Chapter 245 - 245: The Classic Signature Move of a Grand Caster

Just as Marisbury Animusphere could utilize the wealth accumulated by his family over a millennium to manufacture a small "Lostbelt," for a Servant of the Caster class, creating a "Singularity"—which is significantly less difficult than the high-level concept of a Lostbelt—is not difficult at all.

The answer is: it's not difficult in the slightest.

That is exactly how the various event Singularities in FGO come into existence. Sometimes, the people who create these Singularities aren't even Casters, but other Servants who possess the divine nature of gods. The only factor that limits these Servants from manufacturing Singularities is the lack of sufficient magical energy.

But here, were they not already being provided with a constant stream of magical energy by Shirou Emiya and Kairi Shishigou, acting as Masters in the Holy Grail War to support Saber? Added to the fact that a portion of a Servant's own mana is supplied by the Grail itself, and bolstered by the energy generated as Saber and Mordred unleashed their Noble Phantasms, the situation changed.

Perhaps Merlin lacked the capability to manufacture a Singularity on a massive scale, but within this localized dreamscape, he could leverage his own nature as an incubus to link the internal paradise of [Avalon]—where his true body resided—to this space, creating a Singularity designed to trap Saber and Mordred within.

"As for your motive in doing this, Merlin, aside from the fact that our very existence and what we intend to do has drawn the suspicion of the Counter Force, it is also because of Saber, isn't it?"

Activating the Stand ability of [Hermit Purple (Pseudo)], Shirou Emiya, who had sensed that something was amiss with Saber and Mordred and had quickly arrived on the scene, had already completed the intelligence-gathering work through spirit photography. He continued: "It is because Saber witnessed the destruction of Britain during the Battle of Camlann and, unwilling to accept it, chose to sign a contract with the Counter Force."

"Once Saber obtains the Holy Grail, Saber will become a Guardian of the Counter Force, doomed to work for it for eternity, just like my future self."

Indeed, before her death, Saber had been tricked by the Counter Force into signing a "contract of indentured servitude." After all, the promise the Counter Force made to Saber—granting her the chance to become a Heroic Spirit, allowing her to pursue the Grail in the Holy Grail War as a Servant, and using that Grail to reverse the fall of Britain—was, in essence, a blank check.

Unlike Archer (EMIYA), even without the help of the Counter Force, Saber's strength and the actions she took to save Britain were enough for her to become a Heroic Spirit after death. In other words, as long as Saber did not choose to enter [Avalon] to rest, she would eventually

become a Heroic Spirit. In the worst-case scenario, because the Legend of King Arthur was too famous, she would become akin to those who possess the [Innocent Monster] skill. Due to that fame gathering countless possibilities of "King Arthur" in the hearts of all people, she would become the Grand Saber.

Whether or not the Counter Force signed a contract with her, she would have become a Heroic Spirit regardless. She would have been summoned into the world in some Holy Grail War by a Master using the Grail as bait to pursue the very same goal.

And so, Saber, having been "conned" by the Counter Force, would not only become a labor-slave (Guardian) for them after the fact; in the process, she would also be used by the Counter Force, with the Holy Grail as bait, to handle various tasks for them. It was truly a meticulously arranged scheme.

However, Saber's willingness to accept this, sacrificing herself for a chance to save Britain, did not mean that others could accept it. Even Archer (EMIYA), who once harbored the wish to become a "Hero of Justice," nearly went insane after becoming a Guardian, wanting to kill his past self to prevent him from becoming a hero. Merlin, who possessed the [Clairvoyance] that could see through the present, obviously could see this, guess it, and refuse to accept this tragic outcome.

"And it is also because the version of me on this world-line is unable to save Saber."

"Or rather, it is because the 'me' on this world-line not only failed to convince Saber to accept the outcome of Britain's destruction, but actively encouraged her to continue pursuing this unrealistic wish, eventually leading to her obtaining the Grail."

"That is why you, Merlin, could not sit idly by and wanted to take matters into your own hands, to break the contract between Saber and the Counter Force," Shirou Emiya said, based on the intelligence he had gathered through his spirit photography.

...Uh, although that truly sounds like it was Shirou Emiya's own fault for encouraging Saber to pursue the Grail after realizing she had been duped by the Counter Force, Shirou had his reasons. In the original story, the main reason Saber would give up this obsession was the resigned realization that the Grail could not actually grant her wish.

But after Shirou Emiya defeated Angra Mainyu inside the Greater Grail and indirectly purified it, the Holy Grail was no longer a broken cup that couldn't fulfill wishes. It truly could grant them. In such a situation, for a Saber who would sacrifice herself for Britain, there was simply no other option in her heart.

Thus, rather than letting Saber obtain the Grail, wish to restart the Day of Election, and let someone more suitable become King while she fulfilled her contract as a Guardian, it was better to let Saber become King again, even if it meant delaying her time as a Guardian. If Saber, upon restarting, never lost [Avalon], she would never die, thereby dragging out the time before she became a Guardian of the Counter Force indefinitely.

"And this dream world is a modified version of the dream Mordred produced, created by you, Merlin, to achieve this goal, isn't it?" Shirou continued.

"What does that mean? What does this have to do with the King of Knights?" Mordred asked, still not understanding the situation. "Hey, you over there! You still haven't said what's happening to my Master right now!?"

"Forget it, I can do it myself...?"

'What? How is that possible? Why can't I get out!?'

"Isn't this my dream!?"

Read ahead by supporting me on buymeacoffee com/varietl or ko-fi edwriting