Triumph

It won't be long until we're in Rome again. Good work on the way back, Senpai.

Why won't you go by horseback Fujimaru? I know, I should've provided a chariot.

I apologize, the few soldiers left in my unit are brilliant, but none of them fights on chariots.

Your Majesty, should I provide a chariot for the next expedition?

I'm sure we'll need one anyway. After all, next time we'll be attacking the United Empire capital!

Sir!

Yes, yes.

Your Majesty, we seem to be under attack. Enemy brigade up ahead. Multiple signatures.

That's strange... We're running into the same amount of enemies as before.

You're right. Even though we already regained control of nearby Gaul.

Don't tell me they're attacking from the sea! If our scouts haven't noticed, then...

The scouts were discovered and killed. We might be dealing with an elite battalion.

Well, that explains it. But if so, that would mean

It's as I feared. I'm detecting even more enemies now!

Brave soldiers, please be safe. I'm going to do what I can.

Good luck to you too, Miss Mash!

Your orders please, Master. Commencing battle.

Those soldiers just now They're not like the ones we've run into before.

Not that they looked much different, but...

True, rather than human soldiers, they feel like Servants.

Yet they're not really Servants per se. Doctor, do you have an idea?

I can think of several possibilities. Not good. Things like this are typically related to Noble Phantasms.

And I don't mean typical Noble Phantasms. The type that's designed for use on the battlefield.

In which case

...Master, I'm sensing the presence of a Servant. There's one...no, several hundred!

It's the same presence from before. But I can only tell that one of them is an actual Servant.

Enemy attack! Several hundred enemy soldiers!

Is this an ambush? Where did several hundred enemies come from?

It's not an ambush. I chose to defend this place, that's all.

You people trespassed into my stronghold. So I shall defend it.

I will crush any and all enemies more valiantly than any attack, and far stronger than any defense.

This is how we Spartans fight. You will soon experience it for yourselves.

Did you just say Sparta? Then you are

Servant, Lancer. My True Name is Leonidas.

He's not hiding his True Name. Just like last time, this is far different than a normal Holy Grail War.

Leonidas? You introduce yourself as King Leonidas of Sparta?

Precisely. It is an immoral war, but I'm still going to destroy you.

What! You are the legendary Leonidas, the guardian of the Hot Gates!

So the "emperors" aren't the only ones who came back? Hmm, then what about Boudica?

U-Umu?

Ah, now that you mention it. Hmm, but then is Boudica...

Is she also dead? Is that it?

Or was she alive? I told her, "This time, surrender yourself to Rome." Thinking that was the case...

？！

N-Never mind that Nero, there are many enemies. We must strengthen our defenses!

U-Umu, our unit is quite small. I hope we're able to defend...

If we defeat the main Servant, the remaining hundreds should be gone. In that case

Master, it's a Servant battle. Your orders, please!

Just as I thought, huh? In a battle with nothing to protect...

He vanished? So he wasn't meant to exist in this world after all.

...He was a formidable enemy. Just what you'd expect of the ultimate defensive Heroic Spirit.

No signs of Servants or humans around us. No Phantasmals, either.

Then let's head back to Rome! Mash, Fujimaru, you can hold your heads up high!

Umu, you in particular Mash. Your skills aren't as good as mine, but they are quite good.

N-Not really...

Haha! Hold your head up high with pride! This is our triumphant return from Gaul, after all!

Phew... At last, things have settled down.

That was an unbelievable crowd. It was like a festival. Senpai, you got squished pretty hard, didn't you?

But you didn't seem that uncomfortable. Maybe you like that sort of thing?

？！

I see, I see, at festivals, everyone becomes friendly, right?

Haha. I bet you didn't mind at all. That's what you call a victory wine!

Ah unseen mage, you speak as though you've actually tasted some?

Hahaha, I have a vivid imagination. Which has led me into all kinds of situations.

Mash, you protected us well. Do you not like being touched?

As expected, the great warrior of shield swore loyalty only to me. It makes me like you even more.

T-Thank you. It's nice of you to say that...

？！

Y-Yes...Well, no. Nothing. I have nothing to say.

Your Majesty! The special expedition force is heading back to Rome!

What? Those people are coming back?

Yes, both generals are alive and well! But now they are tied down due to a massive attack by the United Empire!

That's not good. I'm sorry, Mash, Fujimaru!

Yes. Senpai, your orders please.

？！

Understood.

We're completely surrounded. Nothing but swarms of enemies around us.

That shouldn't be a problem, but...

Yeah, we'll probably lose the soldiers Nero Claudius provided for us. I'd like to avoid that if possible.

Find a way out of an impossible situation

People like you and me can get through it on our own, but it would be too harsh to force them to do that.

What should we do? ...Huh?

Reinforcements, huh? Though I heard Boudica and Spartacus were in Gaul.

...You must be Jing Ke. I recognize you from your description. Looks like we met up with them, Master.

Yes. We made it.

Yes. I was a little nervous when we broke through the enemy's line, but...

They are human forces. The degree of risk is relatively low.

？！

You look unfamiliar, but you don't seem to be an enemy.

No we're not, we are reinforcements from Rome. You guys are

Let's talk later. You're Servants, too, aren't you?

Yes.

Then, let's find a way out together. My hope is to bring as many soldiers back to Rome as possible.

Of course. Master, massive enemy troops ahead. Your orders, please!

We have destroyed the enemy forces and sustained only minor casualties. Good work Senpai!

Thank you again, looks like I didn't lose my borrowed troops.

I'm Assassin, Jing Ke. Like you, I'm a guest commander under Nero Claudius.

I was drawn by the prospect of killing multiple "emperors," but now I'm being treated like a general.

Of course... My main activities are reconnaissance and assassination.

It's his job to do the actual work on the battlefield. Lu Bu...hm...where's he gone after chasing those enemies?

...Hm. I'm sure he'll be back eventually.

Jing Ke. The legendary Chinese assassin? No wonder you're obsessed with killing emperors.

Huh?

Mash and Fujimaru, I see that you are visitors from another era.

I understand your circumstances. That said, it doesn't change what we must do here.

We are here to slaughter the "emperors." Me and Lu Bu.

We've already killed three enemy "emperor" Servants. It's going to be a competition with you guys.

S-Sure. Competition...

Is that so?

Don't be so depressed. You still have a chance to catch up.

？！

As soon as we're back in Rome, Nero's full-scale invasion of the United Empire will start.

And there comes the race. We count heads of "emperors," or enemy generals.

Our team or your team, which one gets more Heh, now I have something to look forward to.

W-Well. Something to look forward to...

(...I can't, Senpai. I can't maintain the conversation.)

？！

(H-Hey, Senpai!)

So they failed to eliminate Lu Bu.

...What should we do, Lev Lainur?

There's nothing to worry about. Don't forget that I have the Holy Grail. I told you before, didn't I?

I'm capable of summoning Servants at will. No matter how powerful they may be!

...Servant Rider, huh? Hmm, I guess, that's my class?

So? What should I do, Master?

Eliminate Nero Claudius immediately. Destroy this era, and crush the foundation of humanity.

...I'll lend you my troops. Use them as you see fit.

Got it. In short, you want me to start a war, right?

...Exactly.

War. War, hmm. War, huh? I guess I'm very good at that.

All right, if you insist I'll borrow your troops