Actually, it wasn't "they say"—it was true. —Epigraph
--------------------------------------Happy shopping, everyone------------------------------------
When Kirei left the unfinished high-rise with an indescribable feeling, double-checked everything, and returned to the church, a strange sight awaited him.
The golden king, who should have been Tokiomi's Servant, was sitting in Kirei's seat like its owner and had even poured himself a glass of wine. As for Kirei's Servant, she was doing as she had several times before: playing and singing an unknown tune on a guitar so gorgeous that even someone as uncultured as Kirei could appreciate its splendor, all to entertain the king.
"Archer, why are you here?"
The one questioned did not answer. Instead, he swirled the red wine in his glass to the rhythm of the music before slowly drinking it.
"Compared with Tokiomi's, your collection may not be as large, but it is of a far higher quality. As his disciple, that is rather disgraceful."
Only then did Kirei notice the row of opened wine bottles on the wooden table—Archer had already sampled every bottle in his collection.
They were clearly his own collection. Some were rare treasures whose worth could not be measured in money alone, acquired only after considerable effort. Yet now that they had been squandered like this—or, by the Heroic King's standards, honored by being tasted by him—Kirei felt neither regret nor heartache.
Had he collected them merely to fill the emptiness within him? Since they had failed to achieve the desired result, perhaps it did not matter if they were gone.
"What exactly do you want?"
"I was bored, so I wanted to listen to some music."
The king's perfunctory answer clearly did not convince Kirei.
"You could have had Assassin go to the Tohsaka Residence."
"That had been my plan. But then I suddenly realized that I was not the only one who was bored." The king raised his wineglass before his eyes. Through the liquid, his already blazing red pupils seemed even more alluring. "What, Kirei? Have you finally grown weary of merely following Tokiomi's arrangements?"
"Only now are you dissatisfied with the contract?"
"Hmph." The disdain in his crimson eyes was utterly undisguised. "He summoned me here, provides Mana, and treats me with the attitude of a vassal. Naturally, I respond by treating him as a subordinate."
"..."
"However, Tokiomi is an unbearably dull man."
After a long silence, Kirei finally found the words to reply.
"That may be your view, but another Heroic Spirit holds a different opinion."
The music stopped abruptly.
The Heroic King and the priest both turned their eyes toward her.
Even before Gilgamesh appeared, Assassin's attitude had made Kirei curious. Clearly, he was her Master, yet she was more willing to obey Tokiomi's orders. Even when she offered advice, she considered matters from Tokiomi's perspective. (①) He had never had the opportunity to obtain an answer to this question. Now, with Gilgamesh present, was the perfect chance to ask.
After considering her answer for a moment, Assassin spoke in a somewhat nervous voice.
"I... I merely respect the strong."
"Oh?" This time, the Heroic King was the one asking. "You consider Tokiomi strong?"
"From the perspective of history, he is indeed merely one among countless ordinary people. But in this current age, the head of the Tohsaka Family deserves to be called strong."
"I thought I might hear something interesting." Gilgamesh gently shook his head and sighed. "As expected, mongrels possess only this much insight."
Insulted so openly, Assassin showed no anger. Instead, she lowered her head even further.
"I deeply apologize for failing to satisfy Your Majesty."
The Heroic King did not look at her again, as though he had decided to ignore an existence incapable of entertaining him.
"Assassin, Father wants you to resume surveillance on Caster's group."
Realizing that keeping her here would reveal nothing further, Kirei dismissed his Servant—after all, the Holy Church truly was preparing to act against Caster.
"Yes, Master."
Jizi bowed, then dissolved into black mist and left the church basement, leaving behind two men discussing the question of pleas♂ure as they continued down their philos♂ophical path.
----------------------------------An interlude of philos♂ophy------------------------------------
"Kirei, you seem quite interested in Assassin."
"I did not use a Holy Relic for the summoning, so I wished to know what desire this Heroic Spirit, matched to me by the Holy Grail and theoretically most compatible with me, possessed. (②)"
"Then what is your desire? By your reasoning, hers should be similar to yours, should it not?"
"I have no desire."
"How could that be? Are the Command Seals on the back of your hand merely doodles?"
"Perhaps the Holy Grail made a mistake."
"Or perhaps your own self-awareness is mistaken."
"You mean I do not even know my own desire?"
"Heh heh... Let us put that aside. What do you think of Assassin?"
"She may have resigned herself after witnessing your strength. Knowing she cannot obtain the Holy Grail, she acts submissively."
"Then in your eyes, she still has a desire?"
"..."
"Find it—Assassin's true desire. Find the desires of the other participants as well. Kirei, while investigating the strategies of the other groups, also investigate what drives them to seek the Holy Grail."
"I thought you had no interest in Assassin."
"Her clumsy performance is worse than that of the worst actor I have ever seen. But in a situation this dull, one cannot ask for too much. So I shall play along for now and see what sort of script she ultimately brings forth. I have little expectation, but it may at least relieve some boredom."
"You mean Assassin is plotting something in secret?"
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"Hmph. Who knows? You should go do as I instructed, Kirei. Find their desires, then tell me about them. That should not be difficult, should it?"
"And then?"
"Then perhaps you will be able to feel what I feel."
"Will that let me know my desire?"
"...Heh heh."
"...Very well, Archer. I accept. But it will take time."
"That is fine. I can wait."
---------------------------------What is there to write about something as boring as surveillance anyway------------------------------------
"Hello? Rin-chan, did you miss me?"
"..."
"Hahaha, it was only a greeting. Why such a big reaction?"
"..."
"I am so hurt~ We only just promised each other a future..."
"..."
"Is that phrasing strange? It is completely normal, all right? You are the one with a guilty conscience, so you took it in an unnatural direction~?"
"..."
"Hahahahahaha! Sure enough, listening to Rin-chan's tsundere remarks always improves my mood."
"..."
"Nothing happened. I am doing very well. Mr. Tohsaka is also quite energetic, spending every day in utmost elegance."
"..."
"Is something wrong with you?"
"..."
"Do not change the subject. Tell me what happened."
"..."
"You do not have to tell me, but promise me that you will never act rashly on your own! If there is anything inconvenient to discuss with your parents, contact me first!"
"..."
"Who are you calling an old mother?! Anyway, promise me—do not act on your own!"
"..."
"You can even use a landline now. I believe you can definitely overcome the hurdle of mobile phones! You are the heir of the Tohsaka Family!"
"..."
"Yes, that is the spirit!"
"..."
"Mhm, you be careful too! I am hanging up now~"
"..."
--------------------------------Please imagine tsundere Rin's lines yourself, and then the time came for the Caster extermination order------------------------------------
Deep within the forest roughly thirty kilometers west of Fuyuki City's bustling streets stood a European-style castle, rumored by those who knew nothing of it to be the "Castle of Myth."
Most ordinary people in Fuyuki City treated it as an urban legend. Though eyewitnesses gave vivid testimony, a castle deep in the forest where nobody supposedly lived, yet everything was kept in perfect order, was simply too unbelievable.
Except in the eyes of a small number of "insiders," and naturally, "a small number" meant there were not many of them.
Thus, for many years, the number of visitors to Einzbern Castle had basically never reached double digits.
But it seemed that record would be broken today.
First came a strange man leading a group of children, then a handsome man carrying twin guns. Counting the priest and assassin now standing at the edge of the forest preparing to enter, there were at least twenty or thirty people.
"Master, doing this may expose you."
"Besides Saber, Lancer, and Caster, is anyone else in the forest?"
"Rider's presence is approaching as well—it seems Lancer invited them."
"Stay alert at all times."
After a thoroughly mismatched exchange, the priest entered the forest with the standard motions of a morning jogger. Once the assassin remaining outside confirmed that no one else was nearby, she revealed an eerie smile.
"May you find pleas♂ure, Kirei."
----------------------Notes---------------------
① Jizi: Like hell I care whether Tokiomi lives or dies. What I want is Rin's affection rating! Rin-chan, prpr!
② Unfortunately, Mapo did not know that Jizi was a fake. Her compatibility with him was not high at all.
----------------------Author's Note-------------------------
Happy birthday to me.
Happy shopping to you.
Before you continue