"So much has happened? It's my fault—I've paid too little attention to you."
Having fathered a child late in life, Risei Kotomine had always been doting to the point of indulgence with Kirei Kotomine. His previously upright back now slumped with guilt.
"Kirei, turn back. You weren't meant to become like this."
Risei Kotomine's death was a pivotal moment for Kirei, his last anchor holding onto humanity. Only after Risei's death did Kirei fully embrace the joy he found in Gilgamesh's worldview.
Now, with this anchor reappearing, Kirei's internal thought process began to unravel. He could only respond with silence.
"Effect of [Risei Kotomine]—when normally summoned, add the Field Spell Card [Fuyuki Church] to your hand."
"I think I misspoke. My father's mental age isn't nine. It's probably six. He runs away from problems."
Caren bluntly called out Kirei's evasion of confronting his own evil.
Risei looked at his now-grown granddaughter, feeling both gratified and melancholic. He could see the special nature of her body—this personality wasn't just inherited from Kirei, but clearly shaped by life experiences. He could only silently lament that he had passed too soon.
"[Fuyuki Church] effect! All Church Servants on the field gain 500 ATK and DEF! And since this is the main location of the Church, while this card remains face-up on the field and I control any Church Servant, I take no battle or effect damage!"
[Kirei Kotomine]: ATK 1600 → 2100
[Caren Ortensia]: DEF 2000 → 2500
[Risei Kotomine]: ATK 1200 → 1700
"Lastly, I set a card face-down and end my turn."
Kirei's face was dark. His deck still held Tokiomi Tohsaka, and if he could, he wanted to theatrically send Tokiomi to the graveyard in front of Rin. But this deal… it felt like a judgment.
"My turn—draw!"
Rin looked across the field at the Kotomine family. A rather inspired idea struck her.
"Seems even your family doesn't think much of you, bastard priest."
Rin raised her card. "In that case, let me be generous and let you meet your wife again! I activate the Spell Card [Useless Medicine: Wailing of the Underworld]! I special summon one Level 4 or lower Servant from the graveyard. I choose [Claudia], the one you sent to the graveyard!"
A sickly white-haired beauty, reminiscent of a hydrangea in bloom, stepped onto the field with a gentle smile.
[Claudia]★1 ATK: 1000
"Is that little Caren?"
By instinct as a mother, Claudia recognized her daughter immediately. She was overjoyed. "You've grown so much. You're too thin—don't be like me. Eat well, okay?"
"Mama..."
Caren had only seen this woman in photographs, but the word came out of her mouth without thought.
"It's so wonderful to see you again!"
Risei wiped the corner of his eyes. No matter what had happened, a family reunion like this was something to be happy about.
But this atmosphere couldn't last. Mapo Tofu Man took a few careful steps back, as far as the rules allowed. He wanted nothing to do with this mess. He just wanted to get back to testing new recipes.
"Kirei, your eyes..."
Since Mapo Man deliberately avoided eye contact, Claudia didn't recognize his face and thus didn't mistake his identity.
"You still haven't gained a human heart, have you?"
"'Lacking a heart' doesn't even begin to describe him!"
Rin was determined to let Kirei's entire family know just what kind of man he had become—whether Kirei cared or not.
"He's so vile that he only finds joy in others' suffering! He killed his own teacher just for a fleeting moment of pleasure! He used children as living batteries and drained them dry!"
"...How could that be?"
During her time with Kirei, Claudia had always seen him as an excellent husband—aside from being emotionally distant. She had known he couldn't experience ordinary happiness. That was why she took her own life, hoping it would stir some emotion in him.
"Kirei, do you really find joy from that?"
Kirei wanted to tell her yes, to show her the kind of man he really was—he imagined the look of disappointment on her face, and the emotional torment that would bring him joy.
But—he stayed silent.
"Kirei, answer me. Did my death bring you happiness?"
"Yes, it did! I was happy—but I deeply regret not savoring your death in the moment!"
Kirei finally roared. He didn't understand—he had enjoyed it, so why was he feeling so irritated?
"I'm sorry... I couldn't save you."
Claudia cried, but she did not blame him.
"Father, you're trash that even the recycling bin would reject."
Caren glared at him. If the duel rules didn't forbid it, she absolutely would've punched his wretched face.
Risei sighed. He glanced at Mapo Man and wondered if maybe he should have let Kirei become a chef instead.
"You really are hopeless!"
Rin looked at the twisted expression on Kirei's face and thought he didn't deserve someone as gentle as Claudia.
"Father Kotomine, Miss Caren, and you, madam—this man and I have a blood feud. No matter what you think, I'm striking now!"
"Next, I normal summon my father—[Tokiomi Tohsaka]!"
A refined middle-aged man in a red suit stepped onto the battlefield.
"Rin, you're fighting again? And this time... Kirei?"
[Tokiomi Tohsaka]ATK: 1200
"Hahahahaha! Sensei, how does it feel to be stabbed to death ten years ago with the very dagger you gave me?"
At last, Kirei could laugh from the bottom of his heart. "Hearing the anguished cries of the dead—how thrilling!"
"Kirei... what nonsense are you spewing?"
Tokiomi had no clue what was going on. He was alive and well.
"Did you hit your head making tofu too many times?"
Kirei felt like he had punched a pillow. The frustration was unbearable. This Tokiomi's attitude was just like that damned chef version of himself. He looked over at Mapo Man with eyes full of disdain—was his alternate self really this pathetic?
"Father, in this timeline, that bastard Kirei betrayed you and killed you during the Holy Grail War!"
Luckily, Rin provided context.
"The battle continues! Thanks to Father's effect, I add [Jeweled Necklace] to my hand! With its effect, I special summon [Atalanta] from my deck!"
[Atalanta]ATK: 2000
"Huh? Not Saber?"
Kirei raised an eyebrow at the green-clad cat archer. "Looks like you pulled a rather special Servant."