"The future?"
Seeing the tension ease for a moment and noting that the white-haired youth had no immediate intention of attacking, Saber remained vigilant as she retreated to the side of her Master, Irisviel, to check on her condition.
Of course, while Irisviel acted as the Master in the open, she was merely the one accompanying and assisting Saber. The true Master—the one who had actually forged the contract and provided the magical energy to maintain her existence in this world—was someone else entirely, and he was not present.
"That's right. Not much time has passed since the start of all this," Ludwig said, resting a hand on his hip with a slight smirk. "But I imagine you've seen enough by now to understand the situation."
His relaxed posture didn't look at all like someone who had just survived a fierce battle; he lacked the sheer ferocity he had shown when striking out at Lancer and Berserker just moments ago.
"Are you suggesting... an alliance?" Saber asked, her tone uncertain.
"Not an alliance. I'm asking if you're interested in a change of Master," Ludwig replied. "I've heard that the Holy Grail War consists of seven pairs of Masters and Servants fighting to the death for a single wish-granting machine, and in the end, only one pair can claim it."
"You've 'heard'..." Saber found his choice of words peculiar.
On the other side of the clearing, Rider spoke in a heavy, booming voice. "It seems you are neither a Master nor a Servant, but merely an outsider who has intruded upon this Holy Grail War?"
"I wouldn't say I'm entirely 'uninvolved,' would you?" Ludwig turned his head to glance at Rider. The giant's war chariot had returned to a steady, stationary position. "You all heard him. Archer has marked me. He fully intends to kill me."
"If you are truly an outsider to this war, why would he want to kill you?" Saber asked, her suspicion evident.
"That is exactly the question I'd like answered," Ludwig replied, scratching his hair with an innocent expression. "Believe it or not; the choice is yours."
His nonchalant attitude caused both Rider and Saber to fall into a contemplative silence. The boy wasn't lying; Archer's killing intent had been absolutely genuine, regardless of the motive behind it.
As for Lancer, he had followed Berserker's lead—since he was no longer capable of continuing the fight, he had dematerialized and vanished from the battlefield. Whether the Masters of those two Servants were still nearby was something Ludwig couldn't say for sure, though he could sense several gazes watching from the shadows.
"In other words, you plan to recruit a Servant for yourself to ensure a more stable victory over Archer," Rider noted. He seemed to have regained his composure; the fact that his arm had been nearly severed hadn't stopped him from remaining calm. "However, from what I can see, even without a Servant, you don't exactly fear that Archer, do you?"
Ludwig replied calmly, "I've changed my mind. I'm still not sure exactly what the Holy Grail is capable of, but without the status of a Master or the assistance of a Servant, I might not actually get the Grail even if I eliminate every single enemy."
There were still too many uncertainties regarding the Holy Grail War. Merlin wasn't here to guide him, so he could only piece together the rules based on what she had told him earlier.
"True enough. As a warrior, your strength is likely far above that of Lancer or Berserker. But even so, to think you are guaranteed the Holy Grail is a bit overconfident, isn't it?" Rider laughed boisterously from atop his chariot.
"Whether I have the strength or not is something you've already experienced firsthand," Ludwig countered.
"That was only because I had no intention of killing you; I merely wanted to stop your one-sided violence against Lancer," Rider said. "Servants enter this war with the resolve to die in battle, but that kind of death was unseemly. It would have been an insult to a brave warrior."
It was for that reason alone that Rider had launched his surprise assault on Ludwig—even if that assault had been a failure.
"Even as a Servant who relies on a Master's magical energy to remain in this world, I have no intention of changing my Master so easily," Saber stated flatly.
Her refusal didn't surprise Ludwig in the least, and he felt no disappointment.
"There's no need to give me an answer right now," Ludwig said with a wave of his hand. "I simply went through a process of elimination among the Servants I've seen, and I decided that Saber—the one supposedly belonging to the strongest class—would be the most suitable for the situation ahead."
"And what of...?" Saber started, her mind filled with other questions.
Truthfully, having witnessed the boy's power, she felt a flicker of apprehension. Furthermore, her left hand had been cursed by Lancer's Noble Phantasm; that small wound would not heal, drastically reducing her combat effectiveness and preventing her from unleashing her sword's True Name. Her holy sword was now nothing more than a sharp, sturdy blade. If she had to face a boy like him, she couldn't guarantee she could even slow him down, let alone protect her Master if he decided to prioritize an attack on Irisviel.
"The Servants participating in this war all have wishes they've entrusted to the Grail, don't they? Surely you aren't all like that Archer—having no wish, but plenty of reasons to fight?" Ludwig revealed a crucial piece of information.
"Archer has no wish for the Holy Grail?" Saber pressed for details.
Ludwig didn't intend to keep it a secret. "Correct. The guy claims he's only participating to clean up the thieves who covet his treasure. According to him, the Holy Grail belonged to him from the start."
"What?" Saber whispered in disbelief.
"That is strange indeed. We are all Servants who were manifested by the power of the Grail. How could it already have an owner?" Rider mused, though he had his own suspicions.
Lancer, Saber, and Rider himself had all revealed their True Names earlier. However, Archer—who had appeared and retreated like a passing gale—had revealed very little. The only thing they knew for sure was that every single weapon stored within those strange portals behind him was a Noble Phantasm. This included the sword that Berserker had previously seized and subsequently dropped near Ludwig.
"Hey, you wouldn't happen to know Archer's True Name, would you?" Rider asked.
"...What? You don't know?" Ludwig raised an eyebrow, noting the omission.
The Servants all addressed each other by their classes; clearly, their True Names were meant to be hidden. However, because of Merlin, Archer's identity had been revealed the moment he appeared.
"I can tell you, but first, tell me your own names," Ludwig said, cupping a hand to his ear as if to listen closely.
Rider laughed heartily. "Come to think of it, you really didn't hear me announce myself. Then I shall say it once more! My name is Iskandar! I have manifested in this Holy Grail War as the Rider-class Servant! Remember it well!"
"Iskandar... Oh, the King of the Two Horns from Macedonia. I know of you," Ludwig said with a nod of recognition.
"The King of the Two Horns, is it?" Iskandar looked even more delighted. "Few people call me that anymore; I much prefer the title of 'King of Conquerors.' Now then, young man, who are you? Might you give us your name?"
Saber also watched him with an inquiring gaze. If they knew his name, perhaps her Master could uncover his true identity.
"My name is Ludwig—" The boy stopped mid-sentence as a mischievous thought crossed his mind. He raised his voice, "Ludwig Van Brunestud."
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