Tohsaka Manor. At the moment Sajou Manaka departed, and when the flames erupted from the Matou Manor.
Tokisaka Tohsaka, who had been in his underground workshop observing the aftermath of the warehouse district situation through his familiars, suddenly felt the ground tremble and his expression grew wary.
At the same time, the voice of his disciple, Kotomine Kirei, came from the strangely shaped phonograph before him.
—[Teacher, there seems to be a large fire in the direction of the Matou Manor. How is your situation?]
"I am fine for now. But the Matou Manor..."
Not detecting any signs of intrusion into his residence's bounded field, Tokisaka Tohsaka gripped his staff-shaped Mystic Code, ready to summon his Servant to his side at a moment's notice. His brow furrowed as his mind raced.
An attack by another Master? As one of the Three Founding Families, the Matou family should also be participating in this Holy Grail War. Considering the Servant classes that appeared tonight, the one who attacked the Matou family was most likely Caster...
He didn't think an Assassin's work would be so bombastic. Coupled with Kirei's report and the magical explosion he had sensed at the moment of the tremor, Tohsaka couldn't help but attribute the attack on the Matou family tonight to the unknown Caster.
But for a Caster to attack proactively instead of staying in their workshop, what is their Master thinking?
He had no intention of confirming the casualties at the Matou residence. The moment the Holy Grail War began, the Three Founding Families were already in a state of confrontation.
As Tokisaka Tohsaka mulled over all the events of the night, his thumb unconsciously rubbed the crimson gem on his staff.
But before he could reach any conclusion, a proud and majestic voice suddenly sounded in the underground workshop.
"You are as boring as ever, Tokisaka. Are you planning to perform some amusing sideshow for this King by just standing there foolishly?"
Faint spiritual particles gradually gathered in the air. Soon, Gilgamesh's proud, armored figure abruptly appeared in the workshop. However, he wasn't looking in Tokisaka's direction, but seemed to be still contemplating something, his eyes fixed forward.
"Please forgive my rudeness, my King. However, one of the participants in this war, the Matou family, has just been attacked. The enemy Servant may still be lingering nearby..."
Tokisaka quickly bowed respectfully after recovering, but before he could finish, Gilgamesh waved his hand impatiently, cutting him off.
"Do you truly believe someone would be foolish enough to linger on the scene after a successful ambush?"
"My apologies for my ignorance. But if I may be so bold as to ask... my King, you seem to be in a good mood tonight."
Tokisaka asked with some confusion. Based on their interactions over the past few days, the King of Heroes, Gilgamesh, had always had a "I alone am supreme" personality in his impression. Even their daily conversations were filled with a high-and-mighty attitude.
But now, although Gilgamesh still spoke with arrogance, it was more like a conversation between a king and his subject, rather than a tyrant who disdained everything.
"Oh? Even someone as boring as you can tell? Indeed. Having unexpectedly found something interesting, this King is in a very good mood."
"So rejoice, Tokisaka. This King has decided to take this game a little more seriously. If you perform well, this King wouldn't mind rewarding you with a useless thing like the Holy Grail."
A smile played on Gilgamesh's lips. Watching the man before him, who always tried so hard to maintain an elegant posture, feigning respect while harboring selfish desires, show a look of astonishment at this moment, he couldn't help but feel that he was at least a bit more qualified as a clown.
"...I am truly overwhelmed. Then, to celebrate your glorious light that will soon shine upon the rest of the Holy Grail War, please allow me to first prepare some fine wine for you."
Waving his hand to dismiss Tokisaka, Gilgamesh felt a renewed sense of boredom seeing the other man deliberately suppress his joy to maintain a respectful appearance.
After Tokisaka left the workshop to go to the wine cellar, Gilgamesh had originally intended to go to the living room to ponder the origin of the divine aura on that mysterious young man disguised as Lancer. But at that moment, as if remembering something, he let out a light laugh.
"By the way, you should have seen everything that happened tonight as well, Kirei?"
The King's voice, tinged with amusement, echoed in the air. A few seconds later, Kotomine Kirei's deep voice came from the phonograph.
—[...Yes, Your Majesty, King of Heroes.]
"Then, have you nothing to say?"
—[What do you mean?]
"Hah. I've already seen one shoddy actor tonight, so spare me the act. It is not a mistake to honestly face your own heart."
Faced with Gilgamesh's words, which seemed to contain a certain leading quality, Kotomine Kirei, who had been observing the situation from the shadows all night, remained silent for a while before speaking again.
—[The "Holy Spear," Longinus... If that one's words are true, then his true identity is His Excellency, Saint Longinus. In that case, the Church will likely be unable to maintain a neutral position after tonight. And I, personally, should no longer be able to assist my teacher...]
"Is that all?"
—[...Of course, if possible, I would like to meet with His Excellency. If he is truly a saint who repented and found enlightenment through the inspiration of the "Holy Son," then perhaps he can also give me the answer I have been searching for.]
"In that case, just go and do it. With that boy's personality, he might just give you a different answer."
A joyful arc formed on Gilgamesh's lips. A hollow man, empty of heart, who knew nothing of the world's emotions, and a sincere man with a pure, untainted soul.
What kind of reaction would occur when these two met... Would the former be directly converted by the latter, or would the former, after coming into contact with the latter, fall into despair over their own inner emptiness and blossom into an even more sullied flower...
Either possibility was far more interesting than the answer he had originally planned to give Kirei.
"Consider it your 'punishment' for appearing before this King with a mask. Let this King see how you will face such a spiritually adrift person."
A hint of anticipation appeared in his eyes. But before the smile could fully form, Gilgamesh seemed to remember something else. He frowned and sniffed the air, a look of annoyance and confusion on his face.
"Although this era has its charms, as expected... the air of this city is filled with a nauseating stench. Where on earth is it coming from..."
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