The Steel Earth (Continued)

Jeanne d'Arc shook her head helplessly and stepped out through a hidden crevice.

She had arrived with Shirou, though she had originally wanted to observe the situation a little longer first.

"Oh? Black Faction Assassin, don't slander us. There's nothing going on with our Red Faction Master." Semiramis raised her magic circle and aimed it at Shirou.

"I don't think so. The Red Faction Master, you're the only one who has appeared so far, aren't you? Ruler, Amakusa Shirou Tokisada."

Jeanne d'Arc pointed out Amakusa Shirou's true identity. "So you're the sixteenth Servant in this Holy Grail War? What a mess. An ordinary Holy Grail War only has seven Servants, yet this one has sixteen."

"No, Saintess of France. I am the only Servant who appeared before the Holy Grail War even began—the first Servant. One left over from the previous Holy Grail War."

Although Jeanne d'Arc had already known the answer, hearing Amakusa Shirou admit it himself was entirely different from knowing it beforehand.

"Then what is your purpose? Why did you send someone to attack me?"

A reason? A purpose? Of course—

"The reason for attacking you is simple. I didn't want you to see through my identity so quickly. That would have obstructed my purpose, nothing more. My purpose is even clearer. I want to obtain the Holy Grail and save all humanity. I believe the Lord has permitted my actions."

Jeanne d'Arc instinctively wanted to refute Amakusa Shirou, but she calmed herself and considered his words.

Save all humanity?

"Please don't joke around. Fuyuki's Greater Holy Grail is not the Holy Grail known to the faithful. You should know that perfectly well."

"Indeed, this is not the Holy Grail known to us believers in the Lord. Yet this Holy Grail can accomplish a great undertaking that