Chapter 483

Iskandar: "Kid, this won't do. How could you collapse from just this little bit of mountain road?"

Waver: "... Shut up. I absolutely won't become like that."

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

【He was here to increase the means by which he could 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 summit, a large flock of black birds appeared from the forest, circling them continuously.】

【Waver: "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.】

【He was an old man of about sixty, wearing an old-fashioned travel hat over his disheveled hair.】

【Even though he was advanced in age, 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 gravedigger, and thus they cry out 'Nevermore'."】

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

Kayneth: "Gravedigger... I see, it's Blackmore Cemetery!"

Waver: "Teacher, where is that?"

Kayneth: "It is one of the oldest cemeteries on this land. It is also widely known in the mage world. I hear the gravedigger there is extremely powerful."

Waver: "I see. Is this why the future me went there?"

Artoria: "Blackmore Cemetery..."

Although the video hadn't reached it yet, the matter was already obvious: Waver met Gray here.

Gray's location was now clear.

【Waver: "You mentioned a gravedigger. Could it be that you are..."】

【Man: "What business does a mage from the Clock Tower have with me?"】

【Reines thought to herself: "To actually know we are mages from the Clock Tower—did he deduce it, or was he eavesdropping on our conversation in the dark all along?"】

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

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

【"I am the gravedigger, 'Bersac Blackmore'. If you have something to say, follow me."】

【The man turned and left, and Waver 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 though they had existed for 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-era attire.】

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

Rin Tohsaka: "According to the plot of a movie, this kind of village must hide a secret."

Illya: "Does that even need to be said?"

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

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

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

【Waver 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 Kirei and Risei Kotomine, the priest who just appeared in the video was simply at the other extreme.

That waistline was almost the same as his height; I really don't know how he maintains that physique in such a remote village.

【"Father Fernand."】

【Bersac said faintly: "They are guests who came to find me. Can you let them pass?"】

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

【Fernand's gaze turned to us, Waver and Reines. He didn't hide his suspicion at all, squinting his eyes and bowing hypocritically: "Hmm, nice to meet you. My name is 'Fernand Croze'. May I ask for your names?"】

【"Lord El-Melloi II."】

【"Reines El-Melloi Archisorte."】

【They reported their names one after another, while also observing the priest's reaction, but he didn't show any particular emotional change.】

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

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

As a member of the Holy Church, how could he not know the names of the twelve Lords of the Clock Tower?

This guy is either pretending not to know, or he's from this village and has never left, so he truly doesn't know El-Melloi's reputation.

Kayneth leaned toward the first possibility.

Even the gravedigger Bersac knew El-Melloi's name; it's impossible for someone from the Holy Church not to know.

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

【"Yes, we are so close that we are inseparable no matter where we go! Right, my brother?"】

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

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

【"I am Sister 'Ilumia'."】

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

【Fernand: "Well, there are still believers who hope for me to visit today, so please allow me to leave first. I am very sorry, but could 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 exchanging greetings, Fernand wobbled away, but Ilumia 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 actually made Reines, who liked to stir up 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 northern end of the village.】

【It was a simple church with scale-like walls covered in ivy, looking like it had seen some years.】

【Opening the church doors, the space inside was unexpectedly spacious, the ceiling was high, and it was cleaned very neatly, making one feel a quiet 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 at the back of the sanctuary was a bit off.】

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

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

【Waver: "... Black Madonna."】

Rin Tohsaka: "Black Madonna? What is that?"

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

Kayneth: "To think they actually worship the Black Madonna here."

【Reines: "What's going on, brother?"】

【Waver said in a low voice: "Statues of the Black Madonna are rarely distributed in places like Europe. Famous examples include the Virgin of the Montserrat Monastery, the Virgin of the Le Puy Cathedral, and so on."】

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

【"Are you two curious about that statue of the Virgin Mary, mages?"】

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

【Waver 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?"】

【Waver: "I see. If it is in this area, does it belong to the island's Celts? No, the origin might be different; there might have been cultural exchanges..."】

【Bersac: "Before taking you to my house, can you first pray to the Virgin Mary? This is a rule in this village."】 ===== CHAPTER 485 =====