Vol. 2 Chapter 60: Mordred's Delightful Day
Mordred strolled down the streets of Fuyuki City.
She was clad in a bright red leather jacket Dracula had recently bought for her, paired with slim-fit jeans and knee-high leather boots. One hand was casually stuffed in her pocket, while the other held up a sleek device that looked a bit like a digital watch.
It was a magical energy detector, a gift from Dracula. The core magical components had been provided by him, while the laborious assembly was dutifully handled by the ever-suffering The World.
This detector didn't just show the direction of magical energy sources—it displayed their numerical intensity in NP units and even came with a full Earth Online global map interface.
Mordred used the device to scan for potential Servants who had once reigned as kings—just as Nero had instructed her to do.
"Since we're talking about kings, they'll naturally stand out in everyday life. Watch them carefully. Observe and learn well."
—That's what Nero had told her before sending her off into the city on her own.
What Mordred didn't know, however, was that the moment she stepped out of the Demon Castle, Nero had secretly grabbed Jeanne and followed right behind her. The two had asked Dracula to cast a cloaking spell on them, one that would hide them from the magical detector, allowing them to tail Mordred unnoticed.
Nero had brought Jeanne along for one simple reason—Jeanne's Noble Phantasm could keep them alive in case something went wrong. Nero wasn't confident that Mordred wouldn't end up fighting her "father" in the middle of the street.
Granted, if Mordred were to face Artoria now, the odds were heavily in Mordred's favor. The gap between a Servant and an actual Heroic Spirit was wide—and Artoria would most likely get trounced.
Of course, none of the trio—Mordred, Nero, or Jeanne—knew that back in the Demon Castle, Dracula was slouched on the couch, lazily observing everything through a magical projection.
"This... is what it means to watch those who are watching others."
Mordred, unaware that she was being double-tailed, walked the streets with a confident swagger, drawing frequent side-glances from pedestrians.
Most of those were from women.
The rest were from... let's just say gentlemen with special tastes.
Suddenly, the detector in her hand spiked, showing a significant surge in magical energy. She looked up and saw a video game store up ahead.
Her steps slowed.
Careful not to draw attention, Mordred edged closer to the store. She already had a good guess who was inside, especially since a boisterous voice had begun echoing out the door.
"Hahahaha! So this is the legendary Great Strategy 2! Excellent! I've already unified the world in Great Strategy 1! Now, I shall continue my conquest in the sequel!"
Peeking through the glass door, Mordred saw a burly red-haired man laughing heartily, holding up a game disc with triumphant glee.
It was none other than Iskandar the Conqueror, standing tall in the middle of the shop as though he owned the place.
His Master, Waver Velvet, looked mortified, tugging at Iskandar's sleeve and whispering urgently:
"R-Rider… could you please keep your voice down? People are going to think we're crazy!"
"Crazy? Me? Never! And since when did the great Conqueror give a damn about others' opinions?" Iskandar roared, slapping Waver heartily on the back.
"Now go on, little Master—buy this disc for me! As my partner, that's your sacred duty!"
Waver grumbled something under his breath as he reluctantly pulled out his wallet. The surrounding customers were already whispering among themselves, casting pitying glances at the poor boy.
Mordred picked up phrases like "delusional freak" and "mentally unwell" from their murmurs.
After a moment of silent observation, she concluded that Iskandar's behavior wasn't exactly kingly—it didn't inspire loyalty, nor did it look like he was up to anything serious. It seemed like he and Waver were simply heading home to game.
Deciding they weren't worth tracking, she turned and walked away.
Watching from a distance, Nero and Jeanne both breathed sighs of relief.
"How unsightly," Nero muttered. "I never expected the great Conqueror King to be so... lacking in dignity."
"I certainly don't want Mordred turning into that."
Jeanne thought for a moment, imagining Mordred loudly laughing in a game store, then demanding that Dracula or Kagarino Kirie foot the bill like a bossy child.
She nodded gravely in agreement.
About ten minutes later, Mordred's feet carried her—perhaps guided by instinct—to one of Fuyuki's most famous food streets. The entire area was lined with stalls and restaurants, offering everything from walk-and-eat snacks to sit-down delicacies.
Unable to resist the mouthwatering smells, Mordred pulled out the pocket money Kirie had given her and bought a mountain of food, happily munching as she walked.
"Gulp."
Nero, still tailing her from a distance, suddenly heard someone swallowing hungrily behind her. She turned, but saw nothing—only Jeanne, smiling angelically.
Nero stared at her suspiciously.
Jeanne returned the stare with a serene smile.
After several seconds of this strange face-off, Nero turned back around, though her brows furrowed in thought.
Jeanne, meanwhile, discreetly wiped her mouth and continued trailing behind.
With a skewer of dumplings in her mouth, Mordred strolled along, magical detector in one hand and a bulging food bag in the other.
The detector pinged again—another surge. She traced it to a high-end restaurant, its entrance graced by a luxurious Mercedes-Benz.
Mordred quickly ducked into a quiet corner and shifted into spiritual form.
"Oh? The kid's finally learning," Dracula murmured, watching the magical projection. "Where did she pick up this sneaky little trick, I wonder…"
Beside him, Kiyohime's hand—while pouring tea—visibly trembled.
Inside the restaurant, Mordred spotted her father seated at a VIP table, dressed in a fine suit and dining with a beautiful silver-haired woman.
Out of habit, Mordred reflexively hid herself—even though she knew her father couldn't perceive her in this form.
"My, my, Saber—slow down a little."
The lady, Irisviel von Einzbern, smiled warmly as she dabbed at Saber's mouth with a handkerchief.
"Thank you, Irisviel." Saber replied clearly despite chewing, then immediately resumed devouring her meal.
Irisviel rested her chin on her hands, gazing at Saber with an expression of deep affection.
Elsewhere, Kiritsugu, who had been tailing Sola, Keyneth's fiancé on a secret date with Diarmuid, suddenly sneezed.
Watching her father feast, Mordred couldn't resist. She phased back into visibility, pulled some food from her bag, and began munching along as if they were dining together.
"Gulp…"
Nero turned again. Same sound. Same source.
Jeanne stood there with the same smile.
Except this time, drool was streaming down her face.
"..."
"..."
Tears shimmered in the corners of Jeanne's eyes as she murmured:
"Nero… I can't take it anymore…"
"Get a grip!!" Nero hissed, dragging the hungry saint away from the restaurant. She bought Jeanne a mountain of snacks and stuffed them into her arms to pacify her.
Once Saber finished eating, Mordred, Nero, and Jeanne resumed tailing her.
They soon saw the elegant silver-haired lady lovingly take Saber's arm as they went off to shop for clothes, watch a movie, and grab coffee.
"That's just a full-blown date!" Nero exclaimed, appalled.
"And here I thought King Arthur was beyond my comprehension…"
"Still… this probably isn't the kind of behavior Mordred should be emulating," Jeanne said, slightly worried.
Once again, the two of them imagined a horrifying scene: Mordred, cigarette in mouth, lounging among scantily clad women, draping her arms around them like some crime boss.
They shivered.
"No! We have to stop her!"
Just as the two of them made up their minds, Mordred received a telepathic message from Dracula:
[Little Mo, stay away from your father! Don't go picking up her nonsense habits!]
"Okay," Mordred replied, then reluctantly walked away, turning her head back three times every few steps.