Shinji Matou at Your Service

In the evening, a spell preset at the head of the bed forcibly woke Shinji from his sleep, dispelling the remnants of his drowsiness within seconds.

"It's time."

Uttering this phrase, laden with special significance, in a voice so calm it surprised even himself, the man who had been working tirelessly and then slept like a log began to stretch and move his limbs. At the same time, he materialized a pure white robe woven by the Third Magic.

As expected, a knock on the door sounded, followed by Jack's voice.

"Papa, it's time. Wake up."

"Coming."

Shinji straightened his hair in the mirror and opened the door.

"Papa."

Jack, as usual, leaped into his arms. Shinji skillfully caught her, and they rubbed their foreheads together.

"Do your best."

"Yeah!"

"Do your best, Shinji."

Reika also opened her arms, embracing both father and daughter.

"Jack and I will be waiting for you to come back."

Shinji said nothing, silently holding Jack and Reika for a moment. Then he turned to the last person waiting outside the door: the knight who would always head into battle with him, no matter what happened—the king among knights.

The increasingly tacit understanding between the master and servant required no words. A single exchange of glances conveyed everything.

Departure!

As you command, Master!

The detailed battle plan had been issued in the morning. At this time, everyone should gather at the plaza of Millennia Castle, take a vehicle to the capital, Bucharest, and then transfer to the large transport golem prepared in advance by Avicebron, heading straight for the Hanging Gardens hovering offshore.

When Shinji arrived at the parking lot, many people were already there.

"Listen up, your task is to drive to Bucharest and then return here. Do not do anything unnecessary."

Gordes sternly instructed the two homunculi assigned to menial tasks.

"If you are seen by the Mage's Association, you won't be coming back. Even though you are just inferior products, wasting you meaninglessly would still affect my reputation."

"You don't have much of a reputation to begin with," said Toole bluntly, who had accompanied them.

"Please don't say that, Miss Toole," Siegfried, standing on the other side, interjected.

"Master is also concerned for you."

"What? How could I be concerned about them?"

Gordes went into a frenzy, leading to a familiar bout of bickering that everyone was used to.

Not far from them, by the flowerbed, Kairi squatted, smoking, one cigarette after another, seemingly intent on finishing the entire pack in one go.

Before long, only two cigarettes remained in the box. Kairi carefully lit one with the treasured lighter he kept in his pocket, and the freshly dissipated smoke once again filled the air.

"Master…"

"Here, take it."

Noticing Mordred's keen interest, Kairi pulled out a cigarette and handed it over.

"Oh, oh, I've wanted to try this for a long time."

The rebellious knight, dressed in her usual provocative attire, held the cigarette between her fingers and then mimicked Kairi by putting it in her mouth.

Kairi helped her light it.

The moment Mordred took a deep drag, she made a hard-to-describe face.

"Cough, cough, what is this?"

Kairi had been waiting for that expression and laughed unabashedly.

"Tastes awful, doesn't it?"

"Master, do you think this tastes good?"

"Of course, the first time is terrible, but you get used to it."

"Why would anyone want to get used to something like this?"

"Idiots. I forgot that a long time ago."

"This is just awful, just like this thing."

Mordred coughed a few more times but didn't throw away the annoying cigarette. Instead, she handled it more and more carefully.

"When you think about it, isn't this just like our lives?"

"Yeah."

They both understood what the other was talking about. He had seen her dreams, and she had seen his past.

The more desperately you crave something, the more unattainable it becomes. In the end, you are left with nothing but to swallow the bitter fruit alone, much like this choking cigarette.

"Master, I no longer dream of the sword selection because my dream has already been fulfilled. But you..."

"I'm fine because I've already found something I want to do."

"Something you want to do? What is it?"

"That's a secret."

"Tell me, Master."

Mordred habitually tried to pat Kairi on the shoulder. Kairi, anticipating this, dodged and ran off.

"I can't tell you means I can't tell you."

"Don't think you can escape!"

Mordred wasn't about to give up and chased after him with fierce determination. After a few steps, she saw Artoria, in full battle gear, standing quietly nearby. Immediately, she froze, like a mouse caught by a cat, standing there helplessly.

"Uh, um, Father... I..."

"It's okay to relax a bit before battle, but don't go overboard."

"I got it, uh, wait, what?"

She had expected her stern father to scold her but was instead gently reminded.

"And the cigarette..."

"I'll put it out immediately."

"Forget it. While it's not a good thing, there's no need to waste it. Just this one."

Artoria's reaction once again exceeded Mordred's expectations, and she couldn't help but beam with joy, nodding repeatedly.

"Mm, mm, mm, Father is the best. Hehehe..."

Seeing Mordred's silly smile, like a child, Kairi took a deep drag on his cigarette.

If that child were still here, she'd probably be as old as Mordred by now. Would she be playing around with me like this?

Probably not. That child was quiet by nature and likely wouldn't be so lively. I wouldn't have let her become like this either.

But no matter which one, they are both so dazzling, both people I cherish.

That child is gone, and even wishing upon the Holy Grail can't bring her back. So at least, let Mordred...

Behind his sunglasses, his gaze grew resolute. Although half of him had died with that child's passing, the remaining half could still do something. In the end, he could still recover something he had lost before.

That is the most fundamental thing for a human, the emotion necessary for humans to dominate this world.

This battle must be won, and it will be won.

His free hand unconsciously reached into his pocket, gripping the newly completed syringe. It was his greatest contribution and an indispensable item for the Black Faction's assault on the Hanging Gardens.

On the other side, Achilles and Chiron stood side by side, the former holding his spear aimed at the distant sky.

"Acting together with my teacher like this, it's been a long time."

Chiron's lips curled into a nostalgic smile.

"Yes, back then, you were only this tall and always making mistakes."

Atalanta glanced at Achilles with slight surprise, and he responded somewhat awkwardly.

"Back then, I didn't understand things, but now it's different. My wish is to exist as a hero. I must live up to the title of 'hero.' How about a competition? Big Sis, Teacher, let's see who can defeat more enemies."

"I have no problem with that. I'm just not sure what tactics that wicked woman and the strange priest will use to counter us."

A hint of worry appeared on Atalanta's face, but Achilles swung his spear confidently.

"No matter their tactics, we must not let their schemes succeed."

"You've truly grown into an outstanding hero, Achilles," Chiron sighed softly.

"Very well, I accept this challenge."

Achilles was instantly filled with fighting spirit.

"Then watch closely. Big Sis, I will surpass my father. Teacher, I will surpass you too."

"Don't get too cocky. I've never lost a competition to a student."

"I'll be your first loss."

"It's good to be determined, but don't rush too much and burden the Master unnecessarily."

Hearing Chiron's reminder, Caules quickly waved his hand.

"No need to worry about me. This is not just your battle; it's mine too. Even though I'm not an excellent magus, I'll do my best not to hold you back. Whether you run at full speed or use your Noble Phantasms, I won't limit you. The goal is singular: victory!"

"Well said, Master. Let's create some havoc."

"Don't push yourself too hard, Master."

Achilles laughed heartily, while Chiron shook his head slightly, a bit helpless.

Witnessing this scene, Atalanta thought of her own Master. She turned and quietly asked another man who shared the same affiliation.

"Master—Is Fiore still locked in her room?"

"Mm."

Shinji sighed.

"Artoria went to see her, but she didn't respond at all. I guess she's still mad at me and Caules."

"It's only natural for her to be angry. What you did was cruel to her."

"Yeah, but I don't regret it. Someone had to stay behind, and she, as the clan head, was the most suitable person. Besides, her personality isn't suited for the cruelty of war. This is a good opportunity to fulfill my promise to her. After all, who knows if I'll come back alive."

As the current head of the Yggdmillennia clan, Fiore was naturally prepared to lead by example and head to the front lines. She had been actively preparing for this.

However, this morning, when Chiron issued the battle plan, Fiore wasn't included.

At first, Fiore thought it was a mistake. But when she asked, she found out that they had no intention of taking her along.

Fiore strongly opposed this but was forcibly subdued by Shinji and Caules. Ignoring her authority as clan head, sister, and Master, they knocked her out and took her to the operating table to remove and reconstruct the deformed parts of her magic circuits.

Although the surgery wasn't long or extensive, the changes to her magic circuits left Fiore extremely weak. Not only was she unable to fight, but even moving became very difficult.

In such a physical state, she couldn't go to the front lines. Because of this, Fiore hated the two instigators, not speaking a word to them or seeing them off.

"You don't need to worry about magic supply. During the surgery, I linked most of the magic circuits to myself, so you can draw freely from me."

"I know, I'm just a bit envious of them."

"Sorry."

Catching the look of disappointment in Atalanta's eyes, Shinji apologized.

"It's okay. You didn't do anything wrong. As long as we survive, there will still be opportunities."

"Yeah, let's both do our best, for ourselves, for the world, and for Fiore."

As they spoke, Roche and Avicebron arrived at the gathering point, followed by a bronze golem. On the golem's shoulder was a dark object, resembling a huge lump of earth.

One end of the lump had an opening, through which a pale face, filled with hateful eyes and a constantly moving mouth, could be seen. Judging by the mouth movements, she must be cursing continuously, but due to the magic seal, no one could hear her.

Soon, her former Servant Astolfo and her most hated homunculus Sieg arrived, as noisy as ever.

Astolfo ran ahead, with Sieg chasing behind.

"Hurry up, Master, we're going to be late."

"Don't run so fast, Rider, I can't keep up."

"Ah, everyone is already here."

"Sorry for making everyone wait so long."

"It's all my fault. I accidentally overslept."

As usual, an absurd reason. Fellow Rider Achilles couldn't help but retort:

"A Servant oversleeping? No, to be precise, Servants shouldn't need to sleep."

"But sleeping feels so good, especially when I'm cuddling with Master."

"I'm an idiot for even talking to you about this."

Achilles showed an exasperated expression, and the others weren't any different.

"I say, Rider's Master, can't you control him a bit as his Master?"

"Um, I really can't."

Sieg scratched his cheek with some distress. Although he had only been born recently, he wasn't lacking in common sense. He intended to do as other Masters did, allowing his Servant to either stay in spirit form or freely roam the castle. But when he mentioned this, Astolfo cried out, "Are you saying you'd be happier if I wasn't around!?" and "Only when I sleep with Master do I feel fully energized."

In the end, Sieg had to compromise. As a homunculus designed to supply magical energy, his magic circuits were of extremely high quality. Even keeping Astolfo materialized all the time didn't pose much of a burden.

"Well, well, don't sweat the details. Thanks to Master, I'm in top form right now. Charge! Let's smash those villains who want to destroy the world to pieces."

Seeing Astolfo so full of fighting spirit, the others couldn't say much more. Saving the world was the priority now.

Jeanne, who had been reviewing the battle plan in the passenger seat, stepped out of the car and addressed everyone:

"For this operation, there are no strict rules or conditions. Even if you achieve your wishes with the Greater Grail first, that's fine. The sole objective is to defeat Amakusa Shirou Tokisada and prevent him from using the Greater Grail's power to destroy the world. Is everyone ready?"

Some responded loudly, some nodded quietly, and some hefted their weapons. Though their responses varied, they all conveyed the same resolve.

"Let's move out!"

The roar of engines echoed throughout the Millennia Castle, causing a nearby curtain to lift slightly.

A pair of beautiful eyes hid in the darkness, filled with shimmering moisture, unclear whether it was the natural color of the pupils or the mist spreading from the corners.

"You traitors..."

"I will get my revenge on you, definitely..."

"So, you must come back. Otherwise, I will never forgive you."

"Shinji, Caules..."