"So, you've come to my side?"
In Uruk, at the command room of the Northern Wall, the frontline against the Demon Beasts.
The "General" Merry mentioned spoke as she stared at Naoki in front of her.
"After all, I don't have anywhere else to go. Please spare me from going shopping with the women. That's something even I don't want to experience." Naoki gave a wry smile twice. "Still, I'm surprised you're here. The 'General' Merry was talking about turns out to be you."
"—Oda Nobunaga."
The person standing before Naoki was Oda Nobunaga, her appearance unchanged from their meeting in the Tokyo Singularity.
"I thought you'd returned to the Throne of Heroes after the failure to defend the country back then. Did you show up here because you were summoned again?"
"No, I came straight here after that." Nobunaga explained. "I had an agreement with that succubus. She helped me complete the Holy Grail Bomb, and I'd help her after finishing the tasks I had to do. Based on that contract, she intercepted me when I was about to die and brought me here."
"I see."
Merry even made arrangements like that.
Naoki could roughly guess why Nobunaga was brought to this Uruk.
"After all, your Noble Phantasm and Skills are trump cards in this Singularity."
Tenka Fubu, Sansen Sekai, Dai Rokuten Maō Hajun—Nobunaga, who had transformed many tales and legends from her life into her own Skills and Noble Phantasms, was an exceptionally powerful mystery slayer. The stronger the mystery and Divine Spirit of her enemies, the greater the combat power Nobunaga could unleash.
Against the Three Goddess Alliance, she might be able to exert strength equal to or even surpassing them. For Uruk's situation, she was truly a key asset.
Nobunaga snorted coldly: "Hmph! Even if you praise me, I'm not happy at all. Don't think the issues between us can just be brushed aside."
"You really hold a grudge." Naoki shrugged. "But if I had to choose again, I'd still do the same. Besides, I didn't just sit idly by. While you were desperately fighting to defend the country on the frontlines, I was helping the refugees. That makes us even, right?"
"Tch."
Nobunaga scoffed.
"By the way, how's she doing afterward? I asked you to take care of her, didn't I?"
"If you mean Kaname, she's now a cook at Chaldea." Naoki explained. "Post-war Japan wasn't an environment where that girl could live on her own. If she stayed there, she'd have had a very tough life, so I brought her back to Chaldea. She's much more spirited than before and is aiming to become Chaldea's Head Chef."
Asama Kaname, Nobunaga's Master in the Tokyo Singularity.
(Now she's protected by him and brought to the world of the future… That's better. At least I don't have to worry about her safety.)
"Thank you." Nobunaga said softly. "Even though I don't like you, I at least appreciate your actions. Because of that, my view of you has slightly changed."
"I'd like to get along with you, Nobunaga. Would you come to Chaldea later if possible? I think Kaname would be thrilled to see you."
"Eh? Can I!?"
Nobunaga, who had been keeping a cold expression, suddenly couldn't control her face: "No, no, no. I can't go to your place, can I? I'm a Servant. Once the Singularity collapses, I'll leave this place and can't go to yours."
"That's not an issue. We can summon you again. Chaldea's resources are plentiful now, and we can afford to support one more Servant."
"Ugh… I'll think about it!"
"Let me know if you decide to come." Naoki laughed. "But I'm surprised. Merry said the Northern Wall has the most Demon Beasts. I thought the fighting would be intense on my way here, but it's actually very calm."
At least within Naoki's range of perception, the number of Demon Beasts was very low. From the situation on the outer battlefield, it seemed they had just finished a battle.
Nobunaga crossed her arms at her waist and laughed: "Of course! This is the Demon Beast frontline I'm guarding! The power my rifle corps can unleash against these Demon Beasts surprises even me! With the other Servants, mere Demon Beasts are nothing to fear!"
"The Northern Wall doesn't just have you as a Servant? Who else is here?"
"They're all my fellow countrymen—Oh, here they come!"
Nobunaga pointed behind Naoki. Turning around, he saw several very familiar figures walking toward them.
Ushiwakamaru, Leonidas I, Musashibō Benkei, and—
"It's almost time for lunch, Oda-sama."
A white-haired, red-eyed female samurai radiating a strong Yamato Nadeshiko aura spoke to Nobunaga. And upon seeing Naoki…
"Who is this gentleman?"
"Natsukawa Naoki, a foreigner who came to this Singularity as a member of Chaldea to restore humanity." Naoki introduced himself.
Chaldea.
Hearing this term, the Servants present understood.
"You're the one Merry and Morgan often mention, right? Nice to meet you. My name is Tomoe. People once called me Tomoe Gozen. I look forward to working with you."
Tomoe Gozen.
If Naoki remembered correctly, the Servant before him should have died alongside one of the Demon Beast generals before he arrived. He didn't expect her to still be here.
(Was it Merry? Merlin and Morgan only came later. Tomoe Gozen's death should have happened before that. Only Merry could have saved her… Or did Nobunaga's arrival change this outcome?)
Either way, her being alive was a good thing. At the very least, Naoki was eager to see this Servant, who had once consumed one of his donation stones.
White hair, red eyes, and a side-parted ponytail with a plunging neckline—Naoki felt his XP completely shot by Tomoe.
(I'll have to make Rei meet Tomoe Gozen later.)
Naoki was sure Rei would know what he wanted to do.
And at that moment—
*WUUUUUUU!*
A muffled, prolonged trumpet sound suddenly echoed through the Northern Wall.
The Servants, who had just been discussing lunch, immediately turned serious upon hearing the trumpet. They all rushed out of the room and headed toward the city gate!
Upon seeing a massive number of Demon Beasts gathered outside the city, Nobunaga's expression turned cold: "Tch, they're as annoying as ghosts. They won't even give me time to eat!?"
"Tomoe will prepare to attack. Leonidas, please assist in organizing the troops."
"No problem!"
"Then Benkei and I will strike proactively as usual."
"Please don't be too reckless, Ushiwakamaru-sama."
The Servants quickly divided their tasks. But just as they were about to act, Naoki raised his hand: "Um… you don't need to be so tense. Leave this situation to me."
"Eh?"
They were all stunned.
Tomoe couldn't help but ask: "Do you mean you'll face that horde of Demon Beasts alone?"
"More or less. That's why I came here, after all. Judging by your expressions, you seem to think it's 'too dangerous.' Don't worry, I'm very skilled at handling large numbers of enemies. Besides, we'll likely be together for a long time, so I'll show you my strength to help you plan for the future."
As he spoke, Naoki gradually floated into the air.
And then—
*CRACK!*
In an instant, the vast plain outside the Northern Wall turned into a field of white ice. At the same time, all the Demon Beasts on it were frozen into countless ice statues!
A single attack of total annihilation.