"Holy Sword wielder, how are you feeling now? I believe I just saved your life, didn't I? Is this the expression you show your benefactor? Or do you think I'm on the same level as Gilgamesh?"
If we're talking about how terrible you are, you're both just as bad.
Although Saber thought this to himself, having already changed Masters twice, he felt he had no right to criticize others. The reasons were entirely different, of course, but compared to that Eastern martial artist, this man still sent a chill down the King of Knights' spine.
Yet he could not refuse his Master's orders. More importantly, Roland had indeed saved him. As a knight, he had failed to protect his Master and had instead been protected.
This strange reversal left Saber no choice but to stand upright and solemnly salute Roland.
Roland, however, looked somewhat uncomfortable in response.
"Although I expected you to win, judging by Lancelot's state before his death, that loser seemed far more at ease than you, the victor."
"Because Sir Lancelot... was far more suited to it than I am. He could find a reason to wield his sword. I still don't know what mine is."
Saber's face was clouded with gloom, his expression tinged with self-mockery.
"But aren't you doing very well?" Roland shrugged. "A perfect king without selfish desires. It's precisely because of that perfection that Lancelot must regret his choice so deeply."
"But that isn't enough. I feel as though I preserved everything, yet achieved nothing. Sir Lancelot made me realize why I fight… but what does that truly mean?"
"It means exactly what it sounds like," Roland replied casually. "You perfectionists tend to overthink. Forget your current wish for a moment when you were alive, what did you fight for?"
"Fairness and justice."
No matter the situation or identity, Arthur could always discern right from wrong. That was one of the reasons he had been called the Ideal King.
When he had rejected Mordred's succession, it was not out of prejudice, but because she truly lacked the qualifications to rule. Yet he had never bothered to explain himself, allowing misunderstanding and resentment to fester.
Saber looked at Roland, waiting for his judgment.
Roland nodded without hesitation.
"As expected of my Servant. Exactly my thoughts. I also fight for justice."
"…Huh?"
Saber's usually stoic expression cracked. Roland, justice? From what little interaction they'd had, Saber could tell Roland was plotting something. Yet thus far, he had done nothing truly evil. Even forcing Lancelot into battle had been Lancelot's own choice. That was why Saber had accepted him as Master.
"It's understandable if you don't believe me," Roland continued calmly. "I'm not a champion of justice in the broad sense. My justice is very small, so small it only encompasses myself."
Saber fell silent, pondering.
"Such individual justice… I don't understand it, but I acknowledge it. Still, Britannia cannot be protected that way. It brings no benefit to the people."
"Why not?" Roland tilted his head. "If I extend my justice to the entire world, doesn't it become the world's justice?"
"Humans are like a flock of pigeons. If one flies in the right direction, the rest follow. All you need to do is stand atop the flock and guide them."
"I cannot accept such rule," Saber replied sharply. "It violates the people's will. Even if it succeeds, how can you guarantee your actions are just?"
This was the very kind of tyranny Saber despised. The Round Table had been founded on equality.
Roland merely sneered, baring white teeth.
"My heart and my actions are clear as a mirror. All that I do is justice."
The sheer extremity of that conviction left Saber speechless.
"And besides," Roland pressed on, "isn't that exactly what you are doing?"
"Master!"
Saber stared at him, furious. From their very first true exchange, he had realized Roland was the type he handled worst and tried hardest to avoid. Yet this struck directly at his core.
"Did I say something wrong?" Roland asked lightly.
"You strive to save your country that is your justice as king. But tell me: are the lives that survived that era, and the lives that exist now in the land you wish to protect, truly of different weight?"
In this sense, Saber and Kiritsugu were alike. Different methods, same essence.
Extreme selflessness was merely another form of selfishness. Once lives were reduced to numbers and value, extremes became inevitable.
"I… I must save Britannia."
The words were weak, unconvincing—even to himself.
"So that is your dream?" Roland continued relentlessly. "You weren't born king. If you had possessed this resolve before drawing the Sword in the Stone, I'd have nothing to say. But if not, then ask yourself—was saving Britannia the dream itself, or merely a means to fulfill it?"
Saber forced a bitter smile, sinking into long-buried memories.
Before drawing the sword, Merlin had told him of Britannia's fate. And still, he had accepted it.
At the time, he had said:
"Everyone is smiling. That must be right."
He had no dream of his own—only the wish to protect others'.
"I want to protect their smiles. The hope that exists now."
"Then do it," Roland replied simply. "Compared to clinging to the past, protecting present smiles is admirable."
He patted Saber's shoulder.
"I'm not benevolent, nor can I promise what I'll become. But in this Holy Grail War, I can guarantee one thing.
I am just."
Compared to the Evil of the World, Roland's goal of reclaiming a body and retrieving talismans was practically benevolent. Their objectives did not conflict—that was why he accepted Saber.
Saber looked at him with genuine admiration.
"Master… you are formidable."
—
Hours earlier, deep beneath the Tohsaka estate, far from the battlefield, Tokiomi Tohsaka let out a long sigh.
Since then, Archer had vanished entirely. The Servant no longer even pretended to heed him.
Advice earned scorn. Orders were ignored. Among all Master–Servant pairs, his situation was likely the worst.
Still, Tokiomi did not regret using that Command Seal. The Hero King was the strongest of that he was certain.
Arrogant personality aside, Archer was flawless. In theory, he could win without assistance.
Yet Tokiomi could not accept relinquishing control. Fortunately, Kirei remained loyal.
With Assassin, intelligence flowed constantly. Familiars allowed him to monitor the battlefield precisely.
"Master."
Kirei Kotomine entered and reported calmly.
"According to Assassin, Archer has gone to the Einzbern residence. Saber and Berserker are currently engaged in the forest."
"If things proceed smoothly, an enemy may fall today."
Tokiomi relaxed, glancing at the magic furnace behind him.
"The timing is perfect. The furnace is complete. After battle, Archer's anger should subside."
"I have failed to achieve anything worthy for you," Kirei said quietly.
"That's enough," Tokiomi waved it off. "These Masters are veterans. It's natural they're wary of Assassin."
He picked up a black case.
"I was short on funds earlier, so I delayed your gift. I hope this suffices."
Inside lay a mercury dagger, a refined Mystic Code.
"Master… this is too much."
A crimson flash cut him off.
The barrier had been breached.
"Insect magecraft… Matou," Tokiomi said coldly. "Taking advantage of Archer's absence."
Thinking of the Matou family's Master, Tokiomi Tohsaka became even calmer. Matou Kariya was nothing but a half-baked guy who had given up halfway on the path of magecraft.
He remained calm, staff in hand.
"Kirei, wait here. Your alliance isn't public yet."
"The key to the magic furnace is on the table. If it lights up, it means Archer is consuming a lot of magic. Please turn it on for me so I can avoid being distracted during the battle."
Upon seeing his decisive action, Kirei Kotomine's voice surprisingly carried a hint of anxious worry.
"Master—"
Having keenly sensed this, Tokiomi Tohsaka felt even more at ease. Although he had only been with Kirei Kotomine for two short years, he was undoubtedly a trustworthy person.
"There's nothing to be afraid of anymore, Kirei," Tokiomi Tohsaka said confidently as he walked down the stairs without turning his head.
"The winds of victory are blowing from behind me. Just wait for the good news."
Kirei watched him go, fingers tracing the blade.
"Master… please don't die."
Tokiomi Tohsaka walked calmly through his garden, as if it were not a battlefield fraught with danger.
Kirei Kotomine watched his master's resolute back as he stretched out his index finger and gently stroked the blade of the Mercury dagger, offering a heartfelt prayer.
"Master...please don't die like this."
Tokiomi Tohsaka walked calmly through his garden, ignoring the swarm of insects around him, and went straight to the figure shrouded in black robes in the garden.
Even on the perilous battlefield, Tokiomi Tohsaka maintained his elegant demeanor as always.
"Matou Kariya, I must commend you. Although you are just a newcomer, you have such courage to openly challenge the Tohsaka family's workshop. I don't know if you are foolish or fearless."
What came was
Not a reply. Only motion.
Matou Kariya waved his hand, causing the dense swarm of insects to surround Tokiomi
Without the slightest hesitation, Tokiomi Tohsaka activated the defensive array. Centered on the large ruby on his staff, a sophisticated array symbolizing the Tohsaka family crest unfolded, and Tokiomi Tohsaka began chanting methodically.
"Cruel Cremation!"
Crimson fire serpents crawled out of the defensive array and quickly swept away the swarm of insects. Tokiomi Tohsaka could already foresee the scene that was about to unfold. In the dancing flames, the insect corpses continued to scatter. After all the familiars were killed, Kariya Matou could only urge the last swarm of insects to fight to the death. At this moment, he was giving him the final punishment.
However, things took an unexpected turn. The swarming insects were not burned to death by the flames, but were instead absorbed by them. Like a locust plague, they devoured the flames he released, their bodies glowing with a scorching light, and charged at him fearlessly!
This sight greatly alarmed Tokiomi Tohsaka. It defied the common sense of magic. It was not difficult for the Matou family to create insects with fire-resistant properties, but to create insects that were immune to flames was a completely different matter.
Moreover, the swarm of insects in front of him were not only unafraid of fire, but the flames he released were as if they had become their food.
That's just too bizarre!
Tokiomi Tohsaka had just unleashed a new defensive array, but the swarm of insects did not attack. Instead, they lay on top of the array, their bodies expanding until they transformed into dazzling flames!
Such a scene made Tokiomi Tohsaka forget about elegance. He quickly rolled on the ground and threw out a gem infused with magic to form a barrier, barely managing to block the attack.
"Are you really Matou Kariya?"
Tokiomi Tohsaka's tone became serious, and he said with some disbelief.
The figure shrouded in black robes responded with action. He casually tossed aside the robes he was using to conceal himself, revealing his skin composed of emerald green scales, his strange claws, and his ferocious and terrifying face to the shocked Tokiomi Tohsaka, and offered an intimate greeting.
"Yo, Tokiomi, I've returned from hell."
{T/N: So sorry guys, for going the 3 months without updates. The book will continue as regularly as possible with weekly updates.
Oh yes, before I forget, Happy New Year 2026}