Crossover Anime: Picking up Medea at the Start

Page 199

153. Artoria's Heartache

As the morning sunlight crept into the room through the gaps in the curtains, Roland, sensing the subtle change in the indoor temperature, opened his eyes.

As his mind gradually cleared, he realized that what had woken him up was just a ray of sunlight.

Because he had ascended to a divine body and no longer needed to sleep, Roland hadn't had a proper night's sleep in a long time, nor had he felt at any moment that the attribute boosts from the gods were such an absurd thing.

Roland sighed slightly upon waking up, then felt the weight in his arms and saw the other's eyebrows twitch slightly as he moved, and he smiled.

"Sorry to disturb your rest."

As Roland softly uttered these words, Artoria slowly opened her eyes and stared at Roland for a while with her somewhat hazy azure eyes. Then, realizing what was happening, she opened her eyes wide, her whole body tense.

Although she had done everything she could, Artoria still wasn't used to this kind of morning.

However, as Roland embraced her and pressed her head against his shoulder, Artoria gradually relaxed.

"No... For us now, we don't need sleep to rest... Thinking about it this way, it might feel more real than when Merlin told me that you would no longer be human after pulling out that sword."

"That's how it is. When I first gained my power, I stood on the top of the building, looking at the rooftop on the other side of the street. The first time I had the thought that I should jump over there, I knew that as I grew stronger, this feeling would come to me more and more often."

"Even just now, I was startled awake by a ray of sunlight... I guess you just get used to it."

As Roland spoke, he looked at Artoria, who was clinging to him like a cat. His hand began to move down, and while Artoria was a little nervous, he smiled and told her what he had originally intended to say the night before.

"Artoria, Rin is preparing to travel to a parallel world. We're going to participate in a Holy Grail War in that world, and I'll be taking you with me this time."

. "

Hearing Roland say this, Artoria endured Roland's hand, her voice trembling slightly, but her tone was extremely firm.

"I... well, I will raise my weapon and fulfill my duty as a blade."

When Roland heard Artoria's small gasp, his expression didn't change. But after hearing what she said next, he looked into Artoria's eyes and met her gaze.

"Even if we happen to see someone you know on the battlefield this time? Like... Mordred, what do you think?"

"I will make her leave the stage."

This time, Artoria was quite serious. She didn't hesitate at all before speaking, and her eyes were even sharper than before.

If Roland didn't know Artoria well, to be honest, it would be hard to believe that she was speaking without any personal emotion at this moment.

As a sharp blade, it's acceptable.

Or perhaps Roland knew from the beginning that, given Artoria's earnestness, once she accepted her current identity, she would strive to do her best in everything she did...

This can sometimes make her a bit obsessive.

That's the kind of guy she is.

Roland looked at her with a deep gaze.

He knew that Artoria's immediate response probably meant she thought he was testing her resolve... but in reality, her response was exactly what Roland didn't want to see.

If I have to say...

Just like the jewels on a crown and the blade of a sword both reflect sunlight, the former makes you feel noble, while the latter only makes you feel cold.

Roland felt that Artoria should be the jewel, but she always put herself in the position of the blade.

Roland didn't say much, but looked into Artoria's eyes and nodded.

"If this is what you want, then that's good."

Artoria blinked repeatedly as Roland spoke, looking somewhat dazed, clearly not quite understanding.

But Roland didn't explain much to her.

Because some people you can persuade, but others you can't.

Especially after Artoria went through two King's Meetings—she is no longer someone you can simply change your mind with a few words.

Moreover, she placed too much importance on Roland's words. In such an unequal situation, whatever Roland said might not have any effect.

She needs to experience things herself before she can understand what the people around her truly expect from her.

Thinking of this, Roland felt somewhat helpless.

Artoria possesses an eye that allows her to see through falsehoods and guides her toward the end.

Therefore, she sees many things very clearly, but perhaps because her eyes are on her face, and Artoria, who doesn't wear makeup and never looks in the mirror, can see others clearly but not herself...

So if she encounters Mordred in this parallel world, let's just consider it a warm-up...

When we actually bring her back to Britain, we can give her a little push.

Hopefully, she will have grown by then.

Roland was thinking this, and just as he was about to say something, the communication spell rang.

This still surprised Roland a bit.

Because he had spent a wonderful night with Artoria the night before, he had almost completely blocked his communication spells.

He will probably only respond when members of the god group in this world contact him.

However, members of the Divine Group generally only contact him through the Divine Group communication system, rather than using communication spells, so he connected directly with this question in mind.

"Ah, the communication spell worked! I wanted to do this ever since I found out you were back. It really does feel more real to contact you this way..."

"Oh, I'm Tohsaka. I have important business with you—I'm all set up here."

Rin Tohsaka's voice emanated from the spell.

Well!

Upon hearing Rin Tohsaka's voice, Artoria instinctively gasped, then quickly covered her mouth as if she had done something wrong.

However, Rin Tohsaka still heard the sound...

"Was that Artoria's voice just now? Did I dial the wrong number?"

"No... I'm with Artoria. After all, we're going there next. During our previous observation, the Mage's Association there prepared some relics related to Britain, so besides asking Illya, I also need to greet Artoria. Otherwise, if there's someone like Mordred among the Servants participating in the Holy Grail War, Artoria might get a shock."

"...That's true."

Rin Tohsaka was silent for a moment, then said this, before bringing the topic back on track. She then told Roland and Artoria some things to note and asked them to come over to her.

Roland acknowledged the message and hung up after telling her a time.

Then he looked at Artoria, who was blushing slightly.

"Alright, Rin is all ready, it's time for us to set off."

"...Um."

Artoria nodded, but her mind wasn't on the matter; rather...

Rin's reaction just now, she must have guessed something... Hmm!

....

154. This is Ishtar's turn.

"call..."

After hanging up the call, Rin Tohsaka let out a long breath, and then Ishtar's voice rang in her mind.

“Hey, Rin, don’t tell me you actually believe Roland was just talking to Artoria about Mordred.”

Upon hearing Ishtar's voice, Rin Tohsaka's face flushed red, and she frowned.

"Shut up! You're so annoying! What does it matter to me who Roland is with, where he is, and what he is doing?"

"Tsk tsk tsk..."

In response to Rin Tohsaka's somewhat hurried words, Ishtar's voice became sarcastic.

"You're in a hurry."

"I don't!"

Ishtar sighed after being refuted again by Rin Tohsaka.

“Rin, in a sense, you and I can be considered one person now. Look, even the device you are dealing with now can only carry a maximum of six people, so it counts you and me as one.”

You might be able to fool others, but can you fool yourself?

Rin Tohsaka forced herself to calm down a little.

"Stop trying to change the subject... We might be considered the same person, but our thinking is different, so stop spouting nonsense!"

"So here's the question, Rin, I think I only made a slight comment at the beginning, why are you in such a hurry?"

"I didn't say anything, so what are you thinking that makes you vehemently refute me?"

Ishtar spent this time with Rin Tohsaka, and during her activities, she was basically surfing the internet intensively.

So Rin Tohsaka really couldn't argue with her.

At this point, silence is all that's left to do.

But Ish097 Tar is clearly still talking.