I Don’t Want to Be a Heroic Spirit

Artoria possessed a pride befitting her station: the pride of being the King of Britain and the leader of the Knights of the Round Table.

As Vlad III had stated, this gathering brought together heroes from across eras.

Yet Artoria firmly believed that her knights—Lancelot, Gawain, Tristan, Mordred—were unparalleled.

On this matter, she would not yield.

"…How rude of me. I see now, Ruler, that you, too, are a king."

Vlad III's expression shifted slightly.

If she had been merely a hero or a warrior, he would have welcomed her into his ranks without hesitation. But if she was a fellow monarch, no less than his equal, his invitation could be interpreted as an insult.

It was no different from the time Iskandar provoked Artoria during the Fourth Holy Grail War with his offer to join him, igniting her fury.

However, the current Artoria was not quite the same.

Her divinity suppressed her emotions, and her existence as Phecda's Phoenix Feather further distinguished her. She would not be angered by Vlad's actions as her former self might have been.

"You are a magnanimous and wise ruler. I have seen this with my own eyes," she remarked.

Though history painted Vlad III as a brutal figure, infamous as the vampire Dracula, his cruelty was reserved for his enemies and traitors. Toward his subordinates, he was notably compassionate—a rarity among kings.

Artoria's own pride demanded she conceal nothing in return.

"And so, I shall reveal my true name."

When Vlad III had first introduced himself, he had proudly declared his true name—not merely because he knew it would be pointless to hide it from a Ruler, but because he viewed his name as a source of honor. Even if the name had been tarnished by its association with Dracula, he remained proud of it.

For Artoria to continue hiding her identity felt, to her, like a failure to match Vlad's integrity.

Phecda's Phoenix Feather would not allow it.

The one inhabiting this Spirit Origin, Artoria Pendragon, would not allow it.

Nor would the knights who had once stood by their King of Knights.

Amidst the astonished gazes of all present, she declared:

"I am Artoria Pendragon, once the High King of Britain—Arthur Pendragon."

The revelation was akin to throwing a massive stone into a still lake.

"What?! The King of Knights is a woman?!"

Astolfo was the first to voice his shock, articulating a question that lingered in everyone's mind.

But there was a deeper issue beyond her gender.

"Impossible!" A rotund man near Siegfried exclaimed. "Arthur Pendragon lived at the twilight of the Age of Gods. His death symbolized its end… But he was not a divine spirit!"

The outburst brought a scowl to Vlad's face, and his advisor Darnic immediately chastised the man.

"Gordes!"

Startled, Gordes flinched, his jowls quivering. Realizing his error, he glanced nervously at Vlad and Darnic's stern faces.

Pale with fear, he muttered an apology and retreated behind Siegfried.

"My apologies. One of my men overstepped his bounds," Vlad said, his expression softening slightly as he turned back to Artoria.

"It's fine. His doubts are not without merit," Artoria replied, her tone steady. "After all, Arthur Pendragon was indeed no divine spirit—though red dragon blood flowed through me, I was fully human during my reign as King of Britain."

The phrase "during my reign as King of Britain" caught everyone's attention.

Could it be… something happened after the Arthurian legends concluded?

Speculations ran rampant in their minds as they awaited Artoria's explanation.

"Does this mean… there was more to the story after Arthur returned the holy sword? You did not die then?" Vlad asked, stroking his chin in curiosity.

"The true Arthur Pendragon did perish after returning Excalibur… at least, that is how the legends you know end. My existence, however…" Artoria hesitated, her face showing a rare trace of uncertainty.

After a moment's thought, she said, "You can think of me as a possibility—a version of Arthur who, after returning the holy sword, took up the holy spear Rhongomyniad instead."

"The holy spear imbued me with divinity, transforming me into an existence that is both Arthur Pendragon, the King of Humanity, and Rhongomyniad, the Goddess of the Tower."

"However, standing before you now is neither the King of Humanity nor the Goddess of the Tower. I am the Ruler of this Holy Grail War. I will fulfill my duty without bias toward either side."

"And so, whether as a ruler or as a Ruler, I cannot accept your invitation, noble King of Romania."

Even after Artoria finished speaking, many in the hall were still stunned by her revelation.

Arthur Pendragon, who returned the holy sword, drew the holy spear, and ascended to godhood.

No one had anticipated that the Ruler of this Holy Grail War would be such a being.

Among the countless Heroic Spirits, Arthur Pendragon stood undeniably at the apex.

The sacred sword Excalibur, a weapon capable of saving the world, and her legendary renown ensured her place as one of the most powerful Servants.

It was often said that summoning Arthur Pendragon or Heracles guaranteed victory in a Holy Grail War.

But this Arthur Pendragon had transcended her mortal form to become a divine spirit.

No one in the hall dared to think her weaker without the holy sword—her effortless victory over the Red Lancer had already proven her strength. Even Vlad III's eagerness to recruit her was testament to her power.

"A divine Arthur Pendragon…" Vlad murmured, exhaling heavily. "Then you are indeed justified in declining my offer. How regrettable…"

Sighing, Vlad sank back into his throne. But after a moment of contemplation, he let out a hearty laugh.

"To think I would be so fortunate as to meet such a perfect king. Perhaps I have nothing to regret after all! Hahahaha!"

His laughter echoed throughout the hall, filling the space with an air of acceptance.

---

Attention, all. I am pleased to announce the release of a new translation, "This Is My Holy Grail War." Your support is acknowledged. Engage with this work at your discretion.

Reader, your presence signifies commitment.

To walk this path is to contribute to the pursuit of eternity.

Should you wish to further fortify our resolve, step forward: [patreon.com/WiseTL].

Each action contributes to the unyielding foundation of our creation. Together, we etch a mark that transcends the fleeting nature of time.

For those who aspire to push the limits further, offering one 'Burger' will unlock an additional 5 chapters: [ko-fi.com/wisetl]. Specify which story your donation pertains to; this offer applies exclusively to stories available on Scribble Hub.

— Raiden Shogun