"If killing that Berserker's Master can calm this problem…"
Kiritsugu Emiya is thinking about how to start.
Currently, the most important problem is the female assassin, she is unwilling to ally with magi who hope to compete for the Holy Grail.
"Silence."
Suddenly, a stern voice came from the distance, causing the female assassin and Jack the Ripper to pause their actions.
This also caught the attention of Kiritsugu Emiya.
Both looked towards the source of the voice and saw a woman at the top of the temple steps—before the entrance to the temple.
The temple, located in the center of the forest, was solemn and majestic.
However, the girl was wearing a Western-style dress, her presence incongruous with the ancient and magnificent temple.
Her voice contained a hint of divine power, penetrating all directions through the surrounding strong winds.
"This forest is the garden of the supreme being… Goddess Ishtar. You are not allowed to be presumptuous here.
This land, blessed by the radiant Goddess Ishtar, is now the location of the New Ishtar Temple. Whether you are heretics or aliens, Goddess Ishtar treats you equally.
If you have come to pilgrimage, please wait quietly in line."
The girl was Haruri, who had been appointed as the high priestess by Ishtar.
Even when faced with the female assassin and Jack the Ripper, who were exuding chilling killing intent, she maintained a calm demeanor.
Just like a tour guide leading tourists.
"What… is going on…
I remember, isn't she the Master of Berserker? And, what she just said was Goddess… Ishtar?!"
Kiritsugu Emiya contacted Maiya through the microphone.
Both were somewhat confused.
Although they knew this might be a tricky situation, they didn't expect the problem to be so significant.
It even involved a god.
"Heh… I knew the higher-ups in the United States had bad intentions… No wonder they said this was a major issue that could lead to the collapse of the Holy Grail War and even endanger the survival of the entire human society…"
Kiritsugu Emiya couldn't help but chuckle.
Then, he took a deep breath.
Once again, he transformed back into the cold and ruthless magus killer.
He had experienced countless times stepping into such a cruel battlefield of hell.
Even if this time the opponent was a god, he would still plunge in without hesitation.
On that scale weighing countless lives, he had even used his own life as a stake.
The seriousness of the matter was obvious.
If sacrificing himself or the lives of others could end this farce that could destroy humanity,
Then he, Kiritsugu Emiya, had a reason to participate in the war.
In the face of such a disaster that could destroy humanity, sacrificing any number of humans was worthwhile.
This was the principle that Kiritsugu Emiya had always adhered to.
Even if only one person survived in the end, he would do it without hesitation.
He would always choose the greatest number.
"Hmm… Are there others hiding in the shadows? This is before the throne of the goddess. If you don't quickly reveal yourselves…"
Haruri frowned slightly.
When using the protection given by Ishtar to manipulate the magical bees to investigate the identities of those hiding in the shadows—
In an instant, her beautiful eyes narrowed slightly.
Her voice seemed to be stuck in her throat.
Through the vision transmitted to her by the magical bees, Haruri clearly saw who was hiding in the shadows.
"Magus Killer… Kiritsugu Emiya…"
Haruri squeezed these words out of her dry throat.
She spoke through gritted teeth.
Images of her parents' tragic deaths and those damned magi flashed through her mind.
Her thoughts scattered like a kite with a broken string.
Her brain went blank.
"Revenge… To do destructive things to reclaim injured dignity is justified for those with a mind."
For some reason, Haruri remembered Ishtar's words.
The restless emotions calmed down.
However, the temperature in her eyes was colder than before, so cold that it did not accept any temperature.
Haruri did not forget that this was Ishtar's temple.
Moreover, she was still the high priestess…
"It seems… none of you have come to pilgrimage…
My name is Haruri, the high priestess personally appointed by Goddess Ishtar… I can't continue to let you run wild here!"
Under the erosion of Ishtar's magical power, Haruri's spirit gradually transformed into the steward of the sacrifice.
She originally regarded the Holy Grail War as a tool to destroy the magical world, but now she had the priority of protecting Ishtar's temple over the Holy Grail.
In other words, serving Ishtar gradually became her current purpose.
However, it was still okay to vent her hatred based on this point.
Because even Ishtar approved of her revenge.
"I command with a Command Seal—"
Haruri raised the Command Seal on her hand.
Previously, she had used one Command Seal when fighting against Arcueid in the meat processing plant.
Now, she used the second one.
"You shall be the guardian of this forest and temple, protecting it for all eternity."
The moment Haruri issued the order.
In an instant, the earth trembled.
A steel behemoth that could blot out the sky rose from the ground, so huge that it was mistaken for a moving mountain.
Without even taking a step, just the aftershocks of its magical power
It was enough to shake the earth.
"Roar oooooooooooooooo—!!"
Humbaba roared to the sky, deafeningly.
Like a curse on all things in the universe.
This roar, enough to reach the depths of the soul, made people dizzy and almost fainted on the spot.
"This is… that day in the hospital… the roar that pushed Gilgamesh into a desperate situation…!"
Kiritsugu Emiya clearly remembered this roar.
However, Humbaba's size was only the size of a bus at the beginning, but now it has grown to the size of a skyscraper.
Even at a distance of almost two hundred meters.
He was still deeply shocked.
However, compared to the resentful roar against Gilgamesh, its current roar seemed to reveal joy.
All the winged creatures in the forest were frightened by the shout and fled into the sky, casting countless silhouettes in the forest sky under the strong wind.