[You have obtained one random Soul-type world weapon or spell draw opportunity.]
Not only Guinevere—this same message appeared in front of everyone with a simulator.
The girls exchanged glances—and suddenly burst out laughing.
Without a word, they nodded to one another and walked to the side, forming a circle.
"Alright, let's agree first—friends stick together for life. Whoever draws something first is a loser, and the one with the best luck takes the punishment!" Artoria declared, grinning.
"As for the punishment..."
She thought for a second but couldn't come up with anything serious, so she joked,
"We'll just hang the lucky bastard up on display!"
"Agreed!" Nocknare nodded. Her luck in gacha draws had always been terrible. Despite running simulations countless times—never outright terrible, but never outstanding either—her only notably strong ability was a legendary Pal Sphere from a previous run, aside from her verbal-contract buff, Wind-Forest-Fire-Mountain.
She was the epitome of an unlucky simulator player, dragging down the group's average draw rate all by herself.
"I'm in too!" Bavanshee chimed in quickly. "I vote we tie the luckiest one to the pilgrimage bell when Artoria rings it!"
Though not as unlucky as Nocknare, Bavanshee hadn't had much luck either. Her only top-tier pull so far had been the Blood Demon Contract. She harbored a deep-seated resentment for those with good gacha luck.
Take Artoria, for example—pulling that Emperor Drive, showing off like a peacock. Sure, Bavanshee felt reassured knowing it helped the team, but she was still super jealous.
Damn it. With Artoria performing so well, she was definitely racking up points in Guinevere's eyes.
"Eh? Isn't that a bit much? The sound of the pilgrimage bell travels all across Britannia. If we tie someone to it, they might get rattled senseless," Gareth said timidly.
"Relax—it's fine. Everyone's here. Nocknare can slap a mountain formation buff on her to dampen the sound!" Artoria laughed, joining in on the ridiculous suggestion. "Don't worry. I'll make sure to ring it real hard!"
"You guys..."
Bagst was about to say this was childish, but seeing how enthusiastic everyone was, she held her tongue.
Whatever. Let them have their fun. She was tough enough—if she ended up being the lucky one, she could handle it.
"Alright then, on my count—three, two, one—DRAW!"
On Artoria's cue, everyone extended their hand and tapped the air, activating their gacha pulls simultaneously.
Different-colored lights lit up in each of their eyes. And so came the moment—some thrilled, others crushed.
"Okay, everyone done? Spill it! What did you all pull?"
Nocknare was the first to speak, reaching into the air and pulling out a plain-looking straight sword.
"This is what I got. A straight sword called the Sunlight Straight Sword. You guys can read the details yourself."
She passed the sword around for everyone to touch and see the info panel:
[Noble Phantasm – Sunlight Straight Sword]
Type: Anti-Personnel Noble Phantasm
Grade: C
Origin: A weapon once wielded by a distant warrior known as the Sunlight Warrior, from a faraway universe. It appears ordinary, but contains the essence of the sun—though that power might stem from a zealous will.
Skill – Oath of Sunlight: Raise the sword high and praise the sun devoutly to boost attack and defense for yourself and allies.
—"At last... I've found it... I've found... my sun..."
"This isn't bad at all! Why the long face?" Artoria asked.
"...Ugh. Finally pulled a Noble Phantasm, and it's another support-type item..." Nocknare groaned. "Is it because I'm weak? Is that it? I can't fight, so the system only gives me support skills? Every. Single. Time?"
Artoria was about to comfort her when Nocknare abruptly shifted tone.
"Well, I guess it makes sense. None of you are remotely fit to be the team strategist. Especially you, Artoria—you charge around like a wild boar. Someone's got to be the brain of the group. That's clearly my job."
"You—! I was going to console you, damn it..."
Artoria gritted her teeth. She wanted to snap back, but after thinking it over… yeah, it was largely thanks to Nocknare that they defeated Shadow Ywain and Shadow Ash. Fine. She'd let this one slide—for now.
"So? What about your pulls?" Nocknare asked, scanning the group. "Don't tell me I was the luckiest one here?"
Everyone exchanged glances—but no one moved.
"Wait—what's with the silence? You all pulled something, didn't you? Didn't we agree that whoever drew first is a loser?! Speak up!"
"If being a loser means pulling something, then bark bark—who cares about friendship..." Artoria muttered under her breath, turning away.
"What was that?!" Nocknare lunged for her, ready to wrestle.
"Uh, well... I guess I'll go next."
Worried the brawl would escalate, Gareth stepped in with a sheepish smile. She pulled out an ornate spear:
[Noble Phantasm – Tree Spear of Shulua]
Type: Anti-Personnel Noble Phantasm
Grade: B
Origin: Weapon of a famed Forge Knight from a distant universe. Modeled after the life-giving furnace, it carries divine essence.
Skill – Shulua's Vortex: Spin the spear to generate a wind vortex, then launch a piercing strike that sends the vortex flying, damaging enemies at range.
"B-rank? That's awesome!" Nocknare's eyes darted between her own sword and Gareth's spear, visibly jealous.
"That's nothing! Check this out," Bavanshee said, unable to hold back.
She produced a katana wrapped in dark, deathly aura—its murderous intent palpable even from afar:
[Noble Phantasm – Immortal Severance: 'Open Gate']
Type: Anti-Personnel Noble Phantasm
Grade: B
Origin: A weapon from a distant universe once wielded by a war-torn general seeking to restore his nation. This great katana can sever immortality itself. Only those with immense vitality can wield it.
Skill – Yellow Springs Gate: Sacrifice your own life force, sever yourself, and open the gate to the Underworld. Revive the dead and grant them eternal life.
—"In the end, I achieved nothing... But now... the long night of Ashina ends."
"Severs immortality?! Can even revive the dead?!"
The group was stunned.
"Damn right!" Bavanshee smirked proudly. "Jealous, huh? My pull's clearly the best. What can I say? I'm just that lucky!"
"Wait, what's our standard for judging who's the best?" Gawain raised his hand.
"Rarity, obviously!" Bavanshee replied. "If we all pulled the same grade, then we vote on the most useful!"
"Got it." Bagst nodded, and then calmly pulled out a massive, lead-gray greatsword:
[Noble Phantasm – Stormbringer's Shackles]
Type: Anti-Army Noble Phantasm
Grade: A
Origin: A blade from a distant universe, created by a solitary Giant King for his friends and companions. It channels storm power.
Skill – King of Storms: Unleash the storm within the sword. The larger the enemy, the greater the storm's destructive power.
—"Long may the sun shine!"
"Another monster pull?!"
The group was speechless again.
"Are we even playing the same game?" Nocknare cried out in despair.
"Why do all of you get A- and B-rank weapons, and I'm stuck with a C?!"
"Who said we only got A and B?" Artoria suddenly grinned—and pulled out a spiral-shaped greatsword surrounded by embers.
"Feast your eyes!"
[Noble Phantasm – Greatsword of Flame-Bearing]
Type: All-Type Noble Phantasm
Grade: EX
Origin: The sword of the Lords of Cinder, godlike figures guarding the First Flame from a distant universe. A symbol of legacy, stabbed into the bonfire at the start of everything.
Skill – Emberflame: Ignite a portion of the First Flame within the blade and unleash it forward.
This weapon holds hidden power that will only reveal itself to its true master.
"...Huh?"
The moment Artoria pulled it out, everyone froze.
Even if they didn't understand the description, that EX ranking said it all.
"THAT'S IT!!"
Nocknare leapt up, shouting.
"Time's up, everyone! Tie Artoria to the pilgrimage bell!!"
"Hahaha! Jealous, huh?" Artoria giggled, oblivious—until Bagst calmly placed a hand on her shoulder.
She looked up and saw Bagst's calm, serious expression—and suddenly panicked.
"Wait, we were just joking, right? About tying up the luckiest person?"
Bagst said nothing. Artoria instinctively tried to flee—but Nocknare and Bavanshee had already blocked her escape.
"...It was just a joke, right?"
She whispered.
"Hey, what are they all doing over there?"
Watching the chaos from afar, Grimm raised an eyebrow.
"I've been trying to eavesdrop on them, but no matter how much they move their mouths, there's no sound at all."
"You get used to it," Oberon shrugged.
"Probably some secret girl-code or something. They've been doing their little eye-language thing for a while now."
"Yeah," Guinevere agreed.
"If they don't want to include us, then don't worry about it."
"Fair... but you're really not going to stop them?"
Redra asked, glancing toward Artoria—who was moments away from being strung up on the pilgrimage bell.
"She's in danger, you know."
"Let them be. No need to interfere."
Guinevere's expression was surprisingly calm as she looked at her system interface—and the D-rank Knight Sword of Kallia she had drawn.
"If the seal dies a little... that's not necessarily a bad thing."