"So, Dad, where's your Holy Relic?"
The moment Shirou Emiya asked, several pairs of eyes-including those of the other three children-turned toward Kiritsugu Emiya.
"...Don't worry. I've already prepared one."
It lasted only an instant, but Shirou Emiya still caught the evasive look in his father's eyes. "You're lying! Dad, you gave us all the Holy Relics you collected, didn't you?"
Under everyone's scrutiny, Kiritsugu Emiya slowly admitted the truth. "Yes. The intelligence came at short notice, and our previous stock of Holy Relics was almost depleted. These four were all I could collect in the time we had."
"So you and Mom don't have a single Holy Relic left? That's not okay!"
Shirou Emiya sprang to his feet, pushing the case containing a section of a bow limb back toward Kiritsugu Emiya. "Dad, take this. I can just summon someone based on compatibility."
"No! You-"
Kiritsugu Emiya was about to protest, but an impatient Sovell raised his hand and cut him off.
"Stop! Shirou's telling you to take it, so just take it. You're a grown man; quit fussing. The Holy Grail's spirit origin readings are stronger where you're going, so you'd be better off having a stronger Holy Relic ready.
As for his safety, Emiya, you said it yourself just now. I'll personally guarantee it. Will that do?"
Kiritsugu Emiya stared at the piece of bow limb in his hand for a long time before finally putting it away. "All right. I'll keep Minamoto no Tametomo's Holy Relic. Caster, sorry for the trouble, but I'm leaving Shirou in your care."
"Leave it to me." Sovell nodded.
He was the one who didn't want to waste time, so any consequences that followed were naturally his responsibility.
Artoria gave Sovell a helpless look, inwardly grumbling about her idiot and his