Obsession in the Shadows

"Hee hee... Just as I thought... Just as I thought, thought! The Holy Grail War! Hahaha, this is too much fun. Oh my, injecting common sense into my head—a pervert? Is the Holy Grail actually a pervert? Eek~ I've been seen through completely!"

At a certain time, in a certain place.

A woman's voice.

It sounded sharp and wild.

"But... after all, I got the Servant that suits my taste the most. Well, if it's a pervert, then it's a pervert. I'll forgive it. Hey, hey, you're an Assassin, right?"

The woman said this to something in front of her.

Although her tone was questioning, her words carried no hint of doubt or any expectation of a reply.

Before her was something that could only be described as a "monster."

It was something that possessed a magical capacity far beyond human limits.

If humans were like matchsticks, then the thing before her radiated the scorching heat of a steel-making blast furnace.

Taciturn, and exuding a sense of danger.

The something waited silently for a moment, finally confirming that the agitated woman before it was its Master. And its Master seemed to have just asked it a question.

"Assassin's Servant, I have answered your summons."

"Eek!! It really is an Assassin! Ass! Ass! In! (Breaking the word down like this has a strange meaning. Readers under eighteen, please do not search what this means on your own!)"

"Forgive my words, but I cannot understand why obtaining the position of Assassin would make you so excited."

"Pfft! Onore?! Hahaha, you, are you some kind of ancient relic? Don't be like that. Well, I'm not joking with you! But, I, no, this little lady here, what I like most is stabbing people in the back and playing dirty tricks! I'm that kind of gloomy woman, but it's okay because I'm a beautiful girl! No, rather, precisely because I'm a beautiful girl! That's why disappointing types are especially popular! Men are so easy to fool; as long as they look good, people will forgive them for any mistake! Things like 'We believe you're not like that,' 'Everyone makes mistakes, you can't be too harsh on her,' 'Do you know how hard she's trying?' and so on! Hee hee."

"..."

"What? Are you angry? Sorry, sorry! Actually, I'm super happy. More than obtaining the Holy Grail, I prefer the feeling of hunting Masters! We're definitely going to get along great. And... what's with your stats! This is an Assassin? This is totally a Lancer! You're too strong. With you, the Holy Grail is practically in our grasp this time. It was worth all the effort I put into obtaining the Saint Graph."

"...Master, please issue your command. No matter the enemy. I will eliminate them for you. For my liege, I offer my life and loyalty."

"Pfft... Hahaha, stop kidding me, shut up, you're not an Assassin at all, you're a comedian! Hahaha..."

As if she had laughed enough, the woman's sharp voice gradually subsided. Everything returned to peace, as if it had never existed.

Only the lingering dense magical energy in the air testified that what had just happened was not a fabrication.

The first Servant had descended. The Holy Grail War had unknowingly begun.

At a certain time, in a certain place.

The sky was filled with silver-white debris, blowing a chilling atmosphere. The trees showed no hint of green, their withered black trunks covered in layers of snow. In this pure white world, only a bone-chilling cold permeated the air.

And in this icy world, upon the frozen tundra, a castle built of black bricks stood, inspiring more awe than the ice and snow. A castle that should have gradually disappeared with technological advancement centuries ago, now stood abruptly deep within the snowy forest.

Anyone with even a slight understanding of magic would surely utter this name upon seeing this scenery.

Einzbern.

The Einzbern family, masters of alchemy, their first impression, undoubtedly, would be white snow and castles.

And deep within the dark recesses of the castle, a woman was changing her clothes.

She had pure white silver hair and vibrant red eyes. Combined with her fair skin, she was as beautiful as a fairy from a fairy tale.

However, her body was covered in scars. Marks from a whip, cuts from swords, as well as burn and scald marks. These scars, after being stitched up, were spread widely across her skin, which should have been delicate.

The woman, completely unconcerned, hid them all with a white leather outfit.

Her long hair was simply tied into a ponytail. Her red vest was covered by the white leather jacket, and a handgun was tucked into her waist. It was a military-grade handgun manufactured by a famous Austrian firearms company, its .50 caliber rivaling that of a machine gun. This was a killer weapon known for its destructive power.

It was hard to imagine that in the castle of the Einzbern, a family of mages, there would be someone equipped with a firearm!

She tucked a dagger into her calf-high boots and finally confirmed her ammunition pouches. Then, she carefully picked up a scarf hanging from a nearby coat rack.

The scarf was woven entirely from silver-white silk.

For a magus, the most important magical medium was their hair. Especially for female mages, hair had many uses, which was why most female mages chose to grow their hair long.

The scarf the woman was now wearing was woven from the hair of her companion, a magical artifact specially prepared for the Einzbern family.

Having made all preparations, the woman inadvertently glanced at her right hand. It was fair-skinned, yet large and strong, making it difficult to associate with a woman's hand. And on that fair skin, a vivid crimson mark was clearly branded.

So conspicuous.

Thinking this, she quickly walked out of the room, heading towards her destination—the ceremonial hall.

"You're here? Hmph."

Beneath the ornate stained-glass window of the ceremonial hall, an old man with white hair and a beard had an unpleasant frown on his brow. His dry lips uttered words colder than the flying snow outside the city.

Strictly speaking, this

woman was not human.

She was an homunculus created by the Einzbern family.

And... a rare "revised" version.

In the usual sense, Einzbern homunculi were imitations created based on the most perfect product, the Winter Saint, Justeaze Lizrich von Einzbern.

This artificial human before me, the model designated Elena, was the sole exception.

While she possessed the same beauty as other artificial humans, another person's personality had been infused into her.

Emiya Kiritsugu.

The infamous killer of mages.

He was also the proxy hired by the Einzbern family for the Fourth Holy Grail War. He was supposed to be the man who would secure the Holy Grail for them.

Of course, if he had simply failed to win the Holy Grail, and his fate was sealed, the Einzbern family wouldn't have harbored such intense hatred for this outsider.

However...

He was also a damned traitor.

At the conclusion of the Fourth Holy Grail War, Emiya Kiritsugu, on the verge of victory, used two Command Spells to order his Servant to destroy the Holy Grail.

This was the gravest betrayal!

This was the greatest insult to the Einzbern family!

And, consequently, he was the one the Einzbern family hated the most.

Thus, Elena was born.

Infused with some of Emiya Kiritsugu's characteristics, and the Einzbern family's hatred for him.

The Einzbern family was one of the greatest contributors to the Holy Grail War; they provided the Holy Grail's vessel for every generation. Yet, for five consecutive wars, they had failed to win the Holy Grail. How could they not resent this sustained madness?

Emiya Kiritsugu's betrayal became an outlet.

They transferred all the accumulated resentment of this vast family onto that damned traitor, comfortably shifting from victim to perpetrator to vent their frustrations.

Emiya Kiritsugu was dead, but the hatred had not vanished with him.

The Einzbern family, time and again, created artificial humans that simulated Emiya Kiritsugu, abusing them to vent their rage.

Especially after the Fifth Holy Grail War, when the Greater Grail was dismantled, and the Einzberns, with no hope of ever winning the Holy Grail, naturally projected all their pent-up fury onto Emiya Kiritsugu.

That man! He had persevered to the very end!

He had faced Saber and Archer in a one-on-one duel! He had already dealt with Archer's Master! And yet, at that moment! He chose betrayal! He destroyed the Holy Grail!

If not for him! The Einzberns' long-cherished wish would have been fulfilled sixty years ago!

Elena was the "Emiya Kiritsugu" of this generation.

However, quite by chance, during another "venting" session, a proof known as a Command Spell appeared on her right hand.

Three crimson marks, vividly stimulating the Einzbern family's nerves.

Nothing felt more delightful than "regaining what was lost."

Especially when something that was thought to be impossible suddenly reappeared...

"Elena pays her respects."

In the uninspired candlelight of the ancient castle, the woman, whose beauty seemed otherworldly, knelt on one knee in deference.

"Yes. Elena, listen carefully. This time, you must present the Holy Grail. To wash away your disgrace."

"Yes."

"For this, we have prepared the strongest Berserker. The roots of the mountain, the steps of the cat, the breath of the fish, the beard of a woman, the sinews of a bear, and the saliva of a bird. Hearing these, you should understand what a powerful Servant we have prepared for you."

The things the old man mentioned were not real-world objects, but purely "magical items"—alchemical supplies that only mages might use in alchemy. Strictly speaking, they were "concepts" rather than tangible "items."

And the legend associated with these items was singular.

It would surely summon the most terrifying Berserker if one went to such lengths to find these materials as Saint Graph materials.

"Yes."

The woman's simple reply held neither joy at obtaining an ace nor anxiety about heading into battle, only the hardness of marble and the chilling temperature of the wind and snow outside the castle.

"Go and win. Bring back the Holy Grail. If you cannot..."

A trace of madness suddenly flashed in the old man's eyes.

Having been denied the Holy Grail five times in a row had driven this family to madness. They were ensnared by the magic known as the "Holy Grail War" and had completely lost the composure expected of mages.

"—If you cannot, then use your Command Spells to unleash the Berserker. Let it destroy the Holy Grail War! Hmph, if the Einzberns don't win the Holy Grail this time... then no one else will get it!"

"Yes."

Beneath the white snow, in the sealed ancient castle, the girl's calm, unwavering voice echoed through the basalt bricks, lingering for a long time.

At a certain time, in Qianxi, China.

Someone: "Hmm... have the Master slots been mostly assigned? According to the feedback... Assassin and Berserker have already been summoned. Coupled with my invincible Saber, three Servants have already descended... It's close... it's finally close... My dream... my wish... is finally about to come true! Cough, cough, cough!"

The person suddenly began to cough violently, a bloody red stain on the palm covering their mouth.

Someone: "Damn it... hold on, my body. Before our dream is realized... I absolutely cannot die. The Sixth Holy Grail War... must be convened... I must personally claim the Holy Grail!"

[Prologue - The Holy Grail War That Should Not Exist - END]