Chapter 101: Reines' Lady-Like Demeanor
"Doctor, have you found anything yet?"
"Even if you say that..."
The holographic image of Doctor Romani in the Communication Device let out a weary sigh.
"We've been working overtime nonstop here."
"That's right, Romani is about to be drowned in the staff's complaints. Even I got dragged in to help."
From the Communication Device, Da Vinci also voiced her discontent.
"But regardless, thanks to everyone's efforts, we've made some progress. We've detected a large concentration of mana reactions near your location—possibly a Servant."
"It seems the Allied Forces of Rome are still tracking our movements. But at the very least, this place will be safe for a short while."
Waver said calmly.
"Besides, this location has a Barrier set up by Onii-sama and me. Ordinary people who step inside will immediately lose their sense of direction."
Reines stood at the entrance of the cave, pressing her hand against the surrounding rock walls.
Immediately, a faint glow spread from the stone, reacting to the magical energy.
"If someone forcibly tries to break in, it could even cause a Distortion of Space. There's a high chance they might get thrown into some unknown dimension."
"But if we keep hiding here, the situation will only worsen."
Waver turned toward the image of Doctor Romani in the Communication Device.
"Has Chaldea detected any other movements?"
"We've also observed another Servant's presence. After you left the battlefield yesterday, that individual retreated northwest."
"That's him!"
Waver immediately stood up.
"The only one who would dare defy the orders of that Magus must be the King."
"This reaction is heading toward Gaul but seems to have stopped near Massilia."
"Massilia?"
Hearing the name of the city, the wrinkles on Waver's forehead deepened.
"That used to be a stronghold of the Rebel Army, and at one point, two Servants voluntarily resisted the Allied Forces. However, not long ago, that place was wiped out and replaced by their forces."
Hearing Waver's words, Ethan furrowed his brows.
He vaguely recalled that Boudica and Spartacus had once sided with Nero in that region, but he hadn't expected them to be annihilated as well.
"Although we don't know what is obstructing the King there, we must hurry and rendezvous with him. If we want to win this seemingly impossible war, our only option is to expand our forces to the maximum."
Facing Waver's determined gaze, Ethan nodded without hesitation.
"Everyone, prepare to move immediately! We're heading to Massilia!"
"But Senpai, the outside is currently tightly surrounded by the Allied Forces. If we try to leave, we're bound to face an intense battle."
Mash quickly reminded Ethan.
A large number of Roman troops were still standing guard outside.
"Ah, in that case, we just need a distraction."
Reines stepped forward.
"If we send a single Servant out to draw the enemy's attention, the rest of us can quietly escape in another direction."
"That's quite a bold plan, Oujou-sama!"
Trimmau chimed in.
"But hasn't Onii-sama already thought of this strategy long ago?"
Facing Reines' questioning gaze, Waver directly refuted her.
"Unnecessary. The enemy's encirclement isn't impenetrable. We only need to concentrate our firepower and break through a single point."
"Break through?!"
Mordred, upon hearing that keyword, immediately appeared.
"Master! You mean we're going to charge in?! (chew chew)"
At that moment, Mordred was still holding a freshly grilled skewer, continuously munching on it.
"Mordred, wait a moment, we're still discussing."
"Hey, you grumpy old man over there."
Mordred turned to look at Waver.
"Who are you calling an old man?! I'm not even thirty yet!!!"
Waver snapped back, clearly irritated.
"If you need someone to charge in, just leave it to me. I'm really good at this. (chew chew)"
"I'll consider it..."
Faced with Mordred's enthusiasm, Waver could only nod for now.
"Alright then, I'll finish the rest of this roasted meat first. Wasting food is disgraceful; in Britannia, that's basic knowledge."
Mordred sat back down by the fire and continued devouring the grilled meat with great satisfaction.
Wait a second... Was that really a basic knowledge in Britannia? Did Artoria actually enforce that as a rule?
"With such a reliable warrior on your side, Onii-sama, you must feel more at ease, right?"
Reines teased as she glanced at Mordred.
"Powerful warriors are often hard to control—just like my disciples. They're always giving me headaches."
Waver sighed and shook his head.
"It's a shame Gray isn't here. How about having Master summon her? Since both of us siblings are already present."
A mischievous grin appeared on Reines' face.
"Don't tell me you want to drag Gray into this mess too?!"
It was rare to see Waver visibly upset.
"Of course not, I was just joking. Besides, Gray has a deep connection with that King. In this era, her existence would be incredibly fragile."
Seeing that her brother was genuinely irritated, Reines finally stopped teasing him.
"That aside, compared to Onii-sama's plan, mine is definitely better."
"But your plan requires a Servant to take a significant risk. There's a high chance they'll be captured by the enemy, or in the worst case, even killed."
Waver analyzed calmly.
He then scanned the group.
Mordred would be a great candidate, but the rebellious knight was too emotional and impulsive—far from the ideal choice.
The black-cloaked Avenger guarding the entrance was undeniably strong, but even harder to control than Mordred—not suitable.
Mash, the shield-bearer, seemed like a viable option, but the young Master beside her still needed protection.
That left only one person…
Was Reines actually suggesting that she—a Pseudo-Servant—be the decoy?
"So, we need a Servant who can swiftly adapt and escape if necessary. Ideally, a Rider with high mobility."
"——————?!"
Everyone turned to stare at Reines in shock, especially Waver. For a brief moment, his eyes widened in an expression of rare confusion.
The one person he hadn't even considered—was standing right in front of him.
"Don't tell me… Reines, you're planning to—"
"Exactly what you're thinking."
Reines smiled and nodded.
"Onii-sama, you of all people should know that I'm the most suitable person for this mission."
"Even so, I absolutely cannot let you go alone—"
Waver quickly tried to stop her, but she pressed a finger to his lips.
"It seems that in Onii-sama's eyes, I'm still just a child. Well then, this is the perfect opportunity to show you what it truly means to have the grace of a lady."