The night was dark and still, like stagnant water.
In front of the Aozaki residence, Rin Tohsaka was speaking with Hayasaka Ai—likely discussing contingency plans.
"Lord Roy, were you just fighting a Servant?"
Utaha stepped into the front yard.
The asphalt road outside was shattered for dozens of meters, the air thick with the acrid stench of scorched earth.
The scene was so far removed from everyday life that Utaha, seeing it for the first time, felt her breath catch.
"Yeah."
Roy nodded.
Utaha didn't know what to say.
She already understood the concept of Servants.
But this was her first time witnessing their destructive power firsthand—enough to pulverize metal and stone with ease.
For Roy to intervene in battles between such beings meant stepping into a literal battlefield of demons.
It was impossible not to worry for his safety.
And more than that—
Was the Aozaki household's Bounded Field even reliable?
Could it really withstand an attack from a Servant?
Her heart was pounding with anxiety!
"Roy, should we move them to City Hall?"
Rin, having finished her conversation with Hayasaka, approached with concern.
"The Aozaki Bounded Field is top-tier, but if a Servant attacks, it won't hold, right?"
Oh no.
Utaha's stomach dropped.
Hayasaka, listening nearby, felt her scalp prickle.
If that was the case, then City Hall sounded much safer!
"No need."
But Roy immediately shook his head.
"The Aozaki Bounded Field is currently the strongest in Fuyuki—far surpassing City Hall's. Even if the entire city is destroyed, this place will remain untouched."
Utaha and Hayasaka stared blankly.
Even if Fuyuki is annihilated, the Aozaki residence would be fine?
That certainly sounded reassuring… but was it true?
"That's an outrageous claim. Do you even know City Hall's Bounded Field is built atop a leyline? What makes you so confident—?"
Rin gave Roy a skeptical look.
She knew this was likely one of his secrets, so she didn't press further, though she clearly doubted his words.
Roy had no intention of explaining.
'Rider?'
'Don't worry. Trust me.'
Rider's voice echoed in his mind.
'I've reinforced this household's Bounded Field. Outwardly, it appears as a Nordic rune barrier, but its core is Chinese Xian arts—what Westerners call 'Thought Magecraft.' It's fundamentally different from Western magecraft. Any Western magus would be completely lost trying to breach it. The only way in is brute force. And the moment the barrier is disturbed, I'll teleport back instantly. They won't come to harm.'
With Taigong Wang's capabilities, if he said they'd be safe, Roy had no reason to worry.
"You can rest easy."
Rin reassured the two girls.
"Roy doesn't make baseless claims. If he says this place is the safest in Fuyuki, then it is. Just stay indoors to avoid giving enemies an opening."
"Understood."
Reassured by both of them, the two girls decided to remain quietly at home.
Since they had no ties to this world and the house was well-stocked, staying inside for weeks wouldn't be an issue.
After finalizing arrangements, Roy and Rin set off together toward the city's outskirts.
***
Outside Fuyuki's walls.
"Have you decided on our first target?"
"Yeah. Of the five Corrupted Servants, Bazett has already claimed the Corrupted Lancer. That leaves four."
Rin walked briskly as she explained.
"Among them, the greatest threat to Fuyuki is the Corrupted Caster—the one who can summon endless Sea Demons. He's our primary target!"
Makes sense.
A logical choice.
As Fuyuki's mayor, Rin prioritized the city's survival and its citizens' safety above all else.
"By the way, Rin—do you know your Archer's True Name?"
"...That came out of nowhere."
Rin stopped walking, giving him a strange look.
"What, suddenly fishing for intel on my Servant? Planning countermeasures in secret?"
"Let me be clear—we've known each other for years, but I also have reasons for needing to win this war. So even if it's you, I won't just roll over. Victory-critical intel stays secret."
"Oh?"
Roy's interest was piqued.
"A reason you must win the Holy Grail War? You've never mentioned that before. Care to share? What's your wish?"
"Well, it's not exactly a secret."
Rin's expression darkened, her brows knitting together.
"You know as well as I do—the root cause of the world's current state is the Greater Grail. The wish someone made upon it destroyed the world, leading to this outcome."
"To the people of this world, the Three Great Families are cancers. We owe them an unimaginable debt. I've carried that guilt since childhood. So my greatest wish is to restore the world to how it was."
"But the current Greater Grail can't grant wishes, right? So I've been thinking—if I can fix the Grail, maybe I can undo everything. That's my ideal outcome."
"If that's impossible… then I'll destroy the Grail instead. To ensure a catastrophe like ten years ago never happens again. That's my fallback plan."
Since childhood, Rin had shouldered the crushing guilt of being part of the Three Families—the ones responsible for the world's ruin and the deaths of over six billion people.
The weight of that sin was unbearable.
She had grown up under its torment, its agony.
That's why she treasured Fuyuki's remaining 200,000 lives so fiercely.
No matter what, she would eliminate the Corrupted Servants threatening the city. And she would never stand idle if Servant battles endangered its people.
"First time hearing your true feelings."
Roy nodded approvingly.
This was the Rin Tohsaka he knew.
Even though she'd been just a child, even though the real culprit was the idiot who'd wished for the world's destruction—Rin still bore the guilt. That was the mark of a true person.
No wonder she was the "waifu" countless fans adored.
And in his past life, he'd been one of them.
"Still, I'm guessing you don't actually know Archer's True Name."
"...Wow. Are you psychic, or did you read the script?"
Rin stared at him in disbelief.
"Hah, don't worry about the details!"
Roy adjusted his glasses, grinning.
"But I do know his True Name. Want to call him out? I've got some questions for him too. Might as well fill you in—how about it?"
***
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