Fate/Magus Path

After concluding the troublesome Lords' meeting, time passed swiftly. A week had gone by since the successful conclusion of that meeting.

To avoid any further complications, Roy did not appear at the Clock Tower again; instead, he entrusted everything to Kayneth, Eulyphis, and Marisbury.

In return, he had transferred the so-called legitimate orthodox status to them, leaving the remaining benefits to be negotiated among themselves.

Thus, during this week, the three Lords were extraordinarily busy.

They were constantly occupied with gathering more resources for themselves. Working late into the night, they negotiated with other Lord factions to extract as many usable resources as possible from them, experiencing a mix of pain and joy.

As for disputes over distribution, aside from a minor disagreement between Kayneth and Eulyphis regarding the allocation of certain magical treasures, Marisbury, the outsider, had no differences with them at all.

He was very pragmatic... pragmatic to the point of disbelief.

He only wanted money.

No matter how many resources he secured from other factions or the Mage's Association, Marisbury didn't care; even if presented with a pair of gold rank mystic eyes, he would remain indifferent.

What he wanted wasn't magical materials or valuable magical knowledge, or even a division of power; he simply wanted the most straightforward thing... money.

And the more, the better. As for the share of magical resources he was supposed to receive, he was willing to let the other two take whatever they wanted.

As long as they were willing to pay, anything could be negotiated.

This behavior left Kayneth and Eulyphis puzzled over his strange actions.

Is money really that important for magus? As long as one has a stable family background and capital to slowly circulate, isn't it enough to earn what one needs? What's with this crazy fundraising? Is the Department of Astromancy really that poor?

Although they didn't understand, they didn't probe further; after all, only they would benefit from such a lucrative deal, so they immediately transferred money into Marisbury's account in exchange for more resources.

In short, the distribution of spoils was very harmonious, based on mutual consent.

Kayneth and Eulyphis primarily took away a lot of magical materials and resources, while Marisbury pocketed most of the money and assets. The three operated independently, without interfering with one another.

As for other Lords or factions that wanted to introduce themselves to the Magician of the Third Magic faction, they would accept gifts and simply respond, "Next time for sure."

Then, they would quickly return to splitting the spoils, tossing the letters into a corner as if they hadn't seen them.

When they were asked later, they would use the excuse that the Magician of the Third Magic, was incredibly busy and didn't have time to pay attention to them; they would say he would reply when he saw the message to brush them off.

What a joke; did they really think everyone was as idle as they were?

The Magician of the Third Magic was a busy person, occupied with countless matters every day; he wouldn't have the time to deal with them. Moreover, it was already difficult enough to have the magus's attention focused on them; why add more trouble for him?

As for worldly matters, the three of them were sufficient; anyone else wishing to share in the spoils could only be said to be thinking too much.

It could only be said that during the trial, there was such fervor, but now there was only envy.

A large portion of the Clock Tower's resources would lean toward the faction controlled by the Magician of the Third Magic, which was the school led by the three of them.

In just three days, the resources and funds they had amassed reached three times the total resources previously allocated among the three factions.

...

*Tap* *Tap* *Tap*

The hurried footsteps were somewhat irritating.

"What's going on? Are you pacing around here because you have something to tell me?"

Roy, who was in the study reading with Reines, glanced at the fidgeting Artoria before asking.

He felt a bit helpless regarding the King of Knights, who had been pacing in front of him for quite some time.

Artoria's face clearly showed she had something on her mind, yet after an hour of pacing, she still hadn't said a word. Reluctantly, he decided to ask her directly.

"If there's something you need my help with, you can just say it. There's no need to wander around like this."

"Eh? Is it that obvious?"

"It's written all over your face."

Roy sighed and asked helplessly, "Did something happen?"

"...Hmm."

Artoria nodded and replied, "Ever since I was summoned again, my soul has been feeling very strange. It's hard to describe; it's not exactly a good feeling, but it's not terrible either. It's as if there's something on this land of England that's drawing me toward it."

"Initially, this strange feeling was just present but vague, and I couldn't pinpoint what it was, so I ignored it. However, recently, that subtle feeling has become increasingly clear; even just standing here, I feel restless."

"It's as if something is attracting me to it."

A subtle feeling, huh...

He knew that with Artoria's keen instincts, this feeling could not be unfounded.

So there really was something on this land that was attracting this returning king.

He had some inkling of what that might be.

After a moment of contemplation, Roy turned to Artoria and asked, "Can you sense the direction or a specific location?"

"Probably, yes." Artoria gently touched her chest and replied affirmatively.

"I can perceive the general direction, and if I get closer, I'll be able to pinpoint the location."

"Does Reines have a map of England?"

Roy called out to Reines.

"Wait a moment."

With a simple reply, Reines quickly retrieved a map of England from a corner of the study and laid it out between them.

"This makes things much easier."

Roy nodded, thanked Reines, and then turned to Artoria, continuing, "Could you mark the approximate direction on the map of England? I might have some clues about your situation."

"Really?"

Artoria was a bit surprised by Roy's words.

"I often keep in touch with Merlin, so I know quite a few secrets about you."

He nodded in affirmation.

"Artoria, focus carefully on the direction again, starting from where we are in London." Following that, Roy used his magecraft to mark the coordinates of London and then traced the direction that Artoria sensed toward a farther location.

"That subtle feeling that is attracting you… probably comes from here."

Finally, his finger landed on Wales, located southwest of London.

Indeed, the direction of Wales was consistent with what Artoria had sensed.

"That's it! I've identified the source of your discomfort." 

"What is it?" Artoria stood in front of Roy, asking earnestly.

"It's your sister, the Witch of Britain, Morgan le Fay. She has prepared something for you."

"If I remember correctly, she built a village there that belongs solely to King Arthur and has made many preparations for your resurrection. She has also selected a vessel, and this vessel is the most perfect body completed to date, ready to resurrect you."

Regarding Artoria's inquiry, Roy didn't hold back and directly revealed the truth of the matter to her.

"If I'm not mistaken, your connection is likely due to that vessel, and now she is drawing you in to inhabit her body."

"Is it really my sister?! For my resurrection? How could that be? She isn't…"

Upon hearing this news, Artoria clearly found it hard to believe.

She could never imagine that her estranged sister, who had always been at odds with her and even harbored resentment, would take steps to resurrect her.

Moreover, wasn't this a thousand years later? How could her sister possibly still be alive?

No, wait. Immortality might be a difficult hurdle for other magus, but it didn't seem as challenging for her sister, considering she was the infamous Witch of Britain, Morgan le Fay.

Artoria was very confident in her sister's abilities. Even Merlin, who was called the Grand Magus, wouldn't dare claim he could outshine her in magecraft.

Seeing the disbelief on Artoria's face, Roy didn't say much more, just shook his head slightly.

"I won't explain unnecessary things; you'll understand when you see it for yourself."

"Actually, Artoria, you haven't truly understood your sister, Morgan le Fay."

Roy shook his head and refrained from explaining Morgan le Fay's motives or her feelings toward Artoria. As an outsider, it wasn't his place to interfere; it was better for the sisters to open up to each other.

After all, everything would be resolved when they got there.

He closed his eyes and tried to recall the part about Gray from Lord El-Melloi II's Case Files, combining it with the topics he had casually discussed with Merlin in their dreams.

Blackmore Cemetery.

On the surface, it appeared to be an ordinary gravekeeper's village, but in reality, it had long been influenced by Morgan le Fay, turning it into a village that worshiped and believed in King Arthur.

For hundreds of years, they had secretly prepared for King Arthur's resurrection, and according to the rituals provided by Morgan le Fay, they had filled the village inside and out with ritual props, working tirelessly to bring back King Arthur.

So Roy was quite attentive to this village; after all, it housed the Add, a precious mystic code.

Its essence was a copy of Logos React, one of the Seven Superweapons of Atlas, serving as a sealing artifact for the Holy Lance Rhongomyniad's true form.

The director of the Atlas Institute, Zepia Eltnam Atlasia, had advised Gray that when the thirteen seals were completely lifted, the Add would be destroyed.

Given such a precious mystic code, it would be impossible for him not to be interested. Moreover, the owner of that treasure was right beside him, so even if he got it, there wouldn't be a problem of it being unusable.

At the same time, the connection between Gray, who was born as the vessel for King Arthur, and Artoria needed to be resolved quickly. Otherwise, seeing Artoria so unsettled, she probably wouldn't be able to enjoy her dinner.

As for Morgan's carefully prepared vessel to resurrect King Arthur, it was clear that Artoria wouldn't need it.

With the gathering of magical energy from London's ley lines and the vast magical power Roy provided, he could directly establish a connection to the Throne of Heroes, accomplishing the feat of summoning the Heroic Spirit Artoria, down from the throne.

This special existence, without the restrictions of a class or time limit, was evidently far stronger than inhabiting Gray's frail body.

Though it wasn't a true living form, Artoria was still very satisfied. After all, the fact that she could walk again on the land of Britain was already a dreamlike experience.

Whether as King Arthur or Artoria, reviving by occupying an innocent girl's body was unacceptable to her.

"If you have doubts, let's set off now."

"Let's go see that special village that exists for you, meet the girl who serves as the vessel, and perhaps even see your sister."

"Sister, huh…"

Roy glanced at Artoria, whose expression was complicated.

"I have a feeling your sister is waiting for you over there; perhaps she is also surprised that she can meet you again in this way."

"Of course, if you don't want to go, that's fine. I can go there myself and handle things for you."

"I want to go."

Artoria nodded solemnly, her gaze firm as she replied, "I also have many things I want to ask my sister face-to-face."

"I see."

Roy nodded, closed the book in his hands, and then stood up.

"Then let's go see the village that worships King Arthur."

"Artoria, all your questions will be answered there."

"Next Destination is Wales, Blackmore Cemetery."

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