Chapter 64 - fff

Why?

I've already attacked with the force of over twenty lives. She had no defense—why is she still alive?

Brain destroyed, Spirit Origin heart penetrated, body and limbs all fractured and collapsed?

Even if you were the actual Heroic Spirit Servant Heracles himself, you couldn't possibly survive this. Why are you unharmed? Why can you still fight? Why can you tear through the Chains of Heaven's binding despite possessing demigod-level divinity? Divine Age magus Medea—just who are you? Why are you so unreasonable...

The crimson heart was dug out by that small hand penetrating through her chest. Looking at this little girl so close whose power had dropped more than a notch, the homunculus girl's face was filled with confusion.

The black mud-water on the upper half of the opponent's small face had already receded, leaving only empty, lifeless pupils without light or awareness.

She opened her mouth, fresh blood filling her mouth and nose, the pain beginning to fade.

Or rather, not just pain—even bodily sensation and mental thought were disappearing along with her Spirit Origin heart being taken. The strangely-shaped cylindrical longsword she'd just retrieved fell to the ground, vanishing and transforming into particles of magical light.

This was the second time in the Holy Grail War. During the harbor battle, King Gilgamesh hadn't had time to use this sword's power either, and she was the same now. After all, King Gilgamesh had at least possessed a Heroic Spirit Servant's body, while she only had a homunculus's mortal flesh.

"Splurch!"

Accompanied by the roaring explosions around her, the homunculus girl's Spirit Origin heart was crushed.

At this moment, with her silver hair completely turned golden, she finally understood why Miss Illyasviel could break free from the Chains of Heaven, could withstand bombardment exceeding twenty deaths.

Because the divinity on her opponent had completely disappeared. The manifested Heracles had shattered, replaced by all attributes becoming those of a third-rate Heroic Spirit Servant at floor-level weakness. Without divinity but possessing anti-Heroic Spirit Servant special attack, the opponent could naturally tear through the Chains of Heaven that targeted divinity with ease.

As for why her opponent wouldn't die? Because her opponent had already died long ago.

This wasn't a desperate struggle after heavy injury, but revenge against the enemy achieved through death itself.

Every organ system within that body, including the Spirit Origin, had been burned completely hollow by Miss Illyasviel. So-called fatal wounds simply didn't exist for her opponent anymore. She was purely a being of vengeance composed of magical energy—absurdly unreasonable, like the Grail itself entering the fight.

"Those already dead cannot be killed a second time. So it's immortality based on magical energy..."

This person wasn't strong. Her close combat level basically couldn't even pass second-rate Heroic Spirit Servants.

But simultaneously this person was very strong. Without knowing her specific intel, even first-rate Heroic Spirit Servants would be killed by ambush.

Fighting purely on instinct, any Knight-class Servant in decent condition could suppress her in melee combat. She was a magus wearing a Berserker's skin.

But, but who the hell would have thought that an unconscious Heroic Spirit Servant wielding a massive axe-sword's true weakness was close combat, with her core being a magus?

This was preconception from intelligence. Everyone judged based on the conscious Miss Illyasviel's powerful close combat earlier. If only Miss Illyasviel had been wielding a magic staff instead, it wouldn't have allowed enemies to misjudge and be killed on first encounter.

Yes, Miss Illyasviel specialized in first-encounter kills. Unless you were a well-traveled heroic figure who saw through her nature, the first meeting was the last.

Of course, if she couldn't kill someone in the first battle, there wouldn't be a second battle for her anyway.

"Thud."

The homunculus girl powerlessly closed her eyes, collapsing onto the little girl's shoulder with no strength remaining.

Her skin and flesh had been burned to charcoal. Already near death, after her Spirit Origin heart was penetrated and dug out, this was the natural outcome. This battle was her misjudgment. She shouldn't have played with ranged attacks but directly pulled out a Noble Phantasm axe and clashed with the enemy—perhaps there'd have been some slim chance of survival.

Although that chance of survival wouldn't have been great either. After all, if not for the Chains of Heaven forcing the unconscious little girl to voluntarily abandon divinity, those attribute values enhanced comprehensively by divinity weren't something she, a mere homunculus Heroic Spirit Servant, could challenge.

"Hehe, hahahaha, we'll meet again. This king has already seen it—in America, in that land filled with false Holy Grail Wars, the showdown between this king and you, the showdown between the most ancient Heroic King and you rat who never revealed your True Name from beginning to end, will reach its conclusion in that Holy Grail War..."

The homunculus girl on the verge of death smirked arrogantly, as haughty and insolent in defeat as King Gilgamesh had been that night at the harbor battle.

No! She should say that about to exit, she was King Gilgamesh himself!

She could see the future in this instant of death. After all, King Gilgamesh possessed exactly such an ability!

Even if only for an instant, she saw it—a Holy Grail War in a distant land. Though she didn't see much, she could clearly see the location in that vision, and an Illyasviel far more formidable than her current opponent, countless times over, in serious confrontation with her earnest self!

Though errors might appear... after all, Illyasviel actually possessed...

An ability to change fate to some degree, similar to that magic sword of Diarmuid Ua Duibhne...

"Seventy-six seconds."

Casually pushing the homunculus girl's corpse into the flames to be incinerated in the firestorm and explosions, even unto death the arrogance and pride at the corners of her mouth didn't fade. She wouldn't acknowledge the unyielding will of the heroic figures in this Holy Grail War, but only her dear friend was qualified to make her set aside arrogance—that Enkidu who extended aid even to this counterfeit version of her.

As for that vassal Tohsaka Tokiomi—heh, it wasn't that she didn't want to help, but this Holy Grail War's omnipotent wish-granter had some distortion issues to begin with. Besides, the conclusion she'd seen for him wasn't so bad.

"Crack."

The crushed Spirit Origin heart transformed into fragments of light, particles of magical energy. The black magical energy as always intercepted a trace, condensing into a long card entity that fell into Illyasviel's hand, becoming the fourth Heroic Spirit Servant personally slain by Miss Illyasviel in this Holy Grail War.

—Archer card.

A golden card engraved with the pattern of a heroic archer. Originally it should have been obtained by Miss Illyasviel on the first night, but the resolved Tohsaka Tokiomi had delayed it until now, using open schemes to nearly get Miss Illyasviel killed. Yet once again her gaze didn't linger on the card for even a moment. She simply tossed it into the black mud-water at her feet like discarding trash.

After all, without a Spirit Origin, Noble Phantasms naturally couldn't be used. Keeping it was meaningless. Her current instinct was only to kill—seeing anyone and killing them, whether human or Heroic Spirit Servant. As long as they lived, she would crush and slaughter them.

"Riiip."

Pulling out the two Noble Phantasms embedded in her head—though not removing these Noble Phantasms would cause them to disperse quickly anyway, biological instinct still told the unconscious little girl that her head couldn't be attacked.

With divinity's disappearance and the Berserker card's destruction, Miss Illyasviel returned to her original appearance, with attributes not even comparable to third-rate Heroic Spirit Servants.

Her white oversized shirt had turned dirty black, the high temperature likewise scorching her skin into a demonic, gruesome state. Her bare, fair little feet were stained with mud-water.

Her scalded red bare feet seemed nearly cooked through.

"Sixty-five seconds."

But it wasn't over yet.

Though the two strongest magical energy sources had died and she couldn't continue scavenging.

Another faint magical energy source remained in this forest—magical energy belonging to a Heroic Spirit Servant. More fragile than a third-rate Heroic Spirit Servant, as if having just recovered a trace of vitality only to be blown to a remnant body by explosions, already without any further combat capability. A pitiful little thing.

"Cough cough cough, cough cough, there's no point struggling anymore, Kiritsugu Emiya. My flank bears Gáe Buidhe's curse. Command Spells cannot repair my injuries, stamina, or magical energy. If anyone can survive this bombardment, it can only depend on you handling it yourself..."

Protecting Kiritsugu Emiya behind her with Invisible Air, the swordswoman half-kneeling on the scorching ground had lightless eyes, only gripping Excalibur tightly to prevent herself from collapsing.

Because she was truly too exhausted. Consecutive battles against multiple Heroic Spirit Servants, ambushed viciously by Illyasviel, now bleeding from head wounds with one eye penetrated, and still having to endure bombardment from these who-knows-where kamikaze familiar knight legions. If she collapsed and felt even a moment's relaxation, she'd immediately lose consciousness.

When Miss Illyasviel had killed the King of Conquerors earlier, she hadn't sensed the magical energy signature of this swordswoman buried beneath the ruins playing dead, precisely because she was now no different from someone at death's door. She couldn't muster even the slightest strength. If not for the cornered playing-dead Kiritsugu Emiya desperately using a Command Spell to summon her back, she'd probably have already dispersed and died, returning to the Grail.

Though even after being summoned back, she wouldn't live much longer. Gáe Buidhe's curse hadn't disappeared.

Having directly tanked attacks from demigod-state Illyasviel multiple times, she was long ago in the same state as other Heroic Spirit Servants suffering fatal injuries and clinging to life by a thread. Her injuries were actually the worst of all—even Diarmuid was in far better condition.

"Is Illyasviel really your daughter? Just treat this as small talk with someone about to die, Kiritsugu Emiya."

"...Have you already given up, Saber? Asking such irrelevant questions."

"I still want to save and continue the Kingdom of Britain, but from the harbor battle onward, one wrong step led to another. Now that things have reached this point, at most I can only ensure you survive. For me, it's merely a question of disappearing sooner or later."

The tattered armor on her body dispersed into particles of magical light. The swordswoman hung her head, her voice growing weaker and more faint. Tonight everyone had given their all.

She believed she was no worse than anyone else, just inferior in schemes and strategy.

The simplest point: except for Noble Phantasms she couldn't wield with both hands, she was completely exposed. Yet Diarmuid, Iskandar, Illyasviel, and the resurrected King Gilgamesh—these heroic figures all had trump cards not laid on the table, and all had more and stronger hidden cards than her.

"You know what? Illyasviel has divinity. Ha, do you know what divinity is? Even I can't help suspecting whether she's really the Treacherous Witch Medea or just disguised in Illyasviel's form."

The swordswoman forced a strained smile. Even with her resolve reaching this point.

But unable to win was still unable to win. Or rather, her resolve came too slowly. During the harbor battle period when she still had strength to spare, she should have hunted down Illyasviel and finished off these exhausted Heroic Spirit Servants in one sweep.

"Protect Illyasviel, Kiritsugu Emiya. This is my final request."

"I promised her I would protect her until this Holy Grail War's conclusion. This is the only—the only remaining shred of dignity I have left in this Holy Grail War. After I die, take her and leave Fuyuki City. Don't let Illyasviel become like this. Let her live out her life peacefully, stably, happily."

Unable to accomplish anything, unable to protect anything, yet this Holy Grail War still held something she wanted to protect. Knowing she was now beyond the omnipotent wish-granter's reach.

Then she'd use her final strength to exchange for that princess's peaceful happiness.

Because at least—at the very least—she still protected one person. It wasn't a total loss, was it?

"You've truly gone mad, Saber. I won't allow you to..."

"Shut up! If you dare disagree, I'll immediately dispel Invisible Air and let you burn to death here. With only one Command Spell left, you have no right to command me anymore!"

A Heroic Spirit Servant defying orders—this most suffocating occurrence happened to Kiritsugu Emiya with only one Command Spell remaining.

Yet Kiritsugu Emiya still felt the swordswoman was naive. After all, verbal promises could be broken anytime. Once the swordswoman died, who would...

"You think I'm naive, don't you? Trusting your promise? No, no, no. I've never trusted a killer like you."

Yet the swordswoman seemed to have guessed Kiritsugu Emiya's inner thoughts, shaking her head lightly in her wretched state.

She'd understood what it meant to be a king, so if unable to achieve victory, then she'd use her life to tie up her own loose ends. A monarch's kingly way wouldn't waver or be rewritten.

But that didn't mean she couldn't learn so-called flexibility in this decisive battle banquet. The great wish couldn't be realized, but if a small wish was realized, at least there'd be something to hope for. And she needed this hope—like the dim flame of hope brought by Miss Illyasviel's victory over King Gilgamesh that night at the harbor battle.

"Even if you're just lying to me, at least it lets me believe I can accomplish something..."

The blood-stained ahoge atop her head swayed. Her Instinct skill warned of danger.

The swordswoman raised her invisible sword with her last strength. After murmuring this sentence, facing away from Kiritsugu Emiya, she roared. She didn't even know how he'd successfully survived and played dead right under two great Heroic Spirit Servants' noses, but he was now the only one who might help her fulfill her promise to Illyasviel.

"Go! I'll stall for time. The wind around you can last about ten more seconds. Run out of this forest with everything you have and rendezvous with Illyasviel!"

"Saber, you're just a madwoman..."

Riiip!

Before he could finish, with a tearing sound, two black daggers woven from silver threads were instantly hurled from the sea of flames, piercing into the exhausted swordswoman's chest!

The daggers' speed wasn't particularly fast—not even as fast as small handgun bullets. But for the swordswoman who'd lost almost all combat capability, no matter how slow the daggers were, they were attacks she could no longer track!

"Twenty-seven seconds."

Covered head to toe without a single patch of intact flesh, broken and tattered like a shattered doll, the little girl emerged from the flames with arms dangling, gripping daggers.

She tilted her head, her pupils completely black, her expression giving no glimpse into her inner thoughts.

"Ilya..."

Upon seeing the silent little girl in a black dress, Kiritsugu Emiya froze, murmuring.

"?"

And his voice reached Miss Illyasviel's ears. Her body involuntarily trembled, causing her attention to shift somewhat from the swordswoman, as if concerned about the name spoken from his mouth.

"Your opponent is me. Don't look away, Illyasviel!"

A battle-spirited roar likewise called out that name. Then came a weak charging slash. Even giving her all, the swordswoman's speed remained very slow. Bathed in blood, she was now perhaps not even as fast as an adult's sprint.

"Clang!"

So little strength!

Like a frail little girl lifting something heavy to smash down—not even producing sparks before being blocked by the black mud-water dagger!

Hard to imagine this was once the most powerful Knight-class Servant who'd fought gloriously, able to beat Miss Illyasviel into fleeing with head covered. Because her current combat power could no longer be called a Heroic Spirit Servant's at all, driven purely by a trace of vitality and a single breath!

"Fifteen seconds."

"What are you still looking at? Go! Irisviel and Ilya both need you!!!"

Riiip! The other dagger followed the Invisible Air's extension and severed all the swordswoman's fingers, but she didn't give up despite the intense pain. Instead she let out an ear-splitting roar for Kiritsugu Emiya—already stunned not far away—to immediately scram!

"Saber..."

Kiritsugu Emiya bit his teeth, ultimately not knowing what exactly he was thinking.

Not disappointing the swordswoman's expectations, he turned and leaped into the burning inferno.

He never imagined that King Arthur, whose compatibility with him had been utterly terrible, who'd said multiple times she wished she could kill him, would choose to hold the rear for him. And not out of the contract between Masters, but out of knowingly already defeated circumstances to exchange for his sole remaining thread of survival.

He had to admit—he'd truly underestimated her. She wasn't simply a little girl, but a true monarch with inner resolve inferior to no one, including himself.

"Nine seconds."

Clang! The Invisible Air flew from her hands. The swordswoman's arms were severed by that superhuman speed and sent flying, blood scattering across the earth!

Miss Illyasviel now was merely floor-level among third-rate Heroic Spirit Servants. But for Heroic Spirit Servants all at critical health, forget third-rate—even fourth-rate or unranked would suffice to slaughter everyone on this battlefield!

"Illyasviel, snap out of it!"

But even with both arms severed!

As Miss Illyasviel tried to advance further, a headbutt struck viciously downward!

This was precisely the unexpected attack Miss Illyasviel had used not long ago—even after losing hands and weapon, still able to execute a headbutt exploiting the opponent's relaxed opening!

"Five seconds..."

Covering her little head, forced back two steps, the unconscious little girl attacked again.

But in the next instant, the armless swordswoman ignored her raised dagger and charged recklessly, letting the dagger pierce her chest. Using her height and that stubborn obsession's advantage, she directly knocked both herself and the little girl into the inferno together!

Boom boom boom boom! Scorching flames and explosions swallowed both of them instantly!

Overhead, the remaining familiar legions continued suicidal attacks raining down artillery fire. Miss Illyasviel wanted to get up, but the swordswoman completely drained of all vitality pressed her down to be bombarded together!

"One second."

And sensing the lightness upon her body from the swordswoman, the unconscious little girl's death countdown also ended. The black magical energy on her body slowly receded.

Even the blackened oversized nightgown transformed back to the pure white from when she was first summoned.

She too had no strength left. Even the Spirit Origin within her body had become nonexistent.

"Why, Arthur, fight to this extent..."

Instinct had brought her opponent the initiative. She clearly had opportunities to escape.

She only needed to trick Kiritsugu Emiya into using a Command Spell to replenish magical energy, escape herself to find another magus for a new contract. This series of steps had possible feasibility, though that brief retention time might be only ten-odd minutes or even mere minutes.

"A monarch protecting vassals is only natural."

"How nice... if in ancient times, to have such a foolish monarch as you..."

Hearing the swordswoman's firm conviction in her dying moments, Miss Illyasviel in her final lucid moment felt her eyes itch. Two trails of bloody tears slid down her cheeks.

Never expected she'd ultimately lose to a fool. Despite desperate efforts, still unable to accomplish anything.

"I only wanted to live, only wanted happiness. Why is it so difficult? Is my wish not lofty enough? Is my wish too small compared to everyone else's?"

"You once guided me to firm my path. Have you yourself forgotten?"

"Just spouting nonsense. How can I, who's not a hero, evaluate you all?"

"You are a hero. From the night you fought alongside me against that most ancient Heroic King bringing despair, you already were."

"...Is that so?"

Flames and explosions drowned everything.

The swordswoman's body also began transforming into particles of magical light, just like the nightgown-clad little girl beneath her. Even Command Spells could no longer prevent them from walking toward life's end.

Burning trees collapsed, raising dust that revealed the bright night sky.

So beautiful...

Miss Illyasviel sighed inwardly. Unable to even feel pain anymore, her eyes continuously reddened, yet that adorable little face still bore a relaxed smile. Because she understood she'd given her all on the path pursuing happiness, satisfied like Iskandar.

Just... her eyes were very, very itchy. She couldn't help but shed some liquid she didn't like.

Ultimately still defeated. Ultimately still unable to survive. Ultimately still unfortunate.

Why so itchy... I clearly don't want to cry. Why is it still so itchy...

"If you could obtain the Grail, would you wish for your own happiness? What kind of happiness? Iskandar said your happiness was very lonely."

This was the swordswoman's final teasing before dispersing.

"I don't know. Because I've never had happiness before, don't know what happiness looks like..."

But now, perhaps she knew.

Having friends to confide in, family to open one's heart to, experiencing joy, anger, sorrow, pleasure?

...Pft, seems to have become even more insignificant.

The Einzbern castle destroyed, the Einzbern forest leveled, everything within the Einzbern family territory razed to the ground. The spreading mountain fire burned through the entire night.

When Fuyuki City's fire department arrived, only smoke and devastation remained at the scene. Craters pitted the landscape everywhere, the acrid smell of gunpowder permeating the surroundings. The hundred-meter crater blasted out by Diarmuid clearly couldn't be explained away as a gas leak—after all, what the hell kind of gas pipeline would exist in a mountain forest? This left the frazzled Church scrambling to wrangle with Fuyuki City's municipal government while constantly deflecting the swarm of media reporters competing for coverage.

All dead. Everyone was dead. Not a single survivor—this was the information obtained after initial investigation of the scene.

This epic, mythological battle was undoubtedly Illyasviel's ball to host. Only the star performer herself didn't live to the end.

A mere Caster had consecutively slaughtered three Heroic Spirit Servants in a single night.

Though this involved schemes, information gaps, calculations, and elements of luck.

But without doubt, the name of the Divine Age magus Medea would be remembered by all after tonight. While it might not warrant special attention from the Clock Tower, any magus who knew of the Holy Grail War and wanted to participate—whether in a proper Holy Grail War or a subspecies version—would count Medea as one of the absolute tier-zero top choices among summonable Heroic Spirit Servants.

After all, she was too damn fierce. Close combat that fought the Knight classes to a draw, taking anti-fortress and anti-army level light cannons to the face and still getting back up, pulling out familiar legions for carpet bombing mutual destruction at death's door, possessing multiple magecraft methods and powerful summoning techniques. If you couldn't see how terrifying this value was.

It only proved the participating magi had screws loose. This thing was practically one of the peaks of conventional Holy Grail Wars. Anything stronger than this you couldn't summon, and anything you could summon couldn't possibly be as versatile as this Heroic Spirit Servant.

"Saber, Artoria Pendragon, deceased."

"Rider, Iskandar, deceased."

"Archer, King Gilgamesh, deceased."

"Kiritsugu Emiya's assistant, Maiya Hisau, deceased."

"The omnipotent wish-granter's vessel, Irisviel von Einzbern, deceased."

Morning sunlight rose into the sky, its radiance drowning the darkness, shining through the windows of Fuyuki City's Civic Hall into this venue already enchanted with people-repelling magecraft rituals.

Kirei Kotomine organized the reports in his hands with an unchanged expression. This was the intelligence already collected. As for other matters, even he had no way of knowing, since variables had occurred with the Church last night as well. The familiars hidden throughout Fuyuki City's districts had been destroyed by unknown personnel, leaving even him ignorant of how many people survived that night.

Regarding the attacker, the Church was investigating. Their methods resembled Kiritsugu Emiya's style of concealing traces—even now there were no leads.

However, one thing could be confirmed: that person who'd attacked the Church while other Masters and Servants were battling was quite capable. Even the Church's tracking magecraft had been immediately countered. They were a formidable magus well-versed in magecraft and extremely familiar with the Church's methods—suspected to be the Divine Age magus Medea's Master.

"Finally, Caster, the Divine Age magus Medea, after killing three Heroic Spirit Servants, deceased."

"Hehe, how interesting. You hid your identity until the very end without being discovered by other Heroic Spirit Servants? Though that makes sense—that demigod-level divinity at the end even made me suspect you really were the Divine Age magus Medea."

Looking at the Command Spells covering almost his entire arm on the back of his hand, Kirei Kotomine's lips curved slightly.

Last night he'd tried recalling Illyasviel, but the Command Spells simply wouldn't activate.

That person had truly gone all-out. Originally he'd wanted to see her reaction upon seeing Irisviel's corpse, but unfortunately the Command Spells had failed as well.

"Did you ever imagine that your biological daughter was ultimately killed by the Servant your husband Kiritsugu Emiya summoned?"

Lifting his head and setting down the materials, looking at the beautiful white-clad girl's corpse lying in the red magic circle on the theater's high platform, Kirei Kotomine suddenly felt a trace of regret for killing her. After all, since Illyasviel couldn't return anyway.

Having Irisviel to relieve his boredom would have been quite nice. Unfortunately he'd still been afraid then—afraid that when his Assassin returned and saw Irisviel still alive, they'd cut him down, preventing him from witnessing even more delightful hells in the future.

This was Fuyuki City's Civic Hall. For the Grail to descend, the ritual had to be held at one of Fuyuki City's four major ley line locations—this was an iron law.

These four major ley line areas were: the Tohsaka family villa, Fuyuki City's Church headquarters, the summit of Mount Enzou where Ryuudou Temple stood, and Fuyuki City's Civic Hall.

In terms of spiritual rank, Mount Enzou was the best choice, but without establishing a magecraft workshop there it was too easily breached. Better to choose the Civic Hall in Fuyuki City's urban district where large-scale destructive weapons couldn't be deployed—at least other Heroic Spirit Servants and Masters would exercise more restraint here.

Knock, knock, knock.

Sound came from the Civic Hall's main door.

"But it doesn't matter. If he's still alive, I'll definitely tell him the truth..."

Kirei Kotomine looked deeply at the silent corpse, then turned and walked toward the knocked door of the Civic Hall. He felt some regret about Illyasviel's exit—after all, setting aside their mutual threats, their compatibility had truly been excellent.

For this completely hands-off type of Servant who needed no management, he could constantly find entertainment from her. Now with her passing, it felt like losing a kindred spirit.

And what struck him as even more bizarre was that he was clearly her true Master.

So why had an "alleged Caster Master"—an unknown magus—suddenly appeared to attack the Church?

Click.

The door opened a crack. An exhausted, noble-looking man who hadn't slept all night quickly slipped inside.

"What's the situation? The Church's investigation."

"Total annihilation. I've already begun preparing the ritual. Tonight the Grail should successfully descend as expected, but we haven't confirmed whether Kayneth and Lancer are still alive. My suggestion is that you, teacher, can book a flight out of Fuyuki City."

Leading Tohsaka Tokiomi into the Civic Hall's lounge, Kirei Kotomine said expressionlessly.

Actually Lancer was already insufficient to fear. Those injuries could be said to be even more severe than Illyasviel's initial ones. Recovering within a day was undoubtedly fantasy. Whether he could even maintain third-rate Heroic Spirit Servant level was questionable.

After all, Tohsaka Tokiomi didn't know much about that night, but Kirei knew all too clearly how brutal the fighting had been. Everyone fought continuously without rest, battling one enemy after another.

Diarmuid and Illyasviel had it worst—both first fought Iskandar, then the swordswoman, then battled each other, and finally faced King Gilgamesh. Truly high-intensity combat beyond human comprehension.

"...I went to the Church. What happened there? Why is the entire Church sealed off?"

Sitting down, Tohsaka Tokiomi finally relaxed and took a breath, downing a cup of tea in one gulp.

According to the original plan, after his disciple captured Irisviel, they should have gone to Mount Enzou or the Church to perform the summoning ritual. Instead he'd spent the entire morning running around looking, only finding this Civic Hall ley line location.

"My father, Father Risei Kotomine, was killed."

"?!"

Clang—the teacup fell to the floor.

Tohsaka Tokiomi's eyes widened in disbelief, bloodshot from exhaustion.

What kind of joke was this? Father Risei Kotomine—the Church's overseer who'd mastered Bajiquan to perfection, capable of trading blows with even third-rate Heroic Spirit Servants.

An existence respected by many magi during the Third Holy Grail War. Unless through assassination or sudden attack outside magecraft, with last night's Heroic Spirit Servants all fighting independently, who the hell could spare time to kill an overseer?

"Killed? How could this be? How could this happen? Why was even the Father killed?"

Clenching his teeth, Tohsaka Tokiomi lowered his head and gripped his fists, letting out an angry, incredulous growl:

"Unforgivable. This absolutely cannot be forgiven!"

Bam!

Hammering his fist into the sofa beneath him. How much had Risei Kotomine helped him in this Holy Grail War? He remembered it all. Though due to a magus's nature he wouldn't feel gratitude toward outsiders—it was more utilization through emotional manipulation—hearing of that old friend's death still filled him with fury.

He let out a long breath, growling for several minutes, repeatedly reciting the Tohsaka family creed to maintain elegance at all times before slowly regaining composure.

After all, he could barely protect himself now. Even if he wanted to avenge Father Risei Kotomine, it would have to wait.

"I never imagined the Father's death would come in this form. You must be suffering greatly too, Kirei. Even to me, Father Risei Kotomine was like another father. But I never expected such an utterly unexpected event."

Oh, not really. Just somewhat dissatisfied it wasn't me telling him the truth before killing him personally.

Kirei Kotomine lowered his head in silence. What a pitiful father—after all, when he died he still firmly believed his son was a saint.

He'd passed down the Command Spell transfer method through secret Biblical means, equivalent to transferring overseer authority.

However, perhaps for him, this was actually a kind of redemption fulfilling his heart's desire.

This was something Kirei only discovered when he returned near dawn. If he'd returned earlier, wielding multiple Command Spells he could have made Illyasviel unstoppable, could have done some even more delightful things.

Of course, right now the Tohsaka Tokiomi before him also held quite a few interesting matters.

"No, teacher. My father committed suicide."

"?"

"According to scene investigation, there were no signs of battle or gunpowder smell within the Church. My father used Bajiquan to attack his own heart and died—meaning the attacker didn't ambush and kill him..."

This was a lie. Battle traces were indeed absent.

But the struggle marks before Risei Kotomine's death were sufficient proof he'd been resisting this suicide.

After all, in Church doctrine suicide was a sin preventing entry to heaven. How could Risei Kotomine at his age make such a basic mistake?

It had to be some magecraft, or terrifying illusion—perversely controlling Risei Kotomine to violate his own doctrine and kill himself.

But the only person who'd seen Father Risei Kotomine's corpse was Kirei Kotomine himself. What the body's details were, wasn't it however he wanted to describe it? After all, Tohsaka Tokiomi couldn't possibly spend time investigating the truth in the short term.

"What did you say?"

Tohsaka Tokiomi's expression froze for several seconds, seemingly understanding certain implications in Kirei Kotomine's words.

"The attacker may have discovered the truth about your secret alliance with the Church, teacher, and threatened my father with this truth, coercing him to do things detrimental to you—like obtaining Command Spells, acquiring intelligence assistance and such cheating. But my father would rather commit suicide than let you and his late-life integrity be ruined and disgraced, so he could only use this method to shut that attacker's mouth."

Kirei Kotomine's expression appropriately showed a trace of sorrow. Secretly glancing at Tohsaka Tokiomi's shocked, guilty, regretful expression, his heart found it increasingly amusing.

The information he provided was all quite reasonable, logically consistent—only he'd assigned most of the blame to Tohsaka Tokiomi, planting the subconscious suggestion that it was because of his existence and cheating that Risei Kotomine was forced to commit suicide.

"So it was... because of my stubbornness..."

Tohsaka Tokiomi had an epiphany.

Seeing Kirei Kotomine's sorrowful expression made his guilt intensify. Yes, if Risei Kotomine hadn't been threatened, why would he choose suicide?

The attacker wanting intelligence and Command Spells definitely couldn't silence him. Only Risei Kotomine himself giving up the possibility of survival made sense.

But, but...

Why go so far, Father Risei...

It was clearly my problem. Why would you for that little friendship between us...

Tohsaka Tokiomi fell silent, his eyes reddening. If Kirei Kotomine had simply said Risei Kotomine committed suicide for him, he definitely wouldn't believe such nonsense. But if it was Risei Kotomine preserving the Church's reputation and his own late-life integrity—

Then everything made perfect sense. He had to commit suicide to redeem everyone, redeeming both himself and others.

"Who! Who did this!"

"Caster's mysterious Master. According to intelligence collected by the Church, the only magus with opportunity and capability to kill Father Risei at that time was them. Their magecraft attainments are preliminarily estimated at no less than Pride rank, and under Caster's magecraft tools and guidance, we can't rule out approaching Brand rank possibility."

Normally magus ranks were divided into seven types: Grand, Brand, Pride, Fes, Count, Eldest, and Youngest.

Grand—the highest rank, usually only attainable by extremely powerful magi.

Brand—second only to Grand, the highest rank achievable by the Clock Tower's Twelve Lords.

Pride—ranking in the top three, one of the three most capable magi.

This wasn't a strength division. Most cases involved advancing through magecraft attainments, though magi capable of such attainments were basically all quite powerful in combat—after all, without combat capability, what opportunities would magi have to research innovative rare matters?

"As expected, Caster's Master was hiding in Fuyuki City..."

Tohsaka Tokiomi clenched his fist and hammered the sofa again, both wary and resentful.

He'd been scheming against the Divine Age magus Medea, while her Master had likewise been scheming against him.

Damn that alliance relationship—he shouldn't have gambled that night.

Just letting other Heroic Spirit Servants kill each other would have been better. With the final combat power the Divine Age magus Medea displayed, if he hadn't restrained Diarmuid, she couldn't possibly have had energy left to activate some forbidden curse for mutual destruction with others. Diarmuid's Gáe Dearg directly countered Medea completely.

Though this was just internal thinking. Given that mysterious Master's sinister calculations, if he'd dared not gamble his life, they'd have dared announce King Gilgamesh still lived that very day. The banquet battle would have become a siege on King Gilgamesh.

Initiative—all initiative—was firmly grasped by that Treacherous Witch.

"What can a near-Brand rank magus do? Father Risei Kotomine has already been driven to death by them. King Gilgamesh is dead without evidence. As long as they dare linger in Fuyuki City after the Holy Grail War ends, I'll definitely fight them to the death!"

"Yes, I also plan to issue a wanted bounty for that mysterious Caster Master after the Holy Grail War ends, under the crime of killing the Church's overseer."

"Then I'll trouble you, Kirei. I'll coordinate with the Tohsaka family side. Whatever assistance you need, I can provide."

"This is my duty, teacher. No matter what, I won't let the murderer go."

"...Your having this heart is enough. I'm sure Father Risei Kotomine would be very gratified."

Seeing Kirei Kotomine's solemn assurance.

Tohsaka Tokiomi's heart gained some consolation. With such an excellent disciple.

Even if he died in this Holy Grail War, his wife and daughter would have no problems.

He'd already sent Sakura back to the Tohsaka family this morning, and according to the self-enforced contract, she'd been accepted by Tsuruno Matou.

Though he didn't know why Tsuruno Matou didn't need any explanation from him at all. Upon hearing Zouken Matou had died, she'd smiled so brilliantly, saying something like since that old bastard was already dead, she'd definitely follow the contract's terms and properly care for Sakura Matou, raising her as the family head.

As if Tsuruno Matou couldn't wait for Zouken Matou to die even more than him.

She'd even immediately taken Sakura Matou and an uncharacteristically studious Shinji Matou carrying a huge pile of books to Fuyuki City's most expensive restaurant after chatting with him briefly.

Highlighting a rebellion he couldn't comprehend, beaming from ear to ear.

But all in all it was still a good thing, because he could tell Tsuruno Matou wasn't faking it. That joy was genuine from inside out—tears of happiness even flowing from her eyes. She didn't care at all about the destroyed Matou family villa or Kariya Matou who'd died leaving only a puddle of rotten flesh.

"I'll leave matters here to you for now. Go home and pack your luggage to leave Fuyuki City. Come here in the afternoon and I'll give you some final instructions."

With no more worries, Tohsaka Tokiomi shook his head. Risei Kotomine was gone.

The only person he could entrust things to and still trust was his disciple Kirei Kotomine.

"About your daughter? I heard she apparently ran away from home in Fuyuki City recently..."

"She's already home. Fortunately last night's main battlefield wasn't in Fuyuki City's urban district. That child Rin isn't stupid—she knew to seek police help. When I returned home this morning to bid Aoi farewell, the police had already sent her back."

He'd only learned of Rin Tohsaka's disappearance last night when Aoi Tohsaka had no choice but to seek him out. It made him—having narrowly escaped death from the bombardment zone late at night—have to activate detection familiars placed everywhere to search through the night.

He'd even prepared for the possibility she'd been kidnapped by some bastard magus or human trafficker, urgently contacting Church external personnel for assistance.

Who knew—after he'd busied himself all night and just sent Sakura back to the Matou family, Rin Tohsaka had returned on her own. After checking her body had no problems, the matter ended. Then he'd continuously investigated various ley line points searching for Kirei Kotomine.

"You've already lost your Heroic Spirit Servant, teacher. My father wouldn't want you to be stubborn either."

Kirei Kotomine saw Tohsaka Tokiomi's death wish and couldn't help sighing.

"Lancer is already severely injured. Tonight the Grail descends and the ritual completes. They'll definitely come to seize it, and I'm not without opportunity to turn the tables."

"Honestly, I'm quite surprised. I never expected that after the Divine Age magus died, the things she traded me wouldn't directly disappear."

But Tohsaka Tokiomi's lips curved slightly with undeniable confidence. How could he not know Diarmuid might still be alive? But even alive, he'd only be at third-rate Heroic Spirit floor-level. Magi weren't without fighting chance.

Of course, considering Kayneth's pay-to-win financial power, he was gambling again this time.

If Diarmuid's injuries weren't too severe, he'd die. Conversely, he'd gain the possibility of victory.

"Kirei, I can't wait sixty years. The aftereffects these past days have made me realize my body's condition has deteriorated to the extreme—at most twenty-some years left to live. So I can only gamble again."

Tohsaka Tokiomi's voice was cold.

His eyes like a greedy beast, bloodshot nearly popping out. This was opportunity.

His only possible chance to glimpse the Root.

"This Holy Grail War isn't over yet. The unknown Caster Master, Kayneth and Diarmuid—tonight will be the final showdown between me and these survivors."

Ryuudou Temple on Mount Enzou, the Church, Civic Hall, Tohsaka family residence."

"Four major ley lines—I'll have to search them one by one. Tch, never imagined achieving victory in this almost entirely scavenging manner. You bastard have completely disgraced the Archibald family's face!"

Fuyuki City construction district. The blonde man with only one leg remaining was wrapped entirely in bandages.

Gritting his teeth while half-propped against the hospital bed on an IV drip, his complexion wasn't good. Half was from injuries too severe plus last night's bombardment heat wave infecting his wounds causing pain, the other half was from being pissed off by this pure scavenging-type victory. As the ninth head of the Archibald family.

He'd envisioned various victory methods in this rural magus ritual in the Far East, even envisioned possibly encountering villain ambushes, fighting desperately to the end while besieged by multiple people, ultimately outnumbered and regretfully defeated in splendid, heroic fashion.

But he'd truly never imagined his victory would be this bizarrely fucked up.

It was because he ran fast enough, so he won.

Those who didn't want to run got beaten to death by the Divine Age magus Medea. Those who couldn't run got solo-killed by the Divine Age magus Medea. Those who ran slowly got chased down and killed by the Divine Age magus Medea.

His victory reason wasn't that he was strong enough, wasn't that his condition was much better than others... simply that he and Diarmuid fled fastest.

Both escaping Medea's enemy-searching range and not getting killed by Medea's final table-flip bombardment.

This, this, this—was this right? No, I came to this rural place to participate in a magecraft exchange, to gain honor and face. Though this weird Holy Grail ritual's intensity was somewhat unexpectedly high, it was still acceptable. But this kind of victory from running fast becoming the final victor—did this count as honor?

This was bullshit honor—naked humiliation. Transmitted back to the Clock Tower, even that half-baked adopted sister from the El-Melloi family, Reines, could mock him for two and a half years!

After receiving the Church's latest judgment through familiars, Kayneth's face was ashen as death.

His heart grew angrier the more he thought about it. Proud as he was, he'd dismissed the omnipotent wish-granter from beginning to end. He could accept defeating or winning the Holy Grail War in magecraft confrontation, but absolutely couldn't accept this inexplicable victory.

Winning by running fast—for him this situation was more a humiliation.

"Why didn't you kill Medea? You used two Magical Reactors during the melee, yet you tell me you didn't successfully kill even one Heroic Spirit Servant. This is your promise to me of definitely claiming the Grail?"

"...Forgive me, Master. I also never imagined that Divine Age magus would still have a desperate killing move at the end."

Kneeling on one knee before the hospital bed, with two-thirds of his handsome face burned to rotten flesh, Diarmuid's tone was humble in expressing apology. His current state was exactly as everyone speculated—even after most of the day passed, his body remained covered in wounds.

Though theoretically as long as there was magical energy, Heroic Spirit Servants could recover from any injury except those to the Spirit Origin heart and brain, that still depended on injury severity. Just like Miss Illyasviel had injured her Spirit Origin in the battle with the mad dog Lancelot and fought the entire banquet battle while wounded.

Overloaded combat—Diarmuid who'd even dug out the last Magical Reactor in his body to load onto the magic sword had likewise injured his Spirit Origin heart and brain.

After all, everyone at the end truly couldn't move at all, relying purely on obsession to drive broken bodies.

This kind of high overload practically breaking Spirit Origin limits—from how the swordswoman's final clash with Illyasviel left her combat power inferior to an ordinary adult, you could see there truly wasn't the slightest mana remaining.

"Magic sword, Moralltach, power manipulating fate, with dual class containers you said victory's scales tilted toward you and guaranteed me certain victory in your first battle. Then tell me where your certain victory is? You didn't kill Iskandar, didn't kill the Divine Age magus Medea, didn't kill King Gilgamesh, didn't kill King Arthur—you've disappointed me utterly!"

Chest and forehead wrapped entirely in bandages, Kayneth suppressed his inner fury and hammered the bed.

He'd brought full magecraft Mystic Codes, gone into debt to find the best equipment for his Heroic Spirit Servant.

Yet Rider, Saber, Caster—each hid trump cards and killing moves.

An undead resurrected Archer even killed their way in halfway. Of course he knew this wasn't Diarmuid's problem—honestly Diarmuid's battle record in this Holy Grail War seemed second only to the Divine Age magus Medea. But he was truly furious at Diarmuid. He'd already said he himself didn't care about life or death, only wanted victory, yet Diarmuid still had to drag him into disgraceful flight.

Treating his words as mere wind, treating his Kayneth's pride, the Archibald family's honor, as nonexistent. Making him feel upon waking from unconsciousness like the sky was falling. Fighting this broken Far Eastern rural Holy Grail magecraft ritual to this state was one thing.

Victory exchanged through fleeing and survival—how would other Clock Tower Lords view him?

If his students asked in class whether fleeing was the true path when participating in magecraft rituals, whether just fleeing was enough—how should he explain to those students who admired and respected him?

"Perhaps for fate, this is our only path to victory."

Diarmuid smiled bitterly. His Noble Phantasm Moralltach possessed power manipulating fate for certain first-battle victory. You could see it from the battle with the King of Conquerors.

Remote projectiles fundamentally couldn't hit him, and even the King of Conquerors releasing anti-army level Noble Phantasms in his home-field Reality Marble hadn't harmed him.

And this wasn't all. Fate was very mysterious—even in subsequent engagements though not certain victory, he could occupy some unexpected advantages. Probably his final escape from death was also this marvelous power of fate's favor. Everyone died yet only he and his lord survived—luck truly exceeding hard power.

"Master, luck is also part of strength. Violating your orders was my fault—I have no complaints however you scold me. But think of Lady Sola? If you weren't here, how heartbroken would your fiancée Lady Sola be?"

Honestly—won. Just like that, won. He truly hadn't quite expected this either.

He'd thought either King Gilgamesh or the Divine Age magus Medea would survive.

He'd even prepared to knock his lord unconscious, then honestly face these two version-new tier-zero heroic figures and go to his death, exchanging for his lord's safe departure from Fuyuki City.

But man proposes, heaven disposes. After drawing the magic sword, this luck-boosting passive ability seemed genuinely fierce. Yesterday still worrying about this and that, today once the Church's latest intel dropped—bam, they became the final victors.

"Moreover, the Church's information is already unreliable. From last night's Archer still being alive and battling fiercely with Caster, you can see there's definitely..."

"Do I still need you teaching me what to do?"

Kayneth impatiently waved his hand.

Originally he'd thought that King Gilgamesh was Medea's puppet, but from the late-stage desperate struggle, the relationship between them was definitely not as simple as master and servant.

"The Church side does have some problems. I haven't believed most of this transmitted information either. Among Fuyuki City's founding three families there's definitely unknown insider dealings. After all, for outsiders, these local magi inevitably have cheating methods. I've seen this plenty in the magecraft world—nothing surprising."

"If I'm not mistaken, reviving dead Heroic Spirit Servants is one cheating method. I even suspect Tohsaka Tokiomi, announced as eliminated under Church protection, participated. I just somewhat can't believe it. I can hardly believe the Church acting as neutral overseer in Holy Grail Wars would knowingly favor one side."

Relations between the Church and Mage's Association weren't good—years of open and covert conflicts continued.

If not for "Ancestor"-level Dead Apostles suppressing from above, both sides would beat each other's brains out.

So unless absolutely necessary, Kayneth truly didn't want to believe a Church overseer would unite with a magecraft family head to create corruption. After all, if this got exposed, it could only be called universally despised.

Even a Clock Tower Lord couldn't withstand covert ostracism and various public opinion. Might even get covertly purged by certain people from their own faction forces.

Both Tohsaka Tokiomi and Risei Kotomine were people of status and position.

Though merely rural figures, they wouldn't push themselves to the cusp for a mere large magical energy block, leaving no room for survival.

"Lord, you mean King Gilgamesh might still crawl out of hell..."

"Hehe, foolish. If I'm not mistaken, this revival method definitely requires complete Heroic Spirit Servant Spirit Origins. If they could truly infinitely revive Heroic Spirit Servants, the Holy Grail War wouldn't be fought so cautiously. The founding three families' summoned Heroic Spirit Servants could all fight you desperately without reservation!"

"Requires complete Spirit Origin for resurrection?"

"Correct. And this resurrection has extreme weakening. That King Gilgamesh's body couldn't spirit-form, proving it was mortal flesh. His strength was also more than a notch weaker than the harbor battle, so I can easily deduce the method."

Or rather.

I can also replicate it once.

And even stronger than that weakened resurrection.

Kayneth smiled coldly. He'd already sorted out the truth of King Gilgamesh's revival to seventy or eighty percent, even without close contact—only seeing him once.

But for a genius like him, this was already sufficient. This was dimensional reduction attack on the magecraft theoretical knowledge level.

Precisely because of this, he was too damn furious. Everyone at the banquet battle all died.

Forget Spirit Origins—not even hair remained. One by one unable to fight revival matches. Making him inexplicably win by fleeing, unable to regroup and slaughter all directions proving himself, unable to have a showdown with that Divine Age magus Medea.

"This charity-like victory, I don't need! It's not me being given charity by Medea and King Gilgamesh, but me fundamentally dismissing the Grail!"

"...Master, you mean?"

"Leaving. Whoever wants to continue this magecraft ritual can continue. This lord bestows the so-called omnipotent wish-granter to these rural magi. When Sola returns, have her book tonight's flight. I'm returning to the Clock Tower to treat my severed leg."

"Ah?"

Hearing this, Diarmuid couldn't help freezing.

What the hell? Just not wanting it? Master, we struggled desperately for so long and you say you don't want the Grail?

But after freezing, he could only sigh helplessly, because his lord truly had the capital to say such things, could be more willful than others.

From the start he wasn't aiming for the omnipotent wish-granter, purely wanting to participate in this magecraft exchange ritual. Now having already won, whether he took the prize truly didn't matter. He could even use this method to harvest a wave of magnanimous, proud reputation of fundamentally dismissing the omnipotent wish-granter, covering this shameful victory method.

Did the Grail have meaning? Speaking of meaning, it definitely did—after all big wishes might not work but small wishes like wanting some wealth, wanting some knowledge, would definitely be easy.

But compared to Archibald honor, a Clock Tower Lord's face, these seemed worthless.

Previously it was evenly-matched intense battle. Now only their side still had a Heroic Spirit Servant—that was purely bullying the weak like a father beating his son. Anyway Kayneth didn't need any Grail. Better to use this to send a favor along the current and leave.

"Master, your leg—can it still be treated?"

Diarmuid had no objections to this.

Only worried that with modern medical standards, his lord's leg looked impossible to repair no matter how you looked at it.

"Though the Far East is a small place, it's produced some quite outstanding talents. For instance, the Aozaki family of the Far East's premier spiritual land has a puppeteer whose talent isn't inferior to mine. Though her relationship with the Mage's Association isn't good, with my connections I can still request her help making me a brand new leg."

Kayneth waved dismissively, seeming somewhat displeased. This was a rare occasion of him admitting a magus's talent wasn't beneath his, though he didn't much like this person.

Touko Aozaki—currently the highest-ranked documented puppeteer in the Mage's Association records.

Probably even the Einzbern family's ancestor—the Third Magic user's disciple—couldn't compare to this person. Reportedly this person didn't even take the Mage's Association's Sealing Designation seriously, her magecraft attainments possibly reaching "Grand" level—even if not truly reaching it, extremely close.

As a Clock Tower Lord, he naturally didn't much like this kind of rule-breaking magus.

But simultaneously as a fellow genius, admiration or competitive psychology made him have some contact with that puppeteer. After all, connections might come in handy someday.

"Attached in the short term, it should be no different from new."

"This is also one reason I need to return to the Clock Tower. Delayed too long, even I'd have some difficulty finding her."

Due to Sealing Designation, Touko Aozaki had left the Mage's Association to live under an assumed name. Only through large magecraft rituals could traces be tracked.

Even Kayneth didn't know where she was hiding now. However, being able to become a Lord naturally meant unique insights. Because Touko Aozaki extremely hated the "Scarlet" title, loathing and vowing to kill anyone who dared mention the alias "Scarlet of the Pain" before her, searching was quite simple.

Just hypnotize some murderers in areas she frequented to broadcast "Scarlet of the Pain" in code phrases comprehensively. Whichever consumables died revealed where Touko Aozaki was hiding.

Of course, best to use this method sparingly—using it too much might create some small problems.

"Master, as long as you have your own arrangements..."

Diarmuid breathed a sigh of relief, also sincerely happy for his lord:

"I'll spirit-form all the way escorting you from Fuyuki City. This Holy Grail War's honor and victory will definitely follow your footsteps back to London's Clock Tower..."

"Hmph! I don't need escort from a disloyal familiar like you. I'll book the flight around dawn. If you still want to follow me, then obtain the Grail and need to remain here. Of course, the Archibald family just happens to still lack a gatekeeper."

"?"

Master, didn't you not want the Grail?

Diarmuid blinked somewhat bewilderedly, unable to keep up with his lord's thinking.

Because his lord's meaning was to stay until after he obtained the omnipotent wish-granter before boarding the flight from Fuyuki City. Didn't this contradict what he'd said initially?

"I don't want the omnipotent wish-granter, but I've completely consumed all my Command Spells. So the summoned Heroic Spirit Servant rebelling and parting ways with me to independently obtain the omnipotent wish-granter for wish fulfillment is quite reasonable, right?"

Seeing Diarmuid's brain hadn't caught up, Kayneth rolled his eyes.

The reputation of not wanting the omnipotent wish-granter—he wanted it. Victory's honor—he wanted that too.

But the omnipotent wish-granter—his Servant wanted it. Any problem? Without Command Spells he couldn't control Diarmuid's actions. Even if he obtained the omnipotent wish-granter, it didn't affect his above operations. After all, he truly didn't take the Grail, right?

Of course, this could also be called fraud—afraid his Heroic Spirit Servant would cut him down and flee.

But as long as Diarmuid wished to remain in this world, it could be said he truly couldn't bear to part with this Clock Tower Lord's guidance. Even rebelling, he had to wish to follow him forever.

This was another wave of reputation, usable to suppress disappointing students like Waver Velvet.

"Ma-Master, I can still continue following you?!"

Diarmuid's emotional intelligence wasn't low—he immediately understood cause and effect, simultaneously genuinely excited.

"Moralltach was loaned to you by me. If you return to the Throne of Heroes you'll inevitably take this collection with you. Do you know how much breach-of-contract compensation I'd owe other magi?"

With a cold snort.

Kayneth directly glossed over this topic, using not wanting to compensate other magi too much breach fees as explanation. After all, that truly was a large unnecessary expense.

As for whether others would object to Diarmuid remaining? The hell—a Clock Tower Lord can't even bring a familiar?

In the end, Heroic Spirit Servants were just a type of familiar. Other magi had to look at the Buddha's face if not the monk's. Anyone dissatisfied could propose objections to his face—he could write dozens of explanations completely conforming to Clock Tower regulations and bury those people to death.

"Thank you for forgiving this subordinate, Master. Diarmuid Ua Duibhne is infinitely grateful. Tonight I will definitely obtain the omnipotent wish-granter and use this body to follow Master's footsteps..."

"I told you, I have no interest in the omnipotent wish-granter. You're currently in a state of betraying me."

Hiss! Heart-tearing pain transmitted again.

Feeling his severed leg's intense pain, Kayneth calmly as possible picked up the syringe beside the hospital bed, injecting another dose of anesthetic into his leg.

His injuries were too severe. If not for Sola's timely continuous hours of healing magecraft upon return, he might now be one name on the death list.

But ultimately still treating symptoms not root cause. His fiancée Sola had nearly exhausted her magical energy combined with modern medical equipment, excising infected wounds to barely keep him alive. Because the main issue was bomb fragments still remaining in his body. Modern military weapons were vicious one after another—shockwave and explosions could be dodged but ejected fragments fundamentally couldn't.

Making Sola busy the entire night, still having to go to the hospital using hypnotic magecraft to obtain medicine and equipment, caring for this master-servant pair who'd nearly lost their lives at the banquet battle.

"Phew~ Strange. Over three hours have passed—why hasn't Sola returned yet?"

After the anesthetic, Kayneth let out a long breath. Simultaneously checking his watch, he couldn't help frowning, because each time Sola obtained medicine she'd return within two hours. This time was taking slightly long.

Though the Church's death list couldn't be trusted, from his experience the vast majority were indeed dead. At most only corruption-involved Tohsaka Tokiomi might still be alive. Theoretically Sola shouldn't encounter anything...

Moreover, it truly wasn't that he didn't want to send Diarmuid as escort, but with Diarmuid gone any ordinary person could kill him...

"Master, someone's coming!"

"Not Lady Sola!"

The magic sword swiftly drawn from his waist, sensing wind sounds, Diarmuid immediately entered combat readiness.

Atop another unpopulated building in the distance, a black shadow quietly emerged.

A lifeless man smoking, wearing a black windbreaker Mystic Code.

"Kayneth, is this your attitude toward an 'ally'?"

Kiritsugu Emiya expressionlessly took a deep drag on his cigarette, exhaling white mist as he asked without expression.

The Kayneth on the hospital bed squinted slightly, veins beneath bandages involuntarily bulging.

What the fuck kind of eyes does King Gilgamesh have? How could this guy possibly still be alive?

"What do you want, Kiritsugu Emiya? Come to die?"

"I don't mind you killing me—if you don't want to see that fiancée who's worn herself out worrying about you again."

The afternoon in Fuyuki City was pleasantly cool, with sea breezes bringing refreshing air into the urban area.

Returning to the Church, Kotomine Kirei turned on the television and, as usual, pulled out his packaged mapo tofu. Like the previous days, he ate lunch while watching TV programs—only this time, there was no mischievous little girl to keep him company. Now, in the vast Church, he was completely alone.

Kotomine Risei was dead. Illyasviel was dead. The Church had no choice but to close its doors to believers under the pretext of ongoing renovations.

Though things were quieter, the absence of that constant sense of urgency—that feeling he could be eliminated at any moment—was actually somewhat unsettling.

"We interrupt this broadcast with breaking news. Last night, a mountain fire suddenly broke out in the forest area on the outskirts of Fuyuki City. Due to the collapse of aging structures within the forest, the fire has now been brought under control by the Fuyuki City Fire Department. We ask all citizens not to panic."

"The city government currently speculates this was a malicious anti-social incident in which an accountant from the gas company, after being wanted for questioning, chose to self-immolate in desperation in the Fuyuki City suburbs. This incident has attracted the serious attention of the police and represents the third major scourge in Fuyuki City—after gas company workers and civil engineering workers—namely, accounting professionals."

When the gas company can't take the blame anymore, construction companies step in. When they run out of construction workers to arrest, there's always the accountants from these companies, right?

Watching the passionate young reporter on the television screen, Kotomine Kirei found it somewhat amusing while eating his mapo tofu. One Holy Grail War had led to the cleanup of three entire professions. Although some of those arrested did indeed have various issues, these people usually had good relationships with city hall—typically they'd just throw out an intern as a scapegoat. It was rare for them all to be condemned like this.

But there was nothing to be done about it. His father, Father Kotomine Risei, was gone. Without a professional authority figure to provide explanations, they could only randomly select some lucky souls to take the fall.

Of course, among the latest information collected by the Church, there were also secret reports about the theft of munitions from the Fuyuki City Self-Defense Forces armory and explosives stolen from construction companies.

One was stolen by Illyasviel, the other most likely by Emiya Kiritsugu.

These matters wouldn't be broadcast on the news anyway, so the Church was spared from having to explain them.

"Where's Father Kotomine Risei? Why don't we have Father Kotomine Risei's expert opinion this time?"

"Your news industry is so irresponsible! What use is the city government's view? Father Kotomine Risei's explanation is authoritative! I now have reason to suspect that Father Kotomine Risei knows the truth but has been coerced by the city government into silence!"

"A self-immolation anti-social incident by an accountant? Bullshit! This was clearly a premeditated gas leak incident. That mountain fire burned all night—how could it have burned like that without a gas leak? Is the city government trying to let those corrupt people from civil engineering and gas companies slip through in the chaos?"

"According to Father Kotomine Risei's professional statements, this must have been a gas leak from that castle in the forest, possibly even caused by the collapse of a shoddy construction project!"

"Ha! They're all in it together. The city government just needs to take money and divert attention, but we accounting professionals have to consider so much more..."

The citizens on the television were speaking heatedly.

Clearly, the kindly old priest Kotomine Risei had become quite popular during this time.

After all, when a clergyman tells you to believe in science, and that clergyman has high-level professional credentials in relevant fields, combined with the Church's worldwide influence—this led to Fuyuki City citizens habitually expecting Father Kotomine Risei to explain whenever something major happened.

Unfortunately, they couldn't know in the short term that the kind and gentle old priest had already died.

To this day, the Church didn't have even a shred of evidence about the killer.

"Emiya Kiritsugu? Or Kayneth? Or perhaps that half-baked mage, Waver Velvet?"

Kotomine Kirei expressionlessly swallowed his spicy mapo tofu. If only Illyasviel were still here.

Her familiars' reconnaissance was truly more secretive and comprehensive than the Church's surveillance magecraft. If she were still alive, they would surely have found the true culprit.

Honestly, he wasn't particularly interested in who killed Kotomine Risei. His only regret was that the old priest hadn't died by the hands of the son he'd raised—just as he regretted that his own wife hadn't died by his hands.

"Could it have been Sensei? During that time period, the only people who could have found time to rush to the Church were Sensei and Waver Velvet, that participant. And Sensei should know about the Church's familiar arrangements. If it was him, destroying the surveillance and catching Kotomine Risei off guard wouldn't be impossible..."

More than resentment, he felt curiosity about why someone would kill Father Kotomine Risei.

Was it for Command Seals? Most Holy Grail War participants should know that Command Seals require the supervisor's consent to be transferred to others. Even he had only managed to transfer the Command Seals by following clues left on Kotomine Risei's corpse.

His teacher couldn't possibly not know this. This morning's reaction showed genuine shock and surprise at his father's murder.

But aside from Tohsaka Tokiomi, every participant had an alibi at that time. The only two people with the opportunity to quickly leave the Mirror Forest and reach the Church were Waver Velvet and Tohsaka Tokiomi. It couldn't really have been Waver Velvet who single-handedly killed Kotomine Risei, could it? Where would he get the ability and opportunity?

No... Waver Velvet actually might have the capability, because he has a Servant with Independent Action skill—one of the accompanying soldiers who emerged from Iskandar's Reality Marble...

If he didn't know Command Seals required a transfer ritual and simply wanted to increase his chances of winning by taking a desperate risk, it's not impossible...

"But what would be the motive? That kind of Heroic Spirit without a proper class container wouldn't have a high Independent Action rank. Could they really persist long enough to travel with Waver Velvet on that not-so-short journey and precisely reach the Church to kill Kotomine Risei?"

"Moreover, even if he did do it, why would there be no signs of battle at the Church? And why would Kotomine Risei's wounds appear to be self-inflicted? What could force Kotomine Risei, whose Bajiquan mastery even exceeds mine, to commit suicide?"

The more Kotomine Kirei thought about it, the more something felt off. There were many people capable of killing Kotomine Risei.

Whether it was Waver Velvet using his Servant to overwhelm him, or Tohsaka Tokiomi catching Kotomine Risei off guard with a sneak attack—but he truly couldn't think of anything that could make Kotomine Risei commit suicide. Suicide was an absolute taboo in the Church, something that would be universally condemned and could even implicate one's wife and children—a complete betrayal of faith.

Moreover, Church personnel, aside from close combat abilities, more or less all had items to resist hypnosis. It was even less likely that Kotomine Risei had been hypnotized into suicide.

"Hypnosis? Hypnosis... could it really be..."

As if suddenly grasping something.

Kotomine Kirei suddenly recalled the first night of the Holy Grail War, when Illyasviel had disguised herself as a pitiful attacked elementary school student and deceived Tohsaka Tokiomi into opening his gates wide.

High-level hypnosis or charm magecraft might actually be able to accomplish something as seemingly unreasonable as making Kotomine Risei commit suicide, though he also found it somewhat laughable.

Even Illyasviel, that hexagonal peak Heroic Spirit Servant, didn't possess such terrifying charm magecraft that could make enemies commit suicide, let alone a mage.

"What could it be? Someone from the Three Founding Families? Did the Matou family or Einzbern family secretly send someone?"

Feeling somewhat troubled, Kotomine Kirei set down his finished lunch and walked to the bookshelf.

He prepared to review the information collected on all the Masters in this Holy Grail War. He really couldn't figure out what the killer's purpose was—not wanting Command Seals yet possessing such eerily concealed abilities. Could I have overlooked some external personnel from the Three Founding Families?

"Hmm?"

However, the moment he pulled out the files from the bookcase, Kotomine Kirei paused slightly.

"Why is this so clean? When Assassin was looking at the files before, didn't she accidentally get some cake frosting on them..."

Looking at the materials about the participating Masters and Holy Grail War rituals in his hands.

Not a single page was missing, but inexplicably everything was much neater than before.

It wasn't that Illyasviel was unhygienic, but rather that she liked to hold the files while watching TV and eating, so getting a few crumbs on them was normal. Plus, she'd been very busy during this time, barely organizing the files before putting them back on the shelf—they shouldn't be so perfectly stacked page by page like this.

Someone had been here...

And had looked through the Holy Grail War and all Master files...

Kotomine Kirei could easily reach this conclusion, and at the same time, some of his doubts were answered—though this answer made him feel even more horrified.

By the late stages of the Holy Grail War, basically every Master and Heroic Spirit Servant knew their opponents inside and out. There was no need to come to the Church to steal this information, let alone look at basic Holy Grail War materials.

"So that's how it is."

The corners of Kotomine Kirei's mouth unconsciously curved up in pleasure. He'd thought there wasn't much entertainment left, but it turned out there was still a hidden expert.

"Caster's Master? So someone really did come to fill this fake identity. How interesting. Looks like I might actually have a chance to personally 'avenge my father'..."

Matou Zouken?

Or Matou Tsuruno?

Or perhaps some old fool from the Three Founding Families trying to cheat?

It no longer mattered, because he could basically confirm the killer's purpose.

The omnipotent wish-granting device—what the opponent wanted must be to claim that omnipotent Holy Grail.

He only needed to quietly wait at the civic center for the opponent to walk into the trap and try to seize the Grail.

He didn't care who the opponent was. He only wanted to know if they really planned to put on Caster's Master's clothes to gain eligibility in the Holy Grail War.

Hahaha, this is so interesting. If only Assassin were still alive, she'd find this hilarious too.

They'd faked their way through most of the Holy Grail War, and now someone actually showed up to claim the "real Master" identity they'd created.

They'd lied so convincingly that even they almost became real, he himself was almost ready to believe that Illyasviel really was Caster, whose True Name was the Age of Gods mage Medea, and that his actual Heroic Spirit Servant had been casually killed by her.

"What have you done to Sola! Emiya Kiritsugu! If you dare touch a single hair on Sola's head, I, Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald, guarantee there will be no place for you in all the Far East! Even after the Holy Grail War ends, you will face my wrath!"

In the empty building, looking at the black-clothed man on the opposite building, separated by only a few dozen meters.

Kayneth, lying on his hospital bed, clenched his fists with bulging veins, his eyes full of murderous intent and disgust, almost unable to resist climbing out of bed to fight the man directly.

"I've said it—I don't mind if you kill me. You can have your Heroic Spirit Servant strike me down right now, provided you don't want your fiancée."

Emiya Kiritsugu expressionlessly extinguished his cigarette. Facing Diarmuid, who was poised like a wolf or tiger ready to pounce, he calmly twisted his clean wrists and the back of his hands a few times, as if preparing for battle himself, completely unconcerned with the blonde man's angry, cold threats.

"The choice is yours. Be an ally or an enemy. Have Miss Sola die with me, or take Miss Sola back to your Clock Tower to spend the rest of your lives together. I believe as a Lord of the Clock Tower, Kayneth, you should have your own judgment."

"...What exactly do you want? Don't think threatening me with Sola will work. From what I know of rats like you, if I surrender without resistance, not only won't I save Sola—you'll definitely eliminate me as a threat first!"

"So you're choosing to be my enemy, Kayneth? How unexpected. The great Lord of the Clock Tower can't even protect a woman who's given so much for him."

"Emiya Kiritsugu!"

Kayneth's nails dug into his palms, his eyes looking ready to devour the black-clothed man alive. He hadn't even been this angry when facing his own death.

Didn't that corpse-playing Gilgamesh say Emiya Kiritsugu was dead?

What kind of garbage eyesight does that Heroic Spirit Servant Archer have?

Why is Emiya Kiritsugu still alive, and in such good condition that he's managed to kidnap Sola?

He felt like he was going mad with rage. Winning by running away was humiliating enough, and now his fiancée had been kidnapped too. In all his years, Kayneth had never been so down and out—every person and ghost could step on his head twice.

"You don't need to shout so loud. I can hear you."

Emiya Kiritsugu ignored Kayneth's renewed fury and cleanly pulled out a slightly yellowed sheet of magical parchment from his coat, then casually tossed it down toward the lower floors.

"Sign it, and you can leave with your fiancée. There will be no further connection between us. You're free to seek revenge afterward if you wish."

Diarmuid quickly leaped up to catch the drifting paper and briefly inspected it.

After confirming there was no poison or similar means applied to it, he respectfully presented it with both hands to Kayneth on the hospital bed.

He too wanted to directly kill this damned Magus Killer, but his current condition was too poor, the opponent possessed time-based magecraft, and with Sola's life hanging in the balance, he could only obediently refrain from attacking rashly.

"This is... a Self-Geas Scroll? A curse contract used when mages in the magical world bind themselves to agreements that absolutely cannot be broken. A binding ritual, target: Emiya Kiritsugu..."

Kayneth took the paper and quickly read through it.

The Emiya Crest commands: On the premise of successfully implementing the following submitted conditions.

The oath shall become commandments binding the ritual target, without exception, sworn by the fifth-generation heir of the Emiya family.

Emiya Kiritsugu, son of Emiya Norikata, toward Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald and Sola-Ui Nuada-Re Sophia-Ri, shall forever have no intent or action of killing or harming, shall not directly or indirectly act against the two after conditions are met, guaranteeing their safe return to the Clock Tower before the end of the Holy Grail War.

Conditions...

"Transfer ownership of Lancer to the contractor, and declare withdrawal from this Holy Grail War to the Church, with no interference in the war during its duration?"

The mandatory curse—in principle, it cannot be removed by any means.

Even if the signatory dies, as long as the Magic Crest exists, the soul after death will still be bound by the contract.

Kayneth stared blankly at the contract conditions, then looked at Emiya Kiritsugu standing atop the building bathed in sunlight, dozens of meters away, looking down at him. He immediately understood Emiya Kiritsugu's current intentions.

As expected, Artoria Pendragon had exited, but Emiya Kiritsugu still didn't intend to give up on the Holy Grail War. He wanted to seize control of a Heroic Spirit Servant from Kayneth to re-enter the war.

"Despicable!"

"Shameless!"

"Vile!"

He no longer knew how to curse Emiya Kiritsugu, because for this kind of rat, any insults seemed ineffective. The opponent had absolutely no sense of pride or honor as a mage. Having already failed and been eliminated, he still wasn't satisfied and prepared to fight again.

Can't accept defeat?

Is that what this is?

Setting aside the fake death and the trick with the Mystic Code—now that you've lost, you still want to fleece me? Am I your mobile resource bank?

Kayneth gripped the Self-Geas Scroll, trembling with rage, but he had no recourse. After all, Lancer was already severely injured, and he himself needed Lancer's protection.

He could only let Sola go out alone to buy medicine for treatment. Who knew Gilgamesh's eyesight was so poor that Emiya Kiritsugu could repeatedly fake his death and come back to life, turning his hard-won victory into another reversal.

My God, this is broad daylight! Emiya Kiritsugu, have you really gone mad, kidnapping Sola in broad daylight? The Holy Grail War is a secret magical ritual—are you people even following the rules?

"Do you... want to win that badly? Don't you feel even a shred of shame, you bastard?!"

Diarmuid had also finished reading the contract and glared furiously at the calm black-coated man on the rooftop:

"Deep in the mire of fame and profit, trampling on knightly honor—for the sake of this so-called omnipotent wish-granting device, have you abandoned everything? A bastard like you obtaining the Holy Grail would only birth a new filthy demon!"

"Winners write history, losers become bandits. Victory is what matters. Are reputation and face really that important?"

"If Saber were still in this world and knew of your actions, she would surely part ways with you!"

"Mind your familiar, Kayneth. I don't want to inherit a Heroic Spirit Servant who's disloyal to their Master. After all, in that case, I can't guarantee there won't be quality issues with your fiancée."

Unhurriedly lighting another cigarette, taking a deep drag and exhaling white smoke.

Emiya Kiritsugu's eyes indifferently swept over the silent blonde man. He had all the time in the world to let the opponent slowly consider. After all, he could clearly see that the man truly cared deeply for that woman Sola-Ui, even though in the mage's world, wives were merely tools for reproduction.

Really can't understand it—genuine feelings between mages. How laughable.

"..."

The space between the buildings fell silent for over ten minutes.

Kayneth went from initial anger and resentment to carefully reading through the Self-Geas Scroll multiple times.

He didn't want to lose, didn't want the glory of the Archibald family to be inexplicably ruined like this, to be threatened and coerced into submission by a filthy Magus Killer. For someone as proud as him, this was more painful than being killed.

His heart kept struggling. He told himself again and again that Sola was only his fiancée, not yet his wife, and that over this period, Sola only liked him somewhat—it hadn't reached the point of true love. After all, women were merely tools for mages to pass on their lineage and optimize their family bloodlines. He didn't need to abandon his pride for a woman.

But...

Rationally, this was correct. The logic made sense. But his heart still ached inexplicably.

Especially when he thought of how Sola, despite her sharp tongue these past days, had been so thoughtfully caring.

Whether going to the airport to receive Mystic Codes and relics, or working through the night without sleep after he was severely injured, performing surgery and purchasing medicine for him—the more he thought about it, the more he realized he couldn't control himself. He knew this was emotion overriding reason.

In the world of mages, he had always sneered at such confused fools. But today, with Sola kidnapped, he discovered that unknowingly, after meeting Sola, he had already become the type of fool he despised most.

"Emiya Kiritsugu, very well, excellent. This time, I've lost to you."

"I admit that regarding obsession with the omnipotent wish-granting device, I, as a Lord of the Clock Tower, am not your match."

After more than half an hour, Kayneth finally sighed bitterly and raised his head.

His entire being seemed deflated, with no trace of anger or pride remaining. Now, for the sake of his beloved fiancée, he was willing to abandon his arrogance.

Humans are like this—often inexplicably changing themselves for certain people or certain things. That person might be family, friends, or a fateful encounter. It's just that the once-proud Kayneth had never met that person before.

"My lord... I understand."

Diarmuid could only sigh at this, without any dissatisfaction or objection.

After all, whatever decision his lord made, as his knight, he could only execute it—even if ordered to die, he would commit suicide with his demonic sword without complaint.

"You've made the right choice, Lord Kayneth. May you and Miss Sola have a happy future together. Don't be like other mages who abandon their wives and children."

Seeing Kayneth agree to sign the contract, the expressionless Emiya Kiritsugu managed to squeeze out a barely polite congratulatory smile.

All the Heroic Spirit Servants were dead. Now, as long as he could obtain Diarmuid.

The omnipotent wish-granting device would undoubtedly fall into his embrace. No one could compete with him.

"Keep your false sympathy. Today, you disgust me even more than last night."

Cleanly signing his name on the Self-Geas Scroll, then spreading it open face-up before the black-clothed man, Kayneth's expression returned to cold disgust:

"Now can you tell me where Sola is? Believe me, Emiya Kiritsugu, this isn't a threat—it's a fact. After the Holy Grail War ends, you, your wife and daughter will all face the Archibald family's mad retribution!"

"Heh, I'll be waiting. I'll settle accounts with you Clock Tower people someday for sealing and designating my father too."

Emiya Kiritsugu likewise responded with a cold laugh, jumping down from the building's rooftop floor by floor.

In less than half a minute, he fearlessly arrived at the spacious floor where Kayneth was located on the opposite side.

Standing at the edge of this floor's lighting area, he cautiously didn't proceed further.

"Prepare the ritual. Your fiancée is still waiting for her white knight to rescue her."

"Lancer, bring my wheelchair over!"

Now that the contract was signed, Kayneth naturally didn't want to waste words with this rat anymore.

Because unlike Emiya Kiritsugu, he could accept defeat. Even losing, he wouldn't use such underhanded means to obtain a victory status that was essentially scavenged.

If Emiya Kiritsugu had come for a direct confrontation, he would have at least respected him somewhat.

Instead, playing these shameless tricks was truly even more despicable than his birth.

"Heh, truly grateful for Lord Kayneth's generosity. Your love for Miss Sola is truly enviable..."

The black-clothed man shook his head as if in admiration, inwardly rising with mockery.

However...

"BANG!!!"

Before his words could finish falling.

Then.

The sniper rifle's trigger was pulled.