On a hill not far from the Matou Family's mountain villa.
Solomon, who often appeared here to gaze out at the Matou Family's mountain villa, appeared once again.
"Just as expected, on this day, my Clairvoyance... became difficult to use to observe either the past or the future... So, Miss Sakura, what will you do next?"
What was Sakura going to do?
Naturally, she was going to deal with the situation before her.
Though she had no idea how much trouble that scythe swing had brought her, Sakura had a more urgent matter before her now. King Hassan... why was he still here?! Was he really planning to cut her down?
"Phew~ That should settle things with the Counter Force for the time being... So what about you, Old Man of the Mountain? What do you want to do?"
A Rare Moment of Ease...
The Matou Family's mountain villa.
After comforting her mother and sister in one go, then brewing a pot of Magic potion for her bargain-bin father, Sakura finally had the time to catch her breath.
Far too much had happened in just over an hour today.
The Tohsaka Family, the Counter Force, King Hassan... so many problems had piled up in such a short time. Even Sakura, strong as she was inside, could not help feeling mentally exhausted.
And what was even more outrageous was...
Inside the mountain villa, in the Low-End Workshop Sakura used for training and practicing magecraft.
With obvious fatigue written across her face, Sakura was enjoying Kurumi's utterly unprofessional massage while staring blankly at the Command Seal on the back of her hand...
Yes, a Command Seal.
Sakura, who had absolutely no desire to participate in the Holy Grail War, had still been forced into this Holy Grail War that she had to lose.
Her Servant... was naturally King Hassan, the very one who had forced her into this war.
"Training... heh... Sister Kurumi, do you know? That Old Man of the Mountain made me join the Holy Grail War because he wanted to train me..."
Listening to Sakura's complaints and seeing her tearful, helpless expression, Kurumi—who had stayed by Sakura's side and personally witnessed the "battle of wits" between Sakura and King Hassan—felt her heart stir. Looking slightly smitten, she unconsciously reached out and pinched Sakura's cheeks.
"Mmph... what are you doing, Sister Kurumi? That hurts..."
"Hehe, I suddenly thought you looked really cute just now, Sakura... I couldn't help myself."
Leaning down and resting her chin on Sakura's narrow shoulder, Kurumi found the position somewhat uncomfortable, yet at that moment, her heart felt remarkably light and peaceful...
"You're heavy, Sister Kurumi. I'm not even six yet..."
Kurumi was slender overall, but the weight of a human head was still not something Sakura's small body could easily bear.
Of course, if she strengthened herself with Qi, Sakura could temporarily raise herself to the top level among adult humans. But this was just ordinary horseplay between "best friends." There was no need to use Qi.
"Sakura, don't talk. Let me lean on you for a while..."
"Mmph..."
She was suddenly brought into an unfamiliar environment and suddenly had to obey an unfamiliar person... Even if Kurumi and I are compatible, she must have been nervous and tired these past few days.
With that thought in mind, Sakura gently turned around. Then, under Kurumi's slightly startled gaze, she tenderly placed Kurumi's head onto her lap.
Kneeling on the thick carpet, Kurumi rested her cheek against Sakura's soft, slightly chubby yet resilient thighs.
At that moment, the nerves Kurumi had kept tense ever since being summoned gradually relaxed beneath Sakura's lap pillow...
"Honestly, she can fall asleep like this too... Old Man, help me get a blanket."
A large, powerful hand stroked Sakura's head. Two thin blankets patterned with cartoon designs covered part of Sakura and Kurumi's bodies respectively.
Having removed his armor, King Hassan appeared beside Sakura, looking like a tall and kindly grandfather.
"Sakura, use this opportunity to rest as well. There will not be much time for rest on the road ahead."
It was unclear whether King Hassan meant the remaining days of the Holy Grail War or Sakura's future path...
Sakura did not ask. Exhausted in both body and mind, she simply fell asleep without a word and without a trace of guard before King Hassan, who felt like her own grandfather.
After Sakura and Kurumi both fell into deep sleep amid an atmosphere of trust and ease.
In the room within the mountain villa that had been arranged for Aoi Tohsaka.
Not long after drinking the Magic potion, Tokiomi Tohsaka finally slowly woke up.
"Tokiomi... Tokiomi..."
"Mmph... Aoi... I am..."
Perhaps his wounds had not yet fully healed, or perhaps the effects of the Magic potion had not entirely faded.
Tokiomi Tohsaka, who had just opened his eyes, looked utterly confused.
But Tokiomi Tohsaka's confusion lasted only a short while. When Rin cried out "Father" and happily threw herself onto him, his consciousness finally cleared completely.
Instinctively, he gently embraced Rin, who was lying on top of him. Then, with Aoi's help, he sat up in bed.
At that moment, Tokiomi Tohsaka's elegant bearing returned once more...
However, the calm confidence he had once possessed seemed nowhere to be seen on his face now.
"Aoi, you've worked hard... Rin, Father made you worry..."
Hearing her father's familiar, gentle voice, Rin merely pressed her head tightly against Tokiomi's chest. After hesitating again and again, Aoi slowly spoke from beside them.
"Dear..."
"I lost. I am already out of this Holy Grail War..."
As he spoke, Tokiomi slowly drew the hand that had lost its palm from beneath the blanket, then smiled bitterly.
"A complete and utter failure... I, Tokiomi Tohsaka, truly do not have that talent. I cannot even control something as simple as a Servant tool..."
"Dear... stop talking."
As Tokiomi Tohsaka's wife, and as a member of the Magecraft world herself, Aoi Tohsaka understood perfectly how important the Holy Grail War and the Tohsaka Family's long-cherished wish were to him.
That was why Aoi was truly afraid that if Tokiomi continued speaking like this, he would never recover from the blow.
"Rest assured, Aoi. Though this defeat has dealt me a tremendous blow, do not worry. I can accept it..."
As he spoke, Tokiomi Tohsaka tucked his severed hand back beneath the blanket. Then he lowered his head to look at Rin, who was lying against his chest with tears all over her face.
"After all, the Tohsaka Family still has a future, doesn't it, Aoi..."
Looking at her young daughter, Aoi nodded somewhat heavily before falling silent.
Her identity as the Tohsaka Family's wife, along with the restraint Aoi herself insisted on maintaining, prevented her from arguing with Tokiomi Tohsaka. But... Tokiomi's intentions still filled her with worry for the future...
Tokiomi Tohsaka noticed his wife's reaction as well.
But just as when he had decided to send Sakura away, Tokiomi believed that his wife would eventually understand his decision.
Therefore, Tokiomi said nothing more to Aoi. Instead, he raised his hand and wiped away the tears at the corners of Rin's eyes.
"Rin."
"Father... it's wonderful that you're safe..."
The Uruk Great Cup and the "Date"
Inside the temporary Magic Workshop built by the Clock Tower Lord in Fuyuki City's wealthy district.
Dressed lightly, Mordred listlessly ate snacks while watching a boring television program that failed to catch her interest in the slightest.
This Holy Grail War had actually been rather good for her. Not only had she encountered the Father King she had longed to see, but she had also gained an opportunity to make her wish come true.
Her Master might have been somewhat duplicitous, with a personality that seemed awkward and insufficiently straightforward to her, but in every other respect, Kischur Zelretch was already quite good as Masters went.
All in all, Mordred was satisfied with her current situation.
If she could get a warm-up before her decisive battle with Father King, that would be even better.
Just as Mordred watched television in boredom while her thoughts wandered.
A completely Golden Flash fellow arrived...
After destroying the Tohsaka Residence and fooling Kirei Kotomine.
Gilgamesh naturally needed somewhere to serve as a temporary palace to rest his feet.
And in a rundown place like Fuyuki City, after making do with what he could, there were only so many places that suited the King of Heroes's stature. Whether by coincidence or deliberate arrangement.
Gilgamesh happened to bring Kirei Kotomine to this wealthy district at just that moment.
"Tch. Is a church that worships Mongrels worthy of serving as my palace? Kirei, do not make such tasteless jokes again."
Following behind Gilgamesh, who wore casual clothes, Kirei Kotomine had a delighted smile on his face and still had large bloodstains all over his body that he had not bothered to clean. He shrugged indifferently.
"But wouldn't living in a god's dwelling be interesting...? Forget it, I'll go back alone."
As he spoke, Kirei Kotomine covertly glanced at the house in the distance that made him feel something was off. Then, without a care, he turned and walked toward the Fuyuki City church.
As a former Executor, Kirei Kotomine might not have been intimately familiar with the tricks of Magi, but some of that knowledge was practically etched into his DNA.
Therefore, it was hardly strange that Kirei Kotomine had discovered the temporary Magic Workshop of Marisbury and Kischur Zelretch. After all, according to the secret rules of the Magecraft world, ordinary Magic Workshops would generally set up Suggestion Magecraft around them to prevent ordinary people from wandering in.
Watching Kirei Kotomine's departing back, Gilgamesh stroked his chin with interest.
"Truly an interesting mongrel... But to take me for a fool... naive."
What Kirei Kotomine could see, Gilgamesh naturally could as well.
Gilgamesh had discovered Marisbury and Kischur Zelretch's temporary workshop the moment he entered this wealthy district.
"Come out. Or do you intend to use that stale little trick in front of me as well?"
Slowly emerging from a nearby yard and walking straight up to Gilgamesh, Solomon casually removed his hood in front of him, revealing his face.
"King of Heroes, I do not believe we need to introduce ourselves to one another, do we?"
"Tch, mongrel... What a pointless question."
Although his expression seemed deeply disdainful of Solomon, Gilgamesh's next action undoubtedly showed that even he was deeply wary of Solomon.
Golden ripples spread out, and a golden cup floated from them.
The "Holy Grail" pursued by countless people throughout history was handed to Solomon by Gilgamesh just like that.
"Oh~ So this is the Uruk Great Cup..."
"Hmph. Remember to return it to me after you are done."
Seeing Gilgamesh's haughty expression, Solomon put away the Uruk Great Cup in his hand and smiled as he nodded, seemingly telling Gilgamesh that he would return it once he was finished.
"Then, mongrel, tell me. Why would I hand the Holy Grail to you?"
At first glance, Gilgamesh's words seemed strange. After all, Gilgamesh had personally handed the Uruk Great Cup to Solomon just now. Did Gilgamesh not even know why he had given it to him?
But with something like Clairvoyance, it was no longer strange.
Though the Clairvoyance of both Gilgamesh and Solomon had become almost incapable of observing the future because of that strike from the Scythe of Chronos.
The two of them, possessing the highest grade of Clairvoyance, could still occasionally see certain crucial fragments related to themselves.
That was why Gilgamesh had taken out the Uruk Great Cup immediately upon seeing Solomon.
"Unfortunately, King of Heroes, I do not know the answer either. My current state is no different from yours."
"Tch... those two Mongrels of the Counter Force... Never mind. Since I saw that I would lend it to you, I have no reason to take it back... However..."
"Please, go on."
"Before that counterfeit appears, do not come disturb my game again."
Crimson eyes fixed upon Solomon's face, which still bore that gentle smile. At that moment, Gilgamesh became serious for the first time, releasing the fierce fighting spirit that belonged to a true King.
Facing Gilgamesh's storm-like battle intent, Solomon—who appeared like a refined gentleman at the moment—raised his hand and rubbed the ring on his left index finger before asking solemnly.
"Are you planning to save me for last... as the main course?"
"Perhaps you will be dessert after the meal instead!"
Just as Gilgamesh and Solomon became locked in confrontation.
Before you continue