Ludwig sat on a bench just behind and to the side of Tokiomi, across the aisle. All the older man had to do was turn his head to see the youth.
There was no hostility, nor any sign of ill intent. The boy simply sat there, staring blankly into space, just as any other person his age might do.
However, having seen Ludwig in person today and exchanged a few words with him, Tokiomi felt a palpable sense of detachment radiating from him. As a magus, Tokiomi was hardly in a position to judge others for being "inhuman," yet the boy's aura was fundamentally different from that of a magus.
Speculating whether he was a Dead Apostle had become pointless. The youth possessed none of the characteristics of the undead, save for that name of uncertain veracity.
"Come to think of it, Ludwig-kun... you didn't kill me or Lord El-Melloi," Tokiomi remarked, tilting his head slightly to address the boy.
Ludwig, who had been looking down at data on his terminal, raised his eyes. "Was there any necessity to kill you? You were rendered incapable of combat in a single strike."
"..." Tokiomi was left speechless.
He realized the question was indeed meritless. Kirei had died because he chose to strike even after the boy had given his warning. Kiritsugu Emiya had likely met his end for the same reason.
With that, further conversation ceased. The light filtering through the chapel windows grew dim as time ticked away, eventually staining the room with the amber hues of dusk.
The doors to the inner chambers opened, and Artoria stepped out alone, nodding toward Ludwig.
"Finished talking?"
"In truth, there wasn't much to say. I was simply worried about her condition and wanted to stay with her a bit longer," Artoria said, shaking her head. "Likely, once the victor of the Holy Grail War is decided, she will lose her human form entirely and become the vessel for the Grail."
Artoria looked pained as she spoke. From the moment Irisviel stepped into this war, her life was destined to end alongside it, regardless of who emerged victorious.
Thinking of this, and then of her own contract with the Counter Force—the chance she had been given to pursue a miracle—Artoria couldn't help but begin to doubt the righteousness of her path.
To save a dying era, she had to stain her hands with even more blood. And even after that, she would continue to shed more blood than she ever had in life just to repay the cost of that miracle.
"Then let's head out. We wouldn't want Rider to be unable to find us to start the final battle," Ludwig said, standing up and heading for the exit. As he reached the door, he turned back to Tokiomi. "Certain aspects of this Holy Grail War are, in my view, quite regrettable."
"Regardless of whether it was myself or Kirei... we were prepared for this the moment we stepped onto this battlefield," Tokiomi said in a low voice. "I simply didn't expect that I, the teacher, would be the one to survive."
His voice was heavy, laced with an apology to the dead.
Ludwig offered no comment. He pushed open the door and stepped out of the church with Artoria.
"I apologize for making you wait," Artoria said.
"It's fine. We were just killing time anyway; it doesn't matter how we spent it," Ludwig replied, shaking his head. "Though, you seem a bit... less than firm in your resolve?"
"Perhaps." Artoria looked down at her hands. "I only hope that after this is over, I will not come to regret seeking the miracle of the Holy Grail."
She spoke while tightening her fist.
"That's good enough," Ludwig said. He wasn't one to interfere with another's will. "Is your magical energy and general condition alright?"
"Uh..." At the mention of magical energy, the tips of Artoria's ears flushed red.
Even if it hadn't been her original intent, the experience hadn't been terrible; in fact, one might even call it beautiful. If she were allowed to linger in that feeling any longer, she feared she might lose herself to it entirely—much like those foolish kings of old who succumbed to wine and lust.
"Rider is here," Ludwig said in a calm tone, his eyes fixed on the grassy slope outside the church rather than on her.
The lingering traces of intimacy in Artoria's mind vanished instantly. She returned to her usual composed self and looked toward the lawn.
Rider, Iskandar, stood in full battle regalia next to his ox-cart. His Master remained seated within the vessel.
"He looks prepared for battle, yet not quite?" Artoria's hand, which had just gripped her sword, slowly relaxed.
Ludwig watched the pair in silence, contemplating whether to strike immediately.
"Hey! Saber! And her Master! As the final opponents of this Holy Grail War, how about coming over for a chat!" The King of Conquerors laughed boisterously, waving a wine bottle and cups. "I went through the trouble of preparing drinks, after all."
"Let's see what he's up to, then."
With those words, Ludwig led Artoria forward, stopping just a few meters from Iskandar.
"What are your intentions? Having watched last night's battle and realized the gap in our strength, are you planning to surrender?" Ludwig asked.
"I am perfectly willing to accept a surrender. If you stand down now, I can accept your fealty, King of Conquerors," Artoria added with a touch of light irony.
Iskandar rubbed his nose with a finger, looking smug. "No, no, no, I'm not surrendering. If anything, after seeing last night's battle, I want to recruit you into my ranks even more! With warriors like you joining me, the hegemony of world conquest would surely be much smoother."
"...You still refuse to give up?" Artoria sighed.
"But that's just talk for now. Currently, only two Servants remain in this Holy Grail War. This war is a ritual to select the one most fit to obtain the Grail. Rather than drawing swords and fighting to the death the moment we meet, we should at least talk a bit more." Iskandar opened the bottle, poured wine into two cups, and offered one to Artoria.
But before she could reach for it, Ludwig took the cup. He took a small sip, waited a few seconds, and then handed it to her.
"It's not poisoned."
"...You are being overly cautious," Artoria said, shaking her head slightly.
Whether it was out of a man's concern for a woman or a Master's concern for his Servant, this youth was remarkably protective.
"Hahaha! If I really had poisoned the wine, wouldn't you have been the first to go down by drinking it?" Iskandar laughed loudly. "My apologies for the lack of consideration. I assumed someone younger than my own little brat wouldn't be a drinker."
"To put it bluntly, in my eyes, you're all primitive people," Ludwig said with a wry smirk. "The poisons of primitives don't work on me."
"It is a shame, though. I had intended to invite that 'Golden' fellow as well, but unfortunately, he made his 'glorious' exit yesterday," Iskandar remarked. "That was truly one hell of a chaotic battle."
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Type-Moon: The A-Ray Knight's Holy Grail Journey(98 Chapter - Ongoing)
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