This Is My Holy Grail War [182]

The sun was setting, and just like the dimming sky, Saber’s mana was beginning to wane. She had no desire to fight Archer and was desperately trying to disengage, but her opponent blocked her path with his own body.

She could have transformed into Medea and used ancient magecraft to fly past him. However, that would be too risky—every defensive skill she possessed was built around Artoria’s body.

The visage of the King of Knights allowed Saber to deploy [Avalon], healing all her wounds. Her [Instinct] warned of danger, and [Mana Burst] reinforced her armor. These layers of defense gave her unwavering confidence.

Should she take the risk and fly straight over?

Saber hesitated, but the longer she delayed, the more dangerous the situation became.

Her [Magic Resistance] was exceptionally high—an advantage and a double-edged sword. Enemy magecraft had little effect on her, but the same was true for her own spells. She could suppress her resistance while casting, but no matter what, some of the effect would be negated. That’s why she rarely relied on such tactics unless absolutely necessary.

In truth, any Servant could serve as sustenance for Saber—defeating them would grant her their attributes. But Archer had yet to reveal his Noble Phantasm, making her wary.

The [Great Wall] had not appeared. The [Sublime Throne of the Eternal Emperor] remained sealed. The legend of [Breaking All Weapons Under Heaven] made him an incredibly troublesome opponent, and his overwhelming resistance to Assassin-class abilities meant she couldn’t approach him easily.

Archer was a marksman—there was no reason he would abandon the [Wall].

Even as her mana dwindled, Saber’s mind grew sharper.

“What a hassle…” she muttered.

Her only options were to retreat, absorb mana from the leyline and ordinary people at the workshop, and prolong her survival—or to keep facing off against Archer and be erased from existence.

But her workshop had already been exposed. What was the point of clinging to life like that?

“Your Master is seriously wounded as well. We have a common enemy.” She tried reasoning with him, appealing to emotions, even sneaking a glance at Caster, who was observing the battle. She was in a dire situation. “Let me pass,” she murmured.

“Leave?!” Archer’s thunderous roar stopped her in her tracks. He refused to budge, though his tone was noticeably less hostile.

His terracotta warriors closed ranks around his Master, their bodies forming an impenetrable shield. Even under the unseen threat of a gun aimed at his head, Archer did not yield. If anything, he was still holding back.

These soldiers, formed from mana and earth, resembled [Dragon Tooth Warriors] in some ways—but far superior in combat ability. The sheer number of them made it impossible for Saber to break through.

The only way was to defeat their king.

She knew she couldn’t get close to Archer, but that didn’t mean she lacked ranged options.

Raising [Avalon], she pointed the sheath like a wand at him. For the second time, she invoked an incantation, and a mysterious magical array twisted in the air. A burst of violet flames shot forth.

In an instant, the fire ignited the air, scorching the earth and carving a deep, unmistakable scar across the ground. The powerful magical blast struck Archer dead-on.

Yet—

Saber’s brow furrowed.

No effect.

The Caster class was considered the weakest in the Holy Grail War, largely because of [Magic Resistance]. Most Heroic Spirits were from ancient times—some even from the Age of Gods—granting them formidable resistance to magecraft. Archer was no exception.

No, this resistance was abnormal.

Saber’s magic blast was incredibly potent, infused with [High-Speed Divine Words]. To completely nullify it, one would need [A-Rank Magic Resistance] at the very least.

Her attack had struck Archer directly, yet not even a ripple appeared.

This was beyond even Artoria’s [Magic Resistance].

Magecraft was utterly useless against him.

Saber’s sharp intuition as an Age of Gods mage told her something was off. This wasn’t mere [Magic Resistance]—it was a conceptual negation of Mystery itself.

If she couldn’t break through—then she would fly over!

A chill crept through her limbs. It had been less than half an hour since she lost her Master, yet the effects were already setting in. Fortunately, she hadn’t been completely severed—William’s [Command Seal] was still sustaining her.

And that only solidified her resolve.

She would have her revenge.

Saber lowered her weapon. “You win.”

She conceded.

Even after exhausting all her options, she couldn’t breach Archer’s defenses.

The once valiant knight began to change.

She grew taller, and violet mana dispersed into countless fluttering butterflies. A deep, flowing robe enveloped her form, and a hood concealed most of her face—except for the cunning smirk at her lips.

Then—

With a sudden flourish of her robes, she ascended like a butterfly.

The unfurled fabric resembled wings, carrying her skyward without a single motion.

Higher, and higher—

Saber soared, leaving her enemies as tiny figures below.

Archer clenched his sword, eyes shut in silent fury.

She felt his hostility, yet he made no move to stop her.

A silent truce.

Saber shifted her gaze to the distance.

Berserker’s Master had just crossed the tightrope bridge, stepping onto the other side.

The southern bank was far more crowded than the north, making it nearly impossible to conceal Mystery—but that no longer concerned Saber. She had no means to continue fighting.

She had lost her Master.

The only possible new Master was her enemy.

[Command Seals] were curses—Saber understood this deeply.

She wanted nothing more than to kill that blue-haired girl. Then, she would enter the next Holy Grail War.

With that thought, Saber plummeted.

She dove like a falling bomb, descending straight toward the opposite shore.

Boom!

The impact sent dust and debris flying.

Amidst the panicked screams of bystanders, Saber emerged from the cloud of dust—now in Medea’s form. She gripped [Durandal] in her hands.

A witch, clad in an Age of Gods robe and wielding a holy sword.

Beneath her hood, her eyes gleamed with murderous intent.

She turned her gaze beyond the concrete jungle—toward her prey.

The fleeing girl.

Berserker’s Master.

Saber didn’t even know her name.

But that didn’t matter.

A life for a life. That was justice.

Boom.

Saber stomped the ground. Her sheer strength shattered the earth, spiderweb cracks radiating outward.

She charged forward, the force of her footfall whipping up a fierce wind.

Her appearance was that of a mage, but her ferocity rivaled a Berserker’s.

But—before she could reach her target, an old ally appeared before her.

Assassin.

He had been waiting.

“You’re going to stop me?” Saber growled.

Assassin shook his head. “Someone else wants to stop you. I held him off—it’s Lancer.”

“So you’re helping me?” Saber was perplexed.

After all, she had once threatened Assassin’s Master, forcing them into an alliance.

“I am,” he admitted. “But my Master is still furious with you.”

“She said she wants to kill you.”

Saber narrowed her eyes, wary. “Then why are you helping me?”

"Repaying kindness with betrayal makes one a scoundrel," Assassin said. "You helped my Master, so this is me repaying you. Next time we meet, we’ll fight again. My Master agreed, so today, I’m here to help you."

"Thanks. I’ll remember this favor," Saber replied. She was not particularly skilled in the exchange of debts and gratitude. She was far more accustomed to being a machine of war.

That was how she preferred it. That was how she wished her Master had been as well.

Yet she had witnessed countless separations—Lancelot willingly marching to his death under Arthur’s condemnation, Mordred sacrificing everything for a single word of recognition, William longing for light more than life itself.

Saber had never truly understood these things. But after witnessing them time and time again, she had come to grasp something of human nature.

She had already secured her place in the next Holy Grail War. If it was in her interest to return the favor to Assassin, she had no reason to refuse.

Little by little, she was beginning to understand the thoughts of Servants and heroes.

By all logic, her current actions were irrational.

She could have hidden away and bided her time. Her chances of winning had plummeted after losing her Master, and the enemies in this Holy Grail War were extraordinarily powerful. But at least she would still have a sliver of hope—perhaps just one percent.

Even so, she had already secured her next chance at the Grail. No matter how dire the situation became, it wouldn’t be worse than now.

And that’s exactly why I want revenge, isn’t it?

This wasn’t about strategy or necessity. It was a simple, primal desire.

Her Master had been killed.

And Saber wanted vengeance.

"Farewell, Saber."

Assassin’s presence here was merely to warn her—to make his stance clear. He wasn’t going after Berserker’s Master.

"Farewell, Assassin."

With that, Saber moved forward, soaring above as she searched for her target. She had only one goal.

If there is a next time… she thought to herself.

The speed of a Servant was beyond what any ordinary magus could match. And Saber was among the fastest.

With A-Rank Agility, it took her only moments to cut off her target’s escape.

"Hey, what’s your name, little girl?"

Saber descended slowly, her heavy robes concealing her figure. Step by step, she approached, drawing a long cross-shaped sword from within her cloak.

"N-Naskia Zorgen…" The girl swallowed hard, bewildered at the approaching swordswoman. "I already quit! Why are you still coming after me?!"

She let out a wail, scrambling backward—only to trip and land flat on the ground with a sharp yelp.

She clutched her thigh, tears welling up from the pain.

A magus, so terrified she couldn’t even stand?

Saber didn’t buy it.

"Enough with the tricks."

Her voice rang out, sharp and piercing. A visible shockwave rippled through the air.

Hidden among the greenery, an entire swarm of insects fell lifeless. Leaves rained down from the surrounding trees, scattering like droplets in a storm.

"You killed my Master. Now, you die."

"It wasn’t me! I tried to stop Berserker, but he wouldn’t listen!" Naskia shouted, frantic to defend herself. But the blade drew nearer, and desperation set in.

"I don’t believe you," Saber said coldly.

"Look! My Command Seals are nearly gone!"

Naskia thrust out her hand, revealing her palm. The despairing girl had nowhere left to run.

She used her Command Seals to control Berserker… but failed?

The missing Seals couldn’t be faked.

And Saber could tell—Berserker hadn’t been acting under their command.

Which meant…

Naskia wasn’t the culprit.

"I compromised before. More than once!" Naskia’s voice trembled, her panic evident. "I only have one Seal left! I had no choice! I don’t want to kill anyone either!"

The final Seal—an unspoken rule of the Holy Grail War. The last resort, used to force a Servant’s suicide. The ultimate failsafe.

Saber had intended to drive her blade straight through the girl’s throat.

But at the last moment—

She changed her mind.

The sword hovered just inches from Naskia’s face. A force restrained it.

William’s dying order still lingered: Win.

And now, Saber had a way to keep fighting.

The [Command Seal] activated.

Though its mana supply was faint, the effect remained.

With [A-Rank Magic Resistance], Saber could easily nullify the [Command Seal]’s power.

But the sluggish, sticky sensation in her body made her hesitate.

Then she saw it.

The single remaining seal on Naskia’s hand.

She had studied magecraft from the Age of Gods. She knew full well what this meant.

One Seal alone is no threat to me. It would take multiple to force me into submission.

Saber’s grip on her sword relaxed.

"I’ve changed my mind," she declared.

"Your mana—I’ll take it."

William’s final order echoed in her mind.

Win.

And Naskia’s magical circuits were undoubtedly of the highest caliber.

"W-Wait! You didn’t even ask for my opinion!" Naskia barely had time to protest before Saber silenced her—sealing the contract with a forceful exchange of mana.

Mana intertwined.

A crimson glow illuminated Naskia’s face, painting her features in a warm, burning hue.

Her heartbeat quickened.

Anxiety flickered in her eyes.

But—

At the corners of her lips, a small smile formed.

[Due to the Master's aptitude, Mana and Luck have increased by one rank.]

[Mana: B → A]
[Luck: D → C]

"Didn’t you just say you didn’t want this? You sure accepted it fast," Saber remarked, amused.

"Obviously! I’d be an idiot to refuse a Servant that just landed in my lap!" Naskia folded her arms, putting on an air of confidence.

But she still snuck a glance at Saber.

Her pink eyes sparkled like stars.

Her lips quivered, unable to contain the excitement.

She was thrilled.

The strongest class in the Holy Grail War—and it was hers.

"Even as my Master, looking at me like that makes me furious," Saber warned, eyeing the girl with suspicion. The sheer greed in her expression was plain as day.

"Look, Saber-class isn’t even that great in the Holy Grail War," she stated bluntly.

But Naskia’s enthusiasm only grew.

"I want to win. First, we need to strategize." Saber’s voice was calm and composed. "I don’t like magi who think they can order me around in battle. Servants have far more combat experience than those who rot away in modern society."

Her words were precise, measured.

And despite their newfound partnership—

She was still more wary than cooperative.

"God above! I finally got a competent Servant!"

Tears welled in Naskia’s eyes.

"One who doesn’t act recklessly, who actually thinks, who understands tactics—!"

She was on the verge of sobbing.

Heaven only knew what Berserker had put her through.

---

T/N: of course of course the Rin-like becomes her master as expected umu

anyway i think her stats are currently

[Strength: B]
[Endurance: B+++]
[Agility: A]
[Mana: A]
[Luck : C]

i think i could be wrong :o

This is a fan translation of 这是我的圣杯之战 by 向希望祈祷. All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!