Fate Savior - Chapter 334 - Vol. 5 - Chapter 46: Once More

In the end, the clash between the Rhongomyniads turned out even more devastating than what Shiomi had envisioned back in the desert.

It wasn’t just a matter of nearby people being swallowed by a torrent of light.

Centered on the Round Table Fortress, a crater several kilometers wide had been blasted into the once-solid mountains. Not even a trace of the fortress remained.

“Camelot still stands. Looks like when the Lion King fired Rhongomyniad, the Knights of the Round Table had already fled.”

Shiomi landed in front of the Eastern Village's walls, having leapt over the debris-strewn path left by the mountain’s collapse. He stared toward the ruins of the Round Table Fortress.

Moments ago, he had sent a familiar skyward to scout.

The White Chalk City still towered in the distance.

At the very least, it confirmed the Lion King was still active—and that Gawain, guarding the Holy City, remained alive.

“The plan veered a little, but showing the Lion King what Rhongomyniad can do probably pleased Morgan even more than simply reducing the fortress to rubble.”

Scáthach landed beside him, tapping the ground lightly before catching his outstretched hand. She nodded in agreement.

“You're probably right,” Shiomi smiled.

Just then, a cheerful voice called out from above the nearby gate. A male Servant holding a bow stood atop the city wall, waving.

“Oh! Lady Scáthach made it back safely! That means the operation was a total success—no one left behind.”

“More than that—we even rescued one more prisoner,” Scáthach said, naturally clasping Shiomi’s hand as she introduced him.

“He’s the Master you mentioned? Looks like a seasoned warrior.” The Archer waved again. “I’ll have the gates opened. Her Ladyship, the Witch Queen, is waiting.”

The massive gate slowly opened before them.

“Who’s that?” Shiomi asked.

“Arash Kamangir. Class: Archer. He’s working with Hassan-i-Sabbah to protect the Masterless Servants in the Eastern Village.”

As they walked toward the open gate, Scáthach explained the situation.

This Singularity had summoned many Servants via the Counter Force, but most had fallen in the conflict between Ozymandias, the Lion King, and the mountain people before their arrival.

The survivors included Hassan of Serenity, their rescue target, and Arash, who had remained stationed in the village.

During the recent nighttime raid on the fortress, Arash had led some villagers to defend their stronghold.

Inside the gate, Shiomi saw what looked like a medieval stone city, somehow built into the narrow, steep terrain.

Rugged mountain paths had been paved with stone steps, and the dilapidated village had become a fortified town.

Such construction, completed in mere days, was impossible without divine-level Magecraft.

“This was all Morgan’s doing?” Shiomi couldn’t help but marvel at her ability to create territory.

Scáthach chuckled. “But it consumed an enormous amount of Mana. Even with temporary contracts from Caren and Sakura, most of the burden probably fell on her alone.”

“...The Lion King seizing my contract caught me completely off guard,” Shiomi said with a sigh.

Just then, he noticed his master slipping her hand away, giving him a light pat on the back.

“Go see her. After tonight’s battle, I doubt anything would make her happier than knowing you made it back.”

“Master...”

“I’ve already re-established your contract, so everything on this end is under control,” Scáthach said with a composed smile. “Leave the rest to me.”

The Mana restoration earlier had been so thorough that her skin still had a subtle glow to it.

Of course, the reason for her relaxed mood ran a bit deeper than that.

Prompted by her words, Shiomi quickly made his way through the cobbled streets of this foreign-feeling stone city, heading toward the castle at the foot of the mountain temple.

He crossed the empty courtyard, dashed through the vacant halls, climbed the modest stairs...

And finally, on the wide terrace atop the castle, he found Morgan standing at the edge, gazing into the distance.

“I’ve already heard the general situation from Chaldea’s report. I didn’t expect you to free yourself before I could come get you.”

Morgan rested a hand on the parapet and turned slightly, offering a faint smile as she spoke first.

“I thought I’d have to fight the Lion King to the death, but I never imagined the first Hassan-i-Sabbah would step in,” Shiomi replied. He lowered his gaze, apologetic, and approached her side. “All my contracts were severed. That old man... he's not someone to take lightly.”

“I see. That explains why the stolen contract between us suddenly vanished,” Morgan said, understanding dawning. “Since it was to help you, I’ll overlook the fact that a pact we’ve held for over twenty years just vanished.”

The night wind stirred their robes. In the east, dawn began to break.

Morgan’s silver hair danced in the breeze, the dark blue at its tips melting into the night—a picture of quiet beauty.

“The contract... it’s gone...” Shiomi’s voice was quiet, tinged with guilt.

“At most, I have half a day left before I vanish from Mana depletion. The contracts I made with those two girls were only temporary, just enough to borrow a bit of Mana—there are limits,” Morgan said calmly, though her eyes never left his. “Constructing a city, activating Rhongomyniad... it all takes far too much Mana. It’ll hinder their ability to act.”

Her voice, distant and clear, drifted through the night like the cool mountain breeze.

Maybe she was waiting for something—but that didn’t matter.

Shiomi knew exactly what he needed to do.

Morgan’s eyes widened slightly as she watched him lower himself to one knee before her and gently take her left hand.

He looked up, solemn and steady.

“The contract is gone... then let’s make another. Morgan le Fay, would you be willing to form once again the same contract you made twenty years ago—with a man who knows nothing but how to fight?”

As his words settled, Morgan slowly curled her fingers, her thumb brushing against the back of his hand.

“You’re awfully sneaky, my husband... Isn’t this exactly like when you proposed back then?” she said, glancing away, a soft pink rising to her pale cheeks.

The ever-composed and graceful witch now looked more like a shy girl burdened by tender uncertainty.

“It’s not sneaky. It’s only right,” Shiomi said. “I dragged you into all this—forced you to follow me through chaos, made you shoulder the burden of leadership when I was captured. Everything I do now doesn’t even begin to match what you’ve done for me.”

“Some things aren’t meant to be measured like that.”

Morgan didn’t let go. She accepted his request again, without hesitation.

Or rather, no matter how many times this moment repeated, Morgan le Fay would always accept Tenkei Shiomi’s contract.

Just as he said—for her...

Twenty years, in the span of her long pilgrimage, was no more than the blink of an eye.

How could it ever compare?

How could it possibly compare?