Kiritsugu Emiya's group wasn't the only one watching the two battlefields along the northern coast...
Fifteen kilometers away, in the basement of Fuyuki Church, Kirei Kotomine was also observing the battlefields—selectively—through the shared vision of Assassin.
A few days earlier, he had applied for asylum with the Holy Church under the pretense that his Servant had been defeated. But that was merely a ploy to mislead the other Masters.
The Servant he summoned was "Hassan of the Hundred Faces," who possessed numerous personalities. After becoming a Servant, these personalities manifested through his Noble Phantasm, splitting into countless individual entities. The Hassan killed by Archer was just one of them. To Hassan, the loss was akin to losing a pinky finger.
This was the strategy Kirei and his father, Risei Kotomine, had devised to support Tokiomi Tohsaka. They staged Assassin's defeat, then continued to monitor the movements of the other Servants and Masters from the shadows.
"...I didn't expect the first two battles to break out at the same time."
Kirei spoke toward an old gramophone resting on the table.
A voice came from the gramophone in response.
"Strictly speaking, those would be the second and third officially recognized battles."
Though the audio was slightly distorted, the calm, refined voice clearly belonged to Tokiomi Tohsaka, Kirei's mentor in Magecraft.
Their supposed fallout had also been a smokescreen—intended to conceal their cooperation. After Kirei's feigned defeat, he could more conveniently direct his Servants to support Tokiomi from behind the scenes.
Lacking a means to share his Servant's perception of the battlefield, Tokiomi had to rely on Kirei and Assassin as his eyes and ears.
"The battle at sea seems to be between Saber and Berserker. Saber's abilities are exceptional—most of her parameters appear to be at A-rank. Berserker's aren't far behind. I suspect Mad Enhancement has boosted her stats."
"Evenly matched opponents," Tokiomi commented.
"More than that," Kirei added. "From what Assassin saw, Saber and Berserker look remarkably alike. Judging by how quickly they clashed, it's likely they knew each other in life—perhaps even shared a blood relation."
"Can you see their Masters, Kirei?"
"Only a silver-haired woman standing at the shore, watching the fight. She appears to be Saber's Master. She collapsed from the shockwaves of their clash but is now preparing to retreat with help from her guards."
"A silver-haired woman?" Tokiomi sounded surprised.
"Yes. Silver hair, red eyes. She doesn't look like an ordinary person."
Tokiomi paused, then ventured a guess. "...A Homunculus from the Einzbern family, perhaps? Could they have crafted another puppet Master? I assumed Kiritsugu Emiya was their chosen pawn—looks like I was mistaken."
Kirei didn't respond, choosing instead to keep his own thoughts to himself and continue the report.
"Berserker's Master separated from his Servant and returned alone to the city—to pick up two children. He only reached the vicinity of the battlefield after Saber and Berserker had already begun fighting."
"...I see." Tokiomi's voice carried a hint of emotion.
As a father, he felt grateful that Sakura had been taken in by someone who could act as her new father. But as a Magus, he was slightly disappointed that Shiomi still prioritized such mundane matters, even now.
"I recall you had some connection with Tenkei Shiomi, Kirei?" Tokiomi asked.
"Yes..." Kirei answered simply.
It wasn't just Tokiomi's second daughter.
For his own personal reasons, Kirei had entrusted his biological daughter—whom he could not raise himself—to Shiomi, who was then gradually stepping away from frontline duties as a Magus.
Later, he heard that Shiomi had come to Fuyuki and adopted Tokiomi's second daughter under the pretense of needing a qualified heir to inherit his Magecraft.
As a participant in the Holy Grail War, Shiomi became one of Kirei's surveillance targets due to his role as a Master.
But even now, Kirei couldn't understand Tenkei Shiomi.
This Magus, younger than himself, possessed a warmth completely alien to most in their craft. While teaching Sakura Magecraft, he had also assumed the responsibilities of a father—despite being unmarried—and did so with remarkable competence.
Whatever the case... perhaps Caren, raised by Shiomi, would live a better life and grow up safely.
For someone like Kirei, who had long since lost the ability to feel ordinary happiness, the most he could offer was a silent prayer for the daughter he would never meet again—a gesture born of the moral code instilled in him since childhood.
"You said Shiomi is near the battlefield. Can you see him?" Tokiomi was particularly concerned about Shiomi's movements.
If possible, he was more than willing to uphold the gentleman's agreement they made two years ago: eliminate Shiomi's Servant, then allow him to seek refuge in the church until the Holy Grail War concluded.
If needed, he might even ask Shiomi to help look after Rin.
After all, Tokiomi knew that regardless of the outcome, he wouldn't be able to return to Rin's side. If he won, he would use the Holy Grail to reach the Root. If he lost, he could be killed by another Master.
"Yes, but..." Kirei hesitated, which was rare for him.
"What's wrong?" Tokiomi thought something had happened to Shiomi.
"That man is currently engaged in battle with Lancer's Servant—alone," Kirei clarified, anticipating Tokiomi's confusion.
Even Kirei himself found the sight hard to believe.
"...What?" Tokiomi's shock was impossible to conceal. He nearly forgot himself, almost abandoning the Tohsaka family's composure.
"Assassin saw it with his own eyes, and I still find it hard to accept," Kirei said, echoing the disbelief. "Tenkei Shiomi is evenly matched with Lancer. And I don't think it's because Lancer is weak..."
After all, even the weakest Servant should be an insurmountable opponent for a human.
Even someone like Kirei, with the combat prowess of an Executor, wouldn't claim he had a guaranteed victory over his own Assassin.
Yet Tenkei Shiomi had shattered that assumption.
Kirei could only recall when they had once carried out a joint mission for the Mage's Association and the Holy Church—Shiomi had demonstrated seamless mastery of Rune Magecraft.
"It seems the most dangerous enemy in the Holy Grail War has already been decided..."
Tokiomi's voice turned grave.
In that case, perhaps only the overwhelming might of Archer could ensure victory—by eliminating both Shiomi and his Servant, they might finally realize the Tohsaka family's long-held wish to entrust their future to the Holy Grail.
But doing so would leave Sakura without a home... and Kirei's daughter as well.
Was there no better solution to this predicament?
Tokiomi couldn't think of one.
"Kirei, keep watching the battlefield. The other Servants and Masters have likely been drawn in by these two simultaneous battles."
"Understood."
Kirei accepted the order and continued monitoring the clashes unfolding in the distance.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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