【Azure Silver】In the Name of Love
An underground space.
The missing girls walked stiffly and straight down into the abyss.
The restless black mud opened its mouth within the magic circle, using its lips, teeth, and tongue to catch the leaping offering.
That was the "despair" before it was even born.
"Good boy/girl."
A blonde girl wearing a pale blue lace dress peered out from the edge of a cliff.
Even without hearing and sight, "despair" was indeed captured.
The mother's gentle words, and the small offerings at her feet.
Through the dialogue between the mother and the sacrifice, she understands that the sacrifice and the mother are sisters, and that the mother wants to give the sacrifice to her. "Despair" can't help but dance happily, and the huge, pulsating flesh keeps leaking filth.
Amidst the offerings' piercing cries and rejections, "Despair" heard her mother say this:
"How willful. You're such a willful child, hopelessly ordinary and yet you dare to act like this."
Those beautiful cherry-colored lips uttered cold words, and after the smile faded from her icy face, only ruthless cruelty remained.
Mother – Sajo Aika – sees friends, blood relatives, every blade of grass and tree in the world, and even the sky and the earth as insignificant and worthless objects.
That is the despair that omniscience and omnipotence must bear.
But in the world depicted by black and white (despair), a single color appears.
The Knight of Azure Silver.
A glorious and radiant king.
To quell the endless wars, to command the highly skilled Knights of the Round Table, and to establish Camelot as the Knight King of Britain.
—The person Aika Sajou loves.
In order to fulfill the wishes of her loved ones, Aika Sajou is willing to overturn the established history of humankind and takes action for this purpose.
Let that "beast" devour everything.
Whether it's joy, fear, happiness, or despair, all of it... tear it up, chew it, swallow it, and then write a new page in the blank history.
The magic of the six Servants was insufficient to awaken the "Beast," but it was even less likely that Ayaka Sajou would offer her beloved prince to this child.
There are many alternatives to magic: bodily fluids, soul, and spiritual veins. Different methods are used depending on the type, the difference being efficiency.
So Ayaka Sajou chose to give her life.
There are approximately six hundred or more girls (souls) as vibrant as her.
"Aika, what are you doing...!"
The man who interrupted the sacrificial ceremony was Sajō Aika's biological father.
However, no amount of regret can undo the damage, and blood ties cannot be used as leverage.
The man was unable to stop Ayaka Sajou, nor was he killed by her.
The jet-black "arm" that shot out from under the cliff was blocked by a knight in a suit of pale silver armor.
"Huh?"
Sajō Aika stared blankly at the figure, her mind momentarily blank. "Why... are you here?"
She didn't want him to see this side of her, didn't want him to know this aspect of her.
He hates killing and is of high moral character; he absolutely, positively must not let him discover her in this state.
To this end, Aika Sajou deliberately had two Servants stall for time so that King Arthur would never know the truth and could enjoy the fruits of her victory.
Was she mistaken about King Arthur's fighting strength, or did she have too high expectations for the two Servants?
Sajo Aika examined her arrangements, turned the clock forward, and recalled every action and every instruction she had given.
--No, none of those are true.
"...So that's how it is, I've been tricked." Having quickly and accurately deduced the key factor that led to the unexpected, Sajō Aika murmured, "As expected, the Island Witch's magic is quite powerful."
There is only one answer.
Through the perspective of the "past," Aika Sajo sees Morgan le Fay's sleight of hand.
The figure lying on the bed was nothing more than a lifelike doll, while Paracelsus was completely unaware of the figure standing to the side, which was shrouded in a layer of confusion magic.
Out of consideration for Saber's servant, and the intention of throwing them off the cliff to feed the child, Ayaka Sajou chose to control rather than kill the other party.
For the sake of this unique value, Aika Sajou temporarily tolerated the existence of the enchantress Morgan; otherwise, she would have loved to kill the woman who had an affair with King Arthur.
Even more hateful and despicable than Ayaka Sajou is Morgan Le Fay, a gift prepared by Aika Sajou for herself. The moment she personally deals with that woman, the taste will surely be sweeter than even the finest wine of the gods.
Sajō Aika rarely makes mistakes, but for her, who is connected to the roots from birth, there is no need to think about the consequences of "underestimating her opponent".
Upon noticing something amiss, one can immediately take the most perfect action.
In other words, the moment Ayaka Sajo discovered her opponent's plot, her defeat was already sealed.
Well, luckily I had an extra layer of insurance.
Slightly annoyed, Sajou Aika kept those words in her heart.
"Love Song".
The Knight King's emerald eyes stared directly at Sajou Aika, like a sharp blade piercing straight into the latter's heart.
Can she defend herself?
Is she able to persuade the other party?
Can she praise the new world that is about to arrive?
Most importantly, will her romance... just end here?
Just as Ayaka Sajou thought he was about to say something that would either stop or reprimand her, the blond king said calmly:
"You keep whispering sweet nothings to me, claiming that everything you do is for my sake, even if it's calamity or sin, that its motives are not your murderous nature, nor are they an anomaly hidden in your personality. So, I want you to prove whether your infatuation with me is just a passing fancy or a feeling from the depths of your soul."
Sajo Aika was suddenly taken aback.
Is it gentleness? Even now, he still seeks excuses for her to be forgiven, and even if it is someone he intends to turn his sword against, he adheres to the principles of righteousness and will never strike a pure and innocent soul.
Thinking this, Aika Sajou slowly spoke: "This request makes me a little sad... In other words, I wasn't able to make Saber feel my sincerity. So, how does Saber want me to prove it?"
"This." Artorius held up his arm to Ayaka Sajou, and in his open palm lay an exquisitely shaped glass bottle, the pink liquid inside shimmering with tiny specks of light.
"If your feelings for me remain unchanged after drinking it, it proves that your love is genuine and comes from the heart. Otherwise, it means that this love is not unshakable and that we are on completely different paths."
"So that's how it is. Will my love change because of the potion, and I fall in love with you again? Is this how you prove my feelings for you... Saber is such a cunning man."
If the advice of the person she loves could be effective, Aika Sajou would not have plotted to stage this situation, so she is absolutely certain that she will not forget her original intention.
Love potion—a potion that drives Lancer (the Valkyrie) mad and destroys her self.
Sajō Aika recalls that Lancer's Master seemed to have the talent to make elixirs. Perhaps Lancer provided relevant information before leaving the stage, which allowed Saber to obtain the item?
Just imagining the confrontation between King Arthur and the Valkyrie, and the former listening intently to the latter's words, made Ayaka Sajō feel as if her insides were being crushed.
The girl's jealousy, which she was still unaware of, quietly grew.
Altoliss maintained the raised arm position.
Seeing this, Sajō Aika lowered her eyes and took light, flower-like steps, walking step by step to King Arthur.
She cannot refuse, cannot refuse, and will not refuse.
She would grant any request made by the prince she admired.
Absolute confidence translates into a calm and collected demeanor that commands all things. Even if King Arthur were to offer her a cup of poison, Ayaka Sajou would drink it with a smile.
"Although I don't mind proving my love, I want you to know that the reason I took this potion was all for you, Saber."
The indifferent Silver Knight did not respond, but his emerald eyes stared unblinkingly at Sajou Aika.
Although she didn't receive gentle comfort, the focused gaze that was fixed solely on her brought joy to Aika Sajou.
As the pinkish-purple potion slid down the throat of the Root Princess, the shimmering starlight disappeared into the depths of her throat, and a slightly intoxicating magic mixed with a bitter taste seeped into every cell, causing Aika Sajō's vision to gradually blur.
—Did you add a drowsy effect?
Sajou Aika thought to herself.
For Ayaka Sajou, who is immune to even Assassin's toxins, falling asleep, coma, or magic that takes away her consciousness is meaningless and will not work on her.
Faced with an enemy possessing overwhelming power, this is probably the only strategy that can be adopted.
Abandoning direct confrontation with the enemy, discarding useless traps, and placing all hope on a slim possibility after exhausting all scheming is like the final, death throes of life.
Thinking of this, Aika Sajou couldn't help but smile.
What expression should I use to comfort Saber later? And what words should I use to comfort Saber? There are so many things to think about, but it's something I'm really looking forward to—Sajō Aika thought to herself.
The next moment.
What you see is a sea of flowers stretching as far as the eye can see.
In the serene and tranquil field of beautiful flowers, amidst the rich fragrance that stretches to the boundless sky, the fairy-like girl opens her eyes.
……Dream……?
--No, if that's the case, there would be memories from before falling asleep or when you close your eyes...
Sajou Aika calmed down and pondered.
The hazy atmosphere surrounding the senses and consciousness transforms into a thick fog, winding and twisting to fill all perception with boundless tactile sensations.
Breaking this magic trick and waking up from the dream is not difficult.
But the most crucial question is: when do dreams begin?
The girl, connected to the roots, kept a close eye on every clue.
Is it before the call to stop the ritual, before the glorious battle, before a magician gives a sword to a girl, or... the moment "she" sees the "essence" through the fairy's eyes.
More importantly, did Aika Sajou not notice, or did she not think of noticing?
Thus, following the love that seemed to burn away Aika Sajou's soul, the girl experienced a second intense emotion, a chilling feeling called "surprise and doubt."
What unfolds quietly before Ayaka Sajou's eyes is a massive dream magic show that covers the city and even the entire city of Tokyo.
It's like putting on a layer of skin for the "world".
Whether human, follower, hero, or deity, all are shrouded in this illusion, unaware as they pass through day after day of "daily life" and "war."
Without relying on any sacrifices or other sources of magic, relying solely on a single follower.
Magic that is impossible and unimaginable in modern times.
Completely beyond comprehension.
No magician would need to do it, much less attempt it.
It's like magic from the age of the gods.
but.
—If it were Morgan Le Fey, he could do it.
Why?
Sajou Aika doesn't understand.
For the first time, the girl failed to understand her opponent's thoughts.
Morgan le Fay, who was willing to use all the magic power that kept him outside the real world, effectively confining him to the botanical garden, was determined to perform this magic trick.
What exactly is their purpose...?
"Oh my, where did you come from, beautiful girl?"
A voice, unfamiliar yet strangely familiar, interrupted Aika Sajou's thoughts.
When Ayaka Sajou turned to look at the newcomer, a rainbow-colored figure was reflected in the girl's sky-blue eyes.
Flowers bloomed at the feet of the newcomer with a lingering grace. The person wearing a white robe with lace trim was tall and slender, and the rainbow-colored hair that cascaded down his back looked like soft wool, reminiscent of some gentle and harmless creature.
Her amethyst-like eyes held an ambiguous smile.
Like a dream itself, it is an illusory and fleeting existence.
In an instant, Ayaka Sajou found out.
Morgan Le Fey's trick.
—In order to allow her to meet "him" who feeds on dreams.
If it were poison, it would have no effect on Ayaka Sajou, who is connected to the Root.
If it's a curse, it won't work on Ayaka Sajou, who is connected to the Root.
Therefore, Morgan le Fay did not use poison or cast a curse.
The "elixir" handed to Ayaka Sajou by King Arthur came from the treasure vault of the oldest king, which contained only the most exquisite and dreamlike items, as well as the conceptual prototypes that have been passed down through the ages.
That is a blessing.
A blessing named "love".
The girl danced gracefully, her smile radiant, as if reborn...
A blessing for love.
—Isn't that something you're proud of?
"wrong……"
—Aren't you engrossed in it?
"That's not how it works..."
—The one you praise…
Sajo Aika suddenly clutched her chest, as if doing so would suppress the intense emotions surging from her heart.
—What you admire...
Mingming and her prince look nothing alike.
But... that empty appearance, that posture of feeding on emotions (love), seemed like another "me".
—The magic of love.
No, that's not right, this is the effect of the love potion.
The Valkyrie craved him so intensely that once touched, he could not escape, his love burning like karmic fire, even his very soul core was consumed by it.
Sajou Aika couldn't bear the thought that her love would be ignited in another person.
Yet she had to admit that the person before her was so similar to her.
"Hmm—it's so embarrassing to be stared at like that by a girl."
She noticed the other person's seemingly shy expression, but Ayaka Sajou knew perfectly well that it was just a clumsy imitation; the real Ayaka was "nothing at all."
Like an hourglass with sand constantly flowing down, even if you can feel a fleeting emotion or feeling, that feeling will slip through your fingers in an instant, leaving not even a trace behind.
The pounding heartbeat in my chest overwhelmed my reason.
Aside from his physical attributes, that person's appearance was no less than that of the Knight King, and he even had the same voice.
A knight's sword... Oh, it's hidden in a magic wand!
Unlike the incorruptible Azure Silver Knight, the tone of her voice as she spoke to Sajou Aika was sweet, and the way their eyes met in mid-air was like lingering strands of sugar.
In particular, the other party will definitely not refuse, or rather, will absolutely accept her feelings.
So what could be more blissful than having your love accepted and even savored through your lips and tongue?
Thus, the Root Princess.
"I've done a lot of unnecessary things... But if this is how I meet you, then this wait will only be a trial that brings happiness after hardship."
Once again.
"My..." As the "being" approached Sajō Aika under the guise of concern and reached out to put his hand on the blonde girl's shoulder, her fair and delicate hand took the other's wrist.
-- Falling in love.
"—Your Highness."
The rainbow-colored figure was startled, and the composure on its face was replaced by astonishment.
It wasn't due to the girl's sudden action, but rather the surge of intense emotion that welled up like a tidal wave the moment their skin touched—
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
