This Is My Holy Grail War

Being alive is wonderful.

This was the first thought Assassin had on his resurrection as a Heroic Spirit. Though his body remained a spiritual form, it now felt solid, no longer teetering on the verge of dissolution.

I wonder what happened to my old body… It's probably buried by now. He couldn't help but think of his past life.

As the air entered his form, he could feel the world's breath coursing through every part of him. The rustling leaves of the forest sang softly in his ears, and the gentle trickle of a nearby stream touched him deeply.

What an incredible feeling. If he had eyes, tears of joy would surely be streaming from them.

However, the moment Assassin laid eyes on Kirei Kotomine, his elation turned cold.

Assassin desired the Holy Grail. He craved combat, yearned for victory—but above all, he understood one thing: his Master could not be trusted.

How could someone who didn't desire the Grail possibly achieve victory in the Holy Grail War? Moreover, he knew his own abilities were lacking; he was likely the weakest of all the summoned Servants in this war.

The odds of victory were infinitesimal.

And so… Assassin's new goal was not to win, but simply to kill a single Servant. If he could accomplish that, he would qualify for the next Holy Grail War.

I can't expose Kirei Kotomine or Tokiomi Tohsaka's schemes right now. Kirei's goal is for Tohsaka to claim the Grail. Assassin's mind worked quickly, adjusting his strategy to align with his survival. If he shifted his focus from victory to eliminating one Servant, his goals would no longer conflict with Kirei's.

Assassin had abandoned all hope of claiming the Grail in this war. His sole priority now was to kill one Servant and ensure his survival.

He didn't want to die. He didn't believe in the vague promise that killing a Servant would allow him to participate in the next war. But no matter how hard he thought, he couldn't find another path to survival.

Do I need the Grail to revive? Or is victory alone enough? He couldn't shake his doubts. Does it matter if the Master wins? Or must I claim the Grail myself?

These uncertainties haunted him, yet he had no choice but to play along.

Kirei had asked for his name, but Assassin's memory was fractured. Most of it was gone—his name, his life, all shrouded in mist. When he checked his status, his class, attributes, skills, and Noble Phantasm were all listed clearly. Only his true name remained obscured.

True Name: (Veiled in Mist)

To conceal his amnesia, Assassin fabricated a lie, which Kirei readily believed. Soon after, Kirei mentioned taking him to meet Tokiomi Tohsaka.

"Follow me. Make sure no one sees you," Kirei instructed.

"I understand."

Assassin shifted into spirit form, trailing silently behind Kirei.

The nights in Fuyuki City were far from quiet. This bustling city, perched at the mouth of the Mion River, was alive with activity. Crowds moved along the streets, and Kirei's distinctive priestly attire turned more than a few heads.

To the ordinary citizens, there was no sign of Assassin's ethereal form. All they saw was the striking figure of a priest walking alone, his long black robe swaying in the wind.

"We're here."

To anyone passing by, it might have seemed like Kirei was speaking to himself. In truth, he was addressing Assassin.

They had arrived at a luxurious villa on the outskirts of Fuyuki, situated atop one of the city's few leylines.

As the overseers of Fuyuki, the Tohsaka family had claimed this vital location to safeguard the city. Unlike the usual tension between magi and the Church in other cities, the Tohsaka family maintained an unusually harmonious relationship with the Church here.

Assassin's Presence Concealment ranked at B, rendering him virtually undetectable. Coupled with his exceptional Agility, even Tokiomi Tohsaka, the villa's master, would be unable to sense his presence. He melded seamlessly into the environment.

In truth, Assassin wasn't using any sophisticated techniques. He simply relied on his skills and remained still in spirit form.

"Reveal yourself, Assassin. There's no need to hide here," Kirei said.

At his words, a strange ripple stirred the air behind him, and a veil of black mist materialized into existence.

"Kirei, you've joined the Holy Grail War?"

The heavy wooden door creaked open, and a man's surprised voice echoed through the room.

"Yes."

As soon as Kirei finished speaking, both men instinctively turned their gazes toward Assassin.

At that moment, Assassin did something unusual—he opened his nonexistent eyes.

From the darkness, two crimson orbs emerged, burning like embers in the black fog. They fixed on Tokiomi Tohsaka, radiating an oppressive aura that felt like a crushing weight. Tokiomi found it hard to breathe under the gaze, as though a thousand-pound stone pressed down on his chest.

Despite his preparations, the presence of a Servant was far more overwhelming than Tokiomi had anticipated.

Before this meeting, Kirei had already provided Tokiomi with detailed information about Assassin. This encounter was nothing more than a performance staged to deceive their intended audience: Assassin.

On the surface, Tokiomi appeared calm and composed, but the subtle tapping of his thumb against his staff betrayed his inner unease.

"He seems like a formidable killer," Tokiomi remarked. "Kirei, I assume no one else knows you've summoned a Servant?"

"No one," Kirei replied, shaking his head.

The two exchanged practiced lines, their dialogue an act rehearsed in advance. Their purpose was to create an illusion of normalcy for Assassin, ensuring the Servant remained loyal and unaware of their deeper plans.

Initially, Kirei had opposed this deception, believing the Command Spells were sufficient to enforce obedience. But Tokiomi had insisted.

Their staged argument escalated until, with a dramatic flair, Kirei slammed the door and stormed out with Assassin in tow.

The performance wasn't just for Assassin—it was also meant to mislead other Masters. By creating the impression of a rift between teacher and student, they aimed to secure a strategic advantage in the war.

At this early stage of the Holy Grail War, with only Assassin summoned, Kirei had been carefully testing his Servant. But despite his efforts, Assassin had yet to pledge loyalty.

This Servant was proving to be a difficult one—unyielding and inscrutable.

Kirei had patience. Tokiomi, however, was growing restless.