After cutting the connection with the Counter Force—
Baiye met two searching gazes and spoke.
"Our earlier suspicion was right. This Grail War starting early was the Counter Force pushing from behind the scenes.
"However, Kama's presence and the Goddess Rhongomyniad's appearance were not within the Counter Force's expectations.
"As for why they did it…"
He paused, then said plainly, "Their action is related to me to a certain degree. But what, exactly, that relationship is—I'm not at liberty to disclose."
"No problem."
Scáthach understood at once. "Everyone has one or two secrets they won't reveal even to the closest person. And we've only known each other a few days."
"Precisely."
Morgan smiled and nodded.
"If you can accept that, all the better."
Baiye continued. "Now, here's the trade I reached with them.
"In the Counter Force's plan, the Fuyuki Grail ritual must be erased—or at least dismantled to the point no one can recreate it.
"If we do that work for them, they'll grant me three slots—three fully legal permits, recognized by the Counter Force, that allow three chosen Servants to remain in the present world.
"Interested?"
"Three slots?"
Morgan tilted her chin slightly, glancing through the wall toward Sakura's room. "Are those two insane?"
"You mean her…"
Baiye looked the same way. "I think the Counter Force's attitude toward her is more like: she's hard to handle anyway, so they'll just leave it for now.
"Besides, them granting me three slots doesn't mean we must use them on the three Servants currently present.
"Setting aside that the war is still ongoing… even after it ends, don't tell me that after researching the boundary record this long, you can't summon new Servants without the Grail."
"Fair."
Morgan nodded. "Then I'll thank you in advance for my slot, Master… the era differs from my memory, but there are still things worth watching."
"I won't take one."
Scáthach shook her head. "This outing was simply a whim. The present world doesn't attract me."
"Your choice."
Baiye accepted it, took sleeping Sakura from Morgan, and carried her upstairs.
Watching him disappear at the stair corner, Morgan looked to Scáthach.
"Really not staying?"
"A mere avatar."
Scáthach replied. "Staying would be meaningless. But you… you truly plan to remain in this era?"
"It's not a bad era."
Morgan laughed softly and headed for the study.
…
Over the next two days and three nights, aside from one incident—
The famous Tohsaka estate "suffered a gas leak," which somehow created a gas explosion suspiciously similar to the harbor blast from days ago, turning the entire mansion into rubble—
Fuyuki was eerily quiet.
While locals gossiped about the Tohsaka family's misfortune, inside a room at the Matou residence:
A silver-haired woman held a heart in one hand, and tapped a finger against the chest of a figure lying flat on the table with her other.
Like force-starting a machine.
"…Mm. Is it done already?"
Eyes opening, taking a few seconds to push through the blank haze, Irisviel turned her head toward the beating heart in Morgan's hand.
"Is it finished?"
"It's done—just as smoothly as I expected."
Morgan nodded. "Get dressed and come out. No need to keep them worrying."
"Okay."
A faint blush rose on Irisviel's face as she hurriedly sat up and grabbed the folded clothes nearby.
Even though they were both women—and Morgan was, functionally, her surgeon—being naked still embarrassed her.
Once dressed, Irisviel performed a formal bow—an ancient rite she'd learned from the Goddess Rhongomyniad two days ago, once used in Britannia fifteen centuries prior only when facing someone who had granted you a second life—then stepped lightly toward the door.
"How do you feel?"
The Goddess Rhongomyniad asked, despite having already sensed Irisviel's condition through their contract.
"Wonderful!"
Irisviel eagerly shared her feelings with everyone waiting.
"I can feel my heart beating so much more strongly! And I thought replacing my heart would lower my magecraft performance, but actually—my mana circulation feels faster than before!"
"Feeling 'stronger' is just perception," Morgan said, already sealing the removed heart in a jar. "The replacement is identical to the original.
"As for magecraft… at least eighty percent of your circuits were previously feeding that heart. With that burden gone, of course everything feels lighter."
"So you won't need much adjustment?"
Baiye asked.
"Yes!"
Irisviel nodded hard. "If necessary, I can fight as a Master right now!"
"Then we'll set the decisive battle for tonight."
Baiye announced to the group. "Last night Iskandar and Diarmuid already did what they could to hype things up against Gilgamesh. They've heated the stage as much as they're capable of.
"Tonight, we invite every participant—and end this Grail War."
He looked at Sakura.
"Will you go meet him, then? As a Master."
"…"
Sakura pressed her lips together, then nodded.
"Where will you hold it?"
Irisviel asked.
"Here."
Baiye snapped his fingers; Rune symbols formed a map of Fuyuki.
His finger landed on a mountain west of Miyama-chō.
"Mount Enzō—Ryūdō Temple."
He smiled.
"Right above the Greater Grail."
....
My Patreon : patreon/RuneA
If you want to read the novel in advance, you can subscribe for early access. I also have many more novels in my collection that you might be interested in
I upload ten novels a day, with 3 to 4 chapters per title depending on the length. If you're following a particular series, please wait your turn a little
If there's a particular novel you're enjoying on Patron, please give it a 'like' so I know to focus on it