348. Before the Battle! / 349. Today, I, Higashino Kanade, Am Going to Beat the Crap Out of Gilgamesh!

But Higashino Kanade had a question. Would the Lord Martha worshipped really be bored enough to arrange the factions for the Holy Grail War? The revelation Martha had received was probably not from the Lord, but from the Holy Grail or the Counter Force. Some existence was interfering with the progress of the Holy Grail War for some purpose, and that purpose was likely more than simply reducing the destruction caused by a free-for-all.

"I have another question. Are there any binding restrictions within this alliance? For example, during factional conflict, can members of the same faction not attack each other? If I'm attacked in battle by a Servant from my own faction, would that count as breaking the rules?" Higashino Kanade asked cautiously.

Martha shook her head. "The Lord did not say, nor did He ask me to interfere in battles between factions. I don't think these factions are mandatory."

Higashino Kanade looked enlightened. Based on Martha's account, this Red and Black Holy Grail War was much the same as in the original story. Cooperation between factions was merely a verbal agreement. Betraying allies was entirely possible, and Martha would not interfere. Cooperation between factions was only a matter of circumstance.

"I have no more questions," Higashino Kanade replied.

"That is good. I still need to notify the other Masters, so I shall take my leave." Martha placed a hand over her chest and gave a bow. Then she looked at the enormous pyramid on the distant horizon. Her holy, compassionate expression suddenly turned hateful as she gritted her teeth. "That idiot Rider doesn't respect the Holy Grail War's secrecy rules at all. I must persuade him to hide that pyramid!"

One of the Holy Grail War's important principles was that ordinary people must not discover its existence. Ozymandias