The sky was a clear blue, with white clouds drifting lazily. The forest was lush and dense, with flowers and grass swaying in the breeze. The warm afternoon sunlight filtered down like threads of gold, adding a brilliant touch to the scene. Since it was late summer, early autumn, the weather was not unbearably hot, offering a cool, comfortable feeling.
However, Kaguya had no leisure to appreciate the beauty of early autumn. At this moment, she was flying through the sky at high speed, a mere blur as she cut through the air. The fierce wind whistled past her ears, tossing her silver hair and causing her red and black gown to flutter and ripple.
Her beautiful brows furrowed slightly, deep in thought. The Holy Grail War had reached a critical point, with notions of justice and honor long abandoned. Now, everyone involved was focused solely on victory. Perhaps only Saber, that fool, still clung to her ideals.
If Kaguya's guess was correct, if people could even scheme against their own family, then no one else would hesitate to use any means necessary, especially someone like Kirei Kotomine, who had no scruples or moral boundaries. If Kaguya didn't want to let this drama unfold in all its glory, she might have already struck him down.
But it seemed she would need to take some necessary measures. After all, only within the rules of the game could things stay interesting. If it went too far, the spectacle would lose its appeal.
Suddenly, Kaguya sensed something and looked down toward the ground, her expression changing slightly.
She saw several figures below, with two groups facing off. On one side was a young woman with an elegant yet fierce demeanor, clad in armor, holding an invisible sword—Saber.
Opposing her was a tall, handsome man with short hair, holding two spears, one red and one yellow. He was Lancer Diarmuid Ua Duibhne, wielding the Gáe Dearg: Crimson Rose of Exorcism and the Gáe Buidhe: Yellow Rose of Mortality.
Thanks to Kaguya's earlier use of her Mirror Flower, Water Moon ability, Saber's wound from Lancer's Yellow Rose, which had originally left her unable to heal, had been cured. Thus, the scene in the original story, where Lancer broke the Yellow Rose, never occurred. This meant that Lancer was still quite formidable. In a duel against Saber, his strength would make for a difficult fight, especially with the added danger of the Yellow Rose. If Saber were struck, the consequences would be dire.
Not far away stood Irisviel, her silver hair flowing elegantly, her slender figure exuding an alluring, mature charm. She was watching the standoff between Saber and Lancer with obvious tension. Her fingers were nervously intertwined, clearly worried about Saber.
Every time Kaguya witnessed this scene, she couldn't help but think of Kiritsugu being "cheated on." Was it just her imagination?
Besides these figures, there were a few others nearby. One was a man she was quite familiar with, a handsome and composed figure wearing a black suit with a black trench coat draped over him—Kiritsugu Emiya. Standing next to him was a man with blonde hair, whom Kaguya had seen once before at the docks—Kayneth, Lancer's Master. Further away, a wounded woman lay on the ground, her arm severed and wrapped in thick bandages. Crimson blood seeped through the bandages, staining the white cloth red. If Kaguya was not mistaken, this injured woman was Sola-Ui Nuada-Re Sophia-Ri, Kayneth's fiancée.
This scenario seemed awfully familiar to Kaguya. Suddenly, she remembered.
Wasn't this the part where Kiritsugu used Sola-Ui to blackmail Kayneth into ordering Lancer's suicide?
Kayneth was truly a tragic character. His fiancée fell in love with his Servant, and his Servant remained loyally bound to him. In the end, all three were manipulated and destroyed by Kiritsugu.
This could very well be called a different kind of love triangle.
Such a compelling story, Kaguya thought, was as good as the afternoon dramas on Korean television. As a spectator, Kaguya certainly couldn't miss this chance.
Gracefully, like a drifting feather, Kaguya descended from the sky, quietly moving closer to them without making a sound.
Kayneth clutched the contract that Kiritsugu had handed him, his heart aching as he looked at Sola-Ui, who lay pale and unconscious nearby.
The contract stated that Kiritsugu would never harm Kayneth or Sola-Ui, in exchange for Kayneth using up all his Command Seals and ordering Lancer to commit suicide.
Kayneth knew that if he signed his name, the contract would take effect, and Kiritsugu would no longer be able to kill him or his fiancée. But if he agreed, his participation in the war would be over. Both the Holy Grail and the honor of the Archibald family would be lost.
"Hurry up and decide," Kiritsugu said coldly, his submachine gun aimed at Sola-Ui's head. With a sharp "click," he cocked the gun, his face emotionless. "You don't have much time. Whether she lives or dies is entirely up to you."
Kayneth's body trembled. He whipped his head around, looking from Kiritsugu's expressionless face to the pale figure of his fiancée. His heart felt as though it was being squeezed by an invisible hand, making it hard for him to breathe.
"Sola-Ui..."
Kayneth gritted his teeth, tears welling up in his eyes. He couldn't stand the thought of watching the woman he loved die, even if she no longer loved him but another man. He still couldn't bear to let her go.
Finally, his trembling hand reached out. He picked up the pen, and, with shaking fingers, he began to sign the contract.
"What a splendid show," a soft voice suddenly cut through the tense air, interrupting the moment. "Kiritsugu Emiya."
"Who's there?" Kiritsugu's pupils shrank as he whipped around, his submachine gun instantly trained on the newcomer. When he saw who it was, his heart sank. "You?"
"Surprised?" Kaguya asked, stepping out of the shadows with graceful poise, a slight smile playing on her lips. "By the way, I think we still have some unfinished business, don't we?" Her eyes gleamed with a faint purple light.
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