Abnormal Type Moon

Chapter 8: Swordswoman

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The girl swordsman appeared before Roy with a heroic posture, her sparkling eyes full of energy.

She looked very young, around fifteen years old. She wore a black scarf around her neck and a pale blue haori draped over her shoulders. Her blonde hair shimmered like fine sand, and her gray-green pupils fixed on Roy with a serious and focused expression.

Judging from her upper body alone, she was the picture of a flawless young swordsman.

Roy's gaze moved downward and noticed that the hem of her inner garment was very short, barely reaching her thighs.

Her legs were wrapped in a pair of tight-fitting long boots, leaving her snow-white, delicate bare feet exposed. Her crystal-clear toes peeked through the hollow, clog-like design of her shoes.

The blonde swordswoman stepped out of the summoning circle, her ahoge twitching as if in a panic.

"Hmm? Hmm?"

She tilted her head, clearly confused.

"Wait a minute! Isn't it too early for the Holy Grail War to begin? Why am I here? And what's happened to the world? It looks like the end of the world! I've only been dead for a hundred years—how did things end up like this?"

It seemed she had absorbed the common knowledge transmitted by the Holy Grail about the state of the modern world.

"Calm down, Saber," Roy interrupted her panicked musings, raising his hand to reveal the Command Seal engraved on the back.

"As you can see, I am your Master, and I summoned you ahead of time."

"I see!"

Her gaze fell on the Command Seal, and realization dawned on her face. Her expression turned serious.

"Then I, Okita Souji, formally accept you as my Master… By the way, Master, your magical power is incredible! I feel better now than I ever have before!"

The young swordswoman clapped her hands together joyfully, her face lighting up with satisfaction.

As a Servant, she could sense the magical link connecting her to Roy. The magic flowing through the connection was not only pure but vast in quantity.

Although she didn't know much about the current standards of modern Magus, she could tell her Master was exceptionally skilled. Thanks to his immense magical power, her current condition felt better than ever, and she was certain her abilities had been greatly enhanced.

Roy lowered his arm and said nothing, not responding to her enthusiastic compliments.

"Master, where is this place?" Okita asked, finally tearing her attention away from her excellent state to examine her surroundings. Her expression turned uneasy as she looked at the eerie and oppressive environment around her.

"Why did you summon me in a place like this? And why are you wearing a mask? Are you hiding something from me? If so, let me help you solve your problem!"

"You've got plenty of energy, but there's no need to fight right now," Roy replied, calmly rejecting the swordswoman's offer.

"Let's leave here quickly."

"Really? Got it!"

Okita grumbled slightly, feeling that her Master's attitude was a bit cold.

Still, despite her proposal being turned down, her spirits remained high. She stayed as energetic as ever and followed Roy enthusiastically as they retraced their steps.

Leaving the massive underground cavity, they entered the cave once more, its dense magical fog swirling around them.

Okita frowned at the fog, which was thick enough to obscure vision completely. Her bright smile turned awkward, and she let out a frustrated "wow," clearly irritated.

"This curse seems to be specifically targeting Servants…" she muttered.

"Now that you mention it, that does seem to be the case. You should revert to your spirit form for now," Roy suggested.

"I'm sorry, Master," Okita said with a slightly dejected expression. She apologized sincerely, then voluntarily transformed into her spirit form. The delicate body formed by magical energy disappeared, and her presence followed Roy in the form of a soul.

"After saying such big words, I let my Master walk through this dangerous magic fog alone. How shameful..."

"This little bit of magic mist is not dangerous," Roy said calmly as he walked steadily through the fog.

The cursed, demonic sounds echoing from all directions did not affect him in the slightest. He continued his internal conversation with his Servant as though nothing was amiss.

"Really? Even in spirit form, I felt a slight tremor while passing through this magic fog, yet you completely ignored it? Your will is quite admirable. Oh, it seems I've been blessed with an exceptional Master this time!"

The voice resonating in his mind sounded lighthearted and pleasant.

The spiritual corruption of the magic fog was undeniably severe. For anyone with even the slightest flaw in their heart, it was all too easy to succumb to its effects.

As a Heroic Spirit recorded in history, Okita had an extremely strong will. Even so, she had felt herself falter momentarily in the fog. That her Master seemed entirely unaffected left her astonished.

His will must be stronger than she had imagined.

...No, let's be honest, she thought. Such a Master must either be a genius or a madman.

Okita silently acknowledged this truth.

---

As soon as they exited the cave and before they could descend the mountain, Roy suddenly stopped in his tracks.

"I thought we could leave quietly, but it seems leaving unnoticed won't be that easy," he remarked.

Outside the cave, a figure stood in the darkness.

The figure stood there, motionless, staring directly at the cave entrance. The moment the person in black emerged, her sharp gaze locked onto him.

It was a striking beauty dressed in men's clothing.

Her short, rose-red hair was neatly styled, and her reddish-brown suit complemented her slender, upright figure. Her posture was as straight and firm as a sturdy pine, and her piercing eyes resembled those of a hunting hawk.

She exuded heroism and authority, yet the small teardrop mole near the corner of her eye added a subtle touch of charm.

"The barrier shouldn't have been able to detect me," Roy noted.

"What gave you away was the unusual flow of magic power from the Greater Holy Grail," the woman replied coolly.

She lowered the metal cylinder she had been carrying, retrieved a pair of black leather gloves from her pocket, and slipped them on with a stern expression.

"I'm surprised as well. I didn't expect someone to quietly bypass thirteen layers of barriers and break into the underground cave. Who are you?"

"I thought a place like the Greater Hollow wouldn't register a slight magical reaction, but I see now—it was the forced summoning that caused a commotion," Roy said, nodding in understanding.

Although he had been to Mount Enzou before, this was the first time he had summoned a Heroic Spirit there.

"Answer my question!"

The woman spread her legs slightly, assuming a combat stance. Her voice grew sharper and more commanding with each word.

"The Holy Grail concerns the survival of the world. No one is allowed to tamper with it lightly. Answer my questions and come with me. Once your actions are reported, Mayor Tohsaka and the Magic Association will decide your punishment. This is for your own good."

"I refuse."

Roy responded immediately, without a second thought.

"I know you, Bazett, the designated executor of the seal. But this era no longer needs such designated executors. So, you've come here to protect the Greater Holy Grail... You are strong, but you alone are not qualified to make me surrender."

"Really? Then that can't be helped."

The beautiful woman in men's clothing, Bazett, suddenly adopted a cold tone.

"Then I will use my strength to make you submit!"

As soon as she finished speaking, runes of light appeared on her limbs, and her figure shot toward Roy like an arrow.

"She and I have terrible compatibility," Roy said as he took a step back.

"Saber, I leave this to you!"