In the great hall of the Fortress of Millennia—
Hum~
Caster waved his hand to dismiss the projection screen hanging in the air. Then, performing another spell over the magic altar before him, the surface instantly displayed a three-dimensional map. The terrain shown was a desolate suburban road, at the center of which a single red dot moved steadily.
"Ruler has manifested."
Caster turned to remind those behind him.
"I see… At this stage, the optimal choice is to attempt to draw her to our Black Faction's side and make use of her."
Darnic murmured, stroking his chin.
"Let me go! Archer and I will meet her, so the Red Faction won't have the chance to seize her."
At that moment, Gordes stepped forward to volunteer, standing before Darnic and the Grand Prince.
"No, that would not be wise."
Caster immediately rejected Gordes' proposal.
"Hah?"
Gordes blinked in confusion, as did Darnic.
"Caster, explain yourself."
"We should indeed go, but… I do not recommend sending Archer."
He brought the screen into everyone's view for further explanation.
"In addition to Ruler, I also detected the presence of other Servants in the area. Most of ours are within the fortress, with only Assassin stationed in the town. Which means…"
"That the presence is most likely a Red Servant…"
Chiron interjected.
"Precisely. And at this very moment, they are already watching Ruler's movements intently. Their goal is clear."
Caster answered firmly.
"In other words, if we factor in the likelihood of battle, it is necessary to send our strongest—Saber."
Darnic gave his final conclusion.
At the mention of Saber, his eyes turned toward the Black Faction's Saber—the Shogun—and then toward her Master, Fiore.
"Fiore, is that acceptable?"
"I have no objection. But… Shogun?"
The girl did not act willfully. Instead, she looked to her Servant.
"…Since the enemy is involved, simply take me there."
The Shogun flicked her kimono sleeve habitually, her voice cold and regal.
Fiore smiled dotingly, then turned back to Darnic and nodded in agreement.
"Then let Saber go. This mission is to protect Ruler from the Red Faction's attack. And Fiore… if possible—"
"To establish rapport and see if she may lean toward our side, perhaps even bring her to the fortress. Correct?"
Fiore's quick mind immediately saw through his intentions. Even without words, she could guess the plan. If Ruler favored the Black Faction, the Holy Grail War would become far easier.
"Ah… I leave it to you, then."
Darnic was very satisfied with her response.
...
The girl's true name was Jeanne d'Arc, her class being Ruler. She had no Master. She was the absolute administrator of this Holy Grail War.
She had traveled by overnight bus to the airport, then flown to Bucharest, Romania. If she were capable of spirit form, it would have been the perfect way to endure such a long journey. But she could not. Even her body was not truly hers—rather, it was borrowed from a girl in this world who resembled her greatly, and would later need to be returned.
Even she herself did not know why she had been summoned this time. Likely, some anomaly had occurred within this war that required her investigation.
At present, dragging a suitcase, Jeanne had boarded a small truck offered by a kind middle-aged driver. They were now in the northeastern outskirts of Bucharest, on the road toward her next destination—Trifas.
"!"
Sitting in the truck bed with her knees drawn up, Jeanne suddenly sensed a sharp, icy gaze upon her. Yet no figure was visible around them. She immediately realized—it was the hostile presence of a Servant.
Her first thought went to the truck driver. She quickly crawled toward the cab, gripping the side mirror with one hand and tapping on the window with the other.
"?"
The middle-aged driver was startled when he suddenly saw the girl leaning against the side of his truck, and he hurriedly rolled down the window.
"Please stop immediately. It's dangerous here. You should leave now."
Jeanne urgently warned him.
"That won't do… how could I abandon a young lady like you alone in this desolate place?"
The driver clearly refused.
"Phew… forgive me."
With no choice, Jeanne used a small measure of her power. Her eyes glimmered faintly, embedding a subtle compulsion into the man's mind.
"Ah… oh."
Obediently, the man stopped the truck.
Watching it drive away, Jeanne let out a breath of relief. But then, sensing danger, she turned her gaze toward a towering billboard behind her. There, clad in golden armor, sat the Red Faction's Lancer—Karna—staring down at her.
"You are Ruler?"
Before she could speak, he called out first.
"Prepare yourself."
"!"
At once, an overwhelming killing intent flooded her senses. Jeanne's eyes widened, and she instantly leapt back!
Whoosh!!
Boom!!!!!!
In that same instant, Karna hurled himself down like a missile, his spear striking the spot she had just vacated. The deafening impact erupted like an explosion, shattering the ground and sending up a blinding cloud of dust.
Whoosh!!
Bounding out of the dust, Jeanne summoned armor of mana around herself, gripping her silver flag-lance tightly to block.
Facing the tall, lean figure emerging from the haze, Jeanne spoke.
"Red Lancer… Karna, son of Surya, the sun god. Am I correct?"
"Oh?"
Emerging from the smoke, Karna showed little surprise, only mild interest in her insight.
"I am the arbiter of the Holy Grail War—Jeanne d'Arc. You should know what it means to strike at me."
She pressed him.
"To speak what everyone already knows is not wise. My strike just now was declaration enough."
"..."
Jeanne frowned.
"What purpose does killing me serve?"
"I do not know. I merely follow my Master's command. By contract, I must obey."
Whoosh!
Karna raised his golden spear. Red mana surged along its shaft, unleashing violent pressure. His crimson cape flared in the wind, radiating fierce energy.
"Now I come, Ruler. Forgive me, but in light of your authority, I cannot afford mercy!"
Huff, huff!!
The spear's tip erupted with dazzling, searing flame-like energy!
"With this strike, our battle will be decided."
With explosive speed, the red figure lunged at Jeanne!
"!"
Jeanne braced to parry, but in the next instant—
A clear, feminine voice resounded:
"Shogun… I entrust this to you!"
Whoosh!
Crackle!!
The sky darkened in an instant. A thunderclap split the heavens, and a torrent of violet lightning fell, striking directly into Karna's path!
"!"
Karna halted for a fraction of a second, instantly swinging his spear at the descending bolt!
Bang!!
The spearhead clashed against something invisible, releasing a shockwave that rattled the air. Dust burst outward, cracks splintering across the ground.
His expression hardened as he realized his full-force strike had been blocked—not by Jeanne, but by an unseen force. Before him, only a storm of vibrating violet particles of lightning shimmered.
The particles condensed, shaping themselves into a magnificent naginata wreathed in thunder. Its blade glowed with dazzling purple light, silver, black-gold, and violet intertwining in a breathtaking harmony. At its guard, the swirling tomoe crest rotated slowly.
The lightning gathered, manifesting into the form of a kimono-adorned woman. She held the naginata crosswise, her cold violet eyes opening slowly to meet Karna's gaze. At their centers glimmered the radiant brilliance of divinity.
"!"
The moment their eyes met, Karna felt the crushing weight of overwhelming godhood flood his being. This pressure forced his eyes to narrow further.
"Oh? A god?"