"Tomorrow, we're going to the Zenjou Family."
Without any warning, Jizi heard Rin Tohsaka's slightly dejected voice beside her.
"Because the war is about to begin, the young lady's father and Kirei truly cannot ensure the safety of you and your mother. And among the enemies is someone extremely dangerous, someone skilled at using hostages to threaten his opponents. Under these circumstances, temporarily leaving Fuyuki City is the best choice."
It was not as though Jizi could not understand the feelings in Rin's heart; she was still just a loli, after all. But Jizi still explained the reasoning Rin had already understood from a rational perspective.
"I know all that. And there's no one else in the car right now, so you don't have to call me 'young lady,'" Rin, the honor student, replied as expected. "It's just that... even though I feel Father can't possibly lose, I'm still worried. Can you promise me? Promise Father's safety and the Tohsaka Family's victory?"
"How did you decide I had that kind of ability?"
"Of course I couldn't decide that! You don't look impressive at all to me, and when we first met, you deliberately toyed with me. You act elegant, but your personality is actually awful, right? Father may have been fooled by your disguise, but I won't be! That dangerous look in your eyes when you look at me, when you look at my friends—don't think I didn't notice!"
"Ahaha... ahahahaha..." Having her unhealthy little thoughts exposed to her face, Jizi could only muddle through with a foolish laugh. Actually, I was merely "appreciating" beautiful things from a purely "artistic perspective," okay?
"However," her tone suddenly shifted from contempt to seriousness, "no matter how awful a person you are, Jizi—hey, hey, hey!—if Father and Kirei entrusted you with such an important task, then you must possess outstanding abilities."
"Hehe..." What important task? They had simply made her into a support and cannon fodder who had to shield their DPS whenever the enemy unleashed their ultimate. But Jizi certainly could not tell Loli Rin something like that, so she merely spammed commentary in her mind.
"I trust Father's judgment of people. That's why I came to that conclusion."
From that final sentence, Jizi could clearly hear the little girl's undisguised meaning: I don't trust you at all, but since Father says so, I'll reluctantly believe you too. So she feigned heartbreak and said, "These past few days, I've cooked for you, driven you to and from school, protected you, told you stories and jokes, played with you, guided your magecraft training, and after putting you to sleep, I even had to go out in the middle of the night to work for your father. And this is the attitude I get in return? I'm about to cry!"
Rin, who would become well versed in changing expressions in the future, was still somewhat inexperienced now. Seeing Jizi actually squeeze a few drops of liquid from the corners of her eyes, she hurriedly said, "Actually... it isn't exactly like you said. I was a little hostile at first, but that was because I was jealous of you. Jealous that you looked only a little older than me, yet Father trusted you with such important work. But after spending these past few days together—although you sometimes make a stupidly infatuated face—I know you mean well for me. So I... I was only comforting you because I couldn't stand seeing you look like you were about to cry. Don't get the wrong idea... I do kind of—only a little—like you."
Out of embarrassment and her tsundere nature, Loli Rin turned her face away after saying those last few words, pretending to look at the scenery outside the car window. But she was riding in a car Jizi had created based on her own imagination, and in Jizi's mind, a car's windows were only acceptable if they were polished brightly enough to be used as mirrors. Therefore, what Rin saw was not merely the street scenery of Fuyuki City, but also Jizi's face, filled with malicious amusement.
And so...
"You liar! Thinking you could actually feel sadness was my greatest mistake! We're about to say goodbye, and you can't even leave the other person with your most beautiful impression like a noble should?! If the last thing I see when I remember this later is that expression of yours, then I'd rather..."
A textbook tsundere reaction. It was unbearably adorable! Jizi silently gave it thirty-two thumbs up in her heart, then continued teasing the tsundere young lady aloud. "My, 'when you remember this later'? I never expected that I would occupy a place in the heart of the next head of the Tohsaka Family..."
"Shut up! The moment I arrive at the Zenjou Family tomorrow, I'll forget you! I'll never think of you again!"
"Hahahahaha! Is that something a noble lady who values manners and elegance should say?"
"Manners depend on the person! This attitude is perfect for someone like you!"
"That only proves I hold an unusual place in your heart."
"How did you interpret it that way? You really are an awful person!"
"Is that so? Then what does that make you, who said she liked this awful person..."
"T-That was you hearing things wrong! How could I possibly have said I l-l-liked..."
"Really? I thought that was one of your rare moments of genuine emotion. Aren't you tired of always wearing the mask of an honor student?"
The moment Jizi said that, the atmosphere inside the car suddenly froze somewhat. Rin, who had seemed ready to prepare another retort, was briefly stunned upon hearing those words. Then she turned her gaze back toward the window and did not say another word to Jizi until they returned to the Tohsaka Residence.
"Lord Tohsaka, today's patrol has been completed."
Inside the magecraft workshop of the Tohsaka Residence late at night, Tokiomi was discussing tactics with his disciple and formulating countermeasures for various emergencies. Jizi chose that moment to give her routine report on the day's work.
"Was there anything unusual?"
"No. Neither the orthodox magi nor that Mage Killer showed any sign of activity."
"Hmm. Although it has not begun yet, based on your and Kirei's analysis of Kiritsugu Emiya, he is indeed someone we must be wary of. He may even infiltrate Fuyuki before the war begins and employ despicable, filthy tactics..."
"Please rest assured, Lord Tohsaka. In the name of Assassin, I can guarantee the safety of your wife and daughter, at least within Fuyuki City."
"You have worked hard. However, they will leave tomorrow, so you can focus entirely on intelligence gathering."
"Yes. Then I shall take my leave. Lord Tohsaka and Master should also rest early. Maintaining sufficient energy is an important condition for victory."
After Jizi dematerialized and left the workshop, Kirei Kotomine, who had not participated in the conversation throughout the entire exchange, said in a calm yet inscrutable tone, "Master, can Assassin truly be trusted completely?"
Kirei Kotomine still harbored doubts about his Servant. From the exchange between her and his father on the day she had been summoned, it was clear that Assassin had not taken it to heart at all. Yet her work over the past few days had been carried out with great diligence. When he occasionally asked about her wish, he had never received a clear answer either. She either diverted the subject to him or vaguely brushed it aside, as though she held no obsession with the Holy Grail. In comparison, his master's daughter seemed more important to her.
Could it be that Rin resembled someone she had known in life? Then again, the assassin leader known as Old Man of the Mountain was actually a stunningly beautiful young girl—though she herself explained that appearance was also one kind of assassin's weapon. What sort of experiences had she had in life? There was absolutely no information to be found about her, making analysis impossible. Without understanding her behavioral patterns, there was no way to determine whether she could be trusted.
"You worry too much, Kirei." Tokiomi's usual unconcerned attitude kept him from taking his disciple's rare apprehension seriously. "Her attitude toward Rin does not seem false, and she has been dutiful in tactical discussions and intelligence work. Besides, even if she truly harbors some ulterior motive, we have Command Spells that can issue absolute orders. There is no need to trouble yourself over this."
Was that really so?
As Tokiomi wished, Kirei Kotomine did not continue dwelling on Assassin's matter. But that was merely the surface. Beneath his stagnant exterior, what undercurrents surged within that abyss was likely something no one could glimpse.
On the roof of the Tohsaka Residence, Jizi crouched at its highest point like an assassin from Assassin's Creed, overlooking the surrounding environment. She marked everything on her minimap... no, she repeatedly memorized every detail of the area in her mind, constantly considering how she was supposed to get through the part where she had to put on an act with Gilgamesh. I can't do gymnastics, I don't like listening to a Walkman, and most importantly, I don't have split personalities. What exactly am I supposed to do...
"Assassin!"
A call came from behind her, but Jizi, immersed in thought, failed to notice it.
Hmm, if I make use of my own special nature, it seems possible. Luckily, my true body is a mask... but getting my entire body pierced by sharp weapons sounds painful just thinking about it. Still, I'm someone whose face has been ironed with an actual iron. What pain could I possibly not endure...
"Assassin! Didn't you hear..."
Is someone calling me? Must be my imagination. Who would climb onto the roof at a time like this?
"Assassin!"
Oh, wasn't that Rin? "Are you crazy?! It's so cold at night, and you came outside in pajamas! No, that's not the point. How did you climb up here? It's dangerous, get back inside!"
"No!"
Rin's balance after receiving Kirei Kotomine's Bajiquan training ten years later would naturally be beyond question. But the current Loli Rin clearly could not possess much physical ability. Merely keeping herself from falling off the roof amid the howling north wind was already beyond her limits, let alone moving toward the edge where Jizi stood. The sight of her trembling unsteadily, as though she could fall at any moment, nearly scared Jizi out of her wits.
"Don't move! I'll come to you!"
"No!"
"This isn't the time to be stubborn! Listen to me!"
"No! It would be meaningless if I didn't come over by myself! I have something important to tell you, so I must reach where you are through my own strength! Otherwise, there won't be any basis for us to speak as equals... ah!"
While crawling with both hands and feet and talking to Jizi, the distracted Rin finally slipped. Jizi, who had been watching Rin tensely all along, felt her heart jolt violently, but she moved extremely quickly, activating bullet time and rushing over.
Although she was only a child, Rin Tohsaka had imagined how she might react if she were suddenly faced with mortal danger. She had thought her heart would be filled with all kinds of thoughts—panic, scenes from her brief life replaying in her mind, perhaps even a cool final line as her last words. But in the instant her footing gave way and she began to fall, her mind was completely blank. Her consciousness was perfectly clear, yet she could not organize her chaotic thoughts into any definite idea. By the time her ability to think returned, she found herself tightly held in an embrace that was not particularly sturdy.
They had been falling at the same speed, yet simply being held in someone else's arms made it feel entirely different—falling through midair, that was. —Rin Tohsaka, age seven.
After landing safely in the courtyard, Rin did not receive the scolding she had expected. Instead, Jizi let out a helpless sigh. "You little brat... Go on, what is it?"
"It's what I said in the car before. You have to promise Father will be safe!"
Huh? Did she really need to climb up there just to say that? Jizi had even been harboring a tiny expectation, thinking that perhaps she had raised enough affection points earlier to trigger a flag...
"And you have to survive too!"
Huh?
"I've thought it through. Even though you're always indulging in all sorts of bad tastes, and you're awful, and you look at me with dangerous eyes..."
"Hey, hey!"
"Still, I have truly felt your kindness. After I inherit the position of head of the Tohsaka Family, I hope to ask you to serve as my butler. Together with me, we will advance hand in hand for the Tohsaka Family's magecraft."
Oh?
After her initial stunned pause, a meaningful smile appeared at Jizi's lips. It seemed she really had not entered the wrong route.
"Sure, next head of the Tohsaka Family. Then it's settled." Asking a hentai like Jizi to be her butler? Hehe, you're inviting a wolf into your home, Rin. But first, that would only be something to consider after Jizi survived and completed her mission...
The emotional handling was a little... no, not a little. It was extremely abrupt, right? I felt that way too when I read it. My skills are limited, so please bear with it for now. I'll revise it someday... probably.
The main story begins next chapter, with Heroic Spirit summoning and all that. So I can happily copy the original again.
Before you continue