Chapter 169: Thinking Too Much

[Yggdmillennia Castle.]

["The Red Team will eventually learn of our loss of Saber."]

[Vald III looked out the window and spoke slowly.]

[Vlad III: "But they also lost Spartacus. We can't let this opportunity to retaliate slip away."]

[Darnic, toying with a silver chess piece from the Seven Knights set, responded confidently.]

[Darnic: "As expected, Caster's Noble Phantasm will be indispensable."]

[Darnic: "That's why sacrificing that homunculus was regrettable."]

[Vlad III: "Don't fret over minor details."]

[Vlad III replied indifferently, "A first-class mage will suffice as a substitute sacrifice, eliminating the need for artificial beings."]

[Darnic: "Indeed. The performance of Avicebron's Noble Phantasm is entirely dependent on the core."]

[Darnic's tone shifted as he added, "That said, given the current reality, among my people, only that idiot is suitable for such a role."]

[The scene cuts to Gordes, who had descended into despair and spent his days drinking alone in his room.]

---

Gordes: "!!!"

Darnic: "Don't think too much about it, Gordes. This is a necessary sacrifice for victory."

Darnic: "After losing your Servant, you wouldn't want to be dismissed as a useless burden, would you?"

Gordes: "Hmm…"

---

[The scene transitions to Caules' room, where he is checking reports of the serial murders on his computer.]

["Well, Berserker, I'm leaving you in charge of the house while I'm gone."]

[Knowing his role, Caules dressed quickly and prepared to leave, but he decided against bringing Frankenstein with him.]

[Frankenstein: "Um?"]

[She tilted her head with an innocent, puzzled expression.]

[Caules: "Don't worry. I'm just heading out to assist my sister."]

[Caules smiled reassuringly, picked up his luggage, and left.]

[Frankenstein, now alone, unplugged the computer with a nod of satisfaction.]

---

Irisviel: "So this is the legendary Frankenstein. She does seem rather endearing."

Illya: "Yes, she's adorable!"

Frankenstein: "Hmm…"

---

[At dusk, in Sighisoara.]

["You don't look very happy."]

[Sisigou noticed Mordred, who was visibly sulking, and approached her with a smile.]

[Mordred: "Of course not. I thought this place would be fun, but there's nothing entertaining in this so-called retro amusement park!"]

[Mordred grumbled while munching on snacks, "A thousand years have passed, and this is all that's changed?"]

[Sisigou: "Well, the retro vibe is supposed to be the selling point."]

[Sisigou teased, "You've been eating non-stop, haven't you?"]

[Mordred: "Eating is my current hobby. I finally have a physical body, so I'm enjoying it while I can!"]

[Mordred finished her snacks in one go and declared, "Still, I won't leave without making a scene worth remembering!"]

---

Irisviel: "It seems Artoria's daughter has inherited more from her than I thought."

Mordred: "Tch, don't call me that."

Despite her gruff response, Mordred couldn't help but feel a small sense of pride.

Finally, someone had acknowledged her similarities to her father. However, the thought of her lack of "tolerance" still stung. Determined, she resolved to work harder to close the gap between herself and Artoria.

---

[Sisigou: "The victims Morgue found—those poor souls had clearly resisted. They were dismembered and their hearts ripped out. It was horrific."]

[Mordred: "Their hearts?"]

[Sisigou: "For Servants, the heart is where the soul core resides. For humans, it's the source of life. Consuming a heart provides a massive boost in mana."]

[Mordred: "That's… terrifying. But it makes me look forward to meeting this Servant even more."]

[Sisigou: "Initially, the killer targeted petty criminals. But once magi intervened, they became the primary victims."]

[Mordred: "I heard there's only one mage left in this town."]

[Sisigou: "Exactly. Fortunately, the murders have caused enough of a stir that no one dares wander the streets at night."]

[Sisigou stood up, adjusting his coat.]

[Sisigou: "Let's move, Saber."]

---

[In a small hotel in Sighisoara.]

["It's about time to make our move."]

[Reika peered out from behind the curtains, gazing at the darkened town with a sly smile.]

["But it seems another mage has arrived," a soft voice chimed in.]

[A young girl in a white dress stood beside her. Her pale hair and delicate features gave her an angelic appearance, yet this child was none other than the infamous Jack the Ripper.]

---

Atalanta: "So that's Jack the Ripper…"

Achilles: "The ruthless killer is just a little girl?"

Darnic: "This is unexpected, indeed."

After all, most modern depictions of Jack the Ripper portray him as an adult male.

---

[Reika: "Are you going out for your last hunt in Sighisoara?"]

[Jack: "Yes, but Mom, you can't follow me tonight. A Servant is lurking nearby."]

[Reika: "Understood. I'll prepare your hamburger meat for when you return."]

[Jack: "Okay, Mom."]

[With that, Jack jumped out the window, her white dress fluttering in the moonlight as she vanished into the night.]

[Video Paused.]

[Question: Who is Jack's first target?]

"Who is it? Isn't it Sisigou?"

Darnic hesitated. Something about the question seemed too straightforward.

"This can't be that simple," he thought.

Sisigou's earlier claim of being the last mage in Sighisoara might not account for the arrival of other Black faction members, such as Fiore and Caules.

"It's a three-choice question," Darnic realized.

The same thought occurred to Kayneth, Kotomine Shirou, and the others.

Chihiro: "It's Sisigou."

[Ding! Congratulations to Chihiro for answering correctly. You have earned 3 Saint Quartz.]

Mordred: "I knew it! It's always you! Why did I even hesitate!?"

Sisigou: "…I thought it was too simple to be true."

Kayneth: "We've been outplayed again. Overthinking ruins everything."

Caules: "I didn't expect such a straightforward answer."

Darnic: "Too clever for its own good. This question was meant to make us overthink."

[Video Continues.]

[In a dark alley, Sisigou patrolled cautiously, his steps echoing against the cobblestones. He encountered a local police officer and cast a spell to send the man home.]

[Sisigou: "There's no need to keep this under wraps anymore."]

[Just as he muttered to himself, a thick fog began to rise around him.]

[Sisigou: "This fog… cough…"]

[After reacting, Sisigou fell to his knees, coughing violently.]

[Sisigou: "Be careful, don't breathe it in. This mist is poisonous!"]

[As he spoke, Sisigou quickly took off his coat and used it to cover his mouth and nose.]

[Sisigou: "This won't do. We need to run."]

[Mordred immediately grabbed Sisigou, using her sharp intuition to determine a safe direction, and swiftly dragged him out of the poisonous mist.]

[Mordred: "Let's go!"]

[After escaping the mist's range, Sisigou collapsed to the ground, panting heavily.]

[Sisigou: "Phew… that was way too dangerous…"]

[Just as Sisigou began to catch his breath, Jack the Ripper appeared silently behind him, her dagger gleaming in the moonlight as she swung it at his neck.]

[Mordred: "Watch it!"]

[In a split second, Mordred swung her sword over Sisigou's head. Her reckless move caused Sisigou to lean back instinctively, narrowly dodging Jack's strike.]

[A sharp clang rang out as Mordred's sword clashed with Jack's dagger, knocking the smaller weapon aside.]

---

Sisigou: "Cough… Saber, great reflexes, but don't ever do that again."

Mordred: "What? We work well together, don't we?"

Sisigou: "No matter how good our teamwork is, I'd rather not get decapitated by my own ally."

---

[Jack's innocent-looking face showed a faint pout as she stepped back, holding her disarmed dagger tightly in her other hand.]

[Mordred: "Sorry, but this guy's my Master."]

[Mordred took a defensive stance, standing firmly between Sisigou and Jack.]

[Mordred: "It's a bit much to just chop him down, don't you think?"]

[Jack, looking as though she were the one being bullied, tilted her head and pouted.]

[Mordred: "What's with that face?! You're the one trying to kill us!"]

[Before Mordred could press her advantage, Jack quickly retreated into the thick mist. Mordred didn't hesitate and chased after her into the fog.]

[Sisigou, on the other hand, stayed put. He knew that running after them would only hinder Mordred.]

[Sisigou: "Tch, she's better off alone in this fight."]

[He quickly composed himself and took out an ape's mummified hand from his coat. Placing it on the ground, he began chanting a spell.]

[The ape hand began to move on its own, scurrying around like a mouse. As it crawled, golden magical lines spread outward, forming a protective barrier around the area.]

[This was a special item Sisigou often used, a mummified ape hand treated with corpse wax. It was incredibly effective at constructing wide-range barriers, especially for repelling ordinary people.]

---

Illya: "Ahhh! The hand is moving!"

Tohsaka Rin: "Oh no, I'm going to have nightmares about this for weeks!"

Iskandar: "Hahaha! That's amazing! A hand that moves on its own? How entertaining!"

Waver: "Really? What part of that do you find entertaining!?"