Da Vinci struggled to pry open Rin's hands as she choked her.
"Don't get worked up, Rin! You've only just acquired the Dragon Factor and aren't used to it yet. Once you adapt, you shouldn't react this strongly anymore!"
"Really?"
"Of course! Rin, you have to trust me!"
Rin looked at the pitiful Da Vinci before slowly getting off her. She reached out to pull Da Vinci up, then casually helped straighten her disheveled hair.
"Da Vinci, if anything goes wrong again, I'll make you eat Star Gazing Pie for an entire year! Do you understand?"
"Okay! Okay! But Rin, are you a demon? A whole year of Star Gazing Pie? How did you even come up with that?"
"Hmph!"
Rin haughtily turned her head away and ignored Da Vinci. Then, with great care, she picked up the gems scattered over herself and the floor and put them back into the case.
"All right, looks like you weren't lying. It feels much better than before now. Sorry, Da Vinci."
Da Vinci looked at Rin's perfunctory apology and shrugged helplessly.
"All right, Rin. Since you're done, stop interrupting my research. Sakura and Fujino are still waiting for you upstairs."
Just as Rin was about to turn and leave, she suddenly remembered something and looked back at Da Vinci.
"Hmm... you nearly fooled me. Did you fix the Bounded Field device I asked you about last time?"
Da Vinci guiltily lowered her head, staring at her shoes as she answered quietly.
"Well, Rin, it's almost done."
"Huh? It still isn't fixed?"
Da Vinci saw the ferocious look on Rin's face and trembled as she crouched in the corner.
"Rin, I was wrong! Don't hit me, I'll fix it right away!"
"Tch! Fine. Da Vinci, get it fixed as soon as possible. I have a feeling we'll need it in this Holy Grail War."
Fuyuki Cathedral Church.
Archer was standing atop a water tower not far from the church, keeping watch over it.
Archer had already returned to what should have been the Emiya residence, but the Fujimura nameplate hanging by the entrance made him understand just how different this world was from his own. He even suspected that this world's version of himself might have died in the Fourth Holy Grail War.
Clinging to his last shred of hope, Archer went to Hohngawara Academy. Taking advantage of the students being in their first class, he entered the archives. A name on the student roster caught his eye—Shirou Emiya. Realizing something, Archer then rushed to the Cathedral Church. However, sensing a Servant within, he could only remain outside and monitor the church.
"So this world's me was adopted by Kirei Kotomine? What a colossal irony!"
Bang!
A gunshot suddenly rang out behind Archer. With razor-sharp reflexes, Archer leaped from the water tower and dodged the shot. At the same time, he materialized a bow and sword, nocked the sword in midair, and fired into the woods where the shot had come from.
Hrunting shot from the bow as a streak of crimson light, swiftly flying into the forest while continuously altering its trajectory to weave around the trees.
Assassin, wearing a red hood and a mask that concealed her face, calmly watched the sword speeding toward her. Unhurriedly holstering her gun, she vanished from where she stood just as the sword was about to strike. In her place appeared an ordinary civilian who had no idea what was happening.
Phantasmal Destruction erupted, and the massive explosion instantly swallowed the innocent civilian. Archer, who possessed Clairvoyance, sharply caught sight of the scene and immediately understood.
"Not good!"
Sure enough, the blast had drawn the Lion King out of the church. Fully armored, she rode Donstalian, raised The Spear of the End high, and charged at Archer.
As Archer watched the Lion King charging toward him, a bead of cold sweat slid down his temple.
"Hey, hey, you've got to be kidding me. A mere charge is actually kicking up a hurricane?"
The Lion King watched the Servant draw nearer and nearer, lowered The Spear of the End, and thrust with all her strength.
Hummm—
Archer raised the materialized Gan Jiang Mo Ye and desperately blocked the Lion King's strike. The overwhelming impact drove him backward, his legs plowing two deep trenches through the ground.
At the same time, a tremendous storm burst from The Spear of the End along with the Lion King's attack, forming countless tiny wind blades that cut Archer.
Once the storm subsided, Archer leaped backward to widen the distance between himself and the Lion King. Panting heavily, he casually tossed the broken Gan Jiang Mo Ye in his hands to the ground.
"Lancer, could you stop? I'm a victim too. Assassin attacked me just now. Besides, are you really planning to fight in broad daylight?"
The Lion King lifted her visor, leaped down from Donstalian, and held her spear in both hands, ready to attack again.
"You skulking wretch lurking outside the church, come! Battle me and prove your valor. If you prove worthy, I may consider letting you leave!"
"Do we really have to fight?"
Archer materialized Gan Jiang Mo Ye in both hands again and looked helplessly at the familiar face before him.
At that moment, Shirou Emiya came rushing out of the church, panting heavily as he shouted at the Lion King.
"Stop, Lancer!"
Hearing Shirou Emiya's call, the Lion King sighed helplessly and turned to him.
"Master, when an enemy comes to our door, how can we not fight?"
Seeing the Lion King boldly turn her back on him, Archer seized the opportunity. After quickly glancing at Shirou Emiya, he made several backward leaps and vanished into the woods beside the church.
"Whether I'm Shirou Emiya or Shirou Emiya, I'm still this naïve!"
The Lion King noticed Archer's retreat and was about to pursue him. But seeing Shirou Emiya looking at her with a pleading expression, she could only put away her weapons and lead Donstalian back toward the church.
"Come. Since the enemy has retreated, Master, we will leave this battle for another day."
Shirou Emiya froze for a moment, then hurried after the Lion King.
"Lancer, thank you!"
The Lion King looked at Shirou Emiya as he ran to her side and shook her head.
"Master, such naivety will not do. I hope that the next time I fight an enemy, you will not stop me."
"But, Lancer, I want to save everyone. Why must we fight?"
At that moment, Kallian arrived at the church entrance with Martha.
"Big brother, do you truly think that? If all you intend to do is save others, why did you join this Holy Grail War?"
"Kallian, I... I, I..."
Kallian looked at Shirou Emiya, who could not explain himself even after a long while, and spoke.
"You understand too, don't you, big brother? If you want to save all this, you need strength. Without strength, what can you use to save anyone else? So, big brother, think it over carefully!"
"I... Kallian, I..."
Kallian then ignored Shirou Emiya, who stood frozen in place, and turned to follow the Lion King into the church with Martha.
"Sorry, Lancer. My idiot brother caused you trouble."
"It's all right. Master's qualities are also a rare sight to me. But Kallian, is this really okay?"
Martha also turned to Kallian.
"Kallian, you like Shirou, don't you? Is it really okay to provoke him with your words and make him change?"
"It's fine. That idiot big brother only needs to pursue his own dream. No matter what he becomes, I'll stay by his side. After all, he's my big brother!"
"Ah, that's wonderful! It seems Artoria and I must work hard too, right?"
A faint smile appeared on the Lion King's lips.
"Of course I cannot disappoint my subjects. Kallian, you do not need to force yourself. Leave Master's wish to Martha and me!"
Kallian smiled radiantly, like a narcissus blooming in the depths of winter—so clear and pure.
"Lancer, Ruler, thank you!"
Shirou Emiya, who had been standing blankly outside the entrance, snapped out of it at Kallian's words and scratched his head awkwardly.
"Looks like Kallian lectured me again. I'm really an unqualified brother!"
In the church attic, Kirei Kotomine stood by the window. Looking at Shirou Emiya's foolish grin returning at the church entrance, he shook his head in disappointment. Then he picked up the church personnel list and continued making revisions.
"I must finish quickly! The Knights of the Black Cross cannot discover my relationship with Shirou and Kallian, or they will certainly use them!"
In a farm on the outskirts of Fuyuki City, now occupied by Lorelei, an unwelcome guest arrived.
Holding a cup of black tea, Lorelei watched the blue-haired girl the butler had led in and gave a bored yawn.
"Hmph. What do you people plan to do by coming here?"
Ciel, the seventh-ranked Executor of the Knights of the Black Cross, looked at the rumored Queen of the Clock Tower before her and curled her lip disdainfully.
"The leader sent me to inform you that if you do not wish for all-out war, withdraw from Fuyuki City. The leader also invites you to speak with her in neighboring Koyomi City."
Lorelei set down her teacup and raised a hand to stop her restless subordinates, who were preparing to attack Ciel.
"You have quite the nerve. Please pass a message to Narubarek and Merlin Reim Solomon for me: if they want to die, they are welcome to come to Fuyuki City anytime! All right, leave."
Ciel adjusted her glasses, silently bowed to Lorelei, then turned and walked out of the farm.
Lorelei watched Ciel leave, a mocking smile curling across her lips.
"Ignorant fools. Butler, please put me through to Rin. It is time to join forces with Rin!"
The butler respectfully bowed to Lorelei, then picked up the antique telephone beside him and began dialing.
After leaving the farm, Ciel took out her phone and called Narubarek, the leader of the Knights of the Black Cross.
"Leader... Yes, you were right, she refused... Understood. I will head to Fuyuki Church now!"
Fuyuki Church.
After finishing the documents, Kirei Kotomine found Kallian and Shirou Emiya. He took out a string of keys and handed them to them before speaking.
"Kallian, Shirou, you need to leave the church now. I have received word that people from the Knights of the Black Cross will soon come take over the church. This is a key to an old residence belonging to Taiga's family. Stay there for the time being."
Kallian accepted the key from Kirei Kotomine and gave him a surprised look. What is Father doing? Kallian knew Kirei Kotomine far too well. By his usual habits, shouldn't he wait until Shirou and I clash with the Knights of the Black Cross, then appear to 'save' us when we are in dire danger, all in pursuit of his so-called pleasure?
Shirou Emiya, standing nearby, spoke to Kirei Kotomine.
"Father, will you be all right staying here alone? Why don't you come with us?"
A twisted smile hung on Kirei Kotomine's lips as he looked at Kallian and Shirou before shaking his head.
"Go. Leave now."
Knowing Kirei Kotomine's personality, Shirou Emiya said no more. He grabbed Kallian's hand and quickly left the Cathedral Church, heading for the Fujimura family's old residence.
After leaving the church with Shirou Emiya, Kallian looked at him and spoke.
"Big brother, haven't you noticed that Father is acting very strangely?"
"Ah! Is he? Isn't Father always like this?"
"Big brother, you're such a slow-witted idiot!"
After saying that, Kallian pouted and turned her head away, refusing to pay Shirou Emiya any more attention. Father, what are you plotting this time?
Kirei Kotomine silently disposed of the belongings and traces Shirou Emiya and Kallian had left behind in the church, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Knights of the Black Cross.
"Come! Let me see whether you are qualified to be the Lord's servants! Hahahahahaha!"
"I just want the feminized male protagonist's body."
To celebrate my friend's novel being released, here's an extra chapter. I hope all you readers will go support it too!
Church Questions and a Cooperation Reached!
Before you continue