Note: This Chapter is Re-Translated on 8 / 10 / 2025
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Chapter 63: Fate/Zero Trailer Broadcast
Compared to 2003, Shinji's New Year in 2004 was blissfully easier and much more pleasant.
This year, he didn't have to trail behind his grandfather to those soul-crushing gatherings of magi, where he'd be looked over like livestock at auction, appraised, and judged.
No being treated like a product.
No suffering the sight of that fossil Aozaki Tohko either.
"Onii-sama, you really should go to those gatherings with grandpa," Sakura complained from his bed, rubbing her small feet while her brother sat hunched at the computer.
Thanks to Shinji's tactical "runaway" strategy, Sakura had been forced to attend in his place as the Matou family's younger generation.
She was not happy about it.
"What for? To listen to those old men sneer at me between backhanded compliments? Or to watch them hawk their daughters like they're trying to offload expired produce?" Shinji typed away, eyes rolling.
"…Both, actually. And some even tried to introduce me to their sons."
"Sakura, remember this."
Shinji spun around, speaking with solemn gravity.
"Next time that happens, just shove a firecracker-stuffed cricket into their mouth."
"That's boring," Sakura waved her finger in mock disapproval. "Better to throw them a plate of Crest Worm sashimi."
"…Right."
Shinji had momentarily forgotten that his dear little sister was way more ruthless than he was.
"So, what did those old fossils say this time?"
He quickly changed the subject before Sakura could describe her idea in detail—and before that mental image ended up on his dinner table.
"What else? The same tired script."
She gestured in irritation.
"Something about how revealing the Mysteries to the public will lead to the decline of magecraft, how our secrets won't be secrets anymore, how your 'reckless abuse of magecraft' is disrespectful to the Mysteries— blah blah blah. That's basically it."
"If they're really that righteous, they should storm the Clock Tower instead of badgering me."
After all, if we're talking about exposing the Mysteries, the Clock Tower had been far worse.
Why else were there so many magi these days from ordinary families?
Because professors were openly recruiting talented outsiders, pulling them into the Clock Tower's halls.
At least Shinji's films could be passed off as pure fantasy.
Those professors? They were flat-out shoving magecraft in front of the masses.
"They'll never do it," Sakura said with a smirk. "The Clock Tower is too powerful."
"Yeah, I figured." Shinji nodded. "Tohko went too, right? What'd he say?"
"Nothing. He treated me and grandpa like we were invisible the whole time."
Sakura stretched lazily, her shirt tightening just enough to test the limits of its buttons—especially the one straining across her chest, practically screaming for mercy.
"Ahem. I thought he'd at least throw a jab or two at grandpa," Shinji muttered, looking away.
It wasn't exactly a secret that Shinji had taken in Touko.
That alone should've been enough to slap Lord Aozaki's pride across the face.
But not a single word?
That wasn't like the arrogant old man at all.
"What could he say? You haven't actually touched his core interests. Making a big fuss over you sheltering Touko would only make him look small. You don't have any shame, but that old fossil still clings to his dignity."
"…True. But once Fate/Zero comes out, I doubt he'll be able to stay quiet."
When the movie premiered, Shinji planned to parade Touko as a shining example in the industry—a poster child for "learn magecraft, earn big."
If Aozaki Tohko could endure that, then fine—no trouble from him was even better.
"Speaking of the movie… Onii-sama, why are you releasing the new trailer today, right on New Year's?"
Sakura tilted her head at the countdown ticking away on Shinji's monitor.
"The official excuse is that it matches the whole 'Zero' theme. The real reason?" Shinji smirked. "Drop it now, and we get the biggest audience possible."
Sakura tilted her head at Shinji's explanation.
"That doesn't sound right. Today everyone's busy with New Year's celebrations. Not many people will be paying attention to a movie trailer."
She tapped her cheek thoughtfully.
"I actually think Cloris-san's suggestion about the Super Bowl made more sense."
In North America, the Super Bowl was the biggest sporting event of the year. Even without the precedent of Independence Day buying an ad during halftime, Cloris—having been influenced by Shinji's promotional style—naturally thought of airing the trailer during the game.
Shinji, however, waved the idea away with absolute certainty.
"The Super Bowl broadcast has nothing to do with any Time Group affiliates. We have no reason to polish someone else's apple."
Sakura narrowed her eyes.
"And the real reason?"
Shinji didn't even hesitate.
"I don't want those Americans thinking they're so important. The first official trailer absolutely cannot debut in North America."
Sure, there had been an extended preview hidden in the special edition DVD—his personal little gift to the fans who had paid for it—but it never reached the wider public. This time, however, this was the first proper public trailer.
Shinji respected the North American market—it was the biggest box office territory in the world—but letting them think they were special? No way. Give them an inch and they'd start demanding "political correctness" from him. And knowing that lot, they'd definitely stick their noses where they didn't belong.
He was only coming to North America to harvest box office cash. And cash crops were supposed to act like cash crops—they'd better not start acting uppity.
Sakura puffed her cheeks.
"Onii-sama, you know Cloris-san isn't going to like hearing that."
Just then—
"Master, Sakura. Are you two fighting?"
Arturia walked in, her arms loaded with a massive haul of snacks.
"Fighting? Where do you see us fighting? And—why are you bringing that much food in here?"
Shinji's eyelid twitched when she casually plopped the snacks onto his bed.
"What's the problem? Watching a movie is way more fun with more people."
Arturia helped herself to two olives from Shinji's desk before tearing open a bag of chips from her own stash.
"It's not even a movie. It's just a trailer," Shinji muttered, reaching for the chips.
Slap!
His hand was promptly and unapologetically smacked away.
"These are mine, Master."
The chip-guarding knight declared her absolute sovereignty over the snack.
"…Unbelievable."
Realizing there was no chance of scoring a free handful, Shinji turned back to his screen, quietly waiting for 2004 to arrive.
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Almost at the same moment, in a uniquely designed little villa in Misaki Town, Aoko and Alice were sitting together on the living room sofa, watching TV.
The Fate/Zero trailer would be broadcast worldwide at the exact same time. Besides streaming online, local TV stations in each country would air their respective language versions.
Shinji had chosen the online version to get immediate feedback from fans. Alice and Aoko had no such need, so they were watching Japan's New Year countdown program while waiting for the trailer to air.
After all, why watch on a small monitor when a big screen looks so much better?
To make the quiet little house feel a bit more festive, Aoko had even brought along cola and popcorn. But Alice, being a hardcore tea purist, wouldn't even touch them.
"What's so good about that kind of stuff, anyway?"
Watching her friend munch down popcorn and gulp cola, Alice's hand holding the teacup trembled in restrained judgment.
"Alice, you've got to understand—popcorn and cola are made for movies!" Aoko said, straw still in her mouth, her words slightly muffled.
"I thought you'd be screening the extended cut of Fate/Stay Night tonight. If I'd known you weren't watching a movie, I wouldn't have hauled so much popcorn over— hic~"
Aoko let out an unladylike burp as she spoke.
"I've already seen it five times," Aoko's friend—Alice Kuonji—answered coolly. "Tonight is for the new movie trailer. This is its very first official trailer, and it deserves to be watched with proper respect."
A sly, fox-like grin curled on Aoko's lips. She leaned over, teasing, "Uaa~ Alice, you really do love Fate, huh? With feelings this deep, don't tell me you've got a thing for that Matou family's young master?"
Alice gave her a sidelong glance of pure disdain, refusing to dignify that with a reply. She simply set down her teacup and straightened her posture, eyes fixed on the TV.
"The trailer's about to start."
Aoko tilted her head toward the wall clock. "Yeah? How long we got?"
Before Alice could answer, the New Year's countdown on-screen hit zero. The TV faded to black… and then a full moon rose into frame.
"Servant, Saber—summoned upon your call. I ask of you—are you my Master?"
With Saber's iconic opening line, the first image that appeared was a close-up of seven distinct Command Spells. Alice, well-versed in the Fate setting, recognized them instantly.
The summoning circle flashed once, and the trailer began in earnest.
First came the night-lit port, the opening battlefield of Fate/Zero—the ferocious close-quarters duel between Arturia and Diarmuid, blades flashing in a storm of steel. Then, with a crash of thunder, a massive chariot descended from the heavens.
Lightning split the sky as a war-chariot drawn by divine bulls slammed into the dock. The crowd—both onscreen extras and viewers at home—were instantly captivated, wondering who this grandiose arrival could be.
The towering figure didn't keep them guessing long. With a booming laugh, he raised both arms high.
"My name is Iskandar, King of Conquerors! I have joined this Holy Grail War under the Rider class!"
The sheer bravado in his voice made Aoko's eyes sparkle. "Oho~ this guy looks strong. I could see him putting up a fight."
"Shut up!"
Alice, without hesitation, slapped a silence spell on her, cutting her voice off in the most literal way possible.
The trailer pressed on.
With the King of Conquerors' entrance complete, a familiar figure soon appeared—standing atop a streetlamp, gold armor gleaming under the moonlight.
"Two fools who dare call themselves kings without acknowledging me have emerged overnight. How quaint."
Of course, it was Gilgamesh—and of course, his very first line radiated pure, unfiltered Gilgamesh-ness.
"This is incredible! From the look of it, this movie's gonna blow Fate/Stay Night out of the water!"
Fans were already buzzing. Just one battle scene, and so many Servants had appeared at once. In Fate/Stay Night, scenes with even three Servants sharing the frame were rare. But here? It was a feast of heroic spirits. This wasn't reheating old leftovers—it was a brand-new banquet.
The montage surged onward—Cu Chulainn as the "Gymnast Prince" Hassan; Yan Qing's as Gilles summoning a writhing sea demon; Kiritsugu's cold eyes framed in the crosshairs as a building erupted into flames.
The shots flew past in rapid succession, revealing no real plot, but united by one theme—every frame was an explosion of spectacle.
And then, the final image: a knight clad entirely in black, shrouded in magic fog.
Through the slit of his helm, two red lights burned, bestial and unblinking. With a snarl, he charged the camera—
"Arthur—!"
Lancelot's roar echoed as the trailer cut to black, leaving only the words:
[Fate/Zero — Premieres May 2004]