"What?!" Haruri stood up abruptly.
Next, Asuka spent ten minutes concisely explaining the rules of the Holy Grail War to the mother.
Seven magi, seven Heroic Spirits, slaughtering each other until only one remains.
The victor can have any wish granted.
For the losers, there is most likely only death.
After listening to Asuka's explanation, the living room fell into a deathly silence once more.
Haruri's expression shifted from shock to anger, and finally to deep-seated fear.
"Are you kidding me..."
She grabbed Sumire's hand, trembling as her voice grew hoarse. "You want Sumire to kill people? Or be killed? This kind of thing..."
As she spoke, Haruri grabbed Sumire's hand and tried to use her sleeve to wipe away the bright red Command Spell on the back of the girl's hand.
"Wipe it off! Hurry up and wipe this damn thing off!"
"Mom... it won't come off..." Tears welled up in Sumire's eyes from the pain, but she didn't pull her hand back. She just looked sadly at her mother's futile efforts.
"It's useless, Ms. Kamado."
Asuka spoke coldly. "Once a Command Spell is engraved, it serves as proof that the contract has been established. This isn't some summer camp where you can come and go as you please."
"Until this war ends, or until Sumire loses her Command Spells, she is a Master chosen by the Holy Grail."
"But..."
Asuka's gaze sharpened. "Even if you want to quit, the other participants won't let you go. To reduce the number of competitors, killing weak Masters is the most efficient method."
"Remember that psychotic murderer who tried to kill Sumire? The participants are all lunatics like that."
Hearing the words 'psychotic murderer', Haruri's body shuddered violently.
From the story just now, she had also learned the entire process of how Sumire was dragged into this mess.
While she was unaware, Sumire had been kidnapped and almost died...
Haruri looked at her daughter, recalling the scars on the back of her hand, her eyes full of heartache and lingering fear.
Sumire nodded silently.
"Mom, I'm sorry... for keeping it from you all this time."
Haruri slumped back onto the floor, as if all the strength had been drained from her body.
As a mother, her greatest wish was for her daughter to grow up safely.
But now, reality told her that her daughter had already been thrust into a life-or-death gladiatorial arena.
"...Is there really no other way?"
Haruri looked up, her slightly reddened eyes gazing at Asuka with a desperate plea.
Asuka looked at her, his heart stirring slightly.
That look of having to face a cruel fate in order to protect something precious—no matter how many years passed, no matter what world he was in, it was always the same.
"There is only one way."
Asuka stood up and walked over to the mother and daughter.
He reached out and gently placed a hand on Sumire's shoulder.
"And that is to keep winning."
"Or rather, survive until the end."
Asuka's voice wasn't loud, but it carried a rock-solid determination.
"I can't guarantee that we'll definitely obtain the Holy Grail, but..."
He looked at Haruri, golden flames burning in his pitch-black eyes.
"I can guarantee that as long as I haven't dissipated, no one will hurt Sumire."
"Whether it's a Heroic Spirit or a magus, if they want to touch the Kamado family's brat, they'll have to go through me first."
These words acted like a reassuring pill, allowing the panicked mother and daughter to calm down a little.
Haruri looked at the mysterious swordsman before her.
Even though his origins were unknown, and even though he exuded a dangerous aura, in this moment, Haruri felt a long-lost sense of security from him.
It was an aura that only truly strong warriors who had experienced countless life-and-death battles possessed.
"Alright, I believe you."
Haruri took a deep breath, wiped the corners of her eyes, and her gaze became resolute once more.
It was the strength of the head of the household, and also the strength of a mother.
"Since we can't escape, we can only face it."
Haruri stood up and dusted off her clothes.
"Although I don't understand magecraft or war, I, Haruri Kamado, am no pushover!"
She pointed to her right eye, then clenched her fist, showing off the muscles she had built up from years of carrying goods.
"I have these Mystic Eyes too, right? Since it's a superpower... oh wait, magecraft, then I can help too!"
"Even if I can't beat those monsters, those... sorry, Mr. Asuka, I don't mean you..."
"But the summoners of those Servants are always ordinary humans, right! Even if I have to use my teeth, I'll tear a chunk of flesh off them!"
Seeing her mother suddenly fired up, Sumire was a bit surprised, but she nodded vigorously, infected by her enthusiasm.
"Yeah! Let's do our best together, Mom!"
Asuka looked at the highly motivated mother and daughter, nodding in satisfaction.
Although the road ahead was dangerous, and although their opponents were legendary heroes.
This unyielding spirit...
Wasn't bad at all.
"In that case, we'll start special training tomorrow."
Asuka crossed his arms, reverting to his strict instructor persona.
"Sumire, your Breathing Styles are still too immature! Your efficiency in using magical energy is appallingly low! Starting tomorrow, your training volume is doubled!"
"Ah?! Doubled again?!" Sumire let out a wail.
"And you, Ms. Kamado."
Asuka looked at Haruri. "Although you have Mystic Eyes, you have absolutely no idea how to control them. While I don't know how to use that thing, I'll try to teach you how to use Breathing Styles to guide the power within your body, so at least you won't drop the ball at a critical moment."
"Sumire's magical energy reserves are very poor. Perhaps at a crucial moment, she'll need you to provide support."
"Alright! Bring it on!" Haruri was full of drive. "When my husband was alive, I used to practice a few moves with him too!"
It was late at night.
The lights in the Kamado residence were still on.
Outside the Kamado house, on a utility pole, a mysterious Assassin was observing everything inside.
"Confirmed. The Avenger, his Master, and her mother are currently residing in the Shinto residential district."
"The Master is the young girl Sumire Kamado. Her mother is an ordinary human, confirmed to possess some kind of low-level Mystic Eyes, and is attempting basic training with Avenger..."
Listening to the communication report from his Servant, Kirei stood with his hands behind his back, his fingertips unconsciously tracing light patterns on his palm.
The bond between mother and daughter, passionate fighting spirit, a warm family.
These words truly held no substantial meaning for him, the emotionally detached successor of the Church.
"Family..." he repeated in a low voice, the word rolling over his tongue a few times before fading away.
"Understood. Continue monitoring, but prioritize remaining concealed."
"Understood." The Assassin on the other end nodded, his figure blending into the darkness.
Kirei stood silently in place for a moment before turning and walking toward the magic circle used for communication.
He needed to report this intelligence, along with his preliminary analysis, to Tokiomi Tohsaka.
Just as he was about to activate the magic circle, a massive and arrogant magical energy filled the entire space without warning.
Golden Reishi gathered like stars, outlining that unparalleled figure.
"Are you reporting boring trivialities to Tokiomi, Kirei?"
Gilgamesh leaned lazily against the throne that had appeared out of thin air, as if he were the master of this place.
Kirei Kotomine bowed slightly. "King of Heroes... it is intelligence regarding the Avenger and his Master who appeared tonight."
"That mad dog?" Gilgamesh frowned.
"Exactly. Monitoring their every move is precisely the duty of myself and Assassin."
Gilgamesh stood up, his eyes flashing with murderous intent. "Skip the report. Tokiomi's strategy is too conservative. His constant hesitation is irritating."
"Tell me the address. I shall go and meet him myself."