Waver: "…So, it was intentional."
Tohsaka Rin: "I mean, this is what you're focusing on?"
Kayneth: "You should be more cautious next time. You realized you were cursed, yet you failed to treat it seriously."
Iskandar: "But the cat is already dead, so what happens now? Is there still a danger?"
Kayneth: "Exactly. This idiot is standing right at death's door, and he could fall at any moment."
Tohsaka Tokiomi: "It's remarkable that the girl, Gray, was able to notice something was amiss."
---
[The video resumed.]
[After realizing the situation, El-Melloi II immediately summoned Flat and Svin. Together, they performed tracking magic to locate the car that had struck the cat.]
[The vehicle had to belong to the person who cast the curse.]
["Reflections upon the surface, morning unveils the veil, amber orbits the stars, return from dusk, let the breath of lead fill it."]
[As the spell activated, the mirror in front of them flickered, revealing the image of a car.]
[Flat: "Is this the culprit who cursed the teacher?"]
[El-Melloi II: "The criminal used this car to strike the cat. I felt the cat's pain through the curse."]
[Svin: "When the cat was dying, could it have also killed its owner—you?"]
[El-Melloi II: "Yes. The concept behind the spell is one of rotation, cycles symbolized by wheels. The magic makes use of these cycles, transferring the curse to me through my reflection."]
[Gray: "So, in order to harm you, Master, they targeted the cat…"]
[El-Melloi II: "But their plan had one flaw. They didn't anticipate Gray's deep connection to the domain of death. If she hadn't noticed the cat's plight, the consequences could have been far worse."]
[Add: "Her one and only redeeming trait."]
[El-Melloi II ignored Add's snide remark and turned to Flat. "Can you track the scent?"]
[Flat: "No problem."]
[Svin: "Why not try bouncing the curse back to them?"]
[El-Melloi II: "That wouldn't help us catch them."]
[Without wasting time, the group set off in pursuit. Soon, they tracked down the fleeing culprit's car.]
[Svin leapt out of their moving vehicle, his limbs encased in magical energy, transforming into the claws and legs of a beast. He charged forward with inhuman speed.]
[This was the Galeschet family's signature technique: Beastification.]
[Svin's powerful kick sent the target's car flipping over. Flat followed up with his interference magic, rendering the criminal unable to resist.]
[They apprehended the culprit and brought him back to be interrogated by Reines herself.]
[Unfortunately, the interrogation yielded disappointing results.]
[The man turned out to be a mere pawn, an errand runner who had never even seen the face of the person who hired him.]
[Reines suspected that his memories had been tampered with, but this was outside her expertise.]
[Ultimately, the investigation ended inconclusively.]
["I still feel like the cat was saved," Gray murmured.]
[She had been worried about Waver's lingering sadness over the cat and tried to console him.]
[El-Melloi II sighed and replied, "The satisfaction gained from saving someone is just a trick of the brain—a misjudgment. Saving someone doesn't mean you're redeemed. Even if you believe you've helped someone, you'll never truly know if they felt saved."]
[Gray met his gaze. "Even so, Master, you saved me."]
[The scene shifted to a cemetery, where Waver reached out to help Gray to her feet.]
[The video faded to black.]
---
Iskandar: "Boy, why are you so pessimistic in the future? What happened to your fire?"
Waver: "How should I know?"
Sola-ui: "The person who truly intended to harm him hasn't been revealed yet. This story feels unfinished."
Kayneth: "Indeed."
Kayneth: "Waver, look at yourself in the video. You're the Lord of El-Melloi, and yet you behave so disgracefully. It's embarrassing."
Kayneth: "I think I'll need to train you even more from now on."
Waver: "…Yes."
---
[The second question ended, and the system announced the next.]
---
[This is the final question of the day.]
[This is a multiple-choice question. Four pictures will be displayed. Please identify the Heroic Spirit in the Saber class from these images.]
[Participants have 5 minutes to answer. Correct answers will earn 1 Saint Quartz each, and incorrect answers will deduct 1 Saint Quartz each.]
[If all answers are correct, an additional 5 Saint Quartz will be rewarded.]
---
Tohsaka Rin: "Hmm, the rules seem to have changed. I thought you had to answer all questions correctly in one shot before?"
Waver: "It looks easier at first glance, but it's actually more dangerous. If you make multiple mistakes, the penalties pile up."
Kayneth: "It's deceptive. The stakes are higher now."
---
[A: The first image showed a petite blonde woman wearing a bikini. She stood on a beach, holding a golden sword in one hand and a water gun in the other. It was Artoria Pendragon, but she was dressed in a way no one had seen before.]
Artoria: "What is this!!!"
Her voice practically shook the chat.
Artoria: "Why am I dressed like this?!"
Artoria's face turned bright red as she stared at the image of herself in a swimsuit, looking far removed from the dignified King of Knights she prided herself on being.
Rebellious Knight: "Hahaha, Father! You give me grief for my attire, but look at yourself!"
Lancelot: "My king… you… look quite… unique in this."
Irisviel: "Oh, you're adorable, Saber! You should wear swimsuits more often!"
Sisigou Kairi: "Wait, this is King Arthur? She looks like a child!"
Darnic: "She does look strikingly similar to Mordred."
---
[B: The second image depicted a woman clad in a gothic black Lolita dress. Her skin appeared decayed, and her cold expression matched the eerie atmosphere surrounding her. In her hand was a twisted sword with an eye embedded in the hilt.]
Siegfried: "That's Kriemhild!"
Tohsaka Rin: "Kriemhild? Who is that?"
Chihiro: "She's Siegfried's wife."
Tohsaka Rin: "Wait, wife?!"
Siegfried: "Yes… though I never expected to see her here in this form."
Tohsaka Rin: "But I thought Siegfried's wife was Brynhildr?"
Siegfried: "???"
Sigurd: "…"
Brynhildr: "…"
Tohsaka Tokiomi: "Ah, my apologies for my daughter's bluntness."
Chihiro: "Let me clarify Siegfried and Sigurd are two different individuals, even though they share some similar origins in legend."
Siegfried: "I didn't know that…"
Darnic: "So myths can evolve into distinct versions of Heroic Spirits based on their interpretation. Fascinating."
Vlad III: "Hmph."
Vlad looked envious, silently cursing his eternal association with Dracula.
---
[C: The third image depicted a tall, lean young man in plain clothing, holding a long sword. His unassuming appearance puzzled the group.]
Darnic: "…Wait, isn't this the homunculus from our castle?!"
He glanced at Avicebron, who looked equally confused.
---
[D: The final image showed a pink-haired youth wearing a bunny girl outfit and a maid apron, wielding a sword. This was unmistakably Astolfo.]
Astolfo: "Hey, hey! That's me! Doesn't it suit me perfectly?"
Roche: "Astolfo… you're… a woman?"
Astolfo: "Nope! I'm a man!"
Roche: "…"
Caules: "Your appearance… does not inspire confidence in that statement."
Astolfo: "What's the issue?"
Darnic: "Ahem, calm down, everyone."
Darnic: "According to legend, Astolfo dressed as a woman to stabilize Roland's sanity after he lost himself chasing women. It was all part of the plan."
Sisigou: "I'm completely lost when it comes to the genders of these Heroic Spirits."
Tohsaka Rin: "Even knowing Astolfo's a man, seeing him like this makes me suspicious all over again."
Astolfo: "I can prove it!"
Tohsaka Rin: "Huh? How?"
Astolfo: "Simple! You can check my body!"
Tohsaka Rin: "…WHAT?!"
Astolfo: "Isn't that the easiest way to confirm it?"
Tohsaka Rin: "Are you insane?! Asking a girl to look at your body like that?! What kind of pervert does that?!"
Astolfo: "Pervert? What? No, it's purely logical!"
Tohsaka Rin: "Logical?! You're completely irrational!"
Chihiro: "Alright, everyone, calm down."
Chihiro: "Astolfo was known for his lack of rationality in life. Many of his decisions were impulsive or downright bizarre, but he himself never saw an issue with it."
Celenike: "…Check your body? Hehehe…"
Waver: "…Who is this person? I'm getting chills just listening to her."
Darnic: "Ahem, Celenike, behave yourself."
Celenike: "Fine, fine. I get it."
[The question-answering session begins now.]
***
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