Abhii28
patreon
(Fate) Chapter 238: No matter the era, Always the weakest
🕑 Added 2024-12-29 16:17:38 +0000 UTCThe next day, Early morning.
At the Clock Tower.
Promise, sporting dark circles under his eyes and yawning, shuffled down the hallways of the Clock Tower.
It felt like Pegasus was being cooped up in a stable for too long; so it l dragged him around the skies all night.
"Brother Horse, that guy…" Promise muttered, clearly annoyed. "Even though he didn’t say anything, I bet he’s holding a grudge. Last night, he pulled off so many extreme stunts, deliberately tossing me off and only catching me right before I hit the ground…"
Promise sighed in exasperation as he grumbled to himself.
At this moment, he suddenly heard a familiar arguing voice in the corridor ahead. He was slightly startled and identified the voices.
Pausing to listen, he realized it was Waver arguing with the ever-troublesome genius, Flat Escardos.
Just as he hesitated, debating whether to take a detour, the conversation ended abruptly and soon, the problem-child genius appeared, stomping down the hall with a sulking expression, muttering “disappointed, disappointed” under his breath.
Seeing there was no avoiding the encounter, Promise sighed and called out, “Good morning, Flat.”
Flat, still in a daze, looked up reflexively and as his blue eyes locked onto Promise, he froze for a moment.
"Oh, it’s you, Promise,”
Having said that Flat walked over.
"What happened?” The latter tilted his head slightly, curious about the usually cheerful Flat’s rare downcast mood.
“It’s about the Holy Grail War,” Flat grumbled. “No matter how much I begged, the professor refused to let me participate. He even called me a complete idiot!”
No...if he actually agreed to let you join, that would be a miracle.
After all, while motives for joining the Holy Grail War varied wildly, the reason—just because you thought it was interesting and wanted to see it—was definitely in a league of its own.
As Promise pondered how to respond to Flat, a female staff member from the Clock Tower approached, her arms full of letters and a small package.
“Excuse me, are you students of the professor?” she asked politely.
"Yes, we are,” Promise replied, nodding.
The woman smiled, slightly relieved. “Could I trouble you to deliver these to him?”
The staff member handed the package to Flat, who had just been arguing with Waver moments earlier.
Promise watched as Flat accepted the package, feeling a strange sense of déjà vu.
And then it happened—Flat immediately used clairvoyance to inspect the contents of the package without a second thought.
Inside was an ominous short sword, seemingly forged for some sort of ritual. It was unmistakably the game company’s raffle prize—the Jack the Ripper's Dagger!
A moment later, Promise saw Flat’s eyes widen in excitement as the latter turned around and without hesitation, bolted toward Waver’s office, practically bouncing with glee.
“...I think I finally understand what’s happening here.”
Promise stood in place, resting his hand against his chin as he watched Flat’s retreating figure.
"So, the question is… do I pretend I didn’t see anything, or should I go take a look at this unique Holy Grail War?”
To be honest, Promise didn’t meet the requirements to participate in this Holy Grail War.
Not to mention he had no pressing need to get involved.
If anything, he was more interested in heading straight to Waver to ask about Chaldea.
Whether or not this world was tied to the Incineration of Humanity, his primary objective was clear: unravel the truth about this timeline and its relation to human history’s survival.
But...
"I remember that even in this Holy Grail War, Heracles seemed to be in a pretty miserable state." Promise muttered to himself.
“Finally summoned as an Archer, only to have his noble persona stripped away with black mud and three Command Seals by his master before he could even show his skills,turning him into a mix of Archer and Avenger.
"Not to mention, beings like Gilgamesh—who practically sit at the pinnacle of Heroic Spirits—show up in droves. This Holy Grail War’s caliber is absurdly high.
"Maybe… it’s a good opportunity to get a more direct understanding of my own strength? So, should I join in the fun?"
---
Promise thought about these questions for a while, and soon laughed out loud as if he was mocking himself.
"If this were the me from the Age of Gods, I wouldn’t even need to think about it."
He spoke softly, his voice tinged with nostalgia.
Yes, his past self would have leapt at such a grand stage without a second thought.
After all, why was there any need for consideration?
"However, if my past self sought a magnificent end and therefore had always yearned for death, then the me standing here now is struggling to ensure how to survive, knowing the fate of the world."
On one hand, his past self sought death, aiming to construct grand achievements that would leave behind a legend worthy of Heroic Spirit status.
On the other hand, his current self was striving to preserve his own life.
This seemingly contradictory duality resided within Promise at the same time, and how could he not find it amusing?
"So, in this situation, what choice should I make? Which path should I take?”
Promise’s voice grew lighter as he spoke, and the corners of his mouth curled upward.
By this point, he had already made his decision.
And thus, a short while later, when Flat Escardos emerged from Waver’s office, beaming with excitement and cradling a small box in his arms as if it were the world’s greatest treasure.
"Flat, have you decided to go to America to participate in the Holy Grail War?”
Promise, who had been waiting for him outside, now stepped forward to block his path.
"Of course!" Flat’s eyes sparkled as he nodded vigorously. “The professor actually agreed! I’m so happy to have such an amazing teacher!”
There's no way, he would agree to it.
After all, you two aren’t even on the same wavelength.
Promise’s inner thoughts churned with disbelief.
After all, that box in his hands was nothing more than a game prize—it wasn’t even a genuine relic meant for summoning a Heroic Spirit!
Suppressing his exasperation, Promise chuckled and said, "In that case, how about taking me along? What do you think, Flat?"
..
..
..
"I was Rejected, just like that.”
In the Clock Tower’s library, Shirou Emiya, with his short reddish-brown hair, looked curiously at the boy sitting across from him.
The boy, with black hair and emerald-green eyes, who was yawning and appeared visibly annoyed.
"Did something happen?" Shirou asked instinctively.
"Nothing,” Promise replied absentmindedly, his gaze drifting toward the summer afternoon sunlight streaming through the nearby window.
"IIt’s just that someone wants to stir up trouble but refuses to take me along, even though I finally made up my mind."
To be honest, it wasn’t hesitation that bothered him.
After all, as a "loyal" follower of the Goddess of Wisdom, how could he truly miss such an event?
'Close my eyes, open them, and here I am again—back in this era.'
'The habits built over six or seven years couldn’t just disappear overnight.'
'But seriously, even in a different era, things hadn’t changed.
Back in Greece, people didn’t want me involved in troublesome matters because I was physically the weakest.
And now, in the modern world, I don’t have a magic crest, making me undoubtedly the most useless student in Waver’s class.'
As he pieced this together, Promise’s mood darkened further.
'So, no matter where I am, I’m always the weakest, huh?'
"Stir up trouble?” Shirou tilted his head, puzzled and unsure if he should press for details.
*It’s a Holy Grail War,” Promise said casually, as if it were no big deal. "The same kind of event you participated in back then.”
“...What?” The sudden mention of the term left Shirou dumbfounded as he blinked at Promise in disbelief.
"In a few days, a Holy Grail War will take place in a city called Snowfield, in America. One of the professor’s students is preparing to participate,” Promise explained calmly.
Before he could finish, Shirou sprang to his feet, his eyes wide with alarm as he exclaimed.
“You’re saying Rin is going to join another Holy Grail War?!"
The library, already quiet, fell into an even heavier silence as Shirou Emiya’s loud exclamation drew everyone’s attention.
Many people turned to glare at him, their brows furrowing in irritation.
Realizing the disruption he’d caused, Shirou awkwardly sat back down, scratching his head.
"It’s not Tohsaka,” Promise said after a brief pause, considering Flat’s personality.
Well..that guy probably wouldn’t care if this information was shared, and besides, the truth would come out soon enough.
In just a few days, all 30 of Waver’s students, including Rin Tohsaka, would head to Snowfield to participate in the Holy Grail War.
They would collectively act as the Masters of True Rider, the ancient Amazonian Queen Hippolyta, daughter of Ares and victim of Heracles.
"It’s Flat Escardos," So, he spoke
"You know, the one who, along with Svin Glascheit, is called one of Waver’s ‘Twin Jewels.’"
Hearing this, Shirou immediately understood who Promise was referring to.
After all, Flat was infamous, even within the Clock Tower.
“The professor actually agreed to that?” So, he couldn't help but asked in disbelief.
“Flat thinks the professor agreed,” Promise replied, as a faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips, as he said with an amused expression.
He couldn’t help but recall how Waver himself had once stolen his teacher’s artifact and stubbornly insisted on joining the Fuyuki Holy Grail War, ignoring all warnings.
Now, Waver’s student was perfectly replicating his past behavior!
Shirou, not understanding why Promise was smiling, quickly sensed a hint of mischief in it. Realizing the implications of Promise’s words, he frowned.
"You knew about this and didn’t stop him… wait a second! You said you were rejected earlier. Don’t tell me—you wanted to join the Holy Grail War too?!”
Shirou’s voice rose again, drawing another wave of irritated glares from the library’s occupants.
"Relax. I’m just going to watch the excitement,” Promise replied calmly,
"I mean, come on, I don’t even have a magic crest. There’s no way they’d pick me as a Master..."
As he said this, Promise suddenly felt a strange unease, like he had just raised a massive flag.
Indeed, without a magic crest, he was far less likely to be chosen as a Master than someone like Shirou Emiya.
But this Holy Grail War was so unusual, and with signs that the Counter Force itself might be watching…
"Watching? Do you have any idea how dangerous that is?!"
Shirou Emiya hadn’t even finished speaking when Promise interrupted him with a smile.
"Heroes from myths and ancient legends being summoned to battle each other until only one victor remains. If we consider just that aspect, isn’t it incredibly fascinating?”
Shirou opened his mouth, struggling to respond, but found himself unable to refute it.
However, memories of his past experiences quickly flooded through his mind and his expression darkened as he looked at Promise seriously and said, "Even so, you absolutely cannot go. It’s far too dangerous!"
Promise only responded with a faint smile.
Not long after, Shirou, still wearing a heavy, contemplative expression, excused himself and left the library.
Looking at the young man, Promise knew exactly where he was headed—to discuss the Holy Grail War with Rin Tohsaka.
"Now, even if Flat eventually makes it to Snowfield, summons his destined Servant, and follows the path laid out for him, he’ll definitely face a lot of hurdles—and get scolded even worse,”
The boy thought, his lips curling into a sly grin.
That’s what you get for rejecting me so quickly!
With that thought, Promise lowered his head and continued quietly reading the astronomy book in his hands.
.
.
.
