This Is My Holy Grail War

Trailing behind Kirei Kotomine, Assassin followed him to the church.

The path was riddled with unseen observers, countless eyes lurking in the shadows and hidden familiars stationed at every turn. Assassin could feel their sharp gazes, intangible yet piercing, all trained on her.

She was certain Kirei noticed them too. Unlike their previous excursion for food, this time, Assassin's presence would undoubtedly be exposed.

Yet Kirei made no effort to hide her. Instead, he walked straight into the church, openly and without hesitation.

Before them stood the overseer of the Holy Grail War, Risei Kotomine. Despite being father and son, the two interacted as if they were mere strangers.

Assassin remained in her Saber guise, walking lightly behind Kirei. Her appearance caught Risei's attention immediately.

"Is that… not Saber? Then this must be Assassin?!" Risei exclaimed the moment he opened the church doors, feigning shock.

Standing tall at the threshold, Kirei straightened his back like a towering cedar.

"You… are Assassin's Master?" Risei asked, his expression a study in overdone surprise. Though fully aware of the truth, the old priest exaggerated his reaction for effect.

These people are disgusting. Standing among them, Assassin could feel the hypocrisy seeping from every word and gesture. She found herself growing increasingly disdainful of the so-called magi and their world.

"Yes, I am Assassin's Master in this Holy Grail War," Kirei confirmed with a nod.

"Then, Master of Assassin, what business brings you here?" Risei pressed, feigning suspicion. "This is church territory. By the rules, it is a place of permanent neutrality."

"It's about Assassin's actions last night," Kirei began, his tone measured. "Last night, Assassin caused a disturbance. Despite there being no need, they engaged in prolonged combat. If the other Masters hadn't taken precautions beforehand, the mystery of magecraft could have been exposed!" He sounded grave, as though deeply remorseful.

"It's good to see you have such awareness as a Master," Risei replied with exaggerated concern. "Last night's events made the cleanup effort incredibly difficult! I didn't get a wink of sleep!"

"I want to assist you," Kirei offered, perfectly performing the role of a noble and selfless man, one concerned with the sanctity of the Grail War.

"This is why you've come here?" Risei feigned shock once more. "But your Servant is Assassin! Won't openly appearing like this reveal your most critical weapon?!"

"My Assassin is strong," Kirei said, his feigned arrogance matching his tone. "I have no need to hide. I'm confident in my inevitable victory in this Grail War. That's precisely why I want to help ensure the secrecy of magecraft remains intact."

"Such a noble sentiment!" Risei said, barely concealing his scorn beneath a veneer of praise. "In past wars, it's always been a parade of selfish mages using any means necessary to claim the Grail, leaving us burdened with the aftermath."

Tokiomi had instructed Kirei to act disdainful toward others while presenting himself as an upstanding, forthright individual. This performance was meant to lure out potential threats, specifically Lancer and Caster.

"What does the Church need from me?" Kirei asked.

"Your offer of assistance is most welcome," Risei said, clasping Kirei's hands with exaggerated gratitude. "Because of the Holy Grail War, we're terribly short-staffed at the church."

"I'm glad to help," Kirei replied courteously.

"Well, we mostly need someone skilled in suggestion magic to deal with the reporters at the upcoming press conference," Risei said, slipping in the request smoothly. "Do you think you can handle it?"

"I'm quite adept at such magic," Kirei replied. "I've received formal training in it."

"Excellent! Come, let us begin preparations!" The old priest eagerly invited his son inside.

I'm not strong at all… Assassin thought, watching Kirei's retreating figure.

Though she was only a shadow of a human, she understood all too well the gap between herself and other Servants. She had survived three battles in this Holy Grail War.

The first, against Saber, had been a trial of survival for a fledgling warrior.

The second, against Archer, had tested her growing familiarity with her borrowed body.

The third, against Berserker, had forced her to tap into a desperate, almost reckless courage.

Yet, in all these battles, Assassin had walked the razor's edge of death. Her opponents had held back, waiting for the right moment to reveal their true strength.

Saber had not unleashed her Noble Phantasm.

Archer had toyed with her out of sheer amusement.

Berserker had refrained from drawing [Arondight].

If even one of them had fought seriously, I would be dead.

The church's heavy doors swung shut before Assassin, cutting off her view of the two priests inside. Whatever Kirei was discussing with Risei, she knew it was something she wasn't meant to see.

Time crawled by as Assassin stood outside, alone.

When Kirei finally emerged, he carried a picnic basket. The aroma of food wafted from it, unmistakable to her heightened senses.

"Is this your daily routine?" Assassin asked suddenly.

"Hmm?" Kirei raised a brow, slightly surprised. His usually quiet Servant rarely initiated conversations.

"Concealing mysteries is a fundamental lesson for any magus," Kirei explained, lifting the basket slightly. A faint smile tugged at his lips. "The old priest was kind enough to prepare us breakfast."

Assassin tilted her head in confusion, her ahoge swaying gently.