How come the Ace of Cups isn't considered the Holy Grail?

There was no magical barrier to defend against enemies, no courtyard to lay various traps, and even the location of the inn was in a bustling downtown area that would be immediately ruled out by all magicians.

Living in such a crowded place is tantamount to tying one's own hands for a magician who needs to study magic.

Even the slightest commotion will attract attention, and then I'll have to use suggestive magic to clean up the mess...

Unlike ordinary magicians, Elsa no longer had the need to continue studying magic, so she chose a place not far from her favorite izakaya, with a very good environment, as her base.

Fortunately, although she no longer continued to study magic, she still brought a lot of magic catalysts and materials that might be needed for this Holy Grail War.

This included the parchment and other materials needed to create the self-compulsion certificate.

This really saved You Du a lot of trouble; otherwise, he probably would have had to take the two of them back to Linglong Pavilion to get the materials.

The contents of the contract are all fairly basic clauses.

Examples include 'neither party can harm the other during the contract's validity period', 'the other party must provide assistance when one party is attacked by other Servants', and 'the contract ends when only 3 or fewer Servants remain alive'.

Oh, and there's also the clause that's unique to Elsa and her companion: 'Actively seek out and share the location information of other Servants.'

This is the price they have to pay as the defeated party, and therefore has nothing to do with Youdu.

“I understand the logic, but…”

Arash pointed to one of them with a strange expression and asked, "Why does the contract end when there are only 3 Servants left? Shouldn't such contracts usually end when there are only 2 left?"

"Oh, that's because we allied with Rider before you guys did." Yuuto waved his hand and explained, "That's because we formed an alliance with Rider before you did."

"Because the contract we signed with them states that 'the contract will end when there are 2 Servants left,' so you naturally have to change it to 3 Servants, otherwise it will cause a bug..."

Elsa and Arash were both speechless for a moment, unsure of what to say.

So you're already prepared to leave us to be the second to last to solve this problem?

You're quite honest, you even mentioned forming alliances with other people...

After resolving things with Arash, Yuuto checked the time and said goodbye to the two who, for some reason, had an unpleasant expression that looked like someone who hated cilantro had eaten it. Meanwhile, Reirōkan Misaya, whose eyelids were practically drooping, also booked a room at the inn.

He planned to wait until tomorrow and, together with Arash, split up to search for traces of the Berserker group, starting from several surrounding districts.

It would also be good to see Tatsumi Kureno, a rare normal person in the Fate series.

……

late at night.

While most people in the city are fast asleep, a blonde girl is strolling through the streets of Ikebukuro, wearing a thin dress.

Logically speaking, given her appearance, she should have attracted attention wherever she went. But strangely, as she walked along, the people on the street seemed to completely ignore her and continued doing their own things.

Even those who blocked her way would subconsciously make way for her, allowing her to walk smoothly without any obstacles.

It was as if he were a ghost that did not exist in this world.

"So there really wasn't one..."

Honestly, she was forced to leave Saber's side, and it all turned out to be a wasted trip?

After persuading Arthur to stay home and rest, Ayaka Sajou sneaked out while he was sleeping. Looking at the sky that was already slightly bright, she finally stopped searching for Assassin after a fruitless night.

I should go back now, otherwise, if Saber wakes up and finds me not home, it might cause unnecessary trouble, but...

"Besides Lancer, even the Assassin side has changed. What about Caster's side..."

After indulging in the pleasures of the land for several days, the princess belatedly realized that something was amiss.

The current situation has changed significantly from the future she envisioned.

Not only was Lancer, who should have been fighting Saber, nowhere to be seen, but even the rumors about 'Miss Mary' that should have arisen from Assassin's hunting activities were nowhere to be seen.

Did Assassin return to the Throne of Heroes in despair after killing his Master?

Otherwise, without a Master, how could she continue to exist in the mortal world if she didn't hunt humans to replenish her magic power with their souls?

Among the other Masters, none are as indifferent to directly touching Assassins as she is, so the possibility of her being captured first is very small...

Sajou Aika naturally sensed the massive magical fluctuations that occurred late at night.

Knowing who Caster was, she didn't initially consider it to be him, only guessing that Lancer had encountered Archer or Rider, which was why Lancer didn't appear in front of her and Saber tonight.

The fluctuation of magical power was also caused by their battle, perhaps a clash of Noble Phantasms, or something else entirely.

Now that Lancer and Assassin have both changed, could Caster's side have also changed?

If it happens once or twice, then a third time is probably not far off.

For example, what if the summoned Servant wasn't Paracelsus, but someone else...

"Fine, in any case, it's necessary to change the original plan now."

As Aika Sajou pondered what kind of breakfast she should make for Saber that day, she began her journey home.

"Since we didn't encounter Lancer, then Saber's first opponent will be Archer instead~"

After Assassin waits for her, he'll first go to the Holy Grail to see if the opponent has left the stage. If not, he'll then go and see who actually subdued the opponent.

There's also the matter of Caster, who needs to be investigated; as for who to choose...

Hmm... If she remembers the original future, Berserker's Master should be investigating the Holy Grail War at this time?

Let's give them a clue then.

Chapter 201 I Have a Friend

"Three...no, if you include that night, it was four days ago, right? A strange friend came to my house."

'That's a really strange person...'

Tokyo, Shinjuku Ward, JR Shinjuku Station East Exit.

Tatsumi Kurino stood there wearing a baseball jersey with a black upper body and white sleeves, glancing out of the corner of his eye at the blond foreigner standing next to him.

Tall and slender, with regular features and a neat appearance, these words together seem insufficient to describe the other person's handsome appearance, as well as his serene, gentle, and striking emerald green eyes.

The two of them were already attracting the attention of several young girls passing by simply by standing there.

Looking into the other person's eyes, Tatsumi Kurino couldn't help but recall the night the other person suddenly appeared in front of him.

It was also a night when he gained insight into a part of the true nature of this world.

That night, he encountered a Servant named Jekyll or Hyde...?

This term seems to refer to characters in various myths, legends, and stories, and he learned about this from the other party.

Furthermore, both of the other party's names are also the names of the protagonists in a modern foreign novel.

Laiye Xun is unaware of magic, mysterious things, tyranny, and danger, and has lived a peaceful life since childhood.

Even when faced with Jekyll, who suddenly appeared in his room and could be considered an uninvited guest, he chose the option of 'Since he's a guest, let's pour him a cup of tea first?'

That's almost too honest...

From Jekyll, he also learned that magic, magic tricks, and the magic eye—things that are not real—actually exist in this world, and that his mother's lineage seemed to be descendants of magicians.

Tatsumi's right eye is an innate demonic eye that can temporarily stop the movements of living beings. Although it has a powerful effect, it does not harm or kill others.

They also learned that a large-scale magical ritual called the 'Holy Grail War' was currently being held in the city.

He was chosen by the Holy Grail and gained the qualification of a Master because of the constitution he inherited from his mother. Jekyll was the Servant he summoned.

This experience was truly surreal.

After all, who would have thought that he had just casually recited the incantation recorded in the black notebook that was his grandfather's heirloom, and yet he had managed to summon a living person so magically?

Although the other party doesn't seem to be a living person...

Today, it was because the other person said they wanted to see modern streets and people living in modern times that Tatsumi Kurino brought them to this densely populated Shinjuku area.

God knows how nervous he was when he got off the train and saw the police station not far to his right.

They were afraid that the two of them would reveal something wrong and be arrested by the police...

If he, a complete novice magician, were caught, would he be sentenced to prison?

If so, what charges would be used to sentence him, and how many years would he be sentenced to?

Tatsumi was lost in thought, pondering some nonsensical things, until Jekyll suddenly spoke up beside him, bringing him back to his senses.

"Even though I can understand, I still can't help but be surprised..."

what?

He looked in the direction Jekyll was looking and saw the large advertising screen hanging on the roof of a building in Shinjuku.

"Ah... after all, you're from the last century. These things probably didn't exist back then, right? Like advertising screens and televisions..."

Both the setting of the novel "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" featuring Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and the era in which the author of "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" lived, were in the last century, so it is normal for Jekyll to be surprised by these things.

"Hmm, although the knowledge granted by the Holy Grail includes this aspect, it's still quite interesting to actually see it..."

Jekyll looked back and forth at this modern city, so different from the one he had lived in, his eyes filled with curiosity about the new things.

Is it interesting?

As someone who lives in this city, Tatsumi Kurino doesn't quite understand Jekyll's feelings, but he doesn't get impatient because of it, and just stays with Jekyll standing there.

Jekyll would also occasionally ask him questions about what passersby were wearing, what they were carrying, the hanging advertising screens, and what was in the advertisements displayed on them.

Laiye Xun answered his questions one by one, and the two of them seemed like they could stay here all day... but in reality, they quickly looked through everything here.

"What do we do next?" Tatsumi asked Jekyll. "Should we continue wandering around Shinjuku? Or should we go somewhere else?"

He knew his own limitations. Before this, he had just lived as an ordinary person for more than ten years. It was impossible for him to suddenly become strategic and scheming.

Rather than listening to this guy, who isn't even a master of empty talk, list out his plans, it's better to rely on the Servants he summoned; at least they are much smarter than him.

"Well..."

Jekyll hesitated.

Although the direction the windows of his rented apartment faced prevented Tatsumi from spotting the pillar of light in Akihabara last night, as a Servant, he was different from Tatsumi, who had just learned about the magic world.

Even after he drank the elixir that served as a treasure, summoning another personality within his body, Hyde, and completely losing his mind and turning into a beast, he could still feel that powerful magic.

There is no doubt that Servants fought in Akihabara last night.

Furthermore, there's a strong possibility that a Noble Phantasm was used!

Just from that magical power, you can tell that the Servant who used the Noble Phantasm is definitely not to be underestimated.

For a Servant of such strength to be forced to use a Noble Phantasm, his opponent must be someone just as powerful as him... or perhaps even stronger!

The Holy Grail War has barely begun and two Servants have already started a skirmish. Compared to them, this Berserker, who is no different from an ordinary person without using his Noble Phantasm, seems particularly weak...

This is also why Jekyll hesitated.

If they go there, they should be able to find some clues about other Servants, but if they encounter the Servants from last night's battle, they will definitely be no match for them.

He can't even protect himself. What's the difference between taking Ye Xun with him and pushing him directly into a fire pit?

But that was the only clue they had found related to the Holy Grail War in the past few days...

Seeing that Jekyll was still considering, Tatsumi, who was a little thirsty, told him and went to the vending machine next to him to buy two cans of drinks.

Just as he took out his wallet, before he could even pull out any coins, his cell phone suddenly rang in his pocket.

"Strange, who would call me at this hour?"

Feeling a little strange, Laiye Xun still took out his phone and pressed the answer button.

"Who is it?"

"Ah, is that you, Kawasaki? It's me, Kawasaki."

The male voice coming from the other end sounded somewhat familiar to him.

Kawasaki, he remembered the other person. He seemed to be a boy in his class who liked to chat online, but his relationship with the other person was just that of ordinary classmates who had occasionally exchanged a few words. Why would he suddenly call him?

And how did the other party get his phone number?

He doesn't remember giving it to the other person.

"Ah, I got your number from the homeroom teacher, but that's not the point! I remember you live in Setagaya Ward, right? Could you do me a favor?"

Kawasaki didn't seem to be in a hurry, so Tatsumi decided to listen first and see what happened.

"What's the deal?"

"Ahem, well..." Kawasaki lowered his voice on the other end of the phone and asked in a deep tone, "Have you ever heard of the 'Dark Forest' in Suginami Ward?"