"Ogawa Apartments! Has Araya Souren teamed up with the Dead Apostles?!"
Aoko looked at Rin, who was standing still in deep thought, and turned to enter the lab.
After a while, Aoko came out with Touko and Da Vinci. Touko went straight to Rin's side and patted her shoulder, interrupting Rin's thoughts.
"Rin, is it confirmed now that the Black-Winged Duke and Araya Souren have teamed up?"
"Yes, the news and photos brought by Shishigou Kairi have confirmed it. However, I find it strange how the famous Black-Winged Duke would team up with Araya Souren."
Touko took a cigarette and a lighter from her shirt pocket, then smiled at Shishigou Kairi and tossed them to him.
"Do we need to think that much? Aoko, are you afraid of the Black-Winged Duke?"
Hearing Touko's question, Aoko patted her chest confidently and answered without hesitation.
"Touko, what do you take me for? I'm a Magus. Why would I be afraid of those pests hiding in the shadows!"
After getting Aoko's reply, Touko said to Tohsaka Rin.
"Rin, we don't need to care who they are or why they've teamed up. Since you consider them a threat, we just need to go to their door and eliminate them."
Then Touko turned to stare at Shishigou Kairi. Having spent many years in the mercenary world, Shishigou Kairi knew exactly what Touko meant. He took the cigarettes Touko gave him and walked downstairs.
"Miss Rin, I'm going downstairs for a smoke!"
After Shishigou Kairi left, Touko continued.
"Rin, Fujino's data has been completely analyzed. The experiment to create a Servant with a blank spirit origin can start at any time. As long as the experiment is successful, we can then go wake up Ryougi Shiki, and we'll be able to add the combat power of two more Servants."
Rin nodded, crossing her arms.
"Then no time to lose, let's settle this quickly. I'll call Fujino over immediately. If it's successful, we'll go to the hospital this afternoon to wake up Ryougi Shiki, and then go destroy Araya Souren!"
...Fujino, who should have been in class, was led by Kirei Kotomine as she hurriedly rushed out of school and arrived at Church of Null. The feeling of being needed for once made Fujino feel both excited and nervous.
Walking nervously through Church of Null, Fujino, with a flushed face, thought, 'Master needs my help. I am needed. Finally, I can have a purpose of my own. That's great...' With a mixture of nervousness and excitement, Fujino walked to the rooftop of Church of Null.
On the rooftop of Church of Null, there was the same familiar magic circle. Rin was currently standing in the center of the circle, holding a Holy Grail filled with a milky white liquid, constantly chanting complex incantations. The liquid in the Holy Grail also began to emit bits of starlight along with Rin's chanting!
After completing the ritual, Rin looked at Fujino, who was listening to Touko's explanations.
"Fujino, Touko has already explained it to you roughly. I must also tell you that this experiment carries a certain amount of risk. If something goes wrong, your consciousness might be taken over by the Servant. So, you can decide for yourself whether to participate."
"Will I be able to help you after the experiment is successful, Master?!"
Rin looked at Fujino with some heartache. She hadn't expected that her attempt to imitate Orochimaru's words would actually fool Fujino into being so devoted to her. Looking at Fujino like this, Rin could only stand there, completely unsure of what to say.
"Master, I understand. I am willing to participate in the experiment!"
Touko also noticed Rin's hesitation at this time. She walked to Rin's side, took the Holy Grail from her hand, and patted Rin's shoulder.
"Rin, you go rest for a bit. I'll perform the rest of the ritual."
Rin just walked blankly to the edge of the rooftop, feeling the breeze on her face. For the first time, Rin began to doubt herself. 'Is what I'm doing right...?'
Over the years, her constant deepening into the path of magecraft had inevitably caused Rin to pick up some of the habits of a Magus, becoming somewhat selfish, indifferent to human life, and starting to use any means necessary to achieve her pursuits.
Regarding Asagami Fujino, Rin had actually intended to use her from the very beginning. Because Asagami Fujino was a suitable subject for Rin's research. But just now, facing Asagami Fujino, Rin began to hesitate. At this moment, Rin thought of the oath she had secretly made when the King of Conquerors exited the stage. 'But I will definitely change all of this. I, Tohsaka Rin, am dreaming of becoming a Demon God! That's right, I am Tohsaka Rin, the Tohsaka Rin who swore to become a Demon God. I won't learn the methods of those Magi. I will only be myself!'.
Having figured it out, Rin reached out her hand and condensed magical energy, forcibly stopping the ritual that had already begun. Facing Touko's puzzled gaze, Rin just said to Fujino.
"Fujino, I want you to think carefully. Now that your analgesia is cured, you can completely start a new life. There's no need to walk this thorny path of magecraft. It's not too late for you to regret it now."
Facing Rin's words, Fujino showed a bright smile, shook her head, and said firmly.
"No, Master, my life is already decided, and that is to follow you. Your words let me know the meaning of my life. Now, I only want to follow you. As long as I can help you, I won't hesitate to give everything!"
Rin looked at Fujino and made a decision in her heart. 'Fujino, thank you. Regardless of success or failure, from today on, you are my, Tohsaka Rin's, disciple. I will treat you like family!' Then Rin nodded to Touko.
"Let's begin, Touko!"
Touko stood at the edge of the magic circle holding the Holy Grail, facing Fujino in the center, chanting continuously. When the circle grew brighter and brighter, nearing its peak.
Fujino in the circle reached out, took the Holy Grail from Touko's hands, and drank the milky white liquid inside in one gulp.
The light dissipated, and Fujino in the center of the circle had now changed into a primarily red kimono. She supported her chest with one hand and said lazily to Rin.
"Hello, young Magus. My name is Asagami Fujino. If you're asking what I can do, I'm at most just an esper who performs the trick of twisting objects — Can I... be of use? —"
Touko turned her head and exchanged a look with Rin.
"It's a success!" X2
Then Rin asked Fujino in the circle.
"Fujino, do you still remember who I am?"
Hearing Rin's question, Fujino's brow furrowed. She rubbed her temples and stood still for a long time before slowly speaking.
"Master!"
"You still remember? Fujino, how do you feel right now?"
At this time, Fujino had regained her expression from before the ritual and said respectfully to Rin.
"Master, when I just finished the ritual, I felt something attached to my body, and then a long string of strange memories appeared in my mind. It wasn't until just now when you asked if I remembered you, Master, that I recovered..."
Then Fujino looked down at the kimono that had suddenly appeared on her body, and a rainbow light emitted from her eyes as she looked toward the sky.
Boom! The Mystic Eyes of Distortion, which had already become a Noble Phantasm, twisted the air...
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