"You're saying we strike proactively tonight?"
Kotomine Kirei looked at Gilgamesh with surprise.
"Yes. With our planned trump card gone and our intelligence likely—nay, certainly—leaked, I understand the need to avoid unprepared battles. So, we must act first and prepare accordingly. Even with our plans exposed, we can seize the initiative."
In the church, looking at the severed right arm of Kotomine Risei and the blood on the floor, recalling his father hospitalized from blood loss, the dutiful son Kotomine Kirei felt a pang of regret.
He had planned to kill his professor, Tohsaka Tokiomi, then return here to personally kill his father, seeking to recapture that rush of pleasure. He also intended to claim the trump card prepared for Tohsaka Tokiomi.
But upon returning, he found his father in a pool of blood and an ambulance transporting him to the hospital.
Seeing his father's severed arm, stripped of Command Spells, Kirei guessed what happened. Someone else knew of the deal between his father and Tohsaka Tokiomi, aware of the Command Spells' significance across the wars, and struck first to steal them.
This development frustrated Kirei, but his greater emotion was regret.
Why hadn't he returned sooner to kill his father? Now, with his father taken by ambulance and police, protected and treated while giving statements, the incident was attributed to a robbery gone wrong, making it hard for Kirei to act or understand.
Since they took the Command Spells, knowing the deal between his father and Tohsaka Tokiomi, why only cut off an arm and leave him alive, even calling an ambulance instead of letting him bleed out?
This behavior seemed almost protective, as if anticipating Kirei's actions and deliberately sparing his father's life.
Kirei's brow furrowed, his mind racing toward an answer, a chill running through him.
If his suspicions were correct, what kind of being was this? Their actions seemed more like punishing a sinner...
Who did they think they were? A god dispensing punishment and salvation?!
Kirei's heart sank as he pieced together the truth, shaken by the realization.
Such a being existed.
If so, had all his actions—his pleasures, betrayals, and unexecuted plans—been predicted?
Suddenly, Kirei felt exposed, as if in a glass cage, watched by eyes in the dark, sending a chill through his body.
"What's wrong, Kirei?"
Noticing Kirei's unease, Gilgamesh, sitting on a pew and pondering the situation, asked.
"Nothing, King of Heroes. I was just wondering who could have predicted our plans, even knowing I might kill Tohsaka Tokiomi, and preemptively took our trump card..."
"Oh? That's what troubles you?"
Hearing Kirei's concern, Gilgamesh nodded, scanning the surroundings and sensing a unique mana—divine and alchemical, like scorching flames—knowing the answer.
"Hmph, as I thought, it's that boy again."
He snorted, addressing Kirei.
"Who is it?"
Kirei, who had never met Roy, was curious.
"A very intriguing fellow, one of my prized treasures. I suspected he had abilities like foresight or divination, but to have this situation in his plans? While I was chatting with you, he slipped through. Quite the cunning one."
Gilgamesh snorted, his words mocking yet unmasking his admiration for Roy, unfazed by the loss of their trump card.
He respected and admired those with such skill, who could seize every advantage.
This outsider, in this era, might have been a valued toy in his reign.
No, it depended on which version of himself.
In his later years, he'd have shared half his tablets and dragged him to work...
Compared to rabble, this boy was endlessly fascinating, always surprising him—a feeling only his dear friend Enkidu had ever matched.
In that case...
He couldn't afford to be idle.
"—Hahahahahahahaha!!!"
Thinking this, Gilgamesh, leaning on the pew, burst into hearty laughter, infectious enough to make others join in.
"Interesting, so interesting! To fear me to this degree? Command Spells, the Grail, alliances—he's gathered every usable force in the Holy Grail War. Truly fascinating!!"
Laughing, covering his face, Gilgamesh's antics startled Kirei, who saw his genuine amusement and admiration for Roy's machinations.
But...
"To think this would be enough to defeat me? Two god-slayers, a mad dog, and a false king dare challenge the world? To beat me, they'd need Enkidu!!"
After his hearty laugh, Gilgamesh shed his earlier dismissiveness, his crimson eyes glinting with cold intent and soaring battle spirit.
He hadn't planned to take it this seriously, but courtesy demanded reciprocity. With such a stage set, failing to bring his all would be discourteous.
Opening his Gate of Babylon under Kirei's stunned gaze, Gilgamesh reached deep within, retrieving a golden chalice and a glowing herb, clutching them tightly.
"King of Heroes, is that... the Holy Grail?!"
Seeing the golden chalice, Kirei asked in shock.
"But the Greater Grail hasn't descended yet. How could you...?"
"Hmph, Kirei, stop asking foolish questions," Gilgamesh snorted, then unhesitatingly chewed the herb of immortality with the chalice's pure mana, swallowing it.
"I told you, all treasures in the world belong to me, so naturally, this Grail is mine."
The chalice in Gilgamesh's hand wasn't the Third Magic's creation from this war but the Greater Grail from the divine age of Uruk.
He hadn't planned to use such a trump card, but this Holy Grail War was too intriguing, with so many fascinating players.
Since they'd gone this far, he saw no need to hold back. Losing after failing to go all out would be truly shameful.
The Greater Grail, the herb of immortality...
Plus two more trump cards yet to be played—come, you rabble, let's see who laughs last!!
Laughing skyward, Gilgamesh felt his power surge, nearing his peak, his expression growing wilder. The terrifying mana forced Kirei to step back, awed by the King of Heroes' might.
Kirei couldn't help but ask,
"King of Heroes, how do you feel now?"
Watching Gilgamesh, who seemed almost drugged with abnormality, Kirei grew concerned.
"How? I feel fantastic."
Gilgamesh chuckled, finishing the last of the herb, his presence turning devilish, like Mephistopheles with Faust's soul.
"This is the power of a king!"
The herb's immortality took effect, immense mana erupting within him. Standing, his raised hair fell, and with a snort, his golden armor shattered, revealing his toned body and red battle tattoos—the garb of his mythic era, reborn.
"Now, I'll sweep all enemies in this state."
Feeling his condition, he asked Kirei,
"Kirei, what enemy positions do we know?"
"Berserker, Lancer, Rider, and Saber—except Scáthach, we know them all. But since the others are allied, they're likely not at their bases. They'll probably come to us."
Kirei thought briefly and answered.
With all but Saber allied, surprise attacks were ineffective.
"Hmph... so be it. I'll wait here for them."
Gilgamesh didn't overthink, stating directly,
"Set up defenses here and let them come to their deaths. I want to see what waves these rabble can stir!"
"A defensive battle here? Sounds good."
...
...
Outside the Einzbern territory.
"...Tch, Tohsaka Tokiomi is still dead... or rather, not dead, but close enough. Being betrayed by his student and saved by Matou Kariya must have hit him hard. Kotomine Kirei is the new Archer's Master, and the Masters' battlefield is back to square one. What a headache."
In the passenger seat of a sports car, Roy propped his chin, mulling over the situation.
"Back to square one? Don't play coy, Master. At the start, you didn't have the Grail, the Philosopher's Stone, or Avalon, let alone so many Command Spells."
Scáthach teased bluntly.
"You're the biggest winner in this Holy Grail War. While others fought and schemed, you completed your magecraft puzzle and nearly transcended it all, raking in the profits."
"Haha, true. Seems I'm the constant beneficiary."
Smiling at Scáthach's words, Roy's expression remained tense, a flicker of worry crossing his face.
"I just wonder how Professor Kayneth's side is doing. Three against one—even if countered, with his skill and Waver, escaping shouldn't be an issue. I had Touko set up to support them. Hopefully, nothing goes wrong..."
He remained uneasy about Kayneth's suicide squad taking on Gilgamesh.
Though he had arranged contingencies and worked to weaken the enemy, a bad feeling lingered.
Could the curse that Kayneth doesn't survive the Fourth War kick in, undoing all his efforts to save him from Emiya Kiritsugu, only for him to die anyway?
"What are you worrying about, Master? Even if the King of Heroes is the strongest with his Ea countering Rider, your side has Fionn and Lancelot countering his treasury and divinity. They won't go down without a fight. Plus, didn't you take their trump card?"
Scáthach pointed at the row of Command Spells on Roy's arm.
To her, he was worrying needlessly. No matter how strong Gilgamesh was, he was one against three top-tier Servants—how could they lose so easily?
"I hope so, but I have a bad feeling."
Nodding slightly, Roy's mood eased a bit.
Though unsure where the unease came from, all he could do was pray they didn't die too badly. After dealing with Saber, he'd face the King of Heroes next.
For now... focus on the task at hand.
Sometimes, rushing things only increased the chance of mistakes.
"Scáthach, I'm counting on you next."
As they chatted, the sports car neared the Einzbern castle. Scáthach's openly radiating mana boldly announced their arrival.
Seeing the castle's outline, Roy smiled and reminded her,
"Scáthach, unless I'm about to be killed by King Arthur, don't step in to help, okay?"
"Oh?"
Her brow arched, a sly smile crossing her stunning face.
"Hahaha... I didn't expect you to be serious, Master. You really want to face Saber alone? That's surprising. But since it's your request, I have no reason to refuse."
"..."
"I'm grateful for your understanding, but I feel like you just want to see me get beaten."
"Maybe a little. But... Master, you know? As the Queen of the Land of Shadows, mentor of heroes, nothing delights me more than seeing humans create miracles through effort. Can you create one for me?"
Steering with one hand, Scáthach turned to look at Roy earnestly, her crimson eyes brimming with anticipation and curiosity.
She knew her Master could be overly maternal at times, but he wasn't reckless or boastful.
Everything he promised, he delivered.
If he chose to face the Sword Heroic Spirit alone, he must have some confidence.
With her Master showing such resolve, why would she refuse? Silent support was enough—she wanted to see an entertaining drama.
"Of course. Aren't miracles created by humans?"
Meeting Scáthach's beautiful gaze, Roy smiled and nodded.
"—All humans are stars."
"All stars, huh? That's quite—"
"Wait, stop staring at me and watch the road, Scáthach!!"
Before she could finish, Roy, realizing she was driving, grabbed the wheel and shouted.
"Sorry, sorry, I forgot I was driving."
"Haha, but, Master, isn't hands-free driving romantic? Just cruising freely..."
"Romantic, my foot!"
Laughter echoed along the winding road.
...
...
"Quite intriguing..."
Meanwhile, in the distant Inner Sea of the Planet, a white figure sighed upon witnessing this scene.
"To get along so well with the Queen of the Land of Shadows—you're increasingly unfathomable."
Her prismatic eyes turned to the distance.
Across forests, cities, and oceans, spanning countless years, they landed on a petite figure from a thousand years ago, once a playful companion.
"Artoria, my king... I hope this time, he can awaken you."
"Let him free you from the nightmare of Britain's fall."
With a faint sigh, the voice faded, vanishing into the white tower of paradise, echoing silently in an unknown realm.
She spoke no more, only watching the future unfold.
Waiting, and hoping.
***
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