[Mass Update: 4/5]
"So this talisman is really yours… Did the Matou family steal it?"
After picking up her scattered gems, Tohsaka Rin looked at the dragon talisman glowing faintly in Roland's hand, and she found herself starting to believe his words.
"So, what exactly do you intend to do? Let me be clear first, if you want to use Ishtar's power to participate in the Holy Grail War, then even if the goddess herself agrees, I will not."
Before the war began, Tohsaka Tokiomi had warned his daughter in earnest. The Holy Grail War was not a simple contest of strength, it was a battle in which magi wagered their pride and their very lives. It was a solemn ritual not to be profaned. Whoever joined had to be prepared to fall on the battlefield without regrets.
And Ishtar was anything but ordinary. If she were to intervene, then no matter what, the situation would be thrown into chaos.
That was why, from the very beginning, Rin and the goddess had agreed to keep their distance from the Holy Grail War. Rin placed her trust in her father's qualifications to win, even if it cost his life.
Rin's eyes burned with stubborn resolve. That was her awareness as heir to the Tohsaka family's magical path.
"You can rest assured," Roland narrowed his eyes and let a sinister smile curve his lips, "I won't be using you to fight Servants or other Masters."
"I only plan to borrow the goddess's Noble Phantasm, to smash through Mount Enzo, blow apart that wretched stronghold, and reclaim my lost talisman."
"…I need to discuss this with Ishtar."
Rin wavered. Since it didn't directly interfere with the Grail War itself, she found herself less resistant to the idea. Especially when Sakura was still in his hands, she had little choice.
"As you wish."
Roland lightly tapped her forehead, loosening the seal just enough to let Rin commune with the goddess.
"Of course not!"
Ishtar's furious voice rang out the instant the restriction was lifted.
"If this man had come before me with proper offerings and respect, I might have considered it. But to dare make such an outrageous demand after attacking me, does he think this goddess a fool? Rin, reject him outright!"
"Ugh…" Rin trembled. She'd already spent most of her painstakingly collected gems today thanks to Roland. If she agreed, who knew how much more she would have to cough up later? Perhaps even every bit of profit she'd earned would vanish into this man's schemes.
Just as Rin was trying to find the right words for a tactful refusal, she froze, Roland snapped his fingers.
"Since I'm troubling the goddess, naturally I won't let her labor go unrewarded. Once you help me gather all the talismans, I will grant you a lost treasure."
"…Eh? A lost treasure?"
Rin's eyes widened, her protest caught in her throat.
"What? You doubt me?" Roland arched a brow.
From the shadows at his feet, a dark silhouette rippled up, a shadowy ninja carrying a large jar inlaid with radiant jewels and ornate carvings. The vessel was so heavy he had to hug it close to his chest to keep balance. Slowly, he opened the lid.
The sunlight today was faint, yet the brilliance of the gemstones inside made the air itself shimmer. The dazzling luster spilled into Rin's eyes like flowing water, alive with color.
The jar was filled to the brim. A small mountain of perfectly cut, top-quality gems. Far beyond what she had seen earlier, far beyond anything she'd ever imagined.
Even though she was from the jewel-wielding Tohsaka line, Rin had never once laid eyes on such a hoard.
Her mouth fell open. Her eyes shone like stars.
In her mind, only one thought echoed:
If she had this much, she'd never have to worry about magical costs again.
"Rin, don't lose yourself! There's no such thing as a free miracle. You're the one who taught me that, remember? It dazzles the eyes, but it could be a trap. Would a man like him really hand such treasures over so easily?"
Ishtar's voice trembled slightly. She wasn't even scolding Roland anymore. Clearly, even the goddess's heart was swaying.
Rin's gaze stayed locked on the glittering pile. She wanted to agree, but some lingering rationality held her tongue. And then Roland spoke again, words that shattered her hesitation.
"This is merely a deposit. Gather all the talismans, and you'll receive wealth tens of thousands of times greater."
"Tens of thousands of times—!!!"
Their thoughts overlapped instantly.
"How many temples could I raise with this…"
"With this much, I couldn't spend it all in my lifetime…"
"…Ishtar, what should we do?"
Rin's rationality was cracking, greed gnawing at her resolve. But she would never betray her partner. In the end, Ishtar's decision was what she awaited.
And the goddess, so brash and unyielding in all things, fell into an unusual silence.
Her gaze lingered on the jar, her expression torn. She wanted to spit venom at Roland, to sneer that this was an insult to her divinity
But there were just too many gems.
"Hmph. He's only human. Still… this is interesting. If he's going to dance, then I'll let him. Perhaps it won't bore me for a while."
Her words were dismissive, but Rin understood immediately, Ishtar had agreed.
Rin's head bobbed up and down, desperate to seal the deal before Roland changed his mind. To watch that kind of wealth slip away would kill her with grief.
"Happy business, then."
Roland couldn't help but be amused. Compared to the other Servants, each with their quirks and flaws, this goddess seemed surprisingly easy to handle.
"Wait!" Rin suddenly pressed. "Since we've agreed, you should at least help me unbind the seal. Even if you can't, then tell me the taboos, how to avoid triggering it."
Rin knew well: the more dangerous something was, the more carefully it had to be sealed. She herself had nearly suffered a fatal mishap in her studies once, all because of neglecting that principle.
A seal capable of binding a goddess was no small matter. It could not be handled carelessly.
"Oh, that seal?" Roland blinked. "The restrictions and the key to unlocking it are the same. You can take care of it yourself."
"…Me? An apprentice?" Rin frowned with doubt, then demanded, "What exactly is the taboo?"
"Don't let it get wet."
"…Ha?"