Two Old Foxes (Double Chapter)

"Oh... okay."

Although she did not understand why Emiya Kiritsugu was so agitated, Irisviel obediently nodded.

There was no way for Emiya Kiritsugu to explain too much to his inexperienced wife.

All she needed to know was that any Magus who dared utter those four words would not even know where they had died if Aozaki Touko found out. Even the Lords of the Clock Tower, despite their high standing, would not dare make an enemy of that Grand Puppet Master lightly. After all, anyone would feel uneasy knowing that someone who could revive in another body somewhere in the world whenever she was killed was constantly after their life. Not everyone was the Blue Magician.

However, Emiya Kiritsugu had to make absolutely thorough preparations this time, because there was a good chance they would encounter Aozaki Touko again in the Holy Grail War.

Although he had not seen Command Seals appear on Aozaki Touko's hand during their battle, the fact that she had broken into the Einzbern Family and taken the materials from the Third Holy Grail War was enough to prove that she must have some connection to the Holy Grail War.

Although they could not yet be certain, they still had to make even more comprehensive preparations for battle this time.

Aozaki Touko's nightmare-like figure surfaced in his mind. Emiya Kiritsugu let out a deep sigh and imperceptibly glanced toward Artoria, who was sitting quietly beside Irisviel and eating pastries.

No matter how poorly their compatibility might be, if they encountered that monster Aozaki Touko, the only one he could rely on was the legendary King Arthur he had summoned.

The king of legend, the knight who wielded the holy sword, the one truly bathed in glory. I hope you will not disappoint me...

After playing all the intelligence he had gathered this time, Emiya Kiritsugu found an opportunity to step outside and used a satellite phone to call his assistant, who was away on a mission.

At that moment, Maiya was helping move the weapons he needed into Fuyuki City through smuggling routes, preparing for the upcoming Holy Grail War.

Beep, beep, beep—!!

After a brief busy signal, the call went through.

"Kiritsugu?"

Upon receiving Emiya Kiritsugu's familiar number, there was a hint of happiness in her voice.

"Maiya, how is the transfer of the military supplies I ordered in advance?"

"Rest assured. They're already being moved. In a few days, they'll reach the Fuyuki City safe house. Don't worry."

"I see..."

Emiya Kiritsugu asked, "If I add another shipment of weapons now, will there still be time?"

"If we buy them through the black market or from mercenaries, there is still time."

"Kiritsugu, what else do you need me to prepare?"

On the other end of the line, Maiya, who was sitting in a transport truck escorting the supplies, immediately took out a ballpoint pen and notebook.

"C4, RPGs, a Barrett M82A1 Sniper Rifle. If possible, get me some Stinger missiles or high-explosive shells as well."

"Stinger missiles, high-explosive shells..."

Hearing those names, she was clearly stunned for a moment.

Although she could not help wondering whether the Holy Grail War really needed to go this far, Maiya did not ask as his assistant. She merely nodded and replied.

"Kiritsugu, those things won't be easy to acquire, but I'll do my best to find a way."

"Good. I'll leave it to you, then."

After giving his instructions, he ended the call with his assistant. Having completed a new round of preparations, Emiya Kiritsugu walked to the castle window and raised his hand to light another cigarette.

No matter what, no matter whom he fought, neither his pursuit nor the outcome would change.

Even if he had to use the filthiest methods, he would kill every Magus, obtain the Holy Grail, and save all humanity.

This was also the final obsession and the sole remaining meaning in life for Emiya Kiritsugu, who had personally killed his biological father and adoptive mother and survived until now.

He looked out the window.

Just then, the snow outside suddenly began to fall harder, and his vision gradually turned blurry.

The snow... was still falling...

Amid the howling gale, the horn of war had already sounded.

Two Old Foxes

One late night before the story began.

The night was gentle as water. The city lights shone brilliantly, the Milky Way sparkled overhead, and the moon hung in the sky like a silver platter, illuminating the earth. Pedestrians strolling the streets could not help but lose themselves in the city's beauty and tranquility.

On the outskirts of Fuyuki City, at the Matou Family estate.

After passing through the winding, twisted woods, Rovey arrived alone before the ancient residence, which had stood for centuries. He pushed open the sealed gate and walked inside with natural, unhurried steps. He ignored the magical restrictions deliberately set at the entrance as a test, and paid no heed to the horrifying insects circling overhead as a warning. He simply continued forward with an indifferent expression, though a certain old man wanted more than that.

"You've come... Interesting, boy. You dare enter another Magus's workshop alone? In that case, let this old man test your abilities."

An aged voice echoed continuously through the dark residence.

Then, a withered hand extended from the darkness, drew a slight arc through the air, and issued an attack order to the insects that had been lying in wait outside.

Buzz, buzz, buzz—!!

Outside the estate, having received their master's command, the insects that had merely hovered silently in the sky suddenly became restless. A shrill noise like grinding metal rang beside his ears, and a terrifying killing intent immediately filled the entire courtyard.

Even under the cover of night, that hidden killing intent could not escape Rovey, who walked upon the earth.

Sending insects to surround me...

"Is he trying to kill me here outright?"

He raised his head and looked at the insect swarm concealed in the sky, his thoughts beginning to turn.

After thinking it over briefly, he quickly dismissed that possibility.

If the Old Worm truly wanted to kill him, that ruthless creature would never have sent only one type of insect familiar. This was most likely a test.

Without question, that old thing Matou Zouken had not trusted him so easily. That was why he had arranged this trap tonight—to test his strength.

If Rovey passed the test, Zouken would surely emerge openly and claim it had all been a misunderstanding. If Rovey failed, then he would simply die for nothing. His opponent would only mock his incompetence and later reclaim his magical inheritance to continue participating in the Holy Grail War.

Old Worm, you really played dirty...

Rovey could not help but remark.

Compared to Matou Zouken, that old monster who had lingered in this world for who knew how many years, Magi like Tokiomi Tohsaka seemed much more innocent.

Still, if this was a test, then test away. I do not mind playing along.

Moreover, displaying one another's methods and strength before forming an alliance was common enough. Rovey did not mind showing a little of what he could do. He wanted to satisfy that old man's curiosity with his strength while also demonstrating enough power to dispel the other man's doubts.

Then Rovey made his move.

Before the insect familiars hidden in the sky could launch a fierce attack, the Magic Crest on the back of his hand emitted a dazzling light. With a light flick of his palm, a container filled with viscous, mercury-colored liquid slid from his sleeve, and he smashed it directly onto the ground.

"Crack—!"

With a crisp shattering sound, the container holding the mercury-like liquid broke apart like glass, spraying the Volumen Hydrargyrum contained within.

"This is?"

Under Matou Zouken's astonished gaze, Rovey raised his finger and began drawing rapidly. Silver magical runes appeared in the air, outlining an intricate formation. In the blink of an eye, a sizable red Alchemy Array rose in the Matou Family courtyard. Rovey, standing at its center, lifted his head slightly and looked toward the insects in the sky before slowly snapping his fingers.

Snap!

With that crisp snap, an incomprehensible trace of weak magical energy rippled through the air, and the Alchemy Array beneath his feet flickered with several glimmers of light.

"...What is this?"

Inside the Matou Family residence, Matou Zouken, who controlled the insects, watched the scene outside through shared vision. Naturally, this included the simple Alchemy Array beneath Rovey's feet and that snap of his fingers.

But...

Even though he had seen it, he still did not understand what had happened. Yet the magical energy drifting through the air indicated that something must have occurred.

So what exactly had happened?

Although Matou Zouken had not figured out what had just happened, his age and cunning told him that he could not give Rovey more time to prepare. He no longer hesitated, raising his arm to urgently command the Wing Blade Insects in the night sky to dive directly at the young man in the courtyard.

Stimulated by the magical command, hundreds of blue-green monstrous insects resembling mantises rose with a buzzing roar. Their transparent wings gave a mournful shriek as they sliced through the air, while their blade-like claws sent chills down one's spine.

"Over a hundred of them... At least this is somewhat respectable."

Seeing the densely packed Wing Blade Insects swarm forward, the young man standing in the courtyard showed no fear whatsoever. Instead, he sneered and stretched out his right hand. "Flame, majesty of the gods, born within the light—now I grant you death with sacred fire."

The incantation left his lips. A vast amount of magical energy was drawn into his body and swiftly redirected outward. As his fingers traced through the air, silver magical runes appeared one after another, forming intricate arrays that silently emerged around the Wing Blade Insects before expanding and lighting up.

"What?"

Even Matou Zouken, hidden inside the residence, could not help but be shocked by the horrifying sight.

But he was given no time to be shocked. With Rovey's crisp snap, hundreds of Wing Blade Insects were swallowed by flames that erupted around them like moths flying into fire. The courtyard immediately filled with the sizzling sound of flesh roasting in the blaze.

In a single instant, the Wing Blade Insects that had been brimming with killing intent were reduced to scattered remnants. Some had more than half their bodies devoured by fire, while others had their claws burned away and fell continuously from the air, only able to lie at his feet and twitch. The few that survived the flames had not even had time to attack Rovey before several spikes formed from Volumen Hydrargyrum shot out and pierced them, wrapping around them before dropping them to the ground.

"Hmph."

Looking at the ugly insects sprawled across the ground, utterly incapable of moving, Rovey ignored them and continued toward the Matou Family residence.

As he advanced, the Volumen Hydrargyrum surrounding him moved as though it were an extension of his own arms. The sound of air being torn apart rang constantly through the night as flexible, extending tentacles mercilessly pierced the insects lurking along the surrounding paths and dragged them into the burning flames.

"Hey, Zouken Matou, is this pointless test over? Are you satisfied with the strength I have displayed? Of course, if you want to continue this meaningless test, I am willing to accompany you to the end!"

Standing on his inherited magical Alchemy Array, protected by the Volumen Hydrargyrum at his side, Rovey's magical energy had increased severalfold, and he was brimming with confidence. He immediately fished out two differently colored gemstones from his pocket, preparing to hurl them at the Matou Family residence.

At that moment, after seeing every insect he had deployed wiped out, Matou Zouken could no longer remain seated within the residence.

Although he had estimated Rovey's strength as highly as possible before the test, Rovey was ultimately only a Festival Rank Magus who had only recently entered the field of magecraft. Before Zouken's centuries of accumulation, he should have been like a child. No matter how talented he was, what could that amount to? Thus, Zouken had planned to test him while seeing whether he could capture him and seize the initiative in their future cooperation.

Yet as he watched the insects he had painstakingly raised and imported fall one after another beneath Rovey's flames and mercury, Matou Zouken's heart bled.

Not only could that silver liquid-like Mystic Code help him create an Alchemy Array on the spot, but the power of the flames—one of the four fundamental elements wielded by Alchemy—was far beyond what a mere Festival Rank should have been able to control so easily.

This boy did not feel like a Festival Rank at all. He felt more like a Lord, and one focused on actual combat.

Had those fools at the Clock Tower gone blind with age? How could this possibly be merely Festival Rank!

Cursing those blind idiots at the Clock Tower inwardly, Matou Zouken hurriedly used magecraft to open the Matou Family gates at the last moment. He also removed the magical restrictions placed throughout the courtyard and recalled the few surviving insect familiars.

"Oh? You are finally willing to come out? Is the test over?"

As the gates of the Matou Family residence opened from within, the figures of one old man and one young man faced each other from barely a dozen meters apart...

Though their contact had been brief, after tonight's events, Matou Zouken had gained an understanding of the power Rovey possessed.

He was astonished by the young man's formidable strength. Though Rovey was clearly only Festival Rank, he had already reached such a level. Even a Pride Magus would never have dealt so effortlessly with the combined insect swarm he had just sent.

Although doubts lingered in his heart, Matou Zouken understood that the meaningless test should end here. Even if it continued, it would accomplish nothing beyond needlessly draining his own power.

Although this was his workshop and he possessed a major advantage, the Alchemy Array beneath Rovey's feet was no trivial matter either. Compared with ordinary Magi, Alchemists were even more troublesome opponents.

When adequately prepared, the power those people could mobilize was beyond comparison with that of ordinary Magi. They were stronger in positional warfare, but because Alchemy differed from traditional magecraft and required a suitable Alchemy Array for support, Alchemists could only fight in territory prepared beforehand. There was not enough time on a battlefield to draw an Alchemy Array.

Yet this boy Rovey, using that bottle of mercury-like liquid of unknown material as an aid, could actually complete his own Alchemy Array in a short time and stand atop it, mobilizing the four elements of water, fire, earth, and wind to assist him in combat. It had truly startled Zouken. This was practically a mobile territory Magus.

One had to know that a Magus could double the strength they could wield within their own territory. Thus, Matou Zouken understood better than anyone what a freely mobile territory Magus represented.

At the very least, if he encountered Rovey outside and noticed that the other man had finished constructing his Alchemy Array, he would turn and run without hesitation. No fool would willingly fight another Magus inside that person's territory.

Through this test, Matou Zouken had roughly grasped how much Rovey had been concealing. He could also confirm that if Rovey made proper use of it, he would indeed be an extremely powerful asset.

If he, who knew more of the Holy Grail's inner workings, cooperated with a mobile territory Magus, and they also had two Servants, then their chances of winning this Holy Grail War would be greater than ever before.

As for after they eliminated all the other Servants and Masters...

There was only one Holy Grail. No matter how eloquently Rovey spoke or what guarantees he made, the two of them were destined to be unable to avoid fighting for it.

The moment the other competitors were dealt with, he would turn on Rovey and find a way to eliminate him too, monopolizing the Holy Grail for himself.

Although Rovey's on-the-spot Alchemy Array was indeed troublesome, it was not impossible to handle. At the very least, Berserker, the Servant he had selected, would certainly surpass Rovey's Caster in attributes and overall compatibility. Once the other opponents had been eliminated, he could make good use of Berserker to remove Rovey as well.

"...You jest, Crowley Patriarch. Since we are allies, how could this old man commit such an impolite act as testing you?"

"It is only because this old man did not expect you to arrive so early that I had no time to withdraw the insect familiars arranged beforehand. That is what caused these many misunderstandings. I hope the Crowley Patriarch will not take offense."

Even though Rovey had exposed his intentions to his face, Matou Zouken's expression remained utterly calm, and his tone was so sincere that he nearly believed his own act.

"It seems Marich Zorgen's skin is far thicker than I imagined. Still, I have not taken this matter to heart. Let my flames and your insects serve as the opening ceremony for the coming war."

"However, I hope this sort of thing does not happen again. One pointless test is enough. Otherwise, I will regard you as my enemy as well. Does the Matou Patriarch understand?"

Rovey narrowed his eyes slightly and spoke in an icy tone.

"Of course. This incident was this old man's error to begin with. After living so long, my eyes have grown somewhat dim, and an occasional lapse in judgment is unavoidable. However, since I have already made such a reckless mistake once, I naturally will not make it again. In the coming Holy Grail War, until the final moment, this old man will walk side by side with the Crowley Patriarch and claim victory in this Holy Grail War together."

Matou Zouken said with a smile.