Type-Moon, I, Sakura Matou, Rewrite Destiny

Rin Tohsaka, picking up a golden fried dough stick, couldn't stop chattering since she woke up this morning. With a smile, she placed the dough stick into Tokiomi Tohsaka's bowl.

Smiling, he gently patted Rin's head. Defeated by Sakura last night, Tokiomi Tohsaka, who had already given up on continuing the Holy Grail War in Fuyuki City, only he himself knew if he had truly let go of his obsession.

However... he had definitely let go of this Holy Grail War.

Looking at the elegant Tohsaka family opposite him, displaying fatherly love and filial piety, Uncle Tsuruno glanced at Shinji, who was wolfing down food at an astonishing speed and volume. A look of envy appeared on his face as he couldn't help but grumble inwardly.

"Tsk, why did I have to have a son... if only it were a daughter..."

Just as Uncle Tsuruno was stimulated by the Tohsaka family and lost in his own thoughts.

A similarly golden fried dough stick appeared in Uncle Tsuruno's bowl.

"Uncle Tsuruno, you eat too."

If Sakura were truly his adopted daughter, Uncle Tsuruno would have been deeply moved at this moment...

But... in Uncle Tsuruno's eyes, Sakura was the head of the Matou family, a true monster capable of playing with and killing that old monster Zouken Matou...

At this moment, Uncle Tsuruno wasn't moved by Sakura's 'filial piety'; he was more concerned about whether he dared to accept it...

After all, even though Sakura was polite on the surface and often sweetly called him "Uncle," it was never without consequence. After calling him that, she would always ask him to do this or that...

Just calling him "Uncle" was enough to exhaust him like a dog. Eating a fried dough stick... wouldn't that make him puke blood from exhaustion?

As Uncle Tsuruno anxiously pondered, his mind racing with all sorts of possibilities, waiting for Sakura's next command.

Sakura had already turned her head, picked up her own bowl, and was smiling as she drank her preserved egg and lean meat congee...

57. Kischur Zelretch's Despair, A Precursor to El-Melloi's Crisis...

Kischur Zelretch had changed, completely changed.

Born into a prestigious family, with exceptional talent, his life had been smooth sailing. Before participating in the Holy Grail War, Kischur Zelretch had hardly faced any setbacks.

However, after being defeated twice by Kiritsugu Emiya.

Kischur Zelretch, who had always taken his title as a genius for granted and even lost himself in it, was thoroughly awakened.

He, who was praised as the most outstanding 'talent' of the current generation, was not as powerful as he thought...

The adulation, the honors of a prominent family...

In a brutal battle for survival, these were all meaningless...

Enduring physical and mental pain, Kischur Zelretch slowly removed the bandages from his body. His eyes were hollow as he looked at his hand, which no longer bore any Command Spells. At this moment, he seemed unable to walk the path of Magecraft with the same conviction as before.

He reached out and picked up the water cup by his bedside.

He swallowed the cool water with difficulty...

Feelings of unwillingness, fear, and confusion surged into Kischur Zelretch's heart as he saw his reflection in the cup.

Kischur Zelretch had indeed experienced unprecedented setbacks during his "education" by Kiritsugu Emiya, and these setbacks had further plunged him into despair and confusion.

He had even become lost and started doubting himself...

But there was one thing that would never be extinguished.

That was—family.

Or rather, the legacy of a magus.

Compared to his own life, the pursuit of "truth" through generations was an instinct ingrained in the DNA of magi.

And as Kischur Zelretch saw his scarred face in the reflection in the water cup, this instinct was directly awakened.

The Clock Tower... that place—it devours people.

With Kischur Zelretch's current injuries, it would take at least half a year to recover.

What would happen to the El-Melloi family, which was already in a transitional period, without Kischur Zelretch for half a year...

Although it was highly unlikely that they would be completely stripped and devoured as in the original story.

However... it was inevitable that a pack of jackals would surround them, tearing and devouring them, and it was even possible that Kischur Zelretch's political rivals would seize this opportunity to push the El-Melloi family back to their fate in the original story.

And this time, the El-Melloi family wouldn't have Waver, that eccentric genius, to save them.

After all, without that intimate experience with the King of Conquerors, Waver was still just an ordinary student at the Clock Tower...

"No... my teacher definitely won't be able to withstand this pressure for me this time... I can't count on Bartholomello either... Senior Marisbury might offer some help... but it would be like a drop in the bucket..."

Kischur Zelretch, who had now realized the predicament he was about to face, turned ashen.

"Damn it... what should I do..."

The former genius was no longer a genius.

In his current state of severe self-doubt, how could Kischur Zelretch come up with any good ideas?

As time passed, Kischur Zelretch, who already had significant psychological issues, became increasingly agitated.

Low growls began to emanate from Kischur Zelretch's throat...

Just as Kischur Zelretch was on the verge of a complete breakdown.

Marisbury, who had long been aware of the situation, appeared before Kischur Zelretch.

"Kischur Zelretch."

"Marisbury senior... I'm sorry to have made you witness such a spectacle..."

Facing Marisbury, who had suddenly entered his room, Kischur Zelretch, who had been roaring like a beast just a moment before, felt as if his spirit had been completely drained.

He slumped back against the pillow, and two lines of tears involuntarily streamed down from the corners of his eyes...

"I'm afraid I'm going to become a sinner of El-Melloi."

He pulled a chair from the room and sat down elegantly.

Looking at Kischur Zelretch, who was like a complete invalid on the bed, Marisbury spoke.

"The situation isn't that dire, Kischur Zelretch. Yuriphis guarantees your safety for the next half-year (Kischur Zelretch's teacher and future father-in-law, also one of the Lords of the Clock Tower)."

"Your situation is far from as bad as you think, Kischur Zelretch. This Holy Grail War hides a true genius..."

"A true genius... a genius..."

His eyes showed a lost look as he gazed at Marisbury. Kischur Zelretch's muddled brain at that moment couldn't comprehend the meaning of Marisbury's words at all.

However, it was true that his esteemed teacher could protect him for half a year...

But that was only if his teacher stayed by his side without leaving, which was almost impossible.

More importantly, even if he wasn't assassinated within this half-year, being away from the political center of the Clock Tower for half a year would be enough trouble for El-Melloi.

Faction influence would decline, and wolves would be circling outside... Even more critically, without Kischur Zelretch, El-Melloi would lose a powerful figure to maintain order... internal strife was almost visible.

"Marisbury senior... Can His Majesty Solomon..."

"I'm very sorry, Kischur Zelretch. The Servants appearing in the Holy Grail War are not true Heroic Spirits... Solomon has seen your injuries, and he is powerless to help."

While his words were sincere, in reality... Marisbury, who wanted to use El-Melloi's power to help him implement his Chaldea plan, would never let Kischur Zelretch recover so easily.

If El-Melloi didn't face a true catastrophe, how could he make Kischur Zelretch owe him an immense debt of gratitude?

Of course, Marisbury wouldn't just stand by and watch El-Melloi collapse.

However, as Kischur Zelretch himself had analyzed before, the help Marisbury could provide was limited.

Therefore, to truly break the deadlock... the key lay in the 'true genius' Marisbury mentioned.

Without further communication with Kischur Zelretch, and without comforting him.

After confirming that Kischur Zelretch would not continue to rage impotently and worsen his injuries to an irreparable state.

Marisbury stood up, walked to Kischur Zelretch's bedside, placed a recording meteorite in Kischur Zelretch's hand, and then turned and left the room.

After hearing that even Solomon was powerless to help with his injuries.

He sat blankly on the bed for an unknown amount of time.

Finally, Kischur Zelretch, enduring the severe pain, used his magic to activate the recording device in his hand...

While Kischur Zelretch was alone in the workshop room, watching the image left by Marisbury.

The night in Fuyuki City had already been completely shrouded in a chilling, hair-raising silence.

On the Fuyuki City Bridge spanning the Miyou River, connecting the east and west banks of Fuyuki City.

All the Servants in this Holy Grail War, except for King Hassan, appeared on this brightly lit bridge.

58. The decisive battle begins, dreaming back to the Sword Barrens...

Vehicles drove past.

During this early evening rush hour.

Traffic was flowing ceaselessly on the Fuyuki City Bridge.

He quietly watched Mordred, who sat on the bridge railing like a girl next door, with a bright smile on her face, across the lane.

Artoria leaned against the railing, enjoying the last moments of the serene sea breeze.

Across the ceaseless flow of traffic, this 'father and son' knew clearly that tonight they would have to fight to the death.

As the 'father and son' below enjoyed the evening sea breeze like ordinary tourists.

On the steel beams of the bridge.

Gilgamesh, dressed casually, swirled the wine in his cup and sat shoulder-to-shoulder with Solomon, who was also dressed like an ordinary person.

"Where is Berserker? Didn't you bring him?"

"Even if he's a flawed product, would you give up on combat power from that continent?"

Gilgamesh turned his head, giving Solomon a look that said 'you're stating the obvious,' then took a sip of his wine and pointed to the bridgehead.

"Oh~ He's been assigned to protect the Master... Indeed, compared to Marisbury, your plaything was a bit too fragile."

"Aren't you worried? Worried that your Master will be torn to shreds by Berserker?"

Solomon picked up the fine wine brought by Gilgamesh, poured himself a full glass, stared at the wine in his cup for a moment, and then turned to speak.

"That person is not my concern. Gilgamesh, you should worry about your own toy."

"Hmph~ He's just a clown to pass the time..."

"I'm a little envious of your carefree attitude,"

"Heh, if you return the power of those mongrels, won't you also be free?"

As if to show off, Gilgamesh directly activated his Clairvoyance and Star of Revelation, then shut them off right in front of Solomon.

"The Lord's gifts, how could it be so simple to return them... She won't allow me to return her gifts so easily."

"So all these guys are mongrels..."

In this regard, Gilgamesh certainly had reason to be proud.

After all, both his Clairvoyance and his Star of Revelation were truly his own.

As for Solomon's eyes that could gaze upon the world... they were a gift from that Lord.

Although Gilgamesh's Clairvoyance and Star of Revelation combined couldn't reach Solomon's level, Gilgamesh could naturally control his own power at will.

But for the gifted eyes of Solomon... all he saw were things the Lord wanted him to see.

Even if there were scenes or things Solomon didn't want to see, they would still automatically appear before his eyes.

Silence fell between them once more, with only the wine in their cups steadily diminishing.

As time gradually deepened into the night, The endless stream of vehicles on the Fuyuki City Bridge also began to dwindle.

He glanced up at the sky.