Shirou, who returned from the Fairy Kingdom

When Kotomine Shiro arrived, the "Red" Assassin was sitting on the throne, reprimanding Lancer for his initial defeat.

Not only did they fail to complete their mission to intercept Ruler, but they also fell into a disadvantageous position in the battle against the enemy, and in the end, they had to use a Command Spell to forcibly teleport him back...

This greatly displeased the assassin, whose beautiful face paled with anger.

Karna, the "Red" Lancer, remained unmoved by her rebuke, standing there expressionless.

Thanks to the self-regeneration effect of the golden armor, the injuries he sustained in the battle with Shirou that evening have been completely healed.

"Okay, that's all for now."

Kotomine Shiro interrupted Assassin's speech and walked to the throne like a servant.

"Master, you've arrived."

The woman immediately suppressed her anger and then glared fiercely at Lancer.

"Thank you for your hard work tonight, Lancer. It's all settled now, you can leave."

After telling Karna to leave, the young priest turned to Assassin and asked, "How is the situation?"

Kotomine Shiro noticed a gray pigeon perched on Assassin's shoulder.

Assassin—her real name is Semiramis, the world's oldest poisoner.

The man she poisoned was her husband, King Ninus, the man she had taken from her first husband, Onnes.

After poisoning her second husband, she ruled Assyria as an empress for decades.

According to legend, Semiramis was abandoned by her mother shortly after birth and was raised by pigeons.

As a Servant manifesting in the world, she is able to gather pigeons from across the country and use them as familiars—

This is because, although she is an assassin, she is also a sorcerer.

Semiramis possesses the "Double Summon," an extremely rare skill that allows her to simultaneously retain both the Assassin and Warlock classes.

“A notification has arrived. It seems our Berserkers will be arriving in Tulifas soon, and Archer and Rider are ready to follow as the second wave.”

Semiramis said, "Of course, Ruler has also noticed Berserker's movements, and she should be going there tonight too."

What should we do, Shiro? Should we continue with the task of eliminating Ruler?

Although the incompetent Lancer failed, what about Archer and Rider...?

Regardless of Archer, if Rider is unwilling, then we'll use Command Seals to force him—"

"No need." Kotomine Shiro shook his head.

"No need?"

Semiramis was somewhat surprised, after all, Kotomine Shiro had always regarded Ruler as his greatest enemy.

But she didn't know that in the young priest's heart, there was now someone even more dangerous than Joan of Arc.

"Yes, the most important thing right now is to deal with the rioting Berserkers."

Despite saying that, the image of the red-haired boy appeared in Kotomine Shiro's mind.

……

……

After dinner, Shirou and Jeanne left the inn separately.

Of course, they did not act together.

After all, Jeanne d'Arc could only be considered a guest at most, and it would be bad if she were seen as unfairly helping Shirou's side.

Perhaps to avoid suspicion, she left the hotel without saying anything.

Half a day earlier, Joan of Arc had already sensed it using her Arbiter's Privilege—

The "Black" Berserker is marching toward Tulipas.

Tonight, the Berserker should reach the city's border, where the Thousand World Tree will surely stand in its way.

Jeanne d'Arc was unaware of why Berserker's Master was doing this.

But considering that the other party was an irrational and difficult-to-communicate berserker, the girl felt that she had to go and maintain order tonight.

After all, protecting innocent bystanders from the Holy Grail War is also one of the Arbiters' sacred duties.

Why did you follow me?

Joan of Arc stopped on the forest path.

She frowned slightly as she looked at the red-haired boy who had followed her all the way from Sighishwara to Tulifas.

Shirou shrugged and said dismissively.

"There's no rule saying I can't come along, is there?"

Joan of Arc said in annoyance, "If you do this, I will be seen as acting unfairly!"

If someone sees the adjudicator and her follower together, even if she jumps into the stake, she won't be completely burned.

What does your innocence have to do with me?

"...Stop following me!"

Shirou raised an eyebrow, tilted his chin, and said, "Hmm? Is this how the Holy Maiden asks others for favors?"

"Ugh."

Joan of Arc's eyebrows twitched slightly. She hesitated for a while, then lowered her head and spoke with an expression of humiliation and resentment.

"I'm sorry... Lord Artorius, please stop following me."

"Humph, that's pretty much it."

Shirou nodded in satisfaction: Let's stop teasing the saintess here.

He watched Joan of Arc's figure disappear into the depths of the forest.

"Alright, it's about time I got down to business."

The reason I followed Joan of Arc to Tulipas was certainly not to cause trouble for the saintess... well, that's one of the reasons.

Even someone as oblivious as Shirou noticed that Aika Sajou seemed to be in a heavy mood tonight.

So—in order to bring a smile back to his master's face, he decided to achieve some success.

Since the battlefield was a forest at night, Shirou felt it was not suitable for his Master to engage in any activities, so he had her stay at home while he went out hunting alone.

Although Aika looked like she was about to cry when she heard that Shirou was going out with Jeanne, I believe she will understand Shirou's sincere heart.

If only I could easily snag a kill while the Berserkers are in disarray.

As Shirou was thinking this, he soon encountered his destined Boy Meets Girl (?) in the forest.

"Yay! Good evening! The moon is so beautiful tonight!"

The owner of the clear, melodious voice stood on a tree branch and greeted Shirou with great enthusiasm.

Wearing a white cloak, knight-like attire, and a miniskirt shorter than a saint's, the girl has adorable long pink hair.

why……

Despite being an absolutely stunningly beautiful girl whose cuteness rivals that of Aika, she is perceived as having a "♂" symbol in Shirou's demonic eyes.

Volume 5, Chapter 203: The Humiliation of Atalanta

The stronghold of the Thousand World Tree Clan, Mirenia Fortress.

In one of the rooms, an android is gazing uneasily at the night view outside the window.

A deep forest stretched out before him, where the black cavalryman who had once saved him stood.

"I've received a last-minute summons to go out! I heard that the 'Red' Berserker is attacking this area!"

Don't worry! Although I'm weak, I won't be killed easily! Besides, this is a good opportunity; I'll take you away from here when the time is right! Be a good boy and wait patiently!

The "Black" Rider saved himself from being mass-produced and treated like dirt as a source of magical energy for Servants.

He never asked for anything in return.

Even when she went to fight the enemy, she showed a bright smile to comfort herself.

This first savior in his life is now fighting in the forest at the edge of his sight, obeying his Master's orders.

There was nothing he could do about the weak and useless androids that were not even good for combat.

Even so, he still gazed anxiously through the window at the forest that had turned into a battlefield, hoping only that his benefactor was safe and sound.

At this moment, in the heart of this artificial being with a weak sense of self, the emotion called "prayer" first sprouted.

……

……

"I'm saying you...you're not a man, are you?"

Shirou gazed at the cute pink-haired girl (?) standing on the tree with a beaming smile and asked a question.

She looked confused upon hearing this, but quickly seemed to give up and shyly scratched her cheek.

"Huh? How did you figure it out so quickly? Sorry, hehehe~~~"

Shirou said speechlessly, "I wasn't praising you. But your disruptive magic is quite impressive. Even I was fooled by you and almost got away with it."

For a moment, Shirou also had the thought, "Maybe this guy is a woman?", but in the end he trusted his intuition and concluded that he was a man.

"Interfering with magic? I've never used anything like that."

The pink-haired girl (?) poked her chin with her finger and thought for a moment, then suddenly realized something and slapped her palm with her fist.

"Ah! I think it must be that, the book I possess! As long as I carry it with me, it has magic resistance equivalent to A-rank, and it can also counteract spells like the Mystic Eye."

The Luna Break Manual: The Ultimate Guide to Magic.

The grimoire that the witch Rogerstra bestowed upon Astolfo contains the means to break all magic.

A Noble Phantasm that can be activated at any time; simply carrying it will grant Astolfo A-rank Magic Resistance.

If the True Name is released and the book is interpreted, it is possible to break the inherent barrier or a great magic that is very similar to it.

However, Astolfo completely forgot its real name. The "Magic All-Purpose Guide" was also a name given arbitrarily; it's said that its true name can only be remembered on the night of the new moon.

Shirou nodded: "I see. But is it alright to tell me such important information?"

"Oh no! This is terrible!"

The pink-haired girl (?) covered her mouth, but it was already too late.

"Waaaah, if Master finds out I'll get scolded again... Oh well! Compared to that, we're Servants!"

Now that we've made eye contact, you should know what to do next!

"Shall we fight?" Shirou smirked.

"of course!"

The pink-haired girl (?) jumped down from the tree with a "whoosh," and a giant lance, far exceeding her height, appeared in her raised right palm.

She deftly swung the gun, and the tip pointed straight at Shirou.

"Those far away, listen to this voice! Those nearby, watch closely!"

I am Astolfo, one of the twelve warriors under the command of the Holy Knight Emperor Charlemagne!

Come on! Let's settle this fair and square—with one victory!

Rider not only shouted out his usual opening lines from before his birth, but also bluntly revealed his real name, which he was supposed to keep hidden.

Fortunately, Astolfo was not a world-renowned hero, and Shirou's world history knowledge was also terrible; he only knew that there was a king named Charlemagne in Europe.

However, whether he knew or not made no difference to him.

"Disappear."

Shirou raised his hand with a lazy expression, which was followed by a violent tremor in the space behind him.