I Don’t Want to Be a Heroic Spirit

Da Vinci had assured her, "Leave the negotiations with the Counter Force to me. Master, you just need to wait for good news."

Recently, Artoria had learned that the Counter Force had relented, granting her permission to enter the Nasuverse—on one condition.

"Consider it a kind of evaluation. Master, you must participate in a Holy Grail War as a Ruler-class Servant."

"And then?"

"That's it. Master, you don't need to do anything else. Or, rather, you can do as you've done in previous worlds—just live as you please. The Counter Force wants to observe whether your thoughts and actions will cause trouble for this world. But I know you well enough to say you won't, so don't worry about it."

That was how Da Vinci had explained it to her.

"Though Master is to enter the Grail War as a Ruler, that's only because Rulers are easier for the Counter Force to manage. Besides you, it's already chosen another Ruler. If you find the role bothersome, you can leave everything to your counterpart and enjoy a paid vacation."

Since the Counter Force intended to evaluate her behavior, it had ensured Da Vinci and Mash wouldn't interfere. That was why Artoria couldn't contact Chaldea at the moment.

The Counter Force had essentially cut the internet cable.

"Da Vinci told me to enjoy myself..."

But now, she found herself detached, as if she had seen through the world's illusions. She didn't know what to do or even what she wanted to do next.

She tilted her head back, her emerald eyes reflecting the silvery moon above. After a long moment of contemplation, she sighed.

"...So be it. If I've been summoned as a Ruler, I'll begin by fulfilling my duties as one."

With that, she took a step forward.

In that single step, she crossed a distance of fifty meters.

All Servants receive knowledge of their era and the specific Holy Grail War they've been summoned into upon their materialization.

Thus, Artoria immediately understood that this Holy Grail War—or rather, this Great Grail War—was taking place in Trifas, Romania.

Even without that information, she could have deduced it from the terms "Great Grail War" and "14 Servants split into Red and Black Factions." She already had a good idea of which story she had stepped into.

---

"What's wrong, Saber?"

Kairi Sisigou glanced at the knight in heavy silver-white armor standing beside him. The figure wore a horned helmet, their voice indistinguishable as male or female.

He had clearly seen them shiver unexpectedly.

"It's… hard to say."

The knight's voice emerged from the helmet, tinged with unease. "I suddenly felt something… indescribable."

"Is it because of the priest's Servant?"

"That venomous woman. Master, you must keep your distance from her if you wish to avoid a gruesome end. She gives off a presence eerily similar to my mother's. Were it not for your restraint, I would've already drawn my sword to strike her down!"

"I trust you, Saber. If that's your assessment, I suppose we'll have to operate independently from now on."

Although it was a seven-on-seven battle, the Grail could only have one victor. Eventually, these so-called allies would turn into rivals.

Sisigou's Saber was highly wary of the Assassin-class Servant. Kairi himself also felt that priest was anything but simple. Teaming up with them seemed far more perilous than facing a tiger.

After some thought, he decided acting alone would be safer. After all, he was used to working solo.

Actually, on second thought, he wasn't entirely alone...

"Master! Master! Let's grab some food!"

"If I remember correctly, Servants don't need to eat."

"I'm no ordinary Servant—I'm a king! And a king must eat well!"

"I fail to see the direct correlation between royalty and meals…"

More than a comrade or partner, Kairi found his Saber to be more akin to a troublesome child.

Of course, after witnessing their appetite later, his headache would only worsen.

---

This particular Holy Grail War was unusual. As a result, Artoria, the Ruler-class Servant, hadn't been summoned directly to Trifas, the war's battlefield.

Fortunately, she was still within Romania. If her memory served correctly, the other Ruler had arrived by plane from another country, lacking even a physical form and requiring a human host.

With her abilities, Artoria could easily reach Trifas quickly.

Her Spirit Origin also contained a Holy Grail, so she had no need to worry about mana depletion. However, she chose not to rush.

For one, she felt no urgency. For another, she recalled that some participants in this Great Grail War might not welcome her arrival.

So even though it was already the second night, Artoria had yet to reach Trifas.

Under the cover of deep night, she came to a gradual stop, her golden hair flowing in the cool evening breeze.

"The Black Faction's Servants and Masters? I didn't expect you to be the first ones I'd encounter."

Hearing Artoria's voice, the two figures hidden in the forest realized they'd been discovered. They stepped forward without pretense, revealing themselves.

"U-uhm… are you the Ruler of this Great Grail War?"

Artoria nodded and began to study the pair before her.

The one leading was a slender boy wearing glasses. Behind him stood a young woman clad in a wedding dress.

Caules Forvedge Yggdmillennia—the bespectacled youth—was so nervous he was on the verge of fainting.

Though he had a more composed personality than his elder sister, his mental fortitude was entirely inadequate when faced with the presence before him.

At first glance, he understood immediately. The figure before him was a higher-order existence compared to humans.

A divine spirit.

Why?! How can a divine spirit be summoned into the Holy Grail War?!

Caules screamed internally, on the brink of collapse.

The Yggdmillennia clan had spent countless years preparing for this Holy Grail War. As one of its members and a Master of the Black Faction, Caules had studied the war's rules extensively.

By all logic, divine spirits shouldn't manifest as Servants—at most, demi-gods like Heracles.

Yet reality stood before him, undeniable and incomprehensible.

Suddenly, the young woman in the wedding dress who had been standing behind Caules leapt in front of him. She let out a low growl, staring daggers at Artoria with feral hostility, her gaze piercing through the strands of hair falling over her face.

"Ugh—!"

---

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