Shirou, who returned from the Fairy Kingdom

As she watched Shirou's retreating figure, she sensed a quiet anger burning within her.

"This is the king's mercy."

Come—choose a stake and hang your corpse there, vampire.

------------

Volume 5, Chapter 219: This is the Demon Father! (From Shirou's words)

"I'm sorry, Judge. As you can see, my soldiers are currently engaged in fierce fighting with the enemy below."

"If there's nothing else, could you please leave me alone?"

The "Red" assassin Semiramis confronts Ruler, who has entered the Hanging Gardens.

"Of course I came to see you because I have something to discuss."

Joan of Arc frowned as she observed the woman before her.

Half of Assassin's jet-black dress had blended into the night, and her skin was so white it was almost eerie.

The image of Semiramis reminded Joan of the witches in storybooks—

Could she be the mastermind? No, it's too early to say.

"I suspect you have violated the rules in this Holy Grail War."

"Suspect?"

The Assyrian queen smiled mockingly: "Did your god reveal this to you through 'revelation,' holy woman?"

"..."

Joan of Arc's forehead twitched slightly, but she composed herself and said:

"If you have no regrets and believe that you have fully complied with the rules of the Holy Grail War, then let me see your Master."

The mockery in the eyes of the "Red" assassin instantly turned into vigilance.

The adjudicator observed her reaction and was once again convinced that his intuition was correct.

"...I regret to inform you that my Master is very busy."

Furthermore, he was timid by nature and unwilling to meet other Servants, even the Judges.

"I am not asking for your opinion."

After Joan of Arc said this, Semiramis went into a state of preparation for battle.

Ruler, as if suppressing his opponent, pointed at him with his flag and said:

“Red assassin, you should know that doing this is a waste of effort.”

The beam of light shooting from the Sky Garden was your magic trick, wasn't it? Then—"

"Yes, my magic cannot penetrate your 'anti-magic power'."

In the Holy Grail War, Jeanne d'Arc can be considered the nemesis of all magic-type Servants.

Her "magic resistance" level even surpasses that of the Saber class, which is known for its strongest "magic resistance," reaching an astonishing "unmeasurable (EX)."

"I still have many privileges... Assassin of the 'Red,' please don't force me to use this."

After speaking, Ruler emitted a faint, holy light, causing the "Red" assassin to tense up.

"The greatest privilege of an Arbiter is the ability to use Command Seals on all Servants."

This is the biggest reason why Ruler is the referee.

The adjudicator retains two command spells available for use by each servant.

In the context of this Holy Grail War, there are a total of twenty-eight marks, which now appear on the girl's back like stigmata.

If she orders self-harm, the vast majority of Servants will die on the spot, unless the Master uses Command Seals to counter Command Seals.

Semiramis frowned slightly.

“I advise you not to do this. Even if you use up all your Command Seals, I have no intention of betraying my Master.”

"If you use all your Command Seals, even my Master will stop you."

"...So the Master isn't a puppet controlled by you."

Semiramis said with a meaningful smile, "Of course."

Regardless of my past life, I am now a Servant loyal to my Master.

It doesn't seem like he's lying...

Ruler frowned slightly, then took a step forward and announced.

"In that case, you are my enemy."

Assassin was secretly taken aback.

Her plan with Father Kotomine was definitely not leaked.

In other words, Ruler recruited them based on intuition.

Is it really necessary to go to such lengths based solely on some nonsensical "revelation"?

This abnormal woman...!

Semiramis looked nervous.

In this Holy Grail War, she fears no Servant... but Ruler is the exception.

Semiramis, who possesses both the Assassin and Caster classes, is perfectly countered by her opponent in terms of both her combat power and magical artifacts.

The adjudicator could defeat himself instantly without even needing to use a command spell.

We must stall for time until something unusual happens below—

"anyway……"

"Please don't interrupt, 'Red' assassin!"

How perceptive! Hmph...

Semiramis, with a seductive expression, asked, "What is your relationship with the 'Black' Swordsman?"

"So... huh?" Joan of Arc blinked.

"Wha...what relationship?"

"Why are you on that guy's Noble Phantasm?"

Semiramis pressed on aggressively, "You haven't been won over by Saber, have you?"

Did he send you to cause trouble for us?

"Hmm... our conversation that day ended badly, so he thought of using you to get revenge on me."

That's not how it works!

Joan of Arc vehemently refuted him.

"There's nothing shady between me and Saber, and more importantly..."

Saber isn't the kind of shameless scoundrel you're describing!

"Is that the main point? I mean, Ruler...aren't you being a little too biased towards Saber?"

"Is...is that so?"

Joan of Arc tilted her head and thought about it, but didn't think there was any such thing.

She didn't give Artorius any useful information, and they always tacitly avoided the topic of the Holy Grail War when they were at the hotel.

Joan of Arc did nothing for him either... not counting washing the dishes after meals.

Seeing the blonde girl deep in thought, Semiramis couldn't help but sigh.

Even if she's hailed as a "saintly woman who saved the nation," isn't she just a clueless 19-year-old girl who's never been in love before...?

The Assyrian empress, skilled at manipulating people's hearts, immediately saw the problem with the saintess.

While it's not a big deal not to point it out directly, but—

Semiramis said calmly, "Ruler, you don't mean to have developed special feelings for Saber, do you?"

"?"

Joan of Arc was filled with questions.

Artorius was the savior she had worshipped since childhood.

The king who defended his homeland and fought against invaders, the holy swordsman who saved the world.

For Joan of Arc, he was her pillar of strength (light) during her darkest years.

It's impossible for any other hero to hold such a place in Joan of Arc's heart—

Even so, she would not let her personal feelings interfere with her work...

If Artorius did something wrong, Joan of Arc would not hesitate to punch him in the head.

What exactly is Assassin trying to express?

Observing the assassin's slightly mocking expression, Ruler suddenly seemed to have realized something.

I... I've fallen for Artorius?

……

……

"Thank you for taking care of my little devil, Lancer..."

Shirou picked up the "Demon Sword Clarent" that had fallen to the ground and came between Lancer and Mordred.

"Come—choose a stake and hang your corpse there, vampire."

"————————Slap."

The moment Shirou uttered the word "vampire," the temperature of the surrounding air changed drastically, and a strange, static-like sound was heard.

"What did you just say?"

Lancer's expression remained unchanged as he rode on horseback.

But the emotions contained in those eyes were more intense than any flame.

"Answer truthfully... what did you just call me...!?"

His eyes were bloodshot to an exaggerated degree, and his face was covered in bulging veins.

Lancer's voice was filled with extreme anger, as if he was trying to suppress an uncontrollable excitement, his teeth grinding together.

Shirou, who was being glared at with such murderous intent, spoke with a calm expression—

"Hmm, so you don't like being called that?"

I think it's pretty cool to be remembered as a monster after you die.

It seems we're fundamentally incompatible... Never mind, please forgive my shallow offense.

The "Black" Lancer—Count Dracula.

The next instant, the anger on Lancer's face vanished completely.

After realizing that the other party was only trying to sway his mind, the king regained his usual calm and majesty.

"Go to hell."

Countless wooden stakes, large enough to obscure the view, surged from the ground around Shirou, raining down on the red-haired boy like a storm.

"Want to test your firepower? It's been a while..."

Shirou remained calm, while simultaneously unleashing an overwhelming force of swords behind him, which propelled him forward as space distorted.

In terms of sheer numbers, Lancer undoubtedly has an overwhelming advantage.

With his home-field advantage and the power supplied by androids, he is capable of launching up to 20,000 projectiles at once during this Holy Grail War.

In contrast, Shirou can project a sword at once—