This Is My Holy Grail War

People die.

In Fuyuki City, a string of serial murders cast an oppressive shadow over the coastal town.

Dead bodies.

Missing person reports piled up on the police chief's desk, only to quietly trickle into the world behind the curtain—the secret realm of magi.

By jurisdiction, Fuyuki City fell under the governance of the Tohsaka family. Naturally, Tohsaka Tokiomi received word of the mounting disappearances.

Under normal circumstances, he might have assumed it to be the work of a rival magus. But here, in the midst of the Holy Grail War, who among the magi would be foolish enough to provoke a Servant? This contest was no secret.

Tokiomi's first suspicion was that someone had violated the rules. Perhaps a participant brought into the Grail War by circumstance was now abusing their Servant's power without restraint.

As the city's overseer, Tokiomi could not tolerate such reckless behavior.

Yet he faced a frustrating dilemma. Whoever was responsible was certainly a participant in the Grail War. That meant confronting them would require deploying a Servant, and Tokiomi still wasn't sure if the culprit was Lancer or Caster.

These two Servants remained unseen, lurking in the shadows even now.

In other words, if Tokiomi wanted to enforce order, he would have to use Archer.

But therein lay the problem. How could he convince Gilgamesh to play detective and hunt down a common criminal?

It was impossible. For all of Archer's overwhelming power, Tokiomi couldn't control him.

This proud king would scoff at the very notion of lowering himself to investigate a petty crime, let alone capture a wrongdoer.

Left with no other choice, Tokiomi turned to Kirei Kotomine. If Archer wouldn't obey him, then perhaps Assassin could be tasked with the investigation.

Thus, Tokiomi issued his command: Kirei was to investigate the serial murders and uncover the identity of the Servant responsible. At the very least, he needed to determine whether it was Lancer or Caster.

Tokiomi's lack of intelligence sources made the situation all the more frustrating. Archer was uncontrollable, and Assassin… Assassin was maddeningly passive. While Kirei technically commanded Assassin, Tokiomi suspected it was only due to the Command Spells binding them.

What irritated Tokiomi most was that Assassin hadn't once taken the initiative to gather information. Not once!

It was as if this Servant had no desire to win the war. Why would such an unmotivated being answer the Holy Grail's call?

Tokiomi felt like a deaf and blind man stumbling through the battlefield of the Grail War. Despite having Assassin at his disposal, he was utterly in the dark about the other participants.

---

A shadowy figure drifted through the streets of Fuyuki, unnoticed by the people around him. Only when Assassin passed close by did anyone feel a sudden, bone-chilling cold.

Now freed from [Not For One's Own Glory], Assassin moved through the city in his spirit form, completely invisible to the naked eye. With his B-rank [Presence Concealment], no one could detect him unless he actively revealed himself.

But despite his unseen state, he felt uneasy.

Assassin had grown accustomed to inhabiting Saber's body. The combination of [Instinct], [Mind's Eye], and [Mana Burst] gave him an invaluable sense of security.

Without [Not For One's Own Glory], he lost access to [Instinct] and [Mana Burst], and the vulnerability left him on edge. He could only relax when he reverted to Saber's form, but for now, he had no choice.

He had been sent out by Kirei Kotomine to investigate the serial killings, but deep down, Assassin already knew who was responsible.

Caster.

Still, Assassin dragged his feet. Wandering aimlessly in spirit form, he pretended to search for clues. Even he wasn't sure what he was supposed to accomplish.

If I reveal the truth, they'll ask how I know, he thought grimly. What then? Tell them everything?

No. Assassin couldn't do that. It wouldn't bring him any benefit, and it might even make them doubt his value.

Tokiomi himself didn't realize that victory in this war was as simple as letting Archer run rampant.

Assassin resolved to feign ignorance and provide false leads to Kirei.

This war isn't about the Grail for me. With so many powerful Servants, winning is impossible. I just need to kill one and survive until the next war.

Assassin replayed the entire Holy Grail War in his mind, considering every possibility.

Killing Archer was out of the question. Kirei would never allow him to target Tokiomi, and even if he tried, Gilgamesh's overwhelming strength made the thought laughable.

Saber was equally untouchable. Her Instinct, top-tier [Magic Resistance], and unparalleled endurance ensured that any attempt would be suicidal. Even without unleashing [Excalibur], her [Invisible Air] alone would spell his end.

Killing Saber's Master, Emiya Kiritsugu, was also a fool's errand. Assassin lacked the confidence to take on the seasoned killer, especially now that the timeline had shifted.

Kiritsugu's decision to bomb the library instead of Kayneth's hotel was a move that proved his caution and adaptability.

Assassin wouldn't risk it.

Lancer was another dead end. In close combat, Assassin stood no chance against him. And with Kayneth barricaded in his workshop, attacking him would be equally futile.

Caster? Killing his Master wouldn't change much. Caster's Noble Phantasm would still provide him with endless mana, and Assassin had no weapon capable of destroying the giant sea demon.

Rider? He was an even greater threat. With his EX-rank [Reality Marble] and constant presence by Waver's side, there was no opening to exploit.

As Assassin wandered the streets, his thoughts grew more turbulent. Every Servant flashed through his mind, each one dismissed as an impossible target.

Despair gnawed at him.

Is there really no way forward?

Then, one name lingered in his mind.

Berserker.

Assassin's steps faltered as his thoughts turned to the frenzied knight.

Berserker was wild, unpredictable, and relentless. But his madness was also his greatest weakness.

If I can find a way to exploit that…

Slowly, a grim determination settled over Assassin.

If I can't defeat anyone else, then Berserker will be my prey. I have no choice.

---

T/N: hmmm