Lord El-Melloi II arrived in Blackmore Village on the afternoon of the second day after Shiomi and the others.
Roughly the same time as the previous day.
"Yo, Second."
When Lord El-Melloi II followed the map to the village entrance, Shiomi, who had been talking with Bersac, stood up from the signpost and greeted him.
"Shiomi..."
Seeing his reaction, Lord El-Melloi II was certain Shiomi had already gotten a good grasp of the village's situation—that's why he was waiting here.
He glanced at the old man standing next to Shiomi.
This was Bersac, the gravekeeper of Blackmore Village, and the very person Lord El-Melloi II had come all the way to see.
The reason was simple: he wanted to participate in the Fifth Holy Grail War. But as a Magus, his abilities were limited. Having witnessed the war's brutality firsthand, he needed allies.
The gravekeeper of Blackmore specialized in Magecraft involving spirits. That was precisely why Lord El-Melloi II sought his help.
After all, Servants were higher-order spirits—making them potentially vulnerable to someone like the gravekeeper.
"Did you come alone?" Shiomi asked.
"Reines got tied up by the two girls at your place." Lord El-Melloi II tugged at his collar. "That was your doing, wasn't it?"
Shiomi raised an eyebrow. "Had to. I told Reines where you were going, remember? I'd lose sleep if I didn't offer some compensation."
"Anyway, you've been a huge help," Lord El-Melloi II said.
In truth, Sakura and Caren alone probably couldn't stall Reines. What really mattered was that this visit to the village was something Lord El-Melloi II was undertaking together with Shiomi.
With someone that powerful by his side, Reines—who didn't want her "toy" to break—finally gave up on tailing him to investigate.
"So, what about you? Your wife didn't come?" Lord El-Melloi II asked.
It was about seven years ago, during Shiomi's visit to the Clock Tower for official business, that Lord El-Melloi II discovered the Berserker had not disappeared after the Holy Grail War. Instead, she had remained in the world through a new contract, continuing to exist as a familiar.
This made Lord El-Melloi II all the more aware of his own limitations. Even if he had wanted the King of Conquerors to remain, his own magical energy would never have been enough to sustain it outside the Holy Grail War.
"She's exploring the village," Shiomi replied. "But she and I took the hunter's lodge on the outskirts, so you'll have to rough it at the church tonight."
Lord El-Melloi II turned to Bersac. "If things go well, we could leave as early as tomorrow."
"You must be Lord El-Melloi II, the one Mr. Shiomi mentioned was coming to see me," Bersac said.
"That's right," Lord El-Melloi II confirmed.
"Mr. Shiomi has already given me a rough idea of what this is about," Bersac said frankly. "But before we discuss that, there are a few matters that need handling first. Once those are settled, we can talk."
The unexpected reply caught Lord El-Melloi II slightly off guard.
But Bersac had already walked off, apparently to make preparations, leaving just Shiomi and Lord El-Melloi II at the village entrance.
Shiomi took up the role of guide and led him into the village.
"What exactly are you planning?"
On the way, Lord El-Melloi II finally asked.
Before deciding to come to Blackmore Village, he had done all the research he could.
He already knew the villagers revered King Arthur. He also learned that some kind of ceremony related to King Arthur was taking place here.
That alone wasn't too concerning.
Lord El-Melloi II had no intention of interfering with the customs or faiths of a distant land. He was only here to ask a favor.
But the issue was, the person who came with Shiomi couldn't exactly be considered an outsider.
Morgan—the Witch of Britain.
According to Lord El-Melloi II's research, the village's earliest King Arthur beliefs and their foundation were closely tied to the shadow of Arthurian legend—Morgan the Witch.
"Lord El-Melloi II, what do you think of a belief that has lasted for over a thousand years, yet has never shown any clear signs?" Shiomi asked, turning the question back on him.
Lord El-Melloi II rubbed his chin, his instincts as a scholar kicking in.
"Belief is something born in the wake of miracles. But with the retreat of the Age of Gods, the mysteries have withdrawn into even deeper obscurity. In such a situation, if a belief shows no manifestation from the moment it was founded, then over a millennium, it's bound to fade—until only a handful of those who know the truth still care."
"Exactly." Shiomi nodded. "The same goes for this village. They've upheld a mission passed down for over a thousand years, without any clear direction or signs. It should've long crumbled into dust with time. But something altered that course."
"The Fourth Holy Grail War…"
Lord El-Melloi II caught on immediately.
Of course he would—having participated in it himself and come face-to-face with legendary Heroic Spirits, it was unforgettable.
Especially since King Arthur had appeared as a Servant.
"Because of Artoria Pendragon's appearance, a tradition long maintained in this village finally underwent something like a divine transformation," Shiomi said, eyes on the church that was growing larger in their view. "Right now, the villagers are quietly and methodically carrying out the ritual."
"What exactly is this ritual about?" Lord El-Melloi II asked. With little information and only just arriving, he had no choice but to ask Shiomi, who'd gotten here ahead of him.
"To resurrect King Arthur." Shiomi lowered his voice, careful not to be overheard by the passing villagers.
Lord El-Melloi II stopped in front of the church door. "What...?"
"You think there's something off about it too, right?" Shiomi gave a wry smile and sighed. "That's why she decided to bring it all to an end."
There was no need to say who "she" was.
"She's the one who set this in motion, so it's only fitting that she's the one to end it." Lord El-Melloi II's face was solemn. "Makes sense. Still, it's hard not to feel like a thousand years have gone in circles."
"You'll have to ask her that yourself." Shiomi feigned a light tone, masking how much he really knew.
Because it wasn't that simple at all.
"Since you're telling me this, I assume you've made the necessary preparations in under a day," Lord El-Melloi II said as he followed Shiomi into the church.
Shiomi nodded. "The gravekeeper, and even the Holy Church, have already given silent approval to our next move."
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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