The Transmigrator Teaches You How to Trash Talk

The eastern sky had begun to show the pale grey of dawn. The cold night wind of winter rustled the branches in the forest with a "whoosh," but even that couldn't break the tension frozen between the three Servants.

"What, do you have some unspeakable business you intend to conduct on our territory?"

Saber, her mood soured by the events of the earlier banquet and feeling utterly exhausted, couldn't help but sound incredibly impatient.

"Are you insulting a knight, Saber!"

Before Jizi could speak, Lancer retorted with equally fiery words. As someone who held chivalry as his moral code, he wouldn't normally be so rude. However, his night had been filled with misfortune: his Master was injured, the situation was dire, his relationship with his liege was strained, and his own mistress's actions had reopened old wounds from his past life. He was in an equally foul mood. Saber's jab had perfectly opened the floodgates of his suppressed emotions.

Although she noticed Lancer's mood was off, Saber was looking for an outlet. She said nothing further, instead twirling the Invisible Sword in her hand with a flourish.

Instantly understanding Saber's intent, and even feeling a flicker of dark amusement, Lancer summoned his two lances, pointing their tips towards Saber. Both knights, in similar circumstances, were seeking a battle to temporarily forget their troubles and vent their stress.

However...

"Open Sea: Moses' Miracle"

...just as their spear tips and sword edge were about to clash, a barrage of flame parted into two waves, separating the two knights.

The one who made this move was, without a doubt, Jizi, who had been professionally disrupting things for thirty years. While Saber and Lancer had been exchanging words, she had been organizing her thoughts and hadn't spoken until now, having figured out how to trick them.

Loading verbal ammunition...

"...What? The banquet is already over! I'm too late... That damn Assassin, it's all their fault!"

"...Yeah, I originally wanted to witness a king's demeanor, but on my way here, I happened to notice the Assassins seemed to be up to something collectively, so I thought I'd catch one. But something went wrong midway, and he got away. I tracked him all the way, only to find he'd turned towards Lancer's base..."

"...Well, I don't have any ill feelings towards you, Lancer, but this is the Holy Grail War, after all. The fact that I just followed along and did nothing is already being extremely benevolent. If I wanted to cause trouble—this arm with the Command Seals isn't my Master's, is it?"

"...Starting a conflict here benefits neither of us, does it? Neither Lancer nor Saber are in their best condition, are they? Do you truly accept a duel between knights, which was agreed upon, to be conducted in this manner?"

Using her innate abilities as a Transmigrator, "Deception" and "Acting," Jizi successfully diffused the tense atmosphere with just a few sentences. The three Servants were now seated in a triangular formation around a stone table in a larger clearing in the forest—the table and chairs were, of course, Jizi's creation. Although Saber and Lancer felt something was amiss, their minds were too muddled to sort out the logic, and they were unconsciously swept along by Jizi's momentum.

Verbal barrage unleashed! FIRE!

"Let's not draw swords tonight, shall we? Do you two knights have any objections to my proposal?"

"Caster—"

"I'm afraid I can't agree to that. After all, my Master's Command Seals are still in your possession, and I must retrieve them."

Her proposal was directly rejected, but Jizi maintained a "kindly" smile. She was merely using the topic to gauge the knights' attitudes. Saber seemed to have lost her fighting spirit, while Lancer was forced to adopt a tough stance only because of Kayneth's arm.

"You mean this?" Jizi pulled a cylindrical object from her fourth-dimensional cloak, which was akin to Batman's utility belt—it was the formalin jar that had contained Ryunosuke's arm, and as fate would have it, its function this time was also to pickle an arm.

Lancer forcefully suppressed the urge to stand up and snatch the arm back immediately. He organized his thoughts, "I know this is a rather excessive request, but Caster, you—"

"No!" Jizi interrupted Lancer without hesitation, then put the jar away. "If I had met you in life, perhaps we could have negotiated. But in the Holy Grail War—after all, I don't represent just myself. You should understand this point better than anyone, Lancer, shouldn't you?"

Thinking of his relationship with his own Master, Lancer had to admit Jizi's words held truth.

"Or perhaps, you're asking me to give up the 'last Command Seal of the opposing side,' such a huge advantage. What equivalent value can you offer in exchange?" Jizi's tone shifted as she watched Lancer fall into deep thought.

"I swear by my knighthood, I will do one thing for you that does not violate my moral code or my principles—"

"Are you kidding me? Do you think I'd believe that?"

Seeing a potential opening, Lancer immediately planted his spear tip before him and swore solemnly. However, before he could finish, Jizi interrupted him without hesitation. Jizi's taunt also drew Saber's ire.

"Caster! I can't pretend I didn't hear what you just said. Are you insulting the honor and integrity of a knight? In my era, that would lead to a duel to the death!"

Cannot find the book title, try searching for the author, perhaps the name has changed!

"Ha! Ha! Ha!" Jizi let out three loud laughs immediately after Saber's words. This action further heightened the anger of both knights present, who even stood up.

"Caster—"

"By the name of a knight—"

"Speaking of insulting a knight's honor and integrity, do you two remember how the first Command Seal on this hand was used up? Hmm?"

Without waiting for the two knights to finish their declarations, the jar, which had reappeared in Jizi's hand at some point, drew a beautiful arc in the air. By the time it landed back in Jizi's hand, the knights had retracted their stances, standing awkwardly by the table.

"Please, sit down, Lancer." Jizi playfully tossed Kayneth's arm, smiling wryly. "Since we've brought up this topic, why don't we discuss it further? And Saber, if you don't mind, I'd also like you to hear my understanding of the knight's spirit."

Jizi's inner thoughts: [Damn, after all that rambling, I finally got to the point. This setup is exhausting.]

"First off, let me say that what I'm about to say might be a bit difficult for you to accept, but I mean no disrespect. After all, I am but a witch, and I'm accustomed to playing with words and language. My sarcastic tone is merely to emphasize the importance of what I'm saying and to leave a deeper impression on my audience. So, if anything I say is offensive, you can both tell me.

However, don't just come at me with 'You've insulted a knight's honor.' If you think what I'm saying is wrong, then we can debate it. Truth fears no questioning, doesn't it? But if you just kill me, it won't prove your point is correct; it will only prove your strength is greater than mine.

Knights aren't those who flaunt their power, are they?

So, with the above consensus reached, let us continue.

I swear to be kind to the weak; I swear to fight bravely against the strong; I swear to fight against all wrong; I swear to fight for the defenseless; I swear to help anyone who asks me for help; I swear to not harm any fujoshi; I swear to help my brother knights;

I swear to treat my friends with sincerity;

I swear to be faithful to those I love until death.

Chivalry, besides the famous nine articles of the Knightly Oath, also includes a series of principles such as 'speak honestly and uprightly, better to die than lie.' In essence, it means being a moral, loyal, brave, and dedicated warrior. Am I correct in saying that?

What does this so-called loyalty refer to? Loyalty to the monarch one serves, loyalty to one's lord, loyalty to one's faith, loyalty in love? Regardless of what it is, the meaning of this loyalty isn't simply blind devotion, is it?

Then, Lancer, do your actions in this Holy Grail War truly align with the chivalry you've always valued?

You dedicated everything to your Master, your resolve unshaken even when misunderstood or distrusted. That steadfastness is indeed admirable. However, if you were always doing what is considered right, then why did things turn out this way? Why did your relationship with your Master become like this?

What monarch wouldn't desire a knight like you? Who wouldn't treat you as an honored guest, offering great rewards and glory to secure your loyalty? Why is Kayneth different?

Something must have gone wrong somewhere.

So, what went wrong? Or perhaps, who went wrong?

Did you go wrong, Lancer? No, you didn't. Don't be so self-deprecating; as a knight, you are perfect.

Then—just as a point of view—could it be that chivalry itself is wrong?"

The Director, who breaks his promises, has reappeared again—the last update was seven months ago, sigh