"It is a great pleasure to be invited here today, King of Conquerors."
You didn't invite him, did you, Rider? You only invited Gilgamesh, right? Right? Even Gilgamesh alone is a handful, but now Tokiomi has shown up too.
What is his goal in appearing before three Servants at this timing? In the original story, he should still be having Kirei's Assassin gathering information for him.
However, it's true that the situation is completely different from the original. My own unique existence is one thing, but there's also Lancer's early withdrawal and the alliance between multiple Servants. Did he think it wasn't enough to just hide in his workshop?
"What is it, Golden one? You've brought your Master? For a man like you, does it mean you're surprisingly getting along with your Master?"
"Don't get carried away, mongrel. Do not judge me by your own standards."
Gilgamesh sat down without a word of permission. Just by being there, he emits an Aura of Kingship (Ōki Aura) that seems to dominate everything. I think Saber's tension visibly increased. It's only natural, given that an enemy Servant and their Master are nearby.
"Ah, whatever! We welcome both you and your Master! Here, a glass to get started!"
Rider, with his somewhat misguided knowledge, offers Gilgamesh a ladle filled with alcohol. Gilgamesh, however, only twitches his nose and pushes it away.
"Did you really think such cheap liquor would pass through my throat?"
"This is the highest-grade liquor I found in the market here, though..."
They've started their little exchange. I guess I can leave them alone for now. The problem is over here.
"It's been a while, Sakura. Have you been well?"
After his greetings, Tokiomi sits down next to me with a gentle smile. His demeanor is nothing short of elegant. Even in the simple act of sitting on a sheet on the ground, there is a refined grace.
However, there is too much that he doesn't know. Knowledge that cannot be gained no matter how much education you have. For example, the treatment his adopted daughter has been subjected to.
"What's wrong, Sakura? Are you nervous seeing your father after so long?"
Tokiomi continues to speak to Sakura-chan, who is hiding behind me and saying nothing. Neither Irisviel nor Waver can make sense of the situation.
"Um, Mr. Tohsaka? This girl is... a Matou, right? What do you mean by 'father'...?"
"It is not polite to pry too much into a family's private affairs, Velvet-kun."
"Sakura was originally Tohsaka Sakura—this man's daughter."
I answer for him. Tokiomi must have anticipated this to some extent, as he doesn't look surprised when I start talking.
"This man has another daughter. Both she and Sakura had very high aptitude as magi. Unlike you, Waver."
"That's one unnecessary word! So?"
I interject a small joke and look at Sakura-chan. This is bad. I can tell she's unstable just by looking at her. I have to stick to just the simple facts.
"Even though they were both excellent, only one could inherit the family line. If they were just ordinarily talented, it would be one thing, but these two couldn't even live a normal life without the protection of a prestigious family."
"What do you mean, they couldn't live a normal life?"
"It means... they might be abducted by other magi for research."
"Seriously..."
Even for a magus like Waver, the idea of using people for magical research seems shocking. I said that in a milder way, too.
"And so—"
"—To prevent that, I decided to have Sakura adopted into the Matou family. Though they have fallen from grace, they were once a prestigious family called one of the Three Great Houses alongside the Tohsaka. Zouken-shi's proposal was a great blessing."
"H-Hold on! The Matou family is also participating in the Holy Grail War, aren't they?! So in the next war, your two daughters might end up fighting each other!"
"That would be a wonderful thing. The one who wins will obtain the Holy Grail. In any case, a descendant of the Tohsaka bloodline will obtain the Holy Grail and reach the Root. The one who loses will be content to become the foundation for that."
He answers so matter-of-factly. I just watch the scene unfold. I'm just watching the course of events. I have nothing specific to say about the true nature of a magus. I expected this, so I'm in control.
But that's not how it looks to Sakura-chan. She is now faced with the fact that her beloved father thought of her and her sister in such a way.
She knows the reason why she was sent to hell. What is Sakura thinking? Is she angry? Sad? Does she feel that this reason was a worthy trade for the hell she experienced? Only Sakura knows that.
Leaving the Tohsaka house was a road leading to hell for Sakura-chan. At the time, he would have had no way of knowing that. This man, in his own way, loves his family. His decision to adopt out Sakura must have been made after a great deal of thought.
Besides, magecraft is a secret art. It's not unreasonable that Tokiomi didn't know the Matou family's methods of training. Regardless of the reason, I can't blame his choice of the Matou family.
"So you are Sakura's Servant. Did you do your research?"
"They're the enemy, so to some extent."
"You are well-researched. It is very reassuring to have you as an ally from now on."
...Huh? Ally?
"What do you mean, Mr. Tohsaka? Does this mean you also understand our actions?"
Irisviel asks. The sharp look in her eyes is a sign of her will to fight. For her, who is participating in the Holy Grail War for her daughter, Tokiomi is already an unforgivable presence. Tokiomi accepts her gaze head-on, still full of confidence.
"I am not proposing an alliance with you. I am merely stating that I will welcome Sakura back into the Tohsaka household."
Sakura flinches. Tokiomi looks at me.
"Because of your attack—I don't know the details of what happened—but the Matou family has effectively been destroyed. With that, there is no longer any need for Sakura to be in the Matou household. It no longer exists."
"And?"
"The next family to entrust Sakura to will be decided after the Holy Grail War. Fight with me and seize the Holy Grail."
Hearing that, Sakura looks up at her father for the first time. Her face is completely expressionless, just like when I rescued her from the Worm Room.
"Come back to the Tohsaka family. The Matou family has been destroyed. There is no need for you to be with them anymore."
It's not a negotiation, it's a command. To bring in a Master and make her a pawn. Sakura continues to look up at him in silence. She grips my clothes, clutching them tightly.
"It is for the Tohsaka family. And that Servant will also be of use. With this, the Holy Grail is as good as ours."
Tokiomi laughs. His eyes are not looking at Sakura. He only sees her as a tool. Because he is a magus. A being who sees himself as a tool for the use of magecraft. A being who will accept any means necessary to reach the Root.
"This girl, Sakura-chan—"
Irisviel can't help but raise her voice. I instantly almost tell her to stop, but she gestures with her hand for her to stop.
"Sakura-chan went through a very difficult time in the Matou family."
"...And that is?"
I had already told Irisviel the circumstances of what happened to Sakura-chan. She starts to explain it to Tokiomi. Even though it's pointless.
"Is that so..."
After hearing everything, Tokiomi thinks with a somber expression.
"I am sorry, Sakura. I will be more careful in choosing your next home. And I know a good magus. Your body will be completely restored."
"..."
Tokiomi says he doesn't mind. This can be taken as him loving her no matter how horribly she was treated, or as him believing he can solve everything.
Who was it that held their breath? She didn't want him to say that. She didn't want him to do that.
Was some kind of spell being cast by a twisted living thing? The atmosphere had become so unpleasant that I could have been led to believe that.
"Hey, Sho!! Get over here!"
The voice that rescued me from that was the King of Conquerors'.
"O-Okay! I'm coming now! Sakura-chan, let's go."
I pull her hand and walk toward the three Heroic Spirits. I didn't want to come here before the event started, but now I'm glad I was called over. You never know what's going to happen.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
"Hmm, did you bring your Master too?"
"The atmosphere over there was bad."
Bad enough that I thought this place was better.
"It appears so."
"Huh?"
"An ominous magical energy was overflowing from you."
"Ah..."
I have a little idea what that was about. Was I a bit on edge?
"But it's gone now! Here, drink up!"
"I'm not drinking!"
I'm a minor! Even if you give it to me, I can't drink it.
"Wait, King of Conquerors. My story is not yet over!"
Saber almost crushes the golden cup in her hand and lunges at him. But Rider's eyes on Saber are like those of a parent looking at a disobedient child.
"It's over, Saber. If I have to listen to such a painful wish, this precious sake will turn sour."
"I don't mind, Saber. Continue to your heart's content. It has been a long time since anyone has made me laugh this much. With that face suffering in anguish... This was a boring manifestation, but I am fortunate to have found a woman of such quality as you."
Saber finally smashes her cup on the ground and draws her invisible sword. Her gaze is not on Rider but on Gilgamesh. She seems unable to bear this insult.
Saber is genuinely angry. To be honest, I regretted coming here. Both are hell.
"Archer, I will have you take back those words. Otherwise—"
"Just sit down, Saber. A new mongrel has joined us, after all. He knows his place better than you, as he does not dare to call himself a 'King' in my presence, does he?"
Gilgamesh is completely unfazed even as the gust of wind brushes against his cheek. Saber sits down in a way that is uncharacteristically rough for her. After witnessing this, Rider asks.
"If you could get the Holy Grail, what would you use it for?"
"...? No, I mean the Holy Grail is—ah, is that a hypothetical question?"
I catch on to the flow of the conversation.
"First, I want to say that I'm still a living human being. I'm a kid who hasn't even lived for 20 years. My story won't be very interesting, will it?"
"No, no, if you know your wish for the omnipotent wish-granting device, you'll naturally know what kind of person he is. Especially you, who is not in any book. You are a man of unknown origin. It is the perfect question to measure your character. It doesn't matter if it's boring. I'm already used to that with my Master."
Rider is harsh, too.
If he says that much, I must think carefully. If any wish can be granted, huh... It's surprisingly difficult. I can think of a few wishes, but they don't seem like something I'd need the Holy Grail for.
At that moment, the small warmth in my arms caught my eye. This girl, who has suffered so much, at the very least.
"If any wish could be granted, I would wish for Sakura-chan to be happy from now on."
"I see. I don't need to ask for the reason."
"I'm sorry, that was a boring answer. I'm still thinking about it."
"No, it's an answer that makes me understand you well."
Rider nods in agreement. Saber also looks as if her previous anger has been defused, but her face is complicated. Only Gilgamesh looks uninterested.
"...Thank you."
"You're welcome."
I pat Sakura-chan's head.
—A strange presence was felt around us.
Saber immediately stands up and looks around.
"This is...!"
As if to thicken the faint shadows cast by the moonlight, figures shrouded in black robes appear. Through the gaps, a distinctive skull mask can be seen.
"You've come, Assassin."
There is no change in Tokiomi's demeanor. He is quite an actor. Even though all of this is on his command. I had thought that since Tokiomi came, the Assassin attack would not happen, but that was not the case.
However, if the attack is the same as in the original, the countermeasure will be the same as well.
Before Rider's deployed Ionian Hetairoi (Ō no Gunzei), they were all annihilated with ease.
Everyone was surprised to see the Reality Marble, but the one who looked most displeased was Tokiomi. He had been under the impression that Gilgamesh had no Noble Phantasm that could rival his Gate of Babylon (Ō no Zaihō).
Rider's overwhelming Noble Phantasm had a great impact on not only the magi but also the Servants.
"Alright, let's end it here for today. Since we've been interrupted."
"Rider, you are an eyesore after all. Do not forget that I have promised to kill you with my own hands."
"I welcome it, King of Heroes."
Gilgamesh, having made a dangerous promise, turns his back.
"Tokiomi, let's go home."
"Hah. Sakura, let's go."
Hey, hey, you can't be serious. In Tokiomi's mind, has he already assumed he has won Sakura over? I was hoping we could just pretend this whole thing never happened, but he's bringing it back up.
Does he not realize that Sakura-chan is suffering from the skewed values of a magus?
"...No."
"What did you say?"
In a small, squeezed-out voice, she clearly defies her own father.
"Sho Onii-chan, send my father away!"
"!!"
Sakura's small right hand glows, and my body moves against my will.
I throw a punch toward Tokiomi—and blood splatters.
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