The establishment of the Time Travelers Alliance began in the first year of Conan

Chapter 319 Next up is—the Intelligence Conqueror King! [Seeking monthly votes at the end of the month!]

"Ah!"

The wool blanket I was wearing didn't seem as warm as it had been a few days ago.

Perhaps I should light the fireplace, or have a steaming cup of warm tea to warm myself up.

Weber trembled slightly, wrapped himself in the blankets tighter, and tried to recover quickly from his cold.

Logically speaking, it is quite rare for a magician to catch a cold or similar illness.

After all, magic circuits are essentially organs, and are directly linked to a magician's vitality, or "small source." Therefore, a magician with sufficient magic power usually doesn't get sick.

But Webber Velvet was an exception at this point.

He has burned out.

Even after he had become burnt-out "ashes," the magic circuits within him still tried to squeeze out the last bit of magic power to maintain the magic supply to Rider.

"Fortunately, Rider has already taken the initiative to become a spirit to reduce his burden."

Thinking this, Weber reached one hand out from under the covers.

Then, with the sound of the plastic packaging sliding, a bunch of high-energy foods such as gummies and chocolates were snatched into that "dark hole".

With practiced ease, Weber unwrapped the packaging and swallowed the cloyingly sweet gummies after only a few chews.

This morning, or perhaps in the early hours of the morning?
During those intermittent periods of unconsciousness, Weber clearly couldn't remember the exact time.

But he vaguely remembered that Rider had appeared briefly in his hazy consciousness, and the food in front of him was the result of his "conquest".

Weber silently apologized to the shops that had been "looted": "I just hope that Rider's actions haven't been discovered by anyone."

But the key question is, what should be done about the Holy Grail War that follows?

Weber couldn't help but sigh, feeling increasingly resentful of his meager magical talent.

If he had a few more magic circuits, or if they were of higher quality, perhaps he and Rider would already be tracking the enemy's movements based on the information on that map.

Of course, all the pain, weakness, and even dizziness I'm experiencing now are worth it.

All the pain seemed insignificant compared to what I had recently experienced.

Weber can still recall the exhilarating and excited feeling he had when Rider held him.

He couldn't even tell whether his dizziness was due to a lack of magic or because he was still happy that Rider had acknowledged him.

—And that book.

In the end, he still joined that strange force called the "Alliance," and the scene he saw before he fainted was something he would probably never forget for the rest of his life.

Although I had already decided in my heart that I would never open that book again.

"But even with just that one technique, I reckon he could rake in patent fees from the Clock Tower until his hands are sore."

Weber silently let out a joyful shout in his heart.

"A spell that can detect the fluctuations of every spiritual vein within a city and reveal the magician's location—"

"Whether it's the Mineralogy family, the Plant family, the Animal family, or the Creation family..."

Weber mentally reviewed the disciplines that needed the Clock Tower for reconnaissance and searching, and eventually found that almost every discipline required this technology.

In particular, the monarch of the Minerals Department was Kenneth El-Melloi I.

The thought that his skills would allow him to defeat that arrogant guy in his area of ​​expertise filled Weber with uncontainable joy.

But deep down, what is it that truly brings me joy, even pride and honor?

The magician, who could perhaps be described as quite arrogant, suddenly shook his head. The movement stirred the blanket covering him, causing the candies tucked away from the sides of the bedding.

Absolutely, absolutely, absolutely not because of that guy who's all muscle.

As for the fact that he saved him...

When it comes to this matter, Weber's feelings are quite complicated.

This is probably the second time Rider has saved him.

Weber took a deep breath, his somewhat chaotic thoughts seemingly difficult to sort out.

But in the end, he made up his mind.

"Anyway, considering that guy saved me, I'll forgive his previous attitude for now."

……

However, Webber's improved attitude toward Rider only lasted a short time.

After devouring candy for a full hour, Weber's face was now etched with a mask of pain.

With trembling hands, he threw off the blanket and sat up, suppressing the churning stomach acid and the urge to vomit.

"This way of replenishing magic is simply torture..."

Weber murmured, having decided he would never do it a second time.

Once you are able to move around, you should definitely buy the materials to make some energy potions that can directly replenish your magic power.

Fortunately-

"Finally... finally I can move around..."

Weber struggled to support himself and looked up at the noisy television.

He couldn't remember when Rider had turned it on.

But the raised head immediately lowered, then raised again, Weber repeating this several times. His pupils trembled with an incredulous emotion.

even--

Weber rubbed his eyes to make sure what he was seeing was real.

"Rider!!! When did you materialize?!"

The angry outburst was cut short halfway through. A churning sensation in his stomach forced Weber to strain to keep from vomiting immediately.

No wonder my magic power is recovering much slower than before, even after eating so much candy!
I don't know if it was because the candy in my stomach hadn't been digested yet, or because the fact that Rider was sitting perfectly fine in front of the TV was too much of a shock.

Weber felt a stomachache from anger, and his voice made Rider turn his head.

Iskandar pressed a button on the remote control in his hand, pausing the documentary that was playing, which he had taken from the video rental store next door while stealing the candy.

The video that the VCR just played was "World Military Combat Power Record - Part 3".

While Webber was "eating," Rider had already finished watching the first two episodes, and now the third episode was almost over.

Rider completely ignored Weber's problem.

He seemed oblivious to the anger on Weber's face, eagerly wanting to pull his strategist aside to discuss a crucial question about conquering the world.

"Kid, this thing called a tank is amazing!"

"Such a swift chariot! And it also carries powerful crossbows!"

Iskandar pointed to the television, the paused image appearing to be a military parade of steel in some country.

"You said that if all my men were equipped with this gear, we might be able to take Fuyuki City first, and then use it as a base to attack Macedonia—"

As Rider spoke, he suddenly seemed to remember something, and the interest on his face changed abruptly.

He pulled out the world map again, his gaze lingering on the island nation far from the mainland, his brow furrowing slightly.

"Yes, we'll need a large ship to transport these chariots to the other side."

He randomly picked up a naval introduction from the various military magazines and documents spread out on the side, the cover of which prominently featured an image of an aircraft carrier.

"I wonder how many chariots these steel ships can carry. Perhaps I should buy a few more when the time comes."

Clearly, when the Holy Grail summoned Rider, it did not tell him all the basics.

For example, no one would normally use an aircraft carrier to carry tanks.

Moreover, aircraft carriers, these "steel ships," are not only very expensive, but are also usually not for sale.

Weber's line of thinking was immediately swayed.

He completely forgot that he wanted to criticize Rider for wasting magic.

After all, the more crucial matter now is clearly to shift the focus of their Servants away from the idea of ​​"conquering the world" and back to the goal of victory in the Holy Grail War.

Weber was highly suspicious that if he didn't stop him immediately...

Rider's next move will likely be to rob a bank, then take the cash or gold bars to a nearby military base to "buy" the equipment he wants.

"Idiot! Attacking the army directly won't work!"

He finally couldn't help but shout loudly, his voice filled with anxiety and helplessness.

"If you do this, you'll attract the attention of the Church and the Magic Association, and then we'll all be finished!"

"Yeah, that's right."

Rider seemed to finally understand, nodding in agreement. He stroked his chin thoughtfully.

"So, I guess I should return to Macedonia first, reclaim my country, and then make further plans?"

"..."

Weber felt utterly powerless against Rider's peculiar logic.

Indeed, I shouldn't have had any illusions about this idiot who only thinks about conquering the world!
……

"So, kid, can you still use that spell?"

"The Holy Grail is the one right now—wait, right?"

Weber abruptly stopped trying to persuade Rider to focus on the important matter at hand, and looked up at the burly man again.

Rider then easily steered the conversation back to the Holy Grail War.

"Using food to restore magic is still too slow."

At this moment, Rider seemed to have returned to the wise and convincing state he had been in the previous night.

He explained his thoughts.

"Boy, we need to find a few ley lines that can quickly restore magic power. Your map-revealing spell, and my treasured artifact, are both major consumers of magic power."

That steady voice also explained why Rider wanted to buy tanks.

"As a Rider, I possess A+ level riding skills."

"If you could use magic to control those steel chariots and use cannonballs to attack, it would greatly reduce your burden, kid."

Rider sighed deeply, unsure whether it was because he couldn't test the tank's power in the end, or because his plan was rejected before it could be implemented.

"I never expected that you, as a magician, would have to consider the principle of concealment."

Rider's words silenced Webber.

He clenched his fists, a surge of frustration and anger welling up inside him, and a renewed sense of powerlessness over his lack of magical talent arose within him.

I should have thought of it earlier.

The real reason Rider wants a tank is probably because he can't even use [Divine Wheel] at full power anymore.

Having lost its greatest trump card as a Heroic Spirit, it's clear that the ability to crush enemies before it has also...

Suddenly, a thick, rough hand landed on Weber's head, and Rider ruffled the hair of the guy who was inwardly blaming himself.

"Hey kid, you don't actually think I can't summon my own chariot, do you?"

Iskandar held up three fingers and gestured to Weber in a relaxed tone.

"If you insist on unleashing my trump card, I should be able to manage three more times." But that would be a very low number.

Weber said to himself.

It's only the second day of the Holy Grail War, and Rider's ace can only be used three times already.

It can only be said that Webber completely misunderstood what the Conqueror King meant by "ace," which was not the same thing as the chariot he thought it was.

But Rider didn't seem to think there was anything wrong with only being able to use his Noble Phantasm three times; he remained enthusiastic.

Even as Weber was "blaming" himself, he somehow started fiddling with the map in front of him again.

As Weber tried to pull himself out of his regret, he heard Rider humming a song.

It sounded like some kind of exciting and stirring ancient war song.

Weber moved closer to the figure sitting cross-legged on the ground, his gaze passing over the muscular shoulders to the ground—on top of the pile of books, a map that looked very familiar to him had been laid out.

Map of Fuyuki City.

Rider, on the other hand, faced it with a serious expression, writing and drawing on it with several different colored pens in his hand.

“Rider, this is from yesterday…”

"Hmm, it seems I also have some talent for drawing."

Rider was clearly extremely satisfied with his results.

He picked up the map, covered in red markings, with two fingers and said earnestly:

"Now it seems that the biggest problem is how to gather the enemy together."

That hearty and unrestrained voice showed Rider's absolute confidence in victory.

In fact, Iskandar's confidence in victory was not unfounded.

It comes from what he just told Webber, that ace that can probably only be used three times.

That anti-army Noble Phantasm, named "King's Army," is an EX-ranked magic that is closest to magic itself—a "Realistic Marble."

Its essence is to "erode the real world with the mental landscape of the caster" and create an independent "world egg" inside the world.

This Noble Phantasm allows Alexander the Great, the conqueror, to summon his former subordinates as independent Servants to fight against the enemy.

No matter who it is, they will be facing not just a few hundred or a few thousand people, but an army of tens of thousands of heroic spirits—genuine heroic spirits.

In a sense, this is clearly open.

Because the Holy Grail War usually only has 7 Servants.

In other words, unless the enemy possesses a special artifact that counters "barriers" or carries equipment that can ignore the difference in numbers.

Once enveloped by the barrier, they are destined to perish under such terrifying military might, crushed into dust by the sea of ​​heroic spirits.

This is why he can still optimistically say that the biggest difficulty is simply "gathering the enemy."

……

“I’m not lying when I say the intelligence you brought is very important.”

Under Weber's surprised gaze, Rider pointed to a hill on the map.

Below the sign for "Tohsaka Residence," two bright red dots are clearly visible, standing very close together.

"Look, at least we now know that the Tohsaka family has two Heroic Spirits."

Rider's gaze lingered for a moment on the magic book that lay quietly on the table beside him, and he added:
"If the spell you mentioned does indeed indicate light and dark based on the intensity of the magic power."

“The spell can’t be wrong!” Weber interrupted immediately, his tone urgent and firm.

Rider once again demonstrated his meticulousness beneath his rough exterior, and he smiled smugly.

"Yes, so what I was looking for was a red dot with a brightness similar to mine."

"And churches."

Rider then drew a large circle around the location of the church and calmly delivered the horrifying information.

“There are quite a few very faint red dots there, maybe a dozen or so.”

Waver's voice involuntarily rose a few decibels as he exclaimed in surprise, "Someone has summoned more than a dozen Heroic Spirits?!"

"Even I cannot be certain about that."

Rider shook his head. "That reconnaissance spell only lasted for a short time. If it weren't for the fact that the red dots were so conspicuous, I would have had a hard time noticing it either."

He thought for a moment and added, "Considering that the Heroic Spirit standing in the Tohsaka residence looks rather pale, he probably possesses some kind of Noble Phantasm that allows him to create clones."

"Wait... Rider, you just said there are many Heroic Spirits near the church?!"

"Yes, my eyesight and memory are excellent; I would never be mistaken."

Recovering from the brief shock, Weber immediately realized the additional information hidden in Rider's words.

He realized the seriousness of the problem.

"But... shouldn't the Holy Church be the overseer of the Holy Grail War?"

"Boom!"

Weber was immediately tapped on the forehead with strong knuckles, and he collapsed to the ground, clutching his head.

"Foolish! Stupid!"

Rider's loud rebuke rang out mercilessly, completely disregarding the fact that his Master had just recovered somewhat from a weakened state.

"Since the Holy Grail can summon seven different classes, including classes like Assassin and Caster, will your enemies still fight you fairly?"

"Would anyone really reduce the amount of magic power they provide to their servants during battle because you, boy, don't provide enough for me?"

Weber lowered his head in shame.

He instinctively wanted to refute it, but he had to admit that Rider was absolutely right.

Since there is only one Holy Grail, only one of the seven Masters can make a wish in the end.

So, if you think about it carefully, the time when the enemy is weak is actually the best time to strike.

Unless someone thinks their own desires aren't worth fighting for at all costs—then why would they participate in a competition where they could very well lose their life?

However, despite saying that, a subtle hint of sarcasm and disdain still appeared on Iskandar's face.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk—”

This upright and honorable king had always despised such sneaky behavior, and he made a mocking sound.

"If the church is truly the judge, then this judge is clearly not fair."

Weber proposed a new possibility: "It is also possible that hypnosis or some kind of mind manipulation technique was used to control the referee in advance."

“Well, we can’t rule out that possibility.” Waver’s words made the Conqueror nod.

"This ability to create clones or control others is indeed very much in line with the Caster class."

"However, in any case, the Tohsaka family's Master must have already formed an alliance with another Master."

"Why? Couldn't it be that his heroic spirit also has a share—" Waver retorted instinctively.

But just as Rider was about to hit him on the head, Webber immediately realized the mistake of his fabricated story.

He quickly shrank back and hurriedly changed his words: "Uh, um... you're right, the possibility is indeed too small."

Rider then revealed the real reason he came to this conclusion.

He slowly withdrew his hand and explained in a calm tone, "The key is the location; those two heroic spirits were too close together at the time."

“If they are enemies, then a battle will inevitably break out in the Tohsaka residence. After all, how can you not do anything when an enemy breaks into your home?”

“And every conflict leaves its mark. Considering the reputation of the Tohsaka family head in this land, it is impossible not to attract attention.”

"But there were no reports of fighting or riots breaking out at the Tohsaka mansion in today's news."

—Of course, the real situation is that Rider, taking advantage of his spirit form, went to a hill near the Tohsaka residence and scouted it with binoculars.

However, Rider felt it was better for the kid not to know about this kind of thing that he had to do himself.

Otherwise, this somewhat timid Master would start complaining about how "spirit form is easy to get hurt" or "what if someone discovers it?"

In fact, there was a reason why Iskandar insisted on investigating the situation at the Tohsaka residence.

Remember what he just mentioned? He was finding the enemy based on the brightness of his own reflection in that projected map.

And the Heroic Spirit located in the Tohsaka mansion was even brighter than him—

With such a formidable opponent, it is clearly necessary to confirm their location in advance.

……

Webber's reaction was much better than Rider's.

He had lost count of how many times he had been shocked.

"Wha-what?!"

"Rider, are you saying that some Heroic Spirits have already made moves that have been reported in the news?!"

He even overlooked the fact that Rider actually did more than just use the television to watch videotapes.

But an incredible thought filled his mind.

How dare that Master who interfered with or colluded with the referee be so audacious?!
The Holy Grail War was actually reported in the news?
"Hmm, those are definitely the actions of Heroic Spirits, with those huge holes appearing in various streets."

Weber blinked, trying to clear his mind; he felt as if he had missed some important information.

"Big hole?"

"Yes, there are many large holes."

Rider stood up, stretched, and then picked up the VCR from the television set, rewinding the time to around seven in the morning.

"I recorded the news at the time using that function called a video recorder."

Rider gave Webber another smug look.

"Perfect timing, you can help me analyze what's going on."

As the play button was pressed, the TV screen lit up, and the picture switched to a spacious studio.

A reporter in a suit sat at the table and handed the microphone to an elderly professor with gray hair next to him.

"Professor Shinno, I think you've heard about the recent earthquake near Fuyuki City, right?"

As radio waves emitted from an observatory somewhere reached him, the old professor adjusted his glasses.

Then, he looked down at the manuscript in front of him and began to make up lies for the scenes that were obviously caused by some kind of supernatural force.

"Yes, there have indeed been several earthquake reports recently."

The video feed cuts to what appears to be a live broadcast, following the professor's voice.

A reporter with a ponytail and two wisps of hair curled on either side of her forehead stood outside a pit that seemed to be emitting white smoke.

"We can see that, due to the recent prolonged 3.3 magnitude earthquake, the gas pipelines in Fuyuki City may have experienced explosions..."

The scene was paused for a moment.

Weber's expression also turned serious.

He understood what Rider meant.

after all--

What kind of gas accident could cause holes to appear on the road surface, as if a straw had been used to poke holes in a thin layer of chocolate, even when there are no cracks in the ground?
(End of this chapter)