Luviagelita refused to believe Rin had the ability to summon more than one Servant and supply that much magical power.
Still, nothing was impossible in this world. Maybe there was a way Rin had pulled it off...
And judging by the way Rin looked down on her with disdain, Luviagelita had no choice but to accept it for now.
Even so, she refused to back down. She stared unblinking at her archenemy, as if trying to see through her facade...
"What?!"
But to Rin, Luviagelita's contemptuous gaze felt predatory. She couldn't help but blush.
"Nothing."
There was nothing to say, yet Luviagelita's eyes betrayed her as she continued staring with disdain.
Cough, cough...
"Anyway! Now that we're on the same team, we need to decide who's the Leader of the faction..."
"Leader?"
Coughing to put an end to Luviagelita's irritating stare, Rin dismounted from the Giant Rabbit. Brimming with pride, she placed one hand on her waist and the other on her chest, then declared herself leader with a confident smile.
"That's right. As the first Master of the Blue Faction, I appoint myself as Leader."
"Hah?!"
At first, Luviagelita agreed with the idea. In a war as massive as the World Holy Grail War, having a Leader to direct the faction made sense. After all, no Master could win alone with just their Servant.
But the moment Rin declared herself the Leader, it was like a switch flipped inside Luviagelita. Her eyes widened as she shot back.
"Over my dead body, Rin Tohsaka! A Leader must be elegant and sensible, intelligent, and above all—beautiful..."
There was no way she would ever take orders from Rin. She was her rival, and she would never admit inferiority. Just imagining herself obeying Rin sent shivers down her spine.
"Which is why I am clearly the best choice. Miss Gorilla should follow orders!"
"You as Leader?! I'd rather die first!"
Rin felt the same way. She'd once swallowed her pride and obeyed this rich little woman for money—and she still wanted revenge.
"Hmph. Just as expected of a commoner. You'll never understand the greatness of your betters..."
The veins on Rin's forehead bulged even more at Luviagelita's words.
"If you want to be Leader, then you'll have to defeat me!"
"I expected nothing less from you, Rin Tohsaka! Once I'm done with you, you'll have to address me properly—Leader."
They glared at each other, invisible sparks clashing. In the end, Rin was the first to yield. She lifted a hand and gracefully brushed her hair back, a sinister smile forming in her heart.
She'd achieved her goal—provoking this woman.
"Let our Servants fight! Whoever wins becomes the Leader!"
"Eh?"
Luviagelita blinked in confusion. She didn't understand what was happening—but as a magus with a high IQ, it only took her a few seconds to realize the truth...
She'd been tricked.
Rin never intended to fight her directly. She'd sent her Servants instead.
And judging by the confident smile on her face, Rin had absolute faith in her Servants—especially since she had two of them. Just as expected of her rival.
(But you're mistaken, Rin Tohsaka. I have complete faith in my Servant too.)
She had summoned a top-tier Servant. There was no way she was inferior to the two Servants at Rin's side.
Even if it was an unfair two-on-one, she refused to believe Scathach couldn't win. This was the Sovereign of Shadows—the one who had slain Gods.
"Hmph. Very well, Rin Tohsaka. Let our Servants decide the outcome..."
Though she'd been deceived, Luviagelita didn't retreat. Instead, she raised her fan and pointed it at her rival. She wouldn't become Rin's laughingstock. She would beat her at her own game.
"Lancer, show this commoner your strength!"
Naturally, Scathach didn't refuse the order. From the beginning, she'd intended to fight the Servant who split the moon. Obeying Luviagelita this once made no difference to her.
"You'll regret this, Sausage Grin!"
Rin, on the other hand, was practically jumping with joy. Just as expected of Luviagelita—she couldn't refuse. Rin waved her hand and gave her order.
"Foreigner, go kick Lancer's ass..."
"..."
Rin was full of confidence. But after waiting a moment, Est didn't move. Instead, she tilted her head in confusion.
"Foreigner?! I'm talking to you!"
Turning her head, Rin ordered her again.
"..."
"Foreigner, what's wrong?"
Seeing the Loli still unmoving, Rin felt a bad premonition and tried once more.
"I have exhausted my magical power. I require my Master's permission to use their magical power."
"What?! Wait, I'm your Master! I can give you more magical power!"
"No. Rin's power is too weak. I cannot use it, or Rin will die..."
Est was a planet destroyer. The power she wielded far surpassed Rin's. Supplying her with magical power was simply impossible.
"..."
Rin was left speechless. Now that she thought about it, with Foreigner's strength, there was no way she could provide enough magical power to use her Noble Phantasm. Even though the Holy Grail supplied seventy percent of the mana, Rin still couldn't keep up—especially with Yoshino also present.
The only reason Est and Yoshino could unleash their strength was because of Avenger. And Avenger possessed the skill Independent Action: EX.
That meant Avenger never needed Rin's magical power.
That was why Rin had been fine until now, never lacking magical energy—and why she'd dared to act arrogant. But no matter how much magical power she had, Rin could never fill Est's void.
"Ohoho, marvelous, Rin Tohsaka. You can't even command your own Servant..."
Luviagelita hadn't heard what Rin and Est were murmuring about, but judging by Rin's expression, she could guess—and immediately mocked her.
"...!"
Rin ground her teeth. This was her mistake. She hadn't accounted for Foreigner's lack of magical power supply. But she'd already made her bet. She couldn't back out now.
If she did, Luviagelita would ridicule her—and that stain would follow her for life.
So Rin turned her head toward Yoshino. Noticing her gaze, Yoshino lowered her hood and looked away...
(No, no. Rider isn't reliable.)
Rider was a coward. She couldn't ask her to fight. And with her stats, winning against Lancer would be difficult...
"Great and mighty Caster-sama, could the merciful Lady Nia help me just this once? I promise your efforts will be rewarded~"
With no other choice, Rin didn't hesitate to sell her cuteness. She clasped her hands together and pleaded with the omniscient, all-powerful Caster.
[Sorry, Rinrin-chan. I'm just a poor, weak Caster. I wouldn't stand a chance against the God Slayer girl.]
Seated on her throne, Nia stuck out her tongue and winked apologetically—an apology Rin didn't believe for a second.
Nia was more than strong enough to defeat Lancer. She was just too lazy to do it.
"Please, Lady Nia! Just this once—help me, just this once! Please! I'll do anything!"
If Luviagelita hadn't been watching, Rin might've already dropped to her knees and begged.
[Heee~ Anything?]
"...Y-Yes?"
For some reason, Rin felt a terrible premonition and answered cautiously.
[Since our Rinrin-chan is so willing, I'll help just a little... though not directly.]
Rin nearly jumped for joy when Nia agreed—but her next words froze her in place.
[But don't worry, Rinrin-chan. The one who'll help you is very strong. The condition is that you can pay the price...]
"Pay? What do I have to pay?"
As a stingy young lady, Rin had always hated debts—especially ones involving Servants.
Still, to avoid becoming the laughingstock of that Sausage Grin woman, Rin clenched her teeth and accepted.
[Since our Rinrin-chan agrees, then our 'Saber' is all yours. Just remember—you must be able to pay the price. No returns...]
"Saber?"
[That's right. Our 'Saber-chan' has been restless lately. She's your responsibility now...]
Without waiting for Rin's response, Nia cut the connection.
And Rin's bad premonition became reality.
Because "Saber" had arrived.
"Umm! Umm! Food! Where's the food?!"
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