Chapter 644: Crossover: Sweet Dreams and the Holy Grail (12)

"It seems this is not my original appearance either. But I'm sorry, I can only meet you in this mediocre form."

"Having answered your summons, I am…caster." The woman bowed slightly, her expression a little uneasy: "... I naturally also hope to be frank with you. However, every time I try to utter my true name, it becomes like this—███, ███, ███."

Zhigengniao furrowed her brow and lowered her head sadly: "Dissonance... but that's your own name."

"It has been registered as a trademark, and the copyright is no longer in my hands. Sorry, my Master."

"Please just call me Zhigengniao. I'm not used to this kind of address."

caster shook her head and said: "Miss Zhigengniao, I'm sorry to disappoint you. I'm merely an outdated performer active in the Dream-Chasing Era, a dead skin that withered and fell in the rapid metabolism of the entertainment industry."

"I once created brilliance. Who am I? Perhaps flipping through those forgotten old magazines in the piles of old papers will give an answer. I recall they once called me 'Eternal Silver Screen Beauty', 'Hippe's Fallen Golden Note'... I had many more names. But since my debut I have never had my own name again."

——

Rinya.

"So this is also a Servant of the Holy Grail War?"

Inside the Dechuan family's residence, Gongben Wushang sat cross-legged, carefully examining the woman who had just emerged in the celestial curtain.

The woman was slender and gentle in demeanor; standing together with her Master Zhigengniao, who also exuded an artistic aura, she seemed more like a performer about to take the stage than a warrior thrown into a deadly duel.

"Could she have some power hidden beneath her fragile appearance? Mr. Dechuan, may I ask what exactly 'caster' means?"

As a Sengoku-era samurai revived in the modern age, he did not understand these strange terms; but his warrior instinct told him the woman possessed neither the dignified aura of a saber nor the beastly wildness of a lancer. She was like a calm lake, showing no sign of killing intent, which only heightened his curiosity.

"Caster means 'spellcaster'. According to the Holy Grail War's class traits, she is not the type that relies on swords or bows for direct attacks; she is more likely skilled in some 'technique'. Considering her image and her Master Zhigengniao, I fear... she is a Servant who influences the battle with song."

"Oh? Song?"

Gongben Wushang's magatama-shaped eyes widened: "A technique that uses sound? Not a direct combat type, perhaps the same category as that Assassin, not the kind that can emit a bewitching voice, right?"

"Song that bewitches hearts? I think her Master Zhigengniao could do it more easily." Lie Hai Wang interjected, "As a fellow harmonizer with 'tuning' ability, Zhigengniao can probably achieve more than her own Servant."

——

"Until death, until being unearthed from a tomb like now, and stepping back onto my old stage in this brand‑new world, I can still not speak of my name; any mention is replaced by dissonance—"

"But that's my name! My name! My name!" caster's suppressed tone rose higher, she clenched her fists as if to pull that stripped title from deep within her soul.

"……"

Zhigengniao also lowered her gaze forlornly.

caster thought her own lapse had frightened her Master, and hurriedly apologized: "I'm sorry..."

"It's okay, let it out, I completely understand. Sometimes I also want to lose control, but on stage, under the spotlight, we performers can only force ourselves to calm. Since you can't use your own name... how should I address you?"

Zhigengniao dislikes the Holy Grail class title 'caster', and after discussing with her, she will refer to caster as 'Miss Note'.

"No true name, no Noble Phantasm, only this ridiculous theatrical talent left. Yet I will still exert my meager strength to help you, and for myself, to win a chance to make a wish to the Holy Grail."

"You also want to achieve victory... but in my view, the only victory is to make the war disappear. And that is precisely something weapons cannot achieve; only song can."

"Unfortunately, people always remember those who win wars, not those who strive to make war disappear... Whether the Master wants to end the war or win victory, they need to find allies. Just as a stage performance cannot have only the protagonist dancing alone."

——

Fate/Apocrypha.

"Huh? They don't even have a Noble Phantasm? That's too weak, isn't it?"

A Si Tuo Er Fu rested a hand on his chin, his face full of confusion: "A Servant with no Noble Phantasm and seemingly no power—would anyone really want to ally with them? It feels Miss Zhigengniao would be eliminated even faster than Si Ke Te..."

Inside the great hall of Mi Lei Ni Ya Cheng Sai, Black Caster A Wei Si Bu Long entered through the opposite door, his slightly muffled voice resonating from behind a mask: "Rider, rationally speaking, this caster is indeed fragile. However, do not overlook the traits of the 'caster' class. If her ability is not for direct attacks but can provide her Master with some powerful buff or support..."

He paused, seeming to contemplate a possibility: "For example, strengthening Miss Zhigengniao's spiritual power so she can, like her brother Xingqiri, summon a massive entity called 'Dominics'... Then, in this Holy Grail War, they might have the ability to reverse all disadvantages."

Da Ni Ke shook his head in denial: "Impossible, Zhigengniao has no interest in the Holy Grail at all, she wouldn't risk doing that."

"Then it seems they are neither qualified Servants nor qualified Masters. Heh... a Holy Grail War featuring a bunch of Masters and Servants who want to overturn the war, how strange indeed."

Seated on the throne, Black Lancer Fula De San Shi slowly shifted his gaze to his Master, and with authority said: "Da Ni Ke, will this Holy Grail War in the celestial curtain affect our Great Holy Grail?"

Da Ni Ke immediately turned, respectfully replying: "Rest assured, according to our monitoring, the Holy Grail War in the celestial curtain is fundamentally different from our rituals based on the Great Holy Grail system; it will not have any substantive impact on our plans."

Fula De San Shi, hearing this, nodded satisfactorily.

"Very well. Then, before we clash with the Red side, witnessing an otherworldly Holy Grail War as an interlude would be a nice pastime."

——

"This is indeed what Zhigengniao is currently contemplating; she has two trustworthy friends, and she has now invited one of them to discuss the current situation."

"On the other side, Xing and saber have already arrived at Thus we have: Liúmèng Jiāo; the two wandered around during the golden hour, looping back here again."

"Pinokangni... the city floats in the sky like clouds, ice cream and cotton candy chatterily jump into your mouth on their own... truly unbelievable," saber said, looking up at Pinokangni's space, "just as you, Master, said, this is a world soaked in dreams."

"But only after stepping here, this place called Thus we have: Liúmèng Jiāo, did I realize this truly is a world that the Holy Grail would select."

"Why?"

"Just as every golden, resplendent palace has dust‑filled, unknown corners. In those corners, the overlooked people still hold countless unfilled wishes. That is why the Holy Grail descends here. And this very land proves Pinokangni is not a dreamland; it is merely an exaggerated projection of reality."

Saying that, saber's stomach growled again with a "gurgle".

"Let's not talk about this now, let's find somewhere to eat; hearing your stomach rumble, I'm hungry too."

Saber still felt a bit embarrassed: "Um... as a Servant, I don't carry this world's money in the present world. Master's wallet... no problem, right?"

"Of course no problem," Xing smiled slightly, "just run fast, it's free."