As far as I know, the Matou family is also participating in this Holy Grail War," Kotomine Kirei said, frowning."I understand your concerns," Tohsaka Tokiomi replied, "but Matou Kariya, the Matou family's representative, is merely a half-trained mage who abandoned the path of magic.
While the Holy Grail War hinges on the strength of the summoned Heroic Spirits, a weak Master undermines even the most powerful Servant.
That said, we must remain vigilant, which is why I summoned you, Kirei. I need you to deploy your Servant, Assassin, to investigate the situation. Whether this is a Matou family conspiracy or an unknown force behind Sakura's disappearance, I want answers. Bring Sakura back safely.""Understood, Mr. Tokiomi," Kirei responded.
Tokiomi produced a photo from his pocket, showing two young girls—his daughters. The younger one, once called Tohsaka Sakura, beamed with innocent joy."What a lovely child, no less charming than Miss Rin," Kirei remarked politely, his expression blank.
Sakura's talent rivals Rin's, but the Tohsaka family can pass its magical inheritance to only one child. The other, unable to inherit, would suffer misfortune due to her rare gifts," Tokiomi said with a sigh. This was why he hadn't opposed the Matou family's proposal to adopt one of his daughters as their magical heir."Act quickly, Kirei. I'm worried for her safety.
Tokiomi raised his wine glass, signaling his disciple to proceed."Is your child missing, Tokiomi? Why not ask me for help?" a blond man with snake-like crimson eyes stepped in from the balcony. It was none other than Gilgamesh, the self-proclaimed enthusiastic citizen of Fuyuki City, looking bored and eager for amusement. For the former king of Uruk, finding a missing daughter for his Master was a trifling way to pass the time.
If Tokiomi knelt and begged, Gilgamesh might indulge him out of whimsy."How could I trouble the great Hero King with my private matters?" Tokiomi replied respectfully."Hmph, how dull," Gilgamesh muttered, disappointed. It was as if a tyrant, briefly inclined to do good, found his subordinates too skeptical to accept it, responding instead with impeccable deference.
Tokiomi remained silent, unwilling to treat the arrogant King of Heroes as a mere familiar. With only two Command Seals left, using one for such a trivial task would jeopardize his strategy in the Holy Grail War. Facing monstrous Heroic Spirits with gem magic alone was unthinkable.As the silence lingered, Kirei returned to the study."Why are you back?" Tokiomi asked, breaking the quiet."Teacher, there's no need to search.
Your daughter is outside," Kirei replied, his expression unreadable.He had been about to leave with the photo when he encountered three people at the door, one of whom was the girl in the picture."What?" Tokiomi said, stunned, then pressed for details."I didn't ask much, but two people brought her—a boy her age and a young woman wielding a bamboo sword.
The woman seemed aggressive but is an ordinary human," Kirei reported.Tokiomi hurried to the entrance, Kirei following. "Dad!" Sakura's voice rang out, filled with surprise but tinged with hesitation. She stood outside, unwilling to cross the threshold."Sakura…"
......
Tokiomi's gaze softened, but before he could speak, a fierce voice cut through."You're this child's father, right? I can't believe a rich man living in such a grand villa would abandon his young daughter!" Fujimura Taiga, wielding her bamboo sword, pointed at Tokiomi's nose. Her anger flared as she saw Sakura's reluctance to enter her own home.
"What kind of man, what kind of father, abandons his child like this?"Tokiomi stood speechless, Kirei's mouth twitched, and Gilgamesh, lingering behind, smirked at the spectacle."Today, she's entering this house, whether you like it or not. If you don't want my fist to drive you out, let her in!" Taiga declared, while Broly, a young boy at Sakura's side, raised a tiny fist in a threatening gesture.
The pair resembled street enforcers intimidating a shopkeeper, though one was a spirited junior high school girl and the other a kindergartner, their menace akin to a dragon's roar from a child like Kanna.Tokiomi had suspected Sakura's disappearance was a Matou family plot or the work of a cunning adversary targeting both families.
He never imagined she'd return the day after her reported abduction, escorted by two such individuals—one berating him, the other threatening him with a child's fist."Wasn't Sakura abducted from the Matou family?" Tokiomi asked Kirei."If your familiar's report was accurate, yes," Kirei replied impassively."Then what's happening here?" Tokiomi pressed, but Kirei had no answer."Foolish vassal, why not ask your daughter directly?" Gilgamesh interjected, his tone mocking yet guiding.
Tokiomi sighed, stepped toward the entrance, and addressed Sakura gently. "Sakura, can you tell me what happened? The Matou family said you were kidnapped.""No one kidnapped me. I was rescued," Sakura said, gathering her courage.
"At the Matou house, 'Grandfather' threw me into a basement full of bugs. They crawled over me, and it hurt so much. Broly appeared and saved me from them."Tokiomi's brow furrowed. The Matou family's insect-based magic was known, but why subject their adopted heir to such torment?"Why did Matou Zouken put you in a basement with bugs?" he asked."He said it was to change my magic attribute," Sakura answered softly.Magic attribute…
The Matou family's element is water, isn't it? Unless… Tokiomi's thoughts raced, but he kept silent."And who are they?" he asked, nodding toward her companions."This is Broly, who saved me from the bugs.
And this is Sister Fujimura, who took us in when we had nowhere to go last night," Sakura explained.Homeless… The word stung Tokiomi, dripping with irony from his daughter's lips.
"There seems to be a misunderstanding," Tokiomi said, breaking the tense standoff. Taiga, still fixated on bugs and magicians, erupted at the word "misunderstanding.
"Misunderstanding? Look at her—she's too scared to step into her own home! That shows what kind of father you are!" Taiga snapped.Tokiomi, unable to retort to an ordinary human who had sheltered his daughter, explained patiently that Sakura had been adopted by the Matou family, old allies of the Tohsaka. He omitted details of magical inheritance, framing it as a familial arrangement.In his mind, he concluded Sakura had fled the Matou family, unable to endure their magical transformation, with Broly as her rescuer."Then why not let her return to her real home?" Broly asked bluntly."It's not about refusing her.
Adoption involves family inheritance, requiring clear boundaries. But when Sakura grows up, she's welcome to return," Tokiomi replied.So this is how wealthy families handle adoption? Taiga thought, imagining dramatic aristocratic intrigues.
Broly, less imaginative, was merely confused."Can she go home now?" Broly pressed."Of course," Tokiomi nodded.Sakura's eyes brightened, though hesitation lingered."The adoption was under normal circumstances, but this situation is far from normal. Sakura, you're still my daughter," Tokiomi said, opening his arms.Sakura rushed forward, burying herself in her father's embrace, tears streaming. "Wuwuwu…"
Her father's arms were as warm as ever. She convinced herself he hadn't known about the Matou family's cruelty, that "Grandfather" had deceived him. With this excuse, she forgave him, finding comfort and security in his presence.[Matou Sakura's happiness value is rising steadily.]"Even if it's a misunderstanding, sending your daughter to an abusive family without checking makes you an irresponsible father!" Taiga continued, unrelenting.Tokiomi couldn't argue.
"It was my oversight. I'm grateful to you both for helping her." He produced two high-quality gems from his pocket. "The Tohsaka family deals in jewelry. These gems are a small token of thanks."Taiga nearly snapped again, but the gesture was generous. Broly glanced at the sapphire, uninterested—it wasn't food.
[Shiny gems are common items to boost happiness when gifted to the opposite sex.] A mental prompt from Broly's "Crystal Palace" system shifted his perspective."For you," Broly said, taking the sapphire and handing it to Sakura.
Huh?" Sakura blinked, glancing at her father."What's this about?" Tokiomi asked, brow furrowing."I gave her a stone. Got a problem?" Broly retorted bluntly.Tokiomi choked, speechless.
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(End of this chapter)