Chapter 9

"Yesterday's enemy is today's friend?" Caster sighed, rubbing his forehead.

"Why did you come, Caster?" Shirou Kotomine asked, somewhat exasperated.

"Well, Berserker went on a rampage," Caster said with a thumbs-up gesture.

"What?" Assassin widened her eyes in disbelief.

"To put it precisely, he embarked on the path of an inevitable battle against his destined enemy. We truly admire such heroism," Caster closed his eyes regretfully.

"So, you guided him towards his enemy?" Shirou Kotomine shook his head. "Caster, your desire for drama is excessive..."

"Please, do not dismiss it. For a creator, storytelling is life," Caster said unabashedly.

"Which one of you is willing to restrain Berserker?" Shirou Kotomine smiled, looking towards Karna and Achilles.

Despite the risk of exposing other Masters, it was now irrelevant. Cyd had no intentions of intervening completely, so Shirou Kotomine needed to adapt.

Karna looked serious. While Shirou Kotomine's intentions were clear and well-phrased, rejecting them might lead to immediate threats from Karna towards his Master.

"I'll knock some sense into him," Achilles grinned.

"Please, for now, consider him our ally," Shirou Kotomine awkwardly shook his head.

"He's likely heading toward the Black faction," Cyd said, leaning back against [Reforged Pandora]. "I'll look into it."

"Preventing Berserker from revealing the grail war without your help... seems unlikely," Shirou Kotomine frowned.

"I'll manage the situation if he causes trouble in a crowded area," Cyd assured. "However, I won't stop him preemptively."

"I'll come too," Atalanta stood up. "I'm skilled in taming wild aggressors."

"I'm going!" Achilles raised his hand eagerly, unconcerned about being seen.

"Then... Rider, Archer, I leave this to you," Shirou Kotomine nodded.

"We'll leave first," Kairi stood, knowing Shirou Kotomine had done to the other Masters he was meant to oversee. He couldn't stay idle, especially after Cyd's decision not to intervene.

"Goodbye," Shirou Kotomine waved. "I hope you succeed."

"I understand," Kairi nodded, scratching his head before leaving with Caster directly from the church.

"We have quite a story on our hands," Caster earnestly noted.

"Indeed. While it exceeds our authority, Master Assassin, I hope you'll release these Masters after the Holy Grail War," Cyd said to Shirou Kotomine.

"Sure, okay," Shirou Kotomine nodded.

"..." Assassin disappeared, visibly displeased after exchanging glances with Cyd.

"Thank you," Karna nodded slightly to Cyd.

"..." Cyd patted Atalanta's shoulder before disappearing.

"Then, it's up to you," Shirou Kotomine waved. ------------

"You were clear just now," Kairi messaged while sitting beside Mordred, who was tapping her legs against a tombstone at the Mage's Association.

"They're all enemies. Even if we defeat the Black Faction's seven, we'll have to face those who might confront us," Mordred's tone was somber as she adjusted her jacket.

"Even worse, I suspect Cyd knows their real names based on Rider and Archer's demeanor," Kairi sighed bitterly. "Archer is Atalanta... they have a connection with Cyd, who wants to repay her. As for Rider, Cyd only has Achilles."

"That Lancer..." Mordred tossed a stone aside from the tombstone above Kairi's head. "He's very strong!"

"Achilles is said to have invulnerable skin, with his only weakness being his heel. He's also the fastest hero in all of Greece," Kairi sighed. "Throughout the Holy Grail War, only Cyd seems capable of containing him."

"What! I'm strong too!" Mordred jumped down from the tombstone in front of Kairi, clearly displeased. "Why do you have to praise other heroes?"

"... I know you're strong, Saber," Kairi tapped the send key before raising his hands in surrender. "I have faith in you."

"You'd better not forget how you summoned me using that second-rate altar," Mordred crossed her arms, her eyes fixed on Kairi.

"I had to use that method to summon Cyd first," Kairi explained awkwardly. "It wasn't as enjoyable as before."

"It's not like you..." Kairi coughed lightly. "... to expose Shirou Kotomine?"

"Hmph, I'll forgive you this time, but don't let it happen again!" Mordred looked away.

"Don't worry, you're my Heroic Spirit, and I'm your Master. I have no regrets about this," Kairi reached out subconsciously to pat Mordred's head.

"?" Mordred raised an eyebrow threateningly, as if daring him to touch her.

"Because of the dire circumstances, I think we need to adjust our strategy," Kairi withdrew his hand and pulled out a map from his pocket, pointing out the Black Yggdmillennia's position. "Their stronghold makes them difficult to approach directly. They're likely to send out three or four Heroic Spirits if we're captured. The odds of encountering one are significantly reduced."

"What..." Mordred's interest waned immediately. "I thought we could easily take down the Black Faction's Heroic Spirits."

"Now, we have to play it cool," Kairi sighed. "King, let the enemy wear themselves out to give us a chance to win."

"What did you call me?" Mordred was taken aback.

"King," Kairi shrugged. "Didn't we discuss last night that you'd become a king? I'm just starting to call you that."

"King...! I will become a king!" Mordred raised her fist confidently.

"Then, King Yo," Kairi tossed the map back into his pocket. "Let's get ready for battle."