Same day.
Fuyuki City, Shinto commercial district.
With an air of elegance, angelic beauty, and model-like figures with proud curves—and there were two of them! No matter how you looked, they were an eye-catching duo of mature women walking one behind the other down Fuyuki's main street.
Leading with light steps was a woman with lustrous silver hair like snow, ruby-like eyes shining with excitement. Over her graceful body, she wore a luxurious white coat, and on her feet, tall boots.
Though the early spring weather wasn't yet warm, walking the streets in such thick boots would normally raise questions... but with Magi, such things need not be considered.
Yes, she was Irisviel von Einzbern, the heiress of the Einzbern family, one of the Three Families.
Though she looked like a mature, composed oneesan, as a homunculus, her actual age was only nine. Whether Lady Iri was legal or not—that was a question even the most authoritative legal experts of the age might fail to answer.
And today was a very important day in Irisviel's life. Not only was it the day she formally entered the Holy Grail War on behalf of the Einzberns, it was also her first time leaving the castle where she had always lived, to step into the "outside" world.
"Sorry, Lancer. Even though this is such a tense time, I still dragged you out here to wander the streets with me." Partway down the road, Irisviel bent slightly toward the knight walking behind her. "I've only ever seen such things in books. Since it's a rare chance, I wanted to see an Eastern city with my own eyes."
"You need not apologize, Irisviel. Ensuring the princess's safety is a knight's duty."
Lancer Artoria's voice was clear, carrying a touch of dignity, giving one an immediate sense of security.
"Lancer, I'm so glad to hear you say that~" Irisviel giggled. "Anyway, may I make a tiny request? Could you not always walk behind me? It makes talking inconvenient."
"But Irisviel, at this distance I have a clear view and can guard against sudden attacks."
"Come now, don't say such buzzkill things."
High-spirited today, Irisviel grabbed Artoria's arm and pulled her close.
"No stupid Servant would stage an attack in broad daylight. Relax a little, will you?"
"...Perhaps you are right; regardless, vigilance is still my duty."
"Then did you notice anyone suspicious?"
"No suspicious persons, though..." Artoria hesitated. "Strangely, many passing men keep looking back at us. Are foreigners that rare here?"
"Haha, I think it's mainly because of you, Lancer."
"Me?"
"Yes, you. Don't you realize how good your figure is?"
Irisviel's face lit with mischief as she deliberately poked the extravagant pair of breasts before her.
"The fact that King Arthur is a woman already shocked me, but what shocks me even more is this figure of yours. Especially these—what on earth did you eat to grow them this big?"
"Irisviel, please don't tease me..." Artoria's expression showed obvious distress.
"Lancer, I'm seriously asking you!"
"Very well, however, I don't know how to answer..."
Unable to resist her persistent questions, Artoria scratched her head with a helpless look.
"I used to be quite slim. It wasn't until I chose the Holy Lance as my main weapon that my body's growth suddenly accelerated, and I ended up like this. Honestly, I preferred my earlier petite form. I was more agile then. Now, being this big is sometimes inconvenient in battle—it feels inferior to before."
"That may be true for you, Lancer... even so, don't ever say that in front of certain disappointed girls, or you'll draw huge aggro."
"Is that so? Speaking of which, since returning in this form, I've felt like Gawain and Lancelot fight much harder when we sortie together. At my first Round Table meeting in this new form, I even saw Tristan open his eyes."
Lightly brushing aside windswept hair, Artoria recalled the past.
It was just after she had chosen the Holy Lance as her weapon, at a Round Table meeting.
That day, the knights had been unusually full of whispered chatter. Confused by their behavior, she suddenly saw Tristan, one of the Round Table, step forward and kneel.
"Sir Tristan, what are you doing?"
"My king, I must apologize."
The red-haired knight was uncharacteristically sincere. Even his ever-squinting eyes were wide open.
Faced with his sudden kneeling, Artoria was utterly baffled.
"Um... Sir Tristan, what sin have you committed?"
"No, I am guilty. I once said privately that King Arthur did not understand people's hearts. Albeit seeing you now in this new form, I realize I, Tristan, was blind."
"???"
Truthfully, Artoria didn't really understand what he meant.
She often couldn't follow the private chatter of knights like Tristan, Lancelot, and Gawain.
But as king, she smiled and respectfully helped Tristan to his feet.
At that moment, someone suddenly shouted from behind.
"Swear to follow King Arthur to the death!"
Soon, more voices joined, until the room nearly shook with their thunderous cheers.
"Follow King Arthur to the death!"
"Follow King Arthur to the death!!"
The army's morale had soared higher than ever.
Though Artoria still didn't quite understand why their spirits rose so high that day, she assumed it must have been something good.
...
Back to present-day Fuyuki.
"Still, if we're talking about who really draws men's eyes, it's surely you, Irisviel."
The past was the past. With a faint smile, Artoria's gaze returned to Irisviel.
In two steps, she was beside her, gently brushing a strand of her hair.
"I'm not skilled at complimenting women, though I think you are very beautiful, Irisviel. A rough warrior like me could never compare."
"Ehh? What are you suddenly saying, Lancer!"
Though she looked mature, Irisviel was still girlish at heart. She couldn't take such direct praise well.
Her face flushed red, and it was as if a different fragrance filled the air.
"Huh?" Then she noticed every passerby around them was staring.
No wonder—two stunning beauties, showing such closeness in public. How could it not draw stares?
Artoria, used to public attention, stayed indifferent. But Irisviel, turning redder by the second, hurriedly grabbed her hand.
"Lancer, there are too many people here. Should we go somewhere else..."
"True, surrounded like this, it's hard to see the city in peace."
"Let's go to the port. Fewer people there!"
Without waiting for a reply, Irisviel pulled her toward the street.
"But wait, Irisviel, walking to the port will take quite some time."
"Don't worry, Lancer," Irisviel said without looking back. "I studied beforehand, you know. This era has fast transportation."
With that, she suddenly raised her arm and shouted toward the curb:
"Taxi!"
At once, a cab with its green 'Vacant' light lit screeched to a stop before them.
...
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