"I've always been curious about something. Given Gilgamesh's situation—he has been incarnated by the Evil of This World within the Holy Grail, and his treasury holds items that provide him with mana—why are there still so many children being used as batteries underground?"
Jiang You had ordered Hundred-Faces to investigate the underground chambers, finding a method eerily similar to what his own Master, Atrum, had used.
Children were being used as fuel, their life force extracted to generate mana. Since ordinary people have little magical energy, their vitality was instead converted. Even after Jiang You rescued them, their remaining lifespan was tragically short.
"So, you must be the Servant of that Clock Tower magus who met his end?"
Hearing Jiang You mention Gilgamesh's name, Kotomine Kirei realized there was no point in hiding his true nature any longer.
"Very well, I'll tell you."
"The Hero King certainly has no need for external mana support. This is all just for his amusement!"
This timeline's Kotomine Kirei had fully embraced his nature as a sadist, deriving joy from the suffering of others. He spread his arms wide, his expression both devout and fervent.
"Seeing those devout children look up at me, their priest, with eyes full of disbelief... my heart trembles. Only then do I feel the supreme joy of being 'human'."
"That's just an illusion. You don't even have a heart anymore."
Following Jiang You's silent command, Hundred-Faces thrust a dagger into Kotomine Kirei's chest. A wound that would be fatal to any normal person barely seemed to affect him—it was nothing more than a simple puncture.
"Holding out hope for you was my mistake."
Ten years ago, the Evil of This World had reconstructed Kotomine Kirei's body. He was no longer a complete human. Perhaps the taint of the black mud had even further amplified his inner darkness.
"It seems Caster knows quite a lot about the Holy Grail War from ten years ago. Did Assassin tell you?"
Kotomine Kirei casually touched his chest. He had already recognized Hundred-Faces' identity. Despite their numbers, the unique nature of their division ability made them easy to identify. He quickly dismissed his own assumption.
"No, that's unlikely. Assassin was the first to be eliminated, so they couldn't have known. It must be some sort of past-vision ability."
"So, what is it that you seek? Justice for the children? How fitting for a Heroic Spirit. How dreadfully dull."
Kotomine Kirei remained unfazed, more intrigued by Jiang You's actions than concerned.
"You're being reckless, tearing away the secrecy of magecraft and exposing it to the public. Even if you ally with other Servants, the entire Mage's Association will come for you."
By bringing these matters into the public eye, Jiang You had threatened the interests of all magi.
"Don't worry, I won't kill you—at least, not yet."
Jiang You gestured, and Medea stepped forward.
"It's actually worse than you think. Tomorrow, I will host a game across all of Fuyuki City. As the 'entry ticket,' every single beneficiary of this vile practice has been marked—and you just so happen to be the last one."
Jiang You's Noble Phantasm extended its reach, ensnaring Kotomine Kirei as well.
"This Holy Grail War is too dull. Let me spice it up. Your 'entry ticket' battle royale begins tomorrow—do look forward to it."
With Lancelot's help, Medea placed a curse on Kotomine Kirei, forbidding him from leaving the Fuyuki Church grounds. Having made all necessary preparations, Jiang You yawned lazily and left the scene.
-
"Yo, Kirei. You look rather pitiful."
Shortly after Jiang You left, a golden-haired, red-eyed Servant strolled leisurely into view.
"Hero King, you were here all along?"
Kotomine Kirei dusted himself off, showing no resentment. He understood Gilgamesh's character—just as rotten as his own. When something entertained him, he wouldn't concern himself with anything else.
"You waited until now to show yourself just to see me in a sorry state, didn't you?"
"I find his plan quite intriguing. As seasoning for these dull years, he has the makings of a fine jester."
Sipping from a goblet drawn from his treasury, Gilgamesh spoke with amusement.
"But if he fails to entertain me, I shall punish his insolence accordingly."
"'Entry ticket,' was it?"
Kotomine Kirei touched the back of his neck, where Medea's curse had been placed. She had snuck something else in as well. He chuckled.
"Turning an entire city into a game board—this Caster is quite the wicked one. However, as the Church's overseer, I can't ignore such an overreach."
"Oh? You intend to—?"
"That's right. History has a way of repeating itself. After ten years, we'll do it all again. If he wants a game, we shall give him our own response."
Kotomine Kirei rolled up his sleeve, revealing a full set of Command Spells.
"We shall commence a collective hunt—an all-out extermination of Caster!"
He would get to enjoy the spectacle and fulfill his duty at the same time—truly the best of both worlds.
"Ha ha ha ha ha! Well done, Kirei! Two games, one battlefield. My interest in this matter grows!"
Gilgamesh laughed heartily, slapping the armrest of the bench. Under his overwhelming strength, the wood splintered into pieces.
"As an appetizer before claiming the Holy Grail, this is most satisfying!"
-
When the alarm rang, Tohsaka Rin realized she had been awake all night.
Too much had happened. Her father's words, Sakura's suffering, and the truths hidden by Kotomine Kirei all weighed on her mind.
Abandoning any hope of sleep, she forced herself to tidy up her appearance.
Skipping breakfast, she set out immediately for the Emiya residence—to find her sister, Sakura.
"Saber, we're going to be busy today..."
When she found Jason, the saber-class Servant was sprawled across the couch, snoring.
A vein popped on her forehead. Grabbing him by the collar, she yanked him off the couch.
"Servants don't need sleep! How can you be this lazy?!"
"True, but sleeping is comfortable. Life is meant to be enjoyed, after all," Jason yawned, showing no shame whatsoever. Noticing her dark circles, he even started lecturing her.
"Master, you should get some rest too. Lack of sleep is bad for your growth and mana reserves."
"How can you sleep at a time like this?!"
Dragging Jason along, Rin rushed outside. She had a feeling something big was going to happen today—if she didn't settle her affairs quickly, she would be too late.
Using gemcraft to enhance her body, she sprinted towards the Emiya residence. Sakura always arrived there early, and Rin wanted to see her as soon as possible.
But the moment she stepped onto the property, she was ambushed by a white-haired, dark-skinned man in red.
"I told you—trouble would find you, even if you tried to avoid it."
The dual-wielding warrior addressed the orange-haired boy standing in the yard.