Gray: Without Big Brother, I’m Just a Loser

The next day, the third day of the Holy Grail War.

Inside the church in Sighişoara.

"Rider, how's Archer doing?"

"Since she returned, Big Sis hasn't shown herself. I only saw her once when she came back."

Emerging behind Amakusa, Achilles leaned against a pillar and answered.

"Something must've happened when she faced Jack the Ripper."

"Was it the Black Faction causing trouble?"

"The Black Faction only has three Servants left. I doubt they'd pose a problem for Big Sis. Besides, she returned uninjured, so it's clearly a mental issue."

If not the Black Faction, then…

"Mister Naoki?" Amakusa rose from before the statue. "It seems sending Archer alone was too reckless. I shouldn't have rejected your request to go with her, Rider."

"Hah, no point saying that now. Besides, it's just a slight mental hiccup. Big Sis will get over it soon." Achilles laughed. "Don't underestimate a Greek hero, Father."

Amakusa smiled faintly. "That puts me at ease. Also, Assassin's Noble Phantasm preparations are nearly complete. Tomorrow night, we can officially attack the Black Faction and seize the Great Holy Grail."

"So, that means we can do whatever we want until then, right?"

"You could say that."

Watching Achilles vanish before him, Amakusa sighed, then turned to the other side. "As discussed, I'll leave Mister Naoki to you, Lancer."

"Of course."

The son of the sun god, hidden in the shadows, responded.

Though slightly puzzled why he had to fight a fellow Red Faction member, Amakusa's words aligned with his Master's orders. If so, he would comply.

Karna was a loyal Servant.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

In Trifas, at the same time.

"Searching all morning again—did you find anything strange like you mentioned, Jeanne?"

Holding snacks in both hands, Naoki asked Jeanne, who walked ahead of him.

Early this morning, Jeanne had dragged Naoki out of bed, claiming it was to investigate anomalies in the Holy Grail War.

She was summoned by the Grail for two reasons: to uphold the war's fairness and to correct its irregularities.

"No, nothing."

Jeanne shook her head with slight regret. "The current situation shows no oddities in Trifas, and I haven't received any revelations. So, it's safe to say the Black Faction isn't the issue."

"Then the problem lies with the Red Faction?"

"It seems so." Jeanne looked at Naoki. "By the way, does the knowledge you gained from the Root include anything about this?"

Naoki having reached the Root, possessed vast knowledge (plot details) from it. Jeanne thought he might have clues about the situation.

Biting his snack, Naoki licked the corner of his lips. "Hmm, yes."

"Eh? Really?"

"If I start from the beginning, the anomaly in this Holy Grail War stems from one that took place in Japan 60 years ago. Back then, a Black Faction Master, Darnic, with the German army's aid, forcibly seized the Great Holy Grail."

"Eh?"

"And in that war, the Einzbern family, desperate for victory, illegally summoned a Ruler-class Servant—a young Japanese saint, Amakusa Shirou Tokisada. Though he lost due to the German army's interference, by touching the Grail and gaining a physical body, he's been hiding in the church for 60 years, plotting to reclaim the Great Holy Grail."

"Eh… wait, hold on—"

"But reclaiming the Great Holy Grail is a sham. Amakusa, whose life was once massacred by the Shogunate and who's witnessed world wars over the past 60 years, now only wants to save all of humanity through the Grail. Specifically, by using the Third True Magic within it—Heaven's Feel (Soul Materialization)—to apply it worldwide, turning all humans into beings with materialized souls."

The revelations pouring from Naoki's mouth left Jeanne struggling to process.

The Ruler from the previous Holy Grail War is still alive? And planning to materialize the souls of all humanity? Such an act… it's almost tantamount to destroying humanity.

What baffled Jeanne even more was—

"Mister Naoki, you knew all this?"

"Yeah, from the start."

"Then why didn't you tell me?!"

"You didn't ask." Naoki said with an innocent face. "Besides, telling you or not doesn't matter. Do you think I, knowing the cause and effect of this Holy Grail War from the beginning, would do nothing?"

In his mind, Naoki had already prioritized the issues to tackle in this war.

First, as a nominal Red Faction Master, he had to defeat the Black Faction. Avicebron's Noble Phantasm was a specific target to eliminate. Once that was handled, the Black Faction posed no threat.

As for Amakusa Shirou's goal, as long as he didn't obtain the Great Holy Grail, it was futile. With the Black Faction retreating and the Grail in Naoki's hands, he only needed to wait for Amakusa's attack. His combat strength was sufficient to counter it.

Achilles would be handled by Angelica, Karna by Naoki using Mystic Eyes, Atalanta left to Mordred, the Hanging Gardens struck with "Moon Fall." and the venomous serpent Basmu crushed by the chariot of light—everything was prepared.

"Honestly, the Grail didn't need to summon you."

"Ugh… saying that really stings a bit." Jeanne sighed in resignation. "But since you've arranged everything, I trust you'll handle it well. Until Amakusa Shirou comes, I won't interfere further."

With that, Jeanne closed her eyes, relinquishing control of her body back to Gray.

Regaining control, Gray opened her eyes and looked at Naoki. "All done, Big Brother?"

"Yeah, more or less. I was already prepared; Jeanne was just a bit worried."

"Miss Jeanne and I are kind of alike. Even though I know you're fine, I can't help but worry a little—Ah!"

Naoki flicked Gray's forehead and laughed. "That's backward, isn't it? Shouldn't I, as your big brother, be the one worrying about you? You're too young to worry about me."

"Ugh~ But I have to wake you up every day, don't I? You'd forget to eat three meals a day if I didn't remind you, and your room would be a mess if I didn't tidy it every few days."

[Hehehe, nice one, Gray! Keep spilling about this loser who can't live independently without you!]

"Who can't live independently, huh?" Naoki bonked Add's head. "It's just that with Gray around, I've gotten used to being taken care of. Once Gray's independent, I won't be like this anymore."

"Eh?"

Gray froze.