"If that isn't the case, then all the better... Of the three families, the Matou Family is the only one not participating in this Holy Grail War, yet its head has been operating in secret all along." Xi Jianxi solemnly informed everyone. "As Magi whose objectives are equally unclear, I hope you will all keep an eye out in secret as well."
Irisviel silently nodded. Recalling the information Kiritsugu had gathered on every faction in Fuyuki, the Matou Family, as one of the three families, had also received special attention.
"The Matou Family has no successor. Unable to find a solution, they may be trying to cut corners."
Xi Jianxi, who knew the same information, had told everyone this before setting out.
And Xi Jianxi had also planned to find some time to pay Zouken Matou a "visit" at the Matou Family.
Empty Church
Ever since obtaining Command Spells and being forced to participate in the Holy Grail War, Xi Jianxi had spent two years investigating every aspect of Fuyuki.
Whether it was Fuyuki's leylines or the Magus families that had lived here for generations.
The Tohsaka, the Matou, and the Einzbern, who owned a castle in the forest outside the city—Xi Jianxi had investigated them all in as much detail as his abilities allowed.
As one of the possible locations where the Holy Grail could descend, and with a record of such manifestations, the Holy Church naturally warranted extra attention.
Yet the church, which had always been deserted, gave off an atmosphere even more desolate than usual. That struck Xi Jianxi as strange.
It was certainly not merely because winter had yet to end.
After using a detection spell to survey the church's surroundings, Xi Jianxi nodded to Artoria beside him. Only then did the two push open the door and cautiously enter the church.
"Come to think of it, before we set out, during the strategy meeting, it sounded like you knew the man named Kirei?"
As they crossed the courtyard toward the chapel doors, Artoria asked him that.
"As a Magus of the Mage's Association, I previously carried out missions that required cooperation with the Holy Church. Among the Holy Church Executors I worked with at the time was Kirei." Xi Jianxi did not hide it.
At this point, being vague would instead create a fatal rift in an alliance formed under unusual circumstances.
Perhaps that would better serve Kirei and Gilgamesh's interests.
"I see." Artoria understood.
The Magus world was neither particularly large nor particularly small. They lived in the shadows of human society, dealing with mysteries their entire lives, and they were both Easterners. Knowing each other was hardly surprising.
"Still, I do not know Kirei all that well. We merely had a personal acquaintance based on our work relationship." Xi Jianxi continued. "In terms of strength, Kirei is considered outstanding even among Executors."
Artoria looked at Xi Jianxi as he pushed open the doors. "But compared to you, a human Magus capable of challenging Servants alone, he should still fall somewhat short, shouldn't he?"
"...I am something of an exception." Xi Jianxi could only smile helplessly.
Inside the church's chapel, the furnishings remained exactly as they had been. Compared to yesterday or even two years ago, nothing had changed.
"Rather than talk about me, what about you, Saber?" Xi Jianxi asked. "It may not be entirely accurate, but when I saw you today, it felt like you were less lost."
Artoria surveyed the chapel, carefully watching for any nearby presences. "You could say it is thanks to the two of you."
At that, she looked at Xi Jianxi. "That spell... was it yours, or Queen Sister's?"
"What do you think?" Xi Jianxi crouched down and inspected beneath the altar.
It was spotless, without even a trace of dust.
"It should have been Queen Sister's spell." Artoria said. She had never truly understood Morgan, so there was no way for her to infer what kind of spell it had been.
But given the circumstances at the time, even she, with A-rank Magic Resistance, had been easily affected by Morgan's spell. Perhaps during their previous cooperation, Morgan had taken the opportunity to enter the castle and leave behind a contingency that might prove useful.
There were no abnormalities in the chapel, so Xi Jianxi and Artoria proceeded to the rear of the church.
Xi Jianxi knew little about the church's overall layout. He roughly knew that the rear was where church personnel worked, lived, and rested. It was also said that five meters underground, there was a sanctuary even more spacious than the chapel.
The one aboveground was presumably meant for receiving ordinary citizens, while the underground one was used for the Holy Church's secret activities.
But that was secondary. The moment they entered the dim corridor of the rear work area, Xi Jianxi and Artoria both smelled the unmistakable scent of blood.
As a Magus and a sword-wielding Servant accustomed to seeing blood, neither of them felt sick from it.
But it undeniably showed that things had reached the worst possible outcome, just as Xi Jianxi had suspected.
They pushed open the half-closed office door. A large pool of blood had soaked through more than half the carpet. Combined with winter's chill and the poor ventilation and lighting here, Xi Jianxi could even see that the carpet still retained the dampness of fresh blood under his illumination spell.
"This is..." Artoria frowned.
Xi Jianxi crouched down to examine it. "Judging from both the bloodstains and the season, the time of death was no more than five hours ago."
"Blood left by the overseer?"
"Most likely. And they only moved the body; they did not even have enough time to clean up the blood." Xi Jianxi analyzed calmly. "Father Rin Tohsaka had originally been an Executor of the Holy Church. For him to be killed so easily, there should be no other culprit besides the son he would never have guarded against."
As he spoke, he stood up and backed away several steps. Artoria followed suit and moved aside.
Xi Jianxi raised a hand. Magical energy circulated through his circuits and around his body before being released in silence.
A pale blue-white glow enveloped the bloodstain. Moments later, countless particles of light rose into the air, gradually taking on the shape of a person.
Though it was merely an outline, it was clearly Rin Tohsaka.
The figure first stood upright, then suddenly froze before finally dropping to its knees.
The scene repeated over and over, like a videotape playing on a loop.
"A spell that recreates the victim's final moments?" Artoria asked. "Some form of necromancy?"
"It is not necromancy." Xi Jianxi folded his arms. "If there is a corpse, depending on the circumstances, it can sometimes even reveal the outline of the killer. Though I doubt that has much significance right now."
Artoria nodded. "Mm... Judging by the way he fell, there is no doubt that he was caught off guard and attacked from behind—"
As she spoke, she pressed a hand against Xi Jianxi's back to demonstrate. "His body was pierced with a weapon, inflicting a fatal wound, and he died on the spot."
"There is no need to demonstrate it, is there?" Xi Jianxi grimaced.
Artoria smiled confidently. "Consider this a small repayment for you and Queen Sister attacking us at night. Next time, please launch your attack from the front."
"I doubt there will be a next time."
Xi Jianxi walked past her and searched the room briefly.
Aside from Holy Church documents, the room contained various files related to the Holy Grail War. To be safe, Xi Jianxi examined them carefully, but there was nothing worth taking.
Rin Tohsaka was dead. All that remained was to determine Tokiomi's likely whereabouts, then begin searching for Kirei and Gilgamesh.
After explaining this to Artoria, the two turned and prepared to leave the church.
An Encounter Battle (1)
"Though this may not be appropriate at a time like this, may I ask you a question, Xi Jianxi?"
When they returned to the chapel, Artoria asked him that.
"That depends on what you ask. If it is about my magecraft or trump cards, then I am afraid I cannot answer." Xi Jianxi wore an expression as though that were only natural.
"Of course I know that a Magus must always conceal the foundations of their craft." Artoria shook her head. "What I wish to ask is about Queen Sister."
Xi Jianxi raised his brows slightly. He had not expected a question in that direction. "Then ask."
After receiving his permission, Artoria let out a breath.
"...Is that Morgan truly the Morgan I know?"
Artoria's question left Xi Jianxi momentarily at a loss.
It was not an inquiry into Servant information, nor curiosity about private matters. It was simply... a question of whether she was truly herself.
"I do not quite understand what you mean." Xi Jianxi stood beneath the sunlight streaming through the chapel windows.
"My apologies. I described it poorly." Artoria sincerely apologized. "It is only that from our first battle with Morgan, to the cooperation between our sides afterward, and then what happened after that..."
Morgan was undoubtedly Morgan. Not even Artoria would think someone else had impersonated her.
Yet without question, she sensed something else within that Morgan.
Similar, yet not quite the same. The same person, yet not entirely so.
The King of Knights' naturally sharp intuition had given rise to this doubt, and she could not help wanting to confirm it with Morgan's Master.
Xi Jianxi was silent for a short while before speaking. "There are two things I wish to ask you as well."
"Please."
"Morgan looks very much like you... When she was younger, did she look exactly like you do now?" Xi Jianxi asked.
Artoria furrowed her brow. "I was fostered by the knight Hector from birth. Until I drew the Sword of Selection at fifteen and succeeded to the throne, I barely saw Queen Sister."
"Then... my second question." Xi Jianxi turned to look at Artoria. "In your era, was there a place in Britain known as the 'Land of Rain'?"
The second question puzzled Artoria even more. "Britain does indeed rain often, so it would not be strange for the entire country to be called a land of rain. But if you mean a specific place bearing that name, I have never heard of one."
"Is that so?" Xi Jianxi gradually understood.
Perhaps because she rarely spoke with anyone about Britain's lands and customs, Artoria added another detail.
"Also, speaking of rain, I remember that in my time, there was an archipelago north of Britain called Orkney. It was said to rain there all year round. I only stationed nearby once or twice for political or military reasons, but during those periods, the rain in that region never stopped."
Xi Jianxi nodded quietly, then thanked her. "Thank you for answering my questions. Some matters are better asked of someone from that era."
"I hope it helped."
"As for Morgan." Xi Jianxi thought for a moment. "She is herself, so please do not worry further. At the very least... she will not betray us."
Artoria immediately laughed. "I understand. Since you trust Queen Sister so completely, I should not waste any more words. Please forget the question I just asked along with the rest."
Saber interpreted Xi Jianxi's words as him defending Morgan.
He had originally intended to explain, but as they walked toward the chapel entrance and his hand had just touched the door, the sensation from outside—the presence that surpassed even winter's cold—made Xi Jianxi's heart tighten.
Artoria also immediately put away her casual attitude from moments ago and stood beside Xi Jianxi at the doorway.
Extending an arm, he slowly pushed the chapel door open a crack.
The arrogant, disdainful golden figure stood at the church's open entrance, not even wearing his golden armor.
Gilgamesh.
The two confirmed the identity of the suddenly appearing Servant at the same time. Artoria almost instantly changed into her battle attire.
"It does not look like an ambush." Xi Jianxi looked at Artoria.
"Which means withdrawing through the back door before revealing ourselves is impossible." She agreed with Xi Jianxi's assessment. "There is one Servant here and one Master capable of matching a Servant. If we join forces, we should be able to retreat temporarily."
With every side's true name exposed, only Gilgamesh's Noble Phantasm remained unknown.
Perhaps the treasury holding countless Noble Phantasms was his Noble Phantasm, but what came after that?
Like the other Servants, he should also possess a trump card he had yet to reveal.
They had originally planned to determine Kirei and the King of Heroes' movements before launching a joint surprise attack. Clearly, the other side had no intention of waiting and had made the first move instead.
"The remaining question is who he came for." Xi Jianxi extended a hand, and a crimson spear appeared in his grip.
Artoria looked slightly surprised. "That is... a Noble Phantasm?"
He was not a Servant, yet he possessed a Noble Phantasm.
Had he, like Irisviel and the others, found something passed down from the past in this era?
"We can discuss that later. Let us go out."
After exchanging a glance with Saber, the two pushed open the doors and walked outside together.
"Oh? Just as Kirei said, you came to the church to gather information." Gilgamesh stood with one hand in his pocket. "Saber, and God Slayer."
As his words fell, more than a dozen golden gates opened, and all manner of prototype Noble Phantasms slowly emerged.
"The terrain here is too open. It is unfavorable for fighting against long-range flying weapons." Xi Jianxi glanced at one side of the church from the corner of his eye and quietly reminded Artoria, "Use the first wave of attacks to lure him toward the woods over there."
"I understand. Please be careful." Artoria gripped her invisible sword. She thought that perhaps she would need to release her Noble Phantasm's true name.
For some reason, if Xi Jianxi died here, she did not know how she would face Morgan's expression afterward.
Even though... she had never spent even a single day with that person as sisters, or as an older sister and younger sibling.
"Fine. Though it is still too early, only two Servants have left the stage. One or two more must disappear before that thing can begin operating." Gilgamesh raised his hand, and those Noble Phantasms extended a little farther. "If you do not wish to die, struggle with all your might, mongrels."
With a light wave of his left hand, the Noble Phantasms shot toward the two like raindrops.
The explosions kicked up dense smoke, enveloping Xi Jianxi and Artoria. Gilgamesh stood leisurely in place. If they were finished by such a minor attack, he would be disappointed instead.
Suddenly, a spinning scythe flew out of the smoke, shooting straight at Gilgamesh.
Before you continue