This Is My Holy Grail War [83]

“Assassin, I hear from Rin that you still retain your memories from the last Holy Grail War?”

From the shadows behind her, a voice reached her ears before she reluctantly raised her gaze to meet its owner.

If her current Master was Caster and her former Master Tohsaka Rin, then her first Master had been none other than Kirei Kotomine.

He still wore the same simple priest’s cassock, his short hair neat, the ever-present golden cross gleaming on his chest. Yet, the clarity that had once defined his gaze was long gone. What remained was a faint weariness and a steely resolve he barely managed to maintain. Any trace of doubt had vanished from his expression, replaced by a deep-seated enmity toward the mysteries of the world.

From what Assassin had learned, she surmised that this man had come to utterly despise the Holy Grail.

He must have discovered what the Grail truly contains to feel this way…

“[Oblivion Correction],” Assassin replied evenly, breaking the silence. “There are things that, once remembered, can never be forgotten. Perhaps that’s why I still recall everything from the last Holy Grail War.” Beneath her hood, her brow furrowed tightly. This was the most plausible explanation she could provide.

“[Clairvoyance], [Oblivion Correction],” Kotomine muttered as if contemplating something profound. “It’s all part of His divine will. Though He gave me countless chances, I still chose the worst possible path. How pathetic. How tragic. I had the chance to save those children who perished under the Servants’ Noble Phantasms, but instead… I failed. I sinned. I am guilty, guilty…”

With slow, deliberate movements, he traced a cross over his chest, his face steeped in remorse. A devout believer, he offered a heartfelt prayer to the Lord, and Assassin had no doubt that tears might soon follow.

“What happened after I died?” Assassin asked cautiously. “Fuyuki City looks fine now.”

“Flames engulfed the sky, and countless demons ravaged the city, leaving nothing but devastation in their wake,” Kotomine said with a heavy sigh. “The city’s order crumbled entirely. It took ten years to restore even a semblance of what Fuyuki once was.”

“What did you do?” Assassin’s tone held a trace of curiosity. From Kotomine’s words, she could sense the chaos that had unfolded but was unclear on how he had pulled the city back from the abyss.

“I made a deal with a Servant to save as many civilians as I could,” Kotomine said, but his voice faltered before he could elaborate. The nature of the deal remained a mystery, one even Assassin couldn’t unravel.

“I regret it deeply. If I had abandoned everything to pursue victory back then, perhaps none of this would have happened.” His sigh was heavy with remorse. “Still, to see you again is a small mercy. Betraying you… I truly am sorry.”

“Well, well, my, my. A precious child is always a welcome sight, no matter where they may appear,” Caster interrupted, emerging gracefully from the mist, her dragon tooth soldiers trailing obediently behind her. Draped in her hooded cloak, she surveyed Kotomine with a mixture of amusement and disdain. “A Master who would betray their Servant—this Holy Grail War is truly attracting the strangest sorts.”

“But don’t worry, Assassin,” Caster said, her voice softening into an affectionate tone. “This time, I’ll take good care of you.”

“Thank you,” Assassin replied simply.

“Assassin… was once Kotomine’s Servant?!” Rin’s shocked voice broke through the air as she processed the revelation. Her incredulity was written all over her face. Assassin gave a small, silent nod in acknowledgment, making no attempt to deny it.

Under the silent moonlight, the two factions squared off. The clash was inevitable. Sasaki Kojirō, the guardian of the temple gate, was occupied with Saber, leaving the enemy free to infiltrate the workshop. There was no retreat. This would be a fight to the death.

“Keep an eye on Tohsaka Rin,” Assassin quietly advised Caster. “She’s a talented magus—one of the best I’ve seen.”

“Hm?” Caster’s gaze shifted to the dark-haired girl. At Assassin’s suggestion, she took a closer look. Even by the standards of her own age, where the gods still walked among mortals, Rin’s talent stood out as extraordinary. In the modern era, it was nothing short of exceptional.

“Ah, such a lovely young lady,” Caster remarked, her tone tinged with curiosity and admiration. “Such a rare magical talent. In the Age of the Gods, someone like her could have been chosen as a priestess. If circumstances allowed, I wouldn’t mind taking her as my disciple.”

“I didn’t come here for idle chatter,” Rin shot back sharply, rejecting the idea outright. “I came to reclaim what’s mine. Then I’ll take down you, the witch I can’t stand. And by the way, we’re in the modern era—why are you still wearing such a gaudy, outdated robe? You look like some rural bumpkin. Honestly, having a third-rate magus like you as my teacher would make me a laughingstock.”

“A witch?! A bumpkin?! A third-rate magus?!” Caster’s voice rose in fury, her anger so palpable it was as if the air itself had grown hotter. Magic circles materialized in the sky, spinning ominously.

“To maintain your resolve and press forward despite losing your Servant—that determination deserves some recognition. But barging recklessly into a magus’s workshop is tantamount to suicide. Truly, magi of this era are nothing but fools. You squander the opportunity to learn from a superior teacher.”

“You? A superior teacher? Don’t make me laugh,” Rin retorted.

“No wonder Assassin abandoned you,” Caster shot back venomously. “Modern magi are insufferably arrogant, always assuming they know best. Even if you count the Saber outside, you only have two Servants. Three against two—did you even think that through? You’re nothing more than a reckless little girl.”

“Well then, let’s end this,” Rin declared firmly, stepping forward. “Caster, your opponent is me.”

“Master versus Master?” Caster mocked, her voice dripping with derision. “Should I admire your courage or ridicule your ignorance, little girl?” The magic circles behind her spun faster, her cloak unfurling into wings of power. “It seems I’ll need to teach you a harsh lesson.”

—

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!