On My Path to Becoming a Demon God, I, Rin Tohsaka, First Became the Mastermind!

After speaking, she blew out the seven candles on the cake before her.

Sakura looked at her sister, as she always had, and covered her mouth as she giggled.

"Big Sister, who says their wish out loud? If you say it, it won't come true."

Rin looked at Sakura, who had grown more confident after over a year of studying magecraft, and replied carelessly.

"It doesn't matter. If heaven can't grant my wish, I'll make it come true with my own hands." As she spoke, she raised her left arm, rolled up her sleeve, and struck a bodybuilder's pose.

Sakura hurriedly pulled down Rin's posing arm. Her sister really was always so full of confidence. No wonder she was someone others could rely on. Her sister was so dazzling. Sakura held Rin's arm and gazed at her admiringly.

Aoi Tohsaka affectionately patted Rin's little head and smiled as she handed slices of cake to Rin and Sakura.

"Little Rin, you've grown another year older today. Don't be so rough anymore. Be more ladylike."

Tokiomi Tohsaka, standing nearby, nodded.

"Rin, remember the Tohsaka family precepts."

"Fine, I know. Be elegant, right? Hmph!"

Seeing Rin grin, Aoi Tohsaka put on a stern face and said,

"Little Rin, don't talk back to your father. Learn from Sakura, understand?"

"Yes, yes, I know."

After saying that, Rin deliberately picked up her cake, opened her mouth wide, and took a huge bite. In an instant, her delicate little face became that of a messy kitten.

Aoi Tohsaka shook her head helplessly, took out a handkerchief, and wiped the cream off Rin's face. Her brows furrowed as she prepared to continue lecturing her.

Tokiomi Tohsaka walked over to Aoi Tohsaka and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"Enough, Aoi. It's Rin's birthday today. Let her be."

Aoi Tohsaka gave Tokiomi Tohsaka a reproachful look.

"Dear, it's because you spoil Little Rin so much that she turned out like this."

Rin laughed loudly and looked at Aoi Tohsaka with pride.

"This is the privilege of geniuses, right, Sakura? The two of us geniuses naturally deserve special treatment."

"Yes, my two genius daughters naturally deserve special treatment. All right, you three fellow disciples can play here. Your mother and I have something to discuss. Kirei, please look after Rin and Sakura for me."

With that, he took Aoi Tohsaka's hand and headed upstairs to the study.

Watching her parents leave, Rin rose from her seat and walked over to Kirei Kotomine.

"Kirei, where's my present?"

After more than a year together, Kirei Kotomine had become familiar with Rin and Sakura. An artificial smile actually appeared on his face as he handed over a finely wrapped gift.

"Rin, I heard you've been collecting items related to fairy tales. This is a fairy-tale original that circulated in Northern Europe during the seventeenth century. I hope you like it."

Rin accepted Kirei Kotomine's gift and tore open the wrapping. A yellowed, ancient-looking book written in Latin appeared in her hands. She casually handed the book to Sakura and asked Kirei Kotomine,

"Thanks, Kirei. Oh, right, have you found your daughter?"

"Yes. Following your guidance, Rin, I've found Kallian. She's at Fuyuki Church now, under my father's care."

"Really? That's great. When I have time, I'll bring Sakura to the church so we can make friends with Kallian."

"Is that so? Then I'm deeply grateful. All right, Rin, I still have assignments from Master to finish. I'll take my leave first."

"Then goodbye, Kirei."

Throughout the conversation, Rin had been observing Kirei Kotomine's expression. Only after he left did she hug Sakura and complain.

"Sakura, no matter how I try to guide that Kirei guy, he still acts like a puppet. Sigh."

"Why does Big Sister want to change Senior Brother so much? And hasn't Senior Brother already changed a lot? At least he smiles now."

"That doesn't count as smiling. It's obviously fake. I'm worried he'll get used by someone. He's way too easy to fool like this."

"Is Big Sister worried about the Holy Grail War?"

"Yes, exactly. I'm afraid that guy will get tricked during the Holy Grail War. Otherwise, I couldn't be bothered with him."

"Um, Big Sister, Father said we aren't allowed to concern ourselves with this Holy Grail War."

"Hmph. Fine, let's not talk about that. Sakura, how is the False Fairy Tale Magecraft I taught you coming along?"

"Big Sister, I've basically learned it already."

Rin picked up the seventeenth-century Fairy Tale Book from the table and handed it to Sakura.

"It's only been half a month, right? Sakura, you're amazing. Maybe someday you'll turn False Fairy Tale Magecraft into the real thing. This book is yours. If you modify it, it should become a pretty good Noble Phantasm..."

Chapter 6: On My Path to Becoming a Demon God, I, Rin Tohsaka, First Became the Mastermind!

Saturday, February 5, 1994.

With the arrival of the weekend, Rin brought Sakura out early that day to find Kirei Kotomine, who was practicing Baji Quan in the courtyard.

Watching the large tree tremble without end, Rin used Reinforcement Magecraft and leaped into the air, kicking at Kirei Kotomine. As if he had eyes in the back of his head, Kirei Kotomine swiftly turned around and blocked Rin's flying kick, then used a subtle force to let her land steadily on the ground.

Kirei Kotomine lowered his fists and asked Rin,

"Rin, are you planning to do morning training?"

"No, Kirei. Sakura and I plan to visit Kallian at Fuyuki Church. We need you to take us, otherwise Mother won't let us leave."

"Yes, understood."

Just then, Aoi Tohsaka passed through the courtyard with a basket of clothes she was preparing to hang out to dry.

Rin hurriedly stopped Aoi Tohsaka and explained that she planned to go with Kirei Kotomine to Fuyuki Church to see Kirei Kotomine's daughter.

Aoi Tohsaka set down the basket of clothes, returned inside, and brought out a wallet. She pulled out two Hideyo Noguchi bills—one thousand yen each, roughly equivalent to 117 RMB in 1994—and handed them to Rin.

"Here, Little Rin. You and Sakura each take one and buy yourselves something to eat. And Little Rin, remember to be polite when visiting Kirei's home. Sakura, please keep an eye on your sister."

"Okay, okay, Mother, I'll be polite. Hurry up and get back to work. Sakura and I are leaving."

Rin hurriedly grabbed Sakura's little hand and walked out through the front gate, stuffing all the Hideyo Noguchi bills Aoi Tohsaka had given her into Sakura's hands. Kirei Kotomine silently followed Rin and Sakura out of the Tohsaka Estate.

Watching Rin leave as though fleeing, Aoi Tohsaka held her basket and shook her head fondly before heading toward the backyard.

Inside the taxi, Kirei Kotomine sat in the passenger seat, his eyes vacant as he watched the scenery slide past outside. In the back seat, Rin held Sakura's hand and whispered to her.

"Sakura, I have a plan for later. No matter what happens, don't be surprised, okay?"

Feeling Rin's breath against her, Sakura's little face reddened slightly. She nodded softly.

Rin suddenly noticed Sakura's flushed face. She reached out with her left hand and placed it against Sakura's forehead, asking blankly,

"Sakura, what's wrong? Are you carsick? If you are, how about we get out here? The church is nearby anyway."

Sakura shook her head in panic and said weakly,

"I'm fine, Big Sister. It might just be a little stuffy, so my face got red. It's okay."

Rin withdrew her left hand from Sakura's forehead and rolled down the window. In an instant, the cool early-spring breeze rushed into the car.

"Feeling better, Sakura?"

"Yes, Big Sister, I'm fine now. You should close the window, or you'll catch a cold."

Rin gave a thumbs-up, flashed her white canine teeth, and smiled at Sakura.

"No problem, Sakura. A little cool breeze is nothing! Muda muda!"

And so, accompanied by the early-spring breeze, they arrived at Fuyuki Cathedral Church before Rin could freeze into an ice pop.

The moment she got out of the car, Rin suddenly sneezed loudly. Sakura hurried to her side and called out worriedly,

"Big Sister!"

"Guts, Sakura. Don't worry, someone must be cursing me behind my back, that's why I sneezed."

As she spoke, she turned with ill intent toward Kirei Kotomine.

"Right, Kirei?"

Kirei Kotomine froze, then nodded on reflex.

Rin looked at Kirei Kotomine with satisfaction. Kirei really was a useful guy. She was almost reluctant to part with him. Hopefully, he knew what was good for him...

The three entered the church courtyard, where Risei Kirei stood at the entrance with a benevolent smile, welcoming them.

"Kirei, you're back. Little Rin, Sakura, your father already spoke to me on the 'telephone.' I'm terribly sorry, but Kallian was only just brought back from Northern Europe and is somewhat frail. I entrusted her to a priest in a neighboring city so she could recuperate there."

"Because of the Holy Grail War, you sent Kallian out of Fuyuki? Isn't that too early? There are still a few months left, aren't there?"

Risei Kirei's narrowed eyes suddenly opened wide. What was going on? Tokiomi should not have told his daughter about the Holy Grail War so early. And Tokiomi's eldest daughter seemed to know everything about it.

Ignoring Risei Kirei, Rin took Sakura's hand and walked into the church. Once inside, she called to Kirei and Shirou, who were still standing dumbly at the entrance.

"Shouldn't we go inside before talking? Does the Holy Church make its guests entertain themselves?"

Risei Kirei regained his composure and entered the church with Kirei Kotomine. Walking behind them, Kirei Kotomine casually closed the church doors.

"Little Rin, how do you know about the Holy Grail War? Can you tell Grandfather?"

"Of course. Because of Man-eating Grandma."

A thick fog suddenly appeared inside the church along with Rin's voice. From within the fog came the constant cackling laughter and chewing sounds of an elderly voice. Seeing Rin suddenly turn hostile, Risei Kirei slowly rolled up his sleeves and assumed a Baji Quan stance. Kirei Kotomine also moved both hands to his lower back, ready to draw his Black Keys at any moment.

A tense atmosphere hung between them. After a while, Kirei Kotomine was the first to break the silence.

"Rin, why?"

"The Holy Grail War. Yes, because of the Holy Grail War, I intend to participate too. I know your church possesses Command Spells left over from previous Holy Grail Wars. I need them. If you can hand them over, I'll be very happy."

Risei Kirei widened his eyes and curiously watched Rin's indistinct figure within the fog. He truly could not imagine how such a young girl had wielded magecraft of this level, enough to make even a monk who had endured ascetic training feel his hair stand on end.

"Then where did you obtain information about the Holy Grail War? I don't believe Tokiomi would have told you."

"From the family records passed down through the generations, naturally. I am the future head of the Tohsaka family, one of Fuyuki's Three Great Families. How could I not know? Oh, of course, you'll say Father would hide those books. But would that matter to me? From the moment Father formed an alliance with you, I knew everything about your plans."

A trace of surprise showed through Kirei Kotomine's expressionless face, yet he still spoke in that emotionless voice of his.

"Rin, since you know that we and the Tohsaka family are allies, why were you prepared to attack us?"

"Because you're too weak. Father included. You're far too naive. The Holy Grail War may be a ritual that summons ancient heroes to fight, but don't forget that mages are the ones directing it no matter what. Thinking you can win the Holy Grail War just by relying on a powerful Servant is too naive. Servants are incarnations of heroes from the past. They definitely won't be so easy to control. That's why I'm participating too. I'll join this Holy Grail War as insurance for the Tohsaka family's victory."

After hearing Rin's words, Risei Kirei lowered his sleeves and restored his kindly smile.

"Is that so? Tokiomi truly has an outstanding daughter. Then how do you plan to persuade Tokiomi? Will you use magecraft to make him submit as well?"

"Of course not. We just won't let him know. I already said I'm only insurance. As long as you don't tell anyone, who would know any of this? Right, Sakura?"

Sakura froze after being questioned. Then, remembering everything Rin had done before, she defied Tokiomi's orders for the first time and nodded firmly.

"And what about you?" Rin turned to ask Kirei and Shirou.

"Dispel the magecraft. I'll give you the Command Spells, and I won't say anything to Tokiomi."

"I don't trust you." As she spoke, Rin pulled a Self-Enforcement Contract from her clothes and tossed it to Kirei and Shirou.

Risei Kirei accepted the Self-Enforcement Contract and read it carefully. Magical energy surged from his fingertips as he signed it. Then he passed it to Kirei Kotomine behind him, who likewise signed it with his magical mark without a word.

"Reassured now? Dispel the magecraft and come with me."

With a wave of her little hand, Rin made the eerie fog disappear completely in an instant.

Risei Kirei led them deeper into the church. After arriving at one of the rooms, he took out a left hand wrapped in bandages from the bedside cabinet.

As the bandages were undone, densely packed Command Spells appeared on the shriveled left hand before them.

Very soon, Rin transplanted three Command Spells onto the back of her left hand. She then used "Mirage" to conceal them, gave Kirei and Shirou a ladylike curtsy, and pulled Sakura out of the cathedral.

The moment Rin and Sakura left, Risei Kirei could no longer keep up the act. He suddenly sat down on the bed, gasping for breath.

"Tokiomi, you truly gave birth to a monster of a daughter! Tokiomi, we're both old now. The future belongs to the young. Kirei, after this Holy Grail War ends, find an opportunity to have Kallian become Tokiomi's disciple as well."

"Yes, Father."

And just like that, the strongest behind-the-scenes referee faction of this Holy Grail War was born!