Simultaneous with the knocking was a familiar greeting.
"Uncle, may I disturb you for a moment?"
"Fiore? Come in."
The young girl who entered was as graceful as ever, but there was a look of confusion on her face.
"Did something happen?" Darnic asked.
"I just received a message from our clan member. Red Saber and her Master, Shishigou Kairi, have appeared in Sighișoara."
"Retreating due to being at a disadvantage—a rational judgment," Darnic remarked without surprise.
"But there are other Servants in Sighișoara now, and their identities are unknown."
"Other Red faction Servants?" Darnic exchanged a glance with Vlad III.
"Additionally, Ruler spent about two hours there this morning. I feel there is something off there and wanted to hear your and the Count's opinions."
"It is indeed unusual," Darnic said thoughtfully, looking at the six red pieces before him. "And it also presents an opportunity."
"Yes, whether it's a coincidence or something else, it shouldn't be missed," Vlad III picked up the piece representing Red Saber. "However, the castle's defenses must not be neglected. I believe we should send Servants suited for reconnaissance."
"Servants suited for reconnaissance..." Darnic quickly understood Vlad III's meaning, "Archer and Assassin."
Archer possessed Clairvoyance, and Assassin had Presence Concealment. Both had the keen eyesight and judgment necessary for reconnaissance missions.
"Fiore, take your Servant and go to Sighișoara immediately with Caules. Ensure your safety first, investigate what is happening second, and if the opportunity arises, attempt to eliminate enemy Servants."
"This..."
Hearing Darnic's order, Fiore seemed hesitant.
"Is there a problem?"
"No, nothing," Fiore shook her head, knowing this was no time for personal issues. "I will depart as soon as possible."
After Fiore left the room, Darnic continued his game with Vlad III.
Minor unexpected incidents like this would not shake Darnic's resolve. He had decided to betray the Mage's Association, staking his life on it, and was well-prepared for obstacles of this nature.
Naturally, Darnic had considered the possibility of defeat in the war and the annihilation of his clan. But what of it? For so many years, his clan had not even been given the opportunity to reach the Root, only to gradually fall into decline in obscurity—this was something Darnic would never forget.
Now that his clan had finally obtained an opportunity, even this much was a stroke of unexpected luck. And, of course, Darnic had no intention of losing.
...
Elsewhere, Fiore returned to her room and took out a black suitcase from her storage cabinet. Inside was her trump card, a connection-enhanced Mystic Code she had conceived, designed, and created herself.
Sighișoara did not have the tight defenses of Millennia Castle. There, both Masters and Servants could encounter danger, so she needed to be fully prepared. If necessary, she would also have to fight.
After completing her preparations, Fiore activated her magical communication and conveyed Darnic's orders to her brother Caules and his Servant, Chiron.
As soon as he received the communication, Caules immediately turned off his computer and took out various weapons from his drawer. Unlike his sister, Caules' weapons were diverse: magical tools storing low-level evil spirits and beast spirits, bracelets inscribed with the names of beasts, and black insect eggs rolled into a ball.
Fully aware that his magical prowess was not high, Caules never blindly pursued lethal power. From the beginning, he positioned himself in a support role. His combat style was not to kill enemies but to create chaos, giving his sister opportunities. His combat ability was undoubtedly the weakest among the Yggdmillennia, but when working with Fiore, even a powerful magus like Darnic would not dare to ignore his presence.
...
Meanwhile, Shinji and Chiron stopped their special training. Chiron wore a puzzled expression, not knowing the reason, while Shinji's eyes flickered with thought.
Twisting and turning, yet returned to the same place. But Jack didn't cause a big news scandal by recreating "Jack the Ripper" due to insufficient mana. How did Shishigou manage to get to Sighișoara? If Mordred encounters Artoria, that scene... tsk tsk—
No, this might be an opportunity. The parties of both Red and Black are all gathered. I didn't expect this, and neither did Darnic nor Amakusa Shirou. Good, the murkier the waters, the easier it is to fish. Let's see who will have the last laugh.
◇◇◇
As it was not yet dark and therefore unsuitable for activities related to mystery, the restless Mordred decided to wander around the streets.
Fortunately, the city of Sighișoara still preserved many buildings with hundreds of years of history, making it one of Romania's tourist attractions. It shouldn't be easy to get bored—Shishigou Kairi thought.
However, reality was quite the opposite. It wasn't long before Mordred was bored.
"I thought I could go sightseeing, but there's no skyscrapers, no amusement parks, nothing. Has it been a thousand years since my time?"
"Ah, because the selling point here is the medieval streetscape."
It wasn't until Shishigou said this that he realized—the avant-garde-dressed girl beside him was a Servant, someone who lived in ancient times. This streetscape meant nothing to her and had no novelty, just like how modern people are tired of bustling cities.
"Damn it, I had such high expectations. What a waste," the pouting girl angrily stuffed a pastry into her mouth. This was a freshly baked treat she had bought from the shopping street earlier. She had bought an entire batch, making the tourists behind her wait longer.
Seeing the now empty packaging bag, Shishigou scratched his head helplessly. "Come to think of it, you sure can eat."
"Eating is my hobby! After all, I've finally got a body."
Mordred emptied the remaining pastries from the packaging bag into her mouth and then crumpled the bag into a ball.
"But, hobbies are just hobbies. I can't solve my problems without causing a big ruckus."
Solve what? Of course, the rising urge to battle.
For some reason, ever since stepping into this city, Mordred's desire to fight had inexplicably surged and grown more intense over time, as if a fire was burning in her chest that couldn't be extinguished.
This long-lost feeling reminded her of the final battle of her short life. On that hill of swords littered with corpses, she had wielded the king's sword, searching for that figure who had completely occupied her heart.
"Where is King Arthur!? Where is the Knight King!!"
As the sun set and the remaining light cast a vivid red over the entire city, it seemed as if she had returned to the hill of swords, hearing her hoarse shouts and finding herself awash in a mix of excitement, anger, helplessness, sorrow, confusion, and an indescribable emotion buried deep within her heart.
What's happening to me? How could I have such an illusion? Is it because this place has stirred up memories?
Just as Mordred struggled to dispel the hallucination and suppress her impulse, a faint Servant's presence skimmed the edge of her sensory range.
"This is—Master, it's time to move out."
Mordred grinned, a sinister expression matching the blood-red sunset.