This Is My Holy Grail War [175]

Surrounded by [Dragon Tooth Warriors], Saber pushed open the workshop’s door. Yet, not a single wisp of wind crept inside. The frigid northern gale, sharp as a blade, was held at bay by the barrier woven from pure magic.

Saber extended a hand in a welcoming gesture.
"Since you’ve taken something of mine, you should do something for me in return."

She arched a brow and smiled at Assassin’s Master. The silver-haired girl bit down hard on her lip, clearly angry—perhaps because she had been played.

"What do you want me to do?" Victoria sat upright, not moving but observing instead. Suspicion clouded her thoughts, and there was an unmistakable fear in her eyes when she glanced toward the outside.

"You’re a local magus, aren’t you?" Saber didn’t answer Victoria’s question directly, choosing instead to pose one of her own.

"…Yes." Victoria nodded hesitantly. Saber, ever perceptive, caught the deep-seated fear in her expression. This girl had changed—no longer the hesitant modern civilian but a true magus, wary and calculating.

"I’m sure you know quite a bit about the Holy Grail. After all, this city has hosted more than one Holy Grail War."

She pressed her gauntleted hand against the doorframe. Metal scraped against rusted iron, producing a piercing, grating sound. Fortunately, it wasn’t loud enough to drive one mad.

"I know a little," Victoria answered modestly, but Saber noticed her evasive gaze.

She was afraid. Why?

Saber caught the subtle shift in her expression—this girl might be lying.

"I’d like some information on the Greater Grail," Saber probed. "The Greater Grail system, created by the Einzbern family, should be somewhere in this city. Do you know its exact location?"

Her sharp eyes locked onto Victoria, waiting for the answer that would determine the girl’s value.

Victoria exhaled in relief and quickly nodded. She knew where the Greater Grail was.

"That’s excellent. Then, little lady, why don’t you take me there?"

Saber knew nothing about this city—her intelligence was sorely lacking. The best use for Victoria was precisely this: as a local participant, she must have prepared for the ritual in some way. Even if she didn’t fully understand the Grail’s inner workings, she would at least have the basic information.

Saber lightly touched her lips with her fingers, her gesture as delicate as silk brushing against her face. She didn’t miss the way Victoria swallowed nervously.

Modern magi really are useless.

Lacking humanity, arrogant without merit. Those of the Age of Gods always looked upon them with a trace of contempt—an instinct woven into their very bones. And the more they observed these so-called modern magi, the higher their disdain grew.

"You’re going in person?" Victoria asked in surprise. "I could just tell you the location." She clearly didn’t want to go outside.

"Mm. It’s always best to conduct a proper survey." Saber murmured thoughtfully, "Perhaps it might even be suitable for a temple."

Although she could easily discern the leyline flow, she knew nothing about this city beyond its name—Blanche. If she followed the same strategy as Medea and secured the Great Grail, it would be the wisest course of action.

"I’d like Assassin to accompany me. Is that acceptable?" Victoria proposed softly, her voice lacking confidence.

"Of course. He’s your Servant."

Saber didn’t refuse. She saw Victoria’s face light up with a rare smile—only to immediately douse it with cold reality.

"But be careful," she warned. "Your body is still fragile. I only just drove out the chill, and your heart sounds dangerously weak."

Not to mention, it could stop at any moment.

Saber said the last part aloud without hesitation. But she knew—Victoria had already understood the underlying threat in her words.

Victoria’s fragile body was exposed to the biting wind, at risk of withering at any moment—only the charm she wore kept her delicate form from succumbing. If Saber so wished, the moment Victoria stepped outside, she could be doomed.

"Thank you."

Her face flushed red as she murmured in a voice as soft as a whispering insect. As she expressed her gratitude, she carefully placed the charm around her neck. It was a miniature barrier—a small-scale protection spell, but for modern magi, it was a priceless artifact.

Victoria clutched the charm tightly, unwilling to let go, yet afraid to grip it too hard. Despite knowing it was a trap, she still walked straight into it. Deep down, she truly wished to see the sun.

She feared that stepping outside would cost her life, which was why she initially refused Saber’s offer. Yet, at the same time, she longed to witness the world beyond. And so, when Saber handed her the charm, she was genuinely grateful.

She was conflicted. Naïve. Unlike any other magus.

Long ago, Saber, too, had once felt gratitude toward the nameless figure who had drawn her into the Holy Grail ritual. She never learned who it was, but at the very least, it had given her the chance to feel solid ground beneath her feet.

The sound of heavy armor tapping against the cement floor rang crisply in the air. The sensation of standing upon solid earth—it was something Saber still found intoxicating.

"I’ll protect you while we’re outside," she assured. "If you’d like, you can stay out a little longer. But once the sun sets, we return."

Before Saber had even finished speaking, Victoria immediately responded with a smile.

"Alright."

"Let’s go straight there. No need to overthink it."

It was still daylight. No one would dare escalate matters in broad daylight. Walking openly through the streets was actually the safest option—no one would risk making an enemy of the entire world by launching an attack in full view of the public.

The preservation of mystery was essential. To be completely exposed to the eyes of ordinary people was, paradoxically, the best form of protection.

Cold air swept across the land. Though the sun hung high in the sky, the temperature remained unforgivingly frigid.

That was the nature of this far eastern city—completely indifferent to logic. The northern wind howled, refusing to leave behind even a sliver of warmth

...

"Why aren’t you in Spirit Form?"

As they walked through the streets, Victoria glanced at Saber with curiosity.

"And why should I be?" Saber countered, raising an eyebrow.

She wasn’t clad in armor anymore; instead, she wore a modern, professional women’s suit—sleek, sharp, and effortlessly refined. Her golden hair was tied back in a neat ponytail, blending seamlessly into the city’s culture.

This was Russia. Here, golden-haired women were far from uncommon.

"Don’t I look… perfectly normal?" Saber turned slightly, gesturing at herself.

Victoria walked ahead, leading the way, while Saber followed close behind. Very close. Their bodies were nearly touching.

Victoria cast a glance backward—she saw nothing. But she knew Assassin was there, hidden in Spirit Form, keeping watch.

"Where are you two going?"

Assassin’s voice drifted from the unseen, causing a few bystanders to turn their heads in confusion. Though they couldn’t see him, they had definitely heard his voice.

"The River of Swords."

As Victoria answered, she raised a hand and pointed toward the heart of the river.

"The Greater Grail is beneath the water. But we can’t get across."

Saber smiled. "No, we can."

Victoria’s brows furrowed in confusion.

"How?"

The river wasn’t particularly wide, but it wasn’t a small creek one could simply wade across, either. The waters ran deep—so deep that no one could say for certain how far the bottom lay. One thing was certain, though—falling in would be a death sentence.

And more than that, the river was freezing. The air in the far east was already unforgivingly cold, and its waters were even worse.

"Like this."

Before Victoria could react, Saber suddenly scooped her up and hoisted her onto her shoulder.

With a startled shriek, Victoria flailed, trying to break free from Saber’s iron grip.

"Put me down! I’m going to die—!"

Her face went deathly pale, and she thrashed desperately, but Saber’s hold was as unyielding as steel.

"That’s it! We’re done for!"

The girl let out a final shriek and immediately covered her eyes.

Then—

Splash.

Saber landed lightly on the surface of the water.

"There. No need to make such a fuss. You’re a magus, not an ordinary person."

Victoria, still draped over Saber’s shoulder, was trembling so hard that her lips had turned blue.

In reality, she was slightly taller than Saber. And yet, despite the swordswoman’s delicate frame, she carried Victoria with effortless ease.

"It’s ahead, right?" Saber asked, then added, almost as an afterthought, "Assassin can’t move across the water, but don’t worry. I’ll keep you safe."

"Just… don’t let go," Victoria murmured, pressing her lips together tightly, only now beginning to recover from her shock.

...

The river, named after swords, ran in a perfectly straight line from the distance, flowing directly toward the sea.

Saber refused to believe that was a natural formation. It was far too unnatural.

To her, there was no doubt—this river was the mark left behind by the release of a Noble Phantasm.

Her [Pure Eyes] allowed her to see through the water with ease, tracing the path of the leylines. When she learned that the Greater Grail was beneath the river, she immediately pinpointed its exact location.

A system as vast as the Greater Grail required an immense leyline to sustain it. A small leyline wouldn’t provide anywhere near enough mana.

"The Greater Grail is beneath the water. I was right, wasn’t I?"

Though Saber could already see the leylines, she asked anyway—just to confirm.

"Yes."

Victoria wanted to hold onto Saber, but all she could do was clutch desperately at the swordswoman’s clothing.

Saber’s grip was awkward—there was no way for Victoria to steady herself. She feared falling from Saber’s grasp. The barrier might protect her from the cold, but it certainly wouldn’t keep her from drowning.

Was this just a coincidence?

A river marked by the release of a Noble Phantasm… and the Greater Grail, resting beneath it.

Though the system remained intact, Saber could feel it—at some point, a Servant had unleashed their Noble Phantasm upon the Holy Grail.

Just like Artoria in the Fourth Holy Grail War, whose Noble Phantasm’s radiance had once obliterated the Grail itself.

---

T/N: is it another corrupted grail :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!