[Video Danmaku]
Eriri: "Let Saber win the Holy Grail War, but they take the Holy Grail? What does that even mean? I'm completely lost."
Conan: "It's information asymmetry. With Solomon's help, Marisbury already knows the future like the back of his hand. He's like a scriptwriter, making everyone in this Holy Grail War move according to his direction."
Madoka Kaname: "What happens in the future? And that Holy Grail... what does it mean that it's corrupted? Can it not grant wishes anymore?"
Homura Akemi: "As I thought. There's no such thing as a wish-granting machine in this world. All wishes come with a terrible price. The Holy Grail... is just another Kyubey—"
Otto Apocalypse: "Another Holy Grail War just a dozen years later? I thought the cycle for the Holy Grail War was much longer. How could this happen?"
Tokiomi Tohsaka: "Indeed. Under normal circumstances, it should take at least sixty years for the Holy Grail to accumulate enough magical energy. Damn it, what on earth has gone wrong with the Grail system to cause such a change?"
L: "To go through such pains to obtain the Grail... Marisbury... that man is too dangerous. What does he intend to do with it?"
Mobius: "Isn't it already clear? He doesn't care about the state of the Grail. In other words, he can still achieve his wish even without it. As for that Solomon, since he has the same ability as Aponia, the future he observes should also be unchangeable, right? Hehe... how interesting. It makes me want to study it... future-sight, and the rules that govern that world..."
Su: "Regardless, the harm caused by the Holy Grail cannot be ignored. Things are getting more and more troublesome, beyond what Elysia can handle right now. She needs more power."
In the Elysian Realm—even with his eyes closed, Su could still see the video. From a narrative perspective, the truth hidden behind this story was about to be revealed, just as Marisbury had not stopped Elysia from telling Kiritsugu about Solomon's existence.
Because even knowing of Solomon's existence, Kiritsugu Emiya had no way to stop his plan from proceeding.
---o---
[In the video—
Another night had passed. In just a few short days, events had transpired that exceeded everyone's imagination.
Kiritsugu Emiya hadn't rested all night, searching everywhere for information about Caster. A man who had remained hidden from the very beginning and had calculated everything—he couldn't afford to be anything less than cautious.
The Einzbern Castle—this stronghold had remained standing even after the attacks by Kayneth and Assassin. One had to admit, the Einzberns were truly wealthy; the castle was immense.
With the first rays of the morning sun—no, it should be the afternoon. After all, by the time last night's battle had ended, it was nearly dawn.
Elysia hadn't slept properly in a long time. Not just since arriving in this world, but even in the world of Honkai, she had never rested due to the ceaseless wars.
This time, waking up naturally after a full night's sleep put her in a particularly cheerful mood. After establishing a temporary alliance with Kiritsugu Emiya, this castle had also become her temporary base.
"My Lord—you're awake."
Opening her door, she saw a familiar figure kneeling on one knee, looking up at Elysia with a gaze that held a hint of salvation.
And that familiar address... that's right—it was Lancer. Because Elysia wanted to intervene in the Holy Grail War but lacked a Servant, Lancer had become hers.
This miraculous scene left the audience outside the screen utterly shocked. Lancer had already been betrayed by his master for a second time. A man like him shouldn't be seeking a new lord so soon after his previous one's departure.
Even if he had a mental breakdown after the betrayal and accepted Elysia as his new master, it was far too rash. How could something so bizarre happen?
Besides, Elysia didn't have any Command Spells on her hand. She wasn't a magus, she didn't even have magical energy, which was a Servant's lifeblood. A Servant would die without mana. How could they disregard the rules like this?
But the scene was indeed unfolding before them. Lancer truly regarded Elysia as his new lord. So-called rules were made to be broken. No one ever decreed that a Servant couldn't live after losing their Master, nor did anyone decree that a Servant couldn't pledge loyalty to a non-participant.
And speaking of breaking rules... one had to mention a certain someone...
It was said that Gilgamesh's treasury surpassed even his own knowledge, and this was indeed the case. If Gilgamesh wished it, he could break free from the restraints of a Command Spell at any time and use all sorts of strange and wonderful items to replenish his own magical energy.
In a normal Holy Grail War, if the King of Heroes, Gilgamesh, were even a little bit serious, he could end the war on the very first night.
Because Lancer's disappearance would mean the loss of a major fighting force, Elysia had specifically sought out Gilgamesh to ask him for an elixir that could replenish magical energy.
The proud King of Heroes, of course, disagreed. The king's treasures could be bestowed upon his subjects, but they could not be used for such a purpose. This held true even if the King of Heroes was interested in Elysia. Wouldn't such an act be purely using him as a tool?
To solve this, Elysia's solution was to appeal to the topic that interested the King of Heroes the most—tax evasion, ah no, that's wrong—pleasure!
"If you wish to attain true pleasure, then give me the elixir that replenishes magical energy. Don't worry, as compensation, I will let you witness true pleasure very soon."
Elysia said this to the King of Heroes, Gilgamesh, who was seated upon his golden ark, with Tokiomi Tohsaka standing right beside him.
But upon hearing the word "pleasure," Gilgamesh became interested. Hearing those words from Elysia's lips was a form of pleasure in itself. Though he didn't know what Elysia was planning, the extravagantly wealthy King of Heroes gave Elysia the startup capital without a moment's hesitation.
As for his vassal's desperate attempts to stop him, he paid them no mind at all. Tokiomi Tohsaka probably wanted to kill Elysia right about now. He could have eliminated one more Servant, but now, thanks to Elysia, Lancer had been given a new lease on life.
"Hello there, Lancer! A new day begins with a wonderful encounter~~~"
Breathing in the air of the castle, Elysia spoke cheerfully to Lancer.
Her energetic voice brought a surge of joy to Lancer's heart. His previous two masters had never spoken to him this way, let alone gone to that arrogant king to beg for an elixir for his sake, even if it was just a transaction.
"Huff~~ My Lord, thank you for your acknowledgement. I will certainly give my all for you."
Lancer bowed his head even lower. Nothing could move a knight's heart more than their lord's approval. If loyalty had a numerical value, the number above Lancer's head would have already broken its upper limit.
"Elysia, can you talk to me in detail about matters related to Caster?"
A voice instantly plunged Lancer's joyful mood into the abyss—Kiritsugu Emiya. To be under the same roof as this man... Lancer was so disgusted he felt like throwing up. He clenched his fists tightly. If not for the presence of his new lord, he would have already torn Kiritsugu Emiya limb from limb.
"Of course. But let me say this beforehand: although I've seen him, I don't know that Caster's true identity."
"That's enough. We can get a lot of information from his appearance alone." Kiritsugu was about to light a cigarette but remembered he was indoors and in the presence of ladies, so he put it away. As for Lancer's murderous glare, he had long since ignored it.
Although Elysia was nominally Lancer's new Master, without Command Spells or participant status, there was no point in her obtaining the Grail. As for Lancer, a Servant sustained by an elixir posed little threat.
The most pressing matter was to drag out the Caster still hiding in the shadows. With such a threat lurking in the dark, Kiritsugu couldn't feel at ease.
---o---
"He wore a silver ring on every finger. Elysia, are you sure you saw that correctly?"
In the main hall, Saber's voice was filled with disbelief. The feature was too distinct. Ten rings, future-sight... only that man, whose mastery of magecraft was on par with Merlin's, could possess such things.
"Saber, what is it? Do you know that Servant?"
Irisviel had never seen Saber look so shocked, not even when she learned the identity of the King of Heroes.
"Ah... I don't know him personally, but his fame is too great. In fact, there probably isn't a single Heroic Spirit who hasn't heard his name. The King of Israel—Solomon. His magecraft is in no way inferior to Merlin's, and on top of that, he has Clairvoyance of the highest rank..."
Saber didn't continue, but Irisviel understood the gravity of the situation.
They were just fighting a Holy Grail War, why was it so difficult? All sorts of overpowered characters were popping up left and right. The original Holy Grail Wars weren't like this.
"Sigh, Solomon, the King of Magi. Can the Holy Grail War really summon such a character? Saber, can you handle him?"
Rubbing his temples, Kiritsugu, who hadn't slept for days, asked with a hint of irritation. The highly advantageous situation he'd created had been repeatedly shattered. The fact that he could remain calm was a testament to his strength.
"It would be difficult. I have never gained an advantage in my bouts with Merlin."
Difficult, which means not impossible... Kiritsugu noted Saber's phrasing. Never gained an advantage against Merlin. Does that mean Merlin couldn't defeat her either?
In truth... she didn't even need to fully release the Holy Sword. With just the scabbard inside Irisviel's body, Saber would be invincible. The reason King Arthur repeatedly hit a wall when sparring with Merlin was simply because that old coot had no martial honor.
He would suddenly switch to being a swordsman while using magecraft, or indiscriminately use magic during a sword fight. If King Arthur weren't so pure and good-tempered, she would have long since kicked him into the stratosphere like a certain Beast.
"I feel like I can't get a word in edgewise with their conversation..."
Meanwhile, Elysia, who had been left out, looked on with a puzzled expression. She knew that Heroic Spirits were historical figures, but she was completely clueless about history. The history of this world was also different from hers.
So, this Solomon, that Merlin—she didn't know a single one of them.
"My Lord, if Solomon tries to harm you, please allow me to shield you. That man... is strong. So strong it cannot be described with words."
Unlike Elysia, Lancer spoke with a worried heart. His own power was too weak. With Assassin and Bluebeard eliminated, the only Servant he could trade a few blows with now was Berserker. The others were beyond his league.
But even so, Lancer was determined to protect his new lord with his life, even if his lord was far stronger than he, a Servant, was.
---o---
[Video Danmaku]
Eriri: "Lancer is so loyal! I want a handsome and smart Servant like that too."
Utaha Kasumigaoka: "Simple. Just go participate in the Holy Grail War. Though, looking at you, you'd be lucky not to summon someone like Gilgamesh."
King of Heroes: "Hah? Woman, don't tell me you think this king is inferior to that third-rate Servant?"
Yukino Yukinoshita: "I would rather summon a loyal, nameless Servant than have to wait on some self-important king."
Conan: "Give it up, King of Heroes. You can't reach us through the screen. With your personality, only Tokiomi Tohsaka could put up with you. If it were me, I wouldn't even survive the first day."
Ai Haibara: "Not necessarily. He might let you live a little longer because of your child's body."
Conan: "And then he'd find out I'm not as small as I look, think I was tricking him, and cut me into pieces?"
L: "I'm actually quite curious about what Elysia plans to do. She shouldn't have any reason to stop Marisbury. Although Marisbury is clearly plotting something, he hasn't done anything to endanger the world. Bluebeard's actions were meant to fail in his plan anyway."
Otto Apocalypse: "Who knows? She originally didn't plan to participate in the Holy Grail War, but now she's gone back on her word and even saved the unrelated Lancer to be her fighter. Her actions are getting stranger and stranger."
Mobius: "Hehe, don't underestimate Elysia. That girl is far more clever than you imagine. The only person in the entire world who can keep all of us in the dark is Elysia."
Su: "Since Elysia has chosen to act this way, it must mean she has learned something. However... Elysia would never do anything to harm the world."