Tanuki Rise of the Yokai Clan

As Saber and Irisviel accepted the duel invitation, Tamazuki put his attention on the bridge nearby.

The broad bridge straddling the widening Mion River spanned majestically over 665 meters, arching with a diameter of over three roads.

The top of the arch was over 50 meters high. Anyone standing so high and receiving the full force of the sea wind would miss a step and fall to his end into the river below, unable to go back up without great skills and a lifeline.

Nevertheless, Tamazuki saw two figures there.

One was a short young man who appeared so fearful and cried due to the danger he encountered, and on his side was a gigantic man with a body filled with muscles. If someone saw him, they would think of him as a humanoid bear.

Scheherazade, who saw this, couldn't help but frown and leaned closer to Tamazuki. "Master, that's is..."

"Yes, a Servant."

"Which Class?"

"It should be a Rider."

"Rider..." Scheherazade shook her head. "He is a bad Servant."

"Why?"

"Because he endangers his Master."

Even if she didn't know much about Rider and just watched him for a moment, she could tell that she definitely couldn't like this burly Servant. For her, who loved safety and peace of mind the most, Rider was definitely incompatible, as it was clearly written on his face that he was a reckless man that had never thought about the consequences of his actions.

"It isn't surprising as he is a hero from history."

"Well, that's true."

If it was a modern world, Rider would bring ruin to his country, but he was from a history where everyone was still living in a primitive civilization, so if they wanted to win, they had to be reckless.

"But Master, you must know his identity, right?"

"I know him, but you should be familiar with him too."

"Who?"

"Iskandar."

"...Iskandar? The King of Conquerors?" Scheherazade's expression was ugly.

Alexander the Great.

Scheherazade, who was living in the Middle East, was familiar with this name as it was the name of the King who conquered the East. Fortunately, that person died young; if not, then the world might be in ruin.

Tamazuki also didn't have a good impression of Iskandar. This person might appear brave and courageous, making all the people who saw him feel their blood was boiling. However, he felt that this person was irresponsible as Iskandar only cared about conquering other nations and going to the East.

As for the rest?

Iskandar didn't care at all.

Only conquest.

This was also the reason why his kingdom was destroyed when Iskandar died.

Everything crumbled like a quicksand.

Yet, Tamazuki also didn't feel surprised since the King in modern times was different from the past.

In that era, the King was like a God. It could be anything, and everyone could only obey no matter how unreasonable the wish of the King.

It was also the case with Scheherazade's husband, who kept killing all the women that slept with him every night until Scheherazade came and narrated the story of One Thousand and One Nights, ending the slaughter.

However, due to that, Scheherazade had a fear of death, and all the people that gave smell of danger, recklessness, idiots, and everything that might endanger her life were completely hated by her.

Tamazuki didn't force her to fight and went for the battle by himself, so he quickly gained her favor.

Moreover, her body was conquered by him, so everything was smooth.

The only thing that he needed to do next was to show his power, giving her more confidence in him as the existence that could give her safety and peace of mind.

"What's the ability of this King, master?"

While Scheherazade didn't like Iskandar, she knew that Iskandar was a powerful opponent, especially when his legend was loud.

"Iskandar is powerful, but he isn't good enough to threaten me. However, if I have to explain his power, then it should be the power of thunder."

"Oh, the power of thunder? Is it due to the legend that said that he is the descendant of Zeus?"

"That's right."

"Then... isn't he powerful?"

Zeus.

It was the King of Gods in the Greek religion.

"It's okay. It is just a god from a small region. You don't need to worry too much. Moreover, he is just his child. He isn't the real Zeus."

Even if Zeus really appeared in front of him, Tamazuki didn't fear this God as the God of Greek wouldn't scare him at all. Moreover, compared to God in the Bible, Hindu Myth, and Outer Gods, Zeus was nothing as it could only control lightning.

The force of lightning was powerful, but was it possible for him to destroy a planet?

Tamazuki didn't think so, and that was why he didn't think of Iskandar as a threat.

"Besides that, he has a similar Noble Phantasm to your power."

"Eh? Similar to me?"

Tamazuki then explained Iskandar's Ionioi Hetairoi, the power that turned the world on the mind into reality. It was similar to Scheherazade's ability that could turn fiction into reality, but Scheherazade's power was more malleable.

"Master... I have always wanted to ask this question, but how did you know all of that?"

This is what Scheherazade had been curious about, but she only dared to ask now. She had been observing him, and she knew even if he was a king, he was quite laid-back, and his weakness was a married woman. She happened to be one, so she knew he was his weakness.

"..." Tamazuki.

Nevertheless, he wasn't sure what she was thinking, but he asked, "Do you want to know?"

"Un."

"Do you really want to know?"

"Yes."

"Well... it's a secret."

"...." Scheherazade.

"Let's focus on the screen. Saber is going to face Lancer soon."

His expression was full of tension and solemn as if he was about to face a dangerous battle that might endanger his life.

Yet, she knew this guy was just joking around. He didn't feel fear. Even if his opponents were legendary heroes whose names echoed through space and time, his expression was the same as ever.

Even if she didn't know how powerful Tamazuki was, she knew that his meaning of survival was top-notch, but due to his calmness, she had confidence that as long as she was with him, everything was alright.

The only problem they needed to face was the two Servants he mentioned.

Gilgamesh and King Arthur.

Only the two.

Because of this, Scheherazade hoped that Lancer could take down Saber. Even if Lancer was unable to do so, she hoped that this Servant wasn't so useless and gave a big injury to Saber.

---

The west bank of the seaside park was prolonged by a row of boring storehouses. The block, which contained harbor facilities, also played the role of a wall that separated the eastern industrial area from Shinto. At night, the pedestrian traffic ceased, and the street lights shone uselessly on the asphalt, but it made the scenery even more empty. Unmanned derrick crances were turned toward the dark sea like an eerie flock of enormous fossilized dinosaurs.

Indeed, this was a suitable place for Servants who must confront hidden from public view.

Saber and Irisviel walked up, magnificent as duellists going to the place of agreement on the four-lane road for the large vehicles that were meant to drive on it. The enemy, as well as already showing himself without running or hiding. The tall shadow standing in the middle of the empty street emitted an extraordinary amount of prana, even more, outrageous than his odd outfit showing that he was much more than human.

The two Servants stopped, facing each other from about ten meters apart.

And finally, the first battle of the Holy Grail War was about to start.