This Is My Holy Grail War [77]

Assassin felt as if her head were wrapped in frost—cold and stiff. She had no idea how long she had been unconscious. Struggling to sit up, she fought against the lingering fatigue and weakness that clung to her.

Caster was nowhere to be seen, and through the window, the soft glow of dawn filtered into the room. Morning had arrived; she had unknowingly slept until daybreak.

The sunlight was gentle, but Assassin’s mind remained foggy. Throwing off the covers, she was greeted by a rush of cold air. It didn’t bother her. Compared to the chaos and bloodshed she was accustomed to, getting out of a warm bed was nothing. Assassin was not the type to linger under the blankets.

Sitting at the edge of the bed, she curiously touched her pointed ears. It seemed Caster had removed her hood and left it neatly by the bedside. Even now, she still bore the face of her Master, Caster.

The room was small, but it was situated close to the main temple hall. Upon waking, Assassin noticed traces of mana lingering in the air—a message left behind by Caster. The mana swirled around her like playful sprites, relaying Caster’s words to her.

Assassin realized she could now command the flow of mana as effortlessly as moving an arm. While this newfound understanding was borrowed from Caster’s abilities, it gave her deeper insight into the nature of magic.

Caster had gone into Fuyuki City to gather mana, compensating for the time lost during the previous night. Meanwhile, Kuzuki Souichirou remained committed to his daily routine. He treated himself like a cog in society’s machinery, deeply embedded in its mechanisms.

The recent incident at the school, covered up as a large-scale gas leak, had placed a duty on Kuzuki as the class homeroom teacher to assist with damage control and support the students.

With his identity as a Master exposed, Kuzuki needed protection. Caster was busy with her mana-gathering efforts, and Sasaki Kojirou, bound to the temple gate, could not leave its confines.

Thus, Assassin received a direct order from Caster.

Though the Holy Grail War’s daytime truce was theoretically in effect to preserve the secrecy of the magical world, no one followed the rule anymore. As far as Caster was concerned, it was no more binding than tissue paper. She had already broken it countless times.

“Why did I even pass out?” Assassin murmured, conjuring a sphere of pure water in her palm. Within its reflective surface, she glimpsed Caster’s elegant face, faintly flushed. The realization hit her—it was probably this body’s lack of tolerance for alcohol.

That must be it…

A series of knocks at the door interrupted her thoughts, followed by a lifeless male voice. It was time to move.

“Caster, it’s time,” Kuzuki’s voice called.

“I’m aware, but Caster is unavailable for now,” Assassin replied through the wooden door, her tone composed.

“…Who are you?”

“Assassin. The one you fought the other day. I’ll be taking Caster’s place and escorting you to the school,” she explained, unsure if Kuzuki would accept her answer. She began rehearsing ways to convince the man if necessary.

“Understood. I’ll entrust my safety to you.”

His immediate agreement surprised her. It wasn’t so much trust in her as it was trust in Caster.

“Master Kuzuki, we can leave at any time.” Assassin mimicked Caster’s tone with a smile. “On the way, please address me as Caster. It will be more advantageous in case of combat.”

“Tactics?” Kuzuki asked, his voice tinged with curiosity.

“Yes,” Assassin confirmed without hesitation. “I’ll familiarize myself with Caster’s magic in the meantime. I may even take over the defense of the temple later.”

There wasn’t much to prepare, nor much that could be prepared. Assuming spiritual form, Assassin followed Kuzuki as he left the temple grounds. She passed by Sasaki Kojirou at the gate but chose not to disturb him. The gatekeeper rested peacefully, not the time for conversation.

Kuzuki’s stride was steady and resolute, his back straight and his steps deliberate. Assassin found herself marveling at the man’s bearing, understanding, perhaps, what had so captivated Caster about him.

When they arrived at the school, it was eerily silent. No students greeted them; no representatives of the faculty stood waiting. The campus felt abandoned.

At the entrance of the school grounds stood a single figure. Though a decade had passed and age had etched its marks, Assassin recognized him immediately. Even if he had turned to ash, she would never fail to identify this man.

—Kotomine Kirei.

Her instinct was to shout his name, but she restrained herself, forcing her emotions back into check.

“Hm?” Kuzuki’s expression remained impassive as he scanned the campus before turning his attention to the man. “You seem to have been waiting here for some time, but I don’t recall the school hiring a priest.”

“Yes, I’ve been waiting—for the arrival of a murderer.” Kotomine’s voice broke the silence, heavy with hostility.

“I don’t deny it,” Kuzuki replied without a hint of anger at the accusation. “I am, indeed, a decayed killer.”

“A killer who has hidden in Fuyuki for ten years!” Kotomine’s voice rose, his anger palpable. “Allowing someone like you to exist is a threat to the people. And yet, for a decade, I failed to notice. Not until the incident did I realize the truth. I have sinned.” He crossed himself, his face grave.

“You’ve harbored Caster and manipulated a child with a fragile mind to carry out acts of terror. This city has suffered enough at the hands of outsiders like you!” Kotomine’s accusation was clear. The “child with a fragile mind” was undoubtedly Matou Shinji.

“Countless tragedies have plagued Fuyuki. This city—this cursed city. First, the mages. Now, murderers like you!” Kotomine’s voice carried conviction, his words a condemnation not just of Kuzuki but also of himself.

“All threats to the people’s safety must be eradicated,” he declared, his resolve unwavering. “The people should live peacefully in this city, free from the intrusion of demons like you.”

Assassin observed Kotomine carefully. He was no longer the gleeful sadist she once knew. Instead, he stood before her as a stern exorcist, a man determined to cleanse the city of its darkness.

—

T/N: ???????????????????????? WHAT????????????

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!