BAMN: Chapter 127/129

Chapter 127: The Deal

Rin didn't know what to say about Saber.

Was it foolishness, or stubbornness?

Or perhaps, deep affection, willing to sacrifice everything for those she cherished.

"You have indeed grown, Saber."

Rin stood up and walked in front of Artoria.

Because of his movement, the surrounding Ogres immediately focused their attention, guarding against a surprise attack from Saber.

"But is it worth it?"

"Even if you take her from me, she won't live much longer."

Rin had thought Saber was unaware of this point.

He hadn't expected Saber to actually know.

And knowing this, yet still willing to return Irisviel, Rin's impression of her changed considerably: "Why didn't you just force your way in?"

"Given your personality, you're not one to compromise, are you?"

"Because there's no chance of victory."

Saber had her pride, but also her self-awareness.

Rin's power was not something she could shake.

To rashly force her way in, regardless of success or failure, would certainly lead to animosity with Rin.

What would happen to Irisviel then?

Furthermore, Artoria still held a glimmer of hope: "I wish to request your help, to save Irisviel!"

"Is that what you're planning?"

Not only did she want to save someone, but she also wanted to find a miracle from him.

"Yes."

Artoria: "You are a Demon King from another world, you must possess unfathomably profound magical energy."

Artoria had personally experienced the Snow Empress's magical energy.

If even a Monster under Rin could wield magical energy, then what heights must Rin himself have reached?

"Have a seat and let's talk."

Rin felt Artoria's sincerity.

Because she had not picked up her scabbard from beginning to end, allowing the Snow Empress to seal it.

In this way, Artoria became fish on a chopping block, with no chance of resistance.

"Alright."

The two left the main hall and went to the room where Irisviel was recuperating.

They sat down facing each other, and only then began to discuss Irisviel's situation.

"First, I want to tell you that I can indeed save her."

"Really?!!!"

The surprise came too suddenly, causing Saber to exclaim directly.

"Ah, I apologize, that was rude."

Suppressing the joy in her heart, the maiden asked: "Please, what do I need to do for you to save her?"

"Let me make it clear, I will not betray Kiritsugu. That is my bottom line as a Knight."

Indeed, the King of Knights was still the King of Knights.

As Emiya Kiritsugu's Heroic Spirit, even without a Command Spell, even if her Master was a deplorable man, she would still adhere to the Knight's code and uphold the virtue of loyalty.

"I am not your Master. I am not that despicable."

Rin waved his hand: "Besides, if I were to deal with Emiya Kiritsugu, I wouldn't need your help."

"That's true..."

If she were to be left here, Emiya Kiritsugu would effectively lose, so there was no need for her to stab him in the back herself.

"Let's put the price aside for now."

"Let me first tell you about Irisviel's specific condition."

After this period of analysis, Rin had obtained a lot of useful information, including the technique to separate the Lesser Grail from the Greater Grail.

Therefore, Rin was not deceiving Artoria.

He truly could save Irisviel.

"First, she is the vessel of the Lesser Grail."

"As Heroic Spirits continually die, the mechanism of the Lesser Grail is triggered, and her consciousness and personality sink into the Greater Grail."

In other words, simply returning her physical body or healing her was already meaningless.

How to separate Irisviel's soul was the key.

"Then, what should be done?"

"The method isn't difficult."

Rin said: "Complete the Holy Grail ritual, and when the Holy Grail materializes, find her soul and bring it out. That's all."

"This..."

To be honest, Artoria didn't understand.

She was not a magus. She didn't know how to perform what Rin was talking about.

"Don't worry, I can handle the specific method."

"The only thing we need to do is wait for the Holy Grail's advent."

"You should know the conditions for the Holy Grail's advent, right?"

"Yes."

Artoria: "When only two Heroic Spirits remain, the Holy Grail will manifest."

"That's right."

Rin said: "So, I need you to do me a favor."

"Find Assassin, and then kill them!"

"What?"

Artoria was startled. It wasn't that she wanted to refuse.

Rin's request posed no pressure on her.

Artoria's confusion stemmed from Rin's mention of Assassin and 'them'.

"Is Assassin still alive?"

She had thought Hassan had long since died.

"Yes."

Rin informed Artoria about Hassan of the Hundred Faces.

"I understand. I will take care of Assassin."

"Alright, I'll have the Shadow Squad go with you."

Rin was a bit troubled by the Assassins with their maximum stealth abilities: "They'll be responsible for finding, and you for slaying."

"Then, Gilgamesh will be handled by me."

This way, only Rin, Frankenstein, and Saber would remain.

Although there were three of them, the five Heroic Spirit souls required by the Holy Grail had already been met.

"To be honest, I have no interest in obtaining the Holy Grail."

Rin said indifferently: "If you want it, I don't mind giving it to you."

"What?"

At this, Artoria truly couldn't sit still.

She didn't understand why Rin would help her so much.

Was he interested in something about her?

However, Artoria did not see any lewdness in Rin's eyes, but rather another kind of desire.

"Do you want to subdue me, like Iskandar?"

Artoria did not immediately refuse. She fell into contemplation.

If Rin could truly yield the Holy Grail, then her submission to Rin didn't seem so unacceptable.

To save her country, once that wish was fulfilled, she would no longer have a reason to be king, and could uphold righteousness, becoming a true Knight.

If the new liege was someone like Rin, Artoria wasn't actually resistant.

"Indeed, I had that thought," Rin admitted, then shook his head, "Unfortunately, the Holy Grail isn't as wonderful as you imagine."

"What do you mean?"

"Do you think that by winning the Holy Grail War, you'll get an omnipotent wish-granting machine?"

Rin scoffed softly, "I truly didn't expect someone to believe such a deception."

(To be continued.)

Chapter 128: Different Choices

"You're saying this is fake?!"

"Isn't it obvious?" Rin replied.

"You should know that before this, the Holy Grail War was held three times, but not a single one succeeded."

"So, on what basis can someone assert that the Holy Grail is an omnipotent wish-granting machine?"

Yes, on what basis?

Who could prove that the Holy Grail could fulfill Saber's wish?

Was it merely the information instilled in her when she was summoned, and that phrase, 'The Holy Grail can grant your wish'?

"No," Artoria said, "If no one can confirm it's real, then how can you say it's fake?"

No one had ever achieved it, but conversely, no one could prove that the Holy Grail wasn't a wish-granting machine.

"I actually do know about this."

Next, Rin informed Artoria about a certain Holy Grail War where Angra Mainyu was summoned, and how This World's Evil contaminated the Greater Holy Grail.

"In other words, even if the Holy Grail truly still retains its wish-granting ability, it can only bring disaster."

"For example, if your Master wants world peace, the Holy Grail can indeed achieve it."

"But what's the method?"

Rin said, "All of humanity is extinguished, and the world naturally achieves peace."

As for how to extinguish all of humanity, that's easy.

Just incite human malice, trigger a nuclear war, and Earth will immediately face an apocalyptic catastrophe.

At that time, even if humans survived, they would only barely cling to life.

Wouldn't that be peace?

"This!!"

Artoria was startled by Rin's words.

If what Rin said was true, what would happen if she wished to save Britain?

The girl dared not imagine.

To fulfill the winner's wish from a malicious perspective could only result in tragedy.

"Then what's the point of me participating in the Holy Grail War?!"

Artoria felt despair, despair over the Holy Grail being corrupted, over being deceived, and over the uncertainty of saving history.

To change her tragic end, she signed the Heroic Spirit contract, forever lingering on that battlefield.

Now, she was told that saving anything was simply nonexistent.

"What, what should I do...?"

At this thought, even Artoria couldn't help but fall into an emotional state.

Suddenly, a hand landed heavily on her shoulder.

Artoria looked up and saw Rin's smile.

And from that smile, the girl saw unparalleled confidence.

"Follow me, and let's leave this world."

Rin said, "Since there's no way to fulfill your wish here, then let's go to other worlds."

"If one doesn't work, then two, if two don't work, then three or four, until the day you find a way."

"What's more, in this process, you will grow stronger and stronger."

Rin said, "Imagine, if you had the power to blow up the Root, why ask others for help? Just drag out the Counter Force and beat it up, wouldn't that do?"

"And in my opinion, what's called 'can't be done' is just that you're not strong enough yet."

"All fear and unease," Rin declared, "stem from insufficient firepower!"

Rin's outrageous statement truly opened Artoria's eyes.

But she had to admit, what Rin said made a lot of sense.

Power isn't just destruction, it also includes ability, knowledge, and so on.

What seems difficult to a child, an adult can easily accomplish.

"Instead of asking me for help, why don't you do it yourself?" Rin said, "And what I can give you is the opportunity to become stronger."

"How about it?"

Rin extended his hand to Artoria, "Do you want to come with me and see a broader world?"

With things said to this extent, did Artoria have any other choice?

Artoria knelt on one knee, holding up the Sword of Promised Victory with both hands, presenting it to Rin, "If you haven't deceived me, and all of this is true..."

"Then when the Holy Grail War ends, I am willing to follow you and become your Guardian Knight!"

If Rin could truly accomplish these things, then this kindness would be immense.

And Guardian Knight wasn't just an empty title.

"It is my honor to have the King of Knights as my Guardian Knight."

Rin, mimicking what he'd seen in movies, touched the tip of his sword to each of Artoria's shoulders, "I accept your fealty."

However, Artoria still had one question.

For example, how would Rin take her away?

She was a Heroic Spirit, having signed a contract with the Counter Force, it was impossible for her to detach from the Throne of Heroes.

"Ah, that..." Rin smiled, "That's very easy. Do you want to try it?"

"Can it be done now?"

"What do I need to do?"

"Relax, just don't resist." As Rin said this, he placed his hand in front of Artoria, then activated Capturer.

"This?!"

Artoria's intuition sent an alarm.

"Don't resist."

But as Rin's words fell, Artoria suppressed the unease in her heart.

She chose to take a gamble, to believe in Rin.

[Original Contract Overridden]

...

[Dependent Contract Completed]

"This, this feeling..."

Artoria's eyes widened.

She discovered that the karmic thread originally connecting her to the Throne of Heroes had truly disappeared.

"Dependent Contract, Master, Dependent, Void Gate, Intrinsic Skill..."

Although Artoria hadn't yet obtained a status panel, she had already gained a large amount of knowledge from another world.

Only at this moment did Artoria understand just how powerful Rin truly was.

The man before her was not at all as he appeared.

This was merely a projection of him.

The others were too.

Everyone was a projection of their main body.

"Is this the truth?"

Knowing everything, Artoria suddenly realized that her help to Rin seemed completely incomparable to the kindness he had given her.

Snow Empress, Ogerpon, Violet.

Their strength was far greater than hers.

Even if she went to the Cardinal World and could improve, how much stronger could she be than them?

Did Rin truly need a Guardian Knight like her?

"Don't belittle yourself, Artoria."

Rin patted the girl's shoulder and smiled, "Your potential is second to none."

Otherwise, Rin wouldn't have used a Dependent slot on her.

Even Sakura and Frankenstein didn't get this opportunity.

It showed how much Rin anticipated Artoria's future.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 129: Rin vs. Gilgamesh

"Oh, right, you don't need to worry about the Command Spells anymore."

Rin said, "Your Command Spells have been overridden by my Dependent Contract. Emiya Kiritsugu can no longer command you."

"Thank you."

Artoria quickly adjusted to her new identity.

There was no other way. Kiritsugu was simply too unpopular.

"When will you act against Assassin?"

"When I am fighting Gilgamesh."

Rin said, "With him there, it would be very dangerous for you to go."

"I'm not afraid of that guy!"

"Alright."

Rin: "Then let me rephrase it. He is a prey I have my eyes on. Can you let him go for me?"

"I understand, Master!"

"You're being too formal. Just call me Rin."

"Okay, Rin."

Artoria was very satisfied with her new lord and had hope for the future.

Afterward, Artoria saw Sakura.

She had no idea that Rin's Master would be such a young girl.

"This child is Sakura. I rescued her from the Matou Family."

Rin explained Sakura's situation.

After listening, Artoria was greatly displeased with the Matou Family and the Tohsaka Family: "Pushing such a young child into a pit of fire, why are all the mages in this world such people!"

First Kiritsugu, then Tokiomi, and also Kirei.

It seemed that, except for Waver, none of the modern mages were good people.

"Rest well tonight."

Rin connected the Ryuudou Temple ley line to Saber, allowing her to draw magical energy from it.

With Avalon, the Excalibur, and the support of the Ryuudou Temple's magical energy, with such strength, let alone a mere Assassin, Artoria had a good chance of winning against even Iskandar and Gilgamesh.

Just like that, time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, it was the night of the second day.

Rin and Artoria acted separately.

The former stayed at Ryuudou Temple, while the latter, accompanied by the Shadow Squad's ninjas, located Hassan of the Hundred Faces.

At the same time, Emiya Kiritsugu and Kirei Kotomine also began their actions.

The two met again, just like in the original story, and a fierce gun battle erupted.

---

"You've arrived, Gilgamesh."

Behind the gate of Ryuudou Temple, Rin stood there, waiting for Gilgamesh's arrival.

Sakura had been placed by Rin within his Bounded Field.

It was very safe there and would not be affected by anything.

"Go."

"Yes!"

Shion hoisted her long blade and, leading the Red Corps, charged towards the mountain gate.

Rin paid no attention to the battle there.

His attention was focused on Artoria, waiting for the moment she would utterly defeat Assassin.

As for now...

Rin opened his attribute panel, looking at the parsing progress of Gate of Babylon.

[Gate of Babylon]

[Parsing Progress: 20%]

[Parsing Progress: 21%]

As Shion and Gilgamesh clashed again, the parsing progress began to climb at a considerable speed.

And when Shion was defeated, there were still others.

Yes, Rin was indeed sending them in waves.

It was impossible to deal with Gilgamesh relying on the Ogres.

After all, Gilgamesh was the strongest Heroic Spirit designated by Type-Moon.

His weak performance in the original work was mainly because Gilgamesh was not serious and fought too carelessly.

Once he became serious and fully prepared, he was definitely the most terrifying existence.

However, Rin's trump card against Gilgamesh was not the Ogres.

"Can't I go yet?"

Ice Empress was getting a little impatient.

"If you want to go, you can."

Rin's words greatly displeased Ice Empress: "What do you mean?"

"Exactly what it means."

Rin patted Ogerpon's head and then took Snow Empress's hand: "These are my left and right arms. As for you, Ice Empress, you were just a bonus."

"Ugh!"

Ice Empress wanted to bite him, but Rin was speaking the truth.

So infuriating!

This guy was truly vexing.

"Bing'er, don't be impulsive."

Snow Empress said, "I still need your power."

Thankfully, she still had Snow Empress.

Ice Empress glared fiercely at Rin, then moved closer to Snow Empress, cuddling with her.

"This amount of magical energy is a bit too abnormal."

Gradually, as the battle grew more intense, Rin noticed something was amiss.

Gilgamesh was indeed strong.

But to defeat over 30 Ogres in such a short time was truly beyond common sense.

"Could it be..."

Suddenly, Rin thought of a possibility.

"Rumble!"

It was also at this moment that the mountain gate completely collapsed, the barrier shattered, and a figure clad in golden armor appeared before Rin.

"These mongrels truly wasted a lot of this King's time!"

Golden ripples flickered around Gilgamesh, and countless Noble Phantasms appeared and disappeared, exerting immense pressure on everyone.

"Command Spells?"

Rin noticed the change on Gilgamesh's body.

The red patterns on his skin glowed faintly, and the magical energy within them felt very similar to Command Spells to Rin.

'So Kirei Kotomine still got his hands on the Holy Church's Command Spells?'

Rin was a bit surprised but it was within an acceptable range.

However, he didn't know how many Command Spells Kirei Kotomine had used, and what kind of boost those Command Spells had given to Gilgamesh?

"Still as arrogant as ever, Gilgamesh."

"Hmph!"

Facing Rin's taunt, Gilgamesh merely snorted coldly.

The next moment, a green flying ship shot out from behind him, and Gilgamesh leaped up, sitting atop this airship.

"Vimana?"

Rin knew the origin of this flying ship. It was the glorious chariot from the Ramayana.

"Hmm?"

But the next moment, Rin saw a strange object being thrown down from Vimana.

Gilgamesh revealed a playful smile, as if he had been looking forward to the scene that was about to unfold.

"Shuna!!"

Almost at the instant Rin spoke, dozens of Miko Himes acted simultaneously.

A large amount of magical energy converged, forming a barrier even stronger than before, enveloping the courtyard of Ryuudou Temple.

"Boom!!!"

White light instantly bloomed.

Then came boundless heat, and a colossal roar that seemed capable of shattering heaven and earth.

The barrier swayed precariously. Although it ultimately didn't shatter, its brilliance had already faded by six or seven tenths.

This showed just how immense the power of that strike was.

(To be continued.)