"Hmm? In your current state, you think you can begin a campaign against the Three Goddesses?"
With Ushiwakamaru and the others holding the Demonic Front, Guinevere and the King of Knights accompanied Ritsuka and Mash back to Uruk.
They had much to discuss, and Ritsuka and Mash were eager to learn more combat techniques.
But upon arriving in Uruk and meeting the King of Heroes again, an unexpected incident occurred...
At this moment, the ceiling of the vast throne room had been torn open, and the King of Heroes' expression was slightly shadowed.
"Lady Siduri?"
"The goddess Ishtar paid a visit and had a fierce argument with the King."
Despite being the goddess whose proposal the King of Heroes had once rejected, Ishtar was still the Goddess of Harvest worshipped in Uruk.
When the King of Heroes had not yet returned from the Underworld, facing the ever-increasing number of Magical Beasts, the priests, led by Siduri, performed a divine summoning.
They used a young girl as a vessel and successfully caused Ishtar to descend into her body.
However, after descending, Ishtar immediately left Uruk, only returning occasionally to check on things.
"Because it was a vessel summoning, Goddess Ishtar's personality was somewhat affected, making her even prouder than before."
Beneath her veil, Siduri's expression was slightly awkward. Even so, she wanted to believe that the Goddess of Harvest worshipped by Uruk was not an evil deity. If only the King of Heroes would humble himself slightly before her...
"But your Wise King would never bow to her, would he? His pride is surely greater than that goddess's."
Siduri fell silent, knowing Guinevere had understood the core of the problem between Ishtar and the King of Heroes.
Two proud 'individuals,' two conflicting 'individuals.' To make them willingly cooperate, a 'lubricant' figure was needed first.
But speaking of which, judging by the King of Heroes' current foul expression, he was clearly furious and didn't believe Ritsuka and Mash were capable of fulfilling that role.
What about the other goddesses besides Ishtar?
"Ritsuka Fujimaru, if you're not convinced, then start by tackling the most prominent one: the Goddess of Magical Beasts. Her dwelling is in the hills north of the Absolute Demonic Front.
And with her, we have nothing to discuss."
"So, you mean with the Goddess of Magical Beasts, we don't need to overthink things? We just have to use every means necessary to kill her, right?"
"Correct."
The King of Heroes' words weren't false, but he was only saying this now to send Ritsuka and Mash back to the Absolute Demonic Front for more training.
As for the South American Feathered Serpent God, Quetzalcoatl, he still needed time to confirm the whereabouts of certain items, and his gaze shifted to Merlin.
"Merlin."
"Relax, relax. Since you're having them tackle the Goddess of Magical Beasts first, I'll go confirm the location of the crucial item needed to deal with Quetzalcoatl one more time."
As Merlin spoke, the King of Heroes' expression gradually softened. His gaze then turned to Guinevere and the King of Knights, who were enjoying the show.
"You two Sabers, are Uruk's melons delicious? You've also learned Ishtar's origins from Siduri, haven't you?"
Crimson eyes met lake-blue eyes. Neither the King of Heroes nor Guinevere backed down.
"What do you mean? You want me to handle Ishtar?"
"You two are the most suitable candidates. Guinevere, don't tell me you went on that trip with Merlin and still haven't recognized Ishtar's current face.
You also know, don't you, that I have memories of being defeated by you and the King of Knights in the Holy Grail War in a future Fuyuki City."
"What are you trying to say?" "I still remember what the two children of my Master's family looked like back then. And if I recall correctly, in that future, you adopted one of them, right?
In that case, the other child can be considered your relative. So please, continue to resolve your relative's problems."
Guinevere had intended to stay out of it, at least until the King of Heroes explicitly named Rin Tohsaka as the body Ishtar was possessing.
The body of a girl who had drifted from the future, only to become the vessel for a local god... The coincidence was almost too perfect.
But reality was what it was, and reality doesn't always follow logic.
"Guinevere, is that true?"
"Yes. The body Ishtar is using is identical to Rin's when she's grown up."
If it were just the King of Heroes' request, Guinevere could still try to dodge it, perhaps even thinking of leaving this experience for Ritsuka and Mash. But when the King of Knights asked, and after she let out a long sigh, Guinevere knew she couldn't shake off this mission.
Even if they couldn't complete it, they had to at least go and see Ishtar.
"Alright, we'll take the mission. We'll make sure Ishtar behaves."
Hearing Guinevere's words, the King of Heroes, who had been leaning forward, leaned back and settled comfortably against the throne's backrest.
At that moment, the King of Heroes was smiling with delight, likely imagining how amusing it would be to see Guinevere and the King of Knights deal with Ishtar.
And so, after his initial cold demeanor, the King of Heroes had, despite his outward reluctance, officially assigned the missions to handle each of the Three Goddesses.
Merlin would be responsible for the initial preparations to deal with Quetzalcoatl.
Ritsuka, Mash, and Anna, who had remained silent throughout, would handle the Goddess of Magical Beasts.
Guinevere and the King of Knights would head to Ishtar's temple in the eastern mountains.
In essence, Uruk's strategy against the Three Goddesses was a three-pronged attack. The future focus of their efforts would depend on the results of these initial expeditions.
"Wait, King of Heroes, we have one more thing we want to ask..."
"It's about the Holy Grail, isn't it? The Demon God King's Holy Grail is likely with one of the Three Goddesses. If you want any other Holy Grails, I can give you as many as you desire."
As he spoke of the Holy Grail, the smile vanished from the King of Heroes' face, and his words carried a heavy sadness. He likely knew who held the Demon God King's Holy Grail at that moment.
Neither Ritsuka nor Mash responded to his jest about providing numerous Holy Grails, as any Grail other than the Demon God King's was useless to them.
"King of Heroes, thank you for the information. We'll begin our mission now."
"Hey, King of Heroes, since we're going to deal with Ishtar, aren't you going to give us some useful items?"
"What? The esteemed King and Queen of Camelot actually need my paltry offerings? But if you insist, I won't refuse."
Ritsuka and Mash set off. Anna, after receiving a nod from Merlin, silently followed them. Soon, only the King of Heroes, Siduri, Merlin, Guinevere, and the King of Knights remained in the Great Palace Hall...
Guinevere had bluntly asked for "money," but being teased like this by the King of Heroes made her mouth twitch. She realized that this Wise King, who remembered the Fourth Fuyuki Holy Grail War, was even stingier than she had imagined.
Now, if Guinevere were to ask him for money again, he would surely nag her about it for a "lifetime," making it impossible for her to ever hold her head high in his presence again.
"Tch, so you admit your treasury is full of nothing but paltry offerings."
"Lia, let's go. Time to spank Ishtar's super-pale little butt!"
With that, Guinevere didn't wait for the King of Heroes to retort. She took the King of Knights' hand, lifted her chin, and strode out of the Great Palace Hall.
"Wait, Guinevere, how do you know Ishtar's little butt is... pale?"
Outside the hall, the King of Knights' question echoed. Guinevere quickly explained, based on Ishtar's attire, why her gaze had been drawn to her rear.
"What's the big deal? It's her fault for being so plain, developing just like Rin!"
"Guinevere, you know that's not what I was asking!"
Was she teasing, or genuinely concerned? Beneath the King of Knights' stern expression, Guinevere could hardly tell.