"Phew... Anyway, I think Mash needs a little rest, don't you?"
As Ritsuka spoke, Mash waved her hands and shook her head frantically.
"Senpai, I can still fight."
[No, Ritsuka is right. Recklessly throwing yourself into battle right after awakening as a Demi-Servant is never a wise choice.]
As the Director spoke, Mash slumped her head as if withered, and Roman, who had taken the microphone, provided the assist.
[The Director is correct, Mash. Rest for a bit while receiving backup from Chaldea, and in the meantime, we'll look into the records of your Heroic Spirit. Does that sound okay?]
"Yes, understood!"
With Chaldea taking over the briefing on nearby Servants and the mud's encroachment, we were able to sit down and take a breather once more.
Of course, during that time, I had to receive background information on the Servants from the various factions that participated in the previous Holy Grail Wars from Kiritsugu, the former Master of Einzbern, and Aoko-nee.
[Information on the First and Second Wars has been lost and is nearly impossible to find. Only the records of the Servants from the Third Holy Grail War remain intact. It's been confirmed that the Saber was Siegfried, whom we defeated earlier; the Lancer was Fionn mac Cumhaill, who was once employed by Darnic Prestone Yggdmillennia; and the Assassin was a Dwarf Hassan, successfully summoned by one of the puppet masters. Additionally, the Avenger Angra Mainyu and an unidentified 'Ruler' class were summoned.]
"I know who that Ruler is. But it'll be hard for him to interfere in this Holy Grail War... What about the Berserker, Caster, and Rider?"
[According to Makiri's log, the Rider was a pirate named Edward Teach. However, since his Saint Graph wasn't particularly grand and the battlefield was on land, it seems he met defeat early. As for the Berserker and Caster classes, there were no entries. They were likely replaced as a side effect of the Ruler and Avenger summonings.]
...To summarize, that mud can summon the Servants from the Third and Fourth Wars in that grotesque fashion.
"Compared to them, we have a Lancer, a Shielder, and one four-eyed guy. That's a desperate gap in combat power."
[Well, we have to make do somehow, don't we?]
"I suppose so."
While we were talking, Gareth was also revealing her own specs.
"A C-rank in Strength and B-rank in Endurance is a bit unfortunate, but having Agility at A-rank is a stroke of good luck."
"...I'm sorry. To be honest, I'm one of the weaker members of the Round Table... like a youngest sibling? I'm weaker than the much younger Mordred, and I can only last about two hours against my older brother."
"Wait, Gareth's older brother... That would be Gawain, right?"
"Yes! You know the Round Table well!"
...You can last two hours against that 'Potato Gorilla'?
"...Is that by night standards, by any chance?"
"No? A knight must always be fair and honorable! We sparred one-on-one in broad daylight for everyone to see... though I lost, of course."
Ritsuka and Mash began to frantically comfort her as she grew depressed, and Gareth seemed to regain her energy from their encouragement.
However, I was repeatedly turning over a single thought in my head.
'...Two hours against Gawain... At this rate, it might be better to just directly charge at Saber Alter, who has ridiculously high output?'
[Ahem, regardless... I've heard that the most important thing for a Heroic Spirit is their Noble Phantasm. Could we hear a description of it?]
"Ah, I almost forgot. My Noble Phantasm is this lance. Even our King, the King of Knights herself, praised this spear."
"And that King... what is the name of the Noble Phantasm?"
"The name granted by the King is Ira Lupus! It means Maiden Wolf."
"Ooh, that's a cool name!"
"Hehe, thank you."
So, let's summarize.
A first-class Heroic Spirit whose power is slightly lower among the 'Round Table,' yet possess the strength to survive against that Gawain.
Me, who can seal the mud in an emergency... and Mash, who will eventually be able to unleash her Noble Phantasm at the decisive moment.
...Wait, now that I think about it, the Heroic Spirit inside Mash was Galahad, wasn't it?
"Come to think of it, King Arthur was a woman."
"Yes, I was honestly surprised to meet her at the Throne of Heroes."
"The Throne of Heroes? Ah, then all the Heroic Spirits of the Round Table are in the Throne?"
"...Though we don't always get along that well."
Hmm, that's 100% because of Lancelot and Mordred.
"Even so, we are now the Knights of the Round Table, all loyal to the King of Knights! As one summoned to this place, I shall fulfill my duties as a knight."
"Ooh, how reliable!"
"True, both Tristan and King Arthur were outstanding Heroic Spirits. They were a great help when I met them before."
"...You have experience meeting them? How was King Arthur?"
"She was a good person. Extremely strong, honorable... personally, she was the best Heroic Spirit among those summoned at the time."
"As expected of our King."
...Hmm, isn't her reaction a bit lukewarm for the Round Table?
Maybe because I expected her to cheer wildly at the mention of the Round Table, or be hopelessly obsessed like Tristan, this somewhat normal reaction felt almost anti-climactic.
"Well, I think we'll have to stop the idle chatter here."
"...Are they approaching already? But there was no reaction from Chaldea?"
"That means they have a way to bypass Chaldea's detection. It's quite common for Heroic Spirits to have Noble Phantasms that do that."
Like Lancelot's helmet that conceals his identity, or Robin Hood's No Face May King... things like that.
Moments later, along with the nauseating stench of mud, the fierce momentum of an armed combatant began to be felt before us.
On the surface, it appeared no different from the Siegfried from before, covered in mud and shadows... but unlike him, this one clearly possessed 'reason.'
"It is truly a regret to face you like this! However, once we have met as enemies, one must not hesitate to level their spear. I, the monk Musashibo Benkei, shall be your opponent!"
"What kind of nonsense is that? You're not Benkei."
"Huh?"
[Eh?]
Ah, I felt like I had to throw in the mandatory retort.
It was already strange enough that the mud had covered this Fuyuki without issue, but hearing that kind of drivel... well.
"What do you mean... I am certainly Musashibo Benkei!"
"Hey, old man. Is that guy really Musashibo Benkei?"
"No? He's just some guy named Hitachibo Kaizon. He's trying to play the part of Benkei, but if you actually told him to perform the Hhakushi Saikyo or coin-flipping, he wouldn't be able to do a thing."
"Ahem...!"
Then, Ritsuka gave a devilish smile and began writing on my limp arm.
'Is he one of those cases where you shouldn't touch him, like the previous guy?'
'No, I don't think so.'
'Then can you catch him for us? He clearly looks weaker than you or Gareth-chan. It would be good for Mash's training.'
...Hmm, this definitely feels like the training method Cu Chulainn used in the original story. Does Ritsuka instinctively know what to do?
"Alright, it's decided. You're going to be on our side."
"...Do you intend to insult me? Not only do you fabricate my identity, but you also dare to defile my pride!"
[However, the Mystery was far too great for Hitachibo Kaizon to resist.]
The moment Manaka's mysterious signal was received from somewhere, Gareth's lance blew away his large naginata, and I quickly pulled him in with Bansho Ten'in.
"How did my exorcism ritual...!"
"Sorry, but this is a bit different from the skills you use for sealing!"
"Urgh, if it's come to this, I'll take at least one of you!"
Suddenly, using the gravitational pull dragging him toward me as momentum, Benkei pivoted toward Ritsuka. At that moment, Mash, who had been watching our battle, struck him over the head with her shield.
"You shall not lay a single finger on my Senpai!"
"Good, hold him right there, Mash!"
Instantly, a massive mouth of hell erupted and swallowed Benkei. Quickly unsummoning it, I leaped into the air with the two of them.
"Eh? Karma-san, what are you doing!"
"Don't be a fool. Do you really think other Servants wouldn't come after making such a ruckus?"
"Ah..."
Immediately after, Archer's Caladbolg II struck the spot where we had just been with pinpoint accuracy, proving my point.
"Um... Karma-san, why did you capture that Servant? Even if you sever the pass, his essence is a Shadow Servant. He is bound to disappear soon."
"Ah, I forgot to explain that. Actually, Mash here is a Demi-Servant. She was the subject of... well, a rather unpleasant experiment conducted at Chaldea. It seems the effects of that experiment are finally manifesting, but she hasn't awakened her Noble Phantasm yet."
"I see..."
As expected, Gareth seemed to guess which member of the Round Table it was just from the patterns on that shield.
The Knight of the Round Table, Galahad. While it might be impossible to fully awaken his consciousness through Gareth alone, if it's the Shadow Servant Hitachibo Kaizon who attacks indiscriminately... I believe it can draw out Mash's survival instincts and materialize her Noble Phantasm.
And it's even better since someone like him is easy enough for me and Gareth to handle if things go south.
"Now then, shall we get started? We're going to activate that Noble Phantasm... before the others arrive."
"...Yes, Mash Kyrielight. I will try my best!"
After having his magical energy drained and being subjected to forced 'purification' within the Naraka Path, the agonizing Kaizon swung his spear as soon as he was released, attempting to destroy everything in sight. Mash resisted, swinging her shield with all her might to block him.
Of course, out of Mash's sight, Gareth was poised to charge at any moment with her lance, and I had already gathered prana in my hands to activate the pull of Bansho Ten'in.
Her arms looked as if they might give out any moment while blocking the successive downward strikes of the spear. Ritsuka opened the Momentary Strengthening function of her Mystic Code, assisting Mash's struggle in any way she could.
However, as if to show our support wasn't needed—as if to say our worries were for nothing—Mash magnificently unleashed her Noble Phantasm and proved herself.
[Incredible... even if it's a Shadow Servant level Saint Graph, to think she'd evaporate a Servant's attack in its entirety.]
There was no True Name Release, nor a grand incantation—it was a manifestation of the Noble Phantasm in its rawest form. Yet, that defense firmly pushed Kaizon back, and Gareth's lance pierced the near-death monk, ending him instantly.
[For now, we should at least give that Noble Phantasm a temporary designation.]
"Since what we are doing is the Restoration of the Human Order, let's give it a name meaning the foundation of humanity. Something like... Lord Chaldea."
"T-That doesn't sound bad at all!"
Having subtly changed the name Lord Chaldeas to Lord Chaldea, I began to consider our next destination.
'Anyway, the collapse of this Singularity will end once the Great Holy Grail is retrieved and the Evil of Humanity is slain. Since I've already taken care of the Matou side with Diarmuid's Noble Phantasm, all that remains is the Tohsaka estate and the leyline at the Fuyuki Civic Center...'
However, the Civic Center and the Tohsaka residence were too far apart. If we moved between them individually, we would surely be intercepted by other Shadow Servants or Angra Mainyu's Servants along the way.
"Anyway, Gareth, what is this shield?"
"It's a shield granted to me by King Arthur! She advised me that having only a lance left me vulnerable in many ways..."
"Quiet everyone, eyes here! I've thought of our next destination."
"Next destination?"
[I'm curious too. Which way do you plan to go? Geographically, the Tohsaka estate is the closest.]
...Right, from a common-sense standpoint, that's natural.
Clear out the Angra Mainyu presences at each leyline and finally challenge the boss. Isn't that the obvious progression?
"We're aiming for the Boss."
[...What?]
"Ultimately, the biggest reason Angra Mainyu can exert such power is because he's occupying the leylines. In the Fourth Holy Grail War, we virtually went toe-to-toe with him with six Servants... but we don't have that many Heroic Spirits now. Our firepower is lacking."
No matter how much I've grown, even if their Noble Phantasms are sealed, I cannot confidently guarantee victory against those Great Heroes.
While my abilities have good compatibility against Dead Apostles and Phantasmal Species, they are quite disadvantageous against Heroic Spirits who fight with pure skill and Noble Phantasms.
"There are two reasons. First, at the Great Holy Grail, even those guys can't recklessly spam large-scale destruction techniques."
Of course, King Arthur might do things like fire Excalibur repeatedly, but that was only possible because she was in a position to 'defend' the Grail. If we charge at Mount Enjou first, the other Servants will inevitably be in a position to strike our rear, and devastating actions like Archer's bombardment will naturally be sealed.
"Actually, even if they do, it doesn't matter. Mash and I have become capable of blocking a simple bombardment of Noble Phantasms to some extent... And if they do that, I can just destroy the leyline with Gae Dearg, the Crimson Rose of Exorcism."
[It's a valid method, but there's a problem. Even if you seize a leyline, Angra Mainyu can shift his location and flee toward the Tohsaka estate or the Civic Center. If that happens, even if you reach the Great Holy Grail, you'll just end up surrounded by the other Servants.]
As Roman said, that is the biggest flaw in this plan.
Being surrounded... for our party with insufficient firepower, being surrounded is essentially a situation that leads directly to defeat, and must be avoided at all costs.
But if the location is Mount Enjou, where the Great Holy Grail is situated, then the story changes.
"If that happens, being surrounded becomes our winning move."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that them surrounding us will be the very thing that makes us victorious."
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