Why Don't You Find Another Savior?

In that case, he needed to avoid routes where he might be observed and approach this "second battlefield."

Kiritsugu soon found a position where he could both monitor any other Masters that might be on the gantry crane and overlook the warehouse district battlefield. With his rifle raised, he searched for the combatants through his night-vision scope.

Once he saw the situation clearly, Kiritsugu Emiya thought his eyes were deceiving him. He pulled away from the scope, reinforced his vision with mana, and looked directly toward the battle.

"How... can this be...?"

Kiritsugu had originally assumed that what Maiya had noticed was the Berserker's Master fleeing Lancer's pursuit, causing the commotion.

The truth exceeded Kiritsugu Emiya's expectations even further.

They were evenly matched.

Although Xi Jianxi, Berserker's unarmed Master, had been constantly evading Lancer's attacks, neither his movements nor his responses showed the slightest disorder. He could even counterattack.

Sometimes he used his fists and feet; other times, he cast what appeared to be Magecraft prepared in advance.

The ground and the containers on both sides were covered in jagged mountains of ice. Lancer was even forced several times to prioritize keeping his balance because the ground had frozen over.

"A water-element Magus?" Kiritsugu Emiya narrowed his eyes.

There was very little intelligence on Xi Jianxi. All Kiritsugu had learned through prior investigation was that Xi belonged to the Mage's Association and had some connection to Touko Aozaki, who had deciphered Age of Gods runes and restored the foundation of Rune Magic.

As for specific records of Xi's Magecraft, there were very few. Most merely stated that, as a contractor for special assignments from the Mage's Association, his records had been sealed away according to protocol after each mission.

"What a troublesome opponent."

Kiritsugu Emiya gave up on sniping Xi Jianxi, because his scope could not catch sight of him at all.

The Gaze

Kiritsugu Emiya's group was not the only one watching the two battlefields along the northern coast.

Fifteen kilometers away, in the basement of Fuyuki Church.

Kirei was also selectively observing the two battlefields through the vision he shared with Assassin.

A few days ago, he had applied to the Holy Church for protection on the grounds that his "Servant had been defeated," but that was merely a smokescreen meant to deceive the other Masters.

The Servant he had summoned was called Hassan of the Hundred Faces. It possessed many personalities, and after Hassan became a Servant, those personalities manifested as its Noble Phantasm, becoming countless separate individuals.

The Hassan slain by Archer had merely been one of them. To the Hundred Faces, such a loss was no more than losing the tip of a little finger.

This was the strategy prepared by Kirei and his father, Rin Tohsaka, in cooperation with Tokiomi Tohsaka.

They would feign Assassin's withdrawal, then continue monitoring the movements of the other Servants and Masters from the shadows.

"...I never expected the first two battles to begin at the same time."

Kirei spoke to the antique gramophone on the table.

A voice emerged from the gramophone in response.

"Strictly speaking, these are already the second and third officially recognized battles."

The sound quality was slightly distorted, but the owner of that calm, carefree voice was Tokiomi Tohsaka, Kirei's Magecraft teacher.

The master and disciple's falling-out was likewise a smokescreen for the public. Its purpose was to conceal the fact that they were working together, allowing Kirei, after his "defeat," to more conveniently command his Servant from the shadows and continue assisting Tokiomi.

Tokiomi could not observe the battlefield through shared Servant senses. He could only rely on Kirei and Assassin as his eyes and ears.

"The battle at sea appears to involve Saber and Berserker. Saber's abilities in particular are exceptionally impressive. Most of her parameters appear to be at A-rank. Berserker is much the same, though I do not know whether that is because Madness Enhancement has strengthened her parameters across the board."

"Evenly matched opponents," Tokiomi assessed.

"More than that. According to what Assassin saw, Saber and Berserker look very similar. Judging from their initial clash, those two Servants likely knew one another in life. They may even be related." Kirei gave Tokiomi an even more shocking piece of information.

"Can you see their Masters, Kirei?"

"There is only a silver-haired woman standing by the sea and watching the battle. She should be Saber's Master. She was just knocked down by the aftermath of the two Servants' battle and is preparing to withdraw with her guard's assistance."

"A silver-haired woman?" Tokiomi was slightly surprised.

"Yes. Silver hair and red eyes. She does not appear to be an ordinary person."

Tokiomi pondered briefly before offering a guess. "...She should be an Einzbern homunculus. Could it be that they created another puppet Master? I thought Kiritsugu Emiya was the piece Einzbern had prepared. It seems I was mistaken."

Kirei did not agree with that assessment. He retained his own judgment and continued reporting to Tokiomi.

"Berserker's Master separated from his Servant earlier and returned to the city alone to pick up two children from home. He only arrived near the battlefield after Saber and Berserker began fighting."

"...I see." Tokiomi sounded somewhat moved.

As a father, he was relieved that Sakura had been adopted by such a new father. As a Magus, he could not help feeling that even at a time like this, Xi still prioritized trivial domestic matters.

"If I recall correctly, Xi Jianxi is somewhat acquainted with you, Kirei?" Tokiomi asked.

"Yes..." Kirei gave a brief confirmation.

It was not only Tokiomi's second daughter.

For reasons of his own, Kirei had also entrusted his biological daughter, whom he could not personally care for, to Xi, who had gradually begun stepping away from the front lines of Magus work.

After that, Kirei heard that Xi had come to Fuyuki and adopted Tokiomi Tohsaka's second daughter, citing the need for a talented successor to inherit his path of Magecraft.

For the sake of gathering intelligence, Xi, who had qualified as a Master for the Holy Grail War, had also entered Kirei's range of investigation.

Yet Kirei could not understand Xi Jianxi.

This Magus, even younger than Kirei himself, possessed a warmth entirely unlike that of a Magus. While teaching Sakura Magecraft, he had also, despite being unmarried, taken on the role of a father with remarkable competence.

No matter what... Karen, having been adopted by Xi, might live a better life than she would elsewhere and grow up safely.

Kirei, who found it difficult to feel the happiness of ordinary people, could only offer his daughter—whom he would never meet again—the proper prayers dictated by the morality instilled in him since childhood.

"You said Xi is near the battlefield. Can you see him?" Tokiomi was deeply concerned with Xi's movements.

If possible, he would gladly honor the gentleman's agreement they had made two years ago: eliminate only Xi's Servant, then have him seek refuge at the church until the Holy Grail War ended.

If necessary, perhaps Xi could even help look after Rin.

After all, Tokiomi knew that whether he won or lost, he would never be able to return to Rin's side.

If he won, he would use the Grail to reach the Root. If he lost, he might be killed by another Master.

"Yes, but..." Kirei rarely sounded troubled.

"What is it?" Tokiomi thought something had happened to Xi.

"That man is currently fighting Lancer's Servant alone," Kirei added specifically, afraid that Tokiomi might not understand.

Even he himself had found the sight beyond comprehension.

"...What?" The surprise in Tokiomi's voice was impossible to conceal. He was nearly unable to maintain the Tohsaka Family's teachings.

"Assassin saw it with his own eyes. I find it difficult to believe as well." Kirei felt the same way. "Xi Jianxi is fighting Lancer to a standstill, and I do not believe this is simply because Lancer's combat ability is too low..."

After all, no matter how weak a Servant might be, it should still be an enemy humans could scarcely defeat.

Even Kirei, as an Executor with extraordinary combat ability, would not claim to have certain odds of victory against his own Assassin.

Yet Xi Jianxi had shattered that common understanding.

Kirei only remembered that when he and Xi had carried out a joint mission for the Mage's Association and the Holy Church, Xi had displayed masterful control over Rune Magic, as though it were an extension of his own limbs.

"It seems the Holy Grail War's most dangerous enemy has been identified..."

Tokiomi's voice was exceptionally grave.

In that case, perhaps only Archer's overwhelming combat power could kill both Xi and his Servant, ensuring that the Tohsaka Family's long-cherished wish entrusted to the Grail could be realized.

But if that happened, Sakura would lose the place she belonged... as would Kirei's daughter.

Was there any better way to resolve this situation?

For the moment, Tokiomi Tohsaka could think of none.

"Kirei, continue monitoring the battlefield. The other Servants and Masters have surely been drawn in by the two simultaneous battles."

"Yes."

After accepting the task, Kirei continued watching the two battles unfolding in the distance.

Why Don't You Go Yourself?

"Did you hold back?"

Artoria gave her sword a light shake, and the Wind King Barrier spread out once more. Before the waves had settled, it concealed the true form of the golden sword in her hand again.

When she had desperately countered the Demon Spear Morgan summoned from the sky, Artoria had felt that if Morgan had used any other Magecraft then to interfere from the front, she would have had only two choices—

Either retreat immediately with severe injuries.

Or activate her Noble Phantasm, reveal her true name, and escape the crisis.

With Morgan appearing among the enemy Servants of the Holy Grail War, concealing her true name had become a useless tactic that could be exposed at any moment.

Conversely, Morgan's true name had also been exposed. The difference was that, during their battle, Morgan had revealed things Artoria did not understand.

The disadvantages brought about by revealing their true names differed in degree for the two of them.

"I told you, didn't I? Tonight was only meant as a greeting, Artoria." Morgan wore the same faint smile that seemed unchanged since ancient times.

"A greeting..."

Artoria knew very well how vile and cruel her sister's nature could be.

It was not entirely unreasonable for Morgan to regard such a life-or-death battle as a greeting.

"If you wish to eliminate an opponent tonight, or withdraw from the Holy Grail War tonight, then come forward." Morgan spoke in a mocking tone. "That man would not mind."

That man? Artoria hesitated for a moment before realizing Morgan was referring to her Master, Xi Jianxi.

In the Holy Grail War, a Master naturally would not mind if her Servant eliminated another Servant.

"But if we defeat the finest Saber-class Servant on the very first night, we will surely become targets for everyone afterward." Morgan described an extremely difficult situation, yet her voice remained as steady as ever, utterly devoid of any sense of danger.

"Unfortunately, I do not intend to withdraw from the Holy Grail War in a place like this."

Recalling her wish, Artoria tightened her grip on her sword hilt and prepared to continue fighting.

"Hmph..." Morgan gripped her Demon Spear.

The tense battlefield atmosphere, on the verge of erupting, was disrupted by sudden lightning and thunder.

Artoria looked toward the coastal warehouses in shock. Thunderbolts writhed over the earth like serpents, their blinding radiance undiminished even from several hundred meters away.

Sensing the mana contained within that lightning, Artoria became wary.

Morgan had been leading her by the nose the entire time. She could only focus on the battle before her and had no spare attention to spare for her surroundings.

Only now did Artoria notice that Irisviel was being helped away by a black-haired woman.

That was Kiritsugu Emiya's assistant, Maiya Hisau.

In other words, Kiritsugu had also come nearby? Artoria immediately understood the situation.

"So it was not an illusion. Has he already finished what he was doing and come over?" Morgan was also slightly surprised, then sighed soundlessly. "He would rather fight personally than let his Servant act. My husband truly is obstinate—"

Husband? Artoria was stunned.

"...So someone outside is interfering here and holding them off for us? Much appreciated." Morgan's gaze drifted elsewhere instead of looking at Saber, her tone full of teasing for whoever she was speaking to.

She was speaking directly with her Master over a long distance through their mental link. Artoria understood.

"In that case, I should watch the battle as his wife. Do not feel ashamed. Fight to your heart's content."

With that, Morgan turned into spirit form and vanished from the sea.

But Artoria, as a fellow Servant, could see Morgan rapidly moving toward the coastal warehouses.

Irisviel had already withdrawn with Maiya, and Kiritsugu had surely been observing the battle from the warehouses.

Having made her decision, Artoria could not enter spirit form, but she nevertheless leaped up from the sea and followed Morgan's figure at speed, arriving at the other battlefield where fighting had quietly begun.

"Oh? Rather than sneak up on me from behind, you dismissed your weapons. Are you really that unsure of yourself, Artoria?"

Morgan had already shed her Servant appearance and returned to modern clothing. She looked mockingly at Artoria, who had likewise changed back into a black suit.

Clearly, without any communication between them, both had chosen to end their battle.

"If it were a direct confrontation, even if I had to kill my sister as a Servant, I would not hesitate." Artoria's attitude was decisive. "But ambushing a blood relative from behind would inevitably leave a bad taste afterward."