Chapter 16: Chapter 016: The Holy Grail War Begins
Reiji had no idea how Tohsaka Tokiomi reacted after Kirei delivered the news.
But honestly—
He didn't care.
Because at that very moment—
A wave of immense energy erupted, spreading across Fuyuki City.
A surge of spiritual pressure filled the air—
Signaling the official start of the Holy Grail War.
Some might suspect this was a trap.
But Reiji knew—
This was the first major battle of the war.
This presence was not being concealed at all.
It spread far and wide, ensuring that every Servant in Fuyuki could sense it.
Even at Ryuudou Temple, Reiji's Servants felt it clearly.
"Shall we go?"
Reiji had expected this question from Tamamo or Zhuge Liang.
But instead—
It was Berserker who asked.
This genuinely surprised him.
After all, Berserker's madness enhancement was rooted in his insatiable thirst for battle.
Normally, he wouldn't ask for permission.
He would just charge straight into the fight.
But this time—
He was waiting for Reiji's decision.
That alone made Reiji smile.
"A Servant broadcasting their presence so openly…"
"This isn't meant for the Masters."
"In a war like this, casters rarely pose a true threat to Servants."
"Which means this presence is meant for the Servants themselves."
"It's a direct challenge."
"Any proud, strong-willed, or battle-hungry Servant will feel provoked—and be drawn to fight."
"That means two possibilities."
"One—this Servant specializes in direct combat."
"Or two—they have some hidden ability that makes them unafraid of exposure."
Reiji's grin widened.
"Well, then…"
"Let's see who took the bait."
At first glance, there seemed to be two possibilities.
But in reality, neither of them mattered to us.
"We have two casters on our side, and with the combined effect of our double bounded fields…
Berserker, I don't believe any enemy will be your match."
Berserker grinned as always at Reiji's words.
"Leave it to me."
Reiji chuckled, then pulled up the hood of his black coat.
His long bangs fell over his eyes, blending into the shadows of the hood.
Taking the lead, he stepped forward.
"Let's move.
No matter what strategy the enemy has prepared—
We will stand undefeated!"
At his side, Tamamo-no-Mae giggled and clung to his arm.
"As expected of Master! Little Tamamo will do her best to protect you~."
Berserker followed silently behind him.
Only Zhuge Liang lingered for a moment, watching the group with a trace of intrigue.
He understood the situation.
But at the same time—
He wasn't sure if this was truly the Holy Grail War he once knew.
After all, in the Holy Grail War he remembered—
There was no Berserker like this.
There was no Caster like this.
And this Master, Reiji Souma, had never existed.
But the world was vast—
And strange occurrences were nothing new.
Well, accompanying him to see how things unfold… might not be so bad.
Reiji led the way, sensing Zhuge Liang catching up behind him.
His smile widened slightly.
Still—
It was time for a proper conversation.
Even though Zhuge Liang was his Servant now—
The battle against Iskandar was inevitable.
But for now—
It wasn't the time.
With that thought, Reiji remained calm.
"We aren't too far from the battlefield, but there's no need to rush."
"After all, there are always plenty of impatient fools."
"We'll arrive in time to clean up all the enemies at once."
"Understood, Master."