As the sealing ended and the flowing black mud disappeared, Fuyuki City ushered in peace once again.
As everything calmed down, Kiritsugu Emiya cautiously arrived at the ruins of the hanging gardens of babylon. He walked into the palace and, arriving at the hall, ignored Irisviel's corpse on the ground, raised his gun loaded with origin bullet, and aimed at Rin, who was dazed on the throne.
"Hand over the Holy Grail."
Kiritsugu Emiya's voice interrupted Rin's memories. Looking at Kiritsugu Emiya before her, Rin threw the Holy Grail to him with disgust.
"The Holy Grail is yours, take it. Also, stop pointing your gun at me. You should understand that having signed the Self-Geas Scroll, you cannot harm me. Give it up, Kiritsugu Emiya. This Holy Grail is just an ordinary golden cup. The magical energy required to make a wish has long been sealed away, along with All the World's Evils, in the depths of this palace."
Kiritsugu Emiya ignored Rin's words. He lowered his gun and picked up the Holy Grail he had dreamed of. When Kiritsugu Emiya lifted the Holy Grail with his remaining arm, a will to die surfaced in his eyes. He silently set the Holy Grail down, not even taking the handgun loaded with the origin bullet, and like a walking corpse, went to Irisviel's remains, picked her up, and left the palace.
Watching the back of Kiritsugu Emiya as he carried Irisviel away, Rin sighed. She rose from the throne, picked up the Holy Grail and the handgun Kiritsugu Emiya had left behind, and also departed the ruins of the hanging gardens of babylon.
Rin walked out all alone, carrying the Holy Grail in one hand and the handgun in the other. She arrived at the foot of the newly formed mountain created by the ruins of the hanging gardens of babylon, and from afar, she saw Tohsaka Tokiomi holding Sakura's hand, waiting there.
Tohsaka Tokiomi, holding Sakura's hand, walked proudly to his eldest daughter's side. Seeing that Rin was in a bad mood, Tohsaka Tokiomi comfortingly reached out with his left hand and patted Rin on the head.
"Rin, you did very well. As the victor, you should welcome your opponents with a smile. Look, they are coming."
Following Tohsaka Tokiomi's words, Kayneth, accompanied by Sola and Waver, also arrived at the scene.
Kayneth looked with emotion at the ruins created by the previous battle all around.
"That someone like you could appear in such a magical backwater as the Far East is truly incredible. Facing you, my title of Clock Tower prodigy is simply a joke. Congratulations on your victory."
At this moment, Waver also smiled and came to Rin's side. He cautiously touched the Holy Grail, then asked.
"Is this the Holy Grail? The Holy Grail we were fighting for this time?"
Looking at the curious Waver, Rin lifted the Holy Grail and shoved it into his arms, then shrugged.
"That's right. If you're interested, take it and play with it. It's just a golden cup without any magical energy anyway."
Waver scrambled to catch the Holy Grail. After inspecting it, it was just as Rin had said; once the magical energy was sealed, the so-called Holy Grail was just an ordinary golden cup.
At this point, Kayneth turned to look at Tohsaka Tokiomi.
"Tohsaka Tokiomi, the commotion this time was not small. Coupled with the talent of your two daughters, I think when the Mages Association sends people to investigate, I fear one of them will inevitably be placed under Sealing Designation."
Tohsaka Tokiomi nodded calmly and spoke without any fear.
"It does not matter. As a father and husband, I have already made up my mind to protect this family. If the Mages Association truly places a Sealing Designation on my daughter, then even if I am crushed to pieces, I will find Zelretch and beg him to help my two daughters."
"That's right, I had forgotten that your Tohsaka Family ancestors were once disciples of Zelretch. However, I fear that once the Holy Grail War is investigated by the Mages Association, even Zelretch will not be able to protect your Tohsaka Family. Countless Magi pursuing the truth will likely tear your Tohsaka Family to pieces for this omnipotent wish-granting machine."
Tohsaka Rin took the Holy Grail back from Waver and, hearing Kayneth's threat, amusedly interrupted their conversation.
"Hey, Kayneth, stop scaring my father. Speak, what is your purpose?"
Kayneth looked at the little girl before him, his gaze somewhat evasive as he spoke.
"Er, with talent like yours, it's a waste to stay in a place like this. If you are willing to return to the Clock Tower with me, I will, in my capacity as Lord of the El-Melloi Faction, help you cover up this incident with all my might. What do you think?"
"Heh, no. I have already scouted out a teacher for Sakura, and I have my own path to follow. However, Sakura, are you willing to go to the Clock Tower for a year of advanced study?"
Sakura thought about not being able to see her sister, mother, and father for a year, and wanted to shake her head immediately. But thinking that if she refused, then either she or her sister would be placed under a Sealing Designation, and her father and mother would likely not have a good end either, she nodded with difficulty.
Rin looked at Sakura and accepted, saying.
"Well, Sakura doesn't want to, so that's impossible. However..."
Sakura lifted her head in surprise, looking at her sister. 'As expected, it's still my sister who understands me best and is best to me. Sakura loves sister the most.'
Waver, hiding to the side, silently retorted,'She clearly nodded.'
Kayneth ignored the others' reactions and asked with some anticipation.
"However? However what?"
"However, Sakura and I can promise you that in the future, we will definitely go to the Clock Tower to study. When that time comes, during our time at the Clock Tower, we can help your El-Melloi Faction to repay this favor."
Kayneth pondered for a long time, exchanged a glance with Sola, and then nodded, agreeing to Rin's terms.
"Then it's a deal!"
Rin looked at the left hand Kayneth extended and grasped it with her right hand.
"It's a deal!"
Although the scene looked a bit comical—an adult seriously making a deal with a 7-year-old girl, half-crouching to shake her small hand with his large one—no one present laughed. They all understood that this little girl, Tohsaka Rin, had already begun her journey to soar into the sky. As for what heights Tohsaka Rin would reach in the future, of everyone present, perhaps only Tohsaka Rin herself knew.
As the hour hand pointed to midnight, the final day of the Holy Grail War also came to a complete close at this moment.
Rin had already returned home by this time, and the Holy Grail was just casually tossed on the coffee table. Tohsaka Tokiomi, having comforted Aoi, slowly walked into the main hall of the Tohsaka Residence and came to Rin's side.
"Rin, do you really believe Kayneth will help us cover up this incident?"
"Rest assured, Father. Although the El-Melloi Faction is in its prime at the Clock Tower under Kayneth's leadership, all of this is built upon Kayneth's potential. Those other Lord families only favor Kayneth's potential, but the El-Melloi Faction currently lacks a Grand-ranked Magus. Potential is just potential; when one lacks sufficient strength in hand, it is nothing but a castle in the air. Kayneth must want the El-Melloi Faction to advance further, which is why he wants Sakura and me to go to the Clock Tower to add chips to his El-Melloi Faction. Now that I have clearly stated that I will go to the Clock Tower in the future to repay his favor and help his El-Melloi Faction, so rest assured, Father. Perhaps good news will appear on the television tonight."
"Is that so? However, Rin, do you think our family should also add some modern appliances?"
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