Meanwhile, over at the Tohsaka residence in Fuyuki, the mood couldn't have been more different.
Thanks to Rei Ao's arrangements, the visiting protagonists finally met face to face. The Tohsaka sisters, Rin and Sakura, and their Servants were introduced to the new Master, Irisviel, and her Servant—Saber, Artoria Pendragon.
"So you're the new Master and Servant Rei Ao mentioned?" Rin Tohsaka looked Irisviel up and down. The silver hair, red eyes, doll-like features and gentle demeanor let the small but wary Rin relax a notch.
Artoria's petite yet dignified bearing—and the faint edge of sword-aura around her—made Rin's eyes sparkle.
What a cool big sister!
"Yes, Miss Rin Tohsaka," Irisviel replied with a graceful smile. "I'm Irisviel, and this is my Servant, Saber—Artoria."
Ishtar manifested, arms folded, hovering in the air as she studied Artoria with interest. "Oh? So this is Britain's King of Knights? Looks the part, I'll give you that."
Ereshkigal, on the other hand, seemed more intrigued by Irisviel; she could sense some peculiar power within her. Medusa remained, as ever, silent—standing behind Sakura like the most loyal of guardians.
After a round of pleasantries and sizing each other up, the conversation turned to the core issue—the Holy Grail War about to begin.
"You've probably heard the situation from Rei Ao already," Rin began, speaking first as the host and representative of the Tohsaka household. Her young face wore a seriousness beyond her years. "The Grail has been tainted by All the World's Evil. It's no longer an omnipotent wish-granting cauldron, but a massive source of disaster."
"Our reason for participating has changed."
Sakura nodded, chiming in softly but firmly: "I'm of one mind with my sister. We're not joining to claim the Grail—we're here to stop the catastrophe it could cause."
Irisviel agreed. "Rei Ao-san told me the truth as well. My role as the 'Lesser Grail' no longer exists. Now, I only want to fight alongside Saber for something meaningful."
Artoria's gaze swept the room. "The Masters' will is clear. Since the Grail can no longer grant my wish—and has itself become a blight—then our blades should be raised to cut down such evil."
Ishtar sniffed. "Hmph. I've got no interest in that stupid cup anyway—but since you're all set on it, this goddess will reluctantly stretch her legs."
Ereshkigal added coolly, "Purging defilement is also among the duties of the Underworld."
With that, the three Masters (Rin, Sakura, and Irisviel) and their Servants (Ishtar/Ereshkigal, Medusa, and Artoria) formed a solid alliance.
Their goal wasn't to seize the Grail, but to defeat any Masters and Servants who might be tempted by it—or who didn't know the truth—and to prevent the Grail's manifestation.
"As for how the Grail War itself should end…" Rin spread her hands, wearing a helpless yet trusting smile. "We'll leave the messy cup and the cleanup to Rei Ao. He'll figure something out."
Everyone tacitly agreed. With that unfathomable chat-group owner backing them, they didn't need to worry about the complications after the war—they just had to focus on the fights ahead.
…
In a completely different dimension, inside a splendid hall awash with soft light and drifting hymns, a goddess with water-blue hair, a feathered coronet, and breathtaking beauty—marred only by a certain… airheadedness—was sprawled without a care on a cloud-sofa.
A few light-screens floated before her, streaming endless data on souls.
"Uaaah—so boring," yawned Aqua, the water goddess. She popped a delicate pastry into her mouth and grumbled through the crumbs. "Every day it's assign reincarnation, reincarnation, reincarnation—no variety at all! The dead either want to be heroes or nobles. No ambition!"
Still muttering, she flicked through the screens, browsing real-time scenes from countless lower worlds under her purview. Some were wracked by war, some peaceful, some bursting with bizarre creatures and events.
"Hmm? The crabs in this world look delicious… and that world's lake would be perfect for a banquet…" She kept up her running commentary, the very picture of slacking off.
Then, without warning, a cold, mechanical chime rang directly in her mind:
[Ding! Qualified individual detected—possessing potential traits for interacting with world-rules. Invite to join the 'Trading Chat Group'. Accept?]
"Pfft—!" Aqua nearly choked on her pastry. She shot upright, sapphire eyes round. "W-what was that?! Who's talking?! Which jerk dares mess with this goddess?!"
She glanced around warily. The hall was empty. Only the prompt—and the clear [Yes/No] buttons—hung in her consciousness.
"Tra… Trading Chat Group?" Aqua tilted her head, suddenly very interested. "Sounds fun—way better than assigning reincarnations!"
"Accept! Of course I accept!"
She jabbed [Yes] with her mind without a second thought.
[Ding! Aqua, welcome to the Trading Chat Group!]
~~~
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