Fate/Apocrypha

Chapter 3

—Now that she thought about it, she had felt that something was 'wrong' from the beginning.

A large battle consisting of seven Servants versus seven Servants. It was true that this was a state of emergency that warranted summoning Ruler.

But Ruler couldn't help but feel that this wasn't the true objective assigned to her.

Something inside her chest was urging her on. It was closer to a sense of impending danger than a sense of duty.

Something that couldn't be undone was occurring. The instant she saw that giant floating fortress, Ruler's uneasiness reached its peak.

Most likely, a large-scale battle was about to start between the Black and Red camps. Ruler would be fine with whichever of them won as long as they asked a correct and proper wish of the Holy Grail. At first, she had felt relieved on this point.

That was because the Masters in both camps were magi. Magi may be those who are disconnected from human morals, but at the same time they wouldn't try to grant a purely corrupt wish. The only thing they would wish for is to reach the Root, or perhaps something else related to magecraft—but regardless, almost everything they might possibly wish for was right and proper.

However, she felt doubts start to form inside her when the Red camp attacked her. The way the Black camp tried to bring her over to their side was fine. That was, in the end, only an act for the sake of achieving victory in the Great Holy Grail War.

The problem was the Red camp. Ruler could not think of any reason for why they would attempt to kill her. The demerits of it exceeded the merits. And now the Red camp was attacking the Fortress of Millennia, the stronghold of the Black camp, with a floating fortress.

Ruler had crossed the mountain along with Sieg and took a roundabout path around the fortress' outer circumference. When they came out from the forest where Rider and Archer of Red had trespassed and fought a fierce battle, they arrived in the middle of the battle. Homunculi and golems were clashing against Dragon Tooth Warriors, and were performing the gruesome act of killing each other. Spells exploded like cannon fire here and there, while battles between what seemed to be Servants were quickly changing the surrounding area into empty plots of land.

While gazing upon this gruesome battlefield, Ruler focused on the floating fortress that likely belonged to the Red camp... That thing was far too abnormal even among the many Holy Grail Wars that had occurred in history. The ability to fly itself was a simple piece of magecraft that even ordinary magi could use, let alone Servants.

But that thing—was on an entirely different level. There weren't many who were capable of accomplishing feats on such a scale even among magi from the Age of Gods.

"Listen well, Sieg-kun. From here on, I have to cross this battlefield and meet with 'someone' from the other camp."

"...Why?"

"There's 'someone' I need to meet on this battlefield. I don't know who it is, or even whether it's a Servant, Master or someone else entirely. But I must meet with them."

Though the homunculus tilted his head in puzzlement, there was a mysteriously strong persuasiveness in Ruler's words. It wasn't because her tone was filled with confidence; rather, she was whispering to him quite anxiously. And yet, he still caught a glimpse of a strong will in her that wouldn't be stopped no matter what.

"I see," the homunculus said in understanding. The reason she had been idolized and followed by soldiers in the past wasn't because she displayed a strong will with strong words. Her words weren't for the sake of coercing others.