Chapter 4 – Skipping the Warm-Up? Strike at the Heart of the Fourth War!
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Tohsaka Residence, Fuyuki City
"You mean to say that after summoning Assassin, she left you to act independently?"
The antique gramophone spun lazily within the dimly lit workshop, its brass horn tilted toward a middle-aged man exuding aristocratic elegance. The voice of his disciple, Kotomine Kirei, emanated from the device.
This man embodied refinement—his composure evident even in his measured speech. He was Tohsaka Tokiomi: a magus of noble lineage, one of Fuyuki's three founding families, current head of the Tohsaka household, and a participant in the Holy Grail War. Mentor to Kotomine Kirei and ally to the latter's father, Kotomine Risei.
"That is correct. Before I could inquire which generation of Hassan this Assassin belongs to, she vanished. Likely due to curiosity toward the modern era."
Kotomine Kirei's monotone reply echoed from the receiver at Fuyuki Church. The alliance between their families demanded full transparency: both Kotomines would assist the Tohsakas in securing the Holy Grail.
"A curious kitten… Illyasviel?" Tohsaka Tokiomi murmured, stroking his chin with gloved fingers. Despite his vast knowledge, the name "Illyasviel" eluded him—unsurprising, given Assassins' penchant for secrecy. Alternatively, it could be an alias; the Heroic Spirit might be deceiving his guileless disciple.
Assassins were inherently cautious. Tonight marked the War's first night—trust between Master and Servant remained tenuous. Heroic Spirits were no mere familiars; their autonomy and logic were to be expected.
"The name carries European flair—German, perhaps, or English. Regardless, her Noble Phantasm will reveal all."
True names could be falsified, but Noble Phantasms—crystallizations of a hero's legend—could not. Identifying one often unmasked its wielder. To Tohsaka Tokiomi's knowledge, no Servant had ever forged a Noble Phantasm. Even if such a trickster existed, their obscurity would bar them from the Throne of Heroes.
Kotomine Kirei's voice interrupted his thoughts. "Shall I use a Command Seal to recall her? Assessing her parameters would streamline our strategy."
"Unnecessary, Kirei. Wasting a Command Seal for this trifle would only breed resentment. Let her satisfy her curiosity tonight. Besides, I've yet to summon my own Servant. There's no need for haste."
Tohsaka Tokiomi smiled faintly, pleased. His disciple's willingness to expend a Seal purely for tactical synergy confirmed Kirei's indifference toward the Grail. With two Servants under their alliance, victory seemed assured.
If Assassin's parameters and Noble Phantasm were even slightly superior, it would be akin to holding an unbeatable hand in a card game—victory would be inevitable.
But this was mere fantasy. Assassin remained the weakest of the seven classes. Even with excellent parameters, they couldn't rival the Three Knight Classes. For such Servants, the only variable lay in their Noble Phantasms.
"Sensei, you still haven't summoned your Servant?"
Kotomine Kirei's tone betrayed rare surprise. Most Masters rushed to secure the superior Knight classes on the War's first night—only those like himself, indifferent to the Grail, would delay.
"No need for concern. I've prepared everything. I merely wished to hear about your summoned Heroic Spirit to coordinate our strategies. Since your Assassin has gone rogue, I'll proceed as planned: summoning Archer."
"Archer? Ranged capabilities are practical, but why not summon Saber, the strongest class?"
Tohsaka Tokiomi chuckled, offering no evasion. "The Heroic Spirit I intend to summon is better suited to the Archer class. You're aware of the resources I've expended recently, yes?"
"The Tohsaka family's reserves have been thoroughly invested. I obtained the shed skin of the Primordial Serpent. With it, I shall summon the most ancient king of legend—the ruler of Mesopotamia's twin rivers, he who claimed ownership of all treasures and bore two-thirds divine blood: Gilgamesh."
Summoning such an ancient entity, any class except Assassin or Caster would suffice. Tohsaka Tokiomi saw no urgency—the right class mattered less than the Heroic Spirit's inherent might.
This was why he'd waited for his disciple's summoning results first. While class advantages mattered, overwhelming power could compensate. He'd staked the Tohsaka family's entire fortune on this relic, confident no rival could match it.
"Gilgamesh…" Kotomine Kirei paused. "Then I wish you swift success in claiming the Grail."
"This hinges on your support, Kirei. Now, I must begin the ritual."
The gramophone fell silent. Tohsaka Tokiomi approached the summoning circle at the workshop's center, a dried snakeskin resting within its intricate patterns.
Though he claimed preparations were ongoing, everything was already complete. This secrecy wasn't directed at Kirei—it was simply Tokiomi's nature.
Let this Assassin prove cooperative. If not… Command Seals will suffice.
Ding-dong.
The manor's doorbell chimed, triggering detection wards. Through a gem's projection, Tokiomi saw a white-haired girl in a elementary school uniform—terrified, tearful—pressing the gate buzzer.
A lost child? At this hour? They were deep in the mountains, far from the city.
His wards, designed to detect magi, had flagged… a mundane schoolgirl. No magical signature. Her panic mirrored any child separated from parents—raw and genuine. No magus would send an unarmed girl to infiltrate his workshop. Even a Servant would disdain such a crude disguise.
Tohsaka Tokiomi dismissed the projection. Let her leave on her own. As a magus, ignoring the intrusion was mercy enough.
CRASH!
A silken-thread construct—Einzbern's "White Stork Knight"—slammed into the gate, hurling the girl to the ground. Bruised and sobbing, she clawed at the iron bars.
"H-help! Anyone! That monster took my parents! Please, I'll do anything! Anything!๐·°(৹˃̵﹏˂̵৹)°·๐"
Tohsaka Tokiomi stiffened. Einzbern homunculi? Attacking a child at my doorstep?
But why? And since when did their constructs wield such destructive force?
The girl—Illyasviel?—cowered as the familiars lunged again.
"Save me! The Heroic Spirit took them! Please…!"