In Type-Moon, Starting with Adopting Sakura

Of course, this was not what Rovey wanted. To accomplish his goal, he needed a stable, abundant source of magical energy—the true Holy Grail.

To that end, he had killed Ryunosuke Uryu, one of the original Master candidates, in advance and locked onto the Caster class. Although Casters were indeed inferior to other classes in combat ability, their accomplishments in magecraft and usefulness in special situations were far greater—for example, right now—

All the World's Evil, the polluted Black Grail, was indeed a difficult problem for other Servants to resolve. But for a capable Age of Gods Magus, it was at most a troublesome challenge. Given enough time and preparation, purifying it again with magecraft would not be difficult. That was also why Rovey had chosen this class.

Originally, he had wanted to target Medea, who had a record of purifying the Holy Grail. Unfortunately, there were too few Sacred Relics related to Medea. The only remaining Golden Fleece had either been bought by some wealthy Middle Eastern tycoon or was hidden in the collection vault beneath the Clock Tower. He had little chance of getting his hands on it.

So Rovey had set his sights on other magi early on, such as his renowned ancestor, Aleister Crowley. But that ultimately failed as well.

Thus, he could only turn his attention to the remaining Age of Gods Magi.

Using a Noble Phantasm fragment inscribed with Runes as the catalyst, he summoned Ireland's mad hound, Cú Chulainn, under the Magus class.

Although Cú Chulainn was far less suited to Caster than Lancer, Rovey still approved of his personality and strength.

Give him respect, and he would return it with honor. He was a very suitable Servant.

With Rovey, who governed the Law Book, presiding over the purification ritual, and Cú Chulainn, who was proficient in every Rune, cooperating with him, purifying All the World's Evil would not be much of a problem.

Then...

After finishing his conversation with Aozaki Touko and his subsequent planning, Rovey rose to his feet and walked over to the summoning ritual he had prepared in advance.

He then used mercury and blood to complete the final patterns of the ritual, placed the Sacred Relic he had prepared in its center, and retreated to Aozaki Touko's side. The two quietly watched together, waiting for a miracle.

Time passed quietly. Only when the clock's hand reached twelve did Rovey slowly rise...

"Fill, fill, fill, fill, fill. Repeat five times."

Then, a peculiar and mysterious incantation spilled from his lips—

"Sharing weal and woe, thy sword and my command."

"If thou heed this reason, then answer."

"Accomplish good deeds, and slay all evil names."

"Hold its lock in hand, let thy body be bound in words of power."

"Submit to restraint and guard the scales."

"I summon thee now. Hear me, all of you."

Come, Cú Chulainn, fierce hound of Ireland... win this Holy Grail War with me!

As long as I am here, no matter who stands before us, we will never lose!

I will lead you to victory. There shall be no enemy before us.

—Whoosh!!

As the chant ended, the enormous summoning circle began spinning wildly, and blinding light exploded before their eyes.

"Is this... Heroic Spirit Summoning? It really is incredible..."

Aozaki Touko, who had been sitting beside Rovey and watching the entire process, could not help but be shocked by the sight before her.

After all, she had never heard of a magecraft ritual capable of producing such an effect...

At last, the light faded.

Mist spread through the room, and the torrent of magical energy confirmed that the connection had been established.

Within the summoning circle, a slender figure flickered in and out of view through the fog.

The completed contract had already told Rovey that he had succeeded, but...

The figure before him slowly emerged from the mist, her graceful form wrapped in a purple-black bodysuit that outlined a slender yet far-from-fragile body. A night-dark veil concealed her breathtaking face, while a pair of wine-red eyes made one unable to resist meeting her gaze...

Even without any charm enhancement, she could still be called utterly bewitching...

In any case, she stood elegantly amid the mist, looking at him with a smile.

Rovey's eyes widened.

"Is that him?"

"No, it's her!!"

Seeing the Heroic Spirit who had answered his summons, Rovey's expression froze completely.

The Empty Chest Always Felt Like Something Was Missing?

Maintain elegance.

This was the creed left behind by the Tohsaka Family's ancestor, Nagato Tohsaka, and it was also the ancestral teaching Tokiomi Tohsaka had always upheld.

Pursue The Root.

This was the goal all magi pursued, the ideal within their hearts, and likewise the meaning behind the Tohsaka Family's existence.

My name is Tokiomi Tohsaka, the head of this generation's Tohsaka Family.

From the moment I inherited the position of family head, I wholeheartedly embarked upon a path of magecraft worth devoting my entire life to.

But I knew very well that I was not a talented Magus. One could even say I was dull-witted. Many magi of my generation had already left me far behind, let alone comparing myself with the gifted ancestors and forebears of my family.

As for why someone as ordinary as me could inherit the Tohsaka Family's magecraft?

The answer was simple. I was the only child of my generation, so I had to shoulder the important mission of inheriting and passing down the Tohsaka Family's magecraft.

The Tohsaka Family's lineage could not be severed. Before our ancestors' long-cherished wish was fulfilled, it absolutely could not be lost.

When I was very young, my father once asked me, "Tokiomi, do you truly wish to inherit the Tohsaka Family's magecraft?"

Naturally, I answered that question without hesitation.

"Of course, Father. I will certainly shoulder the mission of passing down the Tohsaka Family's magecraft!"

At the time, I did not understand why Father had asked. After all, there were no other heirs in the Tohsaka Family besides me. If I did not inherit it, who would?

But later, I understood. Father had asked because he wanted to give me the chance to choose my own life.

He did not want to bind my fate, nor did he want me to walk a road I disliked and live a lifetime of pain and exhaustion.

For that reason, he had even been willing to give me a choice.

After I understood Father's painstaking intentions, my fighting spirit surged. I went alone to the Clock Tower to study, and along that road, no matter how many hardships and obstacles I encountered, I gritted my teeth and endured them all.

Along that path, I met many completely different people and geniuses from all over the world. I saw firsthand the gap between myself and them, which made me even more clearly aware that I was not a genius.

Yet even someone like me, after putting in countless efforts, achieved respectable results and gained some reputation within the Clock Tower.

Perhaps heaven had been moved by my efforts. In my middle age, it bestowed upon me two treasures I could never have hoped for in this life—two extraordinarily gifted descendants.

Sakura Tohsaka and Rin Tohsaka were my daughters. Unlike an ordinary man like me, they were treasures of magecraft blessed with peerless talent, true miracles that were nearly impossible to find in this world.

If possible, I would even compare them to the legendary Grand Puppet Master Aozaki Touko and El-Melloi's new Lord. I believed even more firmly that my descendants would one day reach their heights.

As a mediocre man, I could never reach the realms that those geniuses could attain in my lifetime. I also knew that I could never push open the gates of truth through my own strength alone, much less reach The Root and obtain true wisdom and miracles.

But my daughters could... They would certainly walk to the end of magecraft in my place and behold its true mysteries.

I, Tokiomi Tohsaka, had always believed so.

Yet as the ancient saying went: fortune and misfortune came hand in hand.

Heaven was merciful. It bestowed upon me treasures beyond replacement; but heaven was also cruel. It took away my complete family.

Because the Tohsaka Family's inheritance was too shallow, I could not produce two Magic Crests for them and guide both of them onto the proper path of magecraft.

In other words, because of my incompetence, only one of my daughters could inherit the Magic Crest. The other could only be forced to stop, despite possessing unparalleled aptitude. This caused me unbearable pain.

Fortunately, at that time, the Tohsaka Family's accumulated connections and my own efforts at the Clock Tower brought a turning point.

The conditions proposed by the Matou Family and the Crowley Family were truly good news to me. As long as this was done, not only Rin, but Sakura as well could embark upon a joyful and happy path of magecraft...

In the end, considering the Matou Family's decline and impoverished state, I chose the Crowley Family, whose influence and resources were far greater, because they could pave a better road for Sakura.

Now that he had settled his daughters' inheritance issues, Tokiomi Tohsaka felt especially delighted.

Seeing that both of his daughters had a future, he finally had no more worries holding him back.

Tokiomi Tohsaka rubbed the three crimson Command Seals on the back of his hand, then stared blankly out the window.

"The Holy Grail War... This is my final chance. Whether someone like me can reach The Root depends on this one opportunity..."

He murmured inwardly, filled with boundless emotion.

Just as he had thought before, he had never been a genius. Reaching this point was already heaven's mercy. Taking even one more step forward was impossible, let alone reaching The Root.

If he could, he too wished to be like geniuses such as Aozaki Touko, Kenneth, and Barthomeloi—to carve out his own path alone and continue pursuing The Root through his own magecraft until the day he reached it.

But time no longer allowed it.

To fulfill his family's long-cherished wish and the goal he had held since his youth, Tokiomi Tohsaka had no other choice. Even if he would remain there forever in the end, he was willing.

To him, walking the path of pursuing truth was happiness even if he died midway, because one day, his two daughters would reach the end in his stead.

"The descendants of the Tohsaka Family... will ultimately obtain true happiness."

He believed this without the slightest doubt.

"..."

Behind him, a young priest dressed in a black cassock watched Tokiomi Tohsaka muttering to himself, and his gaze gradually grew complicated.

What a happy smile...

Even someone like his mentor had found a goal that could make him happy. Then what about himself?

When would he find the answer to the happiness and meaning that belonged to him?

"Kirei... is something on your mind?"

As Kirei Kotomine lowered his head in thought, Tokiomi Tohsaka's voice suddenly called out beside him.

"It is nothing. I merely lost focus for a moment. Do you have any instructions, Master?"

He immediately withdrew his thoughts and answered with a proper attitude.

"I see... Rest well lately. Do not overwork yourself. Conserve your strength for the coming war."

Hearing this, Tokiomi Tohsaka nodded and showed a little concern for his student before asking, "Also, how are the matters I entrusted to Risei progressing?"

"Master, please rest assured. My father has already made the preparations, and he has agreed to help you achieve victory in this Holy Grail War."

"I see... Good. Very good."

Upon receiving Kirei Kotomine's reply, Tokiomi Tohsaka's smile grew even brighter.

"Then, Kirei, let us proceed with the upcoming Holy Grail War according to the original plan."

"The war will soon begin. We should make some preparations as well."

"Yes."

Kirei Kotomine nodded expressionlessly, a trace of complexity flashing in his eyes.

According to doctrine, clergymen must not bend the rules for private gain, nor could they deceive or show favoritism.

His father had taught him these principles. But now... could what his father and Tokiomi Tohsaka were doing truly be called righteous? Was it truly what clergymen should do? And what was he, an accomplice who had gone along with them?

The more he thought about it, the more lost he became...

One Step Forward, Never Again Able to Turn Back—A Sea of Blood Leading to the Three Thousand Worlds

Ah...