Chapter 30: 12:30 PM

A blonde girl kneels before a cross and prays.

The content of her wish is not for her own salvation, but purely for the sake of others.

And ultimately, for the sake of humanity, the girl makes her wish, continues to pray to the God she believes in, and declares:

“Lord. Once more, I shall raise this flag—not for the salvation of a nation—no, but for the salvation of the world.”

The girl. No. The Savior, the Maid of Orléans (La Pucelle d'Orléans).

The girl who embodied a miracle and saved her homeland from ruin has sworn an oath to the God she believes in once again.

And then, slowly rising,

she speaks to the person standing behind her, the Master.

“Servant Ruler, I have answered your summons and arrived.… However, Master. Even the Mediator (Ruler) class is now nothing more than a simple Heroic Spirit.”

The Mediator (Ruler) was originally an overseer of the Holy Grail War, expected to maintain order in the fighting, not requiring a Master, and maintaining neutrality regardless of the faction—but now, she is the same as any other Heroic Spirit.

“Order has been burnt out. Much meaning has been lost. Our future was stolen in just one second.”

She recounts her memories, weaving her words together as if in regret.

She expresses emotions such as regret and sadness by lowering her eyes.

But she, the Mediator (Ruler), did not shed tears.

Just as she did not lament her own choices even when her body was burned in the inferno through treachery.

She looked up, planted the military banner—her symbol—on the floor, and spoke.

“Hear me, Heroic Spirits gathered in this domain—each a match for a thousand, a force of ten thousand!

Even if you are enemies who would normally be incompatible, even if you are beings from epochs that should never intersect, now, entrust your backs to one another!”

She raises her voice, speaking to the multitude of Heroic Spirits who must be in the vicinity.

They cannot be seen, but an atmosphere of confusion flows from everywhere at the sudden appeal.

“My True Name is Jeanne d’Arc. In the name of the Lord, I shall become your shield!”

Raising the flag, which is her Noble Phantasm, high,

the girl of miracles swore her oath, loudly and proudly.

◆

『The world of the primates was established, flourishing for several millennia』

『The Age of Gods ended, and through the Common Era, humanity became the most prosperous species on Earth』

『We are those who determine the future of the stars, who engrave inscriptions upon the stars』

『For that purpose, we cultivated much knowledge, created many resources, and caused many lives to circulate』

『The principle for humanity to prosper longer, more certainly, and stronger — The Chart of Human History』

『In the world of Magecraft, this is called the Human Order (Jinri)』

◆

『The First Holy Grail: The Holy Maiden of National Salvation A.D. 1431 - ■■ The Hundred Years’ War - Orléans』

“Your battle is a long journey that traces back through human history.”

/

『The Second Holy Grail: The Rose Emperor A.D. 0060 - The Perpetual ■■ Empire - Septem』

“But there is no need to be pessimistic. Countless encounters await you.”

/

『The Third Holy Grail: The Navigator of the Storm A.D. 1573 - The Sealed Ends of the Four Seas - Okeanos』

“Even if everything on this planet (star) has become a battlefield called the Holy Grail War.”

/

『The Fourth Holy Grail: The Knight of Londinium A.D. 1888 - ■■■■■■ - ■■■■』

“Even if all of this Earth has long since become a lost ruin.”

/

『The Fifth Holy Grail: The White Coat of ■■ A.D. 1783 - ■■■■■■ - E Pluribus Unum』

“Even if countless formidable enemies stand in your way on that path.”

/

『The Sixth Holy Grail: Agateram the Resplendent A.D. 1273 - ■■■■■■ - ■■■■■』

“The conclusion has not yet fallen into anyone’s hands.”

/

『The Seventh Holy Grail: Chain of the Heavens B.C. ■■■■ - The Absolute Demonic Frontline - ■■■■■』

“Now — let us begin the battle, Master.”

◆

“The Holy Grail War, held on the largest scale ever, begins. ——— That is the story of reclaiming the future.”

"Fate/Grand Order" scheduled to begin operations in Winter 2014!

“Come on, everyone, please play by paying money, just like with KanColle, wan!”

“Eh??”

“And so, unfortunately, my participation in Fate/Grand Order is confirmed, so I have become the main character slot this year, just like in Zero.”

“Damn it! An enemy! As I thought, Saber is an enemy! Ugh! Is this the confidence of the Blonde Heroine and Type-Moon's cash cow…”

“Ugh, Saber-san is unfair! That's cheating!”

The Tohsaka sisters were frustrated at Saber, who announced her appearance this year with a composed expression.

Up until now, Fate has been made into games like Tiger Colosseum and Extra countless times, but this time, its entry into the microtransaction game industry has finally been decided.

Moreover, it is highly likely that there will be no chance for the appearances of Sakura and Rin, who could be expected to play active roles as Masters.

“But, Saber. In this case, your Saber Sentai (Saber Squadron) looks like it will be your biggest rival.”

“Yes, Arcueid. As a heroine, I certainly have no intention of losing. However, I’m frankly overwhelmed by the onslaught of mass-produced heroines, which started with Black, and continues to increase with White, Red, and Sakura. In Apocrypha, even my son, Mordred, is actively involved... since the original is me, it's quite complicated in many ways.”

At first, it was just a one-off gag: "If you grab Saber's cowlick, her alignment reverses."

However, as the official staff poured their creative energy into this one-off gag, instead of into Tsukihime or other Fate series, the runaway phenomenon began.

White Saber, the pure white Princess Knight.

Red King, the Roman Emperor who doesn't care that she's not King Arthur.

Mordred, who was only a setting in the official canon but finally began activities in the Holy Grail War following her father.

And Sakura Saber, who appeared in Koha-Ace's Imperial Capital Holy Grail Chronicle—the gag's rampage knows no end.

Seriously, Tsukihime 2 already! If not that, then a sequel to Melty Blood would be fine too...

“Ah, Saber-san, Saber-san. I don't think Saber-san's rivals are just the mass-produced Sabers.”

At this point, a third party offers an opinion.

It is Satsuki Yumizuka, the protagonist who has a faint presence despite this being called a side story of her struggle.

However, as she is wearing a Shinajirou mascot costume to protect her from the sunlight, she can only be identified by her voice.

Satsuki Yumizuka's twin tails and school uniform, which could be called her identity, are currently absent, making her look like a certain panda.

“Oh, Sacchin, you’re awake?”

“Ah, yes. Somehow…”

She answers Arcueid’s question in a weary tone.

Satsuki Yumizuka got up from the sofa made by arranging chairs, but her movements are sluggish as various parts of her body seem to hurt.

It's no wonder. Before Saber and Arcueid arrived, she was caught up in the brawl between the King of Heroes (Kid Gil) and Cas-ko (Caster Fox).

The only reason it wasn't a DEAD END was thanks to the fact that this place is the all-purpose Ahnenerbe.

“That’s good to hear. So, Satsuki, you seem to have an opinion on my rivals as a heroine?”

Saber, relieved as the one who cared for her, eagerly latches onto Satsuki's comment about her heroine rivals.

She may be Type-Moon's cash cow and Golden Heroine now, but due to her overly cunning performance in Apocrypha and last year's Heroine Zodiac.

More than anything, since heroines who threaten the position of Gold Heroine keep appearing one after another, such as Ruler, who possesses the encompassing power (chest) that Saber can never gain no matter how hard she tries, she couldn't afford to miss what Satsuki had to say.

And the other characters who possess pride as heroines—Arcueid, Rin Tohsaka, and Sakura Matou—are also paying close attention to Satsuki.

“The one who could become Saber’s greatest rival is, to be blunt…”

“To be blunt?”

A pause.

A tense atmosphere, like in a certain gambling manga, flows: rustle, rustle, rustle.

And then Satsuki spoke.

“A heroine who is not a heroine. A being who is the complete opposite of a heroine, but can sometimes become the ultimate, most fearsome heroine — a trap (boy-with-a-girl's-appearance).”

““““W-What did you say——!!?””””

At that moment, a current ran through all the heroines.

This was because that thought had never occurred to them.

A trap (boy-with-a-girl's-appearance). That is a character attribute that forefronts the gap moe of being cute like a girl despite being a boy.

“A trap? Don’t be ridiculous, Type-Moon doesn’t have a character like that… wait, Astolfo!!”

“Ah, I see, that’s right. For our side, the trap slot would be, if I had to name one, maybe Merem? He hasn't appeared since 'Character Material' was published a long time ago, thanks to Tsukihime having no new appearances.”

Saber had tried to deny that such a character existed in Type-Moon, but she remembered Astolfo from the Holy Grail War Apocrypha, who is active as a trap alongside her son.

Astolfo.

One of the Twelve Paladins of Charlemagne.

A figure appearing in medieval chansons de geste, with an extremely cheerful personality.

More accurately, his original work even set his profile as "reason has evaporated."

It is said that he cross-dresses to calm Roland, who was called "Orlando Furioso."

It’s truly curious how cross-dressing calmed Roland’s madness, but...

And for some reason, in the Apocrypha material "C86 ver," he was a trap boy who got mixed up with the heroines to compare chests.

“Ugh, he is certainly a formidable opponent. He’s an enemy formidable enough to make that Saber-type heroine with the scandalous chest say she has a battle she cannot lose.”

“That’s not all, Saber. In the Type-Moon world, which embraces heroines with various character attributes, Astolfo is the only one with the trap attribute at the current stage. Even if he's not number one in character popularity, she—no, he—is a one-of-a-kind character that no one else possesses.”

Saber shivered, and Rin analyzed Astolfo in her own way.

The other heroines also felt a tremor at the unexpected dark horse, but Satsuki dropped yet another bombshell.

“To add to that, Astolfo’s hair is pink! Yes, that lewd pink!”

At this moment, the air froze.

Lewd Pink. The origin of the term is uncertain, but one theory suggests:

In 2D media, heroines with pink hair, alongside blonde heroines in 18+ works, were said to be highly likely to be easy to... cough cough, easy to conquer (capture).

And Astolfo's hair is pink.

Furthermore, he possessed lewd elements, such as undergoing S&M play from his Master in the novel.

In other words, Astolfo is Lewd Pink; as a character, he couldn't be more potent.

“A trap and lewd pink, you say.”

Saber staggers from the shock.

“Ugh, I thought the only lewd one was Sakura!”

“That’s right, the lewd and dark-hearted slot is mine alone… wait, what are you making me say!!”

Rin and Sakura were also shocked, but standing there were a sister who subtly said something terrible and a sister who was aware of it.

As for Arcueid’s reaction, she was the only one who was different.

“Wait, Sacchin. If it’s about lewdness, Tsukihime, which is said to be super-erotic, isn’t losing either! Just like Ciel, who was doing butt-play! Despite being a Nun, she has a scandalous butt, and she even licked Shiki!”

“Ah, yes, that’s true, but is that really something to brag about?”

Satsuki was slightly put off by Arcueid, who exposed the infamous joke that earned the nickname 'Butt-Curry.'

She backed away slightly, putting some distance between herself and Arcueid—and in that very instant, a sword whizzed past the spot where she had just been standing.

Then, the sword struck Arcueid directly, sending her flying.

Unable to brace herself for the impact, she flew straight toward the counter, resulting in a spectacular roar of shattering plates and cups, and cracking interior fixtures.

“I’ve been silently listening, partly to monitor, but what on earth are you saying, Arcueid!! Haven't you been getting a bit carried away since you appeared as a Servant in Extra!?”

The heroines turned around to find the Sister, Ciel, standing there, with Black Keys clasped between her fingers.