Faced with Jeanne d'Arc's protest, Shirou scratched his neck helplessly.
"So I told you, I misread the situation earlier. I thought you were an innocent civilian being attacked...
I didn't actually mean to protect you."
He had thought that would be enough to make the troublesome woman leave him alone. Instead, she only got angrier, folding her arms under her ample chest as she said,
"Even so! Once you've stepped in, you should see justice through to the end! What kind of half-hearted attitude is that?"
Shirou muttered under his breath, "I'm not planning to become a hero of justice."
"What?" Jeanne d'Arc's brows drew together slightly.
"Come to think of it, a steel gorilla like you could probably take Ea head-on and still not die. You don't really need me to protect you, do you?"
"...Huh?"
Jeanne d'Arc's eyebrow twitched.
Her somewhat frightening face bloomed into a radiant smile, beautiful enough to steal the heart of anyone who saw it.
"You really do have a good eye. Sorry, yes, I'm a female gorilla who wouldn't die even if she took an EX-class Noble Phantasm head-on ♡"
"I didn't say that."
"You...!"
Jeanne d'Arc ground her teeth in fury and glared hard at Shirou.
"I see. You intend to assist Ruler? Then come at me together. I do not mind."
Lancer of "Red" spoke in a cold, clear voice.
Shirou quickly denied it. "No, no, no. I'm not planning to fight you here. Your target is only her... What are you doing?"
Jeanne d'Arc walked up to him.
She reached into Shirou's arms, took the paper bag holding tomorrow's groceries, then patted him on the shoulder.
Shirou: "?"
Jeanne d'Arc turned to Karna.
"Lancer of 'Red,' if you wish to take my life, you will have to get past him first.
Rest assured, I will not interfere in your duel."
"Hey, wait a second!"
Shirou grabbed Jeanne d'Arc by the wrist, but she shook him off.
As Jeanne d'Arc fled to the roadside, she looked back and called out, "Sorry, but as the Ruler of the Holy Grail War, I have a duty to obey the rules of this ritual.
Even if you are a knight trying to protect me, I cannot show you favoritism~ Sorry☆"
"Don't drag people into this on your own!"
At that moment, a fierce, surging divine aura swept through the street.
The magical energy released from Lancer of "Red"'s slender, tall body seemed almost luminous, turning the city, which had only just fallen into night, as bright as day.
"I see. Then it seems I must step over your corpse."
As he said that, the corners of Karna's mouth lifted.
It was so subtle that even he himself might not have noticed, but the stern warrior was indeed smiling.
Shirou finally understood. Lancer had been hoping to fight him.
He had likely had his eye on Shirou ever since Shirou stepped into the church on the mountain.
The son of the Sun God, who felt nothing in particular about the magecraft ritual that had summoned him into the modern era and simply obeyed his Master's orders faithfully, felt joy upon seeing another powerful warrior like himself, one skilled at hiding his true strength.
"Unknown Heroic Spirit, you possess eyes much like mine... It seems we are the same kind."
Shirou: "Huh?"
[Discernment of the Poor]
This was a skill unique to Karna. It did not even have a rank.
It was the insight to see through an opponent's character and attributes, and it could not be fooled by verbal excuses or deception.
The Hero of Charity, who had once had the privilege of questioning the lives and worth of the weak as one utterly alone in the world, possessed through this skill the power to grasp the essence of others.
"You are stronger than any man I have ever met. I can sense it.
If so, then our meeting is no coincidence, but a kind of inevitability."
Jeanne d'Arc: "Oh... what a moving development! Lord, thank you!"
After Shirou snapped, "Shut up," she hurriedly covered her mouth.
"...Come."
Karna raised his golden spear high.
Seeing that there was no longer any room to maneuver, Shirou also took his stance.
With a sudden gust of wind, he gripped the invisible Holy Sword tightly in his hand.
"!"
In the next instant, magical energy suffused with the aura of the sun collided with the storm of True Ether, exploding through the street.
...
The invisible Holy Sword and the dazzling Divine Spear clashed, sending a piercing metallic ring through the depths of night.
Though Jeanne d'Arc had achieved many glorious feats in battle, she was not a Heroic Spirit who specialized in martial arts.
Without using Ruler's Privilege, it was already difficult for her to follow their movements with the naked eye alone.
To Jeanne d'Arc, though the thought might be somewhat disrespectful to the Lord, the battle unfolding before her had undoubtedly entered the realm of the divine.
Their attacks passed in the blink of an eye. Godspeed slashes and godspeed thrusts blurred together until they were almost dizzying to watch.
If one had to say which of the two held the upper hand, then for now, it would be Lancer.
Karna had an overwhelming advantage in range.
With a great spear over two meters long, combined with a powerful Mana Burst mingled with the aura of a Divine Spirit, no Heroic Spirit could fight Karna at close range without falling behind.
However, Shirou might just be the exception.
He was extremely skilled at fighting spear-wielding enemies.
It looked as if he was on the defensive, but Jeanne d'Arc could tell that this was exactly his strategy.
A spear's enormous reach also meant enormous openings when it was drawn back.
Shirou could use his sharp eye to catch Karna's openings with precision, then unleash swift, accurate counters.
Yet Karna was every bit the mightiest warrior of the Age of Myths. Not only did he quickly adapt to the invisible blade, he even kept pace with Shirou's sword speed, unleashing an even greater number of thrusts, each aimed at a vital point.
The finesse was terrifying. Shirou had never seen anything like it.
He had never encountered close-combat ability of this level in the Fairy Kingdom of Britannia. Even Melusine likely could not reach it.
Though she would probably say, "Strong creatures don't need technique."
Even among Shirou's Fae Round Table, there were likely only a handful who could withstand the furious assault of Lancer of "Red."
But.
Shirou was one of that handful.
"Oh, are you finally going to show your true strength?"
The voice of the aloof, handsome white-haired man rose with excitement.
He twisted his body and thrust, aiming for Shirou's chest.
Completely ignoring the laws of physics and the proper nature of his weapon, he unleashed seventy-eight thrusts in that brief instant.
The overwhelming speed and precision sent a chill even down the back of the watching Ruler.
How was anyone supposed to defend against such a sure-kill strike?
Simple.
Knock them all down with even greater output.
Ultra-high-speed attacks launched at the same point in an instant were truly terrifying, but that also meant the attack pattern was singular.
Shirou could not have done it in his human body. But right now, he was in Super Artoria Mode!
""
A deep breath.
What now rested inside Shirou's chest was not a fragile human organ, but the strongest heart in the world, born alongside the stars.
With just that one deep breath, an unbelievable amount of magical energy flooded Shirou's body.
The boy who had fought until now in both his previous life and this one with only twenty-seven Magic Circuits would naturally find this style of fighting unfamiliar.
Even so, in a certain sense, he was also a genius.
He took one step forward.
Shirou shouted, swung the Holy Sword, and cut down all seventy-eight thrusts infused with the power of the son of the Sun God.
Not only that, he carried the momentum through and unleashed a full-force strike at Lancer's body.
"How astonishing! You deflected all of my spears with strength alone! In that case..."
Just as the blade shining with golden light was about to touch Karna's body, a raging blaze erupted from within him.
"Agni!"
The flames of the sun, carrying terrifying heat, mercilessly engulfed Shirou's entire body.
"Ugh...!"
A voiceless cry slipped from his mouth.
Normally, retreating would have been the obvious choice in this situation. Karna surely thought so as well, and had already prepared his next attack.
But Shirou did not retreat.
As the flames scorched him, his limbs and the skin along one side of his face took on a dark hue. The color of Albion's skin.
"What...!?"
The sudden change before his eyes made Karna's eyes widen despite himself.
"He does not fear the Sun God's flames...!?"
"Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"
Shirou burst out of the fire and charged straight at the shaken Lancer.
Even though Shirou's transformation had startled him and created an opening, Karna still avoided the counterattack and even kicked Shirou away as he rushed in for a follow-up strike.
"Trace On."
With that whisper, a pitch-black Longbow formed through Shirou's left hand.
Even after being sent flying, Shirou completed the entire motion from taking aim to drawing the bow at maximum speed.
"!"
Karna was taken aback. Even now, he intended to follow up with a ranged attack?
Because he had dodged Shirou's slash, his balance was already broken, and a second evasion was impossible.
However, he still had the skill "Mana Burst (Flame)."
Under normal circumstances, if Karna had sufficient Mana supply, he could use flames for explosive movement, even supersonic flight.
But he had already used "Mana Burst (Flame)" in his attack against Shirou moments ago.
Though it had no effect on Karna himself, he considered the burden it would place on his Master and ultimately gave up on using Mana Burst again in succession.
In that case, he would simply take the attack.
The Great Hero thought this without fear.
Lancer of "Red" was clad in golden armor that seemed fused with his flesh.
It was the Noble Phantasm bestowed upon him by his father, the Sun God Surya, and one of the reasons he was considered the strongest close-combat Servant.
"O' Sun, Become Armor - Kavacha and Kundala."
A defensive Noble Phantasm that continuously radiated the sacred brilliance of the sun, a supreme treasure that even the gods could not destroy.
It reduced all hostile interference, including physical attacks, Magecraft, curses, and other interfering concepts, so that Karna suffered only one-tenth of the damage.
Shirou's shot had not even used "Broken Phantasm." Even if it had, it likely would not have posed much of a threat.
Of course, Shirou had anticipated that, so…
"Guh...!?"
The arrow loosed from the string struck Lancer of "Red" in the chest.
Its power was reduced to one-tenth of its original force, so only the arrowhead sank into his skin. At most, it was a scratch.
And yet.
Karna looked down in disbelief, staring at the attack lodged in his chest.
Something was swelling violently inside Lancer of "Red." Something hard, sharp, and terrifyingly cold.
"A sword...!?"
No matter what kind of attack it was, physical or magical, almost all of it would be blocked by Karna's golden armor.
But that only applied to attacks from the outside.
The arrow Shirou had fired triggered an "attack generated from within," and against that, the golden armor could do nothing.
In the next instant, dozens, then hundreds of blades burst out from within Karna's body.
"Ugh...!"
His internal organs were shredded in an instant. Even the steadfast Great Hero could not help but cry out in pain.
He spun once through the air before falling, barely managing to adjust his footing and land on the ground.
Blood ran from the corner of Karna's mouth. This was likely the first time he had ever been wounded while wearing his armor.
Seeing that his plan had worked, Shirou immediately switched to close combat and charged in.
He did not believe an attack of that level could bring Karna down, and that judgment was correct.
The Golden Armor did not grant only ultimate defense. It also possessed regenerative power capable of pulling him back from the brink of death.
If he was going to defeat him, it had to be now!
Shirou would not let this once-in-a-lifetime chance slip away. No matter what kind of hero he was, how could anyone resist while dozens of blades pierced him from within?
Flames surged upward like a pillar.
The flames erupting from Karna's body burned away every blade embedded inside him, making it impossible for Shirou to advance any further.
Repeated Mana Burst placed an astonishing burden on a Magus. That alone showed just how badly Karna had been pushed.
Shirou quietly watched the towering flames, ready to step in and finish him off as soon as the Mana Burst ended.
"...?"
As if sensing something, Shirou raised his head and looked up at the night sky.
Several gray pigeons flew over him.
"Assassin, huh."
The bewitching smile of the woman in the black, elegant dress flashed through Shirou's mind.
"Damn it..."
When the flames dispersed, Lancer's figure had vanished, just as Shirou had expected.
It seemed the Master of the "Red" faction had realized the situation was turning dangerous and used a Command Spell to forcibly transfer Lancer away.
"That was splendid. You actually forced that Lancer to retreat."
As Shirou stared into the distance, both exhilarated and regretful, a girl's voice rang out.
"Here, take it back."
Jeanne d'Arc shoved the paper bag into Shirou's arms.
"You're still here?" Shirou rolled his eyes, checking whether this woman had stolen any of his ingredients during the commotion.
Jeanne d'Arc pouted unhappily. "I am the Ruler of the Holy Grail War. Of course I have to witness your battle to the very end."
"Suit yourself."
Shirou turned to leave. If he did not get back soon, Manaka would start worrying.
No... she was probably already worried.
"Please wait."
Jeanne d'Arc called out to him.
The boy frowned. "What is it now?"
The blonde girl looked embarrassed, scratching her cheek with one finger as she said,
"Well... actually, all the inns around here are completely full, so...
Could I stay at your base for one night? Don't worry, I'll pay rent."
"...What is this woman talking about?"
Shirou immediately looked utterly disgusted. If he took her in and Lancer of "Red" came after them in the middle of the night, what then?
He was having such a rotten night precisely because she had dragged him into this.
Just as Shirou was about to coldly reject this shameless woman.
He suddenly realized something and began looking Ruler up and down.
"?"
Jeanne d'Arc also noticed that Shirou had suddenly started studying her.
The boy's blatant gaze moved up from her long, shapely legs, past the curves of her waist and hips, and finally came to rest on her full, proud breasts.
"...Ugh!"
Jeanne d'Arc's cheeks instantly flushed, and she crossed her arms over her chest.
"I-I said I'd pay rent, but it absolutely isn't what you're imagining! Don't get the wrong idea!"
Shirou asked, "Are you a Catholic saint?"
Jeanne d'Arc bent slightly, shrinking in embarrassment. "I-I guess I'll just find some way to manage tonight after all... Huh?"
Ruler froze for a moment, then nodded.
As the Ruler of the Holy Grail War, she had no need to conceal her True Name.
In fact, if she continued hiding it, it would be difficult to earn the trust and cooperation of the Masters and Servants.
The girl straightened her clothes and declared solemnly, "I am Ruler, the one responsible for judging this Holy Grail War. My True Name is Jeanne d'Arc."
"Ohhh...!"
When he heard the name of the famed Holy Maiden of France, Shirou looked deeply moved.
"Hehe♪"
Jeanne d'Arc desperately suppressed the corners of her mouth as they tried to rise, thinking, My, I really am famous...
Shirou invited her with sudden warmth. "I should have an empty bed at my place. Would you be willing to come with me, Jeanda?"
"...It's Jeanne."
The blonde girl was a little surprised by the boy's sudden shift from arrogance to respect, but she took it as devotion to the Lord.
"Very well."
Jeanne d'Arc nodded in satisfaction. "If you do not mind, then please allow me to accompany you."
"Great. Let's hurry. This way, Jeanda."
"I told you, it's Jeanne d'Arc! You're absolutely doing that on purpose, aren't you?"
Jeanne followed after Shirou.
As the supervisor, Ruler was not supposed to become too involved with the Servants of either the "Red" or "Black" factions. It would compromise her fairness.
However, Shirou was not one of the ordinary Seven Knights. Like her, he was an Extra.
Jeanne d'Arc felt this was also a good opportunity to investigate this Keeper's background and find out exactly why he had descended into this ritual.
Of course, what Jeanne d'Arc did not know was that Shirou had his own goal as well.
Since she was a Catholic saint, she should be quite good at preaching, right?
Shirou thought it was worth a try.
He would have Jeanne d'Arc help him give Manaka Sajyou a proper lesson.