Wishes, Dreams, the Beginning

Having viewed Mother's profile: Strength A, Endurance B, Agility D, Mana A, Luck C, Noble Phantasm A+.

Skills: Genji's Martial Training EX, Mana Burst A, Mystery Killer A, Magic Resistance D, Mad Enhancement EX, Riding A+, Divinity C.

Noble Phantasm: Ox-King Summoning Thunder: The Net of Heaven Has Wide Meshes. Rank B++, Type: Anti-Army Noble Phantasm, Effective Range: 1–100, Maximum Targets: 200 people.

I only had two words to say: fucking awesome. Her profile clearly showed she had received her enhancement and Noble Phantasm upgrades, but sadly, she still had no self-charging ability.

I asked first, "Mother, could you confirm whether my mana is enough to support you in battle... or rather, your extravagance?"

Minamoto no Raikou said, "My, my, my. Under the current circumstances, one battle will be no problem at all." She hugged me even tighter.

One battle should mean enough for her to unleash all her Skills and Noble Phantasm, right? I continued, "My wish is to destroy the Holy Grail. At the very least, we must destroy the Lesser Grail."

Then I explained how the Holy Grail had been contaminated by Angra Mainyu, as well as the way it granted wishes. For example, if someone wished to become king of the world, the Holy Grail would kill everyone who refused to obey them.

I made it clear that the current Holy Grail operated on the foundation of humanity's destruction. It had to be destroyed, and I hoped Mother would lend me her strength.

Minamoto no Raikou said, "Of course. As long as it is the wish of my most precious child, I will absolutely help you fulfill it. I swear it on the honor of the Genji Clan."

I went along with her words. "That's right, on the honor of the Genji Clan. In Mother's era, honor stood above life itself. That is more than enough to prove Mother's resolve."

At the same time, I explained that we currently had a collaborator. Our cooperation was based on helping them obtain the Holy Grail, and we would adjust our strategy according to later developments. Our ultimate goal remained the destruction of the Holy Grail, and I hoped Mother would cooperate with us.

Naturally, she readily agreed. Even if Berserkers discarded part of their reason, they were not mindless fools. No matter how confident she was, she would not be stupid enough to take on six enemies alone.

Having reached an agreement, I returned to the magic circle before leaving and replenished the materials, leaving Dojigiri Yasutsuna in the circle. Then Mother and I left together.

When we returned to the hall, Fujino and Sakura were still chatting. After seeing me emerge with a mature older woman following behind me, both of them became reserved.

I introduced her naturally. "This is my ancestor from the Genji Clan, Minamoto no Raikou. I call her Mother, and you can call her that too." Then I added, "Mother, this is my current sworn little sister, Fujino Asagami. And this is my fiancée, Sakura Tohsaka."

After the introductions, Fujino and Sakura somewhat stiffly called her Mother. Judging from their flushed cheeks, though, they had probably already imagined an entire lifetime's worth of drama.

Mother, on the other hand, responded generously. She even teased me a little, saying, "A temporary sworn little sister and a young fiancée."

Then she solemnly said, "My child, when I was summoned, I absorbed the knowledge of this world. In our era, there seemed to be no issue with it, but in this era, it is a crime."

That made my face burn as well. I protested, "We are completely innocent! How can you slander our purity?"

I went to the satellite phone and sent a message: Best Omen. The other party quickly replied: Best Omen, everything remains as usual.

Late at night, when we were preparing to sleep, Mother said she wanted to take a walk and see Japan a thousand years later. Then she turned into spirit form and vanished. The three of us fell asleep in the same position.

I saw thousands upon thousands of people locked in battle. Through her eyes, I saw her raise her sword and shout the charge. I saw the people lining both sides of the road cheering. I saw fierce battles against evil demons.

I saw the deaths of important friends, subordinates, and children. Before I knew it, I had awakened, long trails of tears running from my eyes. So those were the things that had happened while Mother was still alive.

Wiping away my tears, I walked outside and saw Mother standing before the door, gazing up at the starry sky.

I walked over and said, "I had a dream. I saw Mother as she once was. Mother, do you truly have no wish you want fulfilled?"

Minamoto no Raikou said, "A wish? Perhaps I do. If only I had arrived with reinforcements sooner, or if my attacks had been fiercer then, if I had not hesitated so much... many things might have changed."

"But that would deny the resolve of my former comrades-in-arms. I bear them no resentment and have no regrets, so there is no need to dwell on it." She pulled me into her arms. "It is all right. We will proceed according to your wishes." At that moment, time seemed to stand still.

In mid-June of 1994, the Holy Grail War officially began.

Just as in the original story, Tokiomi Tohsaka and Kirei Kotomine staged a performance of their own making.

Kenneth El-Melloi Archibald of the Clock Tower set up a barrier at the harbor and called for the other Masters to come and fight. Alice and her Servant answered the invitation.

Partway through, Waver Velvet and his Servant Iskandar arrived to stir up trouble. That troublemaker Iskandar taunted Gilgamesh into appearing, while Assassin watched from the shadows. A great battle was on the verge of breaking out.

Public information—meaning information gathered by the various Masters, not including the protagonist's foreknowledge: Master Tokiomi Tohsaka, Servant Archer Gilgamesh.

Master Kenneth, Servant Lancer Diarmuid Ua Duibhne.

Master Irisviel von Einzbern—who was in fact Master Kiritsugu Emiya—Servant Saber Artoria Pendragon.

Master Waver Velvet, Servant Iskandar.

Master Kirei Kotomine, Servant Assassin, already dead. It was a fake death, and some Masters had already seen through it.

The Masters and Servants of Berserker and Caster were unknown.

I said, "Mother, do you want to go take a look? After all, nearly everyone who should appear has appeared by now. As for information, we are only missing news of Caster. However, given the current situation, Kariya Matou probably will not return to the family."

Then Zouken Matou would at most enter the war himself. Given his affinity, the Servant he summoned might still be some Chaotic Evil existence like Gilles de Rais or Mephistopheles. There was no place among the Knights of the Round Table for him to summon one from. It could not possibly be Artoria Caster, could it?

With incompatible affinities, it would be impossible to draw out all of a Servant's strength. Zouken Matou had said he planned to give up on this Holy Grail War, so perhaps he would merely make a token appearance.

"My, my, my," Mother's catchphrase emerged again. "According to you, this should just be a formality. What was that word again? Ah, an animated CG scene. Then I shall show my face as well." With that, she vanished.