[FDJ]Chapter 76: Analysis

Timeline Confirmation: A.D. 1187, Kingdom of Jerusalem - Singularity F, Foundation Value of Human Order: C+

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"Well, my dear son has already run off. Master, what kind of fun can you bring me?" Rider Eleanor, dressed as a noblewoman, half-jokingly teased her Master. "I know that you came to the past to protect Human Order and intervene in the Holy Grail War, which shouldn't have happened. Is your wish really like that?"

When it came to the Holy Grail War, Suzuki Yuki instinctively answered the other party, a question that didn't require thinking and wasn't allowed to be pondered.

"Yes, Rider."

Eleanor carefully observed her Master, hoping to find the source of amusement within him. She saw a mechanical side to her Master, devoid of the fate of being human. "Is that so? Did your experience in the previous Singularity deepen your conviction? You truly are a lovely person, Master."

Repeatedly being described as "lovely," Suzuki Yuki's expression seemed somewhat unnatural as if he were being scrutinized like a cherished pet. "You know about my previous experiences?"

"Yes, we were able to obtain a portion of your experiences in the previous Singularity. As long as you carry the chess pieces, when you use them to summon new Servants, the incoming Servants will also be aware of the past events. Although only a part of it."

"Knowing about what happened before..." Suzuki Yuki didn't expect that the mysterious chess pieces he acquired had a connection between them. If he upsets Rider Eleanor this time, the future Servants summoned using the chess pieces might be wary of him from the beginning or even hostile.

"It's just a partial understanding, such as which Servants you fought against before, how you used Command Spells and important events related to the Singularity. It's not as detailed as you imagine," Eleanor vaguely explained. She alone knew how much Suzuki Yuki and Saber Jeanne d'Arc went through in the Gaul region in 451 AD. "From my assessment, you and your Servants were fortunate to encounter a Singularity prototype controlled by humans with power surpassing that of Servants. However, this time, in the Kingdom of Jerusalem, we won't be as lucky. Once my son decides on something, no one can stop him."

Suzuki Yuki remembered Eleanor's earlier reminder that Richard, who was attacking them, was also a Master, and based on her hints, Richard had more than one Servant.

"Master, tell me about your plan to intervene in this Holy Grail War. My wish is to experience a sufficiently interesting and thrilling Holy Grail War. As long as you ensure that my passion for amusement doesn't fade, I won't betray you."

Eleanor belonged to the Chaotic Neutral alignment, completely different from the Lawful Good Jeanne d'Arc. That's why Suzuki Yuki, after briefly checking his Servant's attributes, had some reservations about Rider Eleanor betraying him and forming a contract with Richard I, who had a direct bloodline. Those of Chaotic Neutral alignment were akin to pure individualists, with a certain deviation from the universal concepts of good and evil and their value system prioritizing personal freedom. Suzuki Yuki couldn't trust the loyalty of such a category of Servant.

"Naturally, my reason for participating is to protect Human Order and prevent the influence of this Singularity on it," Suzuki Yuki replied, applying the knowledge he had learned from Chaldea's research on interacting with Servants. He was certain that if he were to engage in a conspiracy with Eleanor, she would surely gain control over him midway through. If a conflict were to erupt, he might not even have the chance to use Command Spells.

Dealing with a feudal ruler, a female monarch who could casually discuss plotting the assassination of her husband and possessed the ability to manipulate conspiracies, was not something Suzuki Yuki could handle.

"I plan to first understand the faction divisions in this Holy Grail War. The emergence of a Singularity is usually caused by someone attempting to change history. By clarifying the situation and faction divisions from various perspectives, I can determine the main culprit," Suzuki Yuki explained, based on his deductions and speculation drawn from his previous experience in a Holy Grail War, which Chaldea had not taught him. In non-special circumstances, Suzuki Yuki's conclusions were accurate.

"If your explanation is correct, we can skip some verification steps. Although my son is proud, he doesn't exaggerate. He controls multiple Servants and is full of confidence, so he must be the one behind this Singularity. Moreover, based on his description, Saladin is launching an attack in response to Raymond's provocation, which undoubtedly points to the Battle of Hattin in 1187. After the battle, Saladin seized the opportunity to attack Jerusalem and reclaimed the land they lost during the First Crusade. Of course, from my perspective, I don't have a favorable impression of Saladin and his people," Eleanor stated, drawing from her knowledge provided by the Holy Grail, which gave her a more intuitive understanding of events that occurred when she was nearly 60 years old. Her son's stage was set after the surrender of Jerusalem in 1187, during the Third Crusade. However, that happened in 1190. Her son, Richard, the future Richard I, the Lionheart, should not have come to Jerusalem three years early to organize a coalition and engage in battle with Saladin. This is because her second husband, Richard's biological father, was not killed by Richard's anger until 1189 and did not have actual control over England, so Richard didn't have the resources to lead an expedition.

"1187? The Battle of Hattin?" Suzuki Yuki recalled the information he had read before setting out. He had thoroughly studied the history of the Second and Third Crusades, and he had considered that the battlefield might be in between the two crusades. If Eleanor's words were true and the current year was 1187, the historical outcome would be completely unfavorable for the Kingdom of Jerusalem (the Christian side). Richard's early arrival deviated from history, and with multiple Servants at his disposal, it was evident that Richard's premature expedition was the core issue.

Suzuki Yuki hadn't fully sorted out the information he had received when his Servant Eleanor pointed to the west.

"We have already met with representatives from the Jerusalem side. Let's go meet the representatives from the other side. Combining information from both sides will provide us with a more objective understanding of why this Singularity emerged in this era and which side aligns with the Human Order you need to protect."

Before she finished speaking, a golden magic circle appeared in front of Eleanor, instantly completing the summoning of her familiar, belonging to the class of summoning creatures. Within the golden light, two illusory horses pulled a red-gold carriage adorned with the emblems of England and Aquitaine. However, it appeared too luxurious, more like a ceremonial display than a practical means of transportation.

"Master, my class is Rider. We don't have to worry about transportation anymore. My carriage is not only used for battles but also serves as a convenient means of transportation," Eleanor said. She didn't mention that because Suzuki Yuki had sufficient magical energy, she could freely summon the carriage. In her view, her Master having magical energy but being unable to use magecraft must have a deeper reason, but she decided not to mention it for now.

Suzuki was amazed as he was invited onto the carriage by his servant. The interior of the carriage could accommodate several standing combatants and had no seats. After he entered the carriage, the guardrail automatically closed, and ropes wrapped around his waist and right hand, securing him. It was Suzuki's first time boarding an ancient carriage, but with the historical knowledge he had learned in Chaldea, he roughly knew that ancient carriages didn't bother to tie their riders to them.

Eleanor stood at the front of the carriage, holding the reins of the phantom horse, which floated in mid-air. The driverless carriage, composed of two magically powered horses, moved at her command. The moment it started, the speed exceeded Suzuki's expectations. He couldn't maintain his balance and fell directly onto the guardrail due to inertia. If it weren't for the ropes holding him, Suzuki, who was unprepared, might have been thrown out.

"Rider..."

"Master, we'll reach our destination soon. It's best if you don't speak during the journey." Eleanor stood at the front of the carriage, unaffected by the speed. Her long hair and dress floated slightly as if multiple times the normal gravity were pressing on her. Galloping along the river, the carriage reached a speed close to 80 kilometers per hour, which couldn't be understood with medieval knowledge.

If they were on a flat plain, Suzuki thought that relying on the carriage's speed alone could be used as a Noble Phantasm to attack enemies. After reviewing Eleanor's information again, Suzuki became more certain that they would need to summon the carriage again to use it as a weapon and directly ram into the enemy.

"Speaking of which, my Crusade ended when I was 30 years old. This can be considered as compensation."

Eleanor's sigh quickly disappeared into the howling wind. Suzuki didn't hear clearly what his servant said, but he could tell that she was in a good mood at the moment. She had a strong passion for war, far from being a woman of little significance like most women in the Middle Ages. She was a queen and a genuine duchess.

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The crow watched as the two of them disappeared completely into reality. Richard I's immediate attack on Suzuki Yuki exceeded expectations. Fortunately, Richard I not only failed to kill Suzuki Yuki but also made contact with Gremory's golden chess piece, leading to Eleanor's arrival as Rider.

The two high-level demons behind the crow exchanged glances and saw the uncontrollable amusement in each other's eyes. The grand anomaly creator who possessed seven Servants encountered his mother coming to stop him, and it was too difficult for a person with emotions to immediately choose between human kinship and the desire for faith.

"Well then, I'll leave this place to you. In the 451st Holy Grail War, the Western Roman side won according to the historical record. As per the agreement, you are responsible for protecting that human this time." The female demon retrieved her crow familiar and immediately traveled through time to avoid trouble. She had had enough of taking care of Suzuki Yuki, and to ensure his adequate preparation for this Holy Grail War, she took the risk of listing over 40 possible Servants or important individuals who might appear for Suzuki Yuki to browse through before his departure.

"Wait a minute. I will ensure Suzuki Yuki's survival in this Holy Grail War and the next one. However, the imaginary Chaldea still needs you to monitor and provide protection. I'm not suitable for secretive observation missions." The male demon rode a giant monster as it walked out of a blurry rift, making room for his companion.

"Eligos! Am I only suitable for hiding in dark corners?! I don't want to waste another minute or second on a little guy who barely qualifies as human."

"I will relay your words exactly to Gremory." The male demon turned back with a smile and received a greeting of sword light. The monster he was riding skillfully used magic to block the sword's light, but the female demon's figure couldn't be found anymore. "According to human terms, would she be considered tsundere?"

The monster couldn't speak; it was just the demon's talking to himself.

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