Sakura Matou Rewrites Destiny

On a hill not far from the Matou family's mountain villa.

Solomon, who often appeared here to gaze at the Matou villa, materialized once more.

"Indeed, on this day, my Clairvoyance... becomes difficult to perceive both past and future... So, Miss Sakura, what will you do next?"

What would Sakura do?

Naturally, she had to handle the situation before her.

Though she had no idea how much trouble that single swing of the scythe had brought her, there was something more pressing right now—why wouldn't King Hassan leave!? He wasn't actually planning to cut her down, was he?

"Hoo~ So that's the Counter Force dealt with for now... And you, Old Man of the Mountain, what do you want?"

37. A Rare Moment of Ease...

The Matou family's mountain villa.

After comforting her mother and sister in one go, and brewing a pot of magic potion for her cheap father, Sakura finally had a moment to catch her breath.

So much had happened in just over an hour today.

The Tohsaka family, the Counter Force, King Hassan... With so many problems piling up in such a short time, even the strong-willed Sakura couldn't help but feel mentally drained.

And what made it worse was...

Inside the mountain villa, in the Low-End Workshop where Sakura trained and practiced magecraft.

With obvious fatigue written across her face, Sakura was currently half-enjoying Kurumi's terribly unprofessional massage while staring blankly at the Command Seal on the back of her hand...

Yes, a Command Seal.

Sakura, who had no desire whatsoever to participate in the Holy Grail War, was still forced into this war she absolutely had to lose.

Her Servant... was naturally the one who had forced her into this war—King Hassan.

"Training... heh... Sister Kurumi, you know what? That old man, King Hassan, said he wanted me to join the Holy Grail War just to train me..."

Listening to Sakura's complaints and watching her face that looked ready to cry, Kurumi, who had been by Sakura's side the whole time and personally witnessed the 'negotiation' between Sakura and King Hassan, felt a jolt in her heart. Then, with a slightly dazed expression, she unconsciously reached out and pinched Sakura's cheek.

"Mmph... What are you doing, Sister Kurumi? That's uncomfortable..."

"Hehe, I just suddenly thought you looked really cute just now... I couldn't help it."

Leaning down, Kurumi rested her chin on Sakura's not-so-broad shoulder. Though the position was a bit awkward for her, Kurumi felt an unusual sense of ease and peace in her heart at that moment...

"You're heavy, Sister Kurumi. I'm not even six yet..."

Though Kurumi's figure was generally slender, the weight of a human head was still more than Sakura's small body could easily bear.

Of course, if she reinforced herself with Qi, Sakura could temporarily elevate herself to the peak of an adult human's physical ability, but this was just a bit of fun between 'close friends'—no need to use Qi for that.

"Sakura, don't talk. Let me lean on you for a bit..."

"Mmph..."

'Thrown into a strange environment, suddenly having to obey strangers... Even though Kurumi and I get along well, she must have been tense and exhausted these past few days too.'

With that thought, Sakura gently turned around, and under Kurumi's slightly startled gaze, tenderly placed Kurumi's head onto her own lap.

Kneeling on the thick carpet, her cheek resting on Sakura's thighs—soft yet springy to the touch.

In that moment, the nerves that had been taut ever since Kurumi was summoned gradually relaxed under Sakura's lap pillow...

"Honestly, falling asleep like this... Old man, help me out—bring a blanket over."

A strong, weathered hand gently patted Sakura's head. Two thin blankets with cartoon patterns covered parts of Sakura and Kurumi's bodies.

Having shed his armor, King Hassan appeared beside Sakura like a tall, kind grandfather.

"Sakura, you too should take this chance to rest. The road ahead will leave you little time for rest."

Whether King Hassan meant the remaining days of the Holy Grail War or Sakura's entire future path...

Sakura didn't ask. Already exhausted in both body and mind, she simply fell silent and, without any guard, drifted off to sleep in the presence of King Hassan, who felt like her own grandfather.

After Sakura and Kurumi both sank into a deep sleep in an atmosphere of trust and ease...

In the room arranged for Aoi Tohsaka inside the mountain villa.

Tokiomi Tohsaka, who had recently drunk the magic potion, slowly regained consciousness.

"Tokiomi... Tokiomi..."

"Mmph... Aoi... I'm..."

Perhaps his wounds hadn't fully healed yet, or the potion's effects hadn't completely worn off.

Just opening his eyes, Tokiomi Tohsaka looked quite dazed.

But his confusion lasted only a moment. When Rin happily cried out "Father!" and pounced onto him, Tokiomi's mind finally cleared completely.

Instinctively holding Rin gently against his chest, he sat up in bed with Aoi's help.

At that moment, elegance returned to Tokiomi Tohsaka's face once more...

Only, the composed confidence that once graced his features now seemed absent.

"Aoi, you've worked hard... Rin, Father made you worry."

Hearing her father's familiar, gentle voice, Rin could only press her head tightly against Tokiomi's chest at that moment, while Aoi, after hesitating repeatedly, finally spoke softly.

"Dear..."

"I've lost. I'm out of this Holy Grail War."

Saying this, Tokiomi slowly pulled his hand—now missing its palm—out from under the covers, then added with a bitter smile.

"A complete failure... I, Tokiomi Tohsaka, truly lack the talent. I can't even control a mere tool like a Servant."

"Dear... please, don't say that."

As Tokiomi Tohsaka's wife and a member of the magecraft world herself, Aoi Tohsaka understood perfectly just how much the Holy Grail War and the Tohsaka Family's long-cherished wish meant to her husband.

That was why Aoi was truly afraid that if Tokiomi kept talking like this, he would never recover from the blow.

"Don't worry, Aoi. Though this defeat has hit me hard, you needn't be concerned—I can accept it."

With that, Tokiomi Tohsaka tucked his severed hand back under the covers, then looked down at Rin, who was lying on his chest, her face streaked with tears.

"After all, the Tohsaka Family still has a future, doesn't it, Aoi?"

Gazing at her young daughter, Aoi nodded somewhat heavily, then fell into silence.

Her identity as the wife of the Tohsaka Family head and the pride Aoi Tohsaka held for herself prevented her from refuting Tokiomi Tohsaka. But still... Tokiomi's intentions plunged Aoi into worry about what lay ahead.

Tokiomi Tohsaka noticed his wife's reaction.

But just as when he had decided to send Sakura away, Tokiomi believed his wife would ultimately come to understand his choices.

So, without saying anything more to Aoi, he raised his hand and wiped the tears from the corners of Rin's eyes.

"Rin."

"Father... you're safe... that's really a relief."

38. The Uruk Great Cup and the 'Challenge'

In the Fuyuki City wealthy district, inside the temporary Magic Workshop built by the Clock Tower Lord.

Mordred, dressed in light, cool attire, was listlessly snacking while watching a boring program on TV that couldn't hold her interest at all.

This Holy Grail War had been pretty good for her so far—not only had she encountered the Father King she had longed for, but she had also gained a chance to have her wish granted.

Her Master was a bit two-faced and, in her opinion, had a twisted personality that wasn't straightforward enough, but in other respects, Kischur was already decent among Masters.

All in all, Mordred was satisfied with the current situation.

If only she could get a warm-up before her final showdown with the Father King, that would be even better.

Just as Mordred was idly watching TV and letting her mind wander...

A figure, all golden and flashy, showed up.

After destroying the Tohsaka Residence and manipulating Kirei Kotomine, Gilgamesh naturally needed a place to stay as a temporary resting palace.

In this dump of a Fuyuki City, after searching high and low, there were only so many places that could match the King of Heroes' standards. Whether by coincidence or deliberate design, Gilgamesh happened to bring Kirei Kotomine to this wealthy district at that very moment.

"Tch, you think a church that worships mongrels is fit to be My bedchamber? Kotomine, spare Me your lousy jokes."

Walking behind Gilgamesh, who was dressed in casual clothes, Kirei Kotomine wore a pleasant smile on his face, with large patches of bloodstains still uncleaned on his body, and shrugged indifferently.

"But don't you think it'd be interesting to stay in a god's dwelling...? If you're bored, I'll head back alone."

With that, Kirei Kotomine cast a subtle glance at a nearby house that felt off to him, then turned around without a care and headed toward the direction of Fuyuki City's church.

As a former Executor, Kirei wasn't intimately familiar with mages' tricks, but some of it was practically etched into his DNA.

So it was no surprise that he noticed the temporary Magic Workshop of Marisbury and Kischur. After all, according to the magecraft world's rules of secrecy, most Magic Workshops would have Suggestion Magecraft set up around them to keep ordinary people from wandering in.

Watching Kirei Kotomine's retreating figure, Gilgamesh stroked his chin with interest.

"A truly amusing mongrel... but trying to treat Me like a clown... naive."

If Kirei Kotomine could see it, Gilgamesh certainly could too.

Gilgamesh had already spotted Marisbury and Kischur's temporary workshop the moment he stepped into this wealthy district.

"Come out, or do you intend to play your stale tricks in front of Me as well?"

Walking slowly out from a nearby yard and coming straight up to Gilgamesh, Solomon casually pulled back his hood, revealing his face, without any pretense.

"King of Heroes, I don't think we need introductions between us, do we?"

"Tch, mongrel... you know full well."

Though the expression on his face seemed utterly disdainful toward Solomon, Gilgamesh's next move made it clear that even he regarded Solomon with deep caution.

A golden ripple spread open, and a golden cup floated out from within.

The 'Holy Grail' that countless had sought throughout history was thus presented by Gilgamesh before Solomon.

"Oh~ so this is the Uruk Great Cup..."

"Hmph, make sure to return it to Me when you're done."

Looking at Gilgamesh's tsundere expression, Solomon, who had put away the Uruk Great Cup, smiled and nodded, as if telling Gilgamesh that he would return it after using it.

"Then, mongrel, tell this king—why did I hand the Holy Grail over to you?"

At first listen, Gilgamesh's question seemed strange. After all, the Uruk Great Cup was something Gilgamesh had personally handed to Solomon just moments ago. Could it be that Gilgamesh himself didn't even know why he gave it to him?

But if one possessed Clairvoyance, this wouldn't be strange at all.

Although both Gilgamesh and Solomon's Clairvoyance had been rendered nearly unable to observe the future due to that single slash from the Scythe of Chronos, the two who possessed the highest-grade Clairvoyance could still occasionally glimpse key fragments concerning themselves.

That was precisely why Gilgamesh had directly pulled out the Uruk Great Cup upon meeting Solomon.

"Regrettably, King of Heroes, I do not know the answer either. My current state is no different from yours."

"Tch... those two mongrels from the Counter Force... Never mind. Since I saw that I would lend it to you, this king has no reason to take it back. However..."

"Please, speak."

"Before that counterfeit object appears, do not come to disturb this king's games."

His crimson eyes fixed on Solomon's face, which always wore a gentle smile. At this moment, Gilgamesh became serious for the first time, releasing the true, fierce battle intent befitting a king.

Meeting Gilgamesh's storm-like battle intent, Solomon, who now appeared like a gentle nobleman, raised his hand and wiped the ring on his left index finger, then asked with a grave expression.

"Planning to save me for last... the main course?"

"Perhaps as dessert after the meal!"

Just as Gilgamesh and Solomon became locked in a tense standoff...