"I told you not to come, yet you brought an odd guest. Is he the seventh Master, Rin?"
The tall priest closed his Bible, turning to Rin Tohsaka. Rin looked away, avoiding his gaze, while Shirou Emiya stepped forward, drawing the priest's attention. "I'm Kirei Kotomine. Your name, seventh Master?"
"I'm Shirou Emiya."
Hearing the name, Kotomine paused, then said, "Emiya?"
A low chuckle escaped him, as if he'd found something amusing. His expression brightened with a clear smile. "You're Saber's Master, then, Shirou Emiya."
"Yes, I've formed a contract with Saber, but honestly, I don't know much about the Holy Grail War or being a Master. If a Master needs to be a proper magus, it'd be better to choose someone else."
Kotomine's expression didn't shift, his smile lingering like he was appraising a new toy. "I see. A serious matter."
His words clashed with his demeanor.
Rin spoke up. "So, explain it to him from the start."
She didn't mention she'd already covered the basics, as if saying, "I'm too lazy to teach, you do it."
Kotomine raised an eyebrow. "Oh? This is the first time you've asked me for a favor."
He approached them. "Shirou Emiya, a Master's role can't be handed off!
"Once you're a Master, you can't abandon it. Being a Master is a trial, a burden you can't escape until you claim the Holy Grail."
His hollow eyes fixed on Shirou, not truly seeing him but someone else, someone absent.
"Shirou Emiya, you're caught in a battle called the Holy Grail War."
"Where seven Masters slaughter each other, right?" Shirou said.
"It's a ritual to select the one worthy of the Holy Grail."
"The Holy Grail? The one from the Bible?" Shirou asked, prompting Rin to glance at him.
She'd explained the Grail at his house, yet he acted clueless!
He's quite the actor, she thought.
Kotomine said, "The Grail that descends on this town is genuine. Proof lies in the miraculous existence of Servants. A Grail with such power would grant its owner limitless strength.
"In the face of such power, the item's authenticity is irrelevant."
Shirou countered, "If the Grail's that powerful, why have a War? Why not share it?"
"As you say, but only one can claim the Grail. That's not our choice... it's the Grail's."
Shirou's expression shifted. He hadn't heard this at home. "The Grail decides?"
"The Grail initiates it all, selecting a sole victor through their competition and bloodshed. That's the Holy Grail War."
Shirou glanced at the Command Spell scars on his left hand, his face twisting with disgust. "I can't accept that. Killing other Masters is the only way? That's unthinkable."
"Wait, that's a misunderstanding!" Rin interjected, correcting him. But Kotomine cut in, "It's mutual slaughter."
Rin glared at him. "Shut up!"
She knew her caretaker was twisted, but misleading Shirou now was infuriating.
She clarified, "The Grail here is a spiritual entity. Our goal is to eliminate other Servants to achieve sole possession. It's a necessary process. Understand?"
Shirou finally grasped the War's nature. Kotomine spoke again. "Shirou Emiya, could you defeat your own Servant?"
"Huh?"
"Even Servants struggle to defeat Servants. So what do you do? It's simple... however strong a Servant is, if their Master dies, they vanish. In other words…"
Shirou understood. "Killing the Master is more efficient…"
His face darkened. He couldn't do that, but clearly, not everyone shared his morals. Some would choose the efficient path.
"That's how it is."
"What if the Servant is defeated first? Only Servants can claim the Grail, right? A Master without a Servant is worthless."
"Not so. As long as Command Spells remain, a Master retains authority. For example, a Servant without a Master can form a new contract with a Master who lost their Servant but still has Command Spells. That's why Masters must eliminate Masters... to prevent such risks!"
Shirou raised his hand. "What if I use all my Command Spells here?"
"Indeed, that would strip your Master status. But wasting Command Spells, which enable powerful magecraft, seems unlikely for any magus.
"If someone did that, they'd be beyond amateur... just a fool!"
Seeing Shirou's anger at his words, Kotomine laughed gleefully, his behavior less like a priest and more like a vile opportunist.
He even relished Shirou's fury, smiling. "Got it?"
He was pushing Shirou to fight, as if with intent, refusing to let him choose peace.
"Back to the point, Shirou Emiya. If you want to abandon your Command Spells, sever your bond with Saber. I'll ensure your safety until the War ends.
"As the overseer of these recurring Holy Grail Wars, protecting disqualified magi is part of my duty."
"Recurring?!" Shirou frowned, sensing a deeper truth. "Isn't the War just starting?"
Kotomine's smile grew more delighted at Shirou's reaction.
"This is the fifth, held every sixty years. The last was ten years ago... the shortest gap yet. Oh, and I recall a Master named Kiritsugu Emiya."
Hearing his father's name, Shirou lost his composure. "Kiritsugu Emiya?!"
"A formidable man, capable of fighting Servants," Kotomine said, watching Shirou. He was certain now... his provocation ensured Shirou wouldn't abandon his Master role.
Seeing Shirou emerge from the church, Morpheus read his expression and knew the plot hadn't strayed far from the original script.
Though Shirou was a good person who'd likely help if told the Grail's truth, Morpheus had no such plans yet.
He awaited the right moment. Only after achieving his first goal could he advance his plan to dismantle this world's Holy Grail War!
And that moment, Morpheus reckoned, would come tonight!
…
Sure enough, on their way back, they were ambushed!
A black giant, and beside him, a small girl in a purple cloak.
Illya!
The frenzied giant, though still recognizable, had eyes consumed by madness... this was the Mad Enhanced Heracles!
Not the Heracles Morpheus knew, but this world's Heracles. Still, Morpheus sighed.
Stepping forward, shielding everyone, he said, "Rin, head back. I'll handle them."
"Morpheus…" Rin said softly.
"I'll help!" Artoria stepped up, but Shirou clearly wasn't leaving. Morpheus shouted, "My fighting style's wild... you'll get in my way. For my safety, please go!"
He added confidently, "Head to the Emiya house together. I'll meet you there!"
His assurance, like a promise of victory, convinced the three to leave.
Artoria told Morpheus, "Don't forget, we haven't fought yet!"
"There'll be a chance," Morpheus replied, facing the old man and young girl, waving with a smile. "Illya, right? How about a deal? I'll give you something fun if you don't fight me. Sound good?"
Illya eyed the man. She hadn't seen him before, but he was clearly Rin's Servant. With a cute smile, she commanded, "Berserker, attack!"
Without hesitation, as a Master facing an enemy, she showed no mercy!
***
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