"Safe travels!"
At the grand northern gate of Uruk, Ushiwakamaru waved energetically like an innocent child, bidding farewell to Rozen alongside the bowing Benkei.
Rozen and Mash waved back as they departed, only lowering their hands once the two sides could no longer see each other.
"Lady Ushiwakamaru is really a good person, Senpai."
Mash commented cheerfully.
It seemed that Ushiwakamaru's sincerity and honesty had earned the fondness of the kind-hearted junior.
Actually, Rozen felt the same.
"I honestly didn't expect the legendary Minamoto no Yoshitsune to be such a warm and straightforward person."
Rozen had to admit he now saw Ushiwakamaru in a new light.
After all, in Japanese history, though Minamoto no Yoshitsune was a heroic figure, he was also a famously tragic and ill-fated military commander.
She was born in the late Heian period and hailed from the Kawachi Genji branch of the Seiwa Genji clan, a descendant of the great Minamoto no Yorinobu and the ninth child of Minamoto no Yoshitomo.
After Minamoto no Yoshitomo's defeat by Taira no Kiyomori in the Heiji Rebellion, the seven-year-old Yoshitsune was sent to Kurama Temple in Kyoto for studies, under the name Shanao.
When she came of age, she joined her half-brother Minamoto no Yoritomo to rise against the Taira clan. She gained widespread fame for her military brilliance during the Genpei War.
However, due to her overwhelming success and influence, Yoritomo grew suspicious.
They turned against each other, and Yoritomo issued a national warrant for her arrest.
Left with no other options, Yoshitsune fled to the Oshu region and sought protection from Fujiwara no Hidehira.
But after Hidehira's death, his son Fujiwara no Yasuhira turned on Yoshitsune under Yoritomo's pressure.
In the end, Yoshitsune took her own life at the Koromogawa residence, concluding her storied existence.
As one of Japan's beloved traditional heroes, her life is drenched in legend and tragedy. Many plays and stories tell of her, and even several shrines enshrine Minamoto no Yoshitsune.
Such a tragic figure—Rozen had assumed even if she didn't hold grudges, she wouldn't be the friendliest either.
Who would have thought her personality would be so straightforward and genuine?
Rozen was aware that this warrior had a colder side.
Siduri had once told him that while this warrior was an exceptional strategist and fighter, she lacked something crucial.
Though her voice could mesmerize thousands, her personality wasn't one for idle chatter. She only spoke when it was absolutely necessary.
She didn't boast of her skills, believing instead in proving herself through battlefield results.
Industrious, observant of etiquette, a model samurai in many ways—but in truth, more like a pure combat machine.
And due to her forthright honesty, she always chose the most direct, shortest, and fastest method to accomplish her goals.
A normal person, after failure, might reflect and adapt future strategies—but Ushiwakamaru, being a super genius, had never failed. As a result, she remained the most merciless and efficient combatant, even treating her subordinates poorly.
"To die creating an easier battlefield for me—such is your purpose."
This was something Ushiwakamaru often told her subordinates.
From this, it's clear how much fear and awe her presence could command.
Her path was irreconcilable with other generals.
Perhaps she never understood why her brother bore murderous intent toward her?
That such a person would be so approachable, cheerful, and loyal—even Rozen hadn't expected it.
Perhaps…
"This is what they mean when they say geniuses are all madmen and weirdos."
Rozen could only state his honest opinion.
Of course…
"To be frank, I feel uneasy."
"While Servants are mostly strange to begin with, this time the eccentricity seems extra concentrated."
"Is everything really going to be okay?"
In Chaldea, Olga Marie, Da Vinci, and Roman all sighed with concern.
It couldn't be helped.
It wasn't just Ushiwakamaru—every other Servant was eccentric too.
Merlin, of course, was a complete slacker.
Anna carried hidden secrets; despite disliking humans, she still chose to fight alongside them.
Oda Nobunaga? A walking contradiction—no one would be surprised if she blew up Uruk one day.
Okita Souji looked like a cheerful, normal girl on the surface, but nobody could forget the icy, ruthless aura she gave off when talking about killing.
Even Benkei, who seemed honest and reliable, was according to records a bold, loyal, and powerful warrior who fought alongside Minamoto no Yoshitsune in numerous battles, exuding a mighty presence until the very end. It's said his mere shout could send hungry wolves fleeing, earning him the title of Child of a Demon.
And yet, the current Benkei—always following behind Ushiwakamaru without an ounce of initiative—hardly left a strong impression.
Then there was the mysterious Wise King.
From any angle, this Singularity was filled with strong, reliable, but utterly unnerving personalities.
Rozen merely smiled in response.
"Whatever they are, the history books don't always tell the truth, right?"
Otherwise, there'd be way too much to question.
Take Minamoto no Yoshitsune, Oda Nobunaga, and Okita Souji—all recorded in history as men, yet here they are, beautiful young women. What the hell is that?
Not to mention even Artoria, who in legends was male—but actually just disguised herself as a man to inherit the throne.
So Rozen had long since stopped questioning things like this.
History is written by others.
Unless it's the person themselves, who can know what's true?
Right now…
"All we need to know is—they're our allies. That's enough, right?"
Rozen said.
"Yes!"
Mash immediately nodded.
"Alright, let's get going—onward to the city of Kutha!"
"Yes!"
Rozen and Mash left the thoughts behind and began heading toward Kutha, on their journey into the Underworld.