"Countess Carmilla?"
Sisigou froze. For a split second, he did not recognize the name, wondering if there was a famous Heroic Spirit named Carmilla in history. But he quickly realized who she was.
While the name Carmilla alone might confuse most people, anyone familiar with the most famous Western horror stories would instantly recognize the archetype. The progenitor of vampires, Count Dracula, was a household name. And when it came to female vampires, the title of the Blood Countess was unmistakable.
Carmilla was the Blood Countess. Alongside Dracula, she had been immortalized in countless films, bringing a blood-soaked terror to the silver screen. In past eras, her name was a surefire tool parents used to frighten young girls into obedience.
This female vampire countess obsessed over abducting young, beautiful girls, bringing them back to her castle, and bathing in their blood to preserve her eternal youth.
Hearing the Black Assassin declare this name, and linking it to the iron maiden Noble Phantasm and the missing civilian girls, Sisigou instantly understood her identity and how troublesome she was.
If the Servants summoned by the others—Siegfried, Karna, Achilles, and his own Mordred—were considered heroes, then the Blood Countess Carmilla was undeniably an Anti-Hero.
The Holy Grail War is truly fascinating, Sisigou sighed internally.
Carmilla clearly noticed his shocked expression and offered a self-deprecating chuckle. Unlike the Lord of Impalement, who was falsely accused of vampirism, she had fully embraced the infamy and the power that came with it. By doing so, she accepted the bloody legends as truth; she acknowledged that she was the Blood Countess.
As long as it fulfilled her wish, she did not care how disgusting or reviled the power was.
Her gaze focused sharply on Sisigou. "I do not wish to waste my breath on you, human. The only reason I haven't killed you is that you are still useful to me."
"As you can see, your life is in my hands. As for your Servant, even though she is the strongest class, Saber, she is female. It is impossible for her to escape my Noble Phantasm. Therefore, I will give you two choices."
Carmilla raised her hand. The doors of the iron maidens surrounding Sisigou slowly creaked open, revealing their dark, blood-reeking interiors.
"First, willingly abandon your Servant, accept my blood seed, and become my Master. Second, refuse me, and have your blood drained until you die, becoming nothing more than a mana battery."
"Choose, human."
"Ugh..."
Feeling the lethal intent emanating from the iron maidens and Carmilla's emotionless stare, Sisigou hesitated. He wasn't afraid of dying, but he was definitely afraid of pain.
As a mercenary, he knew these devices were designed for maximum torture. The spikes were densely packed, but they specifically avoided vital organs. Their sole purpose was to bleed the victim dry while inflicting agonizing, endless pain.
Forming a contract with the Black Assassin was acceptable. But accepting her blood seed... he had zero desire to become a vampire.
After a few moments of rapid calculation, Sisigou spoke.
"Well, that isn't entirely impossible. I was getting tired of that brat anyway. If possible, I would much prefer a more mature Servant."
Carmilla raised a delicate eyebrow. The iron maidens beside her seemed to sense something and swayed slightly.
"However..." Sisigou continued awkwardly, pushing through the tension. "Could we skip the blood seed part? I would prefer to remain human..."
Carmilla finally scoffed. Just as Sisigou thought negotiations had broken down, she surprisingly agreed.
"Very well. I accept your request, human."
"You actually agreed?" Sisigou was caught off guard. He assumed she wanted to turn him into a vampire to prevent him from using Command Spells to control her. Her immediate agreement left him momentarily stunned.
But the Countess's next words shattered his illusions.
"Since you wish to remain human, you will sever your right arm—the one bearing the Command Spells."
Before Sisigou could react, one of the iron maidens lunged forward, snapping its jaws shut toward his arm.
"A witch to the bitter end!"
Sisigou dropped the act entirely. He threw himself into a desperate roll, dodging the iron maiden's bite. In the same fluid motion, he pulled the necrotic heart bomb from his coat and hurled it at Carmilla.
"Futile," Carmilla stated coldly. She raised her scepter, and a layer of blood-red magical energy immediately enveloped the explosive.
But the moment her attention wavered, a deafening crack echoed through the alley. The Phantom Iron Maiden holding Mordred exploded into shrapnel.
Accompanied by the roar of thunder, a cluster of crimson lightning burst from the wreckage and slashed directly toward Carmilla's slender waist.
At the same time, Mordred's furious voice shook the narrow walls.
"Master!!! What the hell did you just say!!!"
"Sigh. I knew this would happen."
Sisigou exhaled a long breath. Pulling a cigarette from his pocket, he lit it and took a drag. At this point, all he could do was smoke.
"Impossible! My Noble Phantasm... my Iron Maiden was destroyed by you?!"
Sensing the devastating power within the crimson lightning, Carmilla's expression changed drastically. She channeled all her magical energy, desperately trying to evade the strike while staring at Mordred in absolute shock.
Her Noble Phantasm carried a conceptual advantage against females! What kind of monster was this knight, to completely ignore the concept and shatter it?!
Mordred was in no mood to answer. Her mind was focused entirely on butchering this cowardly woman so she could thoroughly interrogate Sisigou about his "brat" and "immature" comments.
Mordred's sword strikes grew increasingly ferocious. She had learned her swordsmanship from Artoria, Gawain, and Lancelot; her technique was flawless. Furthermore, she had developed a unique, aggressive style perfectly suited to her personality, optimizing her physical output. In direct combat, she absolutely crushed her opponents.
Against an Assassin—a class inherently weak in close-quarters combat—the dominance was absolute. If Carmilla did not possess A-rank Agility, Mordred would have executed her within the first few exchanges.
Mordred's expression grew savage. She fully unleashed her Mana Burst (Lightning).
"Die!!!"
Without a moment of hesitation, the lightning wreathing her sword condensed into a massive hammer of energy, crashing down toward Carmilla.
Watching the descending crimson thunder, resentment and unwillingness flashed in Carmilla's amber eyes. She lacked the magical energy and the means to dodge the fatal blow.
But in that life-or-death instant, an arrow wrapped in the magical energy of the Age of Gods plummeted from a distant clock tower, striking directly toward Mordred.
Boom!
In the blink of an eye, the missile-like arrow struck the space right in front of the rebellious knight.