Morning at the Tohsaka Household

As for Tokiomi Tohsaka, besides Matou Kariya and Emiya Kiritsugu...

Did you just say the teacher went on a trip?

When Kirei Kotomine heard this news from Rovey, his eyes showed some surprise.

"Yes, she's already left. It's obvious she's not planning to participate in the Holy Grail War. Now, only Rin Tohsaka is left in the Tohsaka Family."

"Rovey said calmly."

"I see..."

Upon hearing this, Kirei Kotomine nodded, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, which then gradually turned into relief and satisfaction.

Not long ago, when he heard that Aozaki Touko and London were planning to hold another Holy Grail War in Fuyuki City, he was worried. He was concerned that Tokiomi Tohsaka wouldn't be able to let go of his obsession and would still plunge headlong into it, sinking into such a vortex. He had even recently been considering whether he should visit the Tohsaka Family to dissuade his former teacher.

Despite the fact that his past mistakes had caused his relationship with Tokiomi Tohsaka to deteriorate to an almost irreparable point, Kirei Kotomine was starting a new life, still cared about his teacher and wanted to do something for him.

However, he did not expect that Tokiomi Tohsaka would let it go so easily, not only not participating in the Holy Grail War, but even leaving Fuyuki City to travel.

This made him suddenly understand a lot.

Indeed, humanity is bound to progress.

Over the years, I'm not the only one who has grown and matured.

Even Tokiomi Tohsaka has let go of his obsession...

Upon learning of this, Kirei Kotomine was also happy for his teacher.

It wasn't just Kirei Kotomine who was surprised; when he learned that Tokiomi Tohsaka had refused to participate, Rovey was also somewhat taken aback. Later, after reviewing Tokiomi Tohsaka's recent notes at the Tohsaka Family and through his conversations with Rin Tohsaka, he was able to glean a pretty good idea of just how much Tokiomi Tohsaka had changed.

After experiencing that ordeal and death, he had let go of his arrogance and obsession as Magus. He also recognized his own achievements and limitations, no longer clinging to impossible fantasies, but instead entrusting his hopes to the next generation. As a father, he did his best to pave the way for Rin Tohsaka, wanting her to go further.

It can be said that Tokiomi Tohsaka is no longer the arrogant Magus he once was; he is now simply a father who is doing his best for his daughter.

However, the thought that Tokiomi Tohsaka's good intentions had been thwarted by such an oddball as Rin Tohsaka made Rovey feel a bit of a headache for him.

After talking with Kirei Kotomine about Rin Tohsaka's current situation as a participant in the Tohsaka Family's recent activities, Kirei Kotomine was also somewhat speechless.

Honestly, he also found it hard to imagine how a man as meticulous as Tokiomi Tohsaka could raise such a daughter.

Perhaps this is what they call a sense of contrast?

However, these are all minor issues.

Now that Rin Tohsaka is participating this time, he can feel a little more at ease.

After all, this Holy Grail War is not a normal Holy Grail War prepared by the Three Families, but was initiated by London. Rin Tohsaka is Aozaki Touko's student and a top student in London. No matter how you look at it, her safety can be guaranteed, and there shouldn't be any problems.

However, despite this, Kirei Kotomine has no intention of relaxing his efforts in the slightest.

Although theoretically he should be fine, as a survivor of the last absurd war, he wasn't taking any chances.

Therefore, in this Holy Grail War, he will once again serve as the overseer, taking his father's place and personally making amends for the mistakes made by the opponent last time. He will diligently fulfill his duties as overseer and referee.

"Yes, with you as my supervisor, I feel much more at ease."

Having learned of Kirei Kotomine's thoughts, Rovey nodded in affirmation.

With Kirei Kotomine as the referee, I'm sure nothing bad will happen.

He then inquired about the other participants, Kirei Kotomine.

Kirei Kotomine pondered this for a moment, then made no attempt to conceal it, directly revealing to Rovey the information he had received.

The target is known.

The Tohsaka Family has one spot available.

There are three spots available in London.

The remaining three spots are for foreign Magus, whose identities are currently unknown.

However, this Holy Grail ceremony was arranged by Aozaki Touko and many Magus a few years ago. At that time, it was notified and reported in Fuyuki City, and London was also aware of it. The Church also expressed its permission, so he had no reason to stop it. He also notified Kirei Kotomine, the local church in charge, that he should send an Executor to act as the referee for this ceremony.

Upon hearing this information, Rovey nodded and then expressed his gratitude to Kirei Kotomine.

Then, he thought for a moment, glanced at the somewhat deserted church, and asked Kirei Kotomine, "By the way, can you manage all this by yourself? Your church seems much quieter than it was ten years ago. Now that Tokiomi Tohsaka is gone, you can't count on Rin Tohsaka either. Handling the aftermath and dealing with the situation is a huge undertaking. Can you really manage it all by yourself?"

"This...?"

Upon hearing Rovey's question, Kirei Kotomine shook his head slightly and explained:

"There's a reason for all this. Several years ago, when I went back to the church to pick up my daughter, Karen was treated harshly by the church because of her health condition, and they didn't agree to let me bring her back. So I did some rather extreme things back then, and being ordered to stay here now is a kind of punishment for me."

About a few years ago.

Kirei Kotomine, unable to bear the way his daughter was treated at church, did something that shocked the church.

After Risei Kotomine's repeated attempts to negotiate with the church to get Karen back failed, no one expected that the most honest Kirei Kotomine would actually join forces with his fellow disciple, another extremely powerful Executor Hansa Serbandis, and the terrorist Emiya Kiritsugu. The three of them worked together to break into the monastery of the Church and kidnap Karen under the cover of night.

Although they did not kill anyone that time, their recklessness and collusion with outsiders offended the church's authority. The church ordered them to be arrested and severely punished, which caused a great uproar in the city. Some even spread rumors that they had become heretics and joined the Dead Apostle.

Finally, thanks to the pleas of the two men's fathers and the guarantee of a senior member of the Burial Agency, the matter was successfully suppressed.

However, the outcome was that Kirei Kotomine, a highly talented individual who only needed to continue and was likely to join the Burial Agency's reserve force after undergoing further training, was permanently exiled to the Far East and could never return to headquarters. His fellow apprentice was also thrown into the America, forbidden from returning to headquarters, effectively cutting off his future.

As for Emiya Kiritsugu, he also managed to escape under Kirei Kotomine's arrangement, leaving the church's territory overnight. However, in order to avoid the limelight, he had to sever ties with Kirei Kotomine, and they haven't seen each other for a long time now.

Although Kirei Kotomine and his fellow disciples were severely punished by the Church and their Cheng Che ruined, fortunately, neither of them cared about such things.

For Kirei Kotomine now, as long as his daughter is still by his side, that's enough.

This is also an important reason why, although Karen still feels somewhat awkward about Kirei Kotomine now, she has always stayed by his side, trying to get along with him like a real daughter.

She also sensed a strange emotion called fatherly love in Kirei Kotomine; though faint and clumsy, it was real.

"It seems it's not just me; your experiences are quite diverse as well."

Upon hearing this, Rovey also laughed, expressing his approval of Kirei Kotomine's actions.

He has fully become a father, a complete person.

Compared to the confused priest he once was, Kirei Kotomine has grown so much.

"It's just some things that have to be done." Kirei Kotomine shook his head and said, "But you're not wrong. It's indeed difficult for me to handle so many things by myself, so this time I plan to bring my disciple with me to maintain order in this Holy Grail War."

"Your apprentice? You actually took on an apprentice?"

Upon hearing Kirei Kotomine mention his disciple, Rovey couldn't help but feel a little curious.

"Yes, he's a very good kid, and more importantly, a Hero of Justice..."

When his disciple was mentioned, Kirei Kotomine couldn't help but smile, and a hint of pride appeared in his eyes.

"I believe he will do a better job than I and Emiya Kiritsugu."

This prompted Karen had been sitting and listening to their conversation, to finally grumble.

"What kind of 'ally of justice'? He's just a busybody, a nagging idiot. That fool is just as troublesome as my father."

"Karen... don't speak ill of your senior brother like that."

Upon hearing this, Kirei Kotomine gave a helpless reminder before slowly revealing the truth.

"It's because you're always slacking off that he has to urge you to do your homework. Don't forget, your senior brother is responsible for all your meals."

"I don't care, it's all because he's too long-winded."

Despite Kirei Kotomine, he was met with Karen's defiant glare in response.

"Well..."

Seeing this, Kirei Kotomine felt quite helpless, and he couldn't help but feel that he was not quite qualified to be a father.

"Master, Karen, dinner is ready."

Just as he was about to say something more, a young male voice suddenly came from one of the rooms inside the church.

"I had just mentioned him when he arrived; he was right on time."

Hearing this voice, Karen raised an eyebrow slightly. "Your disciple has arrived, Father."

"I know."

"Master, Karen, dinner's ready."

Soon, a young man with red hair pushed open the wooden door and came out, calling to Kirei Kotomine and Karen to come to the back for dinner.

"Who are you..."

However, when he came out of the kitchen after being busy all day and saw the unfamiliar figure of Rovey, his expression was somewhat surprised.

"Is anyone still coming this late?"

He glanced at Rovey, then at Karen and Kirei Kotomine beside Rovey, and couldn't help but ask Rovey curiously:

"Excuse me, are you a friend of the master?"

"That's right, this is my friend, Shirou."

Upon seeing him emerge, Kirei Kotomine introduced Rovey to him.

He then nodded with satisfaction, and looked at Rovey beside him again, and took the initiative to speak, "Let me introduce you, this is the disciple I just mentioned, and also my successor, Fujimaru Shirou. However, to avoid any unnecessary trouble that might affect his normal life, he is using the alias Kotomine Shirou here. He is a very good boy, and I intend for him to inherit my mantle."

Upon hearing that he was a friend of his master, the red-haired boy named Kotomine Shirou's robe, immediately became serious and began to introduce himself to Rovey.

"Hello, guest, I am Kotomine Shirou. Nice to meet you."

"..."

However, compared to the two boys who were earnestly introducing themselves, Rovey's eyes twitched uncontrollably a few times as he looked at the scene before him.

He looked at the familiar face in front of him, completely oblivious to what the other person had just said.

Rovey blinked, then couldn't help but ask the boy in front of him.

"You just said... what's your name?"

Chapter 358 The Morning of the Tohsaka Family

When the moon sets last night and the sun rises the next day, it signifies the beginning of a new day.

It was already daylight.

Around noon, Rin Tohsaka had spent the night in the basement cramming on Holy Grail War materials, groggily sat up from a table in the basement.

She first rubbed her stiff neck, then, yawning and still half-asleep in her pajamas, she swayed and pushed open the basement door, entering the living room with her hair disheveled as usual.

"Yo, good morning!"

Upon seeing her emerge from the basement, Rovey, who was leaning against the sofa, put down his morning newspaper, greeted Rin Tohsaka, and gave her a friendly reminder.

"Breakfast is on the table, just go and eat it yourself."

"Yes, ah, I understand... Father."

Rovey: "..."

A sleepy-eyed Rin Tohsaka answered Rovey that she knew, but her thoughts didn't seem to indicate that she knew at all. In fact, because her mind was too foggy, she had completely forgotten that Tokiomi Tohsaka was on a trip and that the person sitting on her sofa was Rovey.

Because she regarded Rovey as her father, Tokiomi Tohsaka, Rin Tohsaka lay sprawled on the sofa without any regard for her image. She was like a lazy cat, closing her eyes again, clearly preparing for a comfortable nap.

"..."

Sitting opposite, Rovey glanced at Rin Tohsaka, then at the clock on the wall.

It's about 11:00 AM now, with a time difference of about five minutes.

This prompted Rovey to exclaim, "Good heavens, it's almost 11 a. m., and he's still not awake!"

Is this the outrageous daily routine of contemporary college students?

Then, looking down at Rin Tohsaka, who was lying in front of him, completely relaxed and without any sense of vigilance, Rovey's lips twitched involuntarily.

"You don't seem to know at all, and besides... you've mistaken me for someone else."

He covered his forehead and looked at Rin Tohsaka, his tone somewhat helpless.

Clearly, the true nature of this seemingly elegant and refined young lady is quite shocking, or rather... the reality.

Not only was one button on her pajamas wrong, but because of her extremely bad sleeping posture, one of her pant legs was rolled up, exposing a long, white leg. Compared to all this, her messy hair... was actually not so surprising.

Seeing that this guy was still so relaxed at this critical moment, Rovey didn't even think twice before picking up a phone and snapping a few photos of Rin Tohsaka's drooling face.

Click, click, click!!

A series of crisp electronic sounds rang in her ears, and after a series of easy three-beats, the flashes of light before her eyes finally brought Rin Tohsaka back to her senses from her slumber.