"Please! Shirou, we're Magi too, okay? So what if Sakura really goes to London? At worst, we can go ask Rin to help us and take us with her!"
At this point, Shinji Matou had no idea that he originally possessed no aptitude for magecraft. However, after Zouken Matou possessed him in childhood, Zouken had found the body deeply unsatisfactory. With Kiritsugu Emiya's help years ago, he had successfully unblocked Shinji Matou's magic circuits. Of course, all of this had been done while Shinji Matou was unconscious, and Shinji himself knew nothing about it.
Shirou Emiya scratched his head awkwardly.
"Looks like that's true. Thanks, Shinji."
At that moment, the rooftop door opened. Through her own efforts, Kallian had skipped grades and arrived at the private Hohngawara Academy where Shirou Emiya studied this year as well.
"Onii-chan, Brother Shinji, what are you talking about?"
Shinji Matou looked at the adorable Kallian before him, smiling as he reached out and rubbed her head.
"We were talking about Sakura."
"Oh! I get it. Onii-chan, this idiot, was overthinking things again, wasn't he?"
Shirou Emiya gave Kallian a bitter smile, unwrapped the cloth around the lunchboxes, and took out three of them.
Kallian and Shinji Matou each accepted a lunchbox.
"Thanks, Shirou. You go to the trouble of preparing lunch for me every day."
"You're welcome. Uh... after all, your father..."
"Shirou, don't mention that guy! He isn't my father."
"Sorry!"
Kallian looked helplessly at Shirou Emiya, who had said the wrong thing again. She set down her lunchbox and walked over to Shinji Matou.
"Brother Shinji, I'm sorry. Onii-chan, that idiot, always speaks without thinking."
Shinji Matou raised his gloomy face and looked at Kallian. His expression gradually returned to normal.
"It's not Shirou's fault. We've been best friends for so many years—I know that guy's bad habits. I'm just angry at that guy Tsuruno!"
"It's great that you don't blame Onii-chan!"
Perhaps because of the earlier atmosphere, the three of them quietly ate their lunches on the rooftop afterward, with no further conversation.
Just as they were about to finish, Shinji Matou suddenly looked at Kallian and Shirou Emiya.
"Kallian, Shirou, can the Holy Grail really grant any wish?"
Recommendation: "Demon Slayer: I Have a Few Too Many Skins"
The Fifth Holy Grail War was about to begin. Stay tuned!
After school, Shinji Matou bid farewell to Kallian and Shirou Emiya, then began wandering alone through Fuyuki City.
When he passed a small bar, Shinji Matou stopped. He took out his wallet and carefully counted the bills inside. Afterward, Shinji sighed, silently turned around, and left the little bar behind.
Night fell. Carrying several bottles of cheap sake he had obtained with great difficulty, Shinji Matou came alone to the seaside.
Looking at the boundless ocean before him, Shinji Matou took a bottle of sake from the bag, twisted off the cap, raised his head, and drank more than half of it in one go.
"Ha!"
Shinji Matou let out a breath reeking of alcohol. Recalling the strange expression on Shirou Emiya's face and the advice that followed after he had mentioned the Holy Grail War on the rooftop that day, he could not help picking up the bottle again and draining the rest in one gulp.
"Shirou, what should I do? What can I do? I just want to get away from this family!"
At the Matou Residence, the alcohol-reeking Tsuruno Matou was sleeping in a woman's arms when a sudden pain shot through his hand. A bug was biting his hand, forcing him to open his eyes.
"Ah!"
At Tsuruno Matou's scream, the woman beside him woke up as well. Seeing the old man before her, covered in pustules and oozing pus, she too began screaming.
Zouken Matou looked at the screaming woman and revealed a sinister smile. More than a dozen bugs flew from his sleeve, and the room instantly fell silent.
Tsuruno Matou's eyes widened. He covered his mouth to stop himself from making a sound, helplessly watching as the woman who had just been lying beside him was dragged over to Zouken Matou by more than a dozen bugs. Then the sea of insects surged, leaving only a pool of blood and several scraps of torn clothing on the floor.
As the woman was absorbed by Zouken Matou, the pustules on Zouken's skin vanished.
"Tsuruno, have you prepared what I asked for?"
Tsuruno Matou covered his mouth and nodded desperately, while glancing toward a cabinet beside the bed.
"Good, Tsuruno. This old man won't disturb you any longer. Get some rest. Hehehe!"
After Zouken Matou left the room, Tsuruno Matou collapsed onto the bed. He could not help turning to look at the photograph on the bedside table, remembering his wife, who had likewise been devoured by Zouken Matou before his eyes all those years ago.
"After Reiko, it was Shinji. Now it'll soon be my turn? Kariya, I envy you!"
Late at night, Shinji Matou staggered home. Reeking of alcohol, he headed straight back to his room. Without even changing clothes, he casually fell onto the bed, pulled the blanket over himself, and went to sleep.
Suddenly, Shinji Matou sat bolt upright in bed, with not the slightest trace of drunkenness in his eyes.
"Hehehe, Shinji. You actually want to leave this family. That truly makes me, your grandfather, sad."
After saying that, Shinji Matou left his room and entered the basement. Looking at Kiritsugu Emiya, who had been waiting there, he asked, "Emiya, did you bring it?"
Kiritsugu Emiya frowned at Zouken Matou, who was occupying the young man's body before him. He took Avalon from his person and handed it to Zouken Matou.
Shinji Matou accepted Avalon and placed it inside his body. Then he walked to a cabinet at the side of the basement and took out a withered arm bearing Command Spells.
"Emiya, does this arm look familiar? Hehehe."
"Zouken, you talk too much. Hurry up and begin!"
"Very well."
Holding the arm, Shinji Matou walked over to a vat filled with Black Mud. He submerged the end bearing the Command Spells into the Black Mud and began chanting continuously.
As Shinji Matou chanted, the Black Mud was slowly absorbed by the Command Spells on the arm until it was completely gone.
Shinji Matou lifted the arm and nodded in satisfaction at the Command Spells, which had turned dark red. He then stripped the Command Spells from the arm and transferred them onto his own hand.
"With this, one of our trump cards is in hand. Emiya, what you want is in the cabinet in Tsuruno's room. Go take it. Soon, all our wishes will be fulfilled. Hehehe!"
Tohsaka Estate, Sakura's room.
Sakura and Fujino were furtively hiding in a corner of the room.
"Fujino, will this really be okay?"
"Don't worry, Sakura. Are we doing anything wrong by helping Master?"
"But didn't Sister tell us not to interfere in the Holy Grail War?"
"We aren't summoning Servants. We're just having you and me form a contract, so I can assume a Servant state in case of emergencies!"
"Then... okay!"
"Then it's settled! Meet at the back mountain tomorrow night."
Fuyuki Cathedral Church.
Kirei Kotomine frowned as he looked at his adopted son.
"Shirou, have you truly decided to participate in this Holy Grail War?"
"Father, yes. I don't want the tragedy from ten years ago to repeat itself, so I ask that you allow me to participate. I also ask that you tell me how to summon a Servant."
Kirei Kotomine stroked his chin.
With Rin around, Shirou will definitely fail. If I wait until Shirou is in desperate straits, then go save him... how delightful!
A sharp gleam flashed through Kirei Kotomine's eyes. He eagerly began explaining the rules of the Holy Grail War to Shirou Emiya.
Beside them, Kallian held her forehead in exasperation as she looked at her father. She understood that her father was being "bad" again.
Tohsaka Villa.
According to the information sent back by the surveillance equipment at the seal, it would take at most another week for the seal to shatter. This also meant that the Holy Grail War would begin within the week.
Rin had no choice but to begin putting her plan into action. After contacting Arisu and Aoko as agreed, Rin brought Touko to Tohsaka Villa, where they found Waver and Gry.
"Waver, the Holy Grail War will begin again sometime this week. How are your preparations coming along?"
Waver held a cigar between his lips and slowly nodded at Rin. King, are we finally going to meet again?
"As for Gry, she has basically completed her role in assisting my research. Gry now has two choices. First, I can grant her a Blank Spirit Foundation, allowing her to gain a Servant state as well. Second, we can extract Gry's blood to help us summon the King of Knights. Waver, the choice is yours."
"Rin, remember your promise. You can't let Gry be harmed, so I choose the second option."
"As expected. Then, Da Vinci, I'll leave it to you."
"OK! Leave it to me."
With that, Da Vinci led Gry out of the hall and toward the laboratory to extract her blood.
Rin then turned to Touko.
"Touko, have you really decided not to summon a Servant?"
Touko looked at Rin and nodded.
"Rin, I don't need a Servant. Acting together with Arisu and Aoko will be more convenient."
"Your reason for not wanting a Servant can't be that simple, can it? Whatever, do as you like!"
Touko smiled at the unconcerned Rin.
Just as unchanged as ever, Rin. But Servants are irrelevant to me now. When the time comes, prepare to be shocked, Rin!
Germany, Einsbern Castle amid falling snow.
Illya, accompanied by two artificial maidservants, slowly walked out through the gates of Einsbern Castle.
"Sella, Lieseltotte, this time we'll definitely make Kiritsugu realize his mistake!"
"Yes, Miss. You will certainly make Kiritsugu pay the price for betraying you." X2
"No, I only want Kiritsugu to realize his mistake. Right, Berserker?"
"Roar!"
Fuyuki City, inside a private residence in the downtown area, Dr. Heartless covered his nose with his only remaining right hand and pushed open the door.
"Art, art! This is perfect art! So cool!"
A weak yet fanatical voice entered Dr. Heartless's ears.
Dr. Heartless glanced at the middle-aged man whom Aiga had tortured beyond recognition, then walked over to her and slowly bowed.
"Lord Aiga, I have arranged the magecraft arrays at the nodes of the spiritual veins according to your instructions. We only await your activation."
"Ah, good work! By the way, Dr. Heartless, look at this person. Isn't he adorable?"
Dr. Heartless looked at the madman on the ground, tortured by Aiga, and the corner of his eye twitched involuntarily. He truly could not understand what was adorable about this middle-aged man.
Seeing Dr. Heartless remain silent, Aiga's expression instantly fell.
"Just as I thought, none of you understand. Only Rin-chan can understand me. My Rin-chan... I want to eat you so badly."
As she said this, Aiga unconsciously put one finger into her mouth.
"But 'Mother' won't allow it. It's so troubling. Solomon, can you speak to my 'Mother' for me and ask her to allow me to eat Rin-chan?"
A flash of light shone behind Aiga, and Solomon of the Caster class materialized behind her.
Solomon looked at the Root Princess before him with a headache and helplessly shook his head.
Seeing that Solomon behind her had not agreed to her request, one Command Spell on Aiga's chest instantly vanished. Solomon froze in place. Then another Command Spell disappeared, and Solomon's eyes turned hollow as he stood there like a puppet.
Before you continue