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[CG Recorded]
[Fastest Bride: Atalanta]
[Category: Myth]
[Rank: —]
[Quality: —]
———
[Reward List]
[Aesthetic of Pursuit D]
[A skill that allows you to strike later but gain the upper hand. Rank D means that in most situations it can be guaranteed to work, but it cannot overturn an event when there is absolutely no chance of success.]
[Note: Additional Effect]
The right to propose to Atalanta, but because it was not a formal competition and no oath was sworn before the gods, it has no binding force.]
[If you fail, you will incur Atalanta's disgust... rather, the moment you open your mouth to propose, that outcome is already decided.]
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Myth CG, another new category.
Iori had unlocked some strange CGs before and knew this illustrated book system still had some potential waiting to be explored, so he was not too surprised.
Judging from the related information, this type is different from Bond, Plot, and Art Style, and it is harder to unlock.
[After completing an adventure or trial from myth, you will receive the corresponding blessing, skill, or weapon, and randomly obtain Art Style points.]
The prerequisite condition is very strict. It must have a very deep connection with the original myth, and you even have to come into contact with the character themselves to achieve it.
For example, if you want to achieve "Siegfried slays the evil dragon," you must truly kill the dragon Fafnir from the myth, not just casually pick a random wyvern and kill it to try to claim credit for the legendary hero's deed.
Even if both are called "dragon slaying," there is a clear difference in status.
Fortunately, it does not require the "original version" of the myth. It seems that as long as it matches the main characteristics, even if there are some differences, it is still acceptable.
For example, in the Type-Moon worldview, Heroic Spirits are heavily modified, but the corresponding CG can still be triggered.
The story of "Atalanta and the Golden Apple" naturally does not need much explanation. It is nothing more than that infamous troublemaker Aphrodite harming someone once again…
Iori first used the Rhine Gold in place of the Golden Apple, making use of its "drawing attention" effect from the story, then seized Atalanta in one move and defeated her.
In every aspect, he had achieved and even surpassed the original myth's accomplishment, so obtaining the Myth CG was only natural.
If this were ancient Greece, Iori could now call himself Atalanta's lawful husband!
Unfortunately, this is a Holy Grail War. The summoned Servants are only reflections of Heroic Spirits. They inherit their weaknesses from when they were alive, but they do not need to pay the price for oaths that were already fulfilled.
As for Iori himself, he is not like Hippomenes in the original myth. If it were him, if he liked a woman, he would openly pursue her, not seek help from the ill-tempered goddess of beauty.
Besides, Atalanta originally used the race to reject her suitors in order to avoid marriage. She was a follower of the moon goddess and had sworn to remain pure and unmarried for life.
The Rhine Gold trap was only a tactic. Iori would not use it to threaten Archer. That would be too despicable.
"Hey! Did you hear me? Hurry up and finish the battle. Kill me!"
Seeing that Iori remained silent for a long time, a bad feeling rose in Atalanta's heart, and she struggled again. "This humiliating posture is worse than death… What are you waiting for? Do it!"
"Don't be so impatient, Atalanta of Arcadia."
Iori came back to his senses, wearing a harmless smile. "Please forgive my rudeness, but if I hadn't done this, I wouldn't have been able to catch the fastest huntress in the world."
He emphasized the word "huntress," making Atalanta bristle with anger like a cat whose fur stood on end.
"Are you mocking me? Just because I'm a woman!"
"No. On the contrary, it is precisely because I respect you that I must use every dirty method possible. Only then can I say I gave it my all... isn't that right?"
"..."
The huntress's momentum faltered. Her breathing steadied a bit. After staring at Iori for a long time and realizing he was not mocking or teasing her, she gradually calmed down.
"Enough nonsense… A loss is a loss. But as a Servant, I will never surrender, nor will I betray my Master. Whether it is information or anything else, do not even think about getting it from me."
"Kill me. Your only gain will be eliminating the enemy camp's Archer before the war officially begins!"
"Hehe~"
"What are you laughing at?" Atalanta frowned tightly. "I hate people who act pretentious!"
"I don't need you to like me."
Iori curled his lips, then looked at the huntress with amusement. "I'm just surprised that you cannot even tell friend from foe... we are in the same camp, Archer."
"…Eh?"
"I am the Red side's Berserker. This is my Master, Sella von Einzbern."
"The Red Berserker…"
Tama's mind went blank for a moment, but she quickly reacted and realized there was something more to this.
"The same camp… Then your conflict with the priest is a personal matter? Does it have anything to do with my Master?"
She was clearly confused. Even if they were going to fight over ownership of the Holy Grail, that should happen after winning the faction war. Starting internal competition now was far too early.
"It has nothing to do with your Master."
Iori let out a light scoff. "I would like to ask you instead... have you ever truly received a command directly from your Master? Or were all orders conveyed through the priest?"
"..."
Atalanta's expression gradually became serious. She had already sensed there was meaning behind Iori's words.
"Are you saying… my Master has been sidelined? That he has lost the right to make decisions?"
"No. It is worse than that... your Master has long since become the priest's puppet."
Iori waved his hand. The Bakudo binding Atalanta instantly scattered into countless spirit particles. Even with one injured leg, the agile Archer landed lightly on the ground and assumed a guarded stance.
She did not immediately flee or attack, which proved she understood Iori's meaning, though she could not yet confirm it.
"The magical energy channel is being maintained normally. Although I have not directly communicated with my Master, a Servant can vaguely sense their Master's condition… There is nothing abnormal."
"Have you seen the priest's Servant?"
Iori calmly explained, "You participated in the quest for the Golden Fleece. You should easily see how dangerous that woman is, right?"
Atalanta fell silent, because Iori had struck the key point.
As a member of the legendary Argo, Atalanta's experience was extensive. From the greatest hero of Greece to rare witches of the world, she had formed bonds with many famous heroes and naturally had the ability to judge good and evil.
The Red Assassin… was absolutely a once in a millennium wicked woman, a witch. There was no doubt about it.
"I don't know if you are aware that her true name is Semiramis, the oldest poisoner, the child of a god and a human, possessing means worthy of toppling a nation."
"For her, secretly manipulating and controlling a few human magi is nothing at all. The magi themselves might not even realize they have become the witch's toys."
Iori smiled faintly. "Everything I just said is true."
"…It is hard to believe." Atalanta narrowed her eyes, still not lowering her guard.
"There are too many things in this matter that do not make sense."
"I think the truth is quite clear~"
"Even if that witch can control my Master, it can only be a temporary measure. It cannot be maintained forever."
"But if the priest seizes the Command Seals and the position of Master, he would have to bear the magical energy consumption of multiple Servants at once…"
"Not to mention that such methods would not win over the Servants, the additional magical burden alone is not something a human can withstand!"
"Hmm! Very reasonable." Iori nodded.
"Moreover, once exposed, the priest's actions would inevitably attract hostility from the other Masters..."
"That is why he must control all the Masters." Iori interrupted her. "As long as he becomes the Master of all the Servants, he can represent the entire Red faction."
"…That is impossible!" Atalanta instinctively denied the possibility. "A mere human!"
"Do not underestimate the humans of this era, Atalanta."
"But how could it be possible? Even if he could bear such exaggerated magical consumption, how could he ensure he could subdue all the Servants? And fight against all the Black Masters alone?"
"Compared to that priest's wish, those are minor matters. In terms of difficulty, they are not worth mentioning."
Iori smiled and shook his head. "Whether you believe it or not, I am only giving you a warning for now."
"…What do you want from me?"
Atalanta tightened her grip on her longbow. "To join hands against that priest?"
"You must have many doubts right now. You cannot trust the priest, and you cannot trust me either, so I will not force you to make a choice now."
"Besides, Servants are bound by Command Seals. If you conflict with the priest now, you might turn into a Lancer at any moment."
"Lancer?" Atalanta did not quite understand.
"The common knowledge the Holy Grail gives is full of useless things, yet it does not mention truly valuable information at all~"
Iori could not help but curl his mouth, but his expression control was excellent, and he quickly returned to a faint smile.
"In short, you are being threatened by Command Seals and cannot resist your Master for now... strictly speaking, the priest who controls your Master."
"I cannot fully believe what you say. But if you were lying, there would be no need to fabricate such an outrageous story."
"And you indeed could have killed me… I will investigate myself. If it is true, I will certainly not obey such a despicable person. Even if I am ordered to commit suicide, so be it."
Atalanta's gaze was firm. She was a person of faith, pure and strong in spirit. As a hero, she would never betray her Master. But if she had been deceived and used in this way, that was a different matter.
"That will not do!"
Iori rejected her statement. "You have finally obtained a second life. It would be too wasteful to give it up like that."
"Hmm?!" Atalanta raised her head in shock, looking at Iori with confusion.
"Command Seals are only three forced orders. They cannot control a Servant's thoughts. In past Holy Grail Wars, there have been countless cases of misfortune due to poor compatibility between Master and Servant."
"Today I will spare your life and give you the chance to investigate the truth and save your own Master. But if one day I need a small favor from you… I hope you will remember this debt."
After saying that, Iori added, "After all, this is a confrontation between two major factions. I cannot win alone. I need a few more allies."
What a strange guy… He thinks more like a Master than a Servant.
Atalanta looked at him deeply with interest. "If what you say is true, then that is only natural."
"Oh, right, let me remind you of one thing: do not be deceived by the priest."
"I am not some fragile human."
"But sometimes words are more powerful than poison."
Iori said seriously, "That man always likes to tempt others with sweet talk and uses different rhetoric depending on the target. The purer someone is, the easier they are to deceive."
"For example, he participates in the Holy Grail War for personal ambition, yet publicly claims his wish is to 'save all humanity'... does that not sound very convincing?"
For a religious person to deceive others with such slogans was nothing unusual. Atalanta's face remained calm.
"But in reality, it is shameless theft!"
Iori pointed at his own Master. "That wish was stolen from my Master!"
"Ah?"
Sella, standing to the side, had already gone numb. Since earlier, Iori had been saying things she completely did not understand.
The amount of information was so overwhelming that even her intelligent homunculus mind could not keep up. Being suddenly mentioned made the silver haired girl snap back to attention.
"Sella, what is the Einzbern family's long cherished wish?"
"…To…to save all humanity…" The silver haired girl's voice grew softer and softer. It was something natural to her, yet for some reason she now felt a strange sense of embarrassment.
"Do not be shy. Say it louder!" Iori encouraged her. "How can you obtain the Holy Grail if you speak so softly?"
"Complete the Third Magic! Save all humanity!"
"Good, very spirited!"
Iori patted the blushing Sella on the shoulder. "Shirou Kotomine is just a Faker. The Einzberns have been thinking about saving the world for hundreds of years!"
"Right, Sella?"
The boy shook his Master's shoulders.
"Mm… yes…"
"What kind of ridiculous performance is this..."
"Complete the Third Magic, let all humanity stay away from suffering, conflict, disease, and death, let every child grow up happily surrounded by love."
Iori suddenly put away his smile and calmly and seriously looked straight into the huntress's slightly trembling green eyes.
"Wouldn't such a world be beautiful, Atalanta?"
———
"You really did promise a very beautiful future."
Watching Atalanta retreat in spirit form, Sella turned to look at Iori. She temporarily suppressed her many doubts and picked the most important question.
"How were you so sure that those words would move Archer?"
"Do not underestimate my intelligence network."