"Uemon is at the Mage's Association?"
At the Aozaki residence, Rin widened her eyes upon hearing the news, then inexplicably relaxed.
"I see, that's exactly the kind of thing the Association would do!"
Only Roy and Rin were in the living room.
After the unexpected encounter with Bazett at the city hall and learning from her that Uemon was at the Mage's Association, Roy couldn't sit still and went straight back to the Aozaki residence.
As soon as he got home, out of caution, Utaha took Hayasaka and the others away.
"The Mage's Association, in the end, is nothing but a nest of self-serving interests. They've always wanted to take the Greater Grail for themselves. But unfortunately, the only mage chosen by the Greater Grail from the Association this time is Bazett. Naturally, they want to secure a way for their side to win the Grail."
"Uemon, being an outsider and not affiliated with any faction, is the most suitable target for recruitment. Naturally, they set their sights on him and extended an olive branch!"
Other Masters were either from the Three Families or Roy—whom the Association looked down on as a homunculus.
Naturally, the Association could only try to win over Uemon.
And since Uemon possesses the homunculus technology from the Einzbern family, it implies he has ties with the Mage's Association. Currently, the only ones who hold the patent for the Einzbern homunculus technology are the Mage's Association itself—even the Einzbern clan has been prohibited by the Association from spreading that technology.
Bang!
Rin slammed her fist onto the table, her face filled with anger.
"No wonder my magi couldn't find anything about him no matter how hard they investigated—so the Association helped him cover his tracks!"
There are very few magi in Fuyuki City who obey only Rin and have no ties to the Association.
Although she had many magi under her command, not all of them were loyal—many likely played both sides.
It's even possible that some of her people played disgraceful roles in this affair—maybe they staged scenes, slacked off, or even acted as spies for the Association!
That was the most painful part for Rin—though she's the mayor, there were barely any subordinates who truly listened to her alone.
A slight comfort in this was that Bazett had now joined her.
And Bazett was someone who answered only to her—a powerful combat-type ally.
Still, she owed Roy another favour since he was the one who persuaded Bazett to come over.
She had owed so many favours that Rin herself had become a bit numb.
"Rin."
Just then, Roy suddenly spoke, interrupting Rin's train of thought.
She looked up at Roy, saw him push up the glasses on his nose, then take them off.
A devilish smile spread across his face.
"Tonight, we make our move."
"—I'm going to destroy the Mage's Association."
Under the night sky, endless dark clouds blanketed the heavens.
The entire city lay still, as if submerged deep beneath the sea, exuding a familiar sense of gloom and isolation.
***
Mage's Association, Fuyuki City Branch.
Inside a guest room.
"Stop... stop...!"
Muttered words escaped from the room.
The voice sounded like someone trapped in a painful nightmare—clear and close, as though echoing right beside the ear.
On the bed lay an old man wrapped in bandages. Eyes tightly shut, brows deeply furrowed, cold sweat continuously seeped from all over his body, soaking the bandages as he trembled violently, like an epileptic.
"Master, please wake up!"
Seeing her Master trapped in a nightmare, Jeanne d'Arc dispelled her spirit form and shook his body.
"Ugh...!"
Uemon abruptly opened his eyes, instinctively letting out a sharp cry, then quickly fell silent as he regained awareness.
"A nightmare, huh. I haven't had one this vivid in ages..."
He slowly moved his aged body, sat up at the edge of the bed, and rubbed his forehead in frustration.
"Why... why was I the only one who survived... Lord Amakusa..."
Jeanne remained silent by his side.
Because of the link between Master and Servant, she could feel the deep anguish of Uemon's soul.
His trembling soul was full of sorrow, rage, and regret—a torment akin to death by a thousand cuts—and from that, a massive grudge had formed.
That very grudge was the root of the distortion in her current existence as a Servant.
"...Lancer, how long are you going to avoid fighting seriously?"
It took Uemon a long time to compose himself.
He raised his head, his old but clear eyes fixed on his Servant.
"Don't think I haven't noticed—you're a Servant, clearly burdened by enormous malice, yet you show no will to fight. Lancer, what exactly is your goal?"
Jeanne opened her mouth slightly.
She'd only known Uemon for a year, and even then, they hadn't met often. She was using the body of the girl who had died at that time, but she still knew Uemon was a pure magus.
"Master, don't you think you've fought enough?"
Jeanne looked at Uemon with a complicated expression.
This old man, worn by four centuries of time, was already close to death. Though he had used magecraft to extend his life, his soul continued to decay and age.
In some ways, he was no different from Matou Zouken.
"Are you lecturing your own Master on what to do?!"
Uemon suddenly stood up from the bed, his eyes burning as he glared at Jeanne.
"Don't forget—you're a Servant! At best, a familiar! Just follow my orders and fight, don't do anything unnecessary! Understand?!"
Apparently stung by her words, Uemon no longer fixated on what she was hiding and instead forbade her from speaking further.
Jeanne had no choice but to fall silent.
She herself never expected to return to this world in the Holy Grail War—especially one that took place more than three years after her last death.
Everything had changed.
Uemon's entire clan had been wiped out by Roy.
And yet, some things remained the same.
Uemon was still tormented by the past. Roy still burned with hatred.
Boom—!
Suddenly, a massive roar erupted from overhead.
Even the room itself shook—Uemon lost his balance and fell hard onto the floor.
"What's going on?!"
"Master, we're under attack. And this aura..."
Jeanne looked up, her gaze seeming to pierce through the ceiling and earth to the surface above.
Her expression grew complex—sympathy and sorrow almost splitting her heart.
"Lord Uemon, a Servant is attacking! Please assist immediately!"
A magus communicated the message through a familiar—his sharp tone indicated the urgency of the situation.
"A Servant—who is it?!"
"It's Saber. And her Master!"
"That traitor!!"
Uemon struggled to his feet, his eyes completely engulfed in the raging flames of hatred.
"Lancer, come with me. I won't allow you to stand down this time—we will kill that traitor!"
***
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