"So... Rider, your relationship with the oldest King Gilgamesh and the Chain of Heaven Enkidu is so good that you're practically family?"
Looking at the troubled Ishtar before her, who regretted not latching onto them sooner, Souji couldn't comprehend what was happening at this moment.
Why were the legendary oldest King and the Chain of Heaven both female? And why had the Venus Goddess, who originally had a bad relationship with them, become their sister? Behind all this, was it the decay of morality or the distortion of human nature? The final result, please stay tuned...
"Cough, anyway, that's how things are. This lady won't be enemies with that arrogant guy."
The stunningly divine goddess now radiated pure foolishness, cuteness, and cluelessness. After Ishtar finished speaking, she saw the unfriendly expression on Souji's face.
"Master... that expression, is there a problem?"
"Ishtar, I don't understand your relationship with the oldest King and the others. I just want to know if I can obtain the Holy Grail, said to grant any wish."
Looking seriously at Ishtar, even the address 'Rider' had changed to Ishtar's name, showing how serious Souji was at this moment.
"Ishtar, I have an absolute need regarding the Holy Grail War. I have a wish I want fulfilled, and for that, I'm willing to pay any price."
After being pulled into Snowfield City by the Life Simulator System, Souji felt no panic at all. Because knowing about the Holy Grail's existence, she really, really, really wanted to see Ryuya once.
Seeing Souji's serious demeanor, the usually lazy Ishtar also became serious, "Hmm, from my understanding of Gil and Enkidu, they wouldn't be interested in the Holy Grail. After all, they already have similar things."
"The wishes the Holy Grail can grant are too limited. Using my identity to ask them for a favor shouldn't be a problem."
Pausing, thinking about her relationship with Female Gil and Enkidu, Ishtar felt that based on their past battles and time spent together in the same bed, those two should give her this favor.
"But... the Holy Grail is, after all, just a machine. The wishes it can grant are limited. I think it's better if you don't get your hopes up too much, Master."
"Even the smallest hope, I'm willing to try. Thank you, Rider."
Hearing Ishtar's reply, the cold expression on Souji's face softened slightly.
Relaxing her body again, she looked at the Command Spell on the back of her right hand, then turned her gaze to the sky outside the window.
'Ryu-nii, after all these years, how have you been?'
…
"Master? Master? Kaguya-sama, are you listening to me?"
Early morning, as Snowfield City's library opened, the Succubus named Merlin Ambrosius was troubled looking at the young lady of the Shinomiya Family studying a map nearby.
'No matter what, I was a super-strong Grand Caster candidate mage with Clairvoyance ability, yet not only was I inexplicably summoned to this unfamiliar world, why was my Master such a fierce person too?'
Remembering their first meeting, Merlin had enthusiastically introduced herself to her Master:
"Hello, dear Master! I am the beloved, flower-blooming, tire-bursting Lady of Avalon, the national flower of Camelot, the oldest hikikomori, champion of roommate debates, spokesperson for snacks, permanent council champion of all-nighters, the world's cutest girl, Merlin-chan!"
Smiling at Kaguya, Merlin could sense her Master was an ordinary person… at least, the magical energy she emitted indicated she was a magus with no talent.
But Merlin didn't feel much about this situation. What concerned her was why she came to this unfamiliar world and where her Master came from.
Intuition told her this Holy Grail War she was participating in was strange. The world she observed while deliberately acting cute was clearly being influenced by an extremely powerful existence.
"Merlin Ambrosius? Class: Caster. Legend of Britain?"
Kaguya's scarlet eyes gazed faintly at Merlin. Having experienced death over a thousand times, Kaguya felt nothing about the Holy Grail War, which ordinary people couldn't comprehend.
After quickly accepting the information about the Holy Grail War in her mind, Kaguya's first reaction was that she had fallen into another strange world.
'Ryuya, are you here too?'
The image of Ryuya saving her countless times in the loops surfaced in her mind. Kaguya was no longer that ordinary young lady.
Her quite mature and sharp demeanor put immense pressure on Merlin. Using her own abilities and Merlin's magecraft, Kaguya quickly found a good place to stay and formulated a plan.
"Caster, you confirm your combat ability is purely supportive, correct?"
"Yes, Master. I am purely support, a useless person with no combat ability."
Boldly presenting her slacker attitude, for Merlin, the only ones who could make her change her life attitude were, ultimately, Ryuya and Artoria, among others.
Other than that, she remained the troublemaker who felt no guilt about anything.
Clairvoyance to observe the future? Holy Sword of the Lake? Masterful swordsmanship? Don't ask, the answer is no, can't do!
Only revealing a small portion of her magical talent, the harmless-looking Merlin just wanted to watch other Servants and Masters beat each other's brains out in thrilling scenes.
As for working hard or competing for the Grail, she couldn't be bothered.
Anyway, that Grail was useless even if obtained… her husband wasn't coming back.
"Support? To what extent can you enhance my combat ability?"
"Probably enough to fight other Servants."
Blinking, Merlin had a feeling that the girl before her was terrifying. This Master was definitely not an ordinary girl in her early twenties on the surface. The determination in her eyes was a conviction even Merlin found quite frightening. (T/N: Ryuya is 18, so Kaguya who is three years older is 21.)
Thinking her Master must have experienced many complicated things, Merlin thought for a moment and added another function: "I can also cheer you on, Master, and help warm your bed. After all, I also like beauties like you..."
Before she could finish, Merlin saw Kaguya's face getting closer and her eyes growing colder.
"Tell me again, what are your abilities, Caster?"
"My abilities are..."
"Think carefully before you tell me. Your abilities... what exactly are they? Merlin Ambrosius."
Under the assault of the so-called Ice Kaguya, the troublemaker Merlin broke into a slight sweat for the first time.
She didn't know if it was her misconception, but why did she feel that compared to the enemies, her own Master... seemed even more terrifying?