This Is My Holy Grail War [121]

The small town looked like it might have had better days. Saber couldn’t say how it used to be, but now she could feel its desolation.

Streetlights flickered along the sidewalks, as if on the verge of going out. Though twilight had only just fallen, the town already felt like it had been plunged into the dead of night. The streets were empty—every resident holed up in their homes, afraid of the killer stalking the town.

Not only was there no one in sight, but even the lights in the houses had been extinguished early, leaving the place an eerily vacant ghost town.

Saber patrolled southward, her sharp gaze sweeping across the lifeless streets. She resembled a sentinel of the city, venturing out at night to eliminate any threats that lurked in the shadows.

Walking slowly down the desolate streets, she was both searching for the enemy Saber and presenting herself as bait to lure out Assassin.

Her footsteps echoed lightly as she passed by the stone-brick houses. Running a gloved hand over a wall, she felt the texture of time. The nearby homes, which framed the neighborhood, appeared to be aged. While the exteriors could be repainted, the wooden beams inside had long since begun to decay.

As Saber scouted for foes, she also mapped the terrain in her mind. The eerie stillness around her sent a faint prickle of unease through her senses.

Archer, are you sure Assassin and the Saber of Red are here? Saber asked. She lacked the ability to detect enemies on her own and could only wait for them to take the bait. The exposure made her uncomfortable, even if her instincts offered constant reassurance.

I’m certain, Archer’s voice resonated in her mind.

Unlike the connection between a Master and their Servant, Saber had unlocked the secrets of [High-Speed Divine Words], fully embracing her latent magical potential. She no longer needed to take the form of Medea to manipulate mana; she could now command it directly, albeit less effortlessly than in her Caster form. Nevertheless, magic was now a tool at her disposal in any state.

Currently, Saber was using magic to communicate with Chiron, bypassing any distance between them. Speaking aloud would have been pointless—Chiron’s [Clairvoyance] didn’t include superhuman hearing.

This town feels like a graveyard, Saber complained. How long must I keep myself exposed like this?

Not much longer. To Assassin, you’re likely an irresistible prize, Archer replied, though Saber detected uncertainty in his tone. Though Jack the Ripper might find Servants dangerous prey, it’s not impossible she’d take the risk.

Honestly, I think Gordes would make a much better decoy, Saber grumbled. He’s brimming with mana and wouldn’t scare off Assassin.

The two non-Caster “magicians” continued their magical exchange, oblivious to outsiders.

Saber’s hunt brought her to the deepest part of the residential district—a pitch-black alleyway in the heart of the town.

Though unfamiliar with the area, Saber instinctively found herself drawn to the most dangerous place. Her nerves were taut, constantly on alert for the assassin’s strike.

Her combination of [Instinct] and [Mind’s Eye (Fake)] granted her an unassailable edge, ensuring no ambush could succeed. It was this certainty that had convinced her to agree to act as the vanguard; Saber wanted to claim this victory with her own hands.

The faint rustle of her armor’s mana coating accompanied her measured steps into the darkness. The instant she entered the alley, she felt another’s mana surge—a blatant declaration of presence heading straight for her! Saber immediately understood: this wasn’t Assassin. It was the Saber of Red.

The two opposing Sabers unleashed their mana in response, like magnets of opposite polarity drawing closer with every moment. When they finally came face-to-face, Saber saw her opponent clearly.

Clad in heavy armor that completely concealed her face, the enemy Saber was an imposing figure. But Saber already knew what lay beneath the helm; she’d seen the intelligence reports. The face beneath that mask resembled her own—Artoria’s face.

I’ve located the enemy Saber, Saber transmitted to Archer through their magical link. She’s right in front of me.

Understood. Your location is difficult to support. If possible, lure her to an open area, Archer replied quickly. His tone, calm in conversation, turned sharp in combat.

Understood.

“You’re…” The sentence died on Saber’s lips as her opponent cut her off with an animalistic roar.

Saber had thought herself ruthless, harboring murderous intent toward every Servant. But this one was different—a beast, reckless and consumed by bloodlust, like a demon emerging from the depths of hell.

“Arthur!”

The voice, raw and guttural, carried an unmistakable hatred. Though Saber couldn’t see the enemy’s face beneath the helm, the feral cry conveyed a deep obsession.

This Servant knew Artoria! There was no mistaking it—the knight’s rage stemmed from her recognition of Saber’s identity.

Saber of Red, enraged by Artoria’s presence, erupted with scarlet mana, fierce and unnatural. The energy lashed out like bloodstained lightning, crackling through the air.

The silver greatsword in the enemy Saber’s hands ignited with a fiery glow as mana coalesced around it.

The overwhelming energy was wild and uncontrolled—a raw outpouring of mana that shocked even Saber. She had never seen such reckless abandon in her own [Mana Burst].

“AAAAHHHH!”

With a primal scream, the red Saber charged like a maddened bull. Saber drew [Durandal], raising it defensively. Her blade shone with the blue mana that marked the King of Knights, clashing headlong with the crimson lightning of her opponent.

The two energies collided with a thunderous burst, distorting the air itself. It wasn’t the clear ring of metal clashing with metal, but a warped, electronic screech—a mechanical cacophony that reverberated through the empty town.

[Durandal]’s slender blade held firm against the massive greatsword, its unbreakable nature withstanding the ferocious assault without a scratch.

“It’s you! It’s really you! This mana… I’m certain of it!” The red Saber’s words grew more frenzied, her anger spiraling as she continued her relentless assault.

“Who are you?!” Saber asked, probing for her opponent’s true name. Revealing such information could expose vulnerabilities.

The Saber of Red paused briefly, her wild expression tinged with a flicker of loss. “You don’t remember me?” Her blade wavered for a split second before she erupted into greater fury.

“So… even after I destroyed your kingdom and drove my blade through your body, you can’t remember my name!”

Her rage boiled over as she roared, “I’ll make sure you never forget me, Father!”

Saber’s mind raced. A knight of the Round Table, one who had betrayed Artoria, who had fatally wounded her during the Battle of Camlann. There was only one answer.

“Mordred…” Saber muttered. “The treacherous knight who killed King Arthur.”

“Yes! Yes!” Mordred roared. “Hate me! Despise me! I’ve buried your precious kingdom and obliterated everything you held dear!”

Her voice cracked as the last thread of her composure snapped. Her sword, once a gleaming silver, darkened as her malice tainted it, transforming it into a weapon of malevolent black.

With another clash of blades, Saber struggled to hold her ground. Mordred’s fury had grown overwhelming, forcing Saber to consider a tactical retreat to the open square where Archer could intervene.

But as she began to reposition, a dense fog suddenly rolled in, obscuring her vision entirely. Mordred’s silhouette dissolved into the haze, leaving only her furious roars behind.

“Don’t you dare separate me from the King, you coward hiding in the shadows!”

—

T/N: lmao imagine your father asking who the frig you are

This is a fan translation of 这是我的圣杯之战 by 向希望祈祷. All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!