My mother's love song

Ruler claims that he doesn't care about the Masters' affairs, and that's actually the feeling he gives people.

He is not duplicitous, but

I always feel that Ruler seems to be particularly concerned about Kaye's affairs. Is there any hidden story?

Rhodes stretched and stood up from the table.

"Going to leave already, Ruler?"

Iori and Saber looked at the boy, but found that he did not go to the main gate but went towards the courtyard.

Rhodes turned around and gave the master and servant a sly, provocative smile.

"After filling my stomach, I felt more interested. Yoshiwara during the day was a bit boring, so forget it...

How about you two accompany me for some "after-meal exercise"?

……

……

……

The bright afternoon sun filled the entire backyard.

Rhodes and Saber were nearly ten meters apart, standing straight at the two ends of the yard, while Miyamoto Iori was sitting on the edge of the corridor looking at the two.

"This is really unexpected. I thought Iori would be the first to go on stage."

Maintaining a relaxed smile and a comfortable posture, Rhodes spoke to Saber.

On the other side, Saber had already impatiently drawn her sword from its sheath.

"I listened to Iori's swordsmanship this morning, and it made my blood boil.

Until now, I have never thought about what I think about swords...

There is nothing special about swords to me, but...this idea has been constantly overturned recently."

"Was it due to Iori's influence?"

The handsome boy with pigtails smiled and said, "Who knows, maybe it was just a whim.

I heard from Iori that your swordsmanship is very good and he thinks highly of you."

"Okay."

Rhodes said disapprovingly.

Saber shook her head: “No, this is not at the level of ‘okay’.

I have the same feeling as Iori, you are indeed extraordinary, Ruler."

"why?"

"Because you are the first person who can make me and my sword move."

In Miyamoto Iori's eyes, Saber's face was filled with the confidence that was unique to a swordsman like Rhodes.

Since I'm strong, the swordsman who can attract my heart must also be strong.

Miyamoto Iori thought to himself: This is how Saber is different from me, this is the thinking of a strong person.

"...Arrogant little brat."

Rhodes raised the corners of his mouth, and a hint of joy flashed across his bright red eyes.

"Please don't let me down, Saber."

"Humph! No way! You just claimed that you are the strongest Servant, right? Then let me learn a thing or two from you!"

After saying this, Saber clenched the alien long sword in her hand and rushed towards Rhodes like a gust of wind.

however

The young man's figure suddenly disappeared from right in front of him, and the swift stab could only cut into the empty void.

"What……!"

The next moment, Rhodes appeared behind Saber.

In just a split second, before anyone could see his movements, Rhodes moved behind him where he was defenseless.

If Saber and Iori had basic knowledge of magecraft, they would surely be impressed at this moment.

Rhodes' steps were as incredible as magic.

If one could train his martial arts to such an extreme level, he would be able to achieve things that are equivalent to magic.

"..."

Saber held her breath and focused on what was behind her.

The sword in Rhodes' hand was placed on his shoulder, but this did not mean that everything was over.

Before Rhode's blade could touch the skin of Saber's neck, it was blocked by the hard blade of Saber.

Saber pushed away the sword behind her with all her strength, and slashed backwards while turning around.

however,

"Snapped!"

"..."

Saber’s eyes widened.

He stared blankly down at his aching hands, with calluses left on them from years of holding the sword, but there was nothing in his palms.

This was because the sword Saber held tightly in both hands had already flown into the sky.

The snake-shaped sword drew a graceful arc under the scorching sun, then fell to the ground, with the blade inserted straight into the soil.

"Well."

Cold sweat oozed out of the swordsman's fair skin and he felt thirsty.

Rhodes simply swung his sword and knocked it away. Saber couldn't even understand the principle behind it.

There was too much difference in their levels as swordsmen.

A long and desperate silence fell in the yard.

After a long while, Saber finally spoke.

"You are so strong."

His voice did not contain any regret or remorse for defeat, but was filled with emotion.

I am moved by the unknown and by the magical skills that are beyond my understanding.

Perhaps it is precisely because he has been able to maintain this pure and unmoved personality despite having walked through countless Shuras that he is the strongest Saber.

"You're not bad, Saber. You made me nervous for the first time in a long time."

Rhodes pulled out the sword from the ground and handed it solemnly to the black-haired swordsman.

"It's a nice sword, please take good care of it."

"of course."

Saber took the sword from the boy and said happily.

“This is my most powerful treasure that I am proud of, an invincible sword that can destroy any enemy!

So...listen to me, Ruler~

Iori actually forbade me to use my Noble Phantasm, saying it would destroy the town... Don't you think that's too much?"

“That’s too much.”

Saber sheathed her sword and crossed her arms over her chest: "Yeah, yeah! Ruler thinks so too!

Alas... With a Master like this, the future of this ceremony is really uncertain."

"Ruler."

A calm voice from a third party broke in.

Rhode and Saber looked over and saw that the young man holding two swords had already stepped into the yard impatiently.

"Miyamoto Iori, please teach me as well."

Seeing the Master's extremely serious look, Saber tactfully withdrew.

Miyamoto Iori came to the front of Rhodes and displayed the five-type posture of Niten Ichiru.

His eyes burned with fighting spirit, and he kept a close eye on the boy's every move.

There was a swordsman who was even stronger than Saber. The opportunity to spar with such a strong enemy had never happened before and would never happen again.

He is truly unrivaled in the world, the strongest swordsman in history, both ancient and modern.

Miyamoto Iori was not overly excited by this, but instead felt calm inside.

I have to gamble everything in my swordsman career in the next confrontation. When he thought so

"!?"

Miyamoto Iori and Saber both opened their mouths in surprise.

The reason was that Rhodes threw away the sword in his hand.

What you mean is... you don't even need a sword to fight me!

Miyamoto Iori was shaken for a moment by this. He ignored Saber who was looking smug beside him and adjusted his breathing.

And at this moment, Rhodes moved.

He did not display the speed that had surpassed Saber before, but instead walked at an extremely slow pace, truly a stroll.

He let his hands hang naturally at his sides, as if to show that he had no hidden weapons.

From the perspective of Saber who was watching from the sidelines, this move was nothing short of a provocation.

But in the eyes of Miyamoto Iori, it was a different picture.

He felt like he was about to be crushed.

Rhodes did not use any magic power, nor did he release any spirit, but every step he took on the ground made Iori feel that his stance was about to collapse.

In Miyamoto Iori's eyes, the boy's hands had become blades sharper than any famous sword, and he would be defeated with his bare hands.

I really want to turn around and run away...but I can't!

In order to protect the peace of Edo, I must end this waxing moon ceremony with my own hands!

To do this, I must become stronger!

For this, I will kill all the powerful enemies.

"Drink ah ah ah ah ah!"

Miyamoto Iori rushed towards the empty-handed boy.

In the end, Iori's pursuit and desire for the sword overcame his fear.

At this moment, he surpassed his past self.

All the little things accumulated until now blossom and bear fruit at this moment.

The young swordsman named Miyamoto Iori used all his skills and lifelong learning to

A moment later, Iori knelt down in front of Rhodes with his hands on the ground.

"How can it be……"

Saber stood up from the corridor and exclaimed.

I couldn't comprehend what was happening, it happened so fast.

Or maybe Rhodes's skills are so perfect that they cannot be captured by the naked eye.

Miyamoto Iori lost his sword.

The two katanas, which were as precious as his soul clones to the young man, were now taken away by Rhodes and were tightly held in his hands.

"........."