This Is My Holy Grail War

"Food?!" Assassin blurted out instinctively.

"But you'll have to wait a little while, Assassin," Kirei Kotomine replied calmly. "The old priest has entrusted us with an important task that must be completed first. So before indulging, let's finish our mission."

"No work, no food," he added pointedly.

Does he mean I have to help him?

Assassin had never experienced something like this before. Curiosity stirred within her, coupled with the fact that, like Kirei, she had skipped breakfast.

While her Servant body didn't require sustenance, the thought of eating had already taken root in her mind.

"Very well," she agreed without hesitation.

Perhaps in the midst of the Holy Grail War, the only solace Assassin could find was in enjoying foreign delicacies.

The harshness of reality weighed on her, leaving her aimless. She wanted to live but didn't know how, and there was no one to whom she could voice her anguish.

By the original rules of the Holy Grail War, a Servant should have had a close and trusting bond with their Master. But Assassin knew full well that her Master would betray her in the end, plunging a knife into her back.

And for now, they maintained a fragile façade of cooperation.

"Don't wear armor or do anything that doesn't align with modern sensibilities," Kirei advised her, his tone almost considerate.

"I understand..."

She deactivated the magical energy that maintained her armor, leaving her clad in the classic Victorian-style dress she'd worn as Saber.

Kirei said nothing further. As they walked under the morning sun, Assassin's gaze fell upon the remnants of last night's battlefield.

Unlike during the chaos of the battle, where the pressure had prevented her from truly observing the library, she now took in the sight. She realized that she hadn't even spared a thought for the library before.

But now, with the soft morning light illuminating the ashes of countless books, an inexplicable sense of melancholy settled over her.

The acrid scent of burnt paper filled her nostrils. All around were craters and shattered walls.

"Today... one of Fuyuki City's largest libraries suffered a devastating incident."

Assassin turned toward the voice. A young female reporter stood nearby, addressing the camera with a somber expression.

"Last night... there was a natural gas leak," the reporter said, her voice trembling. She gripped the microphone tightly, her hand visibly shaking.

"According to the authorities, a major pipeline supplying natural gas to Fuyuki City ruptured near the library, causing a massive explosion that resulted in irreparable damage."

Her tone softened as she added, "Fortunately, the explosion occurred late at night, so there were no significant casualties."

"And now, let us hear from one of our special guests at the scene." The reporter turned, holding the microphone out toward Kirei.

Assassin watched as Kirei accepted the microphone. His face contorted with righteous indignation as he exclaimed, "These gas companies are utterly shameless! Using substandard materials in pipelines meant for transporting combustible gases! Do they feel no guilt for their greed?"

"Despicable!" he declared, his voice laced with grief and fury. His impassioned performance was so convincing it could move anyone to tears.

Though Assassin was well aware of Kirei's knack for dramatics, this time his words carried an odd weight.

"They've prioritized profits over lives—lives of those who come here to learn and better themselves! Look!" Kirei pointed toward a series of craters left from the "explosions."

The cameraman panned toward the craters, following Kirei's gesture.

Assassin's gaze followed as well.

Those marks... they're from when I dodged six consecutive C-rank Noble Phantasms fired by Archer.

"And here!" Kirei gestured toward a larger, deeper pit.

He waved his arms passionately, resembling a civilian venting their anger at war profiteers. "This was no accident! This disaster was the result of human negligence and greed! Those heartless fiends, caring only for money—they are the true devils among us!"

That crater... it was made by Archer's crimson morning star, Assassin thought to herself.

Apparently, the most important skill for an Executor is a thick skin. A bemused thought flitted through her mind as Kirei's elaborate lies unfolded before her.

"Let's hear from this young lady, a student studying abroad!" the reporter suddenly exclaimed, thrusting the microphone toward Assassin.

"Huh? Me?" Assassin looked around, realizing too late that the microphone was already at her lips. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Kirei smiling faintly.

All of this was planned. He's testing me.

Her thoughts raced, panic bubbling beneath her calm exterior. But she knew all she had to do was smile.

"They say you were the last student to leave the library. You were there when it happened. Can you tell us what it was like?" the reporter asked gently.

"It was... deafening," Assassin began, recalling her desperate fight against Archer's Noble Phantasms. "The sound of explosions echoed all around me. The smell of burning paper filled the air. There were so many explosions, one after another... I couldn't hear anything else. All I could think about was staying alive. In the end, I barely managed to escape..."

Her vivid description left the reporter momentarily stunned. The desolate scene around them only added weight to Assassin's words.

"And the books," Assassin added softly. "It's such a shame... they all turned to ash. They were so... precious."

"May the Lord bless you," the reporter said, crossing herself as tears welled in her eyes. "You're such a brave, studious girl... smiling even after all this."

Overcome with emotion, the reporter began to sob, barely managing to stammer through her closing statement. "This... concludes our live report... Please stay tuned..."

As the camera cut off, Kirei clapped his hands. "Well done," he said, his voice laced with approval.

The reporter and cameraman ignored him entirely, as though he didn't exist. The effects of his suggestion magic were flawless.

With the scene over, it was finally time for breakfast.

Assassin peered into the picnic basket, which was packed with food—far more than two people could possibly eat. Most of it consisted of sandwiches, along with a flask of—

"Can I drink this?" Assassin asked, catching the faint aroma of wine. The scent was enticing, instantly awakening her appetite.

"You seem to enjoy wine," Kirei remarked, his tone casual yet observant. "I made sure to include it just for you."

He must have overheard my conversation with Rider last night! Assassin frowned slightly, her wariness toward her enigmatic Master deepening.

Kirei left the basket with her, taking only two sandwiches before walking away, leaving Assassin to eat in solitude.

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T/N: hehehe