Inside the magic circle, Hassan of the Hundred Faces was the first to regain composure. He immediately tried contacting Kirei Kotomine to escape via Command Seal, but after two attempts, he found the connection intact yet unreachable!
"What's going on? What kind of magecraft is this?" Kiyohime, recovering from her initial shock, probed the cage's boundaries. It wasn't large... about half the courtyard... but not small either.
After failing to break it, she gave up struggling and turned to watch the battle outside.
With the gate open, they could see part of the fight.
Gilles, injured and his armor nullified by the anti-magic spear, was weakened, so Diarmuid took the front, gripping his anti-magic and cursed spears, staring at Morpheus. Though Morpheus hadn't attacked, each step he took pressured Diarmuid!
Yet, it also thrilled him!
"You're strong! I didn't expect to meet someone this powerful in this Holy Grail War. I was right to answer the Grail's call!"
Morpheus smiled. "By the way, what's your wish? Can I know?"
As Diarmuid opened his mouth, Morpheus vanished, followed by a cry.
Gilles arced through the air, landing in the courtyard's magic circle.
Now, only Diarmuid remained outside.
Glancing at Morpheus behind him, Diarmuid took a deep breath. "My wish isn't worth mentioning. Let's fight!"
Morpheus shook his head. "Just to be safe, do you have memories of the Fourth Holy Grail War?"
Diarmuid's expression shifted. "What are you talking about?"
Morpheus, reading his face, grinned. "You kept those memories on purpose, didn't you? Your true self's intent? Retaining Fourth Holy Grail War memories means your wish ties to it?"
Diarmuid's face darkened further, and he sighed. "How much do you know?"
"A fair bit. So, your wish involves that woman?"
"It was my mistake. I shouldn't have been there. It's like a curse. If possible, I want them to live again, as normal people in this world."
In the Fourth Holy Grail War, Diarmuid, summoned as Lancer by Clock Tower magus Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald, served a cunning Master.
To confuse enemies and optimize his performance, Kayneth had his wife, Sola-Ui Nuada-Re Sophia-Ri, supply Diarmuid's mana.
It should've been fine, but Kayneth's insecurity led him to suspect an affair, souring their relationship. Despite loving his wife, tragedy ensued.
Their opponent, Kiritsugu Emiya, exploited every advantage shamelessly!
"Resurrect the dead?" Morpheus mused, smiling. "Sola-Ui Nuada-Re Sophia-Ri, right? She did fall for you, undeniable. Even if revived, I doubt they'd stay together."
Diarmuid sighed, knowing this but struggling to accept it.
"How about a deal?" Morpheus suggested, sparking Diarmuid's interest. "What deal?"
"You enter the circle willingly. I won't force you. If you do, I'll find relics of theirs, use them to locate their souls. If they haven't reincarnated, I can bring them back."
Morpheus spoke as if it were as simple as eating or drinking.
Diarmuid's jaw dropped. "Is that possible?!"
"No guarantee of success. Their bodies might be homunculus, but functional for eating and such. This world's oddly skilled at unnecessary homunculus details but lacks in essentials. With souls, it's solved."
Morpheus threw in a jab at the Einzbern's alchemical method.
"Wait, resurrection magecraft... no, that's magic!" Diarmuid said. Even in the Age of Gods, resurrection was rare!
Morpheus tossed him a short sword. "I've unlocked its permissions. Take a look."
Diarmuid caught it, eyes widening. "A divine construct of Ares?!"
Its rank surpassed his foster father's anti-magic spear... a top-tier treasure!
"And this." Morpheus tossed a bow.
Diarmuid caught it, stunned. "Apollo's divine construct?!"
"I've got more, but I won't show them all. My trump cards use magic, not magecraft. I'm decent at resurrection magic. The only limit is the soul. If it's gone, I'm out of luck.
"If they've reincarnated, I won't restore past memories to avoid disrupting their current lives. You understand, right?"
Diarmuid saw this as his only chance. He nodded. "I understand!"
No choice left. He'd planned to fight and die if needed.
Now, it was a deal. For even a slim chance to revive the couple he felt responsible for, he'd risk death.
He waved. "Alright, I'm in. It's up to you."
"Wait, lend me your anti-magic spear. Let's see if it can pierce my magic!"
"You…" Diarmuid hesitated but handed it over. Morpheus stabbed himself, causing a mana ripple, but it stopped short.
Diarmuid, calm moments ago, gaped. The anti-magic spear failed!
"Not failed, more like overwhelmed by hierarchy. If a true god wielded it, my defenses might break…" Morpheus rubbed his chin, returning the spear. "No big deal. I can strengthen my defenses. This weapon shines when power levels are close."
Diarmuid's mouth twitched, and he sighed. "The Grail summoned us just to die, didn't it?"
"Possibly. The Grail cares about quantity, not quality. Enough Servants, and it manifests to fulfill its goal."
"So, we're just fuel for the Grail…"
"Nah, I'm just sending you home... to the Throne, express delivery!" Morpheus grinned, watching Diarmuid step into the circle, then chanted the expulsion spell.
***
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