IBHJ 1270

After Arcueid convinced the Incarnation to join them, the three women gathered around the table for the card game—though one of them clearly had something mischievous in mind.

"The loser gets a turtle drawn on their face," Arcueid announced with a devious laugh as she picked up her cards. She noticed the Incarnation was still standing. "What's the matter? Why aren't you sitting down? Oh wait, you probably don't know how to play Old Maid, right? Let Professor Arcueid explain the rules—"

"I know how to play," the Incarnation said. She hesitated briefly before sitting down, her voice remaining cold. "Using this game to interrupt my synchronization with Pan-Human History is pointless. Even though I'm inhabiting Mordred's body, I am still the Counter Force. My connection to Pan-Human History remains constant. Your attempts to reform me will not succeed..."

Before she could finish, Arcueid puffed out her cheeks in annoyance. "I'm not that super petty stinky monk! Who said anything about reforming you?!"

"Then why bring me here?" the Incarnation asked. "You shouldn't be taking my side..."

"I already told you—we needed a third player!" Arcueid insisted.

Artoria let out a sigh and looked at the Incarnation. "If it's not against any rules, you might as well just go along with what Arcueid wants. Otherwise, she'll never stop pestering you."

The Incarnation immediately felt a headache forming as she remembered Arcueid's persistent nagging from earlier.

"You Counter Force types really don't know how to have fun," Arcueid complained. "Back in the Eternal Kingdom era, Shirou would always make time to play with me, no matter how busy he was..."

At the mention of Shirou, the Incarnation's eyes suddenly sharpened.

"Fine, I'll play," she said. "But don't think this will make me stop my synchronization process. That's simply not possible."

"You've got such a persecution complex!" Arcueid laughed. "Are all Counter Forces cut from the same cloth? No wonder Gaia summoned Crimson Moon. Anyway, let's get one thing straight—no using our powers to cheat. And if you lose and get a turtle drawn on your face, you can't get mad about looking silly!"

Both the Incarnation and Artoria nodded in agreement.

The game began.

The Incarnation remained on guard, convinced that Arcueid and Artoria must have some hidden agenda—perhaps trying to persuade her from a different angle to abandon the synchronization. After all, when Artoria had been awakened by Shiki, she had already tried once to change the Incarnation's mind.

But after playing for a while, neither Artoria nor Arcueid brought up anything about the synchronization. They seemed to be genuinely enjoying the game, which made the Incarnation relax a little.

"No way! How did I end up with the Joker again?!"

Arcueid stared at the Joker in her hand with dismay. When she saw Artoria pick up her pen, she instinctively tried to back away.

"Don't try to escape, Arcueid," Artoria said with a smile. "You agreed to the terms."

Arcueid made a face. "Fine, but draw a small one, please? I'm turning into 'Arcueid the Turtle' at this rate."

Artoria nodded with a smile.

Arcueid reluctantly leaned forward, only for Artoria to draw an enormous turtle right in the middle of her forehead.

"Hey! You totally tricked me!" Arcueid cried, looking at her reflection in the mirror. "Look at all these turtles all over my face! I really am Arcueid the Turtle now!" She looked close to tears. "You've changed, Artoria—you've completely changed!"

Artoria covered her mouth, trying not to laugh too obviously. Then she held out the pen to the Incarnation. "I've done all the drawing so far. Now it's your turn."

"Me?" The Incarnation pointed to herself, surprised.

"Yes," Artoria confirmed. "Arcueid drew the Joker, which makes you a winner too."

"That's not necessary. Lady Arcueid clearly doesn't want any more drawings..."

"Are you pitying me?" Arcueid narrowed her eyes at the Incarnation. "If you're going to draw, then just do it already! Even if I become completely covered in turtles, I don't need your sympathy. I'm a proper player who can handle losing!"

Arcueid thumped her chest proudly, her turtle-covered face held high.

"I see. Then please excuse me," the Incarnation said, taking the pen.

From the side, Artoria laughed. "Make it a big one!"

"Artoria—" Arcueid started to protest.

"Arcueid is a proper player who can win gracefully and lose with dignity," Artoria reminded her with a smile.

"Fine!" Arcueid fell silent and straightened her neck, adopting the posture of someone bravely facing execution. "Go ahead—"

The Incarnation was about to follow Artoria's suggestion and draw a large turtle, but seeing Arcueid's bitter expression, she instead just lightly touched the corner of Arcueid's eye with the pen and said, "Done."

"That's it?" Arcueid asked in disbelief.

The Incarnation simply nodded.

"Ha! I still have most of my face left!" Arcueid exclaimed with delight. She turned to Artoria with a mischievous glare. "You'd better hope you don't lose next, Art! I'm going to draw an entire turtle family on your face!"

"I think I've had enough of this game," Artoria said, rising from her seat with a smile. "I'm done playing."

Before she could walk away, Arcueid grabbed her sleeve. "Oh no you don't! You think you can just leave after winning? Not a chance!"

"One final game, then?"

"You're on!" Arcueid declared.

With a resigned sigh, Artoria sat back down.

In the final round, the Incarnation ended up with the Joker.

"Well, well, well... looks like you're the final loser," Arcueid said with a mischievous grin. She held up her pen and approached the Incarnation slowly, step by step. "Remember our deal—no getting angry and no trying to escape."

Arcueid laughed like a cartoon villain cornering their prey, but then suddenly paused. "Wait a minute—what's your name anyway?"

"Why do you need to know that?" the Incarnation asked.

"Because Arcueid's next line was definitely going to be 'Even if you scream until your voice gives out, no one will come to save you, [insert name here],'" Artoria chimed in from the side.

"How did you know that?" Arcueid turned to Artoria, looking genuinely shocked. "Since when can you read minds?"

"I don't need mind-reading abilities for that," Artoria sighed. "It's just so typically Arcueid!" After all, who wasn't familiar with the infamous Golden Cockroach's dramatic tendencies?

Despite looking like a refined princess, anyone who spent time with Arcueid quickly realized she behaved more like an excitable golden retriever. Her unique way of thinking had apparently even influenced Gaia...

Artoria turned to the Incarnation with curiosity. "Come to think of it, what is your name?"

"Does it really matter?" the Incarnation replied.

"Of course it matters!" Arcueid insisted. "Without a name, my villain speech won't have the right impact! So hurry up and tell me!"

The Incarnation just stared at her silently.

"I don't have such a thing," she finally said. "I am simply the Counter Force of the Eternal Kingdom, formerly part of Alaya. You may address me as Counter Force."

"'Even if you scream until your voice gives out, no one will come to save you, Counter Force'?" Arcueid tried it out. "That sounds so boring! Hmm, what should we call you instead?"

"How about 'Brigid'?" Artoria suggested with a smile as she looked at the Incarnation. "You are the Counter Force of the kingdom, after all. The name Brigid suits you perfectly."

"Brigid... Brigid..." Arcueid tested the name, nodding in approval. "That's a good name!" She turned to the Incarnation with a smile. "Do you mind if we call you that?"

"I am the Counter Force. What you choose to call me is your own concern," the Incarnation replied flatly.

"Brigid it is, then!"

After a moment, Arcueid's face shifted into an exaggerated villainous grin. She approached the Incarnation slowly, pen in hand. "Go ahead and scream! Scream all you want! Even if your voice gives out completely, no one will come to save you now, Brigid!"

The Incarnation remained perfectly still as Arcueid drew a small turtle at the corner of her eye.

Like a contented cat with no worries in the world, Arcueid eventually tired of her games. She stretched out lazily in the garden and promptly fell asleep in the warm afternoon sun.