"To think the gathering would be at the city hall instead of the Mage's Association... Hmph, the mages of the Association really have fallen far, haven't they?"
The second to arrive was a white-haired girl.
She appeared to be only in her early teens, with pure snow-white hair cascading naturally down her back, and crimson eyes that radiated an innocent, simple glow.
Dressed in a deep purple woolen coat, she gave off a delicate, pitiable impression at first glance—like a lone fairy dancing in the snow.
The many observing mages recognized her immediately.
She was a homunculus created by the Einzberns.
The Einzbern homunculus technology had long since spread due to the sanctions imposed after the creation of the Holy Grail War, becoming widely known.
It wasn't something just anyone could replicate, but those with some skill could certainly get their hands on it.
The third arrival also had white hair and red eyes.
This time, however, it was a boy, around sixteen or seventeen years old—slightly more mature in appearance than the previous girl. He wore glasses, and a gentle smile always lingered at the corners of his lips, giving the impression that he was easy to talk to.
"Him?"
"That lucky brat favored by her!"
"Is he a Master too? Him?"
The familiars exchanged glances, while some familiar voices murmured in the background, venting their dissatisfaction and envy toward the boy.
This third white-haired, red-eyed youth was, naturally, Roy.
As Roy entered the hall and displayed the Command Seals on the back of his hand, an attendant immediately approached and led him to a reception room on the second floor.
Inside the reception room, several people were already waiting.
Among them were the dashingly dressed Bazett and the snow-fairy-like homunculus girl.
There was also one more person—an elegant twin-tailed young lady. As the initiator of this summons, she had been waiting in this room from the very beginning.
The moment Roy stepped inside, he became the focal point of attention for all three.
Bazett's gaze was the first to land on him.
And it was also the sharpest.
Her eyes were like those of a tiger sizing up its prey, exuding an intense pressure. After a quick once-over, her expression grew even more terrifying.
The homunculus girl, on the other hand, brightened upon seeing him, her face lighting up with obvious delight.
She hopped off the sofa, ignoring the other two, and skipped over to Roy.
"How surprising! I never expected to see one of our clan's creations here—and with such a high level of completion! Which family do you belong to?"
She clasped her hands behind her back, her eyes sparkling with familiarity.
Her excited demeanour was like that of a cat spotting an interesting toy.
Roy smiled but said nothing.
Clap clap!
A sharp round of applause rang out.
Rin Tohsaka lowered her hands and sighed, planting them on her hips.
"Bazett, Illyasviel—both of you are overreacting."
"Eh? I was just happy, that's all!"
The white-haired homunculus girl, Illyasviel von Einzbern, pouted and shot Rin a displeased look.
"Now is the time for the meeting. If you have something to say, there'll be plenty of chances after the discussion is over."
"You're so stubborn, Rin."
Illya stuck out her tongue but reluctantly shuffled back to her sofa.
"Bazett, how long are you going to keep glaring?"
Having dealt with Illya, Rin turned her attention to Bazett.
Bazett was staring at Roy—who remained silent at the doorway—with a gaze as sharp as if he were her father's murderer.
Rin couldn't help but feel a headache coming on. Bazett was far harder to handle than Illya.
"...My apologies. Perhaps I was being overly sensitive."
Only after Rin spoke did Bazett's oppressive aura gradually fade.
"His build is somewhat similar to the intruder who broke into the Greater Grail cavern that night and summoned a Servant. So, I may have been a bit... discourteous."
Even as she said this, her presence remained locked onto Roy, her hawk-like eyes scrutinizing every micro-expression on his face.
Similar build?
Rin's delicate eyebrows arched slightly.
Is that so?
From the sound of it, Bazett suspected Roy was the one who had infiltrated the cavern that night?
Rin fell into thought.
It was true that the intruder who had broken into the Greater Grail cavern still hadn't been caught.
Though the prime suspect was Zouken Matou, that was only a possibility—and, come to think of it, it was Roy himself who had suggested it.
Moreover, Roy had manifested Command Seals shortly after that night, appearing unusually early.
Oh no.
The more she thought about it, the more suspicious Roy seemed.
Before this, Rin had never once doubted Roy. Out of gratitude toward him, she had instinctively dismissed the idea.
But now, with Bazett's words, Rin's expression grew subtly complicated.
"At this point, we can be certain that the intruder who entered the Greater Grail cavern became a Master. I've also seen his Servant. So, how about this—why don't you summon your Servant, Roy? For fairness, I'll summon mine as well. No one will be at a disadvantage."
Bazett stared at Roy, her face an impassive mask as she made her proposal.
"If it turns out not to be the Servant I saw, the misunderstanding will naturally be cleared!"
'Impressive, Bazett.'
For someone with a head full of muscles, she had actually come up with such a sharp method!
'Did someone coach her?'
Rin remained silent, deep in thought.
Seeing that Rin wasn't speaking up, Roy cleared his throat lightly.
"Perhaps I really do resemble the intruder in build. But since when was the Greater Grail the Mage's Association's private property? Wasn't it created by the Three Founding Families?"
Rin's expression flickered for an instant.
"Before, it was one thing. But now that two of the Three Families have summoned Servants, does the Mage's Association still intend to monopolize the Greater Grail? Are they disregarding the Servants of the Three Families entirely?"
Bazett's expression darkened instantly.
'This guy—he's trying to drive a wedge between us!'
But sowing discord wasn't the worst part.
The real issue was that among the four Masters present, two were from the Three Families!
And his words clearly leaned in their favor!
"The Greater Grail belongs to the Three Founding Families—that fact will never change!"
At that moment, Illya—who had been swinging her legs idly—suddenly chimed in.
Her face was the picture of innocent cheer.
"The Mage's Association's methods are already common knowledge."
Rin flicked her thick twin tails with an air of nonchalance, a faint smile playing on her lips.
"Personally, I don't think breaking into the Greater Grail cavern and summoning a Servant a few days early is such a big deal. At most, it's just preparing in advance. It's not like they used their Servant to assassinate other Masters—their conduct is still within normal bounds."
"Mhm, mhm! Actually, I summoned my Servant two months early! A few days is nothing in comparison!"
Illya nodded along with Rin's words, her adorable face full of indifference.
In the eyes of the Mage's Association, unauthorized contact with their Greater Grail was an unforgivable crime.
Because the Greater Grail was something they had stolen in the first place—or at least, that was how they unilaterally declared it.
But in reality, they couldn't control the Greater Grail in the slightest.
To the Greater Grail, the Mage's Association was nothing more than a loudmouthed bystander—far less significant than the Three Founding Families.
That was precisely why the mages of the Association were so desperate to assert their ownership over it.
Because deep down, they knew—if they didn't, they wouldn't even be able to participate in the struggle for the Greater Grail.
***
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