Chapter 458: Understanding the Current Situation

Artoria—Saber, like the most loyal guardian, quietly stands half a step behind Lixiang.

She has already removed part of her armor, changed into a simple dark‑blue dress (also found in this house, somehow in a size that fits her), yet her posture remains as upright as a pine; her emerald eyes scan the surroundings sharply, lingering a moment longer on Ilya and Robin across from her.

Robin then gracefully kneels on the cushion beside Ilya, its lake‑green eyes calm and gentle.

"S‑so…"

Lixiang's voice is still a bit airy; she looks at Ilya, then at the ruby Magic Staff hovering beside Ilya, sparkling excitedly, "Ilya… you, you really can use Magic? Like the kind shown on TV… a Magical Girl?"

She knows Ilya.

As Fujimura Dahe's adopted sister and the house's occasional caretaker, she has seen Ilya a few times escorted by a maid; in her memory Ilya is a well‑protected, somewhat shy but very cute silver‑haired foreign little girl.

But now…

This little girl can not only transform and fire light bolts, but also wields a talking Magic Staff?!

This impact is greater than the monster chase and the knight's rescue just now!

"Uhh… um, I guess so…"

Ilya's cheeks flush pink, her small hand fidgeting with the hem of her dress.

Being seen by someone she knows in her embarrassing Magical Girl outfit and battle scene is even more mortifying than being nagged by the ruby all day!

Especially since the ruby is still right there…

"Exactly, exactly! Ilya is the genius Magical Girl chosen by the universe's most powerful and cutest ruby sauce!"

The ruby immediately replies, its staff radiating iridescent light like a disco ball, "For love and justice, for protecting the world's peace and smiles, bravely battling evil! Ilya's performance just now was inexperienced but courageous! Especially those few magic bolts that drove back the wicked woman, timed perfectly~☆"

It then embellishes wildly, raving about the "Magical Girl's mission and glory," peppered with incomprehensible star symbols and exaggerated metaphors, spewing nonsense settings like "Starlight Covenant," "Light of the Soul," "Ultimate Magic·Friendship‑Breaking Fist" all at once.

Lixiang listens, stunned, her eyes widening.

She knows every word individually, but hearing them all together from a talking Magic Staff overloads her mental CPU; she can only nod blankly, uttering meaningless syllables like "Oh… ah… so that's it…"

The ruby floating nearby even mimics a "proud chest‑out" pose: "Ilya is destined to become a legendary Magical Girl! Though she's still in the newbie village… no, the growth phase! Her potential is limitless! Compared to some ordinary high‑school girl Master who still knows nothing about Magic and doesn't even know where Command Spells come from, she's far stronger~☆"

Its final "quiet" mutter (though everyone can hear it) hits Lixiang's sore spot precisely.

Lixiang's mouth twitches; subconsciously she glances at the three bright red Command Spells on the back of her hand, then at the silent yet imposing Saber beside her, a wave of helplessness rising within.

(Ordinary high‑school girls really are a disappointment! I don't want any damn Command Spells or knight princesses either!)

And Ilya, flushed even more by the ruby's blather, wishes she could cover the thing up.

(Please, ruby! Stop! It's too embarrassing!)

Robin coughs lightly at the right moment, its voice ethereal and gentle, with a strange soothing effect: "Ruby, please tone it down a bit. Miss Ilya has already tried hard. The immediate priority is to let Miss Fujimura understand the current situation."

She looks at Lixiang, her jade‑green eyes apologetic, "Sorry, Miss Fujimura. The ruby… it has a lively personality. Regarding the Holy Grail War, perhaps I can give a brief explanation to make it clearer?"

Lixiang hurriedly nods like a pestle; she now urgently needs reliable information, not the Magic Staff's fantasy‑novel bragging.

At that moment, the ever‑silent observing Saber sweeps her gaze over Ilya and Robin again.

(Ilya… indeed that child. Appearance, voice… exactly the same. But why does she have no memory of me?)

(Is it forgetting caused by the passage of time? No, only ten years have passed since the Fourth Holy Grail War; she shouldn't still look like a child. Unless… this is not that timeline, but another similar yet different Parallel World. In this world, she may never have experienced events related to me.)

(As for Miss Robin… her appearance matches the Robin that disappeared with Pinokanni, so she must be the same.)

Saber's mind cycles through many thoughts, but ultimately settles into calm.

To her, these mysteries are interesting but not primary.

Her goal is clear and firm: win the Holy Grail and fulfill her wish.

Whether Ilya remembers her, or where Robin comes from, does not directly conflict with this core goal.

On this new battlefield, they are potential allies, or possibly enemies—nothing more.

Excessive questioning and reminiscing are unnecessary.

She turns her attention back to her Master.

Lixiang is still struggling to absorb the basic premise of the Holy Grail War's seven Master‑Servant factions vying for the omnipotent wish‑granting device, as re‑explained by Robin in a clearer, more concise way.

"…so, this on the back of my hand is the Qualification Command Spell; I can command you, Miss Saber?"

Lixiang points to the back of her hand, then to Saber, her tone full of uncertainty.

"Exactly so, Master."

Saber nods, her voice clear and undeniably earnest, "The contract is sealed; my sword is with you. My blade will clear the enemies before you, until the Holy Grail is won."

Her words are full of the knight's solemnity and promise, but to Lixiang's ears they only make her want to cry more.

(Clearing enemies for me… means fighting, right? Fighting that monster woman from earlier? And also battling the other six groups of unknown monsters and demons?)

(I'm just a regular high‑school student who wants to study! Why must I endure this!)

(And looking at Miss Saber's eyes… she seems deeply attached to the Holy Grail. If I later say 'I don't want to fight anymore, let's withdraw', will she think I've wasted her expectations and strike me down with a sword…)

Countless terrible scenarios flash through Lixiang's mind in an instant, turning her face even paler.

She forces a smile uglier than crying, waving at Saber repeatedly, "No, no, no, Miss Saber, you're too polite… um, we… we'll discuss this at length, discuss it at length, ha…"

Saber slightly furrows her brow, seeming not to understand why the Master is so apprehensive, yet maintains etiquette: "Understood; a Master newly treading this path naturally feels uneasy. Rest assured, as long as you follow the Knight's Path and employ strategy wisely, victory is not out of reach."

(No, I'm not at all reassured!)