"So it really is the Holy Grail. Though something about this Grail feels a little off. Oh, right. It's because it doesn't contain All the World's Evil."
Caelus looked at the Command Spell that had appeared on the back of his left hand. It was the mark he had possessed after becoming a Master in the FGO timeline. However, once he left the Type-Moon Universe, the traces of his Command Spells would gradually fade.
Cyrene manifested again at this moment. After checking herself over, she discovered that she had somehow gained several strange abilities. It was as though she had inexplicably connected to the rules of the Type-Moon Universe and been granted abilities through them.
"Partner, Partner! I feel like something has changed inside me. I think I gained a Noble Phantasm!"
Hearing that, Caelus opened Cyrene's status panel and scrolled straight to the bottom, where he saw the Noble Phantasm that had suddenly appeared.
[Noble Phantasm: Ascension, The Imperfect God]
[Rank: EX]
[Type: Anti-World Noble Phantasm]
[Range: ?]
[Maximum Targets: ?]
[Noble Phantasm Effect: For a short period of time, become the Demiurge described in Timaeus, the rational creator who shapes chaotic matter into an ordered universe using eternal Forms as the model. In certain Christian heresies, the Demiurge is identified with the creator deity of the Old Testament.]
"I can really become something that powerful?"
After reading the description, which sounded impressive even if she did not fully understand it, Cyrene herself looked stunned. She could tell that she was very strong now, but was she really that powerful? Becoming a creator sounded far beyond what a Sixth Tier existence should be capable of.
"Probably not quite that powerful in practice. At its core, this is still a Noble Phantasm belonging to a Heroic Spirit Servant. It's probably some kind of special buff, or perhaps something similar to a Reality Marble, where you become an all-powerful god within that limited inner world."
"Hmm. But why would a Holy Grail from the Type-Moon Universe appear here?"
"That's something we'll have to ask the System."
The System did not remain silent. Since this question did not involve any serious spoilers about future events, it quickly gave an answer.
[I told you a long time ago that these two universes are very close to one another. Although that situation cannot continue forever, the distance between universes is not something that can be shortened so easily.]
[Because of that, the two universes may conduct a certain degree of exchange between their respective rules. One side needs rules possessed by the other, while the other side needs something in return. Through that exchange, both universes can fill gaps in their own laws or use foreign rules to continue developing.]
[That means something like a Holy Grail from the Type-Moon Universe may appear in this universe, while certain things from this universe may appear in the Type-Moon Universe. You can consider it a kind of trade. It is perfectly normal.]
"I see. So this is one of the ways universes develop?"
"Then, Partner, are you going to participate in this Holy Grail War?"
Caelus shook his head. If he participated in this Holy Grail War himself, it would amount to bullying children. Since there was no conspiracy hidden within the Grail and it posed no danger, there was no need for him to interfere. Still, there were a few old acquaintances he could meet again.
Dreamflux Reef.
Robin and her silent Servant stared blankly from the side as Artoria finished several dozen hamburgers in one sitting.
Why did it feel as though this Saber had gone without food for days?
Stelle was eating happily beside her as well. Robin was paying for the meal anyway, so why hold back? She might as well eat as much as she wanted.
Robin gave a helpless smile before explaining how her brother had suddenly left without saying goodbye and how she had no idea where he had gone. Her expression quickly became troubled again.
Sunday's note had merely explained that he was leaving. He had not said where he was going or when he would return.
Robin felt that ever since her brother had entered the Eternal Dreamscape, something about his entire demeanor seemed to have changed.
At that moment, Artoria, who had been eating her hamburger with remarkable speed despite maintaining impeccable table manners, suddenly stopped. She turned her head and saw someone slowly approaching them.
"It's been a while, Saber. Or perhaps I should say, King Arthur."
"It has indeed been a long time, Assassin."
Artoria set down the food in her hands and looked at the man before her with a complicated expression.
This Artoria did not possess memories of what had happened in the FGO timeline. What she remembered were the events of the Fourth Holy Grail War from the timeline Caelus had once participated in.
"I never expected you to participate in this Holy Grail War as well. However, as far as I know, my Master has already encountered Assassin and their Master, and that Assassin was not you. So what class were you summoned under this time?"
Artoria cautiously gripped Excalibur. Invisible Air concealed the blade, preventing ordinary people from seeing what kind of weapon she held, but Caelus knew it perfectly well.
After all, he had obtained Lancelot's memories long ago.
"Caelus?"
"Caelus!"
Artoria, who had been on guard, froze when she heard the voices behind her. She had not expected her Master and Caster's Master to know him.
Caelus nodded toward Stelle, who was waving at him, and Robin, who was staring at him in surprise, then walked directly toward them.
Seeing him approach without hesitation made Artoria tense instinctively. When they had first met, if Gilgamesh had not stopped the assassination out of consideration for his own dignity as a king, Irisviel would have been killed right in front of Artoria.
And that was without even mentioning how Kiritsugu Emiya had later been killed outright.
Her instincts told her that Kiritsugu's death had been the work of the man standing before her.
"Saber, you know Caelus?"
Seeing how tense Artoria looked, Stelle asked curiously.
"Be careful, Master. In one of the Holy Grail Wars I participated in, he was summoned as an Assassin. During that war, my Master was killed by this man."
"Huh? Are you sure he was an Assassin? Does Caelus really need assassination?"
Stelle looked completely unconvinced. Their battle with Caelus had not happened all that long ago, and the memory was still vivid in her mind. That seemingly invincible figure who had openly challenged the entire universe really needed to assassinate people?
"I had only been born not long before that. Even though I possessed considerable power, I had very little control over it at the time. The fastest way to win that Holy Grail War was to eliminate the enemy Masters, so I used assassination. Assassination is one of the most basic methods of warfare. There is nothing inherently dishonorable about it. At the very least, I never harmed innocent people."
After saying that, Caelus looked toward Robin.
"Miss Robin, your brother is currently traveling with me. We are companions now, so there is no need to worry. I will help him wherever I can."
Robin visibly let out a long breath of relief upon finally hearing news of her brother.
Afterward, everyone sat down again, while Caelus picked up a storybook and indulged in another of his favorite activities, telling stories.
He began telling them about a Holy Grail War that had taken place on a planet in another universe.
At that moment, the System could not help thinking about something.
[According to the original course of events, Robin will later fall into a trap, and inside the Dreamscape, her mind and personality will be split into several separate parts, right? If Sunday finds out about that...]
Would that overprotective brother really come rushing back and do something drastic?
(To be continued.)