"Try putting it on, little girl."
Gray was stunned for a moment after suddenly feeling her body relax, then she looked at the bracelet the King handed her, unsure if she should accept it.
Artoria smiled. Perhaps due to her body and mind maturing, she now viewed things much more openly than when she wielded the Holy Sword. Thus, in her normal state, her aura was slightly softer. When she was a knight, she was a knight; when she was a King, she was a King. But setting those identities aside, she was merely a big sister who enjoyed gourmet food.
So now, Artoria carried a gentle big sister vibe, even showing a relaxed, easygoing smile. Of course, it was rare for Artoria wielding the Holy Lance to be this relaxed. Partly due to tasting gourmet food, and partly because the one who summoned her was her royal sister, easing some misunderstandings between the two.
Additionally, there were no Knights of the Round Table in this Holy Grail War. Although her sister was her Master, the master-servant relationship wasn't particularly glaring. So, it rarely awakened Artoria's identity as an ordinary girl, which wasn't usually obvious.
Ultimately, when Aslan and Melusine arrived, this would simply be a small gathering of the current Pendragon generation. There was even less need to hold onto the identity of a King or a Knight. It was magical; a way of interacting she hadn't properly experienced in life, she was now experiencing after death. Even if it was a fleeting dream for the Heroic Spirit's main body, this dream was worth cherishing and reminiscing about.
"Although I do not know exactly what happened to you, it must be related to me. Whether as a King or as an ordinary person with a correct moral compass, I bear a certain responsibility for this. Therefore, helping you alleviate your physical condition is something I should do. Besides, you also want to have a good chat with me, right? It won't do if your health remains poor."
Gray hesitated for a moment but eventually reached out and took the bracelet. After placing the bracelet on her wrist, the subtle pain in her body finally vanished completely.
Artoria opened the menu before her and ordered another dessert for the little girl.
While a friendly meeting was taking place here, the blue-haired magus was preparing to cause trouble. He intended to forcibly have Berserker trade for one or two Heroic Spirits, or Masters, and then exit. This way, he could hide in the dark and command his second Heroic Spirit.
With Berserker now infused with the power of Phoenix, it shouldn't be a problem to cause a huge commotion and attract a siege from several Heroic Spirits.
Now was the perfect opportunity. After the night battle, no one would expect him to launch the second battle of the Holy Grail War so quickly, especially during the day! But since it was Berserker making the move... anything was possible. Even if other magi investigated later, he could absolve himself of all responsibility.
Although he might be accused or judged by magi after the Holy Grail War, he would be safe until then. He could stay in the Church's safe zone, commanding his second Servant to assassinate and sow discord. Who would suspect him?
After all, he had torn off the skin containing his fourth to sixth Command Spells and pasted it onto his chest, then healed the skin on the back of his hand with magecraft. He was committed to maintaining the image of having only one Heroic Spirit to the very end.
In short, disguising it as a Berserker losing control was the right move. As for the attack location, it was naturally already decided: the Tohsaka mansion, a clearly known enemy base!
It had to be said, with just a little investigation into the Holy Grail War, the Tohsaka and Matou families were glaring targets, practically telling everyone, "We are here, come hit us."
If they encountered a magus exactly like Kiritsugu who used missile strikes, they would either exit or get injured. The Three Founding Families should separate their residences, research labs, and war bases.
Look at the Einzbern main house in Germany; their participants lived in a castle in the suburbs with barriers. Then look at the current Tohsaka house... well, Rin didn't have that much money. As for the Matou house, it was currently a pile of ruins. Shinji might just sell that plot of land in a few years.
By then, the Matou family would no longer be a guaranteed participant in the Holy Grail War. Just as the Einzbern family abandoned the Holy Grail War, the Matou family would not intervene in the future either. Tohsaka... probably wouldn't give up.
In a way, every head of the Tohsaka family was a qualified magus. As long as the Holy Grail could connect to the Root, this family wouldn't give up. Of course, they might also find the Holy Grail too troublesome and dismantle it. However, judging by the current development of this world towards commercializing the Holy Grail War, it might continue for a long time.
After all, commercialization allows for an accident or two. Abolishing it might wait for centuries. Whether the Tohsaka family would still have a lineage then was another matter. Accidents happen, or children with poor talent might be born, or rebellious children who refuse to learn magecraft.
In the kitchen of the Tohsaka house, Rin was currently directing Napoleon in culinary studies and cooking. Should one say, "As expected of the Light of Human Possibility"? From not even being able to chop vegetables properly, to effortlessly making a perfect steak, this Emperor completed his steak-learning course in just half an hour.
At this rate, it shouldn't take long for Napoleon to become a master chef.
Today's learning task was cooking, and tomorrow's would be room organization. By the time the Holy Grail War ended, Napoleon would surely become an excellent butler. Congratulations, congratulations.
Looking at the steak and red wine on the table, Rin rubbed her hands together. She hadn't expected such delicious food to be cooked from such cheap raw materials. As expected of Napoleon. However, before she could taste it, a powerful wave of magical energy came from the distance.