Walking in the Question and Answer System of Heroic Spirits

If that experience was fake, she wouldn't feel so out of place here.

This is the land where she was born and raised; she knows it intimately.

[As she passed the church, she saw Priest Fernand and Sister Illumia.]

【"What’s wrong with you?"】

Ilumia asked, "You look terrible. Your health is precious in this village, isn't it? Seeing you staggering along the road with that expression on your face, people will worry that something happened to you."

[Grey: "...Thank you."]

She remembered that Fernand and Illumina were among the few in the village who didn't view her with a sacred gaze, but she didn't recall them ever approaching her like this before.

At this moment, Fernando, who had become as round as a ball, also came over and asked Grey about the Second Prince.

This matches what I remember.

Since it was the time when the peddlers came to the village, Fernand didn't say much and left with Ilumia.

However, this situation only made Grey more confused.

Chapter 237 - Reunion

"You're late today, Grey."

When Grey arrived at the dilapidated house behind the church, Belsac was chopping wood there. Without turning around, he asked her a question.

[Grey: "I...I'm a little upset."]

She tried to calm herself down and secretly observed her surroundings.

Just as I remember, I didn't notice anything different.

"Um, Mr. Belsac..."

【"..."】

There was no response, just as I remembered.

[Belsauk is not a taciturn person; in fact, he can become quite talkative if necessary. He simply isn't interested in everyday conversation.]

[Grey: "...Don't you think something's happened in the village?"]

[Belsauk paused, turned his head, and asked, "What do you mean?"]

[Grey: "No, no, you mean, like, everyone suddenly disappearing, or the season regressing to summer even though it's winter."]

[Belsauk frowned and said, "...What are you talking about?"]

Grey suddenly realized she had been too hasty and said, "I just happened to read about that kind of thing in a book and had a strange dream."

[“Is that so?”]

[Belsauk readily accepted this answer, putting down his axe and saying, "More importantly, regarding yesterday's visitor..."]

[Grey: "What happened?"]

[Belsauk: "He asked me about your appearance."]

Grey was startled. Yes, it was this part; it overlapped with her memories again.

[Belsauk: "What's wrong? Daydreaming again."]

[Grey: "N-nothing. But...why are you talking about appearances?"]

"The guest seems to want to hire the gravedigger from Blackmore."

[Belsauk glanced at Grey and said, "You are undoubtedly one of them. But normally, this village wouldn't let you go. Because this place has been established on such a system for a long time."]

[Grey: "...Yes."]

She recalled that the conversation ended there.

[Because she was too timid back then, 'Even if a miraculous encounter happened, it was still not meant for me,' that was her thought at the time.]

Shiki Jieli: "It feels like the past is repeating itself. This girl must be very uneasy."

Tokiomi Tohsaka: "If her will is not strong, she may become confused and start to doubt whether everything after she left the village was real."

Tokiomi Tohsaka: "No, I should say she's already starting to have that idea."

[Grey: "May I ask what Mr. Belsack and his guest discussed?"]

【"Um?"】

[Belsaac's strange gaze fell on Grey, and he said, "It's quite rare to see you curious about something like this."]

[Grey: "Is that so... But, after all, this concerns me."]

[Belsauk: "That's true. The other party is the monarch of the Clock Tower, so there's no way to brush it off with a casual remark. I told him frankly about the origin of your appearance and your connection to Ad."]

[Grey: "The origin of my appearance..."]

The origin of her appearance is none other than King Arthur, Britain's greatest hero.

This is a long-term plan, and she only knows the general outline.

In short, the history of this village has been about creating people capable of using the Noble Phantasms sealed within Adri.

This plan has been too long, so long that even its meaning has been forgotten, yet the village continues its miserable existence—an act of forgetting its purpose.

[She herself found it somewhat baffling; King Arthur was actually a woman, but that was the prevailing belief in the village.]

After meeting her master, she realized that the legend was true.

Weber: "As expected, this village is planning to create a new King Arthur."

Rebellious Knight: "How dare they offend my father! They all deserve to die!"

Lancelot: "Indeed, to attempt to create a counterfeit deserves to be executed!"

Lion Jie Li: "But don't you find it ridiculous? They've even forgotten the purpose of doing this, yet they're still stubbornly carrying it out. It's become an obsession."

Kenneth: "Maybe they haven't forgotten at all, it's just that Grey doesn't know it."

Weber: "Indeed, but one thing is certain: this project is very old, probably dating back to the time of King Arthur."

Artoria: "..."

[Belsauk: "It's so quiet today. Normally, people would be making unnecessary jokes by now."]

He was referring to Yad.

[Grey: "Um, it seems like neither of us slept well."]

"Hmm, is that possible too?"

[Belsauk stroked his beard and said, "In any case, it's necessary to probe that man's thoughts further. I'm also planning to send you to guide the guests today, is that alright?"]

Grey's expression froze; this development was exactly the same as it had been years ago.

If that's the case, what about the teachers? Would they be in the same boat as them?

Kiritsugu Emiya: "If even the Second Emperor doesn't remember her, she'll probably really break down."

Weber: "Yes, like the last straw that broke the camel's back, hopefully it won't happen."

[Bereza looked at Grey with a puzzled expression and asked, "What's wrong? Did something unpleasant happen today?"]

[Grey: "N-no."]

[Belsauk glanced at Grey suspiciously, then picked up the basket beside him.]

"Let's use this instead of lunch. You can take it to the guest."

[Grey: "...I...I understand."]

Grey took the basket and hurried away, leaving Bersack with a furrowed brow.

The hunting lodge wasn't far from here, and Gray quickly arrived at the door, but hesitated to knock.

She was afraid, afraid that even her second life wouldn't remember her.

After hesitating for a moment, Grey finally pushed open the door and went inside.

The Second Prince sat at the table, lighting a cigar and silently watching her.

【"master..."】

[Grey mustered her courage and called out slowly in a hoarse voice.]

The room fell silent.

【"Very good."】

After a moment, the Second Prince breathed a sigh of relief and said, "It seems you are the Grey I know."

That simple sentence immediately put Grey at ease.

Weber: "It's alright, it's not the worst-case scenario yet."

Lion Jie Li: "Hehe, this little girl really relies on you."

Weber: "Ahem, that's me in the future."

Lion's Tribulation: "It's all the same, it's all the same."

[Grey, relieved, felt as if her body had been detached and almost fell, but was quickly helped to a chair by the Second Prince.]