-154- The worst news

Amidst the battlefield, Rozen had just one thought.

"In the end, I still ended up here."

Recalling his earlier days in the automaton World, Rozen had already mentioned that he wasn't keen on entering the battlefield.

Unfortunately, fate had other plans, and Rozen found himself on the battlefield within this Singularity.

Fortunately, the war was not against humans but wyverns.

Even though the smell of gunpowder and the scent of blood filled the air, Rozen suppressed his disgust and controlled the magic wolf beneath him, racing across the battlefield.

Despite disliking war, Rozen wasn't naive.

Even if he detested it, he would still do what needed to be done.

In this aspect, Mash and Rozen were the same.

Compared to Rozen, who merely disliked war, Mash's aversion was much stronger.

She despised fighting and was even afraid of it.

However, when faced with battle, Mash still raised her shield resolutely and charged at the forefront.

Because...

"Senpai is right behind me."

With just this in mind, Mash wouldn't back down.

Furthermore, Mash wasn't alone in this fight.

Feeling the magic coursing through her body and the growing strength of her powers as a Servant, Mash's spirit and courage surged.

"Haa!"

With a spirited cry, the shield-wielding girl charged at the approaching wyverns like a war machine.

"Roaaarrrrrr!"

One wyvern after another roared and dashed towards Mash.

However, these wyverns had clearly picked the wrong opponent.

While they might have been able to intimidate a human army, the wyverns' power was tragically insufficient when facing Mash, who was mastering her role as a Servant.

"Thud!"

As a heavy impact resounded through the air, Mash's shield had already crashed heavily onto the foremost wyvern, sending it flying like a truck and crashing to the ground.

Mash charged into the wyvern ranks, her shield as heavy as a sledgehammer, swinging freely like a windmill as she soared through the air, colliding with one wyvern after another.

In this manner, the wyverns were either smashed head-on by the heavy shield or struck by its edge, sending them flying. Some even endured an upward strike from the shield's bottom, while others were hit from below.

Mash agilely wielded her shield, either charging or striking, leaving the overwhelmingly heavy shield acting as if it were a feather. She knocked down every wyvern that approached.

Subsequently, these wyverns were met with the attacks of French soldiers, who added insult to injury with their spears and swords, resulting in painful cries.

As a result, even though Mash wasn't necessarily out to kill, her ferocious impact nearly decimated the wyvern ranks.

"You did a splendid job."

Rozen praised silently.

Thanks to Mash's fierce charge, the French forces were able to pose a threat to the wyverns.

With the power of one individual, the course of the battle was completely different from before.

This was what was referred to as a hero.

This was what was called a Heroic Spirit.

"I really want to summon a Servant of my own one day."

Rozen pondered this and then urged the magic wolf to closely follow behind Mash.

During this process, any wyverns attempting to approach Rozen were all blocked by Mash, preventing a single one from getting near.

Under their combined charge, the two of them drew closer to Orleans.

"Charge in!"

Gilles was not far behind them, swinging his long sword to deflect the attacking wyverns' claws while shouting loudly.

"We must charge into the heart of Orleans before the 'Dragon Witch' returns and destroy the wyvern nest!"

As Gilles charged into Orleans, leading the way, the French soldiers followed suit, rallying around their marshal's cry.

"Charge!"

"Charge!"

"Follow the marshal!"

"Advance!"

The soldiers of the French army, their morale greatly boosted, didn't hesitate to join the charge.

Observing this, Rozen couldn't help but mutter, "They've been oppressed by the wyverns for too long; now that they have a chance to fight back, no wonder their morale is so high."

Without the assistance of Servants, this army might have been able to withstand the wyvern attacks, but defeating the wyvern forces entirely was an unrealistic goal.

Now that they finally had the opportunity to counterattack against the wyverns, the soldiers were naturally invigorated.

"Senpai!" Mash finally spoke up to Rozen, saying, "Let's charge in too!"

Rozen silently nodded and, together with Mash, urged the magic wolf to enter Orleans.

However, none of them, including Rozen, realized that...

On a distant mountain peak, some distance from Orleans, stood a girl.

Clad in beautiful emerald green attire, she bore animal ears and a tail, with a bow in her hand, exuding a wild and beautiful aura.

However, at this moment, the fierce and murderous aura in her eyes overwhelmed any trace of her wild beauty.

"Kill..."

"Kill..."

"Kill..."

"Kill..."

"Kill..."

Uttering frenzied words, the girl leaped into the air and vanished from her spot.

...

As Gilles had anticipated, with the departure of the "Dragon Witch," only a limited number of wyverns remained in Orleans. Despite these creatures being formidable opponents, Mash's strength still allowed them to penetrate deep into the city.

There stood a magnificent castle in this location, like an emperor towering above a bustling square filled with various buildings.

"That's it!"

Gilles' eyes lit up, and he quickly exclaimed, "That's the 'Dragon Witch's' palace!"

If the Holy Grail was indeed in Orleans, then it would certainly be there.

However...

"If only things were that easy."

Rozen muttered to himself.

In the very moment this thought crossed his mind...

"Beep!"

The communicator on Rozen's wrist suddenly lit up.

A holographic screen, much like a magic circle, unfolded before him, revealing the anxious face of Roman.

"You need to get out of there quickly!"

Roman exclaimed, disregarding his usual demeanor.

"There's a large number of life readings rapidly approaching Orleans!"

And also...

"Among them are readings from Servants!"

The worst possible news caused Rozen's expression to darken and Mash's face to change completely.

Then...

"Who would've thought that such foolish rodents would intrude here? It's really given me quite the entertainment."

When this ironic and mocking voice reached the ears of Rozen and the others, the atmosphere on the scene changed.

A deathly silence enveloped the area.

Rozen slowly lifted his head and gazed upward.

There, a massive army of wyverns with wings flapping and growls echoing was forming, their focus directed towards them.

On the back of the central wyvern stood a person.

Gazing at this individual, Rozen's eyes shimmered with recognition.