Kurumi Tokisaki's Planar Journey - Chapter 484
“The Holy Grail, if it were so powerful, would have no need for rules.”
This sentence echoed in Saber’s mind as she lifted her gaze to Kurumi. The black teardrop mole under Kurumi’s wine-red eyes was reflected in Saber’s retina.
Her mind is hazy, Saber didn’t even know what she was thinking.
Her throat felt dry and itchy. As a Heroic Spirit, this was quite unusual.
She picked up her coffee, paying no attention to its bitterness or heat, and drank it all in one gulp.
“Would you like another cup?”
Seeing the frowning girl opposite her, Kurumi added, “How about with more milk?”
Saber nodded, then caught herself, shaking her head. Her golden ponytail swayed behind her, and she felt more and more confused.
“Forgive me for asking, but what is your name? I can’t keep calling you ‘witch,’ can I?”
Red Queen, directing the floating cup of milk coffee, had a teasing look on her face. “Saber, are you asking for the true name of a god?”
The blonde girl hesitated. “If there’s some taboo, please forgive my rudeness.”
“Of course not,” Kurumi shot Red Queen a look, an action that reminded Saber of Guinevere. Back then, she also…
“A name is just a designation. I’m called Tokisaki Kurumi. You’re probably the first being in this world to hear that name.”
“Tokisaki Kurumi?” Saber murmured the name twice, her knightly instincts honing in on the key detail.
“This world?!”
Before Kurumi could explain, Saber’s face turned embarrassed. “Separating this world from others… It seems I overreacted.”
“You think too much,” Kurumi said, switching her supporting hand under her chin. “Can I call you Artoria? Similarly, you can call me Kurumi.”
Saber smiled wryly. “This reminds me of my first day in Fuyuki City.”
“With the Einzberns?”
“Your terrible mind-reading ability is no different from a witch’s.”
“Just normal guessing, any ordinary person could do it.”
“Ordinary people wouldn’t be as outstanding as you, right, Kur… Kurumi.”
The black-haired girl opposite her, only her wine-red eyes visible, smiled into crescents, looking extraordinarily beautiful.
Artoria was momentarily flustered, forcing herself to focus on the delicate pastries on the table.
“Kurumi… names often have special meanings, don’t they?” Artoria glanced at Red Queen. “Like that little one said, ‘the true name of a god’…”
“Pfft!”
Kurumi covered her mouth with a small hand, her large eyes forming crescents.
“Do you really believe there are gods in this world?”
Artoria’s expression was peculiar. “Isn’t there one sitting right in front of me?”
“Don’t you think gods are just stronger beings?”
“This…”
“If you had enough resources, you too could easily become a ‘god’ in the eyes of humans, high above, even manipulating the rules.”
Artoria gave a bitter smile, her ahoge drooping slightly.
“I’ve never thought about that. I just want to win the Holy Grail War and then…”
“And then use the Grail to return to your time?”
Artoria opened her mouth and sighed. “Yes, that is my ultimate wish, the belief that drives me to participate in the Holy Grail War.”
“Do you remember what I told you?”
“I remember, but I still have to try.”
“If you just want to erase your regrets, I can help you with that right now.”
“I… I…”
“Still want to obtain the Grail?”
“Yes!”
“Let’s form an alliance. The Grail is yours; Gilgamesh, Berserker, and Rider’s heads are mine.”
Artoria raised her head, her eyes fixed on Kurumi. “Didn’t you want to send all Heroic Spirits back to the Throne of Heroes?”
“I changed my mind.”
“Why?”
“To help a young girl fulfill her obsession.”
“Witch! I am…”
“The King of Britain~”
“You!”
“Want another piece of cake?”
Kurumi used a fork to pick up a piece of cake from her plate and popped it into Artoria’s mouth just as she was about to get angry!
“Mm! Stop, you witch!”
The cake was chewed and swallowed after a while.
Artoria was about to scold Kurumi to assert her kingly demeanor when a slender finger was placed on her lips.
Her eyes looked down, seeing a trace of cream.
Subconsciously, she stuck out her pink tongue to lick it, the sweet fragrance instantly filling her taste buds.
Artoria didn’t notice that the black teardrop mole under Kurumi’s eye was continuously emitting faint energy.
This strange energy, similar to the pink mist of ‘charm,’ subtly influenced her consciousness, disrupting her judgment and altering her thoughts. Artoria had never been this close to anyone in the present world.
Not even Irisviel.
“Will you agree to ally with me?”
Artoria composed herself. “I need to discuss this with my Master.”
“Alright, let me give you a piece of information.”
“What is it?”
“Do you know the Servant covered in black mist?”
Artoria frowned. “You mean Berserker?”
“Don’t you find him particularly familiar?”
“No, I don’t.”
“Hmm?” Now, it was Kurumi’s turn to be slightly taken aback.
Seeing Kurumi’s expression, Artoria couldn’t help but laugh, her eyes and brows filled with amusement.
“This is how it should be. A girl should look like a girl, wearing an abstinent outfit every day isn’t right!”
“Are you trying to attract perverts with special fetishes?”
Artoria looked down at her outfit, not finding anything wrong with it.
Unbeknownst to her, in the eyes of others, the scene looked like a handsome young man being scolded by a stunning girl, questioning his life!
It looked like a couple. Although the ‘young man’s’ height was a bit of a drawback, as long as it was true love, onlookers would not hesitate to offer applause and blessings!
“Alright, if we have time, I’m sure Red Queen could dress you up… even more charmingly.”
Artoria pulled a wry face. “Better not. What were you about to tell me?”
“Are you sure you want to hear it?”
“Didn’t you say you had something to tell me?”
“You won’t regret it?”
Artoria smiled lightly. “Could Berserker really be someone I know?”
“His name is Lancelot.”
Artoria froze with the teacup in her hand, her lips trembling. “What did you say?”
“Berserker’s true name is Lancelot. Don’t delude yourself; he comes from the same era as you, the strongest Knight of the Round Table known as the ‘Knight of the Lake.'”
“Kurumi… this joke isn’t funny at all.”
“Are you still trying to avoid the truth?”
“No, no,” Artoria’s face turned slightly pale. “How could he have fallen to such a state?”
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