[Comprehensive] Self-cultivation of the villain master

After Caster, Lancer, Acher, Assassin, and Berserker withdrew one after another, only two servants survived the holy war among the seven.

With Avalon who is said to be able to heal all injuries in the legend of King Arthur, it is already a miracle that Irisviel can still maintain her sanity in such a weak situation.

Even if Astra cuts off the supply of magic power from Irisviel, if the other party really wants to disappear, there is nothing he can do now.

Counting the ninth follower who was solved by his tricks, it is common sense that not only the Lesser Holy Grail, but even the Great Holy Grail should come.

But in fact, nothing changed.

As a well-informed Servant, Astra knew that it was not Irisviel's problem, but that part of the power of the Great Holy Grail had been deprived.In order to swallow him, a servant who was not within the specifications, he summoned a powerful servant, but at the same time lost some magic power.

It's just that he can only tell Merlin about these things, not Emiya Kiritsugu.

Regarding this situation, Emiya Kiritsugu was puzzled.

The current regular servants of the Holy Grail War are Artoria and Iskandar. I don’t know if there is such a precedent before. At this juncture of the war, it is impossible for the Little Holy Grail not to appear.

"How did you... keep Ari in her human form for the time being?"

For this question, Astra has long been prepared.

"Since I can guess what you want and agree to you, then naturally I have a perfect plan. As for what method I used and how I did it... You who value the result and don't care about the process should not be foolish to ask me .”

Seeing that Emiya Kiritsugu faintly wanted to speak, Astra raised the volume.

"The agreement between me and you Einzbern does not involve personal privacy."

A dark light flashed in Astra's eyes, and the expression on his face became colder and colder.

"I'm standing here now, just because I don't want the polluted Holy Grail to cause people to die, not because I agree with what Einzbern and the other two magic families have done."

Emiya Kiritsugu was silent for a while, subconsciously glanced at the blond girl who had already walked to her side, but did not ask her to leave.

"No matter what the reason, triggering a war is ultimately not advisable."

Speaking of this, something flashed through Astra's mind again, the speed made him dizzy for a while, and Merlin, who was in a hurry to materialize, supported him.

Winking at Merlin, Astra said in a deep voice: "I will restore the Holy Grail to its proper form, and I will also assist Saber in defeating Rider. This is what I promised you, and I will not go back on my word. As for the rest of--"

Emiya Kiritsugu could only nod slightly in the end: "I understand."

Although Astra is not very human, and acts vigorously, she has never been as strong as she is today. Even if Emiya Kiritsugu knew that there must be some unusual reason, because what she just said was very reasonable, it would be inconvenient Ask more.

Now, the question before them was——Which one of Astra and Saber will fight against Rider.

"A pointless question."

Astra didn't care about the look in the eyes of the master-servant, pointing her finger up, her tone harsh.

"Irisviel's current state, Emiya Kiritsugu, don't you think that the scabbard in Saber's body will still be effective after Saber leaves here?" Astra has already cut off the magic power provided by the master, although Irisviel was still extremely weak, but she still maintained herself.It is precisely for this reason that the Great Holy Grail that should have appeared has no shadow.

The scabbard Avalon, that is, the holy relic that summoned Saber, will only exert its greatest effect when it is next to the servant. Once it is too far away from the opponent, it will lose its effect and become unusable.

"This--"

Hearing this, Artoria looked at her Master in embarrassment.

Emiya Kiritsugu looked at Astra very seriously: "So, you want to avenge your benefactor?"

It's not that he doesn't know why Astra has been deliberately avoiding the topic of the Rider group. He has always known that this servant is quite stubborn in some places, but things have reached this point, no matter how persistent he is, he still has to make a choice.

One more Servant must exit the stage to allow the Great Holy Grail to descend, and now Irisviel cannot lose Saber, so he can only invite the King of Conquerors to exit.

"I'll let him make a move."

Astra smiled indifferently: "For a follower, repaying a favor is ridiculous."

Emiya Kiritsugu remained silent, while another servant present was in a complicated mood.

……

"Is that true?"

Merlin, who was ordered to stay and not to follow, asked his master like this before Astra was about to leave.It is impossible for this Master to give up his principles.

In other words, he said that he would make a move...he would really do it.

"Need I remind you again, Master?"

"what?"

Merlin put away the smile that surfaced on his face and looked serious.

"You are not a real servant, but your soul and body are separated. If you are seriously injured, I can't predict what will happen."

After listening to Merlin's words, Astra couldn't help feeling amused.

"Merlin, life is a gamble."

Astra clenched her fist with her right hand, with a look of nostalgia on her face.

"We were born into this world while weeping, and we lived for only a short hundred years. After harvesting all kinds of people and things, we left."

"In such a short period of time, it's too boring to be afraid of everything?"

"If we want to move forward, we have to stop and stop. Besides—" Astra smiled, "I have to do this now. If I choose, I can at least fight hard. If I am swallowed by the Holy Grail... There's nothing left."

Merlin is not a human being, but he has seen many heroes flourish for a while and then fade away.He watched human beings create legends one after another, and used their fame and achievements to add a touch to the paper called the beautiful scroll. He was keen on scrolls, but he had no feelings for humans.

But the existence of Astra, which is a collection of contradictions, still made him a little bit interested, just like he used to be a court magician for King Arthur.

He can touch the way of getting along with people through a person, but...it is really too difficult for him to understand human emotions.

He didn't understand the meaning until long after Astra left.

After leaving the castle, Astra's whole body changed little by little. Those blue eyes full of wisdom and calmness finally disappeared, leaving only endless coldness.

"Hmph, I really know how to speak, the 'human' me."

The consciousness occupying Astra woke up again, and there was a cold smile on the corner of his mouth.

"Since I'm awake, don't be too disappointing, Rider."

The final battle of Fuyuki's Fourth Holy Grail War is about to begin!