This Is My Holy Grail War [20]

Kirei Kotomine had witnessed everything Assassin endured the previous night. Unlike others who relied on familiars or watched from the sidelines like Rider, Kirei saw it all firsthand—through the eyes of his Servant.

Through their bond, he experienced Archer’s overwhelming arrogance and Berserker’s feral madness as if he had been there himself.

From a first-person perspective, Kirei endured the dizzying acrobatics of dodging Archer’s endless barrages, the suffocating bloodlust during Berserker’s assault, and the chaotic sensations of a battlefield drenched in the acrid stench of magical energy and smoke.

For an ordinary man to face such sights, what emotions would arise when confronted with Archer’s relentless bombardment? How would they react to Berserker’s frenzied charge?

Even for Kirei, seasoned in battle and hardened by years of magical knowledge, the oppressive presence of Heroic Spirits had left him drenched in sweat, his back soaked with a cold chill.

To both Kirei and Tokiomi Tohsaka, Assassin’s strength was beyond question. Though lacking a decisive Noble Phantasm to end battles instantly, Assassin was more than capable of delaying even the mightiest knights.

But Assassin’s behavior left Kirei perplexed.

At Tokiomi’s insistence, Kirei had issued a direct command to Assassin, even resorting to using one of his precious Command Seals. Yet, instead of resenting him for it, Assassin harbored no visible hostility.

In fact, from the beginning, Assassin seemed to hold a deep-seated mistrust of Kirei, going so far as to avoid conversations with him entirely.

“Perhaps the only reason we haven’t had a falling-out is that I’m Assassin’s Master,” Kirei mused. He could feel Assassin’s dissatisfaction but noted that neither of them had openly addressed it.

It was now six in the morning, the designated time for his daily communication with Tokiomi.

The dim underground room was silent, save for the rhythmic ticking of the enchanted phonograph that served as their communication device.

Right on time, the phonograph began to play Tokiomi’s voice, precise down to the second—a reflection of the Tohsaka family’s disciplined traditions.

“Kirei… I must apologize for Archer’s actions last night,” Tokiomi began with a regretful tone. “He’s an exceedingly willful Servant, and no amount of persuasion on my part could dissuade him.”

The record spun, carrying Tokiomi’s measured words, though faint static underscored the tension in his voice.

“You needn’t apologize, Teacher. My mission is to help you secure the Holy Grail,” Kirei replied calmly. “Assassin’s role serves that purpose. If sacrificing Assassin’s life ensures your victory, then so be it.”

In both the Church and among magi, familiars were seen as tools. From this perspective, Servants were merely stronger familiars—disposable if they fulfilled their purpose.

“Speaking of Assassin, can you ascertain their loyalty?” Tokiomi’s voice carried a note of urgency.

“Initially, I’d say no,” Kirei admitted. “Assassin’s wish is to use the Grail to manifest a physical body.”

He had misunderstood, conflating Rider’s wish with Assassin’s. Kirei believed that Assassin, too, desired a corporeal form to remain in the mortal world.

“I don’t know why Assassin is so insistent on staying in this world, but it’s clear they will never abandon the Grail,” Kirei continued. “What’s more, they didn’t even question why I used a Command Seal, as if such things didn’t matter to them.”

“Anything else, Kirei?” Tokiomi pressed. He was dismayed by how little Kirei seemed to know about his own Servant.

Tokiomi had paid a significant price to protect Assassin, even angering Gilgamesh and using a Command Seal in front of everyone. Yet now, he realized that Kirei could provide no useful insights.

“Beyond asking me for food when they’re hungry, they have almost no desires,” Kirei added. “That said, their appetite is immense, likely due to insufficient mana reserves.”

“Ah…” Tokiomi sighed audibly. “I now have only two Command Seals left. Worse, everyone knows I used one last night—it was a public display.”

The fact that Tokiomi had used a Command Seal where all the other Masters could see was the real issue.

“Kirei, regarding the Command Seals,” Tokiomi said firmly, “I want you to go to the church as soon as possible, under your own authority.”

“Is there a specific task, Teacher?” Kirei asked. His father, Risei Kotomine, was the overseer of this Holy Grail War. Visiting the church could easily be seen as nepotism.

“I want you to publicly reveal yourself as Assassin’s Master at the church,” Tokiomi explained. “Use your former position as an excuse to cover up last night’s events at the library.”

“Reveal myself?” Kirei was visibly taken aback.

“Yes,” Tokiomi confirmed. “The excuse about maintaining secrecy is just a pretense. The true purpose is to have you openly visit the church and acquire another Command Seal.”

“The fact that you used a Command Seal to control Assassin is a secret known only to us. No one else is aware,” Tokiomi continued. “This allows you to discreetly claim one of the leftover Command Seals from the previous war.”

“I understand,” Kirei replied. He now fully grasped Tokiomi’s intention.

Currently, Kirei had only two Command Seals remaining. But aside from Assassin, only he and Tokiomi knew this.

His father, Risei Kotomine, had access to the surplus Command Seals left over from previous Grail Wars. The Church also possessed methods for transferring them.

Tokiomi’s plan was clear: have Kirei quietly take one of these Command Seals to restore Assassin’s count to three, all without alerting the other Masters.

As for the rules of the Grail War? They were established by magi, and Kirei—a priest—had no reason to follow them strictly.

At dawn, as the first light of day broke over the horizon, Kirei set out on the morning breeze, leaving his hideout behind.

—

This is a fan translation of 这是我的圣杯之战 by 向希望祈祷. All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!