How About You Guys Pick a Different Savior

It felt as though the Holy Grail War was no longer relevant to them; the only important thing now seemed to be Irisviel.

"What are your plans now?"

In a guest room of the castle, after Artoria had settled the still-unconscious Maiya, she came over to ask Xi Jianxi and Morgan.

"First, of course, we need to inform Waver Velvet and the King of Conquerors. As for the Tohsaka side..." Xi Jianxi frowned.

"Servants acting separately from their Masters, or doing something like this, completely violates the agreement made in the church today," Morgan said. "That Magus has probably already been betrayed by his Servant."

"It's hard to say, maybe not." Xi Jianxi knew he should go confirm immediately.

But with a fifty-fifty chance like this, if they missed, it would undoubtedly be a waste of time.

Especially the part about Kirei and Gilgamesh conspiring to steal Irisviel's heart.

According to the original plan, Kirei likely intended to take the Lesser Holy Grail entirely, but was forced to settle for just taking the core due to interference.

"What is their objective?" Artoria asked.

"That's what I want to know too." Xi Jianxi pursed his lips and shook his head with a bitter smile. "No matter what, they don't intend to let the Holy Grail be purified and end this Holy Grail War."

"However, this also means that Einzbern has lost her function as the Lesser Holy Grail," Morgan pointed out another aspect. "At least she won't completely perish with the Servants' departure and the collection of souls."

"Is that so..." Artoria actually felt a little happy.

Perhaps this was the best outcome for Irisviel.

"There's no benefit to staying here any longer," Xi Jianxi said. "I need to find a way to contact the King of Conquerors first. After all, Tokiomi Tohsaka has likely already met a terrible end."

After much deliberation, he decided to prioritize the side with less potential benefit.

On one side were Tokiomi's disciple and Servant, and on the other were the Mage's Association's student and their Servant.

It wouldn't be too late to win over those who could be won over, and then discuss the next steps.

"Well then, let's head back. What a fruitless expedition," Morgan quipped as she got up.

Xi Jianxi raised an eyebrow. "Are you blaming me?"

"No, I'm comforting you," Morgan smiled.

"You're really good at comforting people."

Xi Jianxi grinned. He turned to nod goodbye to Artoria and said, "Tomorrow morning, please come to my place as soon as possible to meet us and discuss our next course of action."

"I'll pass it on to Kiritsugu and Irisviel."

After agreeing, Artoria watched the two of them leave.

Only after they had left did she remember something she had forgotten to ask Morgan.

She could only leave it for later.

Chapter 69: True Nature

The Fuyuki Church at night was quieter than usual. After Father Kirei finished his duties as usual, he was inspecting the church when he saw his son, Kirei, returning from outside.

Father Kirei did not find it strange that Kirei had gone out.

Although the Holy Grail War had temporarily reached a ceasefire agreement among all parties due to new abnormal circumstances, this did not mean that Kirei's work assisting Tokiomi Tohsaka with intelligence gathering had to stop.

After all, it was just a verbal agreement with no enforcement.

Moreover, there was a Master who had not participated in the ceasefire discussions at all and had no obligation to align with other factions.

"You're back, Kirei," Father Kirei asked.

Although he looked a bit travel-worn, as if he had just returned from a considerable distance, there were no signs of a fierce battle, and his clerical robes weren't even wrinkled. The old priest naturally didn't think much of it.

"I just returned from the Einzbern forest," Kirei nodded in response, then spoke of his situation. "As expected, Xi Jianxi and his Servant attacked Einzbern and Saber."

Father Kirei showed no surprise, only an expression of understanding. "So they decided to strike first to prevent the plan to purify the Greater Holy Grail from being defended?"

"It appears so," Kirei agreed.

Father Kirei turned and walked towards the office beneath the church. "What was the outcome? You came back so quickly; has Saber already been eliminated by Berserker?"

"Does Father think Xi Jianxi will definitely win?" Kirei asked.

"Based on the current situation of the Holy Grail War, even Kayneth of the Clock Tower has died. It's likely that person is the biggest opponent in this Holy Grail War," Father Kirei said. "But fortunately, the Greater Holy Grail is already having problems. We won't have to engage in life-or-death struggles anymore, which in a way is also a blessing."

As the supervisor from the Holy Church, after reporting this situation to his superiors, the task he received was simply to continue monitoring the subsequent progress and witness the purification of the Greater Holy Grail and the cessation of the Holy Grail War.

It could be considered a rather easy job.

"You've worked hard up until now. Once all the work is finished, take a break yourself and get some good rest," Father Kirei turned back and said kindly to his son. "I've already made arrangements for you."

He had wanted to ask Kirei to visit Claudia's grave after everything was over, but the words didn't leave his mouth.

It would be more appropriate to let Kirei decide such things himself.

"Yes," Kirei replied expressionlessly. "Thank you for your arrangements, Father."

The old priest was very satisfied and proud of this.

He was proud of his son, who always remembered the Lord's teachings and wasn't fond of worldly pleasures. He was sure his son would become the most outstanding member of the Church and follow a path even better than his own.

"So, what was the outcome?" Father Risei didn't forget the crucial point.

Although he personally favored Xi Jianxi's victory, it wasn't impossible for an unexpected event to occur.

Regardless, it was necessary to confirm and record the situation, and then discuss the next steps with Tokiomi Tohsaka.

"No, the fight didn't conclude. Both sides were forced to interrupt their battle due to some external factors," Kirei replied.

Father Risei was slightly surprised. "Interrupted?"

"Yes."

"Did you manage to confirm the details?" Father Risei asked naturally as he opened his office door.

"I was close enough to confirm the specifics."

From beginning to end, Father Risei had never been wary of his own son.

Moriomori Kirei was excellent, calm, and serious; everything about him was worthy of a saint.

Therefore, Father Risei didn't overthink things, not even considering that Kirei was already too close to him.

As a former combatant, the old priest should have realized this was an extremely dangerous distance.

Even someone without combat training could inflict sufficient damage through a surprise attack from behind. Let alone Kirei, who stood there, having been tempered and honed through various rigorous missions.

"I want to know... what kind of existence am I to my father?"

After entering the room, Kirei asked from behind.

Surprised by his son's question, the old priest stopped and began to ponder.

Deep conversations between father and son were rare. Kirei, naturally intelligent, rarely asked such questions, which filled him with an indescribable sense of relief.

"My proud son, there's nothing more to say than that," Risei gave a very direct and unambiguous answer. "I believe you are a model for many, and from a father's perspective, your love for the Lord is genuine. Your spirit as a seeker, overcoming any difficulty with an unyielding spirit and forging your own path, fills me with immense honor..."

As he spoke, Father Risei wondered if he was praising him too much, as the Lord's teachings often emphasized not placing too much importance on such superficial accolades.

He was about to turn around and ask Kirei if he was satisfied when his body became immobile.

Three sharp, slender blades pierced Father Risei's chest from behind, his heart and lungs precisely impaled simultaneously, showcasing Kirei's killing technique to the fullest.

These were 'Black Keys,' the favorite weapon of the Holy Church's Executors, effective in both close combat and ranged suppression.

When imbued with special incantations, they could even temporarily immobilize a target.

Kirei did just that; merely piercing his father's heart was not enough.

Having also served as an Executor in his youth, Risei remained vigilant until his last breath, and Kirei did not let his guard down.

What had happened?

Why would Kirei do this? More than anger, endless confusion flooded the old priest's mind as he coughed up blood with each breath.

Swish—

The blades were withdrawn, and Moriomori Risei collapsed powerlessly, as if drained of all strength. He fell to the ground and stopped breathing, a pool of blood quickly forming beneath him.

Looking at his father, who, until his dying moment, remained confused and unwilling, a smile involuntarily appeared on Kirei's face.

His father and that woman shared one common trait: they both deeply loved Kirei.

Therefore, they both misunderstood Kirei's true nature.

However, compared to the feeling of killing his wife in a hallucination, Kirei found immense pleasure in personally killing his father, inflicting pain and confusion upon the old man.

The soul seeks pleasure, just as a beast seeks the scent of blood.

No one could have predicted what 'Lost Will' had awakened.

Chapter 70: Betrayal

At dawn, Tokiomi Tohsaka awoke.

Despite his disciplined routine, he couldn't shake his severe morning grumpiness.

Although, it wasn't as bad as his daughter Rin's.

The only person who knew this was Tokiomi's wife. He didn't want Rin to know, otherwise, he wouldn't be able to appear impressive in front of her anymore.

From now on...

Thinking of this, Tokiomi felt both happy and melancholic.

The Holy Grail War could no longer continue, and the family's long-held wish to reach the Root could not be fulfilled in his generation. The next opportunity would be sixty years later, and Rin wouldn't have to bear that burden.

After waking up, washing, and dressing, and entering his usual state of elegant demeanor, Tokiomi Tohsaka couldn't help but think of Xi Jianxi.

Two days prior, Kirei's Servant had relayed information that Xi Jianxi had taken Sakura out of school and spent the entire day sightseeing with her and Karen.

Rather than criticizing Xi Jianxi's laxity in his children's education, Tokiomi felt a sense of relief.

With a father like that raising Sakura, Tokiomi felt increasingly at ease.

"I just wonder if Mr. Xi has such a bad case of morning grumpiness," Tokiomi muttered to himself, making a lighthearted remark.

However, as he reached the study door, intending to contact Father Risei to plan the purification of the Greater Holy Grail, Kirei appeared in the hallway of the mansion.

"You've arrived, Kirei," Tokiomi thought nothing of it, assuming the old priest had sent Kirei to deliver a message.

Now that all sides had declared a truce, Tokiomi didn't feel the need to mind Kirei's arrival at this particular time.

He turned around, opened the study door, and after walking in, let Kirei follow him.

Gilgamesh was already waiting there in spirit form.

Tokiomi wasn't surprised by this capricious Servant appearing anywhere.

"Teacher Tokiomi, may I borrow your time for a moment?" Kirei asked.

"What is it?" Tokiomi stopped and turned around.

"My father has passed away."

Kirei delivered the news in his usual calm tone, causing Tokiomi's pupils to contract sharply.

"Father Risei is dead?!" Tokiomi's elegance shattered as he roared in distress, "Now that a truce has been called, who would do such a thing!"

Was it Kiritsugu Emiya? Did that man lack the composure of a Magus from the very beginning?

Or perhaps Xi Jianxi? But compared to killing someone from the Holy Church, that young man, who was favored by the Creation Department monarch of the Clock Tower's democratic faction, would surely understand the consequences of such an action better than anyone.

Rather than provoke the Holy Church, that young man would definitely choose to do something the Mage's Association could tolerate.

— For example, taking the opportunity presented by the conflict in the Holy Grail War to decisively and rightfully kill the aristocratic faction's monarch, Kayneth. This would undoubtedly bring significant benefits to his faction and solidify his position within it.

So, who could it be...

Tokiomi had no answer. He gradually calmed his inner anger, and the composure needed to find the truth reasserted itself in his mind.

"Do you have any leads on this matter, Kirei?" he looked at his disciple.

Having lost his father, Kirei should be more grief-stricken than Tokiomi, who had lost a friend.