This Is My Holy Grail War [132]

[Your proficiency in High-Speed Divine Words has greatly improved.

[Under Chiron's guidance, no complex incantation can now challenge your tongue.]

[High-Speed Divine Words E → High-Speed Divine Words D.]

Saber returned from the forest, but she chose to remain silent about her discussion with the Red Faction Master. Instead, she spent the entire day alongside Chiron.

Under Chiron's tutelage, she constantly absorbed new knowledge—arcane secrets from the Age of Gods and unparalleled martial techniques. Step by step, Saber advanced through the curriculum of a hero. With Archer’s unique skills, her learning progressed at an extraordinary pace.

“Saber, there’s still plenty of room for improvement—not just in magic but also in your swordsmanship,” Chiron remarked.

Still basking in the joy of her progress, Saber glanced up at her teacher. Chiron smiled kindly, appearing to genuinely enjoy imparting his knowledge.

Although Servants only manifested for a short time in the modern world, Chiron was fully committed to his role. To Saber, he was the perfect mentor—generous with his knowledge and displaying a fondness for teaching that seemed heartfelt.

Perhaps this is how a teacher feels when they meet a diligent and hardworking student, Saber thought.

Whenever she had a moment to spare, Saber would dive into learning with Chiron. Archer not only welcomed this enthusiasm but also held their lessons in Saber’s own workshop, a place where she felt most at ease.

He probably already knows the secrets of this workshop, Saber mused. With his magical prowess, it’s impossible for him not to notice. He likely chooses not to mention it. Why else would he come here every time?

Since he didn’t bring it up, Saber decided not to break the unspoken understanding. She had always been cautious about what to reveal and what to withhold—even with Chiron.

“There’s so much to improve, but time is running out,” Saber admitted regretfully. “The little downtime we have in this Holy Grail War is barely enough for me to master one skill.”

“You’re right, Saber. Biting off more than you can chew will get you nowhere,” Chiron said, clearly pleased with her maturity. “Your swordsmanship, however, only needs minor adjustments. If you’re mindful of your movements during combat, you can improve significantly.” He had noticed that Saber’s sword style was dangerously reckless.

“It’s fine. I can dodge anything,” Saber said nonchalantly. “No attack can hit me unless every escape route is cut off.” If there were any technique she couldn’t evade with her [Instinct] and [Mind's Eye (Fake)], the first that came to mind was Sasaki Kojirō’s ultimate move, [Tsubame Gaeshi].

Chiron paused at her confident response, his perceptive eyes gleaming as he pieced something together.

“Are you striving for the perfect, inescapable killing blow?” he asked after a moment’s thought. “A strike that lands two slashes in the same instant, at the same spot—a swift, deadly technique. And you’ve been practicing it nonstop, haven’t you? Sharpening your blade to its peak?”

Saber gazed at Chiron in surprise. He sees right through me. As expected of the legendary teacher of heroes.

“But—” Chiron continued, his tone serious, “while you’ve perfected dodging attacks, you’ve yet to eliminate your opponent’s escape routes during your strikes. You can’t execute a third strike, can you?” His words cut straight to the heart of her flaws.

The third strike? Saber’s eyes widened in shock. He had uncovered the core weakness of her swordsmanship purely through observation—even understanding her techniques.

“Right. I can’t land three strikes simultaneously across space and time,” Saber admitted. Since Chiron had identified the problem, there was no point in hiding it. She decided to seek his advice. “You’ve heard of it, haven’t you? [Tsubame Gaeshi], Sasaki Kojirō’s signature technique?”

“Indeed,” Chiron nodded. “I took note of it the moment I saw it.”

“Can you teach me how to execute it?” Saber asked earnestly.

“That technique transcends normal swordsmanship,” Chiron said, stroking his chin thoughtfully. Even he seemed uncertain. “But it’s not impossible. I may not be able to perform it myself, but that doesn’t mean I can’t teach it to you.” His confidence shone through. “A student surpassing their teacher is the natural order of things.”

“Then I’ll do my best,” Saber replied, her determination unwavering.

“Shall we try it now?” Chiron’s excitement was evident—an unusual expression for the usually composed centaur.

“Absolutely!” Saber agreed immediately, eager to seize the opportunity.

To her, Chiron was far more diligent than Sasaki Kojirō, who had merely taught her the basics and left the rest to her own devices. Chiron, on the other hand, guided her meticulously, leaving no detail overlooked.

He even went as far as to act as her sparring target, enduring Saber’s relentless onslaught without holding back. “Only in the heat of a life-or-death exchange can flaws in your swordsmanship be revealed,” he insisted. Saber, however, was genuinely afraid of accidentally cutting him with [Durandal].

As time slipped by, Chiron danced gracefully at the edge of her blade, proving that his close-quarters combat skills rivaled those of the finest Servants despite his Archer designation.

Before the sun set, Saber had grasped the essence of the third strike of [Tsubame Gaeshi]. Though it was still a far cry from the original, she had progressed from being unable to replicate it at all to having a fair chance of success. It was a crude imitation, but she felt fortunate to have seen Kojirō’s technique firsthand.

Chiron’s lesson ended, but Saber wasn’t ready to stop. With the little time remaining, she pleaded for one more session.

She wanted to push her mastery of [High-Speed Divine Words] to the next level before the night’s battle. Despite some hesitation, Chiron ultimately agreed.

After all, the war allows no time for gradual progress, Saber thought, pushing herself harder as Chiron quickened his pace.

[You have fully mastered the language of the gods.]

[Your voice can now command the Aether directly.]

[High-Speed Divine Words D → High-Speed Divine Words C.]

Saber flipped through the black grimoire in her hands, now finding its arcane text entirely comprehensible. It felt as if she were channeling Medea herself, though her spellcasting speed still left room for improvement.

As twilight descended, Saber closed the grimoire and sank into the comfort of her workshop’s plush bed. With Chiron gone, she shifted into her Medea guise, bolstered by the power of [High-Speed Divine Words] at rank A.

Using the ample mana at her disposal, she expanded her workshop’s barriers without worrying about arousing her Master’s suspicion. For the first time, Saber felt truly at ease. Her sanctuary was secure, her magical energy supply stable, and she could rest knowing her precautions were in place.

Before returning to the Yggdmillennia castle, Saber had received an extraordinary gift from the Red Faction’s Berserker: Enkidu, the Chains of Heaven.

No wonder he felt so similar to Gilgamesh, Saber thought. Berserker, whose true name was Enkidu, possessed immense power and the ability to commune with the planet itself. Thanks to his assistance, Saber had mapped the region’s ley lines, freeing herself from dependence on others for mana.

Though she vowed to use this as a last resort, Saber now had a safety net she wouldn’t reveal unless absolutely necessary.

Sinking deeper into the soft mattress, Saber reveled in the rare comfort. But her respite would be short-lived.

In the western horizon, a massive fortress began its ascent. The mobile workshop floated steadily toward the Yggdmillennia stronghold.

The war had been declared. Saber could feel it—tonight would be another sleepless battle.

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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!