Uruk, North Gate.
When Rozen and Mash emerged from here and were just about to set off, they immediately ran into some familiar faces.
"You two!"
A sudden voice rang out, causing Rozen and Mash—who were verifying their travel permits and preparing to exit through the north gate—to pause in unison and turn toward the source of the voice.
There, two familiar figures appeared, leading a group of soldiers.
"Miss Ushiwakamaru? Sir Benkei?"
Mash called out in surprise.
The newcomers were indeed Ushiwakamaru and Benkei.
"What are you two doing here?" Rozen was also quite surprised.
After all, both Ushiwakamaru and Benkei had already been deployed to the south gate to lead the defense against the southern forest goddess's army. For them to suddenly show up at the north gate was certainly strange.
"It's no wonder you're both surprised," Benkei said with a gentle smile, following just half a step behind Ushiwakamaru like a loyal bodyguard and attendant.
"But the battle at the south gate has pretty much run its course. We've dealt a major blow to the enemy and pushed back their frontlines. Since we're unable to pursue any further, the battle naturally had to halt."
Thanks to the assistance of the familiars Rozen dispatched, the south gate campaign had been one victory after another, making it impossible for the southern jungle goddess's army to advance even a step closer to Uruk.
However, as mentioned before, since the central goddess figure had yet to appear, they couldn't launch a pursuit, or else they might be drawn into enemy territory and subjected to a counterattack.
As the saying goes, "never pursue a desperate foe."
As one of the most famous warriors in Japanese history, Ushiwakamaru naturally understood this principle.
So after weakening the enemy sufficiently, she withdrew and began fortifying the south gate, holding the line.
Currently, defenses consisting of barricades and ramparts were being constructed at the south gate to obstruct and repel future invasions with the help of terrain advantages.
In the meantime, Uruk had come under a massive attack from a undead army, forcing Ushiwakamaru and Benkei to act.
Since the east gate—the main target of the attack—was undergoing barrier reconstruction, Ushiwakamaru and Benkei were reassigned to patrol and investigate the north gate.
After all, the undead army had approached from the northeast, meaning both the east and north gates were potential entry points. Fortifying the north gate was naturally the proper response.
"I would've preferred to finish the south gate battle more decisively," Ushiwakamaru said with some frustration.
"The enemy was already being routed, yet we still couldn't pursue and wipe them out completely. Such cowardice from a so-called goddess is disappointing."
"Please don't let your emotions cloud your judgment, My lady," Benkei cautioned with a resigned tone. "Or else even the Genji name will weep."
This pair of master and servant were as lively as ever, bringing a smile to one's face.
Ushiwakamaru, quite unlike her legendary image, was rather free-spirited and willful, like a child, though her decisiveness and cold demeanor on the battlefield remained.
And of course, it was precisely because of this open personality that she always expressed sincere admiration toward those she truly respected.
Just like now.
"Speaking of which, I must thank you, Lord Rozen," Ushiwakamaru said as she looked at Rozen with genuine admiration. "Had you not used divine techniques to provide us with an army, that battle would have been extremely difficult. You are but a human, and yet capable of such godlike feats—my respect knows no bounds."
Her candid gaze, full of heartfelt sincerity, was enough to make anyone feel bashful.
Rozen didn't feel embarrassed per se, but he still gave a wry smile.
"I only did what I could. In the end, it still comes down to you all."
That wasn't mere modesty.
Even with the mana granted by the Holy Grail, which he used to summon a large number of familiars, Rozen was already reaching his limits.
No—more accurately, it was the Holy Grail's limit.
Compared to Rozen's prime, when he wielded mana on a scale surpassing even that of a planet, the so-called "infinite magical energy" of the Holy Grail was still lacking.
Using this power, the most Rozen could manage was his current level of support—he couldn't provide any more.
Even though the forces he supplied were sufficient, pushing the enemy lines back any further was difficult.
Rozen understood the limitations of his own deployed legions quite clearly.
Therefore, he could easily surmise that the continued victories on their side were largely thanks to the commanding officers leading them.
It was the Servants' leadership that turned the tide in their favor.
And if the battle at the northern front—against magical beasts—owed its success to the command of Oda Nobunaga, then the south gate's triumph could only be attributed to Ushiwakamaru.
With that in mind, Rozen's words were not exaggerated.
However, Ushiwakamaru simply shook her head.
"We only contributed our meager strength. Lord Rozen, you flatter us too much," Ushiwakamaru said solemnly.
"We can only swing our blades and take lives on the battlefield. Without rulers like you and King Gilgamesh to guide us, we're nothing but aimless butchers."
Saying so, Ushiwakamaru looked at Rozen once again.
"You are the Master of Chaldea, humanity's final hope. You've endured six eras to reach this place, striving to save human history from destruction. Though we only know these things from what Merlin has told us, I can imagine the hellish trials you must have gone through, and the burdens you've borne."
Her gaze turned even more direct.
"To fight for others, to bring hope to those beyond yourself—such a person is truly a star's light. If not for being summoned by King Gilgamesh, I, Ushiwaka, would have gladly offered you my blade—to cut down all that stood before you and bring you victory."
The one called Minamoto no Yoshitsune stated this with the utmost seriousness.
"I-Is that so…?" Rozen scratched his nose awkwardly, a bit flustered at being praised to such a degree.
Mash and Benkei simply watched with warm, benevolent smiles. Utterly irritating.
Rozen could only let out a bitter chuckle and looked toward Ushiwakamaru.
"Even if you weren't summoned by me, it doesn't really matter, does it?" Rozen smiled. "We're comrades-in-arms fighting side by side. And for comrades, to draw your sword and bring victory—that's only natural, isn't it?"
Hearing this, Ushiwakamaru's eyes lit up.
"Yes, exactly!" she exclaimed, her face brightening. "In that case, I, Ushiwaka, feel completely at ease. From now on, I shall wield my blade on the battlefield for you, Lord Rozen!"
"Alright," Rozen nodded with a small smile. "I'll be counting on you."
"Yes!"