Type-Moon, I, Sakura Matou, Rewrite Destiny

A hint of disdain flickered across his face. Upon hearing Sakura Matou's words, Kischur Zelretch immediately put on a scowl again.

Marisbury, on the other hand, gently shook his head and then asked Sakura Matou, "Miss Sakura Matou, may I ask if this information is available for every participant?"

"Naturally not. The information for other participants was collected by themselves. Only the two of you are exceptions."

"Oh~ I'd like to know why..."

"Investment, or rather, trying to curry favor... it's pretty much the same meaning, I suppose."

As she spoke, Sakura tilted her head like an innocent little girl, giving her reply.

"Then I must tell you, Miss Sakura Matou, that your investment has failed..."

Without regret, without remorse, as if it didn't matter to Sakura Matou at all, upon hearing Marisbury say her investment had failed, Sakura Matou simply nodded calmly and then softly said.

"That's truly a shame..."

She didn't converse much longer with these two Clock Tower Lords, whom she had personally invited to Fuyuki City.

After Marisbury announced that Sakura Matou's investment had failed, the atmosphere between the three gradually became heavy.

Finally, using the excuse that she might study at the Clock Tower later, Sakura Matou learned a little about the Clock Tower from Kischur Zelretch and Marisbury. The meeting naturally came to an end.

Just as Sakura Matou left the Matou Grand Hotel and rode in Tsuruno Matou's car back to the mountain villa she had purchased around the same time as the seaside villa.

The Master from the last Holy Grail War and the corpse of another Master simultaneously landed at Fuyuki City's airport.

Clutching his wife's hand tightly, Kiritsugu Emiya, accompanied by his assistant Hisau Maya, quickly descended the plane. He glanced at the unfamiliar city before him, then turned and shoved the briefcase he was holding into Hisau Maya's hands.

"Maya, you leave first. Return to the castle when you receive the signal."

"Yes."

Taking the briefcase Kiritsugu Emiya handed her, Hisau Maya, who appeared quite capable, quickly quickened her pace and soon disappeared from Kiritsugu Emiya's sight.

"Kiritsugu... will Maya be in danger?"

"Don't worry, Irisviel. There won't be any accidents."

"Mhm."

Just as Kiritsugu Emiya finished comforting Irisviel and was unhurriedly leading her out of the tarmac, A piercing scream suddenly erupted from the plane Kiritsugu Emiya had just disembarked from.

Before a flight attendant who had fallen to the ground, a corpse with its entire left arm severed at the elbow lay bleeding in front of her.

One plane, two chance encounters with Masters, an inadvertent discovery, a simultaneous attack by the couple, a simple suggestion Magecraft...

This was how the corpse came to be on the plane.

Whether it was luck, or a foreshadowing of how much more bloody and cruel this Holy Grail War would be than any before it.

In any case, in the days following the completion of the Pseudo-Holy Grail, two initial Masters had already died before the Holy Grail War had even begun...

However, none of this could stop the countdown to the Holy Grail War from continuing to zero.

On the mountain far from Fuyuki City's urban area, at the Matou Family's mountain villa, purchased with their last liquid funds.

Aside from Sakura Matou, who had been gazing at Fuyuki City since her return, the others living there seemed completely unfazed by the impending storm of the Holy Grail War...

Shinji was training as usual, Aoi Tohsaka was still playing the role of a good wife and mother, and Tsuruno Matou was seizing the rare opportunity to relax... As for Rin... she was still as energetic as ever...

"Sakura, Sakura, what are you looking at?"

"The calm before the storm..."

"The calm before the storm? The storm... is it the Holy Grail War?"

"Mhm, tonight is the opening."

"It's starting tonight... What a shame that both Sakura and I are still too young. Otherwise, we could have helped Father. But Father will definitely win, right, Sakura?"

Rin turned to look, her face full of expectation.

Under Rin's childish gaze, Sakura Matou, unwilling to tell a lie, couldn't help but shake her head.

Win? Tokiomi Tohsaka winning? Even if she didn't know if Marisbury could summon Solomon as a Servant ten years early, Sakura Matou was certain that Marisbury would be the final victor.

After all, if he lost, Chaldea would cease to exist. If he didn't summon Solomon or lost, Goetia wouldn't exist either.

For their own existence, neither side would allow Marisbury to lose.

These two factions were like the Heavenly Dao of this timeline. Sakura Matou could make minor changes that might not attract their attention for a while, but if she were to alter the overall trend, the Demon Pillars of Chaldea and Goetia would definitely appear.

This Holy Grail War could be said to be a test initiated by Sakura Matou, to see what she could achieve and what changes she could make in the coming years.

Of course, even for Rin's sake, Sakura Matou would not let Tokiomi Tohsaka die.

Also, although Sakura Matou would not participate in this Holy Grail War as a Master, it didn't mean she intended to be a mere spectator until the end.

After all, tests often required Sakura Matou to step in and make minor adjustments.

"Sakura, you don't believe Father will win... Hmph, Father won't lose. You'll know how amazing Father is when he brings back the Holy Grail..."

17. The First Battle of the Holy Grail...

A huge, bright moon hung in the sky, casting a pale light over Fuyuki.

Tonight, under the glow of the giant full moon, Fuyuki City seemed exceptionally cold.

The Holy Grail War has begun...

On the roof of an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of Fuyuki City, a vividly colored snake stared with eyes disproportionately large for any natural creature, intently watching the figures battling fiercely below.

As if a myth from legend had come to life, the red and blue figures reflected in the snake's eyes were locked in a struggle of unimaginable intensity.

Wielding a golden greatshield, the figure easily blocked an invisible blade. Its crimson cape fluttered, and in the instant it obscured the opponent's vision, the 'red' Servant unleashed a thrust capable of cleaving mountains.

Clang...

The invisible sword and spear collided.

The blue knight advanced instead of retreating. As he parried the spear, he unleashed the invisible sword again with lightning speed, like a fierce tiger.

Through the snake's perspective.

Sakura Matou, sitting comfortably at home, watched the mythical battle unfolding in the projection before her as if watching a movie, her interest piqued.

In contrast to Sakura, the others sitting beside her wore different expressions.

"Mom... is this the kind of war Dad is fighting?"

Seeing is believing, and hearing is deceiving.

Faced with a scene where every clash seemed to recreate a battle between heroes from myth, all past promises and words felt incredibly hollow.

Even Rin, who had always believed Tokiomi Tohsaka was the strongest, wavered in her confidence at this moment.

Unlike Rin, who felt fear and confusion at the clash of Servants in the projection, Shinji, sitting behind the two sisters, wore an expression of longing.

It was as if he wished he could replace one of them.

Perhaps this was the ambition Orochimaru had instilled in him, or perhaps it was the confidence Shinji had gained after acquiring supernatural powers.

In any case, Orochimaru, leaning silently against a nearby wall, felt quite satisfied with Shinji's expression at this moment.

Hehehe... I truly look forward to the day you spread your wings and soar, Shinji.

Perhaps it was Shinji's talent that attracted Orochimaru, or perhaps their compatibility was simply high. Undoubtedly, after meticulously mentoring Shinji for several months, Orochimaru had officially recognized him as his disciple... the second disciple after that Indra reincarnation, Uchiha Sasuke.

"Mom..."

Seeing that Aoi Tohsaka hadn't responded for a long time, Rin, her heart filled with worry and her face etched with anxiety, tugged at Aoi Tohsaka's sleeve.

As Tokiomi Tohsaka's wife, how could she not feel worried and afraid at the sight that rendered all words meaningless?

But whether as a mother or as a wife... Aoi Tohsaka, who had long since come to terms with it, knew she absolutely could not lose her composure.

She gently embraced Rin. Even though her heart was pounding with fear, seeing Rin's pleading gaze, a look of strength flashed deep within her eyes. Aoi immediately offered a gentle, motherly smile, just like in the past.

"Don't worry, Rin... Tokiomi is very strong..."

"Yes... Dad is very strong."

Just as Rin regained her composure in Aoi's embrace.

In the projection, the two intensely fighting Servants suddenly stopped their weapon swings simultaneously.

Lowering his invisible sword, the blue knight, with brilliant golden hair, a face both beautiful and heroic, and an otherworldly aura, spoke with a smile.

"Remarkable martial skill. In your era, you must have been a world-renowned warrior."

Compared to the blue knight, the Servant clad in a red cape, wearing a typical Greek Corinthian helmet of brass, with the rest of his body exposed to reveal muscles like a marble sculpture, seemed much more taciturn.

Facing the blue knight's praise, he merely nodded silently, replying simply in a deep voice.

"As are you..."

Perhaps it was a hero's respect for another, perhaps it was the first night of the Holy Grail War and they didn't wish for a fight to the death, or perhaps there were other reasons...

After these brief exchanges, they did not resume their swordplay. Instead, they stood their ground and simultaneously sent out war signals to all of Fuyuki City using their magic.

In the study of the Tohsaka residence, Tokiomi Tohsaka, watching the first battle of the Holy Grail War through the eyes of a familiar via a natural crystal, remained as confident and elegant as ever.

Observing the two Servants simultaneously declaring war in the projection, Tokiomi Tohsaka elegantly raised his wine glass, his eyes showing disdain.

In the dimly lit study, Kirei Kotomine, a participant in this Holy Grail War, stood quietly behind Tokiomi Tohsaka.

Perhaps due to the lighting or the angle, Tokiomi Tohsaka's disdainful gaze was not caught by Kirei Kotomine standing behind him.

Guided by Tokiomi Tohsaka, Kirei Kotomine, whose confused heart had chosen to uphold 'justice', pondered for a moment after witnessing this scene before breaking the silence in the Tohsaka study.

"Teacher... do you require me to handle this...?"

Setting down the wine glass filled with red wine, Tokiomi Tohsaka slowly shook his head.

"Kirei, you are too righteous... This is a trap."

"A trap...!"

"Yes, a trap. Kirei, do you remember the airplane murder case that occurred not long ago...?"

"It was investigated. The deceased was a 'mercenary' who frequently operated in Northern Europe."

"Kirei is a participant in the Holy Grail War... and his left hand is missing..."

Yes, just as Tokiomi Tohsaka had analyzed.

This first battle on the first night of the Holy Grail War... was entirely a show.

This Blue Knight and this Red Warrior... they were in cahoots.

The recent battle, though it seemed intense, was merely a warm-up for the vast majority of Servants.

Of course, Tokiomi Tohsaka wasn't the only one who saw through this trap.

The other Masters who were monitoring this first battle through various means also understood what kind of trick this was.

However, this world has never been short of people who are both skilled and daring.

And here we have it, a Master, knowing full well it was a trap, still appeared with their Servant.

"Hahahahaha, my dear Father King~ Even as a Servant, you still haven't found liberation, have you?"

"Oh~ Father King, Mordred... I seem to hear something incredible from your mouth."

Dressed in vibrant red and cool attire, with brilliant golden hair tied into a ponytail, and a face that bore a striking resemblance to the Blue Knight, the Servant named Mordred appeared on the battlefield with his Master, Kischur Zelretch, one right after the other, in a rather brazen manner.

18. The Rebellious Knight and King Arthur... Irisviel, the Kidnapped