"As Ruler, having manifested in this world, my duty is to maintain the fairness of the Holy Grail War… and to eliminate anyone who destroys its order?"
In the jolting cargo bed of a truck, Jeanne d'Arc sat with a devout expression, releasing the power of revelation as fragments of the Holy Grail War gathered in her mind.
With a peculiar talent for persuasion, she had talked an old man in circles, until this kindly-looking young woman ended up catching a ride.
One had to admit, hitchhiking abroad was even more dangerous than those so-called "budget adventures" to the Tibetan Plateau. At worst, the latter forced you into humiliating labor. The former often ended with robbery and murder.
Of course, if any driver decided to try robbery and murder on Jeanne d'Arc, the saint would simply perform a public service—turning roadside killers into fuel for holy flames.
"Honestly… a Holy Grail War involving fourteen Heroic Spirits. How did it even come to this?"
Her voice carried helplessness and gravity. Compared to taking lives, she would rather cling to mercy and compassion, saving innocent civilians caught up in the Holy Grail War.
Then her body jerked. Her face went stiff, vacant, almost mechanical.
"Beginning inscription of fundamental principles. Saint Graph engraving initiated. Mandatory command input."
The voice was utterly rigid. Just hearing it sent a chill down the spine—an endless icefield of indifference. Simple. Pure. Cold. Mechanical, yet carrying a decisive beauty.
"Altering the subconscious of 'Saint Jeanne d'Arc.' The primary task within the Holy Grail War is hereby replaced with: 'Eliminate the thief who stole Heroic Spirits—Rhodes Frain Yggdmillennia.' This directive takes precedence over 'maintaining the fairness of the Holy Grail War.' Even if it disrupts the War's process, it must be completed."
"Inscription complete. This decree is issued by the Counter Force, Alaya. All rights of interpretation belong to Alaya-chan alone, DA☆ZE~~"
Jeanne's brilliant golden eyes snapped open. She scanned her surroundings aimlessly, finding nothing.
"…Why did I fall asleep? I'm a Heroic Spirit, you know." She muttered softly, curling up in the swaying truck bed, waiting as the battlefield of the Holy Grail War drew closer.
Then her expression changed sharply.
She burst from the truck, Holy Banner whipping through the air as she leapt forward.
Magic Resistance at an EX rank, amplified by the Holy Banner, transformed into flawless physical defense, interposing itself before the truck.
"Boom—!"
A divine spear slammed into the banner, followed by a surge of scorching radiance.
It was the flame of the sun. Even without breaking through the banner's defense, the light alone could sear eyes and cause grievous injury.
"Ah!" Jeanne shouted, hearing the old man's wail.
"What kind of hero launches a sneak attack like that? Are you some Ass♂ass♂in-type bastard? Attacking ordinary people who have nothing to do with the Holy Grail War—"
"What nonsense are you spouting, Ruler."
The voice was calm, aloof, tinged with cold pride. It came from atop a distant highway sign.
Standing on the slender signpost was a young man clad in armor. His frigid gaze held nothing but pure killing intent. Snow-white hair danced in the night wind. His powerful, perfectly balanced body was coiled and ready, like a panther mid-hunt, exuding a cruel, beautiful menace.
"Red Lancer… Karna of the Mahabharata?" Jeanne spoke out of habit, lecturing him as the black-and-gold divine spear returned to his hand. "I never imagined a hero like you would act so despicably."
"Is this your resolve, Ruler?" Karna replied coolly, unangered by her words. "I only know this is a battlefield. Once I stand upon it, the only thing I pursue is the enemy's death."
"Without that resolve, what right do you have to call yourself a hero, Ruler?"
"So that's your excuse for slaughtering the innocent?" Jeanne snapped, gripping her Holy Banner more tightly, her expression hardening.
At the brink of battle, tension stretched taut—
"Go! I choose you—Siegfried!"
A roar echoed from afar.
The next instant, a man wielding a gleaming silver dragon-slaying blade charged like a boar, hacking toward Karna atop the signpost.
Unfortunately, Karna lacked the peculiar counterattacks of a certain King of Streetlights, and did not possess an inexhaustible arsenal of Noble Phantasms. He leapt from the sign, seizing the height advantage as he thrust his spear at the Dragon-Slaying Sword Saint, Siegfried.
Ah, right. The true Dragon-Slaying Sword Saint was Sasaki Kojiro. Siegfried's role was… reinforcing other Heroic Spirits, wasn't it?
"Ruler! Please lend me your strength and execute that rebel who dares raise his hand against the adjudicator!"
Gordes came waddling over, layers of fat bouncing as he ran. Because of his earlier conflict with Rhodes, even his luxurious carriage had been seized as spoils. Too proud to take a taxi, he had sprinted all the way from Trifas's city center, driven by the urge to hit someone.
Twelve kilometers.
From downtown to the outskirts, onto the highway feeder road, clambering over obstacles, and finally onto the highway itself.
With exercise like that every day, Mr. Gordes might actually slim down. Rhodes had truly done a good deed for both himself and others.
"No. I will not intervene," Jeanne said stiffly, slowly lowering the Holy Banner. "This is a fair duel between two sides."
Mr. Gordes' face immediately twisted into a vivid, animated expression of pure outrage. If the Yggdmillennia magi saw it, they would surely marvel at his mastery of facial theatrics.
"I—" Gordes began, emotions churning beyond his understanding. All he knew was that a tidal wave of rage surged into his skull, making him want to team up with the enemy just to beat this bizarre Ruler senseless.
At that moment, a crimson flash streaked toward Gordes.
Karna's divine spear.
At the same time, a sharp cry rang out.
"Hah! Secret Technique—Polygamy Castration Fist!"
In the next instant, the fat-laden Gordes clutched his groin and went flying, "agilely" dodging Karna's surprise attack in the most unexpected way imaginable.