At the top of the Hyatt Hotel.
"Hm, Lancer, your performance last night was excellent; you didn't tarnish my name."
"Though you didn't eliminate Saber outright, that couldn't be helped. After all, no one expected six Servants to get involved last night."
In the spacious room, the man crossed his arms over his legs, addressing the Lancer before him with authority.
"Thank you for your praise, my lord. I'm flattered that you aren't punishing me for my failure... I'm sorry; because of me, I didn't defeat King Arthur immediately, causing you trouble."
"But I swear on my knight's honor that in the coming battles, I won't disappoint you again, my lord."
Back at the base, Fionn sat properly across from Kayneth with permission. Seeing Kayneth still full of vigor, a smile appeared on his face.
Even in failure, no blame, no shifting fault to subordinates—instead, considering the current situation and seriously planning the next steps. Such a lord was truly rare.
Though a Servant's duty was to obey the Master, encountering a normal and outstanding one like Kayneth made Fionn happy inside.
"Hm, good that you have that resolve. Fight well from now on, Lancer."
Seeing Fionn so humble and loyal, Kayneth's wounded heart couldn't help but feel pleased.
Only those who've suffered betrayal can appreciate such loyalty...
Compared to those two ungrateful disciples, this obedient, powerful, loyal, and humble warrior provided much solace to his heart.
At the same time, Kayneth grew more convinced that with his leading strength among Masters and Fionn's excellent heroism in cooperation, victory in this Holy Grail War belonged to him—he would capture those two ungrateful disciples!!
Speaking of those two ungrateful disciples...
Still reveling in the luck of summoning Lancer, Kayneth paused, as if suddenly remembering something.
He looked again at the golden-haired knight before him and asked.
"Lancer, I recall you said last night you encountered the King of Conquerors Iskandar and one of my students, right?"
"Yes, that's correct, my lord."
Fionn nodded gently and answered: "Shortly after my battle with King Arthur Saber last night, a thunder chariot pulled by divine bulls burst into our battlefield from the horizon. The red-haired giant atop it claimed to be the King of Conquerors Iskandar, and your student named Waver was also on his chariot."
"So there's no mistake. Based on the divine bull chariot's prototype and the intelligence you provided, Iskandar's class is Rider, and his Master is that student who stole your relic, Waver Velvet."
Though last night's many unexpected events prevented him from taking out King Arthur as planned, it didn't mean Fionn gained nothing.
With his exceptional wisdom, Fionn had already observed and analyzed every Heroic Spirit present.
"The King of Conquerors Iskandar... It matches, all of it. The relic that kid stole was indeed a fragment of the Conqueror's cloak."
After hearing Fionn's answer, Kayneth nodded thoughtfully, fully confirming that this Rider's Master was that guy Waver.
"And the other one? Roy—did you see him? Or do you know which group he is in this Holy Grail War?"
Kayneth continued asking.
"Unfortunately, my lord. Your other disciple didn't appear in person on the battlefield, so I didn't see him."
Fionn shook his head, "But from the known intelligence, we can narrow it down to confirm his identity. Saber King Arthur's Master should be the Einzbern homunculus and that Emiya Kiritsugu you encountered. So we can exclude that. The golden Heroic Spirit is the Tohsaka family's Archer, so exclude that too. Plus me and Rider, so your last disciple's summoned Servant is likely Caster, Berserker, or Assassin—or that Queen Scáthach."
"Also, my lord, about two Lancers appearing last night, I'm puzzled too. Perhaps Caster exploited a loophole in the Holy Grail War for an irregular summon."
"Possibly eight Servants, then..."
Kayneth nodded, not questioning Fionn's analysis.
"So Roy might have two Servants... and holds a trump card like the Queen of the Land of Shadows, Scáthach."
Kayneth frowned. He was proud, but not foolish. Knowing his student well, it was obvious he wouldn't summon an uncontrollable class like Berserker.
And Assassin had already exited early on the first night due to recklessly invading the Tohsaka residence for assassination, so Roy's Servant was likely Caster.
If the classes with the best parameter abilities in the Holy Grail War are—
Saber, Lancer, Archer—the top three knights.
The most mobile is Rider, the most unpredictable is Assassin, then the most troublesome is Caster.
Magi understand magi best. As a top modern magus, Kayneth knew full well how terrifying this class was.
In strength and destructiveness, Caster lags far behind other classes, but in mischief and tenacity, it leads by miles.
Unlike the direct combat of the top three knights, Caster's style is hiding to build a workshop and complete their magecraft, usually appearing late-game. The longer it drags, the more prepared they are, the harder to deal with.
If given enough time to a Age of Gods magus for setup, how troublesome would it be once their spells are complete? Just thinking about it gave Kayneth a headache, so Casters are usually focused and eliminated early.
After all, the Holy Grail War's purpose is to claim the Grail, and it's just a magecraft ritual.
With the unpredictable means of Age of Gods magi, even tampering with the ritual itself isn't impossible. Imagine other Masters and Servants fighting to the death, finally winning after great hardship, only to find the Grail already snatched by Caster.
Who could accept that?
Moreover, this Caster seems to have irregularly summoned an overpowered Heroic Spirit like Scáthach! That's like having dual Servants, and one with such broken strength as a warrior queen.
Just thinking about it made Kayneth's head ache.
"If we're talking original Celtic mythology legends, you're clearly stronger, Fionn. Even compared to fellow protagonists like King Arthur or the Child of Light Cú Chulainn, you're superior. In world myths, those who can match your feats are only Beowulf and Heracles. Because you're all god-slayers."
"However, unfortunately, that Queen Scáthach has few chhapters in legend, but her feats are solid—she's also a god-slayer. Her strength clearly surpasses that King Arthur's. And Lancer isn't your strongest class, so if a battle happens, the outcome is uncertain."
Sighing heavily, the proud Kayneth wouldn't normally show such an expression. With Lancer's great strength and his magecraft in coordination, they could seize the initiative or even suppress opponents.
But this war's participants, except the unknown Assassin, the other six are heavyweights—historical heroes, mythic protagonists, or god-slayers—giving him a deep sense of powerlessness.
"Hm... In the end, I underestimated this war a bit. If I'd known, I should have called more helpers."
Kayneth's face was grave; the once-assured victory in the Holy Grail War had been shaken by the lineup of heavyweights.
But good thing he had the reliable Lancer Fionn, not that Rider who barged in last night, boldly revealing his true name...
That gave him some comfort.
"Moreover, my lord, not just Queen Scáthach and your student—the Tohsaka family's Servant is equally unfathomable... From the way he commanded thousands of treasures at once, his strength might be the greatest in this Holy Grail War."
Having witnessed Gilgamesh wielding thousands of Noble Phantasms simultaneously, Fionn felt inferior—at least in Lancer class, he couldn't win. If in a more suitable sword or rider class, there might be a chance.
Straight analysis: Among current Servants, against Berserker alone, he had certain victory; against King Arthur, confidence to defeat.
Rider wasn't a big threat—strong, but too reckless, and his Master a third-rate magus, unable to draw full power. So the biggest enemies were Queen Scáthach and that golden Heroic Spirit.
And from the opponent's actions, Fionn had guessed his true name.
"My lord, I may have the answer to Archer's true name."
After careful thought, Fionn spoke.
"What?"
Kayneth's eyes lit up, pleasantly surprised by Fionn's words; he wanted to hear the answer.
"The Oldest King of Heroes—Gilgamesh."
Fionn didn't hide it, stating directly.
"King of Heroes, Gilgamesh...?"
Hearing the name, Kayneth was stunned, his eyes widening slightly, about to say something, but—
Knock knock knock!!
A rapid knocking made his heart jump.
Even Fionn opposite was startled by the sudden knock.
"What? Someone's breaking in!!"
Kayneth's eyes snapped open wide. As the workshop's owner, he knew exactly what this meant.
A magus had boldly invaded his magecraft workshop.
Such audacity! Daring to invade his workshop for battle!
He was about to act, but the next moment, a familiar voice amplified from outside made him lower his just-raised hand.
"...Buying old fridges, color TVs, used phones."
"You idiot, where did you get that megaphone? Give it here, anyway..."
"Ahem, Professor Kayneth inside, listen up—you've been surrounded by Waver and me from outside! If you surrender honorably, you'll keep your noble position!!"
Amplified by the megaphone, Roy's voice pierced the floor, echoing straight into Kayneth's ears.
That familiar voice, that infuriating tone...
Even if reduced to ash, Kayneth could recognize it easily.
"This damned brat, daring to show up at my door! He doesn't take me seriously at all!!"
Leaning back in his chair, hearing that familiar voice at this time, veins bulged on Kayneth's forehead. The fact was so shocking that even unwilling to believe, he instantly pictured it, nearly giving himself a stroke from anger at his student.
On the other side, Waver, dragged all the way by Roy, saw him shouting into the megaphone at Professor Kayneth's workshop—the scene too impactful. He could fully imagine the terrifying reaction if those words reached Professor Kayneth's ears; just thinking about it chilled his back. If not for Roy pulling him, he'd have fainted on the spot.
"Whew—"
Huh? No door opening?
"Professor Kayneth, open up quick, or I'll use extraordinary measures."
Roy shouted loudly.
But right now, Kayneth, searching for quick-acting heart pills, had no time for him.
Extraordinary measures?
He'd like to see what extraordinary measures this guy had. Breaking the magecraft workshop from outside?
Joke—this was his meticulously prepared Lord-level workshop, with three magic furnaces supplying power; even great magecraft couldn't breach it externally.
What could this kid do?!
Hmph, away from him, he'd really fallen, even bragging now.
Kayneth sneered.
"Hm, really not opening? Then don't blame me, Professor Kayneth. Ahem... I remember the start is..."
Seeing little effect, Roy thought seriously, cleared his throat, then raised the megaphone and recited emotionally.
"Ah~ The beautiful person I miss, your eyes hold the glow of morning dew..."
—Bang!!
The moment the words left his mouth, the tightly shut magecraft workshop door was decisively opened from inside.
"See? Success. Waver, let's go in together?"
Seeing the door open, a smile appeared on Roy's face; he waved to Waver behind him, signaling to follow.
And right now, staring at the room ahead, Waver had only one thought.
I want to go home...
***
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