A Fourth Possibility Beyond the Three Simulated Servants?

"Huh?"

Mash hadn't yet recovered from Ian's monstrous simulation battle performance when she was puzzled again by his current words.

"A choice other than these three 'Servants'?"

"Ian-senpai, is that what you mean?"

"...More or less."

"I'll take a look!" Mash didn't immediately deny what Ian said. "I haven't participated in simulation battles for a while, maybe the Director added new Heroic Spirit data!"

"Then thank you, Mash."

"It's nothing, being able to solve problems for Ian-senpai makes me very happy!"

After saying this, Mash suddenly realized that her behavior seemed a bit excessive, so she immediately lowered her head and began operating silently.

Her fingers moved back and forth in the empty space, making her look serious and professional.

However—

The result was not as ideal as expected.

After fiddling for a while, Mash raised her head again, revealing an embarrassed expression.

"Um... Ian-senpai."

"What's wrong?"

"I didn't find anything other than these three 'Servants' that you mentioned."

After reporting the situation, Mash seemed a bit self-reproachful.

Ian comforted her:

"It's okay, I just asked casually, you don't need to take it so seriously."

"Is, is that so?"

Mash's expression relaxed slightly.

Watching her like this, Ian's mind wandered to other things.

As early as when he touched the light pillar of Artoria Pendragon (Saber), he had actually felt something strange.

It was neither the surprise of "reuniting" with Artoria, nor the surprise of witnessing Chaldea's magical technology.

It was just a feeling of being connected to something.

To use a practical example, it was as if he was holding one end of a rope, and the other end was pulling an object he had no idea about.

He could confirm that it wasn't the influence of the name Artoria Pendragon (Saber) itself.

Then—

Was it a flaw in the simulation battle system?

Or would he have this feeling when he came into contact with these "Servants"?

Ian decided to resolve it on the spot, not leaving the doubts behind.

"Mash."

"Yes, senpai!"

"Can I choose again? I want to try other 'Servants'."

"Senpai wants to experience your compatibility with other 'Servants'?"

"Yeah, something like that."

"No problem, I'll help you right away!"

Mash's fingers started moving again.

Soon, Artoria Pendragon (Saber) and Cu Chulainn (Lancer) disappeared from the "battlefield".

Then, the familiar three light pillars appeared in front of Ian.

Mash's voice sounded at the right time.

"Senpai, please choose again!"

"Okay."

Ian didn't really want to use Arash (Archer) or Cu Chulainn (Lancer)—he wasn't interested in them at all.

His purpose was just to verify whether these two "Servants" would give him the same feeling.

The actual result told him: it didn't.

Neither Arash (Archer) nor Cu Chulainn (Lancer) gave him that feeling.

"Senpai, how was it?"

"When they formed a Master-Servant relationship with you, did you feel more comfortable?"

"Uh... so-so."

Ian replied casually, avoiding Mash's question.

He had more important things to care about.

"Then Mash, since 'Servants' are the manifestation of 'Heroic Spirits', won't there be a problem?"

"A problem?"

"Yeah."

Ian looked at the battlefield in front of him, where no "Servant" had been summoned yet.

"If 'Heroic Spirits' were all famous heroes in their lifetimes, remembered by human history for leaving their glorious moments, then shouldn't they all be kings of their respective eras? Would they really willingly form a Master-Servant relationship with strangers?"

"Thinking further, since they can still gain powerful strength from human history after becoming 'Servants', wouldn't it be like letting a child manage an adult for a Master who lacks power?"

"Eh, this—?"

Mash's beautiful violet eyes widened slightly.

Obviously, this was beyond her knowledge.

"Senpai, I've never thought about the problem you mentioned."

"After all, the simulation battle system has always been researched by the Director, and I don't really know the underlying magic logic."

"I don't think I can answer such a question."

"Oh... I see."

It seemed Mash wasn't an omnipotent dictionary.

But Ian wasn't surprised.

After all, if such important secrets could be known by asking anyone, Chaldea would probably be doomed.

"It's okay, I just asked casually."

"By the way—"

Ian grabbed the light pillar of Artoria Pendragon (Saber) and summoned her to the "battlefield".

"Actually, I've had a question since just now."

"Why can Cu Chulainn (Lancer) still stand after taking Excalibur? Is Excalibur not enough to kill him?"

"Oh... senpai wants to know this?"

Mash said, summoning Cu Chulainn (Lancer) to the "battlefield" again, just like Ian did.

"Because this is a manifestation of 'Heroic Spirit' power!"

"Manifestation?"

"Yes!" Mash nodded.

"'Heroic Spirits' leave their glorious moments in human history, and these moments in turn feed back power to the 'Heroic Spirits' themselves from human history."

"Just like the Excalibur you mentioned just now, it's actually the glorious moment recorded after King Arthur Artoria Pendragon led the people of Britain to victory in battle after battle."

"Similarly, other 'Heroic Spirits' have their own glorious moments. What Cu Chulainn (Lancer) possesses is the ability called Battle Continuation, which is a manifestation of legend turning into reality."

"By the way," Mash waved her finger, "different Classes are also a manifestation of power!"

Listening to her words, Ian thought for a while and said:

"Then in that case—"

"Wouldn't the same 'Heroic Spirit' have different Classes and abilities depending on their time location?"

"Yes."

Mash nodded.

"Such a situation does exist!"

"..."

Mash's words made Ian think.

Since the same "Servant" has the possibility of different Classes, could the feeling he had just now be caused by this Class difference?

In any case, let's feel it first.

It's better to do something wrong than to do nothing.

Ian looked at Artoria Pendragon (Saber) in front of him again.

That familiar feeling appeared in his heart again.

The things pulled out by "her" became clearer—it was a figure that was somewhat similar to Artoria, but also had many differences.

Wait a minute.

A question seems to have been overlooked!

Isn't this a "Servant" simulated by Chaldea?

Why do I have this feeling?

Before Ian could figure out what was going on, Mash's voice came again.

"Senpai... besides attacking, you have to learn to let the 'Servant' defend."

"So—"

"This time, it's my turn to attack."

"Okay, good."

Responding to Mash's words, Ian decided to observe for a while.

He could only feel the existence of that figure, but he didn't know its true identity.

Since it was something he felt because he participated in the simulation battle, continuing might reveal more information.

Under Mash's command, Cu Chulainn (Lancer) gripped the dark red spear in his hand and charged directly at Artoria.

The two "Servants" began to fight.

But this wasn't a process that needed constant supervision.

Because these "Servants" were simulated with the ability to think.

As long as a general direction was given, they could carry out a certain degree of combat autonomously.

Mash gave the "attack" tendency;

Ian took the "defense" tendency.

These relatively abstract concepts were further materialized on the "battlefield"—the actual behavior was Artoria defending against Cu Chulainn's attack.

With a few clangs, the dark red spear and the golden sword collided, demonstrating the battle between the "Servants".

This was the practical significance of the simulation battle—allowing people who were qualified to become Masters to familiarize themselves with "Servants" in a safe environment.

But Ian's mind was completely off the battle at the moment.

He only felt that he was getting closer and closer to that figure.

The previous conclusion was also reversed.

It wasn't that he was holding one end of the rope and the other end was pulling something;

But the situation was exactly the opposite.

He was the "item", and the other end of the rope was something unknown.

"Mash."

"What's wrong, senpai? Do you feel uncomfortable being attacked?

Then I can stop immediately."

"It's not that."

Ian stopped Mash's hand.

"Does the simulation battle have any effect on the participant's body?"

"Effect on the body?"

Mash blinked her beautiful eyes.

"Of course, it does."

"Senpai, did you forget? When we first came in, I reminded you that many people feel slight discomfort when they participate in the simulation battle for the first time!"

"Then—"

Ian's expression became serious.

"Has anyone explained the cause of this discomfort?"

"This..."

Another completely unexpected question.

Mash's gaze towards Ian gradually changed.

She could feel that he was thinking about many things, but she didn't know any of them.

After hesitating for a while, the girl carefully asked:

"Senpai, do you feel something's wrong?"

"If so—"

"Can you tell me?"

"..."

Ian turned his head and looked at Mash beside him.

Even though he had said earlier that he didn't feel any discomfort, she was still holding his hand tightly, afraid that something might go wrong.

What an overly kind person.

Mash was a little embarrassed by his gaze—she began to wonder if her words had upset Ian.

However, this concern didn't last long.

Because Ian soon spoke:

"Mash, can I trust you?"

"Of course, you can!"

"Then—"

"You must keep what I'm about to say a secret."

"Okay!"

Seeing the girl's serious promise, Ian no longer hesitated.

He directly told her everything he had felt during the simulation battle.

"This..."

Mash's lips parted slightly.

It was clear that she had once again been shocked by Ian.

But there was one thing she was now 100% certain of.

"Senpai, why didn't you say so earlier?!"

"This is worse than just feeling uncomfortable!"

"If something happens to you, it would be a huge loss for Chaldea!"

"No! I'm stopping the simulation battle now and taking you for a checkup!"

Just as Mash was about to act, Ian grabbed both of her hands.

"Senpai, what are you doing?!"

"Listen, Mash, I'm fine, so there's no need to stop the simulation battle."

"I just want to figure out why this is happening."

"So—"

Ian leaned close to Mash's ear and said expressionlessly:

"Don't argue with me, okay?"

"Eh?!"

This was the first time Mash had seen Ian so assertive.

It was very oppressive, but at the same time, it gave her a feeling of "being safe if she obeyed."

Blushing, she finally nodded.

"Um... I understand."

"Good, then no one will be in a difficult position."

Ian released Mash's hands and looked back at the "Servants" fighting.

"Now, help me return to the selection screen."

"Okay!"

Mash used her authority again to control the simulation battle system.

The three light pillars reappeared in front of Ian.

Of course, his target was only the one where Artoria was.

Since he was the "bound object," he would find a way to bring out whatever was on the other end of the rope!

Ian knew he wasn't a saint.

In any case, Chaldea was there to back him up.

There was nothing to be afraid of.

Ian focused all his attention.

He once again felt that feeling of his blood boiling.

The next moment.

Something came through the "rope."

Wait a minute.

This feeling—

It's somewhat similar to Morgan's?!