"'El-Melloi'?"
When Shirou Emiya asked about the identity of the tall, gaunt man outside the gate, Rin Tohsaka, standing on the entry steps, slowly lowered the hand bearing her Magic Crest. For some reason, she found the man strangely familiar.
Despite being a man, he had long, waist-length hair smoother and more lustrous than most women's—though for some unknown reason, a portion of it was clearly missing.
His facial features were somewhat worn, yet his bone structure remained sharp and defined. Combined with his well-tailored suit, he resembled a refined British gentleman full of mature charm. However, his perpetually displeased expression made it hard to see him as handsome.
There was also an inexplicable air about him—like someone born to toil endlessly, as if the whole world owed him a fortune. Those heavy dark circles under his eyes... Rin, highly sensitive to such things, couldn't help but suspect—was this guy also broke like her?
It felt like she had seen him before... perhaps during one of that fake priest's lectures on magecraft. (Magecraft lessons weren't always about spell techniques—sometimes they were introductions to the mage world.)
"Lord... El-Melloi II... wait! You're the Lord of the El-Melloi faction in the Department of Modern Magecraft at the Clock Tower?!"
The moment realization struck, Rin nearly stopped breathing from shock.
Was this a joke? One of the twelve Lords who stood at the pinnacle of the magecraft world had personally come to participate in a minor summoning ritual in the Far East?
The enemies just kept getting more outrageous. At this point, Rin had completely given up on winning the Holy Grail War. Staying alive would be enough.
However...
Sensing the visitor's almost alarmingly weak magical energy—completely lacking the unfathomable aura of a grand magus—Rin was stunned. Was her perception wrong, or was she simply too weak to truly grasp a Lord's power?
Blunt as ever, she spoke without thinking, "Are you really a Lord? Your magical energy feels way too weak..."
"..."
Her wide eyes stared intently at the man outside. Lost in thought, Rin's habitual tendency to lose focus struck again—she didn't even hear the latter half of his important remarks about the Church.
"Is that really the point of concern?"
Waver Velvet looked momentarily stunned. Letting out a soft sigh, he confirmed her question in a tone tinged with melancholy and complexity.
"Shouldn't the main issue be that the Church, which serves as the overseer, has been attacked and completely destroyed?"
"If the information I received is correct, the priest serving as the executor of Fuyuki's Church—Kirei Kotomine—should be your father's disciple, and your guardian as well..."
To be honest, Rin's reaction made Waver question himself. This girl's priorities were... unique. This was her father's disciple, her teacher, her guardian—he had been killed, yet she was so indifferent?
Could it be that the Clock Tower's intelligence was wrong? Or perhaps after taking control of Fuyuki's leyline and the management of the supernatural side, Kirei Kotomine had developed some hidden conflict with Rin?
A dispute over inheritance... or something else?
Vaguely, Waver recalled the Holy Grail War from ten years ago. The exit of Tokiomi Tohsaka—the Master of Archer, the King of Heroes Gilgamesh—had indeed seemed far too abrupt.
"Relax, I don't think Kirei would die that easily. Maybe he just faked his death again."
Laughing awkwardly to cover up her earlier blunder, Rin quickly composed herself. Casually brushing nonexistent dust from her clothes, she lifted her skirt and performed a flawless curtsy toward the Lord of Modern Magecraft.
"Good day, Lord El-Melloi II."
"...If Father Kirei were still alive, my work would be much easier."
Waver nodded slightly, then set aside any thoughts about internal matters of the Tohsaka family. Letting out a sigh, he looked directly into the girl's bright eyes. His expression tightened, and a solemn glint appeared in his gray-black pupils.
"Head of the Tohsaka family, I will speak plainly. Surrounded by five Servants, your mentor had no chance of escaping by feigning death."
"What?! Five Servants?!"
Rin's voice shot up sharply.
"That is precisely why I came to find you," Waver said, pausing before smiling faintly at the stunned girl. "Let's talk inside. Consider it an exchange of information. I want to know—what exactly happened in Fuyuki after the Holy Grail War ten years ago..."
He paused briefly, then added casually, "You're not going to invite me in?"
"O-Oh, my apologies. Please come in."
"Then excuse me."
At that point, Saber behind Rin also realized that he wasn't an enemy—at least for now. Though still clad in full armor, she finally lowered her invisible sword.
But the very next moment—
"Three of you... that's enough. The negotiations are going smoothly. We are not enemies—for now."
Waver's words instantly put Saber on guard. She stepped in front of Rin and Shirou, staring at him warily.
"Hey, hey, Saber, don't be so stiff. Didn't the Lord just say we're not enemies?"
"Lancer?! Why are you here?!"
Particles of light gathered, and a lancer leaning casually on a crimson spear appeared behind Waver. Dressed in his usual tight blue combat outfit, with that same carefree tone and irreverent grin—it was Lancer, Cú Chulainn, who had clashed with Rin and Shirou several times before.
"Hah? Why am I here? Simple. My Master died, so I just made a contract with this Lord here."
Seeing the wary reactions of the two Masters, Lancer wore an easygoing smile. He strolled forward casually, even striking a posture as if preparing to fight—deliberately provoking Saber and her Master.
"Yo, red-haired kid over there—you're still kicking, huh? Well, we might be allies from now on, but you look like you can take a beating..."
"Alright, Lancer, that's enough provoking."
"Tch, how is that provoking? It's just a normal greeting. Saber's just too rigid."
Beside Lancer, Ruler Jeanne appeared, immediately stopping his attempts to stir trouble.
Her sapphire-blue eyes were like a clear ocean, embracing all things. As her soft red lips moved, it felt as if the agitation in everyone's hearts was soothed.
"Oh—ah, haha... isn't that Saber? Long time no see!"
A somewhat weak yet forced cheerful voice rang out as the final companion stepped forward.
This golden man had short, neatly trimmed blond hair, his features sculpted as if carved by blade and chisel. His eyes, bright crimson like fresh blood, were unmistakably inhuman, and his bold smile, along with every gesture, exuded an air of supreme arrogance.
But why did he sound so weak? Because his current state was utterly miserable.
In one word—devastated.
Most of his golden armor had shattered. Beneath his disheveled bangs, his face bore clear signs of having been brutally beaten. His exposed upper body looked like a tattered rag, covered in dark bruises from blunt impacts and torn open by sharp wounds. Many had already scabbed over, yet there was barely a single intact patch of skin.
Among them, the most horrifying was the massive wound running across his shoulder, chest, and abdomen. Strange purple-red energy particles continuously spread outward from the injury, eroding every surrounding cell. Faintly, one could even hear a sizzling sound of corrosion.
Just looking at it made one wince—it was easy to imagine the level of agony the man was enduring.
With injuries of this severity, an ordinary person would have died long ago. Even a Servant would be on the verge of fading. Yet he still wore that arrogant smile—though he appeared weak and in a sorry state.
"Gilgamesh?! It's you—how did you end up like this...?"
"Yo, Saber. After all these years, my promise still stands."
Seemingly pleased by Saber's shaken reaction, the smile on Gilgamesh's pale face grew even more unrestrained.
"Saber, become my queen. I shall grant you incomparable pleas—"
"I refuse!!"
"Oh?" A golden ripple formed, aimed at Saber—
At that moment, hurried footsteps sounded from inside the house.
"King Gilgamesh?!"
...
Inside the living room, the table was filled with people. Plates, bowls, and utensils were arranged with meticulous order.
The assorted hot pot emitted a rich, fragrant aroma; the grilled salmon with mushrooms and butter was crisp on the outside and tender within; the spring chirashi sushi displayed a jade-like green, with paper-thin steamed layers that looked as enticing as precious emerald...
But still... what was with this awkward atmosphere?
Some were focused on eating, some whispered quietly, and some were... recognizing each other.
Even a certain "spinning, charging blue lancer" had begun devouring food at a terrifying pace. Meanwhile, Saber—who was usually the first to pick up her chopsticks—sat solemnly beside Shirou Emiya, completely out of character.
"Saber, as far as I know, Servants are heroes recorded in the Throne of Heroes after death due to their great achievements or legends. They are fixed existences, and after being summoned and returning again to the Throne, they shouldn't retain memories from this summoning... at least in most cases."
Sitting beside her, Rin Tohsaka leaned close to Saber and whispered softly.
"Rin, before becoming a Heroic Spirit, I did not die. I believe that is what makes me different from other Servants, and why I retain memories of the Holy Grail War."
Artoria was different from other Heroic Spirits.
Normally, heroes become Heroic Spirits after death.
But Artoria became a Heroic Spirit before her final breath and participated in the Holy Grail War without leaving the timeline. Only after obtaining the Holy Grail—or fulfilling her wish—would she truly die.
In other words, when Artoria became a Heroic Spirit, she had not yet died.
"Huh? Are there other differences...?"
"On that, Rin, I'm not entirely sure."
At the other end of the table—
"Master Kongming!" ×2
"I've said it already—my name is Waver Velvet. Or you may call me El-Melloi II."
Covering his face, Waver looked at Ritsuka Fujimaru and Mash, whose eyes sparkled as they stared at him. He immediately felt a headache coming on, rubbing his eyes as he let out a long sigh.
"I more or less understand the situation now. Parallel worlds, timelines, the future... these temporal paradoxes are truly a headache."
"And no matter how many times I hear it, it's still hard to believe. Saving human history... someone as mediocre a mage as me actually became a Heroic Spirit...? And in the future, Fujimaru—you summoned me and had me serve as your and Mash's magecraft instructor for a time."
"Isn't that a good thing, mongrel?"
With his golden hair standing like flames, Gilgamesh leaned against the sofa, glancing at this once insignificant man who had only survived thanks to his mercy. After a moment, he shook his head slightly.
"Becoming a Heroic Spirit proves that after I spared you, your loyalty and resolve never wavered. Though your talent is meager, you persisted and walked the path of a hero. That is worthy of praise!"
"For the King of Conquerors to gain a subject like you after death—his participation in the Holy Grail War was not in vain. Hahaha..."
"Waver, was it? If you wish to avenge your king, I will welcome you at any time."
"Not for now."
Rubbing his head and wiping away nonexistent cold sweat, Waver paused before asking, "King Gilgamesh, are your injuries alright?"
As one of the few survivors who had witnessed Gilgamesh's overwhelming power in the Fourth Holy Grail War, Waver naturally wanted to secure such a powerful ally.
After all, the oppressive presence of the forbidden evil god summoned in this Holy Grail War weighed on his heart like a mountain, leaving him barely able to breathe.
"These wounds may look severe, but they are mostly minor. Only this one, inflicted by a scythe—the strange corrosive energy attached to it is difficult to remove, even with the elixirs in my treasury. Recovery... will take time."
At Waver's question, Gilgamesh's expression turned serious as he spoke.
Last night, at the Church in the new district, Gilgamesh and Kirei Kotomine had been using familiars spread across Fuyuki City to watch the three battlefields erupt almost simultaneously, enjoying themselves as they commented on the spectacle...
And then—they were attacked.
Lancer Cú Chulainn intercepted one opponent. Gilgamesh was about to mock the other when that madwoman snapped back at him, cursing even more viciously than he ever could.
"Mongrel" was the least of it.
And then... well.
Gilgamesh's usual flaw—he always stumbles due to overconfidence.
Though he sensed the opponent's dense and violent aura, the King of Heroes' pride made him careless. He underestimated her—and allowed that crazed woman, laughing even more wildly than himself, to close the distance.
Fists, kicks, clubs, whips, spears, swords, chain blades, greatswords... the full arsenal of weapons was brought down upon Gilgamesh in a relentless barrage.
Fortunately, he had taken the situation somewhat seriously. By summoning armor, elixirs, defensive barriers, and other treasures from the Gate of Babylon in advance, he barely managed to endure the onslaught.
Otherwise, had he remained as careless as usual—dressed casually, firing off Noble Phantasms without concern—this incarnation of Gilgamesh, now possessing a physical body, might very well have been beaten to death on the spot.
Realizing the situation had spiraled beyond his control, Gilgamesh immediately became serious. Only then did he manage to stabilize the situation and hold his ground despite the early disadvantage.
To be honest, this was an extremely frustrating battle for him. Lancer had been suppressed by another woman, and Kirei Kotomine had only managed to use two enhancement Command Spells before being grievously injured.
Every time Gilgamesh attempted to unleash Enuma Elish, it was interrupted. Even the Chains of Heaven struggled to bind opponents who moved with such agility.
When he finally seized an opportunity—using the power of Command Spells—to create distance, reinforcements arrived for the enemy.
A striking woman clad in deep blue, frost-like armor launched a surprise attack. The massive wound on Gilgamesh's body, corroded by that strange energy, had been inflicted by her.
In the end, if not for Waver and Ruler Jeanne arriving in time, both he and Lancer would have perished there.
As dawn approached, the enemy ultimately withdrew—but the heavily wounded Kirei Kotomine was taken with them.
It could be said that in all these years, Gilgamesh had never suffered such a loss. That madwoman who kept calling herself "this Immortal, this Immortal"—he would remember her.
"Oh, right. King Gilgamesh, could you use your Sha Nagba Imuru to observe the true identity of that chaotic evil god—the one possessing the authority of the primordial mother goddess Tiamat, who descended into the vessel of the beast goddess Gorgon?"
As if recalling something, Ritsuka Fujimaru looked at Gilgamesh with excitement.
"Oh? So you even know that I possess Sha Nagba Imuru. It seems you have quite the connection with that one. No wonder you felt familiar the moment I saw you."
"However, your idea is sound... but for now, I cannot do it," Gilgamesh said decisively.
"Huh? You can't?"
"This body is merely one I obtained through incarnation as an Archer using the Grail. It is not true resurrection. As a Servant, this current Saint Graph does not grant me Sha Nagba Imuru..."
"Not necessarily, Gilgamesh."
"Who are you?"
The sudden interruption caused Gilgamesh to frown in displeasure.
"It's me—Romani Archaman."
A pale blue light screen appeared before Ritsuka Fujimaru. The man with a light orange ponytail stared intently at Gilgamesh.
"You..."
For some reason, under that strange, almost unsettling gaze, Gilgamesh felt a faint shiver run through him. There was something off about this man.
He felt... oddly familiar.
"I have a method. It should allow the memories of the Wise King Gilgamesh from the Seventh Singularity to synchronize with you."
Ignoring Gilgamesh's suspicious and contemplative look, Romani continued speaking, turning his gaze toward Jeanne, who was still focused on eating.
"Lady Jeanne, if possible, I hope you will cooperate with us."
"Ritsuka, do you remember the bond you shared with Gilgamesh in the Seventh Singularity?"
"Doctor Romani, are you suggesting... a Servant summoning?"
Through the tacit understanding forged from countless life-and-death battles, Ritsuka immediately grasped his intent.
"That's right. With you as the catalyst, this Gilgamesh as the vessel, and Saint Jeanne's Revelation as the guide."
"...Will that really work...?"