At the Tohsaka residence, having just defied Tokiomi Tohsaka's command, Kirei Kotomine was already prepared to die.
Regardless of whether Elysia's words had influenced him, the fact was that he had disobeyed his teacher's orders and let Kariya Matou escape.
In the world of magi, where lineage and tradition were paramount, an act like his, if exposed, would surely result in him being hunted by the Clock Tower.
"Kirei... thank you."
At some point, the man known as Tokiomi Tohsaka had appeared behind him. To Kirei's surprise, Tokiomi did not reprimand him for his actions. Instead, he thanked him.
"Kariya was my dear friend. Although we had a falling out, after learning how much he sacrificed for Sakura, I can no longer hold my head high in front of him, no matter what."
Tokiomi slowly explained. If the version of himself in the video had truly killed Kariya Matou, then the him of this moment would have to live with that guilt for the rest of his life.
And then there was Kirei. Tokiomi had never considered him a mere tool, but he had also never noticed the void in Kirei Kotomine's heart. This was his failure as a teacher.
The video had mentioned... that Kirei could be corrupted by the King of Heroes at any moment. That must be related to the emptiness in his heart.
After learning the truth, the current Tokiomi no longer intended to pursue the Holy Grail. It wasn't that the desire was gone, but rather that in the face of Marisbury, a Master with an overwhelmingly powerful Servant, he had no chance of winning.
Perhaps he would become a vassal to the King of Heroes in this era, hoping the King would be gracious enough to allow him a little more time to speak with Sakura. Or perhaps he would finally treat Kirei as his true disciple and entrust the future of the Tohsaka family to him completely.
The future was uncertain, but one thing was for sure: they had now completely deviated from their predestined history.
[Video Danmaku]
Conan: "An empty heart that has lost its reason for being... Are all magi like this?"
L: "Although the video has never directly depicted the world of magi in great detail, even the side glimpses reveal its cruelty. A man like Kayneth can almost be called a saint in that world."
Kayneth: "Tch, what do you mean by that? Does my character displease you?"
Utaha Kasumigaoka: "More importantly, Director Kayneth, I'd like to know the current condition of your fiancée. It's just a severed hand; that shouldn't be a big problem for a magus, right?"
Yukino Yukinoshita: "Not a big problem? I think the problem with her head is much bigger. Is the curse of that beauty mark really that terrifying? It's practically the enemy of all women. I have no idea how Irisviel managed to resist it."
Kiana: "Hmph, what curse? This young lady would rather die than fall in love with a man... Ah, no, I mean I'd rather die than be cursed by something like that."
Eriri: "Hmm!!! Sis, that line of thinking doesn't seem quite normal either."
Theresa: "Kiana... you truly are Siegfried's daughter."
Durandal: "For some reason, it seems all of Schicksal's Valkyries share this sentiment..."
Rita Rossweisse: "Lady Durandal, that is because nearly all of Schicksal's combat units and personnel are composed of women, most of whom are still in their adolescence. It is only natural for them to have such thoughts."
Elysia: "What!!! Such a paradise-like place actually exists in the world? Damn it, Kevin, how could you not tell me something so important! I've decided I won't speak to you for the next three days. Three whole days!"
Kevin: "...Noted."
Otto Apocalypse: "Ultimately, no matter how strong the curse is, it only makes her fall in love with Diarmuid. Her crazed actions are more likely the result of being raised under the tutelage of those twisted magi."
---o---
[In the video—
"You—you incompetent fool! You useless, bragging piece of trash!"
The scene opened with a thunderous blow as Kayneth's furious cursing echoed from the screen. On his right hand was the additional Command Spell he had been granted after Lancer successfully subjugated Caster.
"I only asked you to protect a woman temporarily, and you couldn't even do that! This is outrageous! So this is the quality of a so-called knight!"
Kayneth spat and roared. As a magus, he had no understanding of so-called knightly honor. He only knew that familiars were born to obey orders.
Unfortunately, in terms of wretchedness, Kayneth looked even more pathetic than Lancer, who was beside himself with shame.
Kayneth was now almost completely paralyzed. The twenty-plus years of magecraft he had painstakingly cultivated had been turned to ash by the power of the Origin Bullet. All he could do was sit miserably in a wheelchair.
"Even if it was temporary, Sola was undoubtedly your Master, was she not! You couldn't even protect her until the end! What purpose did you serve by becoming a Servant! How dare you show your face and return alone!"
"..." Lancer knelt on one knee, his eyes filled with guilt. This scene was just like the past; once again, he had failed his lord's trust.
"So then—during the battle with Caster, were you once again driven by your foolish naivety, neglecting the protection of your Master to wholeheartedly display your idiotic chivalry?!"
Lancer weakly shook his head. His innate beauty was twisted by grief, a sign that he too was gnashing his teeth in remorse over this hateful outcome. But the current Kayneth had no time to consider that.
"My lord... because Lady Sola and I had not formed a formal contract, I could not even sense her presence..."
"Isn't that all the more reason you should have paid closer attention!"
Kayneth immediately bellowed, cutting off Lancer's explanation. He was in no state to listen to any excuses. Having been reduced to a cripple, he now pinned his last hopes on the Holy Grail. If he could obtain it, its miraculous power might be able to restore him.
But Sola... even if her recent attitude and behavior had been extremely irrational, she was still his fiancée. He, Kayneth, had entered the Holy Grail War bearing the honor of his family, only to end up a cripple, unable to even protect his own fiancée. What face would he have to show others in the future?
At that moment, Lancer knelt on one knee, head bowed, listening to his master's abuse. But just then, the roar of an approaching car's engine grew louder and louder.]
---o---
[Outside the video—
Lancer's plight pained many of the viewers. After all, Lancer was undeniably handsome, and in this world, there was no shortage of people whose morals followed their aesthetics, especially since Diarmuid's own values weren't deeply flawed.
Of course, while his values were not flawed, they were problematic in the context of this Holy Grail War. Some in the danmaku pointed out that this was, in fact, Lancer's fault. After all, he had failed to protect Sola and his own Master, and his chivalry had not managed to defeat a single Servant.
To attempt to fight like a knight in a place like the Holy Grail War was nothing short of absurd. His own power was already at the bottom of the barrel, yet he still insisted on one-on-one duels. Was it not laughable?
However, the blame couldn't be placed entirely on Lancer. It was more that his personality was ill-suited for this Holy Grail War from the very beginning. Perhaps if he were in the Fifth Holy Grail War, a dozen or so years later, he might have been able to have the knightly battle he so desired.
But in the Fourth Holy Grail War, filled with top-tier Servants and a Master like Kiritsugu Emiya who played by no rules, his wish was doomed to fail.]
---o---
[The video continued—
Saber's purpose was beyond doubt: she had come to settle the score with Lancer. Of course... Saber was unaware of Kiritsugu Emiya's true plan. If she knew, her personality would have compelled her to stop him.
Lancer was a true knight, and Saber was happy to engage him in a battle between knights. Moreover, she could guarantee that Lancer would be no match for her.
But even so, Kiritsugu Emiya left nothing to chance. He didn't want to expend any more magical energy. By exploiting Sola and Lancer's chivalry, he could force the Lancer team into complete withdrawal.
As expected, the moment he saw Saber, Lancer's fighting spirit was ignited once more, and he engaged her in battle.
At this moment, he desperately wanted to prove his strength to his new master. He would surely defeat this holy king in a direct confrontation.
Lancer had been lured away. Now, it was Kiritsugu Emiya's stage...
Suddenly, Kayneth felt an unnatural current of air on his neck.
A piece of paper floated down beside him. It was just an ordinary piece of stationery, but Kayneth stared intently at the few simple words written on it.
"—If you don't want your fiancée to die, look behind you quietly—"
Kayneth's eyes widened. He turned the wheels of his wheelchair, changing his direction. In the pitch-black depths of the abandoned factory, a beam of light from a skylight illuminated a single spot like a spotlight.
In the faint, cold light, the silhouette of a woman lying on the ground as if asleep emerged.
"...!"
No matter how dim the light or how great the distance, Kayneth could not mistake that face.
Although the pained and haggard expression on Sola's ashen face clearly indicated something had happened, a strand of hair by her mouth trembled as if blown by a gentle breeze—proof of her breathing. She was alive.
Forgetting the warning on the card, Kayneth was about to cry out.
Just then, a figure, like a ghost emerging from the darkness, stepped into the faint light, revealing himself—Kiritsugu Emiya. It was indeed that treacherous man.
The muzzle of the submachine gun in the man's hand was aimed unwaveringly at Sola's forehead.
"Of all people... that man..."
Kayneth had personally experienced that viper-like coldness and flawless caution. More than anger and hatred, a profound sense of despair, far surpassing any other emotion, made him lower his head powerlessly.
This was the worst possible scenario he could imagine. The woman he loved had been captured by the most troublesome enemy imaginable.
But just as panic was about to set in, the voice of reason stopped Kayneth.
That man had deliberately revealed himself and allowed him to confirm Sola's safety. There had to be a purpose behind it.
"..."
Kayneth turned his head, glancing at Lancer, who was fighting with all his might in the open space of the ruins. From the position of the two fighting Servants, their location was in a blind spot.
He couldn't guess Kiritsugu Emiya's intentions. He simply nodded silently, indicating his compliance.
Kiritsugu then pulled a roll of parchment from his coat, casually unfurled it, and tossed it into the air. Carried by the air currents, the parchment floated slowly through the void like a jellyfish, landing on Kayneth's lap.
A contract... For Kayneth of the Twelve Lords of the Clock Tower, this was all too familiar. But its contents...
With trembling hands, Kayneth held the parchment, reading the terms of the contract over and over, stubbornly scrutinizing the text, desperately trying to find any room for ambiguity.
Honestly, he didn't want to give up. He wanted to reclaim his magecraft, to reclaim the honor of El-Melloi, but...
Looking at Sola with the submachine gun pressed to her head, even though this fiancée had long since betrayed him, Kayneth still couldn't... he couldn't just abandon her.
If he hesitated any longer, Kiritsugu Emiya would probably pull the trigger.
After the first bullet took Sola's life, the muzzle would surely be pointed at Kayneth himself. There was no choice at all. Lose everything, or take that contract as a final lifeline... That was the only difference.
He gazed at the last Command Spell on his right hand with eyes as dark and empty as a hollow shell. Then, he activated his final compulsory command as Lancer's Master.
Without warning, without context—a brilliant vermilion splattered onto the ground.
Everyone was equally stunned. Saber, Irisviel, and even Lancer himself stared wide-eyed at the all-too-abrupt conclusion. The one most surprised was likely Lancer himself, as he had no premonition or preparation for the intense pain.
Lancer stared blankly at the crimson flower dripping from his red spear onto the ground, unable to believe that it was his own blood.
Under the absolute command of the Command Spell, Lancer had completely lost control of his body. He watched as the long spear was about to pierce his heart completely.
Am I going to be eliminated...?
Without a doubt, Lancer, forced to commit suicide by a Command Spell, was about to be eliminated here. The viewers outside the screen all thought this in their hearts.
The power of a Command Spell had already been demonstrated on the first night. Against such an absolute order, even Gilgamesh would be powerless if caught unprepared.
But just then, as Lancer's spear was about to pierce his heart, a young woman who had been hiding for a long time and had witnessed everything, intervened.]