Chapter 74: Encounter (1)

"Although this might be a bit inappropriate right now, may I ask you a question, Tatsuya?" Artoria asked as they walked toward the chapel.

"It depends on the question. If you're asking about my magic or my secret weapon, I'm afraid I can't answer that," Tatsuya replied as if it were a given.

"Of course, I understand that as a mage, you must keep your background hidden." Artoria shook her head slightly. "What I want to ask is about the sister."

Tatsuya raised his eyebrows slightly, not expecting the conversation to go in this direction. "Go ahead and ask."

With his permission, Artoria exhaled softly.

"...Is that Morgan really the Morgan I know?"

Artoria's question left Tatsuya momentarily puzzled.

It wasn't an inquiry about the Servant's stats or a curiosity about her private life—it was a simple yet profound question: "Is she really who she seems to be?"

"I don't quite understand what you mean," Tatsuya said, standing in the sunlight streaming through the chapel's windows.

"My apologies, perhaps I didn't explain it well," Artoria said earnestly. "It's just—from the first battle with Morgan to our subsequent cooperation, and everything that's happened since then..."

Morgan was undeniably Morgan; even Artoria would never suspect someone was impersonating her. But there was no denying that she had sensed something different from that Morgan.

She seemed like the same person, but not entirely.

As someone with a naturally keen intuition, the Knight King couldn't shake the doubt and wanted to confirm it with Morgan's Master.

Tatsuya was silent for a moment before speaking. "I have two questions for you."

"Go ahead."

"Morgan looks a lot like you... Did she look exactly like you when she was younger?" Tatsuya asked.

Artoria frowned. "I was adopted by Sir Hector when I was born. I rarely saw my sister until I drew the Sword of Selection at the age of fifteen and took the throne."

"Then... the second question," Tatsuya continued, turning to look at Artoria. "In your time, was there a place in Britain called the 'Land of Rain'?"

The second question confused Artoria even more. "It rains frequently in Britain, so calling the whole country the Land of Rain wouldn't be strange. But if you're asking about a specific place by that name, I've never heard of it."

"Really?" Tatsuya mused, beginning to piece things together.

Perhaps because she rarely spoke about Britain's culture and history, Artoria added another detail.

"Speaking of rain, I remember there was an archipelago called Orkney, located in the sea north of Britain. It was said to rain there year-round. I was stationed there once or twice for political and military reasons, and during that time, the rain never stopped."

Tatsuya nodded quietly and thanked her. "Thank you for answering my questions. Sometimes it's best to ask someone who lived in that era."

"I hope it helps," Artoria replied.

"As for Morgan," Tatsuya paused thoughtfully, "she is who she is, so you don't need to worry too much. At the very least... she won't betray you."

Artoria laughed softly. "I understand. Since you have complete trust in the Queen, I'll leave it at that. Please forget I asked."

Saber understood Tatsuya's words as him protecting Morgan.

He wanted to explain, but as they reached the chapel door, and he placed his hand on it, the sensation outside—the presence that pierced through the chill of winter—made Tatsuya's heart jolt.

Artoria also quickly set aside her casual demeanor and positioned herself next to the door, standing with Tatsuya on either side.

He extended his arm, slowly pushing the chapel door open just a crack.

There, at the open entrance, stood an arrogant and disrespectful figure, cloaked in gold but without his golden armor.

Gilgamesh.

Both of them recognized the sudden appearance of this Servant at the same time, and Artoria instinctively shifted into her military stance.

"It doesn't seem like a sudden ambush," Tatsuya observed, glancing at Artoria.

"In other words, retreating through the back door before his arrival is not an option," she agreed, mirroring Tatsuya's thoughts. "There's a Servant here, and a Master who can match him. If they work together, they might be able to retreat temporarily."

With the true names of all parties revealed, only Gilgamesh's Noble Phantasm remained a mystery.

Perhaps his treasury, filled with countless treasures, was his greatest weapon. But what else did he possess?

Like other Servants, he must have an ultimate move that had yet to be unveiled.

Their original plan was to locate Kirei and the King of Heroes before launching a surprise attack. But it was clear the enemy had no intention of waiting—they had launched the attack first.

"The remaining question is, who is he here for?" Tatsuya asked as he extended his hand, and a red spear materialized in his grasp.

Artoria was slightly surprised. "That's... a Noble Phantasm?"

He wasn't a Servant, yet he wielded a Noble Phantasm.

Could it be, like Alice Fell and others, he had unearthed something ancient from this era?

"We'll talk about that later. Let's move."

Exchanging a glance with Saber, the two pushed the door open and stepped outside.

"Oh? As Kirei mentioned, they've come to the church to gather information." Gilgamesh stood with one hand in his pocket. "Saber... and the God Slayer."

As the words left his mouth, over a dozen golden portals opened, revealing various prototype treasures slowly emerging from them.

"The terrain here is too open; it's not ideal for fending off long-range projectiles." Tatsuya glanced toward the side of the church and quietly reminded Artoria, "We'll use the first wave of attacks to draw him into the woods."

"I understand. Be cautious," Artoria said, gripping her invisible sword. She considered that she might need to reveal her Noble Phantasm's true name.

For some reason, the thought of Tatsuya dying in battle here left her uncertain of how she would face Morgan afterward.

Despite everything... she had never truly interacted with her as a sister, not even for a single day.

"Enough of this. Though it's a bit early, two Servants have already fallen. A few more need to disappear before things can truly begin." Gilgamesh raised his hand, and the treasures extended further. "If you don't wish to die, struggle with all your might, you fools."

With a casual wave of his left hand, the treasures shot toward them like a rain of arrows.

Explosions erupted, thick smoke rising and enveloping Tatsuya and Artoria. Gilgamesh stood leisurely, assuming they had been destroyed by this single strike.

Suddenly, a spinning sickle shot out from the smoke, flying directly toward Gilgamesh.