Miyako City.
In Touko's Magecraft workshop, Garan no Dou, Alice, Touko, and Aoko were boredly playing cards, sticking paper strips on each other's faces as a penalty. It was less like the three of them were playing cards and more like the two sisters were bickering. Alice's clean face stood in stark contrast to the two sisters covered in paper strips. Rin, who was holding a map and searching for something nearby, would steal a glance at them from time to time.
As for Alice, who was accompanying the two sisters in their bickering, although she kept saying she didn't want to, she had ultimately been dragged to Miyako City by Rin.
Losing the game, Touko unhappily threw the cards onto the table and ripped the paper strips off her face.
"I'm not playing anymore, not anymore."
Aoko also ripped off the paper strips and sarcastically looked at Touko, who was acting like a sore loser.
"Heh, quitting because you lost? Are you still a child, Touko?"
"Tch!"
Touko rarely didn't retort to Aoko's words; instead, she turned to look at Rin.
"Rin, have you chosen the location for the Holy Grail ritual you mentioned?"
Aoko was startled and quickly stood up to look at Touko and Rin.
"The 'little commotion' you mentioned earlier—are you planning to fight a Holy Grail War here?"
Rin waved her hands, hurriedly denying it.
"No, Touko and I are just planning to see if we can trick one or two Servants into coming down via the Holy Grail ritual. We never thought about holding a Holy Grail War. Even if we wanted to, that would require enough magical energy. Right now, we can't even manage the magical energy needed for a fake Holy Grail War."
Aoko breathed a sigh of relief.
"It's good that it's not a Holy Grail War, otherwise..."
"Otherwise, you'd have to take the blame, right? Being seen as a troublesome Fifth Magus by the Mages Association."
Aoko turned to look at Touko and glared at her.
"Heh, this is where the famous Touko Aozaki, a Caster of the Crown who has been designated for sealing, resides. Why would I take the blame? If anyone does, it would be you. I just think that things like Holy Grail Wars cause too much destruction."
As she said this, Aoko tilted her head and looked at Rin. In the eyes of the world, the Holy Grail War was a magical ritual with immense destructive power, and this impression held by the public was exactly what Tohsaka Rin had caused during the Fourth War.
As several fake Holy Grail Wars had been held over the past few years, although they all chose to fight in private, the act of unrestrictedly draining ley lines to gather massive amounts of magical energy caused huge natural disasters in the places where the fake Holy Grail Wars were held.
Thus, the concept that the Holy Grail War equals destruction and disaster had formed throughout the Mage world.
Of course, Aoko wasn't telling the whole truth. As a Magus who came to magic later in life, Aoko still held affection for Touko in her heart. She was indeed worried about the destruction brought by the Holy Grail War, but she was even more worried about her sister, Touko. The Mages Association was currently highly focused on global ley lines. Once a fake Holy Grail War was discovered, they would definitely dispatch cleanup squads. With the protection of Zelretch and herself, two Magi, Tohsaka Rin didn't need to worry about the Mages Association's direct methods; even if discovered holding a Holy Grail War, there wouldn't be much punishment. But if it were discovered that Touko was holding a Holy Grail War, her status as someone designated for sealing would definitely invite a siege from the Mages Association. If Aoko compromised, she would likely have to listen to the Mages Association's arrangements in the future. If she forcibly protected Touko, she would likely have to become an enemy of the Mages Association.
To avoid falling into a dilemma, Aoko secretly made up her mind: if this girl Touko really intended to hold a Holy Grail War, she would do everything in her power to stop her.
How could Touko not see through Aoko's thoughts? Touko didn't speak, just walked to Aoko's side and patted her shoulder.
"Don't worry, Rin and I are only planning to trick one or two Heroic Spirits into coming for research, not to hold a Holy Grail War. Besides, can the Holy Grail War really help me fulfill my wish?"
"It can!"
Touko turned her head in surprise, looking at Rin.
"The Holy Grail War was originally a magical ritual created by our Tohsaka Family, the Matou Family, and the Einzbern Family in order to reach the Root."
"Wait, you said a magical ritual?"
"Yes, the Holy Grail War was created by the Einzbern Family using the Winter Saintess, a homunculus modeled after the Third Magus of that time, who sacrificed herself. According to my ancestors' records, the Winter Saintess at that time could already be considered a Magus. However, for some unknown reason, although the Winter Saintess possessed the Third Magic, she couldn't use it well. That's why, due to a series of events, the three families combined to create the Holy Grail."
Aoko interjected at this point.
"Wait, Rin, the more you say, the more confused I get. You created the Holy Grail; the Holy Grail is a physical object, not a magical ritual?"
Rin grabbed her hair impatiently, looking at the two sisters.
"Ah, there are too many things to explain to you slowly later. Anyway, just know that the Holy Grail can help Touko realize her dream. Because the original purpose of the Holy Grail War was to summon Servants, utilize the channels they have connecting to the Root, and then use massive amounts of magical energy to stabilize those channels, thereby obtaining a path to the Root. The theory currently circulating outside that the Holy Grail is an omnipotent wish-granting machine is just the result of a massive concentration of magical energy."
Touko stared intently at Rin, suppressing the excitement in her heart, and asked Rin calmly.
"Rin, I don't believe that a mere month of getting along is enough for you to trust us this much and tell us such secrets. What do you want?"
"As expected, I couldn't hide it from you, Touko. It's simple: the Holy Grail has been corrupted. The Holy Grail in Fuyuki City is now the Holy Grail of Evil. Although I borrowed a Servant last time to perform a Great Magecraft from the Age of Gods and sealed all the worlds evils, the sealing magical energy might dissipate in less than 10 years, and the Holy Grail War will unfold again. I hope to completely resolve all the worlds evils and dismantle the main body of the Holy Grail, the 'greater grail', at that time. If you need it, Touko, I can dismantle it after you use the Holy Grail. So, Touko, Alice, Aoko, are you willing to help me?"
"Is the enemy very strong? With your talent, you'll be able to reach the Crown rank in a few years, right?"
"Mm, there are only two confirmed enemies. One is all the worlds evils, and the other is the founder of the Matou Family, who created the Holy Grail together with our Tohsaka Family. He was a Magus of color rank 200 years ago. Last Holy Grail War, I thought I had eliminated him, but I went back to check the seal a year ago and found someone secretly corroding the seal. After some investigation, I found that the old monster is still alive. And in the next Holy Grail War, I'm afraid it won't just be the Mages Association; all sorts of monsters and demons will come out, right."
Hearing Rin's explanation, Aoko laughed out loud, walked over to Rin, and punched her hard on the head.
"Rin, if you need help, just say it. If you dare to do this again next time, I'll hang you up and beat you."
Rin covered her head with teary eyes, squatted on the ground, and hurriedly shook her head.
"I won't dare next time. Aoko, are your fists made of iron? It hurts so much that tears came out."
Touko also quietly squatted behind Rin at this moment, grabbed Rin's cheeks, and started rubbing them frantically.
"Aoko, no need to wait for next time. Today, I'm going to let this little girl know the power of Touko Aozaki."
"Touko, Touko, Touko..."
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