This Is My Holy Grail War [71]

The night was silent, tranquil, with no signs of danger. Assassin’s instincts remained quiet, signaling no threats. As she lay in a deep sleep, she felt no pain. Slowly but steadily, mana flowed back into her, filling the emptiness left by the earlier battles.

In her dreams, Assassin muttered faintly, "Rider’s [Mystic Eyes] sure came in handy." The subtle joy of victory had unconsciously spilled into her voice.

---

When she awoke, she found herself in an unfamiliar room.

The white sliding doors bore embroidered images of serene Buddha figures. Moonlight filtered through the thin paper windows, casting a pale glow over the room.

A faint scent of incense lingered in the air—a fragrance used in temples during prayers and offerings.

Is this... Ryuudou Temple?

The thought crossed her mind, but Assassin wasn’t certain.

She lay on a tatami mat, covered with a thick blanket. As she tried to sit up, she realized she couldn’t move. Silken threads imbued with magic bound her tightly, preventing her from rising.

These threads, shimmering with mana, tethered her to the room. Beneath her, a magical circle pulsed faintly, inscribed into the floor where she lay.

Despite the bindings, there was an odd warmth to her confinement. The blanket draped over her seemed unnecessary—Servants didn’t feel the cold—but it carried a strange sense of care.

Caster... why would she bother with such a gesture? For a fleeting moment, Assassin felt something foreign—comfort.

"I’m awake. Can you hear me, Caster?" she called softly, testing the link between them.

The magical contract between her and Caster was shallow, providing only mana. Assassin wasn’t sure if the bond would allow communication, but she decided to try anyway.

Suddenly, a loud thud broke the silence as the door to the adjacent room slid open.

"You’re awake!" Caster’s voice rang out, laced with excitement.

Startled, Assassin turned her head as Caster stepped into view, her expression brimming with enthusiasm.

She’s happy because she gained a new Servant, isn’t she? Assassin thought wryly.

Was it the contract link that alerted her, or did she hear me directly? Assassin couldn’t be sure.

"Leaving a guest unattended is rude, I admit," Caster began, her tone light and teasing. "But for safety’s sake, I had to ask: will the Saber who stole Rider’s [Mystic Eyes] join my cause?"

Assassin smirked faintly, her gaze fixed on the unfamiliar ceiling. "You’re both hopeful and wary, aren’t you? You want me on your side but fear the risks of trusting a Servant who can so easily betray their Master."

"Ah, you’ve seen right through me," Caster admitted with a chuckle. "How did you guess?"

"Your Noble Phantasm gave away your true name. Once I understood that, the rest was obvious," Assassin explained.

"Impressive," Caster replied, intrigued. "Not only can you change your appearance at will, but you’re also perceptive enough to identify the nature of other Servants. So, what will you do? Someone as loyal as you wouldn’t submit so easily, would you?"

"My loyalty lies with my Master," Assassin replied firmly. "She is the source of my mana. If I want victory, I must protect her."

"Victory is all you seek?"

"Yes," Assassin affirmed without hesitation.

Caster leaned closer, her gaze softening as a faint blush crept across her face. "Golden hair, a petite frame... just my type. That lost yet resolute look in your eyes—it’s absolutely adorable."

"But tell me, what are you really after?" she asked, sitting down beside Assassin, her tone suddenly conversational. "Don’t give me this ‘only victory’ nonsense. What is your true wish?"

"I just want to survive," Assassin answered without pause. "I don’t want to die. That’s all."

Caster’s expression shifted, her teasing tone replaced by genuine curiosity. "So, you’d betray your Master for that? Without a second thought?"

"Betrayal... is a burden I know all too well," Assassin said with a weary sigh. "I’ll fight for whoever my Master is, but if they abandon victory, they’ve betrayed me first."

"I see," Caster mused, her smile returning. "Very well, I’ll ensure you remain in this world even after the Holy Grail War ends. And rest assured, I have no intention of abandoning victory."

"Good," Assassin replied simply, a faint urge to thank Caster rising within her. But the words remained unspoken.

"Time to get up," Caster said with a playful wave, dispelling the threads binding Assassin. "To be honest, I thought it’d take a lot more effort to make you submit. With a Servant’s body, resistance is futile, but I didn’t expect it to be this easy."

"I had no reason to resist," Assassin answered as she sat up. "I’m just an anonymous Servant. All I want is victory."

"An anonymous Servant? What’s your true form?" Caster asked curiously.

"As you see—a faceless Assassin borrowing the appearances of others," Assassin replied, her body shifting into a dark shadow before reverting to her original state.

"Fascinating... and peculiar," Caster murmured, her brows furrowing. "Your spirit core is pure, but there’s something... strange mixed in. It’s an intricacy even I can’t fully unravel. If my teacher, Hecate, were here, she’d stop at nothing to uncover its secrets."

"I know I’m... different," Assassin admitted quietly.

"Return to Saber’s appearance," Caster instructed. "I like that one."

"No problem," Assassin said, transforming seamlessly.

"I won’t restrict your movements, but don’t leave the temple grounds. Otherwise, I’ll cut off your mana," Caster warned, her tone soft but firm. "I have business to attend to, so don’t get into trouble. Or I’ll be very cross."

She reached out and gently ruffled Assassin’s hair.

"I understand," Assassin replied.

---

T/N: IT WSHOULDVBE BEEN ME I WANT TO RUFFLE HER HAIRRRR

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!