"I am your father."
"Isbel Pendragon."
The name and glory of the Sun-Crowned King echoed in Mordred's ears at this moment. Looking at Ryuya, the crouching Mordred, who wanted to escape, did not want to accept this sudden revelation.
But...
Reality was ultimately reality. Escaping was never the solution, no matter what.
As Ryuya's hand gently touched Mordred's shoulder, the familiar magical energy made Mordred feel warmth, and her heart became a little calmer.
"Mordred, I am your father. This is beyond doubt."
"Indeed, I wasn't there for your growth, but from now on, my daughter, I will be by your side in your future life."
"Just like what happened yesterday and today, I can take you to bars, to arcades, treat you to delicious food, take you to fun places, and I can even keep helping you comb your hair and such."
"So, there's no need to be afraid of this. Just accept it peacefully."
"Accept, from today onward, a world with me in it..."
Speaking gently and softly with Mordred, as Ryuya's words and actions continued, Mordred's trembling body gradually stilled a bit.
"Master."
Suddenly, Mordred spoke.
"Hmm?"
Sensing that the girl's emotions had stabilized considerably from her tone, Ryuya wondered what Mordred wanted to say.
"Master, about this matter... I need some time. Let me process this first, okay?"
Staring at Ryuya, feeling her thoughts were in disarray, yet also suddenly feeling that everything might not be so hard to accept, Mordred spoke softly.
Looking at her troubled eyes, Ryuya nodded, "Okay. But you need to come back to the Einzbern castle with me tonight. I sense Morgan and the others' presence… they should be home waiting for us."
"Mother and the others are already here?"
Hearing that Morgan and the others had arrived in Snowfield City, Mordred's eyes lit up.
"Yes, they should be. I can sense their presence."
Nodding, Ryuya's expression suddenly froze. His gaze turned towards a certain direction outside the hotel, seeming to sense something incredible.
"This aura... a Grand Servant?"
Marisbury Animusphere.
The first director of Chaldea Security Organization, and also the head of the Astromancy Department, one of the twelve Lords of the Clock Tower in the Mage's Association. Animusphere was an absolute genius.
After the Fourth Holy Grail War, having met the returned Kayneth, he discussed some matters about the Holy Grail War with him.
Learning the truth about the Grail's corruption from Kayneth, Animusphere wasn't the traditional magus who viewed ordinary people as inferior beings.
Proud, powerful, understanding, benevolent… in the FGO World, realizing his time was short, he participated in the Holy Grail War and collaborated with the Atlas Institute to establish Chaldea.
In the Snowfield City World, Animusphere remained that benevolent person who considered both magi and ordinary humans important.
It wasn't so much that he was exceptionally kind, but compared to other magi who deemed themselves noble, Animusphere was indeed much better towards ordinary people.
His pursuit, based on a sense of responsibility for the world, was simple: to maintain the world's progress and ensure its stability.
Holding this belief, while residing at the Clock Tower, he received a special visitor today.
"Marisbury Animusphere, I am the Ruler of this Holy Grail War."
"I have come to inform you that you have been chosen by the Holy Grail to become a Master in this Holy Grail War."
"Please proceed to Snowfield City in Japan within three days to prepare for the Holy Grail War."
In Animusphere's office at the Clock Tower, after hearing the announcement from the Ruler of the Holy Grail War, Animusphere did not doubt the other party's identity.
Because whether it was the magical energy, aura, or appearance, he could confirm that the woman before him was definitely not human, but a Servant.
Moreover, beyond that, the final reason he knew the Holy Grail War had begun was actually very simple: the Command Spell on the back of his hand, signifying the ritual's establishment.
"So, Caster, you say... is this Holy Grail War truly as the Ruler stated, a decisive battle with over twenty Servants, engaging in free-for-all combat?"
Sitting in his office armchair, looking at the Servant he had just summoned, who was drinking fine wine not far away, even Animusphere couldn't help but be captivated by the other's demeanor.
He had always been a genius of the Clock Tower, a Lord with even greater talent than Kayneth. But compared to the monarch before him, Animusphere dared not be the least bit arrogant.
The reason was simple: the other was none other than the third king of ancient Israel, the greatest monarch who created the peak prosperity of ancient Israel… the King of Magecraft, Solomon!
Having answered the Grail's call, come to the Clock Tower, and formed a contract with Animusphere, Solomon didn't have a strong sense of participation in the Holy Grail War.
No matter who the enemy was, as the King of Magecraft, he never considered the possibility of his own defeat.
Everything he wanted, desired, wished to possess was already in his hands.
Understanding well the favor of heaven, Solomon was the chosen one often seen in stories.
Shaking his head, the King of Magecraft's voice was calm and steady, "Master, it matters not who the participants of the Holy Grail War are. In essence, they are all merely enemies."
"The rules proclaimed by that Ruler are, in the end, only of reference value to us. In reality, there can be only one victor, and there will be only one."
Shaking his head to indicate that the rules need not be concerned, Solomon's words gave Animusphere full confidence.
"I understand, Caster. Then I will prepare the flight tickets to Snowfield City. Let us head there as soon as possible."
His hands-on personality led Animusphere to operate the modern technology most magi disdained, a mobile phone, to book flight tickets to Snowfield City.
Two days later, he and his Servant, the King of Magecraft, Solomon, descended upon this land.