This Is My Holy Grail War [126]

At the break of dawn, with the sun still hiding beneath the horizon, Saber had completed the construction of her workshop. Following the principles from Medea’s grimoire, she had erected a barrier temple without a single misstep.

For a human mage, such a feat would be riddled with errors.

The physical limitations of the human body, compounded by mental fatigue, often led to mistakes in long and meticulous processes. Overexertion and distraction could cause even the most skilled practitioner to falter, tarnishing the perfection of their craft.

But a Servant?

Servants were exempt from such frailties. From the moment of their summoning, their abilities were locked in a state of flawless consistency. As long as they were supplied with mana, they could execute their tasks without error.

While they could acquire new knowledge and use their mana and bodies with precision, their capabilities were bound by the parameters established by the Grail. They could not grow stronger. In essence, Servants were akin to machines—precise, tireless, and unchanging, save for reinforcement or re-summoning.

This mechanical perfection was why Saber could steadily piece together the workshop, brick by metaphysical brick. A task that would take days, perhaps weeks, for a human, she completed in mere hours. Learning [High-Speed Divine Words] alone would be an insurmountable challenge for modern mages, yet it came naturally to her.

Saber stepped out of the Yggdmillennia castle. Bathed in sunlight, she ventured into the nearby forest under the guise of a patrol. In truth, she was mapping the leylines of the land.

The Yggdmillennia castle was situated atop a powerful leyline nexus, making it the most strategically significant stronghold in the region.

If Saber ever became separated from her Master, her mana supply would be cut off, causing her workshop to decay and eventually collapse. Preparations were vital—mana reserves, contingency plans, and usable natural resources all needed to be secured.

Even if the alliance fractured or the war reached its conclusion, these preparations would remain invaluable. A Servant without fallback positions was vulnerable.

This Holy Grail War was unique, dividing Servants into two factions for an initial cooperative phase before the final showdown. However, Saber had known from the moment of her summoning that not all Servants would stay loyal to their teams.

Case in point: Jack the Ripper, the Black Faction’s Assassin, had defected early on. Losing such a powerful ally might have seemed like a disadvantage, but Saber did not see it that way.

Fourteen Servants might sound intimidating, but achieving unity among even a handful was near impossible. Servants and Masters alike carried their own ambitions, often leading to irreconcilable conflicts.

‘Saber.’

The weighty voice of her Master, Gordes, broke her focus, and her instincts sharpened. Through their contract, Masters shared the perspective of their Servants, and Saber's activities could easily be misconstrued.

‘What is it?’ Saber responded.

‘It’s still daylight. Why are you patrolling so early?’ Gordes asked, his tone unexpectedly concerned. ‘Didn’t your Noble Phantasm take a lot of mana to use? Resting to recover your strength should be the priority.’

‘It’s not a concern,’ Saber replied calmly. ‘Even without my Noble Phantasm, I won’t lose in close combat. Besides, my mana supply is more than sufficient now. I could unleash my Noble Phantasm multiple times if necessary.’

Her voice carried both confidence and a hint of caution, carefully navigating her words.

‘That’s what I like to hear!’ Gordes exclaimed, his tone brimming with self-satisfaction. Saber could tell that last night’s victory had ignited his excitement. Since the battle, he had been unusually talkative, as if a dam had broken, and now he seemed eager to engage with her at every opportunity.

‘Your mana expenditure was excessive, but it’s no problem! Others couldn’t manage you properly, but me? I’m Gordes Musik Yggdmillennia! How does it feel to draw from the power of my Homunculi? Incredible, right? I’m a genius!’ His laugh was hearty, almost gloating.

‘Impressive control,’ Saber replied with a neutral tone, humoring him. While the Homunculi-powered mana supply was indeed remarkable, Saber had seen similar techniques during her time with Kayneth Archibald El-Melloi.

‘What exactly are you doing?’ Gordes asked.

Pushing aside the earth to examine the terrain, Saber answered, ‘Checking the leylines. I am, after all, a mage of sorts. Securing the leylines is critical—we can’t afford to let the enemy exploit them.’

She hid her true intentions. This task wasn’t one Gordes needed to know about.

‘Fine, fine. Keep at it.’ Gordes abruptly cut the connection, his respect for Saber still lacking. Despite her victories, he treated her as little more than a tool.

Freed from distractions, Saber continued her work. As she softly recited an incantation in the ancient tongue of the Age of Gods, her [Instincts] flared.

In her mind’s eye, she saw arrows streaking through the air, countless in number, appearing endlessly.

Right!

She turned sharply, her blade still sheathed but fortified with [Avalon]’s protection. The incoming projectile shattered against the invisible barrier, scattering harmlessly.

The attack had been sudden and precise, aimed directly at her temple.

More arrows followed, but her [Mind’s Eye (Fake)] anticipated each one, guiding her movements to deflect them with effortless precision.

This was why Saber trusted her [Instincts] so deeply. Avalon’s restorative powers and her preternatural sense of danger allowed her to focus on her craft without fear of ambush.

Scanning the forest, she spotted her assailant among the trees—a figure drawing another arrow from their quiver.

It was the Red Faction’s Archer, clearly here to scout and disrupt her efforts. As Saber’s eyes locked onto her opponent, the archer nocked another arrow, ready for the next strike.

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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!