Fuyuki City, Shinto Station.
A string of back-to-back gas explosions, urban homicides, and mass poisoning-coma incidents had cast a dark shadow over this coastal city.
Under nightfall, due to the semi-curfew announcement issued by the Fuyuki City Municipal Hall, the usually bustling Fuyuki night market had become rather desolate lately. Especially as the night deepened, the crowds visibly thinned.
Compared to the vastness of the city, the individual seemed insignificant. The chances of running into a serial killer were almost zero... but still, what if?
After all, staying alive was more important.
And since the City Hall hadn't issued a mandatory order—only a temporary crackdown to "ensure the safety of Fuyuki residents"—most citizens were not particularly opposed.
They weren't the sort to protest the government over every little thing or take to the streets at the drop of a hat.
So, for now—farewell, mama-san of the izakaya, and the newly arrived Miss Hanako (nothing shady, just a hostess). Consider it saving money. Once this public safety crackdown ends, I promise to visit again.
That was the sentiment shared by most residents of Fuyuki City.
Though many still ignored the warnings and continued to frequent bars, red-light districts, and other adult venues, the city patrol police, burdened with increased night shifts, couldn't really object.
After all, it was only a recommendation, not a binding administrative order.
Of course, the night market owners probably had a lot to say. The longer the curfew proposal lasted, the more daily losses their shops would suffer.
At the highway ramp connecting Fuyuki International Airport to Shinto Station, the local patrol was conducting routine inspections.
"Mr. Velvet, thank you for your cooperation. We appreciate your understanding during this special period. Have a pleasant journey."
A uniformed young officer politely returned a passport marked with the crest of the Waver family to the long-haired man in the car and saluted.
"Mmm, thank you for your work." In the back seat of the airport-designated taxi, the long-haired man took the passport and nodded in return.
"Clear!" the officer called out, stepping back and signaling his colleague to raise the barrier.
Watching the well-dressed, composed man disappear into the night—a man who clearly exuded the air of a highly educated British gentleman—the young officer shrugged.
"Hey hey, Sho, who was that? I've never seen you act that polite before."
"Shut up! That guy's from London. Waver Velvet... man, that name's a mouthful."
"Tch, figures. You read the room well, huh? Is he nobility or something?"
"Dunno, but coming to Fuyuki at this time? Not the best luck. Let's hope we don't spark a diplomatic incident."
"Sigh, still stuck on overtime. We've made no progress tracking down that killer...."
...
Waver Velvet leaned back against the taxi seat, his sharp gaze taking in the completely changed Shinto Station. The window was half open, letting in the distant noise and wind.
As the gray soundproof wall disappeared from view, his eyes passed over the rising skyscrapers until a hint of red caught his attention. He instinctively leaned forward, his expression growing complex as he gazed at the bridge that split Fuyuki City in two.
Even after succeeding his mentor Kayneth as the new Lord El-Melloi II, Waver could never forget what happened that night—right on that very bridge over the Mion River.
A war declared by the proudest conqueror against the oldest of kings.
Even now, Waver couldn't let it go. As time passed, the strange longing to see him once more had rooted itself deeply in his heart.
"Rider... Your Majesty, I will see you again."
He murmured, tightening his grip on the briefcase beside him.
Sentiment set aside, Waver quickly refocused, pulling out the photos of two magi involved in the current Holy Grail War, provided by the Clock Tower.
"Bazett Fraga McRemitz."
A descendant of a magus lineage known as the "Gods Holder." Bazett Fraga McRemitz is an Enforcer under the Mage's Association's Seal Designation Department, tasked with capturing magi under Sealing Designation. She's a field operative, known for her martial prowess.
Armed with a conceptual counter Noble Phantasm centered on preemptive, one-hit-kill strikes, combined with excellent hand-to-hand combat and magecraft, she's earned the nickname "Walking Human Weapon."
Looking at the photo—short rose-red hair, matching eyes, and dressed in a reddish-brown suit with a matching tie—the sharp and composed image of a suit-wearing beauty, Waver quickly recalled all relevant intel on Bazett.
Without a doubt, if he wanted to investigate the irregularities of this Holy Grail War, he needed to secure the cooperation of Bazett and her Servant, who were also dispatched by the Mage's Association.
She seemed like someone easier to recruit.
Next, Waver held up another photo: a handsome young man with tanned skin and golden hair.
"Atrum Galliasta."
A hybrid magus of Western European and Arab descent. A young industrialist. Son of an oil magnate. He even bought his Lord title from the Clock Tower with money...
Damn rich people!
Just thinking of how he toiled endlessly for the El-Melloi Faction, only to be saddled with a nine-figure debt, made Waver scowl and mutter.
When will I ever pay this off?!
In pounds, no less—not Zimbabwean dollars!
"First stop, the Church. I'll contact Lord Bazett and Lord Atrum through the neutral third-party observer, the Holy Church, and relay the Clock Tower's orders. As for the details, I'll decide once I've summoned Ruler."
Calmly analyzing the situation, Waver reached a decision.
At this moment, however, Waver had no idea that the two highly anticipated Clock Tower delegates had already been eliminated—even before the fighting had truly begun. Their summoned Servants had already fallen into the hands of others.
(PS: Bazett is the original Master of Lancer Cú Chulainn; Atrum is the original Master of Caster Medea.)
Having mapped out his action plan, Waver felt his spirits rise.
Originally, upon learning that the Clock Tower's two participant slots were already filled, Waver had been quite disappointed. But fortune favors the persistent: the Clock Tower later designated him to investigate the Fifth Holy Grail War in Fuyuki City.
They even provided him with a holy relic to summon Ruler!
Honestly, while he maintained a detached front in front of the faculty chair, Waver was thrilled deep down.
Yes, the Holy Grail War involved death, and he might not be as lucky as last time—he knew that full well. Was he afraid?
Of course. He was afraid to die.
But Waver had no regrets!
Before leaving the Clock Tower, he made proper arrangements: using the uncertain danger of the Holy Grail War as an excuse, he entrusted his disciple Gray to his foster sister Reines, and even temporarily handed off the El-Melloi Classroom he poured his heart into to his close friend Melvin Weins.
The answer was obvious. Waver intended to use the Ruler class, and with Iskandar's cloak as a summoning relic, he would summon Iskandar once more as his Servant!
As for the relic provided by the Clock Tower, Waver didn't plan to use it—no matter how powerful the Servant it might summon, even if it were a god!
He would still choose Iskandar!
One last gamble! Your Majesty, I will prove...
Hmm?!
Just after the taxi drove down the ramp into the city, Waver suddenly felt it—they had entered a bounded field.
Though Waver was only a third-rate magus by magical standards, he was still a magus. This kind of blatant, undisguised magical fluctuation—if he couldn't sense that, then what kind of Lord would he be?
Suddenly, as if sensing a gaze, Waver lifted his head. His expression sharpened as he looked toward the intersection shrouded in darkness.
Perhaps due to the lack of people, even the traffic lights here seemed unusually dim.
The target was definitely me!
Sensing danger, Waver rose from the back seat of the taxi and subtly signaled the driver:
"Stop here, please. You can head back."
"Certainly, Mr. Velvet. Have a pleasant journey."
With the addition of a subtle hypnotic suggestion woven into his request, the driver complied without resistance. After opening the door for Waver and ensuring no luggage had been left behind, he quickly drove off.
The moment Waver stepped out, that vague pressure vanished.
But he knew—it hadn't been his imagination. Whoever it was had likely been toying with him.
Waver's eyes were sharp as he scanned the area around him—nothing. No presence in sight.
"Unknown Servant. I am Lord El-Melloi II, designated Master of Ruler sent by the Mage's Association to oversee this Holy Grail War. I serve as judge and observer and am not a participant in the battle for the Grail."
Carrying his briefcase, Waver kept his tone even. Better to flash a title first. "If possible, I would like to speak with your Master."
"A Lord, huh? Oho~ So you're a big shot, then?"
Following the voice, Waver finally saw her. This district had clearly been cleared out. In the center of the empty street, surrounded by a faint blue spiritual light, a graceful figure stood one-footed atop the traffic light.
"A Servant from the Far East..."
Her attire, rather than armor, resembled the robes of an immortal from the East. The entire outfit was dyed in a batik style, with shades of blue and white blending like clouds drifting through the sky.
From the flowing red tassels to the embedded jade ornaments that swayed with the wind, every detail screamed Far East heritage.
"Pretty observant, aren't you, brother?"
Opening her bright red eyes, dressed in her [Jade Knight] battlesuit, Li Sushang folded her arms and tilted her head slightly, chin resting in her palm as she spoke cheerfully, "This 'Lord' title of yours, eh heh... sounds way more prestigious than those from Tohsaka, Matou, or the Holy Church."
"Pardo, I didn't believe in your luck before, but I do now."
"Kiana and Mei went to the Matou residence. The two grandmasters headed to the Church. Durandal and Rita took the academy. All the fun fights got snapped up. And me? I get the boring city patrol with no action."
While complaining, Li Sushang excitedly petted the air beside her where a brown spiritual form was gathering. "Still, who'd have thought—even stuck on patrol, I'd catch a big fish."
"Two Servants..." Waver frowned, his gaze shifting as a set of brown, fluffy cat ears emerged first from the forming spiritual body.
"Nyaa! Of course! Do you even know who I am? If not for me, you'd still be wandering the city all night."
Pardofelis, Luck: A++
"Hehe, thanks a ton. Now then—Pardo, go!" Li Sushang struck a pose and dramatically pointed toward Waver under the traffic light.
"Nyaa! Why should I listen to you?!"
"Because you're my 'mount.' Go on, kitty head."
"Hmph... damn it."
Though they bickered, Pardofelis' hands were already in motion. She flung her bladed ring. "Go, canned cat!"
"Whoa!" In a rather undignified display, the esteemed Lord of the Clock Tower ducked and rolled aside to dodge the incoming feline backside from above.
"Don't dodge! Let me land a hit!"
"Are you an idiot? Like I'd just let you hit me!"
In full retreat mode, Waver shouted as he ran. Perhaps the emotional stirrings from returning to Fuyuki were to blame, but even his usually composed, baritone lecturer's voice gave way to his original, more frantic tone—something he hadn't used in years.
His legs lit up with blue magic circuits, dodging the cat's attacks with barely-manageable, last-ditch acrobatics.
Yep. A low-tier brawl between amateurs.
That was Li Sushang's evaluation. If this was the so-called Lord's true level, then that title was way too overrated. Was he just some pampered heir who inherited the family business?
As for Pardofelis—yes, she was weak. Li Sushang understood. The cat was basically just a mascot. The actual combatants selected to participate in the Type-Moon world this time were only seven in total.
They came in three pairs: Kiana and Raiden Mei, the two grandmasters, Durandal and Rita. And then there was her—a lone representative.
But since Pardofelis insisted on tagging along and participating, Selene couldn't turn a blind eye. She declared, "Ah, yes, legend! My imperial scribe! Compose the heroic epic at once!"
And just like that, Pardofelis was written into history as Li Sushang's "mount"—a Noble Phantasm she could summon.
As for the remaining Bronya and the Olenyeva sisters, they didn't join the fray. Not because they were afraid of combat, of course. If Kiana needed them, they were ready to step in anytime.
Bronya simply chose a different path than Kiana.
Rather than seeking battlefield glory, Bronya aspired to be a technical officer like Mobius. It was a matter of different ideologies and career trajectories.
"Forget it, Pardo. I'll take care of it. Rushing Water Sword..."
A blade of swirling water began forming in Li Sushang's hand, but then she suddenly paused.
Turning to look toward Mount Enzou where Ryuudou Temple was located, she sighed. "Ha... the ritual's begun. Looks like Her Majesty couldn't wait to descend."
Meanwhile, Waver, barely catching his breath after dodging Pardofelis' ridiculous taunts, suddenly felt the Command Seal on the back of his hand flare with burning intensity.
"What now?!"
BOOM—!
His briefcase exploded open, releasing a surge of mana that coalesced into a raging flame, blocking Pardofelis' feline charge.
WHOOSH!
The sound of a banner unfurling filled the air.
From within the summoning flames, the first thing Waver saw was a white flag bearing the symbol of a pure white iris.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
40 Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon:
Patreon.com/DaoOfHeaven