"What's wrong?"
There's something there.
Merlin's eyes narrowed.
"We've been discovered."
"What?"
rustling sound --
A sound came from the dense forest.
A figure leaped down from the tree and landed in front of Ritsuka Fujimaru and his group.
The ground shook when it landed.
"Yaho~"
The figure straightened up.
Tiger-striped jumpsuit.
A long staff with a cat's paw.
Golden eyes.
"Who are you? Invading someone's territory."
Ritsuka Fujimaru looked at the woman in front of her, who was dressed like a tiger mascot.
"... What's this?"
"I am the Jaguar Man!"
The woman stood with her hands on her hips, a smug look on her face.
" The Jaguar Man..."
Mash entered battle mode, her large shield already raised.
Fou jumped off her shoulder and hid behind her.
The Jaguar Man's gaze swept over Ritsuka Fujimaru and her group.
Then her gaze settled on Ana.
"Oh~ you are..."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
Then it moved to Mash.
Finally, she looked at Ritsuka Fujimaru.
"You're from Uruk, aren't you?"
"Yes... yes."
Ritsuka Fujimaru answered cautiously.
"We're here to find someone."
Looking for someone? Who?
"A Servant named Amakusa Shirou."
Oh, that person.
A smile appeared on the Jaguar Man's face.
"I've arrested him."
"What?!"
"The original plan was to directly eliminate the invading Servant."
The Jaguar Man scratched his cheek with his long staff.
But that face... reminded me of someone I know.
"So we went easy on him and just locked him up."
Ritsuka Fujimaru and Mash exchanged a glance.
Amakusa Shirou is still alive.
Very good.
"Um... excuse me, could you please return it to us?"
"No, you can't."
The Jaguar Man's tone suddenly changed.
The relaxed tone of the voice had turned into one of pressure.
Those who invade my territory will pay the price.
"And--"
Her golden eyes were fixed on Ritsuka Fujimaru.
"If you barge in today, you'll pay the same price."
The atmosphere suddenly became tense.
Mash gripped the great shield tightly.
Ana drew the long-handled scythe attached to the chain from under her cloak.
Merlin stood behind, staff in hand, but made no move to attack.
"Then... there's nothing we can do!"
Ritsuka Fujimaru took a step back and called out to Mash and Ana.
" Mash! Ana! Go!"
"Yes, senior!"
"Learn."
Mash charged toward the Jaguar Man, shield in hand.
Ana's scythe swept horizontally from the side.
The Jaguar Man's figure vanished from the spot.
"Too slow~"
Her voice came from behind Mash.
Bang--!
The Jaguar Man's staff slammed heavily onto Mash's back.
Mash was thrown forward several steps by the impact.
" Mash!"
"I'm fine--"
Ana swung her scythe at the Jaguar Man.
The chain traced an arc in the air.
The Jaguar Man easily dodged it.
"Hehe, not bad response."
Her figure moved between Ana and Mash.
It was so fast that it was almost invisible.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Every attack struck precisely into the gaps in the Servant's defenses.
Mash's shield was sturdy, but she couldn't keep up with the Jaguar Man's speed.
Ana's scythe was sharp, but it was dodged every time.
The battle was completely one-sided.
No, it couldn't even be called a battle.
It's more like they're just playing around.
The Jaguar Man was laughing as he attacked.
You guys are too weak!
"Try a little harder!"
"This can't go on!"
Her long staff struck Ana's shoulder again.
Ana was knocked to her knees by the impact.
" Ana!"
Mash tried to help, but the Jaguar Man's staff struck her in the abdomen again.
Bang!
Mash was knocked back several steps by the impact.
Ritsuka Fujimaru stood behind, unable to do anything.
She could only watch as her companion was brutally beaten by a god-level Servant seemed to be joking around.
"Why is the difference so big...?"
A god-level Servant.
Even if the other person just seems like a comedic character.
Even if the other party isn't serious.
It's not something they can fight against right now.
The reason they haven't been completely wiped out is simply because the enemy hasn't made a killing move.
"Alright, that's about enough."
The Jaguar Man's voice came.
She stopped attacking, stood still, and looked at Mash and Ana, who were slumped on the ground.
No matter how hard you fight, you're no match for me.
"If you give up now, I might spare your lives."
Ritsuka Fujimaru gritted her teeth.
"... retreat."
"Senior?"
" Merlin!"
Ritsuka Fujimaru called out to Merlin behind her.
"Let's retreat!"
"Okay~"
Merlin's staff paused on the ground.
A burst of petal-like light enveloped Ritsuka Fujimaru, Mash, and Ana.
Come again next time!
The Jaguar Man's voice came from behind.
Then Ritsuka Fujimaru's vision was overwhelmed by the light.
Back to Uruk.
Ritsuka Fujimaru sat on a stone chair in the Chaldea Embassy.
Head down.
Mash sat beside her; her wounds had been healed.
Ana leaned against the corner of the wall, her head covered by a hood, and remained silent.
Fou lay down at Ritsuka Fujimaru's feet and rubbed her head against her leg.
"Senior..."
"... I was too arrogant."
Ritsuka Fujimaru's voice was very soft.
"Say something like 'the advantage is in my hands'..."
"In the end, they couldn't even defeat a Servant looked like a comedic character."
"And it even caused Mash and Ana to get hurt."
"Sorry."
Mash shook her head.
"You didn't do anything wrong."
"The strength of a god-level Servant far surpasses that of an ordinary Servant; that's not a misjudgment on your part, senior."
"And in the end, our senior's decision to retreat was correct; if we had continued fighting, we might have been wiped out."
"But..."
"Senior."
Mash's voice was firm.
"Next time, we'll definitely be stronger."
Ritsuka Fujimaru raised her head and looked into Mash's eyes.
Then she took a deep breath.
"Um."
Thank you, Mash.
She stood up.
"Let's go see Gilgamesh."
"Although the mission failed, at least I should report back in person."
temple.
After Gilgamesh listened to Ritsuka Fujimaru's report...
There was no blame.
" Jaguar Man...?"
His fingers tapped on the armrest.
"That's a deity from the south, with an unpredictable personality, but it doesn't seem to have any intention of killing you."
"Just being able to come back alive is enough."
"The purpose of this mission was not for you to succeed, but to make you realize the level of danger of this Singularity."
Ritsuka Fujimaru paused for a moment.
"... So you knew from the beginning that we would fail?"
I guess so.
Gilgamesh's lips twitched slightly.
"Now you see it clearly?"
"... yes."
Ritsuka Fujimaru lowered her head.
"I will not underestimate my opponent again."
"Um."
Gilgamesh rose from his throne.
"Now that the previous mission is over, I will personally lead you on the next one."
"Personally?"
"I will take you south to the observatory to collect a water sample."
"Water sample?"
"Right."
Gilgamesh walked out of the main hall.
"I need to confirm the changes in the water quality of the Persia Gulf, as this is related to the possible next moves of the Three Goddess Alliance."
He glanced back at Ritsuka Fujimaru.
"Consider this a short break I'm giving myself."
"... Can the king also take a holiday?"
"I can release it if I wish."
"..."
Ritsuka Fujimaru decided to stop making sarcastic remarks.
The next morning.
Gilgamesh left Uruk with Ritsuka Fujimaru and Mash.
There were no unexpected incidents on the way.
Two days later.
They arrived at a water quality observation station located south of Uruk, near the Persia Gulf.
It was a small stone tower built by the sea.
Gilgamesh personally took a sample of the seawater.
Then he turned around and walked back.
"Mission accomplished."
"It's that simple?"
"As I said, this mission is very simple."