Chapter 18: Chapter 018: Unlucky for You (Part 2)
Reiji's magical bounded fields expanded so blatantly that not only Servants but even Masters could sense them.
But there was no need to conceal them—
Because once you sensed the Stone Sentinel Maze,
You were already trapped inside.
For a brief moment, the three Servants on the battlefield hesitated.
And then—
They realized something had changed.
The once bustling city streets had vanished.
A thick mist now shrouded everything, transforming the area into a desolate wilderness.
And more importantly—
Aside from Waver Velvet, who remained beside Iskandar—
Both Saber (Artoria) and Lancer (Diarmuid) had completely lost contact with their Masters.
Alone, they would have faced the situation with the confidence of heroes.
But now, with their Masters missing, even they felt uneasy.
Yet—
One man continued to laugh heartily.
"I do not know who has done this—"
Iskandar lowered his head, his expression partially shadowed.
His fists clenched, and with a resounding impact, he slammed them together at his chest.
"But those who bear proud names… yet lurk in the shadows… skulk in unseen corners… and plot in secrecy…
Shall face my scorn!"
In full view of his allies, Iskandar proudly declared his name.
"I am the King of Conquerors—Iskandar!"
"Idiot!"
Waver instantly shouted, his face pale.
Even Saber and Lancer, though respecting his boldness, couldn't deny—
This was reckless.
Revealing your True Name in the Holy Grail War…
That was the height of foolishness.
And yet—
Even after saying all that—
What did he expect the enemy to do?
Simply walk out and confront them head-on?
As they pondered how to locate their Masters,
A voice echoed through the mist.
"As expected of the King of Conquerors. Your spirit is truly extraordinary—far beyond those cowards who only dare to attack in the dead of night."
The thick fog shifted, thinning slightly in one direction.
And then—
Four figures emerged.
"That's—!"
Waver's eyes widened in disbelief.
As a Master, he had the ability to sense Servants and distinguish them from humans.
And now—
He could clearly see them.
An Unusual Sight
From the beginning, Waver had been taught the correct strategy for the Holy Grail War—
Masters should stay hidden, commanding their Servants from a safe distance.
Yet the man standing before him was entirely different.
Unlike himself, who had been dragged into battle by Iskandar—
This Master stood at the very front of his group.
His hood pulled low, shadowing his face.
His body language radiated unshakable confidence.
At his side—
A beautiful Caster in shrine maiden attire (Tamamo-no-Mae).
At his flank—
A battle-hungry Berserker, his red eyes gleaming with bloodlust (Cu Chulainn Alter).
Behind him—
A Master strategist watching in silent amusement (Zhuge Liang).
The one who had spoken was none other than Reiji Souma himself.
And now, he continued speaking.
"No need to be nervous."
"You think I trapped you here just to steal your Masters?"
A dark chuckle escaped him.
"Please. I'm not interested in cowardly tricks like that."
"If I intend to crush my enemies—"
"I will do so in a fair and open battle!"
He swept his gaze over the three Servants and Waver Velvet, his expression turning sharp.
"I'm done with these useless little probing skirmishes."
"This is a war, isn't it?"
"Then at least one side should be staying behind tonight—permanently."