fortress of Millennia like wildfire.
"They're here?"
Upon receiving the report from a servant, Fiore pursed her lips, her brown locks cascading over her full chest as a troubled expression crossed her delicate face.
Fiore Forvedge Yggdmillennia—a candidate for the next head of the Yggdmillennia family—was a rare genius with magical circuits unseen in centuries, a treasure of the clan renowned for her talents in spiritual evocation and biomechanics.
Yet, as fate would have it, her extraordinary gifts came at a cost. Due to the deterioration of her magical circuits, her legs had been rendered paralyzed, confining her to a wheelchair. Fortunately, meticulous care had prevented her slender, beautiful legs from atrophying.
"Is something the matter, Master?" A towering, gallant man clad in armor leaned down, his voice laced with concern.
Servant Archer—Chiron, the great sage of Greek mythology—had been summoned by Fiore. To conceal his true identity, he had forsaken his centaur form, manifesting instead in human guise.
"The Osarei clan… I've never dealt with them before, but if I recall, they're practitioners of black magic, aren't they?"
Was it aversion to black magic that troubled her? The young lady sighed softly, her aquamarine eyes flickering with hesitation before finally settling into reluctant resolve.
"As a candidate, I can't simply ignore this. Yes, that's right… Chiron."
"Understood." Naturally attuned to his Master's thoughts, Chiron smiled and spread his broad palms, gripping the handles of Fiore's wheelchair before pushing her toward the throne room.
Upon entering, Fiore was surprised to find nearly everyone gathered there—save for Saber and his Master, Gordes.
"What's all this…?"
"We just finished testing Berserker's performance and were about to review the data when the Osarei clan arrived. Thought we'd come take a look."
Fiore's younger brother, Caules Forvedge Yggdmillennia, shrugged. With the same brown hair as his sister and a pair of black-framed glasses, he appeared studious and harmless.
In truth, neither his temperament nor his aptitude suited the Holy Grail War. But having been chosen, he lacked the will to resist and reluctantly accepted his role.
"...Mmm!" Berserker—Frankenstein, also known as "Fran"—let out a disgruntled noise. Clad in a snow-white bridal gown, her speech was rendered incoherent by her Mad Enhancement, as if chastising her Master for prioritizing his sister over his Servant.
Nearby, Rider—Astolfo, with his striking pink hair and androgynous beauty—wore an expression of eager excitement, a stark contrast to Celenike's icy demeanor. It was obvious who had dragged whom along.
As for Caster Avicebron and his Master…
"I intended to discuss Noble Phantasm matters with Lord Darnic," Avicebron stated coolly, his face concealed behind a golden mask, his robes striped in black and blue. "The Osarei envoy merely arrived first."
"And of course, I came with my teacher!" Roche, the self-proclaimed disciple, raised his hand enthusiastically.
As the youngest genius in magical puppet crafting within the Yggdmillennia clan, Roche Frain Yggdmillennia had initially thought summoning Avicebron was 'nothing special'—until he was utterly moved by the sheer power and beauty of the Servant's creations, becoming his devout follower ever since.
Avicebron, however, remained silent on the matter—neither accepting nor rejecting this devotion.
"...Very well." After understanding the reason for the Masters' arrival, Fiore ceased further inquiries and redirected her attention to the scene before the throne.
Unlike the relaxed atmosphere among the gathered group, the air between the two figures standing before the throne was thick with tension. Before Fiore could observe for long, Darnic's furious voice echoed through the chamber.
"What? You refuse to disclose your Servant's True Name?!"
Clad in white and gold robes, Darnic swept his sleeve in anger, his expression radiating intimidation.
"Having chosen to join the Black faction, revealing your Servant's True Name is mandatory—it is the cornerstone of trust among us! Or are you implying... that your arrival at Yggdmillennia harbors ulterior motives?"
Accompanying Darnic's accusation, Vlad III, seated upon the throne, exuded a menacing aura. Yet, the black-cloaked figure beside Reika merely took a step forward, their sharp battle spirit effortlessly dissolving the oppressive killing intent.
"Oh?" Vlad III raised his gaze, truly acknowledging Reika and her enigmatic Servant for the first time, his tone slightly shifting. "It seems you are no ordinary warrior. With such rare battle spirit, you must be a renowned hero of legend. Even so, you would willingly remain nameless throughout this war?"
"It matters not, King of Wallachia." A spirited female voice emerged from beneath the cloak. "As an Assassin, it is only natural to operate from the shadows. I trust in my Master's capabilities, and I trust Yggdmillennia will not disappoint me."
"In exchange, I will not inquire about the True Names of the Black faction's Servants," Reika smoothly interjected, her composure unshaken. "Moreover, it seems Saber's True Name has also been concealed. I am hardly the first exception."
How does she know this?!
Darnic stiffened, his gaze toward Reika sharpening with alarm.
Though the incident had occurred just the night before, obtaining such information within the heavily guarded Fortress of Millennia could only mean the Osarei faction still had spies embedded within Yggdmillennia!
Damn it! My decision to expel the Osarei from Yggdmillennia was indeed justified. Even after a decade, remnants remain. Had I not acted decisively back then, the position of clan head might still be contested...
As Darnic fell into involuntary silence, Reika maintained her serene smile, inwardly recalling Sakatsuki's instructions.
Using ignorance of the Black faction's Servant identities as leverage to ensure Artoria's True Name remained hidden—this was the plan Sakatsuki had repeatedly emphasized.
After all, the King of Knights, renowned for her honor, could hardly manifest as an Assassin. Revealing her True Name would only invite unnecessary suspicion.
As for the other Servants' identities... Hadn't Sakatsuki already told her everything?
Yet Darnic had no intention of letting Reika off so easily. His heightened vigilance would only make him more relentless.
"The concealment of Saber's true name was a decision made jointly between me and the King of Knights, yet we are still aware of her true identity—but you, Reika, are the only one who knows your Servant's true name."
Darnic coldly stared at the beautiful woman below the throne, his tone icy, revealing genuine killing intent.
"Reveal the Assassin's true name to us, or you will never leave this Throne Room."
If he couldn't obtain it, then he would destroy her. He absolutely could not allow such an outstanding Servant to fall into enemy hands.
Though displeased with Darnic's unilateral decision, Vlad III merely snorted coldly before standing, his Noble Phantasm Kazikli Bey held at the ready but not yet unleashed.
With both leaders making their stance clear, the clamor in the Throne Room instantly died down. The gathered Masters grew wary, directing their hostility toward the three figures standing before the throne.
If a battle were to break out, none of them would dare flee.
Gazes carried weight—especially those of magi who defied human nature and Servants wielding world-shattering power.
The Black Faction loomed over the solitary figure of Reika Rikudou, the Master of the Blue Faction.
The pounding of her heart echoed in her ears, her head spinning as her legs trembled uncontrollably. This was not born of fear or regret, but the natural reaction of an ordinary human realizing just how insignificant she truly was.
If her response held even the slightest flaw, six first-rate magi and six powerful Servants would attack her simultaneously—an overwhelming force that even Artoria and Jack would be powerless against.
And more than that… failure would mean betraying Sakatsuki's trust.
Cold sweat trickled down her skin as she endured the nausea-inducing dizziness, yet Reika's eyes remained clear and bright—not the confusion of one lost, but the true wisdom of someone who had already seen the path ahead.
This level of pressure… Sakatsuki had already warned her about it on the plane!
Every move of the Yggdmillennia had been calculated by that young man. So why should she be afraid?
"Don't underestimate Osarei, Darnic Prestone!"
Black flames erupted in her hand as deep, arcane markings spread across Reika's face. Her previously gentle tone sharpened into something fierce and aggressive.
"The Osarei family sent me precisely because I was already prepared to die!"
Before the gathered crowd, Reika raised her arm, displaying the three supreme Command Spells etched upon it.
"Which will be faster—you killing me, or me using all my Command Spells to teleport my Servant away? Well? Care to test it?"
Reika's unyielding resolve escalated the tension. Servants raised their weapons, and Artoria, hidden beneath her black cloak, casually summoned forth her crimson-glowing demonic spear, gripping it tightly in hand!
The clash of steel lasted only an instant. After weapons were drawn, the Throne Room fell back into unbearable silence.
Staring at the eerie, sinister woman before him, Darnic's expression shifted several times. His magecraft flickered in his hand, flaring and extinguishing repeatedly, until at last, he exhaled deeply, his shoulders slumping as he relaxed his stance.
"...Very well. In recognition of the Osarei family's unbroken spirit, I shall permit your participation—for now."
In the end, he still couldn't bring himself to eliminate the uncertain factor.
Vlad III's severe injuries before the war had been too devastating—not only leaving Darnic with just one Command Spell, but also making him realize the Mage's Association's true depth.
At that time, the Holy Grail War's system hadn't even activated yet, meaning the Mage's Association possessed top-tier assassin-class Servants outside this Holy Grail War!
Under such circumstances, no matter how confident Darnic was in his own Servants' strength, the scales of war would still tip against them due to the numerical disadvantage.
With the situation unclear, he couldn't bring himself to push away the Assassin.
Moreover, though this woman named Reika Rikudou refused to reveal her true name, her Servant had already exposed their weapon—that was enough.
Darnic glanced at the crimson demonic spear in the black-cloaked Servant's hand, exchanged a look with Vlad III, and nodded subtly.
"Then, welcome, envoy of the Osarei family! May you and your Servant bring glory to our Yggdmillennia!"
"Hmph..." Reika inwardly sighed in relief while maintaining a displeased expression as she withdrew her magecraft. After a brief silence, she 'reluctantly' forced a smile.
"I also hope Yggdmillennia won't disappoint me."
The hurdle of joining the Black Faction had been perfectly cleared.
***
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