My Fates Codex in Type-Moon

Rule Breaker, the conceptual Noble Phantasm that took tangible form from the life of the witch Medea and could break all manner of magecraft, could easily sever the contract between Kirei Kotomine and Assassin.

After all, in the Fifth Holy Grail War's UBW route, Medea had even used this weapon to contract Saber and Archer in succession. She had nearly ended the war and obtained the Holy Grail.

And in the Fourth Holy Grail War, Sakutsuki's group, possessing this Noble Phantasm, naturally held an advantage ordinary people could never anticipate.

"Unlike Tokiomi Tohsaka's clumsy performance, the mana bands I placed on you are connected to Imaginary Space. Not even the Holy Church's 'Leyline Sensor' can detect your existence. Assassin—Hassan of the Hundred Personas, you have completely become the shadows of this war. But the one who commands those shadows will be me."

With Sakutsuki's foreknowledge advantage paired with an Assassin that came and went without a trace, such a combination would absolutely be the nightmare of any Master and Servant.

"No." Suddenly, the purple-haired Hundred Personas shook her head, her tone somewhat subdued. "You may simply call us Hundred Personas. We can no longer bear the name Hassan-i Sabbah."

"Why?" Sakutsuki asked, puzzled.

"This was also the second question I wished to ask you." The purple-haired woman, who had already removed her skull mask, respectfully lowered her head, as though she were gazing through Sakutsuki to pay homage to the faith held by generations of Hassans.

"Are you... connected to the First Hassan?"

The First Hassan? The original Hassan-i Sabbah? The Old Man of the Mountain?

Damn, King Hassan!

Remembering that peerless Assassin's glorious feats, Sakutsuki shuddered violently. "I'm not! I didn't! Don't spout nonsense! I don't know him!"

"Is that so?" Hundred Personas nodded noncommittally, then suddenly said, "Please count our numbers."

Their numbers? Sakutsuki instinctively swept his gaze over each Hassan's face.

One, two, three... twenty-four... huh?!

Sakutsuki's eyes widened a beat too late.

Why was one person missing?!

Record Condition 2 completed. Reward obtained: "First @ Abyss # ￥ %"!

Sitting on a small stool, Sakutsuki stared at the pale blue panel before him, lost in thought.

Ever since obtaining the Fates Codex, this cheat had never displayed garbled text like this. Even Gilgamesh, one of the top-tier Heroic Spirits and one of the Golden Three Targets, had not realized he had been recorded by the Codex and become fuel for Sakutsuki's growth.

From another perspective, the only beings capable of interfering with the Fates Codex were those stronger than Golden Sparkle...

For example, a certain Grand-class King Hassan—written as Assassin, read as Berserker.

Damn, now that he thought about it, the possibility was way too high! The garbled text had practically given him the hint!

Like "First" something, like "Abyss Valley" something... they were all damn keywords for King Hassan!

He recalled a certain Ramesseum who had no choice but to hold up his own neck all day, a certain Tiamat who had been cut with a single sword strike into a line of death, and a certain pitiful Lahmu who had been gnawed away as food...

"Eugh..." Sakutsuki rubbed his arms furiously as he looked at the Hassans—no, the Hundred Personas—kneeling neatly on one knee before him and swearing loyalty.

If it was the First Hassan, he truly could have taken one of Hundred Personas' lives without any of them noticing. As for why he had killed one, and why he had killed only one, that was likely a punishment for Hassan of the Hundred Personas.

Having repeatedly failed assassination missions and ultimately even been captured, Hundred Personas was no longer worthy of serving as the nineteenth-generation leader.

As the Hassan who slew Hassans, it was only natural for the First Hassan to act.

However, thanks to this incident, Hundred Personas had completely lowered her guard around Sakutsuki, who possessed the First Hassan's aura. She willingly offered him a contract and became his second Servant. Under Sakutsuki's guidance, they had already resumed their operations and continued their intelligence work.

Returning to his senses, Sakutsuki stood and handed a small doll to the purple-haired Hundred Personas at the front.

"This is a familiar I modified with Displacement Magic. It will guide your direction. Take it with you. I need you to send three people out of Fuyuki City to find several individuals. Remember, do not let yourselves be discovered."

"By your command, Master." The purple-haired Hundred Personas respectfully lowered her head. Three figures emerged behind her, took the familiar, and immediately left, startling Sakutsuki into hurriedly calling after them.

"Wait, where are you going?"

The three Hundred Personas looked at one another. One of them asked in confusion, "Didn't you say we were to depart and leave Fuyuki City?"

"...I really give up on you." Sakutsuki sighed and handed over the plane tickets in his hand. "The flight is in three hours, at Airport F. Get ready before you leave."

"Yes." Under the purple-haired Hundred Personas' disdainful gaze, the three fools took the tickets and hurriedly ran off.

Once the remaining clones had all left, the purple-haired Hundred Personas finally turned toward Sakutsuki, who had secretly issued the orders.

"Why did you leave me behind alone, Master?"

"I need your cooperation for an experiment." Sakutsuki made a beckoning gesture, signaling for her to come closer. "If I remember correctly, although you possess the ability to divide your soul, you also suffer from conflicts between your different personalities, don't you?"

"...That is indeed the case." The purple-haired Hundred Personas nodded, a trace of gloom flashing through her eyes.

As one of the successive Old Men of the Mountain, she possessed an incredible mentality that made her movements impossible for anyone to predict, and people had fearfully called her "Hundred Personas." But put bluntly, she was merely a mentally ill person with multiple personality disorder. Even after becoming a Servant, she had retained that trait.

Having nearly a hundred people holding meetings inside her head was exhausting in a way only Hundred Personas herself understood.

If only the countless voices echoing in my mind could quiet down and let me sleep peacefully through a silent night. Hundred Personas had wished for that more than once, but by now, she had largely given up on the idea and regarded it as nothing but a delusion.

The very existence known as "Hundred Personas" meant multiple personalities. If that mental illness did not exist, then she would no longer be Hundred Personas.

Thus, when Sakutsuki's unhurried voice rang out, she felt astonishment rise from the depths of her heart.

"What if I could suppress those personalities of yours?"

"Wha—!" Before the purple-haired Hundred Personas could react, the young man had already extended a finger and touched her forehead.

A noble yet gentle platinum radiance illuminated Hundred Personas' sea of souls.

Like the sun, it was dazzling and warm, suppressing every conflict and resistance.

At that instant, every surviving Hundred Personas instinctively stopped walking. Beneath their skull masks, smiles they had nearly forgotten appeared.

No one—no soul—argued.

No one—no soul—made a sound.

Hundred Personas' soul world was as clean as though it had been washed clean.

It was a long-lost feeling of peace.

"I can finally... get some sleep." With that soft murmur, the purple-haired Hundred Personas slowly collapsed to the ground, closed her eyes, and peacefully entered the land of dreams.

Seeing the peaceful expression on Hundred Personas' face, the young man muttered, "Experiment successful," then calmly turned and left.

But if Irisviel or Jubstacheit von Einzbern had been present, they would certainly have been struck speechless with shock before treasuring the young man like a priceless jewel.

Because this was precisely their family's lifelong wish—the miracle that revealed the future.

Its name was—

Third Magic Materialization.

Recalling the sensation of casting the magic, Sakutsuki rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

After using the fragment of insight into the Third Magic—the reward for recording Irisviel—and training for another year in slumber, this was still the first time he had put the Third Magic into actual practice.

The results... were unsurprisingly poor.

What was the Third Magic?

"Materialization of the soul" was merely a general term, while immortality was only an incidental benefit. The Third Magic's true power was the ability to copy souls, transfer souls—in other words, manipulate souls.

If it had been the true Third Magic, then once cast, Hundred Personas' mental problems would have been resolved immediately, rather than merely suppressed temporarily and restored upon waking.

"But if I could master the Third Magic in a single year, that would be truly unexpected." Sakutsuki smiled and suppressed the unease in his heart.

"Let's go, Miyu. Before the cruel night arrives, we still have an entire beautiful day to enjoy."

Reminded by Sapphire and aware of the miracle Sakutsuki had performed, Miyu answered softly, then jogged after him and clutched the hem of his clothes, a faint smile forming on her small face.

For Miyu, nothing else mattered. As long as she could stay with Sakutsuki and enjoy this hard-won time, that was enough.

Because my Onii-chan is the best!

A few moments later...

Watching Sakura happily hold Volumen Hydrargyrum in her hands, Miyu's little face darkened, her heart filled with resentment.

I take that back...

Onii-chan is the worst!

"Don't assassinate them. Go head-on. Life doesn't give you that much time for Presence Concealment. If you hate someone, chop them down. Kill all the witnesses, and it becomes a perfect assassination. What's the point of sneaking around? You'll still get discovered. If you're discovered, cut them down. If you can't cut them down, throw a Noble Phantasm at them. At worst, beg me for help and get cut down by me. You can't even beat the three Knight classes, and you dare call yourselves Hassans? I'm laughing so hard I'm about to piss myself. You nineteenth generation are the worst batch of Hassans I've ever taught." —King Hassan

As everyone knew, Holy Grail Wars were carried out in secret. Whether it was the massive destruction on Warehouse Street, the timed demolition at the Hyatt Hotel, the giant Sea Monster on the Mion River, or the fire in Shinto, the Holy Church would handle the aftermath and provide Fuyuki City's citizens with reasonable explanations.

"Don't ask. It was a gas explosion." —Holy Church

Ahem, that was a digression.

In any case, to maintain the bare minimum of "Mystery Concealment," the Holy Grail War would not be fought in broad daylight. Only after the "Hour of Encounter" arrived, when night and day changed places and the visible world blended with the hidden world, would magi and Heroic Spirits of the mysterious realm walk beneath the darkness and fight their opponents one-on-one.

So what were Masters and Servants doing during the day? Were they exhausting themselves gathering intelligence on their opponents, or preparing for that night's battle and making secret plans?

To that, Sakutsuki and his little Caster gave the answer.

The sky was clear, the breeze was gentle, and the sun was bright. Perfect for—

Going out to have fun!

Kariya's identity had not yet been exposed, and Sakura had not entered the war, so she naturally could not travel together with Sakutsuki. Thus, beneath Sakura's reluctant gaze, Sakutsuki and Miyu climbed onto the Kawasaki and vanished from sight amid the engine's roar.

They passed through crowded streets and crossed bustling bridges. Finally, Sakutsuki gently twisted the handlebar, and the motorcycle drifted elegantly around a bend. The view before them suddenly opened up—

Shimmering ripples reflected across the sea, scattering brilliant golden motes of light.

White seagulls soared through the blue sky, then suddenly descended toward the ocean, flying freely and without restraint.

Children's laughter and vendors' cries drifted over from afar. The roadside shops were painted white, reflecting dazzling light beneath the blazing sun.

They were traveling along a coastal highway.

"Wow..." Miyu clutched Sakutsuki's clothes, her amber eyes reflecting the radiant scene. For a moment, she even forgot to speak.

Even Sakutsuki could not help being drawn in by the beautiful scenery, a hint of amusement hidden in his voice.

"Are you still angry, my little princess?"

"Hmph." Miyu turned her head away and refused to look at him, clearly not intending to forgive Sakutsuki so easily.

It had happened that morning. After last night's battle with Kayneth, the Fates Codex had gained much more information about him.

015: Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald

Character Information: A participant in the Fourth Holy Grail War, a first-class lecturer in the Clock Tower's Spirit Evocation Department. He was proficient in spirit evocation, summoning, and alchemy. His magecraft attributes were wind and water. He was the heir of the Archibald Family, a renowned magus lineage spanning nine generations. He had been called a genius and prodigy since childhood, possessed a suspicious personality, and was engaged to Sola-Ui, daughter of the head of the Spirit Evocation Department.

Hidden Information:

He must be a bald magus, right?! —Ritsuka Fujimaru

It is said that he died in the Holy Grail War within the Quantum Time-Locks. In other words, no matter how the World Line changes, dying in the Holy Grail War is inevitable.

Record Conditions (2/3):

1. Fight Kayneth (Completed)

2. Experience Kayneth's Magic Workshop (Completed)

Record Condition 1 completed. Reward obtained: Minor increase to the "Mana" parameter!

Record Condition 2 completed. Reward obtained: "Mystic Code Hydrargyrum"!

Volumen Hydrargyrum, a Mystic Code completed by Kayneth in his twenties, was El-Melloi's supreme Mystic Code.

Unfortunately, this prized Mystic Code was ultimately just an automaton. Once its behavioral principles were understood, it could be dealt with easily. Moreover, Sakutsuki was currently fighting Servants, so an ordinary Mystic Code could not be of much use at all.

It would have been better if it were the improved Volumen Hydrargyrum modified by Webber. Not only was it pleasing to the eye, it could also handle housework, so it would not be bad as a maid at home. Unfortunately, the reward from the Fates Codex was version 1.0. After considering it, Sakutsuki simply gave the reward to Sakura, the person among them who needed protection the most.

As a result, Miyu was unhappy.

When she had first been summoned, she had habitually maintained a calm and rational personality. But under Sakutsuki's care, Miyu quickly fell for it and became as fond of acting spoiled as a child. Recently, she had even needed Sakutsuki's help changing clothes and brushing her hair.

If he had to describe it, it was like she had switched from "Servant Mode" to "Little Sister Mode."

"And that's exactly why she's even harder to placate..." Sakutsuki smiled bitterly to himself.

Their destination had arrived at just the right time, so Sakutsuki simply stopped the motorcycle. Amid his little sister's cry of surprise, he lifted her up and carried her on his back.

"Then I'll spend the entire day with you. Is that enough of an apology?"