Fate Q&A: Chapter 230: Investigation

[Reines: "What's wrong, brother?"]

[El-Melloi II: "...No, nothing."]

["Hehehehe! I didn't expect you to be so slow, Ge—"]

[Suddenly, an extremely sharp voice echoed, but it cut off just as abruptly.]

[El-Melloi II and Reines exchanged puzzled glances before noticing the hooded girl suddenly waving her right hand frantically in front of them. They were both baffled.]

["What was that voice just now?" El-Melloi II asked.]

["It must have been an auditory hallucination. Please don't worry about it," Gray replied in a serious tone.]

[Her words only deepened Reines's confusion. Still, as it seemed to involve someone else's personal matters, they decided not to pry further.]

Illya: "Haha, this box is always so entertaining."

Waver: "At this point, does Gray already have the Holy Spear?"

[As Gray led them through the village toward the cemetery, the group stopped occasionally to speak with villagers, uncovering several interesting details.]

[For one, despite being located in Wales, English was the predominant language spoken here.]

[The village was gourd-shaped, concave from north to south, with the church at its center. The cemetery and swamp lay to the north, while the hunting lodge where they had stayed last night was on the outskirts to the west.]

[Additionally, Gray was surprisingly respected by the villagers.]

[Though not everyone acted this way, about half of the villagers they encountered would bow respectfully to her before engaging in conversation.]

[This wasn't simple respect, it was cautious reverence, as though they were standing before someone of noble status.]

[Their demeanor was akin to paying homage to a holy image.]

Kayneth: "It seems Gray's identity isn't exactly a secret here."

Sisigou: "Has the entire village been involved in this?"

Artoria: "..."

[They revisited the church, but Gray was unsure about the exact origins of the Black Madonna statue.]

[However, she did explain that the villagers were deeply devoted to the Black Madonna, reporting all major life events like marriages and childbirth to the Virgin.]

[Soon, they arrived at the cemetery they had seen the previous day.]

[Now, with the chance to examine it more closely, it was clear this wasn't a proper cemetery but more of a mass grave.]

[The tombstones were haphazardly placed into the ground, with names and brief inscriptions carved onto them. Toward the back of the cemetery, the older stones were severely weathered, indicating they had been there for a long time.]

[Despite its chaotic appearance, the cemetery was kept impeccably clean. It was clear that Bersac and Gray frequently maintained it.]

[The only structure resembling a traditional cemetery was the rusted iron gate nearby.]

[El-Melloi II inspected the gate closely, noticing a crow motif carved into its surface.]

["A crow…" he murmured.]

[The association between this village and Morgan became increasingly clear to him. After all, the crow was one of Morgan's familiars.]

["Does this cemetery hold crows as sacred?" he asked.]

[Gray nodded. "Yes, this place is managed by Mr. Bersac, but the actual owner of the cemetery is someone else."]

[This revelation startled El-Melloi II. He hadn't expected the cemetery to have a separate owner.]

[Gray hesitated before asking, "Why did you come here, Mr. El-Melloi II?"]

[El-Melloi II: "I have a matter that requires Mr. Bersac's expertise. I came to ask if he might lend me a gravekeeper."]

[Gray: "So, does that mean Mr. Bersac will go to the city?"]

[El-Melloi II: "If he agrees to my request. Is there a problem?"]

[Gray: "...No, not exactly…"]

[Through their conversation, El-Melloi II gleaned some information about the girl accompanying him.]

[She had never left the village, loved detective novels, and lacked self-confidence.]

[She was also the next gravekeeper of Blackmore Cemetery, chosen by Bersac nine years ago. Their relationship was one of master and disciple.]

[Though Gray possessed an innate ability to see spirits, she also feared them. This left her puzzled as to why Bersac had chosen her for such a role.]

[El-Melloi II also discovered that the gravekeepers of Blackmore Cemetery were always selected from among the villagers. It seemed as though some sort of contract existed between the village and the cemetery itself.]

[After offering some words of comfort to Gray, the group prepared to head to Bersac's cabin. However, before they could leave, a thin middle-aged woman appeared at the cemetery entrance.]

["Ah, so you're here after all," the woman said.]

[Gray: "Mother."]

[The woman was Gray's mother.]

[She appeared to be around thirty-five or thirty-six years old. While not conventionally beautiful, her calm demeanor exuded a gentle warmth, putting others at ease.]

[Gray's Mother: "It's time for the service. Come back to the church for prayer."]

[Gray: "But Mr. Bersac asked me to guide these guests…"]

["That won't do. While the work of a gravekeeper is important, you cannot miss church services. Besides, haven't you always said you're afraid of the cemetery? Don't be stubborn."]

[Gray's mother gently grabbed her hand, adding, "After all, your body is precious."]

[El-Melloi II frowned. That comment struck him as odd, was that something a mother would normally say to her child?]

[Gray's Mother: "I apologize for the inconvenience, esteemed guests. Do you mind if I take her away?"]

[El-Melloi II: "It's fine. She's already provided us with valuable information about the village. Thank you."]

[Gray's mother nodded. As she turned to leave, she added, "Please avoid going near the swamp."]

[Gray hesitated but ultimately followed her mother reluctantly.]

[Before parting, El-Melloi II finally had the chance to ask for Gray's name.]

Tohsaka Rin: "What kind of mother says 'your body is precious'? That's such a strange thing to say."

Reika: "It's true the words feel off, but you can sense the love in her actions."

Irisviel: "Poor Gray—her entire life seems so controlled. Thankfully, she met El-Melloi II and found freedom later on."

Waver: "…."

[Once Gray and her mother had left, El-Melloi II didn't immediately head to Bersac's cabin. Instead, he continued to inspect the cemetery.]

[Reines: "Brother, what's the matter?"]

[El-Melloi II: "I feel uneasy."]

[Reines: "Is it about her mother?"]

[El-Melloi II: "That's part of it, but there's something off about this place as a whole. If only my investigative abilities were better…"]

["Reines, could you take a look for me?"]

["Ahhh… Fine."]

[Though reluctant, Reines activated her Mystic Eyes.]

[She observed the area. "Well, there's a lot more magical energy here than in the city. The spirits around the cemetery appear and disappear like wisps of mist, creating a low-budget horror movie vibe."]

[El-Melloi II: "Don't just focus on one area. Try broadening your scope, bring your consciousness higher, as though observing the entire scene from above. Imagine another version of yourself controlling your Mystic Eyes and your perception."]

[Reines: "You're turning this into a classroom lecture, you know."]

[Despite her complaints, she followed his instructions, narrowing her eyes and expanding her vision.]

[Reines: "Hmm? What's this?"]

[El-Melloi II: "What is it?"]

[Reines: "How should I put this? The spirits here feel dense but thin at the same time."]

[In her enhanced vision, the spirits Gray had mentioned began to materialize, though their outlines were faint and barely distinguishable from the ambient magic. They appeared as an ethereal mist.]

[Additionally, there was something strange about the magic itself, it carried an unfamiliar property.]

[The cemetery, as a whole, resembled a massive ghostly entity.]

[Reines also noticed faint, flickering lines running through the area. These lines stood out as distinctly different from the rest of the cemetery.]

Kayneth: "It seems Blackmore Cemetery isn't just a resting place, it's practically a large-scale magical construct."

Waver: "Or maybe it's part of a barrier or seal."

Tohsaka Rin: "This village is hiding too many secrets."

Tohsaka Tokiomi: "Those lines clearly use a different type of magical energy. Could this indicate outside interference?"

Waver: "Remember, Bersac mentioned that other visitors had been here before."

Tohsaka Rin: "I assumed he was referring to Heartless."

Waver: "That's possible, but if it were him, he'd already be gone by now."

[After Reines described what she saw, El-Melloi II snapped his fingers.]

[Reines: "So, you've figured something out?"]

[El-Melloi II: "Yes. The cemetery has been tampered with. Since you detected the interference so easily, it wasn't well-disguised. It's transparent, as though the culprit didn't care if it was discovered."]

[Reines: "What do you want me to do about it?"]

[El-Melloi II: "Can you determine where those lines lead?"]

[Reines concentrated. "It's… that direction."]

[She pointed to a small hill opposite the swamp. Atop it stood an old windmill.]