"In this servant's humble opinion, it would be better to first send other Servants to explore, and then decide whether to increase our forces or have you personally take action based on how the battle develops."
"Hmm… you are very young, yet your thinking is mature and steady. You will achieve something in the future, Fiore."
The sharp light in Vlad III's eyes faded, returning to calm. He greatly praised Fiore's advice, while a faint unease rose in his heart.
Just now, he seemed to have been influenced by his warlike emotions, and the decision he made was somewhat irrational.
This proved that his mental state was gradually shifting toward a more reckless vampire nature, which was not a good sign.
"Then who should take the lead?"
"My King, please send Saber!"
The slightly chubby middle-aged magus with a small mustache, Gordes Musik, stepped forward on his own and enthusiastically recommended his Servant.
"He will definitely win right from the start! Ordinary trash is not even worth your attention. Saber alone can snatch Rhein Gold back!"
"Saber, huh…"
Vlad III looked deeply at the tall young man who had remained silent. Although Gordes had selfish motives, Siegfried was indeed the best candidate.
As a hero who had already obtained Rhein Gold in life, sending him out almost guaranteed that he could retrieve that treasure bound to him by fate.
"I leave it to you, great hero~"
———
"Can they really not see through such an obvious trap?"
On the outskirts of Trifas, inside a half-abandoned manor that had just been purchased, Iori found a fairly intact tea table, placed it in the overgrown courtyard, and chatted with Celenike while looking at the moon.
"Of course they can see it, but they have no reason to refuse."
Iori said confidently, "You saw the battle between the red and black sides a few days ago under Ruler's witness, right?"
"The black side's Saber is the dragon-slaying hero Siegfried. He is undoubtedly an outstanding Servant. But if he can obtain Rhein Gold, he can release even more of his power."
"And Yggdmillennia appears in the form of a family. If they can increase their foundation and wealth, it is exactly what the black side wants."
"Moreover, who would tolerate someone causing trouble right at their own doorstep?"
"Then… what about the red side?"
Celenike was still a bit uncertain. "If they do not come, would we not have to deal with the black Servants ourselves?"
"They will come. Amakusa has no choice!"
Iori said firmly, "No woman can refuse the 'gold' that symbolizes all the wealth and power in the world, even if she is the empress of Assyria!"
———
A farm girl once heard the voice of heaven in the wheat fields, left home alone, and began the legendary journey of saving her homeland. All of that had already ended hundreds of years ago.
The story was neither tragedy nor comedy. It was simply "history."
In her heart there was neither resentment nor regret, only "blessing."
Perhaps because of this lack of desire, the Heroic Spirit engraved upon the Throne descended into the world and was granted by the Great Holy Grail the class of Ruler, a position only a saint could hold.
As the judge of the Holy Grail War, she once again set out on a journey, not to save her homeland, but to maintain balance in the present world.
Now, this Servant who holds great influence over the scales of victory and defeat is walking along a country road bathed in the afterglow of the setting sun.
Wearing simple everyday clothes and looking no different from an ordinary person, the blonde girl carried firewood in her arms as she walked slowly forward. A trace of seriousness appeared on her delicate and pure face.
There was an unsettling scent in the air.
Whether in life or after becoming a Heroic Spirit, she had always been watched over and favored by "God."
Her powerful intuition guided her toward the path of destiny. This was not submission, but a choice made in accordance with her own heart after recognizing her mission.
After being summoned as a Servant, this talent was manifested as the personal skill Revelation.
It is a skill on the same level as "Instinct." The difference is that Instinct is a sixth sense in battle, while Revelation applies to everything, from combat to daily life, even puzzle games. It always leads to the correct path and the right choice.
By the way, Jeanne herself is a woman of action. Although she has this talent, she finds it difficult to clearly explain it to others.
So in history, when she led troops into battle, she was often thought to charge in mindlessly, when in fact she possessed a beast-like instinct for war.
Interestingly, in the propaganda at the time, her fortune as God's chosen was emphasized, while her military talent was downplayed.
Now, her excellent intuition once again came into play, sensing in advance that some kind of "event" was about to occur or was already unfolding.
She was not very nervous, because the feeling was like burrs sticking to a cat's fur. Annoying, but not dangerous.
What exactly was it?
With heightened vigilance in her heart, Jeanne returned to the place where she was staying.
This holy maiden, short on money, did not enjoy the luxury of staying in a high-end hotel like Iori.
She could only lodge with a rural farming household, and shamelessly enjoyed free room and board, compensating her hosts by doing physical labor in her spare time.
It could not be helped. For unknown reasons, since the previous Ruler Amakusa was still present, she had not descended in her normal Spirit Origin form. Instead, she had to attach herself to a French girl named Laeticia.
This was not like possession in cultivation novels. With the girl's consent, Jeanne obtained most of her memories.
The girl's own consciousness still existed, but when Jeanne descended, it retreated to the inner side of her mind, handing over control of the body to the saint who saved the nation.
Laeticia could perceive the outside world as if watching a movie and was protected by the rules.
Even if Jeanne were to die in battle, Laeticia herself would not be harmed. She would immediately return to normal and be sent to a safe place.
The host's safety was guaranteed, but Jeanne faced many restrictions.
She could not turn into spirit form and needed to eat and sleep. Although she would not starve to death, she would feel uncomfortable if her stomach was empty, roughly the same as a certain King of Knights.
After experiencing the attack incident, she hitchhiked all the way to the vicinity of Trifas. Out of caution, she did not make contact with either faction.
She still did not know why the red side's Master held such strong hostility toward her, so she could only lie low and wait for the Holy Grail War to officially begin.
With little money, she lodged with a farming family. The elderly couple who owned the house were very kind and accepted her without hesitation, treating her like family.
Perhaps it had something to do with the natural charisma Jeanne possessed, which made people trust her without realizing it.
During this time, she lived comfortably. Taking care of livestock and handling fodder on the farm reminded her of her previous life.
Before she accepted heaven's guidance and stepped onto the battlefield, there had also been such a farm girl in a small village in France.
But now it seemed that peaceful days would eventually come to an end. This time there was no "voice from heaven," only urging from the Great Holy Grail.
The Servants of both factions were already restless, gathering terrifying power. When the horn of war sounded, it would surely shake the world.
A bad premonition rose in her heart. Jeanne placed the firewood outside, opened the door, and cautiously looked inside.
Seeing that the elderly couple who had taken her in were safe and sound, preparing dinner in the kitchen, she could not help but breathe a sigh of relief.
If anyone were dragged into trouble because of her, then even if she had to abandon the position and honor of a Ruler, Jeanne would never forgive the culprit.
Of course, rational Servants generally would not harm innocents unless necessary. After all, most had been heroes active in human history. Unusual cases like Shuten-Douji or Gilles de Rais were ultimately rare.
"Oh, you are back, Miss Jeanne. The firewood you have brought back these past two days is enough for the entire farm to last a whole winter. You have worked so hard."
The old man greeted her warmly, unable to hide his admiration.
"Jeanne" looked thin, but she was incredibly strong. She could herd horses and chop wood with ease. Many men might not even compare.
"I have put the firewood away… Thank you for taking care of me during this time."
Jeanne sincerely thanked the couple. Though reluctant, her gaze was firm, just like many years ago when she decided to leave her hometown.
Hearing this, the old man was stunned. Then his hand warmed as his wife took hold of it. The elderly woman looked slightly sad, but her voice was very gentle. "So the time has finally come?"
"Yes, I must leave."
Otherwise, the two of them might be dragged into the coming storm. Jeanne knew very well what that would mean, so she had no hesitation.
"We knew this day would come. We just did not expect it so soon… Are you going home?"
"…Yes!" Jeanne hesitated briefly, then nodded.
The couple probably thought she was a rebellious girl who had run away after arguing with her family.
"After you go back, live well… If you are not wrong, then you do not need to apologize. Staying honest with yourself is the most important thing."
"Thank you… truly."
After saying proper farewells, Jeanne took the lunchbox prepared for her and intended to leave.
But when she returned to her room to pack her belongings, she discovered that the suitcase containing all her possessions was gone.
How could this be…
A trace of panic appeared in Jeanne's eyes, but this was not the saint who saved her nation. It was Laeticia's instinctive reaction.
The girl she possessed was pure and devout, but at the end of the day, she was just an inexperienced student, diligent but with average grades.
When her entire property disappeared for no reason, it was only natural that she would be shaken.
However, Jeanne's will was in control and did not let her mind fall into chaos. The holy maiden quickly realized that this could not have been done by petty thieves or the elderly couple.
A Servant must have sneaked in while she was away. The unease she felt earlier was likely related to this.
But this was unbelievable.
As a Ruler, she had strong restraint and detection abilities toward Servants. She could see their true names at a glance, sense their locations from afar, and even issue compulsory orders when necessary.
Ruler came with Command Seals and could give each Servant two orders.
And yet she had not noticed a Servant approaching the house.
'Could it be Assassin?'
"What is this?"
Jeanne found a note on the table, thoughtfully written in German, Japanese, and French.
Every Servant is infused with knowledge by the Great Holy Grail, and language ability is especially important.
After all, Masters can come from any country or ethnicity, and Servants are figures from ancient times or even the Age of Gods.
It would be ridiculous if they could not understand each other.
Not only English, but several major language families were placed into the Servant's mind. Jeanne could read foreign languages she had never learned in life. And these three lines all pointed to the same place.
It was actually an address.
Under the note was a recent newspaper, and one piece of news caught Jeanne's special attention.
'Rhein Gold? What does that mean?'
Jeanne first thought of the red Servant who had ambushed her before, but instinctively felt that this was not aimed at her.
Should she go?
First, she could not let Laeticia suffer such a loss, otherwise her conscience would be troubled. Second, this might also be the fuse that would ignite the Holy Grail War, and she had a duty to witness it.
There was also an important factor.
She had some confidence in her own strength.
Then there was only one answer.
———
This was a half-abandoned manor. By the time Jeanne arrived, the sun had long set. Under the moonlight, the estate seemed covered in a thin veil, full of mystery. Jeanne stepped inside without fear.
As a Servant with Revelation A and Magic Resistance EX, magical traps capable of calculating and harming Jeanne could basically be considered nonexistent.
Moreover, this was not a magic workshop built upon a leyline. Even a Caster would find it difficult to set up a powerful large-scale ritual here.
Following her intuition, Jeanne soon found her missing suitcase in the overgrown courtyard. She sensed no danger, but there was a strange magical power inside that made her uncomfortable.
She frowned slightly and slowly opened it… no problem.
Jeanne let out a breath. When she had been attacked by the red Lancer before, she had already lost many belongings. If even this suitcase were gone, she truly did not know how she would face Laeticia.
This was a problem even a Catholic saint could not solve. The Vatican was not going to send her any donation money.
However, Jeanne quickly became alert again, because although things like her underwear and spare change were not missing, there was an extra item inside.
It was a golden object about the size of a trophy cup. It looked like pure gold, yet strangely had a transparent quality, almost like crystal.
The overall shape resembled a crystal cluster, and the base was clearly a piece of ore that had been artificially refined.
Rhein Gold.
Beautiful… unbelievably beautiful!
It was hard to imagine that a simple piece of ore could possess such captivating beauty. The gold, not heavily carved, still retained its original form.
It was something that could fascinate goddesses, stir greed in Odin, and cause a dwarf to fall and become a dragon for its sake.
In the past, it was like being covered in a layer of dust. Though its essence had not changed, its attraction to people had weakened.
But now that the Holy Grail War had begun, some strange "fate" had appeared, allowing it to regain vitality and release the peculiar magical power that once caused a great uproar in the Age of Gods.
Its effect was somewhat similar to the golden apple in Greek mythology, but far more precious.
"Ha!"
Jeanne was not someone who could be confused by treasure. She quickly regained her composure. Even so, she had to admit that she had lost focus for a moment.
Could the temptation of this item even affect her with Magic Resistance EX?
Rhein Gold truly lived up to its reputation.
She had thought what was written in the newspaper was just a lie, but it turned out to be genuine.
But why was it here?
With strong willpower, Jeanne easily shook off the curse of the gold. Not only did she not develop any greedy desire to monopolize it, she calmly began analyzing the current situation.
Rhein Gold was the top holy relic that could be found in this era. It could gather endless wealth on its own.
Calling it priceless would even be conservative. If allowed to circulate freely, it would cause unimaginable turmoil in the world of magecraft.
Jeanne was not a magus, but she clearly understood the value of a holy relic of this level. Any Master with a normal mind would not casually abandon it. If it was used as bait, the price was far too great.
And even if it was bait, who was the target?
The holy maiden instinctively felt it was not herself.
"Hmm?"