Does a Doll Deserve to Live a Happy Life? (Patreon)

Chapter 46: The Corrupted King

It only took a few moments to grant Fran my Shroud, incarnating her into the world and allowing her to generate her own mana while empowering her even further than when she was alive. The Shroud had also upgraded her to Tier 8.

While I wanted to give her a proper human body with the Anthropize perk, I decided to wait until we were back in Chaldea to be on the safe side. I had no idea how Lev would react if he found out I could do that, and I didn’t want to give him another reason to grow wary of me, especially since I was planning to fight Artoria by myself.

What I did do, however, was grant Fran access to all my Company defenses and talents—Stress Defense, Communication Talent, and Inexhaustible. Combined with the automatic healing every new companion receives upon being bound, Fran should gain the ability to speak properly fairly quickly, along with nullifying the negative effects of her Mad Enhancement.

As I willed the Shroud away, Fran’s form was revealed once more. She looked down at her body silently, likely noticing the changes.

“How do you feel, Fran?” I asked.

She looked up at me, tilting her head slightly. There was a faint hint of awe in her eyes and more importantly recognition before she gave a small nod.

“Mmn.”

I could tell she wanted to say more, but she understood the situation we were in thankfully and stayed silent. Despite her origins, I knew that Fran was pretty smart and insightful.

“Good.” I turned to the others. “Mash, Director, are you ready to move, or do you need more time to rest?”

“Equipped and ready, Senpai!” Mash responded immediately, standing up straighter.

“I’m fine. For some reason, I feel full of energy,” Olga said, shooting me a suspicious glance that made it clear she suspected me—which, to be fair, was accurate.

“Good. Any luck figuring out your Noble Phantasm’s True Name?” I asked, noting that her outfit hadn’t changed yet, which usually indicated no breakthrough.

At my question, Mash lowered her head slightly, frustration evident.

“No, Senpai. For some reason, I can’t grasp its name. Even though I feel much stronger thanks to your Mystery… it keeps slipping away. I’m sorry,” she said, bowing her head.

‘It’s probably subconscious,’ I thought. ‘Mash still struggles with her self-worth. A few hours of me being friendly with her isn’t enough to undo years what she must have experienced in the past’

Shaking my head, I placed a hand on her shoulder and gently stopped her.

“There’s nothing to apologize for, Mash. You’re still new to being a Demi-Servant, and I know you’re doing your best. I have no doubt you’ll discover your Noble Phantasm’s True Name soon.”

“You just need to believe in yourself. A Noble Phantasm is tied to instinct and willpower, and you have more than enough of both.”

She looked up at me with wide, almost puppy-like eyes.

“T-Thank you for believing in me, Senpai! I won’t let you down!” she declared, determination replacing her earlier doubt.

“I know you won’t.” I smiled before shifting my focus forward. “Alright, let’s move out. Mash, take point. While Caster is handling Archer, we don’t want to be caught off guard. Fran, take the rear. The Director and I will hold the center.”

“Hai!”

“Mmn.”

With that, we began moving toward Ryuudou Temple but more specifically to Mount Enzou.

=====

With Caster

It didn’t take him long to locate Archer. It seemed the bastard had been waiting for him, though the familiar weight of the red spear in his left hand assured him of victory, even if it wasn’t his own.

‘Keh… to think my mentor would take on another student—and a lover, of all things, judging by that kid’s expression. Kehahaha… I’m really curious how he pulled off that miracle,’ Caster thought in amusement.

He dropped down to the ground, looking up at Archer, who stood watching him from above.

“Yo, Archer. Seems you didn’t run for once. Or do you prefer if I call you… Emiya?” Caster greeted with a smirk that only widened when Archer’s expression twitched.

“…How did you find out my name?” Archer asked coldly, summoning his black bow.

“My junior told me,” Caster replied casually, his grin sharpening. “Seems he was right, judging by that reaction… or should I say—Shirou?”

The response was immediate.

Caster raised the red spear just in time to block an arrow aimed straight for his face, bursting into mocking laughter.

“Kehahaha! Looks like I hit a nerve. Now I really want to grab a drink with that kid, I bet he’s got some good stories to share,” he said, clearly enjoying himself.

“Tch… I see. So it was those newcomers,” Archer said, his voice as cold as ever.

“That’s right. But don’t worry about them,” Caster replied, rolling his shoulders as he summoned his staff to his main hand, shifting the spear to the other. “Why don’t we settle this here and now? Don’t know what it is about you… but I can’t stand the sight of you.”

“The feeling is mutual,” Archer answered, tracing another arrow and drawing it back.

With the banter over, Caster steadied himself.

‘Hang in there, kid… that little lady is a monster,’ he thought briefly—

—and then the thought vanished as the fight began.

=====

Back with Sieg

Running into the vast cavern at the base of Mount Enzou, we came to a stop as an eerie purple glow illuminated the area ahead, resting atop a small cliff.

“An exclusive Magecraft reactor core?” Olga spoke up in surprise as she examined it. “This is… the Holy Grail?”

Just then, heavy footsteps echoed through the cavern, accompanied by the sound of shifting armor.

A figure appeared atop the cliff.

“…I see. You’ve brought an interesting Servant with you.”

A painfully familiar voice rang out as Artoria Alter revealed herself, radiating a monstrous amount of mana.

Her gaze locked onto Mash—or more specifically, her shield—while the rest of us received only a dismissive glance.

“…Saber,” I muttered softly, surprised at the sheer malice radiating from her compared to her usual calming aura.

A strange sense of nostalgia stirred within me.

Once again, I stood opposite her… in another battle for the Holy Grail.

“King Arthur is a girl!?” Olga exclaimed in shock, instinctively stepping behind me for protection as Mash and Fran moved forward.

“…What incredible magical output… Is that truly King Arthur?” Mash asked, her voice tense as she raised her shield, eyes fixed on Alter.

“Interesting…” Alter murmured, narrowing her eyes. “That Noble Phantasm… you should prepare it, strange girl.”

“This sword shall test the truth of your shield.”

With those words, she summoned the corrupted Excalibur into her hand, its dark energy pulsing ominously.

Then—

She leapt from the cliff.

Her landing sent a shockwave through the ground as she touched down before us.

Seeing what had become of that once-beautiful sword, I couldn’t help but frown.

Taking her declaration as the start of battle, I stepped forward.

Everyone behind me froze in confusion.

“What are you doing, Senpai?” Mash asked, worry clear in her voice.

“Aaah!” Fran growled, pointing urgently behind us, telling me to fall back.

My action even caught Alter slightly off guard as she finally directed her cold, yellow gaze at me, raising an eyebrow.

“Sorry, Mash, Fran… but I can’t, in good conscience, allow you to fight a Servant of Saber’s caliber on your own,” I said, shaking my head.

“You do understand the meaning of Master and Servant, correct? What can a magus of the modern era hope to accomplish against me?” Alter asked calmly.

“Ah, but that’s where you’re wrong, Artoria.” I smiled faintly, shaking my head. “I’m not just a regular Master.”

That earned me a slightly confused look.

“…Why do you speak to me with such familiarity? As far as I know, we have never met,” she said coldly.

“I apologize. Force of habit,” I replied simply, offering no further explanation.

I glanced back briefly.

Mash and Fran watched me with worry, Olga as well, which said more than she probably realized.

“Director, I promised I would reveal who I am, correct? Then watch closely,” I said calmly. “Mash, Fran, stay back and protect the Director.”

“But Senpai—!”

“Aaah!”

Their worried voices reached me, but I only smiled as I summoned Balmung into my right hand and slowly unsheathed it.

“Don’t worry. I made you a promise, didn’t I? I intend to keep it.”

I released the restraints on my mana.

The air warped around me.

“That sword… that magical output…” Alter’s eyes narrowed as her focus sharpened completely. “Who are you?”

“I’m simply someone who has been helped throughout his life and was given a second chance,” I said softly, a small smile on my face. “And with that life, I intend to protect those who believe in me with everything I have.”

That earned a slight raise of her brow.

“But if it’s my name you want…” I continued, taking my stance, mirroring her own.

“It’s Sieg.”

“I will not allow you to harm those behind me.”

Alter studied me in silence for a moment, as if weighing my words.

Then—

A faint smirk touched her lips.

“Hmph… then let’s see if you can back them up.”

She moved first.

So did I.

The ground exploded beneath both of us.

CLANG—!

Our blades met head-on.

The shockwave tore through the cavern, blasting dust and debris outward as black and silver mana collided violently between us.

No one moved.

For a split second—

We were perfectly matched.

Then—

We both pushed.

The ground beneath our feet shattered simultaneously as we slid back—

—and vanished again.

CLANG—CLANG—CLANG—!

Steel screamed as our blades collided again and again, each strike faster than the last. Sparks burst like fireworks, black lightning clashing against radiant silver.

She aimed for my neck—

I twisted, countering—

She adjusted mid-swing—

I stepped in instead of back.

Our blades locked.

Her yellow eyes narrowed.

Mine didn’t waver.

“—!”

I forced her back.

For the first time—

Her footing shifted.

But she responded instantly.

A kick—

I caught it with my arm, sliding back a step before driving Balmung forward in a thrust aimed straight for her chest.

She twisted just enough—

The blade scraped across her armor—

—and she retaliated immediately.

A horizontal slash—

Too fast to dodge—

So I met it head-on.

BOOM—!

The impact split the ground between us.

This time—

She was the one pushed back.

A flicker of surprise crossed her expression.

“…Interesting.”

Dark mana surged around her blade.

So I answered in kind.

My mana flared.

The air warped.

We moved again—

Not retreating.

Not hesitating.

Advancing.

CLANG—!

Another clash—

But this time I stepped through her guard.

Too close.

Her eyes widened—

Just slightly.

My blade came down—

She blocked—

—but her arm shook from the force.

I’m stronger.

The realization hit both of us at the same time.

Her smirk returned—

Wider.

More dangerous.

“Good,” she muttered.

Black energy erupted from her sword—

I leapt back—

A beam of darkness tore through the space between us, carving the cavern apart.

I landed smoothly, barely skidding—

Still smiling.

Still steady.

Still ready.

Across from me—

She raised her blade again.

Now fully serious.

=====

Back with Mash, Fran and Olga

“Amazing… They’re moving so fast I can barely keep track of them,” Mash whispered in awe, her eyes struggling to follow the clash between her Senpai and Saber. “I knew Senpai was strong, but not this strong…”

“M-Master… strong,” Fran added, her gaze just as focused on Sieg.

“H-How can this be…?” Olga muttered, eyes wide as she struggled to process what she was seeing.

“This should be impossible! No modern magus, except maybe a true Magician, should be capable of this. Tsk… he has a lot of explaining to do once we get back,” she added with a frown.

“I’m sure Senpai has his reasons for keeping his strength hidden, Director,” Mash said firmly, stepping in to defend him. “All he’s done since arriving at Chaldea is help people, us especially. I have faith in Senpai.”

“Tch… I never said I didn’t,” Olga muttered under her breath, a faint blush dusting her cheeks.

“…What was that, Director?”

“N-Nothing! Focus on the fight,” Olga snapped, quickly deflecting. “As Servants, you and Fran need to be ready to support him at any moment. He may be fighting Saber evenly now, but she has the Holy Grail acting as a battery. If this drags on, Sieg will eventually be at a disadvantage.”

“R-Right! I’m ready to move at any moment,” Mash said, determination replacing her awe.

“Aah!” Fran nodded beside her.

=====

Back With Sieg

“…I must admit, I didn’t expect you to be this skilled,” Alter said calmly, observing me before narrowing her eyes. “This is the first time someone has read me so well.”

Her gaze sharpened.

“Tell me, Sieg… have we fought before? You move as if you’re familiar with my style of fighting.”

I blinked at the question, but I shouldn’t have been surprised.

Despite initial impressions, Artoria was a bit of a battle junkie. She was also a sore loser.

Choosing my words carefully, especially with Lev possibly listening, I settled on a partial truth.

“I’ve fought someone very similar to you many times,” I replied calmly. “You’re annoyed that I can read your movements, aren’t you?”

The slight twitch of her brow answered for her.

“There you go again… acting overly familiar,” she said coldly as dark mana began to gather around Excalibur Morgan.

Then—

“I don’t want to fight you, Artoria.”

The words left my mouth before she could act.

She blinked.

“You could join us,” I continued, meeting her gaze directly. “We could really use your strength.”

Artoria stared at me in silence for several moments before scoffing, the sound making me flinch slightly at hearing such disdain from someone with a face identical to a loved one.

“I already told you, I don’t know you! Stop acting like we’re familiar with each other!” she snapped, pouring even more mana into Excalibur Morgan as its dark aura intensified.

“Always so stubborn…” I muttered, shaking my head with a small frown before meeting her gaze seriously. “Then how about this, if I survive a full-powered strike from your Excalibur… will you at least hear me out?”

Behind me, I heard sharp gasps.

“What are you saying, Senpai!? That’s insane!” Mash exclaimed.

“M-Master!” Fran cried out, clearly distressed.

“H-Have you lost your mind, Sieg!? That’s Excalibur! And it’s being powered by the Holy Grail!” Olga shouted, equal parts anger and panic in her voice.

Alter glanced at them briefly… then returned her gaze to me.

She searched my eyes.

And found no hesitation.

“…Very well,” she said at last. “If you survive a strike from my blade, I will hear you out.”

Her expression hardened.

“But if you fail… those behind you will die. I hope you’re aware of that.”

“I’m well aware,” I replied firmly. “All the more reason for me to stop it.”

“…Then prepare yourself.”

She raised Excalibur Morgan.

Dark energy surged, violent, overwhelming, suffocating.

Then—

“Excalibur… Morgan!”

A torrent of black-red destruction erupted forward.

The cavern shook.

The world drowned in light.

I closed my eyes for just a moment as the beam rushed toward me.

…Looks like I’ll be using your gift after all, Artoria.