Chapter 483

Iskandar: "Kid, this won't do; how could you collapse from just this little mountain road?"

Waver: "... Less chatter, I will absolutely not become like this."

【After resting for a while, the two continued their journey, and the Second also explained what he was here to do.】

【He was here to increase the means that would allow him to win in the Holy Grail War.】

【To this, Reines shook her head in helplessness; why was he so obsessed with the Holy Grail War?】

【Just as the two were about to reach the top of the mountain, a large flock of black birds appeared from the forest, circling around them continuously.】

【Second: "Are those crows?"】

【"Crows carry souls."】

【Accompanied by a low voice, a man in black appeared where the flock of crows had just flown up from.】

【That was an old man of about sixty, wearing an old-fashioned travel hat on his messy hair.】

【Although he was old, one could still see the sturdy physique under his coat.】

【"It is the same here in Britain. In the Celtic mythology of the continent, crows also frequently appear. They are guides for the dead, birds of the gravekeeper, and thus they cry 'Nevermore'."】

【The man continued, a crow landing on his shoulder.】

Kayneth: "Gravekeeper... I see, is it the Blackmoore Cemetery!"】

Waver: "Teacher, where is that?"】

Kayneth: "It is one of the oldest cemeteries on this land, and it is also widely circulated in the world of magi; I heard that the gravekeeper there is very powerful."】

Waver: "I see, so this is the reason why the future me went there."】

Artoria: "Blackmoore's Cemetery..."

Although the video hadn't reached it yet, the matter was already very clear: the Second met Gray here.】

Gray's location was now clear.】

【Second: "You mentioned a gravekeeper; could it be that you are..."】

【Man: "What business does a magus from the Zhong Ta have with me?"】

【Reines thought to herself: "To actually know that we are magi from the Zhong Ta—did he deduce it, or was he eavesdropping on our conversation in secret all along?"】

【The Second bowed and said: "Hello, I am El-Melloi II."】

【The man nodded and returned the bow: "It is truly rare to have guests visiting one after another, and both are here to visit me."】

【"I am the gravekeeper 'Bersac Blackmoore'; if you have something to say, follow me."】

【The man turned and left, and the Second hurriedly followed with Reines.】

【Soon, they arrived at a small village nestled against a steep rocky mountain.】

【The population here was at most a hundred people, and most of the buildings were brick-built, feeling as if they had been through over a hundred years.】

【Although the villagers coming and going were all wearing modern clothing, it probably wouldn't seem strange even if they all changed into medieval or modern clothing.】

Waver: "This village doesn't look out of touch with the outside world, but it also feels a bit self-contained."】

Rin Tohsaka: "According to the plot in movies, this kind of village must hide secrets."】

Illya: "Do you even need to say that?"】

【"Oh my, Mr. Bersac. What's wrong with the two over there?"】

【Just as they entered the village, a middle-aged man wearing priest robes and with a round build called out to them.】

【Behind him followed a young nun, about twenty years old, with blonde hair and tea-brown eyes, which, paired with faint freckles, looked quite charming.】

【The Second and Reines recognized at a glance that these two were from the Holy Church, and subconsciously became vigilant.】

Kayneth: "The Holy Church. Hmph, these guys are really like ghosts that won't go away."】

Rin Tohsaka: "Uh, I thought the priests of the Holy Church were all sturdy; it seems I was wrong."】

【Compared to Kotomine and Kirei, the priest who just appeared in the video was simply at the other extreme.】

【That waistline was almost as wide as his height; I really don't know how he maintained that figure in such a remote village.】

【"Father Fernand."】

【Bersac said calmly: "They are guests who came to find me; can you let them pass?"】

【"Oh my, please go ahead, please go ahead; the church doors are always open."】

【Fernand's gaze turned to the two of us, the Second, with his suspicion undisguised, and he squinted his eyes and bowed hypocritically: "Hmm, nice to meet you, my name is 'Fernand Croze'. May I ask for your names?"】

【"El-Melloi II."】

【"Reines El-Melloi Archisorte."】

【They reported their names one after another, while also observing the priest's reaction, but he did not show any special emotional changes.】

【Had he never heard of the name El-Melloi, or was he just very good at controlling his emotions?】

Kayneth: "Hehe, he's really pretending quite well."】

【As a member of the Holy Church, how could he not know the names of the twelve lords of the Zhong Ta?】

【This guy is either pretending not to know, or he was born in this village and has never left, so he really doesn't know El-Melloi's reputation.】

【Kayneth was more inclined to the first situation.】

【That gravekeeper Bersac knew El-Melloi's name; it's impossible for a member of the Holy Church not to know.】

【Fernand: "Oh, oh, are you two siblings?"】

【"Yes, we are so close that we are inseparable wherever we go! Right, my brother?"】

【Reines grabbed the Second's arm, but he was clearly somewhat reluctant.】

【"By the way, who is the nun over there?"】

【"I am Sister 'Irumia'."】

【The young nun said in a frivolous tone, seeming difficult to approach.】

【Fernand: "Then, there are still believers who hope for me to visit today, so please allow me to leave first. I am very sorry, can I trouble Mr. Bersac to take them to the church?"】

【Bersac: "Of course, that is exactly what I intended."】

【"I am very sorry, this is just an ordinary small village, please rest slowly."】

【After greeting them, Fernand walked away swaying, but Irumia deliberately slowed her pace and came to Reines's ear.】

【"It's best not to stay long."】

【Leaving this sentence, she immediately hurried to catch up with the priest.】

【However, hearing this sentence instead made Reines, who liked to cause trouble, excited.】

Rin Tohsaka: "Here it comes, the common trope in movies."】

Illya: "Next, someone should die."】

Waver: "Hey, hey, don't be a jinx."】

【Under Bersac's guidance, they soon arrived at the church located at the north end of the village.】

【That was a simple church with scale-like walls covered in ivy, looking like it had been around for some years.】

【Opening the church doors, the space inside was unexpectedly spacious, the ceiling was high, and it was kept very tidy, making one feel a calm atmosphere.】

【Although it couldn't be called luxurious, the pews and metal candlesticks were spotless, showing the piety of this village's faith.】

【However, the statue of the Virgin Mary enshrined behind the sanctuary was a bit wrong.】

【That statue of the Virgin was painted pitch black, and although she was holding the infant Savior, her posture was completely different from common statues of the Virgin.】

【She was very tall, her physique was majestic, and her eyes were piercing as she looked down at us; she was closer to a female general than a merciful mother.】

【Second: "... Black Madonna."】

Rin Tohsaka: "Black Madonna? What is this?"】

Tokiomi Tohsaka: "It is a branch of faith in Christianity, relatively niche, so not many people know about it."】

Kayneth: "So they actually believe in the Black Madonna here."】

【Reines: "What's going on, brother?"】

【Second whispered: "Statues of the Black Madonna are rarely distributed in places like Europe; famous examples include the Virgin of Montserrat Monastery, the Virgin of Le Puy Cathedral, and so on."】

【"These Black Madonna statues have very different faces from general statues of Mary. This phenomenon can also be seen in statues of patron saints, etc., and it is speculated that it is caused by absorbing the Earth Mother Goddess and pre-Christian beliefs."】

【"Are you curious about that statue of the Virgin, magus?"】

【Seeing their appearance, Bersac turned his head and asked.】

【The Second nodded and said: "Because it is quite rare."】

【Bersac: "I heard that it is an antique passed down in the village; Father Fernand should know more about it, right?"】

【Second: "I see; if it's this area, does it belong to the Celtic islands? No, it could also have a different origin, having had cultural exchanges..."】

【Bersac: "Before I take you to my house, can you pray to the Virgin first? This is a rule in this village."】