"Rider, what is your wish?"
That was the first question Touko asked Odysseus after he was summoned.
Every Servant summoned by the Holy Grail has a wish they seek to fulfill. It could be a wish requiring the Grail or one that could be realized without it.
Regardless of its form, a Servant always has a wish.
The same goes for Masters. Deep in their hearts, even if they're unaware, there's always a desire they wish to entrust to the Holy Grail. That's how the Grail's selection mechanism works. Those without a wish are fundamentally ineligible to be chosen by the Grail.
And at that moment, Odysseus answered thus:
"A wish to entrust to the Holy Grail? I have no such thing. After all, I lived a perfect life when I was alive. My life held no regrets, and even if there were any, I wouldn't intend to fix them, because regrets are part of life."
"The reason I answered the call is because you, Master, used my holy relic. I thought you might need my help, so I responded."
Odysseus's reason for appearing in the world was simple—put plainly, he came to fulfill Touko's various requests.
Upon learning Odysseus's situation, Touko responded:
"Help me obtain the Holy Grail. Now is the time to answer that request."
As legend tells of many Achaean soldiers hiding within it, the interior space was vast, roughly comparable to the capacity of several transport planes.
Touko and the others were now inside.
Hearing her sister speak, Aoko frowned. "Touko, you have a wish to fulfill through the Holy Grail? That's surprising."
"The chance to reach the Root—how could any Magus let that go?"
"Fair point."
"Besides, I want to give my dear student a final test. As a teacher, I want to see how much he's learned and grown during those five years in that other world."
"And Merry said Naoki might be in danger during this Holy Grail War. I wanted to see the situation… though it seems unnecessary now."
Once a student surpasses their teacher, the teacher can no longer call themselves one.
Naoki always called her teacher, which pleased Touko, but if her student had surpassed her, being called teacher would only embarrass her.
Touko never needed respect or pity from others.
Hearing Touko's explanation, Aoko, Mordred, and Atalanta fell silent. Even Mordred, usually oblivious to the mood, could understand Touko's feelings. In a sense, it was akin to a knight's pride.
If it were her, losing a one-on-one duel and still being called strong by her opponent would infuriate her.
[Showing up at a time like this—don't tell me you plan to finish us off while we're weakened from the big fight, Touko-sensei.]
Naoki's voice came through the speaker from outside into their chamber.
Touko smiled, signaling Odysseus to activate the external communication function, then replied, "You think so? If that's the case, what will you do?"
[Nothing needs to be done.]
A light screen unfolded before them, syncing the outside situation to their eyes.
At the edge of the Fuyuki River, Naoki and Artoria each held their Holy Swords, standing side by side, staring up at the towering Trojan Horse. Their gazes and expressions silently revealed their thoughts.
If it's a fight you want, then fight—even if the opponent is their own teacher.
[By the way, do you have time later, Sensei? I held a welcome-back party earlier, but you didn't come. I'd like to make up for it later.]
"You really have no sense of tension—With my Command Spell, I order you, Rider, go and defeat Saber and her Master!"
"Understood!"
*ZHENG—!*
With Odysseus's response, the head of the giant Trojan Horse armor's eyes suddenly glowed brightly. Its massive body also radiated a dazzling light!
*KAK—KAKAKAKAKAKA!*
The sound of loosening joints echoed continuously. Under Naoki's childlike gaze, the colossal Trojan Horse leaped into the air. Its four limbs extended parallel to its body, then rotated and unfolded one by one.
Its hind legs formed two legs, its front legs became two arms, the horse's head extended forward, then retracted to attach to the back, and from the junction with its body, a humanoid head slowly rose.
[Aegis Link! Deploying from Noble Phantasm hangar. Multiple protections connected simultaneously. Mana enhanced. Engaging Annihilation Form for attack!]
With Odysseus's command—
*BAM—!*
The two white legs slammed heavily into the ground.
The embodiment of fate, the incarnation of destruction, the weapon that annihilated an entire city in mythology, now stood in its strongest form before Naoki and his companions.
The divine-armored giant steed, the Trojan Horse, now stood on the ground in Annihilation Form!
"This is Rider's Noble Phantasm… it's massive…"
Artoria was filled with shock and disbelief. A Rider's Noble Phantasm is typically a mount. Thus, Artoria assumed Odysseus's Noble Phantasm would be a controllable entity, like a divine beast or a Phantasmal Species.
But she never expected something this colossal. Could this even be called a mount?
"Master, your orders—huh? Master?"
Artoria, about to ask Naoki for strategy, turned to see him with sparkling eyes, like an excited child watching Ultraman.
Mecha! Transformation! Gundam!
Without exaggeration, Naoki was insanely jealous of Odysseus and found the giant entity before him incredibly cool! He desperately wanted to shout!
Gundam is truly a man's romance!
"So cool… A transforming Gundam, I'm so jealous."
"Master?"
"So… even if it's just mimicking, let me experience it once, the feeling of piloting a Gundam—Lia!"
"Huh? Yes! I'm here!"
Naoki grabbed Artoria's hand and pulled her into an embrace, giving her no time to blush in embarrassment. He immediately activated the largest summoning ritual he'd ever performed beneath his feet.
Mana Circuits fully charged!
Summoning Magecraft ritual initiated!
Giant entity, mecha, conceptual weapon—enemy elements confirmed!
Giant entity, mecha, conceptual weapon—elements replicated, adding red dragon attributes, summoning conditions confirmed, using all four as a medium to construct the summoning ritual!
"Open, the gate to the Sea of Stars."
"Countless spirits from another world, answer my call. You are the giants of light that uphold the heavens and forge the future! And the colossal red dragon that tears the earth and roars in the skies!"
A massive ritual circle over a hundred meters in diameter appeared on the ground, and at its center, a fountain of light erupted, engulfing Naoki and Artoria!
The next second—
*ZHENG!*
From the suddenly expanding pillar of light, a menacing red-armored arm reached out. As if to shatter the pillar, it swung forcefully, and the towering light pillar instantly broke into countless specks of light!
Under the falling rain of light, a blazing red, dragon-like armored figure stood tall!
Summoning Magecraft · Spirit Summoning · Chained Dragon Race Summoning · Giant Spirit Armor—
Vortigern Special Armor · King Arthur!