Chapter 318: C318
Waver's Apartment, Late at Night
"Adra Castle... You drag me out in the dead of the night, and I'm thinking it's some kind of emergency. And now you're telling me it's just this so-called Angel City?"
When Shirou received the phone call so late, he had expected Waver to be entangled in something bizarre.
"Please!" Waver pleaded.
"I really don't want to get involved in all these magi-related affairs."
Waver insisted, "This is far from a trivial matter!"
With a sigh, he replied, "Look, it's just the owner of this Angel City wanting to make a public announcement about inheriting the estate. Frankly, I have zero interest in such things. If there's nothing else, I'll be on my way."
Waver's expression turned serious as he looked up and posed a compelling question, "But what if I were to tell you that this matter is connected to the Holy Grail?"
Casting a skeptical glance at Waver, he responded, "The Greater Grail was completely destroyed, and the Holy Grail is no more."
Waver shook his head, denying his statement. "No, I'm not referring to the Holy Grail and the Greater Grail ritual in Fuyuki City. I'm talking about the Holy Grail left behind by King Galahad!"
"King Galahad?" Shirou raised an eyebrow.
Since his return from the Camelot era, he hadn't delved into the subsequent history of the Camelot dynasty. Japanese history education he received only briefly touched upon some of the policies and historical significance of the Eternal King.
Having encountered Artoria during the Fourth Holy Grail War and hearing the downfall of the Camelot, Shirou had developed some theories about what transpired. However, Waver's sudden mention of a "King Galahad" left him momentarily bewildered.
Unable to contain his curiosity, he asked, "But didn't Gawain return the Holy Grail to heaven?"
Waver appeared taken aback for a moment before shaking his head. "No, that's not the case," he replied. "Even if it's the version altered by the Church, it's the most widely known one. However, the truth is that King Galahad, through the power of the Holy Grail, obtained the same wisdom as the Eternal King. He then led the Round Table Knights in the next era, resurrecting the shattered Camelot dynasty."
A frown creased Shirou's forehead. While he had already come to terms with the demise of the Camelot dynasty, hearing it reiterated by someone else stirred up indescribable emotions within him.
"How could the Camelot dynasty..."
"Arcueid!"
Her words were interrupted by Shirou, cutting off any further discussion. Arcueid, who had been an integral part of building that very dynasty, seemed compelled to speak up, but Shirou's interruption served as a reminder. He had previously cautioned against delving into the topic of the Camelot dynasty once they returned to the present.
Shirou took a moment to collect his thoughts and focused his gaze on Waver. "So, how did that Holy Grail end up in Adra Castle?"
Waver pondered for a moment before responding, "I'm not entirely sure. After King Galahad's demise, the Camelot dynasty crumbled entirely. It is believed that the Holy Grail vanished without a trace. The Church has been tirelessly searching for it for over a millennium, but no information has surfaced. However, in the declaration of inheritance for Adra Castle, it explicitly mentions King Gawain's Holy Grail."
Shirou reclined on the sofa, idly tapping the tabletop with his index finger. After a brief moment of contemplation, he spoke up, "Considering the Holy Grail's involvement, it's highly likely that we'll encounter various factions at Adra Castle. Even the Church and the founder of the Dead Apostle Ancestors might be gathered there... It's a troublesome task. Why did you willingly take it on?"
Waver let out a weary sigh, a trace of discomfort evident on his face. "You see, the whole Adra Castle affair was actually a promise made by my teacher nine years ago. Initially, it was meant to be his responsibility as the Lord El-Melloi. However, he's been completely engrossed in his research on a new magical theory lately, neglecting worldly matters for quite some time. So, I had to shoulder the burden."
"But you had the option to decline," Shirou pointed out.
Waver let out a another heavy sigh. "If I were to refuse, the responsibility would ultimately fall onto Reines. Knowing her personality, she'd undoubtedly bring chaos to Adra Castle, and there's a high risk of her losing her life there," he explained wearily. "Reines... that girl has a knack for getting into trouble."
"Ah, Reines... she's definitely quite mischievous."
Waver looked up at him, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. "Do you think you could lend me a hand?"
Shirou hesitated for a moment, his gaze shifting between Arcueid, whose eyes brimmed with excitement, and Waver, who pleaded silently. He let out a quiet sigh, "Honestly, I'm not really into the whole Holy Grail thing, and I don't feel like wasting my energy on it..." His voice trailed off, carrying a hint of resignation. However, he softened his tone and continued, "But the person I'm waiting for hasn't come back yet. So, I guess I can stick around for now."
Waver's face lit up with relief, and a smile formed on his lips. "It's a huge relief to have you with me,"
"By the way, you mentioned earlier that the Church spreads the belief that King Galahad gained the same wisdom as the Eternal King through the Holy Grail. But what are the other versions out there?"
"Well, there are countless versions, ranging from the utterly ridiculous to those filled with epic elements," Waver replied. "However, aside from the Church's narrative, the most widely accepted version is that Gawain acquired the Holy Grail and was destined to ascend to heaven. Instead, he chose to reject the offer and, alongside Gaheris and the Knights of the Round Table of the next era, restored the Camelot dynasty."
"I see..." Shirou's expression remained calm, concealing the complex emotions in his heart.
No matter what, that dynasty had been forged by his own hands. Though he had mentally prepared himself for its eventual downfall, the news still stirred a whirlwind of complicated emotions within his heart.
In truth, he had always known the fate of the Camelot dynasty.
Ever since he witnessed Artoria's unwavering determination to revive Camelot during the Fourth Holy Grail War, he had already speculated on the dynasty's ultimate outcome.
In fact, he had personally investigated the true history as well.
However, there were numerous versions of this tale. Among them, the most widely accepted belief was that after a fierce war with the Huns, the Camelot dynasty emerged victorious but suffered a severe blow to its own power. It struggled to maintain control over the European kingdoms and quell internal conflicts, ultimately leading to its eventual downfall.
As for the truth of the matter, he didn't bother investigating it, nor did he have any desire to. He had no intention of seeking answers from Merlin either.
To him, the fate of Camelot was already in the past, and there was no need to hold onto it. It would only deepen his sorrow.
As long as he knew one thing, he had made it happen.
He had successfully propelled the people of ancient Britannia to the forefront, paving the way for their future.
Dynastic changes were common occurrences, and knowing that was enough.
But sometimes, he couldn't help but reminisce about those times and that person.
A wave of nostalgia washed over him whenever he saw Gray, who bore such a striking resemblance to Artoria.
"By the way, doesn't that girl live here with you?" He looked around, his gaze settling on Waver, as he asked.
"Girl? Gray? No, she doesn't! It wouldn't be appropriate for a single man and woman to live together, and... well, Gray also has that kind of face..." Waver's voice trailed off.
Shirou glanced at him and said, "It seems you're still holding on to the memories of the Fourth Holy Grail War."
"I'm not as carefree as you. Even though I keep moving forward, there are moments when I pause and find myself lingering in the past..." Waver lowered his head, a tinge of melancholy coloring his words.
"Speaking of which, where did you find that little girl?"
"I didn't find her," Waver shook his head and said, "Her mother brought her to London and entrusted her to me. She asked me to teach her magecraft."
Shirou was taken aback by this unexpected response. It didn't match what he knew.
In his understanding, Waver had discovered Gray in the Cemetery in Wales and then brought her to London. But now, considering the drastic changes in this worldline, he realized that things were bound to be different.
After all, even King Arthur had transformed into him, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that there were some slight alterations along the way.
Shirou glanced at his watch and raised his hand, remarking, "Hmm, it's getting quite late. We should wrap things up."
Waver shifted his gaze to the hanging watch, revealing that it was already 11:34 PM. He turned back to Shirou and suggested, "Indeed, it's getting rather late. If you don't mind, you could stay at my apartment for the night."
"It seems you're worried that I might back out. Rest assured, when it comes to keeping promises with friends, I take them seriously. Once I've agreed to something, I'll follow through."
Waver commented, "You're quite dependable... By the way, are you really not interested in the Holy Grail?"
"I'm not interested."
As Shirou departed, Waver's mind suddenly jogged his memory. "Oh, I completely forgot to ask him about the girl accompanying him. That was rather impolite of me... But wait, he mentioned her earlier. The girl's name was... Arcueid. That name sounds familiar..."
"Arcueid... Arcueid..." Waver murmured the name, and suddenly, a realization dawned on him. His eyes gradually widened. "No way? Could it be the True Ancestor, Arcueid Brunestud?"
"If that's really the case, then what has this guy been up to for the past nine years?"
Waver's face lit up with curiosity before he shook his head and rose from the sofa, making his way over to his workstation.
The desk was cluttered with a multitude of documents, spanning from detailed notes about Adra Castle to various materials concerning Galahad and the Holy Grail.
Everyone was familiar with the tale of Galahad and the Holy Grail, with the Church's version being the most widely accepted. But alongside it, there were also countless folk legends that boasted their own unique twists and turns. Lately, an outright absurd rendition had even gained some attention.
Waver's gaze fell upon a research paper that boldly claimed, "The Holy Grail, once in the possession of the Rebel Knight Mordred, was eventually passed down to King Galahad..." To his surprise, the paper was penned by none other than "Matou Shinji."
He couldn't help but chuckle and shake his head. "Ah, the prodigious mind of a Matou family descendant," Waver muttered. "Shinji's work on the Eternal King is undeniably well-crafted and meticulously detailed. However, this particular interpretation... it's nothing short of a whimsical joke!"
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