Tohsaka Tokiomi sat frozen after hearing Izumi's explanation.
Everything he had devoted his life to—his preparations, his plans, his pride as a magus—
All of it…
a joke?
If the Holy Grail War was nothing but a trap, then his decades of effort were nothing more than a fool's labor.
The more he recalled Izumi's words about the future, the more his expression collapsed.
"So that's how it is… so that's how it is… so that's how it is…!!"
He muttered like a man whose spirit had been completely shattered.
Izumi couldn't help but laugh.
Beside him, Rin looked equally lifeless.
Now that she knew the truth behind the Grail, she had completely lost interest in it.
A useless cup?
Worse, a death trap?
She inwardly cursed.
Across from them, Izumi continued, voice leisurely:
"Well then, do you still want to participate in the Holy Grail War?"
"Still dreaming about reaching the Root?"
His lips curled slightly, clearly enjoying the chaos he had just unleashed.
He had told Tokiomi everything—
his future, his death, his wife's death, Rin's miserable upbringing.
If Tokiomi still insisted on participating…
Izumi would simply shrug and let the man march himself to the gallows.
Reach the Root?
Why bother?
Reaching the Root through someone else is far more convenient.
Especially when a certain "Ai-ka–sama" was more than willing.
Tokiomi shook his head.
"If I already know it's a pitfall, I'd be an idiot to jump in."
"Such a war… is best avoided entirely."
He exhaled, looking strangely liberated.
After hearing Izumi spell out the future in painful detail, he no longer had the slightest desire to take part.
A war where he died, his wife followed him soon after, and his daughter was raised by the man who murdered him?
How tragic could one man's future be?
Even he, stubborn as he was, wasn't stupid enough to insist after that.
"Father!"
Rin stared at him, conflicted.
The Holy Grail War had been her father's lifelong dream—
and he was letting it go so easily?
Tokiomi turned to her and shook his head.
"Rin."
"I've thought it through."
"If the future is truly as Lord Izumi describes, then I'd rather you never participate."
"And the Grail being corrupted only makes it worse."
"Whoever wants to fight may fight. I want no part of it."
"As for reaching the Root…"
He forced a thin smile.
"If reaching it only means getting devoured by it… what's the point?"
"To spend your whole life striving, only to die the moment you achieve it?"
"That's not a goal—that's suicide."
Rin fell silent.
If her father had already made up his mind, what else could she say?
And perhaps…
this really was the best outcome.
The room fell into a heavy silence.
Seeing neither of them speaking, Izumi stood.
"Well then. I'll leave you to your family reunion. I'll go find a hotel for the night."
"Le Fay. Let's go."
With that, Izumi strode toward the exit.
Le Fay hurried after him.
Sakura, watching him leave, instinctively moved to follow—
only for Izumi to cut her off gently:
"Sakura. Stay here with your mother tonight."
"I'll come pick you up tomorrow, okay?"
Sakura froze.
She looked at her mother, then at Izumi.
Just as she opened her mouth—
Izumi raised a finger to stop her.
"Be good. Listen."
"Your onee-san still owes me something. I'm not letting her off."
"So don't worry—I'll definitely come."
"And the hotel isn't far from here."
He shot Rin a strange look.
Rin's face instantly turned green.
So she really couldn't escape…
Hearing that, Sakura nodded hesitantly.
"Then… pinky promise!"
"Onii-chan, you can't lie."
Her biggest fear was that Izumi would abandon her and disappear.
Izumi sighed, crouching down to hook her pinky with his.
After promising to come tomorrow, he took Le Fay and left the mansion.
As for staying at the Tohsaka home for the night?
Absolutely not.
He'd rather get a hotel room with Le Fay than intrude on their family.
A pity, though—
he wouldn't get to see present-day Rin and future Rin stare each other down tomorrow morning.
Once Izumi and Le Fay were gone, Tokiomi turned to Rin.
After a long hesitation, he finally spoke:
"Rin… what Lord Izumi said—was it true?"
"In the future…"
Rin lowered her eyes and nodded.
Seeing his daughter confirm it, Tokiomi let out a deep, exhausted sigh.
So it was all true.
Every bit of it.
So tragic… so absurd…
He clenched his fists.
He would sooner die than join that farce of a Grail War.
Let someone else participate.
…Or perhaps, since the spot was available, he could give it to Izumi.
A Magician taking part in the Grail War?
Now that would be interesting.
More importantly—
There were things he needed to settle.
Tokiomi's eyes darkened dangerously.
Kotomine Kirei.
If betrayal awaited him in the future—
Then he would strike first.
Without another word, he returned to his workshop and began preparing.
Kirei might be his disciple,
but after hearing the future from Izumi, he had made up his mind.
He would kill that man.
Izumi, of course, had no idea Tokiomi planned to assassinate the "Mapo Priest" tonight.
But even if he knew, he probably wouldn't care.
The story of this world was already spiraling away from canon.
And Izumi had no intention of staying long anyway.
A year until the next Grail War?
He could simply dig up the Greater Grail and take it with him.
Then find a way to reach ten years into the future.
As for the "waifus" of this world—
Compared to them, Izumi much preferred the Illya from the Magical☆Girl side
and the Illya from the Fate/Illya world.
White skin + brown skin—perfect combination.
If he could obtain the Second Magic, he would absolutely visit that world.
Who knows—
he might even kidnap Illya to participate in the Grail War.
Lost in such delightful thoughts, Izumi arrived at the hotel.
He used mind-interference magecraft on the receptionist to get a room without hassle, then headed upstairs with Le Fay.
Le Fay, walking behind him, grew increasingly fidgety.
She was extremely nervous.
To think she'd be sharing a room alone with Izumi-sama…
How embarrassing!
Once inside, Izumi opened his mouth to speak—
but Le Fay suddenly blurted:
"I—I'll take a bath first!"
Then dashed into the bathroom like a startled rabbit.
Izumi blinked.
"…What the hell?
What's with her?"