Under Merlin's guidance, the group didn't cross the demonic beast frontlines right away, but instead headed to another part of the wilderness.
"Let's find my companion first—she should be nearby."
That's what Merlin said as he led Rozen and Mash, aimlessly wandering around the area.
"Your companion, Mr. Merlin? Is she another Servant summoned by King Gilgamesh?"
Mash had asked this question.
However, Merlin shook his head.
"That child wasn't summoned by King Gilgamesh. She's a lone Servant who manifested in the wild. In your terms, she's a neutral Servant autonomously summoned by the Holy Grail. I happened to meet her while carrying out the king's orders and made an agreement with her—so I can't just leave her behind."
He explained while muttering things like, "Where could she have gone? She should be around here, right?"—remarks that made everyone even more uneasy.
Naturally, the group grew increasingly suspicious of Merlin's reliability.
After all, given the capabilities of this great magus of Britain, it shouldn't be easy for him to simply "lose" someone.
The reason was simple: Merlin possessed the skill Clairvoyance.
It's said that magi with Grand qualifications all possess extraordinary versions of Clairvoyance.
Solomon could see both the past and future.
Gilgamesh could see the future.
And Merlin could see the present. Even the farthest corners of the world should have been visible to him. That's how he noticed Rozen's arrival and managed to show up just in time to stop the battle between Rozen and Kingu—preventing major damage to the demonic beast frontlines.
This was Merlin's greatest asset—he could perceive all events in the world from the Tower of Seclusion in Avalon, including the Human Order Incineration and Chaldea's existence.
Merlin had once said:
"I've also been watching your journey closely—your every battle, from the First Singularity to the Sixth."
That explained why he knew so much about Rozen and the others—including the fact that Artoria [Alter] had become Rozen's contracted Servant.
He had even mentioned:
"In the Sixth Singularity, the one who told Bedivere about the Lion King, disguised the Holy Sword as his right arm, and disguising him into a Servant—that was me, you know?"
That revelation had shocked Rozen and the others.
But thinking about it, the only one capable of forging the Holy Sword into a prosthetic and disguising a human as a Servant would be a Grand-class magus like Merlin.
So, clearly, Merlin knew far more than Rozen and company had imagined—perhaps even secrets unknown to them.
And seeing him act all mysterious like that made everyone feel an urge to punch him.
But now wasn't the time for that. First, they needed to find Merlin's so-called companion.
Thankfully, Merlin's Clairvoyance wasn't entirely useless—he eventually found her.
It was in a thicket of shrubs.
"Hey, Anna! I'm back! Sorry to keep you waiting!"
Merlin waved and greeted her cheerfully as he approached.
That's when Rozen and the others finally saw the companion Merlin had mentioned.
She was a petite girl cloaked in a long robe, with her face hidden beneath a hood. Only half of her face was visible.
The girl appeared to be around fourteen or fifteen, with delicate, fair skin on the part of her face that was exposed. A strand of purple hair peeked out from beneath the hood, hinting that she likely had beautiful long purple hair.
However, the aura she emitted was cold and distant, making her unapproachable.
Of course, Rozen could tell right away—this girl was a Servant, not an ordinary human.
She was resting with her arms crossed, half-asleep against a bush, only lifting her head when she heard Merlin's voice.
And then—
Swoosh!
With a sharp cutting sound, a massive scythe suddenly appeared in her hand. Without warning, she swung it at Merlin with lethal force.
"Waaah!"
Merlin barely dodged it, fleeing the attack while tumbling clumsily away.
"Mr. Merlin…!"
Mash gasped and rushed to help, but Rozen stopped her.
"Let's watch for now."
Rozen narrowed his eyes as if he had anticipated this.
Because the attack—though fierce—lacked any killing intent. It clearly wasn't hostile.
Sure enough...
"W-Wait! Anna! Mercy, please!"
Merlin sat on the ground, quickly pleading for his life.
The girl named Anna glared at Merlin, clearly in a foul mood.
"You disappeared on your own and left me here, then came back acting like nothing happened. You really piss me off."
Her voice, unexpectedly soft and pleasant, rang out as she lifted the scythe once more.
Merlin immediately dropped to his knees.
"I'm sorry! My bad! It was all my fault! Please forgive me, Miss Anna!"
His apology was so smooth it was clearly well-rehearsed—perhaps practiced a million times.
Anna still held the scythe high, clearly tempted to swing, but hesitant.
Eventually, she put the weapon away.
"If you leave me again, I'll consider our contract void. I'll walk away on my own. Reflect on that."
She stated coldly.
"Yes ma'am!"
Merlin nodded shamelessly, again and again.
Anna then turned her gaze toward Rozen and the others.
However, she didn't speak. Instead, she tugged her hood lower to hide her face further—clearly unwilling to interact, radiating an even colder aura of indifference.
The rest of the group hesitated, unsure whether to say anything.
Merlin spoke up to ease the tension.
"Don't mind her—Anna's always like this. She's not hostile."
At this, Anna finally opened her mouth.
"I may not be hostile, but I hate humans. I hate strangers. And I especially hate Merlin. Since you're humans brought by him, don't come near me."
With that, Anna turned her back, making her rejection unmistakably clear.
"Yare Yare..."
Merlin scratched his head and shrugged helplessly.
Mash was at a loss for words.
Rozen, on the other hand, looked long and hard at Anna.
Because from her, Rozen could see—a remarkably powerful divine aura.
It wasn't quite on the same level as Ishtar's, but it was still extremely strong.
And what did that mean?
It meant Anna was at least a being with significant divinity.
(So she's no ordinary individual.)
That was what Rozen thought to himself.
"Alright, alright," Merlin finally said. "Now that we're all here, let's head for Uruk."
And so, the group could finally set out—toward the city of Uruk.