Ciel looked at the damaged road before her and the traces of battle nearby. A hint of gravity appeared in her calm eyes.
From the spatially enchanted shoulder bag she carried, she took out a massive pile driver. This was the Seventh Holy Scripture, crafted by Ciel from the horn of the unicorn rumored to devour souls.
Ciel slowly pushed open the doors of Fuyuki Cathedral Church and warily swept her gaze around. When she saw the collapsed pillars in the hall, she immediately became even more vigilant.
With the Seventh Holy Scripture in one hand, Ciel tugged at her nun's habit with the other and stripped it off in an instant, revealing the combat gear beneath. At the same time, she casually removed the glasses from the corner of her eyes and set them on a nearby seat.
At that moment, faint footsteps sounded behind Ciel. She swiftly turned around and raised the Seventh Holy Scripture at the church doors.
"Are you the seventh one?"
As the voice rang out, Ciel finally saw who had arrived. She slowly let out a breath, leaned the Seventh Holy Scripture against a nearby bench, then picked up her nun's habit from the floor and put it back on right in front of the newcomer.
Only after Ciel had returned to her usual attire and put away the Seventh Holy Scripture did she slowly ask the newcomer.
"You are Kirei Kotomine? Father Risei's son?"
"Yes."
After receiving Kirei Kotomine's answer, Ciel turned and pointed at the pillar as she questioned him.
"What happened here? And outside! Your report never mentioned that this place had been attacked!"
Kirei Kotomine wore an indifferent expression as he calmly gave the explanation he had fabricated long ago.
"Not long after the report was sent this morning, a pair of Masters appeared near the church and began fighting. The traces outside were left by the Servants' battle, while this pillar was damaged by one of the Masters who came to threaten me after the battle ended."
Ciel frowned and could not help clicking her tongue.
"Tch! Those heretics rely on their Servants and completely disregard the rules!"
After saying that, Ciel looked at Father Risei's son. His calm expression and neither servile nor overbearing demeanor greatly improved her impression of the administrator of Fuyuki Cathedral Church.
"Father Kotomine, please prepare sufficient food and rooms. It is estimated that around three hundred people from the Knights of the Black Cross and the Knights of Inquisition will arrive here next."
"Understood."
At a farm on the outskirts of Fuyuki City, Rin arrived with Gilgamesh after receiving Lorelei's notification.
After politely thanking the butler who had guided her, Rin gave a few instructions to Gilgamesh beside her before pushing open the door and walking inside.
"Lorelei, it's been a long time. I never expected you to come to Fuyuki City too! Are you really planning to make trouble for Sajyou Manaka?"
Lorelei put down the book in her hand, looked at Rin as she entered, and gave her a slight nod. Then she extended a hand, gesturing for Rin to sit.
Only after Rin sat down on the sofa beside Lorelei did Lorelei speak.
"Yes! I will definitely repay Sajyou Manaka for the humiliation she inflicted on me!"
"Lorelei, I told you before, didn't I? Facing Sajyou Manaka as you are now would be suicide!"
Hearing Rin's merciless words, Lorelei's expression changed. Her magical energy erupted unconsciously and pressed down on Rin.
Feeling Lorelei's magical energy, Rin looked at her with an utterly relaxed expression, completely unconcerned.
"You've grown stronger again, Rin!"
Lorelei withdrew her magical energy after saying that, then continued.
"That is why I brought not only the choir this time, but also the elites of the Department of Law and Politics. I have also recruited several hundred Magi intending to fish in troubled waters. With this force, I refuse to believe Sajyou Manaka can resist!"
"What if I said it still wasn't enough?"
Lorelei's pupils shrank. Still not enough? What did Rin mean? If these hundreds of Magi joined forces, even an ordinary Magician would have to avoid their edge. Why would Rin say that?
"Lorelei, what if I told you Sajyou Manaka is stronger than a Magician—and much stronger?"
"That's impossible!"
"I'm sorry, but that is reality! What do you plan to do now?"
Lorelei knitted her brows tightly and fell silent.
At that moment, Gilgamesh's voice sounded beside Rin's ear. Poor little girl, led around by the nose by you from start to finish. Rin, what are you plotting?
Tch! How is this plotting? Sajyou Manaka is our enemy too. Now that Lorelei has voluntarily brought this source of assistance to me, how could I refuse?
Hahahahaha! Rin, you now possess a third of the bearing I saw in you. I look forward to your growth!
Gil, you're talking to yourself again. What exactly did you see?
I cannot tell you, Rin. If I told you, the future you might change. Hahahahaha.
After pondering for a long time, Lorelei finally understood something. Her expression calmed as she asked Rin.
"What do you want?"
"Regardless of the outcome this time, I need you to repay me this favor in the future!"
Lorelei had been worried that Rin would make an outrageous demand, but upon hearing her condition, she slowly breathed a sigh of relief. After thinking it over, Lorelei finally understood Rin's purpose. Rin likely feared Sajyou Manaka herself and wanted to cooperate with her as well. It should have been a mutually beneficial partnership, but Lorelei had lost the initiative from the very start of their conversation and ended up owing Rin a favor for nothing.
Rin, you won this exchange. Once you return to the Clock Tower, we'll compete again!
Having thought it through, Lorelei could only sigh. She and Rin rose at the same time, extended their hands, and clasped each other's hands as they spoke in unison.
"Pleasure working with you!" X2
In the sewers beneath Fuyuki City's harbor.
Kiritsugu Emiya arranged the documents on the table one by one.
"An unidentified Archer who fires swords as arrows, and a European knight suspected to be Rider, whose Master is Shirou Emiya. Is that all the intelligence we have?"
Assassin nodded at Kiritsugu Emiya.
"Yes. However, Master, I sensed that there should also be a hidden Servant within Fuyuki Cathedral Church at the time."
Kiritsugu Emiya silently stacked the documents and placed them in a folder. He casually took a pack of cigarettes from his trench coat pocket, pulled one out, and lit it.
"Take me to see the Magus you captured."
"Understood."
Assassin led Kiritsugu Emiya through the complex sewer network. A few minutes later, after climbing down a ladder, Kiritsugu Emiya saw a Magus curled up in terror inside a cramped iron cage.
Kiritsugu Emiya came before the cage and looked at the Magus inside, whose Magic Circuits had all been destroyed and who was curled into a ball. An inexplicable sense of familiarity rose in his heart. He gave Assassin beside him a strange look, then shook his head in self-denial. Impossible. How could someone like me become a Servant? Perhaps Assassin's Noble Phantasm merely has effects similar to my Origin Bullet.
Then Kiritsugu Emiya stared expressionlessly at the Magus in the cage and asked.
"Name..."
"I'm Giyu. I wasn't hated."
Thanks to Shining Juice Box for the blade, thanks to Xiyue95 for the reward, and thanks to all the readers for their recommendation votes and monthly passes!
The Prelude to Aiga's Plan—Fuyuki City's Crisis!
On Fuyuki City's food street, Gudako happily ate the fried noodles before her.
"Uncle Shinji, I haven't eaten anything this delicious in such a long time!"
The mature Shinji looked at Gudako with a smile and casually pushed the untouched food before him toward her.
"If you like it, eat more. Chaldea has rarely had food like this over the past few years."
Gudako did not stand on ceremony. She pulled the mature Shinji's food closer to herself and lowered her head to feast.
After finishing their meal, Gudako walked through Fuyuki City's bustling downtown district and turned to ask the mature Shinji.
"Uncle Shinji, aren't you really going to eat anything? It looked like you didn't eat a single thing just now!"
The mature Shinji shook his head, then reached out with his cold hand and rubbed Gudako's head.
"No need. This body of mine stopped needing food long ago. I've gotten used to it over these years. All right, Gudako, let's hurry to the final battleground and make our preparations. We'll be busy for the next few days!"
After hearing the mature Shinji's words, Gudako put her feet together, puffed out her chest, pulled in her stomach, and gave him a standard military salute.
"Yes, sir! Mission guaranteed! But Uncle Shinji, can I still eat some of the food here over the next few days?"
The mature Shinji smiled faintly.
"Of course."
Upon hearing that, Gudako happily jumped up and down on the spot.
"That's great, Uncle Shinji!"
Shinji! You spoil Gudako too much! If Big Sister finds out, she definitely won't be happy!
Olga Marie, it's fine. Rin won't say anything over something so trivial.
Fine, but remember to address me respectfully! I am the vice director now. You and Gudako should get moving, understood?
Yes, yes, yes, Vice Director.
After speaking, the mature Shinji casually turned off the communicator by his ear, then headed toward their destination with Gudako, smiling all the while.
At that moment, Shirou Emiya and Kallian arrived at Taiga Fujimura's old residence and opened the door with a key. However, when they entered the courtyard, Shirou Emiya and Kallian froze at the same time.
"Big Sister Taiga, why are you here?" X2
Taiga Fujimura turned to look at Shirou Emiya and Kallian, who had entered through the gate. She raised her left arm high and calmly greeted the two of them.
"Yo!"
Seeing Taiga Fujimura before her, Kallian stomped over to Taiga's side in a huff, stood on tiptoe, and grabbed Taiga Fujimura's ear.
"Big Sister Taiga, didn't I tell you to leave Fuyuki City with your family for the next few days? Why haven't you left yet?!"
"Ahhh! Let go first, Kallian! My ear is going to tear off!"
Kallian then released Taiga Fujimura and looked at her as she rubbed her ear and sucked in cold breaths.
"Explain yourself, Big Sister Taiga!"
Taiga Fujimura looked awkwardly at Kallian, whom she had feared ever since they first met.
"Didn't I just miss you guys? So I came back. Hahahahaha!"
Kallian looked at Taiga Fujimura clowning around before her and reached out, preparing to tug her ear again. Taiga Fujimura yelped and ran behind Shirou Emiya, evading Kallian's harassment.
"Shirou, save me! Kallian is going to kill someone!"
However, contrary to Taiga Fujimura's expectations, Shirou Emiya did not help her this time. Instead, he spoke to her solemnly.
"Big Sister Taiga, Fuyuki City is really dangerous right now. You shouldn't have come back. Kallian and I will send you out of the city later!"
Suddenly, Martha revealed herself and looked up at the sky.
"Kallian, Shirou, it looks like we're too late!"
Kallian and Shirou Emiya also looked up. With the aid of magical energy, both of them sensed a massive barrier enveloping all of Fuyuki City.
The church forces that had just entered Fuyuki City's territory suddenly felt a surge of magical energy and instantly went on alert. Then, a massive barrier rose up behind the group and covered the entirety of Fuyuki City.
Melek Solomon looked at Narubarek, the leader of the Knights of the Black Cross, beside him.
"What a grand welcoming ceremony!"
"Nothing but heretics' petty tricks."
Suddenly, the barrier trembled. Massive magical energy erupted from within it, and a wave of dizziness rose in everyone's hearts. Then, all those possessing magical energy sensed that space itself seemed to have changed. Those who understood what that meant felt fear rise from the depths of their hearts.
Narubarek looked grimly at the barrier behind them as it changed once again.
"How is this possible? The entire city seems to have been transferred into an alternate space along with the underground ley lines and land. This..."
Just moments ago, Lorelei, having reached an agreement with Rin, brought her into the command room.
After explaining her plan to Rin in detail, she disregarded Rin's objections and forcibly ordered her subordinates to activate the barrier they had been setting up all along.
"Ley line connection established!"
"Nodes operating normally."
"Magical energy circulation is stable!"
Lorelei looked proudly at the displeased Rin beside her and nodded.
"Rin, look! Once the barrier is complete, I guarantee that not even a fly will be able to leave Fuyuki City!"
"Fine, do whatever you want. I can't be bothered to deal with you. Just notify me when you're ready to act, hmph!"
Before you continue