Chapter 8: Zouken's Machinations

Matou Zouken was on the verge of death.

He thinned his presence, dispersing himself, and scavenged for carrion just to sustain his life for a fleeting moment. Cautiously, ever so cautiously. He took the utmost care to ensure no one noticed him and, above all, to avoid any conspicuous actions. Deprived of his strength, his Magical Workshop, and even his pawns for the future, he spent his days crawling in the shadows, fearing the light. In all his long life, he had never experienced such humiliation.

He knew exactly when the misfortune began. It was when that abominable Servant, Archer, attacked. A single, fleeting whim from that being had shattered everything and stripped it all away. His Workshop was physically half-destroyed, and 90% of the Crest Worms it contained were annihilated. To make matters worse, Sakura, whom he had intended to use as a "womb" (vessel), had been taken.

Currently, Zouken lacked even the strength to maintain a human form. In fact, if he did not consume a human soon, the destruction of his very soul was not far off.

Normally, there would be no issue with simply capturing and consuming a nearby human. But the timing was bad.

During a Holy Grail War, a single moment of carelessness could invite death. If he did something flashy and drew attention to himself, it would be the end. This was true regardless of whether he could hide his tracks well or not. If his concealment was poor, he would be executed immediately for neglecting the Secrecy of Magecraft (the Mystery). Even if he tried to hide, a perfect concealment was impossible in his current state. A first-rate Magus would surely discover him. And right now, those first-rate magi were desperately scouring the city for traces of other Masters. There was no way he wouldn't be found. Even if he wasn't a Master, a magus of that caliber wouldn't overlook him, as his lack of Master status didn't make him any less dangerous.

The situation was nearly checkmate. Having lost Sakura and with Kariya having turned traitor, the future of the Matou family was effectively over. More than that, he didn't even know if his own life would last until tomorrow.

Kii— a single insect chirped.

(Curse you!! That brat Tokiomi. Doing such unnecessary things despite his unworthiness.)

Zouken knew which Servant Tokiomi Tohsaka had intended to summon. He had already confirmed the Catalyst (Holy Relic) that had been acquired. That was exactly why he knew that man—no, that no one in this world—could ever control such a being. After all, that was one of the reasons Zouken had given up on this particular Holy Grail War.

The King of Heroes, Gilgamesh. Among the countless Heroic Spirits in existence, he stood at the absolute pinnacle. There was no way such a being would listen to what a human said. This was a certainty, and Tokiomi should have taken it into account. If there was a miscalculation, it was that the King of Heroes was far more free-spirited and whimsical than anyone had imagined. It wasn't just a matter of control; he wasn't someone you could even hold a dialogue with from the start.

Magical Energy (Mana) leaked from Zouken like water from a sieve. Along with it, his life force ebbed away bit by bit. The threat of death drove Zouken into a state of frantic irritation.

Should I rely on the Church? He laughed at his own foolish thought. Those people no longer held any power. No one would willingly follow a powerless Counter Force (Deterrent). Especially in a war where anything goes, bowing to them was for fools.

Furthermore, the Church was already committing a foul by sheltering a Master who still had a Servant. On top of that, there was no way they could capture a living human. Any faction that found an excuse would gleefully attack the Church. Knowing this, the Church would never lend their power to Zouken. At the very least, Archer and Kiritsugu Emiya were aware of Assassin’s survival.

Still, if Archer were within their faction, the story would be different. Or even if it wasn't Archer, if they had another Servant. Then, it would have become a place that couldn't be attacked carelessly. The "deterrence" could have functioned as a force. But this hypothetical was meaningless, since it assumed Archer had not betrayed Tokiomi.

Gigi... His body felt heavy and dull, as if rusting. Again, his Magical Energy decreased. If he didn't shed more insects, even his life would be in danger.

(I don't want to... die... I don't want to die...)

By now, it was nothing more than a mass of pure obsession. The fact that everything he had built had vanished pushed him even further into a corner.

That was why Zouken clung to a faint hope. He had only learned of it through sheer luck—ironically, he wasn't noticed precisely because he was so weakened.

It was a conversation between Archer and Lancer’s Master. It was about the tool known as the Holy Grail.

He didn't know where or how they had investigated it. In any case, the source of the information didn't matter. What was important was the location and possession of the Holy Grail. That became the hope that would allow Zouken's fading life to endure. Even if he prolonged his life further, there was no hope of reaching the Grail. However, if he could snatch it away this time, there was still room for a reversal.

He pretended not to notice the abnormality of the Holy Grail or what kind of thing it was. Even if he didn't have the luxury, it was something he should have considered.

Regardless, he continued to hide. Fading into the city as thin as possible, he watched for an opportunity. It was a skill made possible by an abnormal obsession spanning hundreds of years. A grudge that an existence living only human years could never reach. The contradiction of slowly heading toward death while fearing it—Zouken crushed even that with his willpower and continued to wait for his time.

Finally, just as his entire being was on the verge of collapse, the long-awaited opportunity arrived.

Focusing his surveillance on Sola-Ui turned out to be the correct choice. He simply had no other choice if he wanted to know Archer's movements.

The option of monitoring Archer himself never existed. Or rather, since he didn't know the range of a Servant's perception, he couldn't do anything reckless. He regretted making Kariya summon Berserker. On top of that, Archer had constructed his own Territory. Trying to slip past those eyes was unrealistic.

That left the Masters. At this point, Sakura was excluded. Naturally, it was impossible to monitor someone in the same base as Archer; he couldn’t even get close to it. Moreover, Sakura was a puppet Master. Even if he monitored her, he wouldn’t be able to track Archer’s movements. That left the Master of the Lancer camp. However, it was impossible to keep monitoring Kayneth. Even at his best, Kayneth was a magus of a higher rank than him. Reckless surveillance would surely be discovered. Zouken's only choice was Sola-Ui. She was no average magus, but she wasn't on Kayneth's level, she was so infatuated with Lancer that she left many openings.

The first movement—it seemed to be a solo move by the Lancer camp. Likely, they went to receive Command Spells. The second time. Here, finally, was the movement he desired.

What did he want to achieve by knowing Archer's movements? Even if he struggled, he had no surplus strength to direct toward the Holy Grail War. And yet, Zouken Matou was focused on a single point.

If it were just about recovering strength, targeting Sola-Ui might have been better. However, that was a poor move. First, he had no surefire way to consume Sola-Ui. In a normal fight, he would lose nine times out of ten. Even if he somehow won, he would surely be annihilated by the first-rate magus and his Servant. Taking her hostage was also pointless. Archer would undoubtedly annihilate Zouken along with Sola-Ui. Even if Lancer became an enemy, there was no chance of victory against Archer.

In fact, that applied to every Servant. If Archer felt like it, he should be able to annihilate all Servants in one night. So why was he engaging in such a roundabout thing as an "alliance"? That was the only source of anxiety Zouken harbored.

Regardless, even while monitoring them, Zouken's true target lay elsewhere. It had to be someone more certain.

Zouken was lucky. Or perhaps his "evil luck" was simply strong. At the very end, he had a following wind—the abduction of Sakura.

Rustle, rustle. He advanced his insects through the grass. If he failed here, he would have no choice but to rot away. He squeezed out every ounce of his remaining strength.

Ahead stood a single man, slim, well-dressed in an expensive suit, the type who should look elegant and composed—yet he was breathing heavily from running.

The man, who had been running at full speed, suddenly stopped. He had noticed Zouken’s approach.

"Hm, the Old Man of Matou? My apologies, but I am in a hurry. Please save your business for another day."

"Do not say that, Tokiomi. My house and Workshop were shattered by the Servant you summoned. I do not have much leeway myself."

"...Make it quick, please."

—He took the bait.

Zouken couldn't stop himself from smirking. Though, since he was currently in the form of a swarm of insects, Tokiomi wouldn't know even if he didn't stop.

He closed the distance to Tokiomi. The range at which Tokiomi would be wary and refuse to let him closer was quite narrow. It seemed he was indeed frustrated with the current situation, and his vigilance had grown lax. Normally, he would likely want to head to the Einzbern Castle immediately.

"Furthermore, what I am about to tell you is not unrelated to you. After all, it concerns Sakura’s current state and my unworthy son, Kariya."

"Is that so? My apologies, Old Man Matou. I would certainly like to hear it. ...In fact, there is something I would very much like to ask you as well."

With those words, the range of vigilance narrowed even further. Zouken moved in deeper.

Whether as a human or a magus, if the destination and type of motivation is "love," the specific details don't matter. Love is, in essence, obsession. Conversely, if the obsession is strong, the love for it grows proportionally. If that mixes with worry and is accelerated, there are times when a human’s thoughts dull to the point where they cannot think normally.

Well, it was no surprise. Sakura Matou, who was supposed to be raised as a Magus, had been "educated" only as a convenient, living Mystic Code. And Tokiomi had found out.

Archer was out for reasons other than combat, and his destination was clear. Moreover, he had even publicly stated he would not engage in combat. There would be no better opportunity to confront him. It was no wonder Tokiomi was in a hurry. That was exactly why Zouken preyed on it.

"First, regarding Sakura—there is no problem there. She has been captured, but she is being treated with due respect."

"I see..."

He visibly relaxed, letting out a sigh of relief.

(As I thought, it seems he wasn't able to investigate the inside.)

Zouken smirked inwardly, but kept his outward demeanor unchanged.

Of course, even Zouken didn't know Sakura's current status. It was a total bluff. Even such useless words could carry two meanings. One was to claim that his power was still intact. If he could see parts that Tokiomi couldn't reach, Tokiomi couldn't treat him cheaply. And he could also make Tokiomi think that Sakura was under some kind of manipulation.

He understood that Tokiomi doubted him. If Tokiomi hadn't doubted him after witnessing Sakura's condition, that would be its own problem. However, it was only natural for Tokiomi to think that Archer had done something to Sakura when making her a Master. And when it came to the choice of who did it... the most likely candidate was Archer. To ease Tokiomi's distrust and vigilance toward himself even slightly, Zouken wanted to push the responsibility onto the other side.

"And regarding my unworthy pupil, Kariya, I have no choice but to apologize. After all, while I wasn't looking, he crawled into the Einzberns' place."

"Yes, I am aware of that as well."

"Indeed. It seems he held quite a grudge against you. That appears to be his reason for entering that place."

"Hmph... I see. You have given me valuable information."

In reality, Zouken didn't know the full extent of the grudge, but there was no lie in its existence.

The fact that Kariya hated Tokiomi was quite dangerous. After all, Tokiomi currently had no significant fighting force. No matter how excellent he was as a Magus, he was naturally no match for a Servant. If Berserker were set upon him, he wouldn't even be able to escape with his life. By providing Tokiomi with "advantageous" information, Zouken could make Tokiomi think he was at least not an enemy.

(Well, that probably won't be enough to stop him.)

What were the Servants participating this time thinking? It was incomprehensible to Zouken, but they had started something like a banquet. Even looking at past examples, this was unprecedented.

But it was also true that there was no better opportunity for Tokiomi to achieve his goal. A Servant drinking wine and feeling pleasantly drunk wouldn't likely exert their power. This was the only timing to question them—about everything from Sakura to the termination of the contract. If he missed this, the danger level would skyrocket.

"Now then, Old Man Matou, that isn't all, is it?"

"Indeed. My own exhaustion is not something that can be ignored. Could you perhaps pick out a few people for me to consume?"

"That is impossible."

I thought so, Zouken agreed. However, without letting it show in his attitude. Doing such a thing during the Holy Grail War was an act of showing one's back to the enemy. Even if one lost their Servant, walking around like this made them a sufficient target for attack. And negotiations wouldn't hold.

To begin with, a negotiation only works if both parties are somewhat equal. At the same time, both must possess something that benefits the other. Zouken had lost a great deal of power and lacked the strength to make Tokiomi negotiate. At the very least, he hadn't made Tokiomi think he had any. Having lost his Workshop, he had almost nothing to offer in exchange. Without risk or merit, this was the natural outcome.

Yes, the current Zouken Matou was decisively inferior. You could even say he was being looked down upon. That was why Tokiomi could throw questions at him that were closer to an interrogation.

"Now it is my turn, Old Man Matou. What kind of education did you provide Sakura? Could it be... that you did not raise her as a magus? But only as a convenient, living Mystic Code."

"That is quite a bold question. I recall there being a covenant between the Matou and the Tohsaka?"

"Indeed. So long as it is in a form both parties can agree upon. If that is broken, the covenant no longer holds... Am I wrong?"

"True, quite true."

Despite everything, this man was soft and prone to failure. But he was also the man who wouldn't misjudge the essential parts. His gaze was sharp. If Zouken gave the wrong answer, he looked ready to kill him then and there.

Well, that was a separate matter from not failing at the crucial moment. The failures already piled up were so numerous they were irreversible. To the point where—they would reach his very life.

Suddenly, thud. The strength left Tokiomi's legs. No, not just his legs. His entire body went limp and he collapsed to the ground as if his muscles had simply fallen away. He struggled to even move his eyes, let alone his neck. In that state, he desperately moved his trembling eyeballs, trying to catch sight of Zouken.

It wasn't because he had been running desperately toward the Einzbern Castle. A Magus of Tokiomi's caliber, if he didn't care about bodily damage, could run at the speed of a car all night. Even if he was a bit out of breath, they were still within the city. He wasn't so fragile as to reach his limit from this.

However, the reality was that he couldn't even move the tip of his finger. And Zouken knew that his Magic Circuits likely wouldn't function properly either.

The sound of rustling grass grew louder. The sound of stepping on low grass was the proof of a march toward victory.

"You are still so green... young brat of the Tohsaka."

"A... u..."

He likely wanted to say "What?" Unfortunately, his body had completely betrayed its owner and would not listen to any commands.

No matter how high you stack the blocks, they fall apart so easily. A Magus who can use supernatural powers forgets that they are, in the truest sense, nothing more than human. Zouken took pride in the fact that this was the definitive difference between him and other Magi. The ability to always succeed when it mattered most. That quality, which might otherwise be called cowardice, had allowed Zouken to survive for hundreds of years. Including evading the death that faced him today.

A small chirp arose. An insect classified as a myriapod advanced from near Tokiomi's feet and joined the collective of insects that was Zouken.

Zouken's final trump card. His prized anti-personnel weapon. A specially made insect that possessed both high stealth and venom. He had kept it even while letting other insects die; it had literally become his hope.

"Wh... y..."

"Hm? What is it? Is it the non-aggression pact? Or something else? Regardless, you are naive. To think a Magus would blindly believe in something so flimsy it could blow away in the wind."

To overturn this overwhelming disadvantage and re-enter the Holy Grail War, there were several conditions he had to clear.

In order to secure his right to survive, he was forced to be glared at by both the participants and the supervisor of the Holy Grail War. Considering this, the option of not participating in the Holy Grail War was never available. In any case, he needed to find an easily exploitable Magus.

First, someone with at least a decent amount of mana. Since he couldn't engage in mass hunting, he needed someone with power to recover his exhausted strength to the point where his life wasn't in danger. Second, someone who wouldn't be suspicious even if he approached. At the very least, they had to be someone who would let their guard down even seeing the current Zouken, enough for a poisonous insect with paralyzing power to make contact. Finally, someone who lacked mental leeway. It was desirable that even if he were plotting something, they wouldn't be able to spare the attention to care.

There was almost no one who met all these conditions. At the very least, if the Holy Grail War were moving normally, such a person would never have appeared.

However, a Master who had lost their Servant... someone who knew Zouken's true nature and could be approached without suspicion... a Tokiomi Tohsaka who had lost himself for the sake of Sakura...

He was easy to manipulate.

"Well, you were just unlucky. Unlucky in that you were a convenient target for both my crisis and my opportunity."

Ki-ki-ki— A chirp too loud for such a small insect echoed. The sound of weeds being disturbed surrounded Tokiomi. It wasn't a great number, but every insect Zouken could currently control had been gathered here.

"Rest easy."

The usual foul stench, like a plant parasitic on rotten wood, could not be felt. He spoke with a kindness that didn't suit him at all.

If he was about to peck away at the man's life and turn it into his own sustenance, he felt he could at least show a scrap of kindness. He spoke very gently. At least the last words one hears in this world should be like that.

"I shall make good use of your life and your Magecraft. Come now, there is no need to lament. I shall make sure to obtain the Holy Grail."

“A… ahhh—!”

Was that a voice of rage? Or was he trying to spit out a curse? Whether it was one, both, or something else entirely, the opportunity to know would never come again.

The surrounding insects swarmed Tokiomi's head and torso all at once. Tearing skin, lapping blood, devouring flesh, and crushing bone. The mixture of pulverized bone and oily, sticky meat felt strangely delicious. He was used to eating humans and had never been interested in the taste itself. However, devouring a "human death" while feeling the current hope and evasion of his own demise—how exquisite it was. He was aware he might never taste this pleasure again. But he felt as though eating humans might become a habit just to remember this sensation.

It was likely when he had consumed about half the body. Within the mass of meat that no longer retained a human shape, Zouken noticed something.

A massive lump of mana in the right hand. This, he understood. Tokiomi had two strokes of his Command Spells usurped. And since he hadn't fled to the Church, it was natural that one stroke remained in his hand. However, there was mana for two strokes remaining there. Something that shouldn't be possible.

He could ignore it, assuming the information he obtained was wrong. But it was because he didn't do such things that he was Zouken Matou. He immediately interfered with the Command Spell and investigated further. To begin with, the Command Spells were something Zouken had played a central role in developing. Interfering with the core was easy. In almost no time, he verified that the Command Spell was functioning normally—and he felt a chill down his non-existent spine.

The function of a Command Spell that had lost its Servant should be suspended. If there is no one to influence, it is only natural to avoid placing a burden on the Holy Grail War system. However, this was operating without any abnormality. That meant there was a Servant.

This was bad. A development close to the worst-case scenario. One could even say he had made a nearly fatal mistake.

(No... not yet. I can still recover...!)

Zouken sent the insect that was his main body toward the head—that is, the brain. Tokiomi had just died, and there was no noticeable damage to the head. The type of poison was not the kind that damaged the brain. In that case, extracting memories was not difficult.

What kind of information to extract—he didn't even need to think. The two days since Archer's defection, or three days to be safe, would suffice.

The information he obtained was startling. This time's Assassin was a special type with a Noble Phantasm that allowed them to split themselves. Because of that trait, they could enter into an irregular contract involving multiple Masters. One half of the Master pair was Kirei Kotomine, but because of his lack of self-interest, Tokiomi held the priority for commands. All of them were positioned in the forest to guide Tokiomi to the Einzbern Castle. And—having realized Tokiomi’s abnormality, all of the Assassins were returning at full speed.

It was a terrifying situation. However, there was a window of time. Until Kirei Kotomine activated a Command Spell. It was nearly fatal, but not a death blow. Above all, as the cunning magus Zouken Matou, he could solve this.

First, he devoured the right hand, exposing the Command Spell. Quickly transferring the Command Spell to himself, he immediately activated it.

"In my name, I give an order to Assassin. Any who cannot swear absolute loyalty to me, turn back immediately and take as many with you as possible to the grave."

The activation of that Command Spell was just in time. He felt the massive mana dwelling in the Command Spell burst. At the same time, he felt mana flowing from another location lose out to his own and dissipate.

Likely, Kirei Kotomine had been reported the abnormality by an Assassin and tried to contact Tokiomi. When contact couldn't be made, he must have tried to use a Command Spell to teleport them. Zouken succeeded in giving a command via Command Spell just a fraction faster. The priority order between multiple Masters—that was what saved Zouken. Tokiomi likely set it that way to prevent confusion among the Assassins, but ironically, it became the final move that drove him to his own ruin.

Tracing the Path, he confirmed the current status of the Servants. There was only one presence that didn't move. It wasn't a satisfactory result, but as long as there was even one loyal pawn, it was a significant plus. And the remaining individual would never betray him. An order from a Command Spell does not allow for lies within it.

Even if no one could be killed with this command, it was no problem. The main objective was the elimination of obstacles, so achieving only that was a result he couldn't complain about. In fact, if even one person had been killed, it would have been too much of a success, and he would have been wary of a trap.

Then, Zouken resumed his meal and the extraction of Tokiomi's memories.

Having finished gorging, he had recovered from his bodily malfunctions for the time being. The number of insect units was less than five percent of his normal amount, but he would just have to take his time with that. In exchange, the strength of each individual unit was substantial.

Leaving behind only the uneaten left arm, he quickly departed the scene. If the Assassins weren't coming to greet him, the only one who would come here was Kirei Kotomine. That man—the Executor—was the perfect natural enemy for an existence like Zouken. He wasn't someone to contact without ensuring his own safety. If he left behind the part where the Magic Crest resided, the Executor wouldn't be able to ignore it and chase him. For a magus, the Crest is heavier than life.

Dispersing his swarm-body in all directions, Zouken thought. Kirei's existence was clearly unexpected. He was someone who had to be brought over to his side somehow.

Even as he thought, he didn't forget to take the next step. Now that his power was restored, it was possible to attach a familiar to Kayneth. If he focused on stealth without any thought of attack, he might be able to pick up their conversations. He scattered insects throughout the city, sending a specialized familiar whenever they located the target. This was a reckless move made possible only because he had sufficient mana and didn't need to worry about consumption. By the way, detection wouldn't be difficult. The places where a flying Noble Phantasm could land were limited. With this, he would somehow grasp the precise location of the Lesser Grail. Well, integrating the information he had so far, he was about 80% certain of its location—or rather, what it was.

There had been miscalculations and dangers. They were ongoing even now. However, in terms of setting the stage for the final play, things were not bad at all.

(Interesting. That priest is truly interesting.)

Kiki— The sound of gnashing fangs melted into the rustling of the grass and vanished. Even the person himself couldn't realize it had been there. So deeply and widely, it was swallowed by the darkness.

Did Tokiomi think nothing when he saw that priest? Or did he know and choose to leave him be? He could see memories, but he couldn't know the thoughts.

When trying to describe the man named Kirei Kotomine in words, even Zouken didn't have anything he felt was correct. Likely, nowhere in the world was there a word suitable to describe him. The closest was "a false emptiness." However, that also felt close yet far. No one could get near him. Even if you made contact, you couldn't touch him.

The nature of humanity was fascinating. It was one of the ultimate forms that even Zouken, who had lived for a long time, never tired of observing. And here was another interesting piece of material.

The pity was that he didn't have the leeway to simply enjoy it. He had to quickly and efficiently adjust things so he could use what he desired. But he had a premonition that even that would be enjoyable with that man.

Given the fact that he had disposed of Tokiomi, there was likely no need to call out the priest. The man would find him on his own.

Perfect. The formula for victory was complete. Rather than just obtaining the Lesser Grail, he would be able to win through more perfectly. In this Holy Grail War, he would fulfill his long-cherished wish. No, he must make it happen. He had suffered great damage at first, but now he could even feel that it was for the best. Because he hadn't missed this golden opportunity. Everything was proceeding smoothly.

Up until this moment.

Having finished the pointlessly exhausting banquet, we finally returned to the city.

Getting drunk and successfully blurring the thoughts I didn't want to think about was the only thing that worked out. But that was all that worked out. Because I was drunk, I said things that shouldn't have been said, and things that would have been better left unsaid. My head aches just thinking about it now. In fact, it was just plain embarrassing. I suppose this is how a dark history is created. It was the worst.

Next time I'm stressed, I'm absolutely not drinking. I made this vow of zero credibility as I descended from my flying Noble Phantasm (Vimana).

Finding a place that is relatively spacious and devoid of people is surprisingly difficult. Still, considering it’s night, it is far easier than during the day. If it were daytime, I would have had to go through the trouble of traveling far outside the city.

By the way, landing on top of a building wasn't an option. Kayneth absolutely hates it. The reason is simple: he doesn't want to use magecraft just to get down from a building. Behind that public excuse, however, is likely the fact that Sola-Ui would ask Lancer for assistance. Even at Einzbern Castle, he was enduring more than his limit. I sincerely hope his brain vessels don't burst from his romantic complications. I won't help him, though. Lancer will probably do his best.

Once everyone had dismounted and before I could put away the Noble Phantasm, Kayneth, as expected, erected a Bounded Field. I had considered the possibility of exchanging information the following day, but it seemed he wasn't willing to wait.

Having finished deploying the Bounded Field, Kayneth turned toward me. Perhaps because he had gained some fruit from the conversation with Irisviel, he wasn't in a bad mood. At least, compared to usual.

"Well then... let's see the results."

"Hold on a moment. Before that... Lancer."

"What is it?"

"What do you think of Assassin?"

When I addressed Lancer, he responded while still having his arm held by Sola-Ui. Kayneth's mood plummeted instantly, but I didn't have the luxury of dealing with that.

Lancer lowered his gaze slightly, lost in thought. Before long, he looked up and shook his head.

"...I don't know. At the very least, I can't think of a reason why they would exhaust all of Assassin's forces there."

"Me neither. What were they thinking, ordering such a reckless suicide charge... no, why were they commanded to do it?"

"Could they have been aiming for the Master?"

Sola-Ui asked, her body trembling slightly as she held her shoulders. Even though the threat had diminished to almost nothing, a Servant is still a Servant. When targeted by the killing intent of such overwhelming power, the fear remains deeply rooted.

Kayneth answered this in a voice that was as gentle as possible.

"That is impossible, Sola-Ui. For those like Assassin, whose only talent is assassination, the absolute requirement for a strike is for the Master and Servant to be separated. Attacking a place where Masters and Servants are gathered in one spot isn't just reckless; it's completely meaningless."

"Since there were so many of them, they might have thought at least one could slip through."

"Sola-Ui-sama, if I may. Even if those Assassins were in peak condition, any of the Three Knight Classes could defeat them with ease. Let alone in their split state; protecting a Master while wiping them out is a simple task. That is how weak they are."

"O-oh, Lancer. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to doubt you."

"I understand. It is also my duty to ease your anxieties."

Lancer bowed, looking somewhat bitter at Sola-Ui's state. I could almost hear the sound of Kayneth grinding his teeth, even though he wasn't actually doing it.

Kayneth must have heard Lancer's words at the banquet. But even so, if you asked if he could forgive him, the answer would have to be "no." The matter with Saber might be one thing, but there was no reason for Sola-Ui to be flirting with him. Besides, this isn't about logic; it's about emotion. Even if Lancer himself were completely blameless, I could understand why Kayneth felt he couldn't forgive him.

"Lancer, and Archer. How many of them did you see?"

"I saw 75 or 76. Archer, what about you?"

"Same. Even if there were any left, they'd have to pick a Master they could actually finish off."

Of course, provided a Command Spell isn't used, I added in my mind. Even without saying it, they probably knew.

In a Holy Grail War, what is the most important thing to be careful of? The Parameters of the enemy Servant, or their possessed Skills? Noble Phantasms are also something to watch out for. One must also know their tactics. However, if asked which is the most important, I would answer "no" to all of them.

The point that requires the most caution is the number of Command Spells and the tendency of their use.

A Command Spell is a Miracle Engine limited to the target—specifically for the Servant. In extreme terms, if one could use Command Spells without limit, they could become the winner of the Holy Grail War just with that. That's how much of a "cheat" it is. Like an overpowered stat boost on steroids.

They can twist any judgment in your favor, and for a short duration, grant a massive increase in firepower equivalent to a top-tier Noble Phantasm release or a significant boost in stats. To put it extremely simply, a Command Spell is an all-purpose Noble Phantasm with only three uses. Even if all the remaining Assassins gathered, their total stats wouldn't even reach E-rank. At that level, even using multiple Command Spells wouldn't give them a chance of victory against me. However, they might be able to reach Sakura, who is currently holed up in our base.

I could win against all the other Servants together. The reason I can't move boldly despite that prospect is because of this. For example, I defeat one Servant with overwhelming power. To deal with me, the other Servants form an alliance. It would probably be three or four of them. My Magical Energy is sufficient, and Sakura's supply is perfect. Even if I have a high chance of winning, what if the Masters use their Command Spells simultaneously to take me down? I have no idea how the enemy Servants would be buffed. The worst-case scenario would be a split focus: one buffing an Anti-Unit or Anti-Fortress Noble Phantasm, one enhancing physical ability, one teleporting right next to me, and one teleports to our base to kill Sakura. Each requires a different response, and I’m not confident I could handle them all at once.

And if I were to kill all the Servants before successfully extracting Angra Mainyu from the Holy Grail, I might instead cause it to manifest. In that case, I would be forced to destroy the Grail, which would make me disappear—or more precisely, die. If only the Einzberns hadn’t done something unnecessary in the Third Holy Grail War, things wouldn’t have become this complicated.

Lancer defeating Rider is near impossible. Even if he doesn't have to worry about the lightning, Rider is constantly flying around, attacking with high-speed hit-and-run strikes. Just pinning him down would be a struggle. Moreover, there is virtually no way to deal with Ionioi Hetairoi. The compatibility is the worst. Yet, if asked if he can't win, that's not necessarily true.

Kayneth is likely thinking the same thing as me. There aren't many methods with high certainty.

At the moment Rider’s chariot charges, at the point of impact, order Lancer to: "Thrust with all your might with your yellow spear (Gáe Buidhe)." If commanded via Command Spell, he would surely overpower the charge. Even if he doesn't kill Rider, the damage would be catastrophic. If Ionioi Hetairoi is deployed, use a Command Spell to teleport Lancer directly to Rider’s side at that moment. Again, with a Command Spell, it is possible to counter.

As you can see, the countermeasures are relatively simple. And because the countermeasures are simple, the "counter-countermeasures" are also easy. The opponent could just use a Command Spell to evade. Even if you use one to deal with a threat, if they use one in response, the situation returns to even. How well one utilizes their Command Spells might be more important than which Servant they have.

And up to this point, making Sakura—whose spirit was worn down to the point where she couldn't use Command Spells—a Master looks like a failure. However, if you remember that Command Spells were originally for the purpose of controlling Servants and making them commit suicide, you'll understand that the merit of not letting them be used is sufficiently larger than the risk of not being able to use them.

In the original story, Lancer's Master used a Command Spell as an act of spite because they were on bad terms. Archer also ended up having to use a Command Spell just to retreat. Well, in Lancer's case, it wasn't entirely wrong strategically. Surrounding and striking a strong enemy when they are weakened is correct, especially when Berserker is the definition of self-destruction.

In any case, the Command Spell should be the most important factor. especially for a Master. I cannot predict the actions of someone who moves after having reached a state where even Command Spells cannot save them.

"Hmph, well, whatever."

Kayneth said with open contempt.

"So the Master was the Executor? But they are merely the sort of riffraff who can do nothing but waste their Servants. They are not worth fearing."

If only he didn't have this attitude. Despite being a bit arrogant, he really is an ideal Master.

No one can deny his high ability. But is there nothing that can be done about his tendency to look down on others because he holds himself in such high regard?

"I'll look into that as well. Since we know who to keep an eye on, I think we'll get information soon, but..."

"The problem is that the opponent likely expects that too," Lancer pointed out, and I nodded. Though he's a man obsessed with his way as a knight, he's not one to ignore the hidden side of things. Rather, he likely pays twice as much attention as anyone else to ensure he can fight fairly without being tripped up from behind.

"Yes. We don't know what kind of countermeasures they'll take, but if we don't handle this right, we might not get any information, or..."

"Will we only realize it once it's too late? We must prevent that... but even for someone with your level of information-gathering ability, is failure possible?" Lancer asked.

"That kind of thing only works because the opponent doesn't expect it at all. Most Magi don't even anticipate information gathering through methods other than Magecraft, right? Once they realize that, they will shift their efforts from trying to detect Magecraft to trying to avoid being detected, or to encrypt it, and so on."

"I see, that makes sense."

In reality, I was only verifying information I already knew. My information-gathering ability is lower than any faction imagines.

I shot a glance at Kayneth. Asking if he had found out anything on his end.

"I have familiars stuck to the Church, but there’s no movement. That said, if they know they're being watched, there are ways around it. After all, there’s a limit to what a familiar's eyes can see."

"I guess so."

I said it with the intention that it couldn't be helped, but Kayneth seemed to take it as disappointment. He clicked his tongue in irritation.

"In the first place, if you hadn't started talking about having a drinking party with that worthless Servant, we could have dealt with this quickly. We didn't go all the way to the Einzbern Castle just to hear your speech."

I opened my mouth to argue, but finding no words, I closed it again.

Actually, I was supposed to be just a background character at the banquet... I think. Yes, that's how it was. I basically didn't say anything. ...Well, I did chime in every now and then. So, it wasn't exactly a speech. That was just a drunkard's rambling. Yeah, no matter how I look at it, that's even more pathetic. I've already embarrassed myself enough; making excuses would be unsightly.

My self-loathing over the Sakura situation and the alcohol had a chemical reaction, and I was having a "bad trip." You could say I was lashing out and wanted to drag others down with me. Though, it's already strange enough that I was speaking so arrogantly to Heroic Spirits.

What are Heroic Spirits, anyway? There are many interpretations. I think they’re humans who have already reached their peak. To put it simply, they are the successful ones. There is a gap between their grand-scale thinking and the extremely small-scale thinking of an ordinary human. It's only natural that there would be a definite difference in how they perceive everything. That’s why Rider would say he looks at each individual. After all, he cannot see everyone. His perspective is built on the idea that by seeing everyone as a whole, he is also able to see each individual within that whole.

In the end, it’s about the same level as someone holding a beer can and shouting jeers at a baseball broadcast.

But if I may offer an excuse: those guys had too many things worth nitpicking. They talked about serving with loyalty as knights while being totally self-centered. In the discussion of kingship, the meaning of superiority was unclear (and naturally, I don't get why Saber was shocked and felt defeated. Her kingdom was already on the brink of collapse, so of course her philosophy of kingship would differ from theirs. In fact, that’s exactly how it was portrayed in the main story). They started bashing her by mixing up the "Way of the King" with personal wishes. And Rider, you yourself have regrets, don't you? Seriously... they were too composed of hypocrisy and fragile egos.

I have no objection to the idea that Heroic Spirits are superior in terms of hierarchy. I support that entirely. Someone who has accomplished something and a mere lazy person shouldn't even stand on the same stage. But an objection is something that comes out instinctively, and it's not like it won't come out just because the opponent is great, right?

...It was a pointless conversation. Whether it was affirmation or denial, right or wrong, it was all too ridiculous. In the end, the one who is strongest and survives to the last will be the victor. Why bother caring about others’ opinions when, in the end, we will end up killing each other to fulfill our own wishes?

Perhaps Kayneth felt the futility too, though in a different direction. He let out a sigh and smoothed the wrinkles on his brow.

"So, was going there worth the effort?"

"Of course. Or rather, if I hadn't achieved that, I'd really have no idea what I went there for."

That would be more embarrassing if the answer was "I just went to make a fool of myself."

I moved to take out what I had strictly sealed away, but then I hesitated. Is it okay to talk about this here?

I worried for a moment but concluded that the thought was meaningless. Whether we discussed it at my base or Kayneth’s, he would hate both. Besides, even if it's a simple one, there are almost no magi who can bypass a Bounded Field constructed by a Lord of the Clock Tower without being noticed. At least, not among the Masters.

Being cautious doesn't hurt. If one of the scenarios I anticipated becomes reality, my response time will be faster. But taking on extra trouble because of over-caution is a different story.

I took out a fist-sized jewel box I had stored in my Treasury (Gate of Babylon). When I opened the lid, there was a cloth with a divine atmosphere. As I unwrapped it, there was an even more sinister bundle of cloth inside. I unwrapped that too and took out the contents. What remained in the end was a metal fragment about the size of a palm.

"This is it."

"Ooh...!"

His previous bad mood vanished. The moment he saw it, Kayneth's face lit up, and he reached out for the fragment.

The fact that something so close to the near-essence of the Holy Grail can be investigated seems to be an extraordinary matter. It was a sensation I, or anyone who wasn't a Magus, couldn't understand.

"This is... the Holy Grail...!"

His voice trembled with emotion as he checked the texture and appearance through his gloves. He didn't go so far as to touch what I had strictly sealed with his bare hands. The gloves weren't just cloth; they were likely a Mystic Code or something similar.

His mouth twisted in an indescribable way. Whether it was joy or humiliation, he stared at it with a mix of many emotions.

"What is this...! It is not mere metal. It isn't even a mixture of Ether. To think the Einzberns created such a thing... magnificent..."

"That thing is probably alive."

"What did you say?"

It was just an intuition. But it wasn't mine; Gilgamesh's intuition told me so. I had nothing to refute it.

"To be precise, should I call it part of a biological component? Whether flesh and metal have fused, or the metal itself has gained biological traits, I can't say for sure. Regardless, it's alive."

"Absurd... no, but could such a thing be possible?"

Kayneth fell into deep thought before the fragment. It was a terrifying level of concentration. So much so that he didn't even notice Sola-Ui, who had come to peer at the fragment with a magus's curiosity.

"This should have been fused with a living body. How did you extract it?"

"With a Noble Phantasm."

It wasn't a secret that needed to be hidden. I told him honestly, but he didn't seem to understand. Kayneth, and by extension Sola-Ui and Lancer, wore expressions of confusion.

“Simply put, it’s a type of Noble Phantasm that replaces things with another possibility. Even if that part is removed, it wouldn’t be noticed if it were swapped with the possibility that the body was originally made of normal flesh. …Or is it the other way around? Perhaps the correct interpretation is that the body, already resembling the Holy Grail, had its nature intensified and was filled with flesh akin to the Grail.”

"I see!"

In these kinds of discussions, I, lacking knowledge, have no choice but to rely on intuition. Even now, having said it myself, it didn't make much sense. My words barely qualified as an explanation, but Kayneth looked struck by realization and covered his mouth.

"The relay point of the Holy Grail always had to be placed where it couldn't be touched from the outside. If it came into contact with something, it would directly impart its attributes to the Magical Energy. However, with this method of semi-fusion with a physical body... Yes, it's a reversal of thought! If Magical Energy is easily influenced by other attributes, then one should simply prepare a 'Grail-colored' vessel in the Grail's storage from the start. And this is the result!"

Kayneth, laughing "kukuku," looked very lively. At least, far more so than when he was fighting the Holy Grail War.

"A-Archer, I may have this, correct?"

"Go ahead."

Though he phrased it as a question, his attitude said it was a given. In fact, if I had refused, he looked ready to take it even if it meant making any sacrifice. He was just holding the fragment in his palm, yet his fingers were gripping it with unusual strength. That itself was proof of how much importance he placed on this matter.

I had no reason to object and answered immediately. He probably has no intention of returning it. It's written all over his face that he'll keep it even after the Holy Grail War ends for his research. Well, as long as he does what needs to be done, what he does with it after the war is none of my business. In fact, I was even grateful, thinking of it as a disposal of a troublesome item.

"Oh, I'll give you one warning. Don't let Lancer touch that."

"I have no intention of touching it in the first place. But what is the reason?"

Just not having plans and "you absolutely must not touch it" are completely different stories.

"There's no reason. Just a hunch."

"A hunch?"

In times like this, a track record is useful. Especially if you've succeeded in a few things in a field where you lack knowledge, you can make people think "it might be so" regardless of your skill level. I don't have such sharp intuition, nor the information or intellect to derive it. But no one besides me knows that. I might expose my lack of ability someday, but that time is not now. Since bluffs work for now, calling it a hunch was enough to be persuasive.

"Yeah, a hunch. I have some plausible reasons, but nothing persuasive. I just feel like it's dangerous, and I don't feel like touching it actively either. That's why I brought it under multiple seals."

Even if I know Angra Mainyu is inside, and I know it’s fatal to Servants, I’m the only one who knows. And I don't have the proof to make him understand. Since we have a fragment of the Grail, it’s faster to just investigate it directly.

I was extremely worried while transporting it. If it leaked accidentally, Angra Mainyu will attack me immediately considering I am the closest Servant (If that happens, I might end up with the same fate as Gilgamesh in the Heaven Feel route.). How much could something formed by the Holy Grail itself, even a Noble Phantasm, withstand something with power fatal to Servants? At the very least, it would be a dangerous gamble to be optimistic and say it's fine.

That was another reason why I wanted Kayneth to handle it. Even if the dangerous element, Angra Mainyu, were gone, the fact remains that the Holy Grail itself has a high level of influence over the existence of a Servant. If I just threw it away, I'd be worried about what might happen later. In that regard, if it's managed by the Clock Tower, I won't have to worry about it.

"I see. My thanks for the warning."

"That's enough of the unnecessary talk. You have no further business, do you? Then we shall take our leave."

It was Kayneth who spoke impatiently, of course. He looked desperate to start his research immediately.

"Go ahead. Our next move can wait until you've finished your research."

"Agreed."

Even if we contacted each other frequently, I wouldn't get a decent response if he was immersed in research. Keeping contact to a minimum should be fine.

The moment I spoke, the Bounded Field was deactivated, and Kayneth walked away briskly. Sola-Ui followed him, and Lancer dematerialized into Spirit Form. I turned my back without even seeing them off.

Going home is a bit depressing. I don't know what to say when I face Sakura.

It’s my own responsibility for running away into alcohol. Perhaps a person called a "Hero" wouldn't run away here. Well, I don't actually know if that’s true.

Maybe tomorrow, I’ll buy a cake and try to lift her mood. I thought about this petty scheme again as I headed back, avoiding the artificial lights, toward the place where Sakura was probably waiting for me.