Fate: How About a New Savior?

Shiomi stirred from his nap, feeling a gaze locked onto him.

A blanket was draped over him—most likely Sakura's doing.

Through the apartment window, the streets of London remained cloaked in magical fog. Though a temporary barrier had been set up, Shiomi couldn't be sure when the mastermind behind the Singularity might strike. That's why he'd chosen to rest by the fireplace in the living room—so he could react the moment danger arrived.

He lightly pressed a hand to his head to clear the post-sleep sluggishness and saw Artoria sitting on the armrest of a nearby single-seater sofa.

She was staring directly at him.

"Something wrong? Did you spot an enemy?"

Shiomi perked up immediately, activating his Magic Circuits and letting mana flow through his body to shake off the lingering fatigue.

"No. I can hear mechanical soldiers in the city, but they're still at a distance," Artoria replied coolly. "I was simply watching you, Master."

He instinctively leaned away toward the opposite armrest, eyeing her warily. "Me? What's there to watch?"

"You're rather interesting," Artoria said flatly. "Seeing you gives me the impression of... how young you are."

"It's just temporal fixation, nothing worth fussing over," Shiomi said, resting his chin on one hand. "That's fairly common in the world of Magi—you should know that. If we're talking actual age, I'm actually—"

Before he could finish, Artoria suddenly stood from the armrest and stepped in close. Placing her hands on the armrest and backrest, she easily boxed Shiomi in. Her golden eyes locked onto his.

"But your case is a little different. To be direct, it's very similar to the effect of the Holy Sword."

"…The Holy Sword?" Shiomi blinked in surprise.

He was well aware that Excalibur could halt the wielder's physical growth. He'd seen the effect firsthand in Artoria Pendragon.

But this "Artoria" was implying that what affected him wasn't just a typical Magus-level fixation.

"It's only an intuitive theory," Artoria continued, her emotionless golden gaze seeming to pierce into the depths of Shiomi's soul, as if scrutinizing his very being. "But I sense a similar aura from you, Master. Simply put, you're not an ordinary human."

"I'm a Magus."

Shiomi had never been this physically close to Artoria before. Being cornered and examined so intensely left him uncomfortable enough to avert his eyes.

Especially now that she'd removed most of her armor to conserve mana—certain... prominent features were far too close. He was almost afraid to breathe for fear of being disrespectful.

Of course, Artoria didn't seem to notice such details and simply continued the conversation.

"You're not an ordinary human, and I don't just mean because you're a Magus. Your body houses mysteries from the Age of Gods."

Shiomi let out a sigh, a half-smile tugging at his lips. So this really was the same Artoria as before. "I thought you were going to say something dramatic. You know, I was trained by the Queen of the Land of Shadows..."

Artoria said nothing in response.

Shiomi could answer all her questions, but deep down, his instincts told him his explanations still lacked something essential. That's why Artoria continued to stare at him like that.

"Forget it. In my current state, I can't unravel the answer. If Master—"

Artoria seemed on the verge of saying something more, but Morgan's voice cut in.

"Artoria, how long do you plan to cling to my husband?"

Morgan's frown was clear on the projection screen, her displeasure written all over her face.

"Oh? The woman who toyed with countless men and ultimately destroyed my country is now obsessed with one man?"

Up until a moment ago, Artoria had been calm and composed. Now, her tone was dripping with mockery—a far cry from the King of Knights Shiomi knew.

So this is what Alter really means... even the personality's different. Shiomi silently remarked.

"She's not the Morgan you knew," he said, trying to pull back, but Artoria's gauntleted fingers were already lightly touching his cheek, their cold touch sending a shiver through him.

"I knew from the moment I saw you," Artoria said with a mysterious smile. She glanced sideways at Morgan, part provocation, part mockery. "Right now, I'm Master's Servant. With Chaldea's tech, you can't perform repeated Spiritron Transfers to the same Singularity, can you?"

"What are you implying?" Morgan's elegant brows twitched.

Artoria smiled and leaned even closer, her hand still trailing along Shiomi's face. "Isn't it obvious?"

Shiomi's heart was pounding in his throat.

He was sure Artoria didn't necessarily have feelings for him—but she definitely had feelings when it came to Morgan.

That's why she'd use this sort of act to mock her, even knowing they weren't the same person.

Only a King of Knights in this state could pull something like this so effortlessly.

"Speaking of which... it should be nighttime in Chaldea by now, right?" Shiomi quickly changed the subject.

"I'm on duty in the control room tonight. Everyone else has gone to rest." Morgan smiled sweetly—the kind of smile that always spelled trouble for Shiomi. "To think I'd get to witness this... well worth the watch."

"..." Shiomi was at a loss for words.

He considered himself decent at talking his way out of things, but the way this conversation was going made it feel like he'd been caught in some kind of affair.

Maybe he should swap Artoria out for his teacher instead. That might cut down Morgan's complaints... maybe?

"Well then—"

Before he could finish, Artoria pressed a button on his hand, ending the call.

"Waaahhh!"

Shiomi finally cracked, shrieking as he flailed on the couch, toppling it and himself to the floor. He scrambled to reconnect the call, and Morgan's image reappeared.

This time, she was leaning back, chin resting casually on one hand.

It was a one-way visual feed, yet she looked like she could see everything.

"Honestly, my husband... you're losing your cool over something this trivial. How do you expect to save the planet like that?"

"Huh? You're not mad anymore?"

"Artoria's little tricks don't amount to much. Hardly worth a smirk," Morgan said flatly.

"Or maybe you're just putting on an act," Artoria shot back without mercy.

"It's not about good or bad. Even tainted by black mud, she's still Artoria. That's what being an Alter means," Morgan sneered. "At least in her case."

"You two... actually don't get along that badly, do you?" Shiomi muttered.

"Absolutely not."

Both of them denied it in unison.