This Is My Holy Grail War

On the morning news, Assassin's face became the center of attention. To the general public, the foreign girl's serene yet captivating presence was a breath of fresh air.

But to the Masters involved in the Holy Grail War, Assassin's bold appearance under the spotlight was laden with intrigue. A Servant meant for stealth had openly revealed not just herself but also her Master.

"Isn't that Kirei Kotomine?" murmured Kayneth Archibald El-Melloi, staring at the screen. His gaze shifted to Assassin, and he immediately confirmed their partnership.

Not long ago, his familiars had witnessed Kirei and Assassin together at the church. The man had declared his affiliation without hesitation.

"What an idiot," Kayneth scoffed at the image of Kirei on the screen. "A Master of Assassin, staging such an elaborate charade—who wouldn't see through such a farce?"

As he stared at the television, relishing his contempt, the screen suddenly went dark.

"Why are we still hiding in the workshop?!" Sola-ui Nuaba-Re Sophia-Ri stormed into the room, her voice laced with frustration. "Even Assassin is operating in the open, so why won't you let Lancer fight?!"

"I assure you, my dear Sola, the situation outside is far from clear—" Kayneth began, but Sola cut him off.

"Far from clear?!" she retorted sharply. "Caster is the only Servant who hasn't been identified! Everyone else has already revealed themselves. Even Rider and his Master are on the battlefield! Yet here you are, still cowering!"

Her accusation stung.

"Assassin is still active and remains a formidable threat... I can't afford to take unnecessary risks," Kayneth replied, trying to maintain his composure.

Kayneth had altered the rules of the Holy Grail War using his exceptional magical prowess. Though he had contracted with Lancer, the one providing magical energy to sustain the Servant was Sola.

The Command Spells were in Kayneth's possession, but the cost of Lancer's upkeep fell to her. This arrangement allowed Kayneth to conserve his energy and participate in battles directly.

But now, standing in Fuyuki, Kayneth was beginning to regret bringing Sola along.

The battles between Servants were far more ferocious than he had anticipated. Worse, he realized an even greater threat loomed.

If it wasn't the library that had been bombed last night but the Hyatt Hotel... could my workshop withstand such an attack?

The answer was clear: absolutely not.

If explosives were planted in the Hyatt, the same way they had been at the library, there would be no chance to counterattack.

Initially, Kayneth had thought this Holy Grail War was just another magical contest hosted in this remote corner of the world. He never imagined that the participants would begin by blowing up an entire building.

The realization had shaken him. He had considered moving his workshop but had hesitated, unwilling to tarnish his pride.

Now, the unbridled madness of the other Masters made him deeply worried about Sola's safety. He wanted her to stay in the workshop while he ventured out with Lancer. Yet, given the situation, he found himself reevaluating his strategy.

Kayneth loved Sola and didn't want to expose her to unnecessary danger—even if it meant abandoning the Grail.

"It's not just Assassin. There's also whoever bombed the library," Kayneth said, his tone heavy with concern.

Sola dismissed his words with a frustrated sigh. "Didn't you see? Assassin and his Master are clearly honorable people. Why would they stoop to such underhanded methods? You're being paranoid!"

Kayneth felt a pang of unease.

Sola had planted spies at the church without informing me.

His mind raced. He had learned of the morning's events from his familiars but hadn't yet shared the details with Sola.

Kayneth's familiars had observed Kirei meeting the church overseer, taking responsibility for the cover-up of last night's events. But Sola seemed to know everything already.

That could only mean she had placed her own familiars there, acting independently.

"It's not like that, my dear Sola," Kayneth said quickly, trying to calm her. "Kirei Kotomine, Assassin's Master, has ties to the church overseeing this Holy Grail War. Surely you see the conflict of interest—"

"Enough with your excuses," Sola interrupted sharply. "Rider's Master is that student of yours, isn't he? If that brat has the courage to step onto the battlefield with his Servant, why don't you?"

Kayneth's face stiffened.

He had intended to summon Rider using the mantle fragment of Iskandar, the King of Conquerors. But the artifact had been stolen—by none other than his prized student, Waver Velvet.

Instead, Kayneth had been forced to summon Lancer using a backup artifact.

"Enough," Kayneth muttered, his exhaustion finally showing.

Lancer entered the room, his voice firm and respectful. "Even if you are my Master's fiancée, you must not insult him so, Lady Sola."

His words silenced her immediately. Her defiance melted into bashful hesitation, her cheeks tinged with red.

"My Master undoubtedly has his reasons," Lancer continued, his noble tone unyielding. "I have sworn my loyalty to him, and until he commands me otherwise, I shall not act on my own."

"Lancer, I—" Sola faltered, unable to form a coherent response.

Kayneth sighed wearily, grateful for Lancer's intervention. "Lancer, you may leave the workshop to scout the enemy, but you are forbidden from revealing your Noble Phantasm unless absolutely necessary."

"Understood, my lord!" Lancer's stoic demeanor cracked for a moment, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

"I shall bring back victory, Master. This I swear!" Lancer proclaimed before leaving with a resolute stride.

As Sola watched him go, her gaze lingered, filled with admiration.

Kayneth, however, watched her, his heart heavy with bitterness. Pain twisted within him as he clenched his fists, tempted to shatter the cup on the table. But his refined upbringing restrained him. Instead, he sat silently, his resentment simmering.

---

Elsewhere in Fuyuki City…

The dim, decrepit room reeked of blood.

Amid the oppressive silence, a strange scraping sound echoed—sharp and unsettling.

Suddenly, a burst of light illuminated the shadows. Caster emerged, his distorted face lit by the eerie glow of a crystal orb.

"Master, look!" Caster exclaimed with feverish excitement.

"Hmm? What is it now, old man?" Ryuunosuke Uryuu yawned, barely stirring from the bed.

He had stayed up all night, consumed by his art. Now, exhaustion pressed heavily on him, and he wanted nothing more than to sleep.

"It's her! My saint!" Caster shrieked, nearly incoherent with emotion.

In the crystal ball, a blurry image flickered: a golden-haired girl on a television screen.

Ryuunosuke perked up slightly, his curiosity piqued. "Who's got you so worked up this time?"

"My saint! My Jeanne d'Arc! My Holy Maiden!" Caster wept, collapsing to his knees.

The name struck Ryuunosuke like a bolt of lightning. "Jeanne d'Arc? France's saint? You think that girl is her?"

"She is!" Caster cried, his voice trembling with conviction. "The flames consumed her once, but now... now she has returned! My beloved Jeanne..."

Tears streaming down his grotesque face, Caster stumbled out of the room, muttering incoherently.

"Master, what should I do when meeting the most important person of my life?" Caster asked, his tone a mix of reverence and despair.

"Give her a gift, obviously," Ryuunosuke replied, smirking.

"A gift... for my saint?" Caster mused aloud, his eyes narrowing. Slowly, his gaze turned to the bustling streets outside.

"Yes, something extraordinary. Something... artistic."

He raised his hand, his fingertips aglow with magic. "They've ignored the saint's arrival. But their existence will not be meaningless..."