"I wondered what you wanted to talk about, calling me suddenly... you want Rider's Command Spell?"
"Yes..."
Sakura, who called me suddenly. What could it be, and she's asking for a Command Spell? What is she thinking?
"Why Rider all of a sudden?"
"Well, Illya-san has been looking at me strangely..."
"..."
Is she starting to notice bit by bit? That's a bit troublesome. Sakura hasn't even awakened yet, and it would be problematic if the Lesser Grail steps in. Since she keeps staying by Shirou's side, it's hard to kill the Lesser Grail... Annoying. This is why I should have killed her then, but because Sakura asked Medusa... Should I have stopped it with a Command Spell?
I keep forgetting that I actually have Command Spells.
"Sakura. Then you'd be controlling two at the same time. Isn't the chance of being noticed high?"
"I heard... that you obtained the Grail."
"..."
"Then, isn't it all over?"
"I still need more Servants. Lancer and Assassin are left, right?"
"That's, true but..."
"So I still have more to do. The Grail is incomplete to be a linchpin, it won't work... I should be able to deceive them to some extent. Hold out your hand."
"Ah, thank you."
While handing over the Command Spell, I apply adjustments so that even as the Lesser Grail, she only feels the connection with Medusa and can only see Medusa's Command Spell.
"Are you satisfied now?"
"Yes... thank you, Caster. So... I, actually... yesterday, Senpai hugged me. Like this, me..."
Sizzle...
"..."
"It's all thanks to you, Caster."
"Is that so. Good that you know. Both you and I have wishes. Your wish seems almost fulfilled... but isn't it still lacking?"
"Huh? Lacking, what do you mean..."
"Don't say otherwise later. I'm going... watch over your love well. Let's see if he actually cheats or not."
"..."
I leave the spot and have a meal at a nearby fast-food restaurant. This will be the last human-like meal I have as a Servant.
"Are you really okay with that degree?"
"Medusa..."
When did she follow me again? Medusa sits next to me wearing glasses.
"I saw you gave Sakura a Command Spell."
"Sakura is my Master. Isn't there particularly a problem? I gave you the future course of action, didn't I? Soon, Sakura will be reborn as the Grail."
"... Are you truly satisfied with that?"
"Sakura isn't dying, is she? If my plan proceeds, Sakura can fulfill her wish with the remaining magical energy after I fulfill mine. I don't wish for the world's destruction either, so I'll destroy the Grail before leaving. You can also stay by Sakura's side and start a new life as a Servant. It's a good ending, isn't it?"
"I'm asking if your heart is truly at peace."
"... Hmph. Of course there's no problem."
"You're shouldering too much alone."
Useless talk... For the Grail to grant my wish, it must become an object in a realm separate from the Third Magic. I have no intention of making it a Beast and awakening it.
"It's tonight. Sakura will be very hungry. Now, she will come out herself, right?"
"A meal, is it..."
"Ahh, a very delicious... hybrid meat she will eat."
"... I also value Sakura and you more than other people. But I'm worried whether Sakura and you will truly be okay."
"Medusa... you are just a tool. A tool I saved, so... just obediently follow."
"..."
Medusa looks at me as if to say I'm saying things I don't mean. Annoying... Those eyes are annoying, Medusa.
I part with her... and night fell.
Chomp... chomp.... munch munch...
"See? I said she'd eat delicious hybrid meat."
"... I see, there was such a heroic spirit."
AUO meat was apparently quite delicious.
"..... Sparkle, sparkle..."
"That's right, Sakura. Eat a little more. Aren't you hungry~?"
"...."
Soon, black shadows erupt centered around her... absorbing and devouring people all over the city. Yes, that's it. Grow more. Eat a lot and grow.
Countless people are eaten. Dozens, hundreds of people...
More, eat more, my Grail. Grow, grow and awaken. My Grail that will grant my wish... Please, grow faster.
"Fergus... are you, truly satisfied?"
"... Of course."
After sending Sakura home, at the Emiya house, they are shocked to see Sakura collapsed. And, that was the moment Shirou's suspicion began. I wonder, will you choose the world or Sakura?
Well, this is curiosity. Merely a very small curiosity though...
The next day, due to the continuing increase in missing persons, Shirou, Rin, and Illya leave Sakura, who collapsed the previous day, alone and go out to scout. Because of that, Sakura feels left out.
To such a Sakura, one person came.
"Hey Sakura! First Caster and Rider, and now even you, why aren't you coming home! What's going on!"
Matou Shinji came looking for her. Perfect... the keyword has arrived.
"Yo."
"Caster? You were here!? Where's Sakura!? Is it going well?"
"Sure~ it's going well. Soon you can become a first-rate magus too."
"... Really, right?"
"Yeah... really. By becoming Sakura's nutrient, you'll become a first-rate magus."
"... Wha──"
Swish!
Just like that, I behead Shinji. This is just the right use for you, Shinji...
"Caster? What.... Big brother?"
"Ahh~ you came at just the right time, Sakura. Your brother was being a bother, you see? I took care of him for you. How about it?"
"Big brother...."
"You also thought Shinji was constantly annoying and irritating, right? He raped and tormented you just because you're not blood-related... Isn't that so?"
"That thought... never once..."
"Really? Then─"
"Ah, no... that kind of thing, big brother..."
"... Now, it's meal time, Sakura."
I hand Shinji's head to her... and a tentacle comes out and gulps down Shinji's head.
"───Sweet."
Kwaaaaaa!!!!
Soon, the shadows begin to run wild. Is this really... the beautiful moment of new birth? How laughable. It is the moment the Dark Grail is born.
"Don't, look... Caster...!"
"... What~? It's just beautiful."
Swallowed by the shadow, Sakura reveals a new form. As if feeling unburdened, she smiled a wicked smile.
"How do you feel? My Master."
"Ahh... the best feeling."
Ahh, yes. This is the level my Grail should be at. This tremendous magical energy, very good.
Simultaneous with her awakening, numerous shadows appear all over Fuyuki. With this, the preparations are complete.
"Now, shall we go? To our throne..."
"Yeah... let's go."
I take her hand, open the house door, and step outside. Outside, I could see them, having sensed something and come running.
"Well, who do we have here? If it isn't Mr. Ally of Justice?"
"Caster...! Why are you... why did you do this to Sakura!?"
"Isn't that wrong? The ones who changed Sakura like this... are you people? For example, that guy's father was the start, right? Isn't that so? Tohsaka Rin."
"....."
"No more to say? Then, shall I break the Lesser Grail first..."
The moment I reach out my hand, a chain flies and binds my wrist.
"... What are you doing, Medusa. Are you trying to interfere with me?"
"I am merely following an order."
"An order, you say?"
I never gave such an order... Could it be, Sakura? When I look at her, she looks at Medusa with an expression that says 'Did I do something like that~?'
"Ah, that's it? If that's the case, it doesn't matter now. Come over here, Rider. Let's go together with us."
"... Sakura. Even now, you can still turn back. The same goes for you, Fergus."
No Command Spells. When she was still in her right mind, she must have used a Command Spell on Medusa yesterday. Command Spells are merely a forced command right. The contract isn't severed just because there are no Command Spells. Command Spells are not the link between Master and Servant, they are merely part of the connection. The reason there were no Command Spells in the first Grail War is because there was no problem with the contract.
Did she use a Command Spell to tell her to protect them? Sakura seems to regret that choice now.
"What a boring thing to say, Rider? So, you're betraying me too?"
"It's not like that──"
"Enough now."
Kwaaaaaa!!!!
A black slash that cuts through the mansion flies in, splitting the city block while also cutting Medusa's chain.
"Saber..."
"Is the playtime over, Fergus."
Shirou is shocked by Saber's appearance. He glares at me as if to say 'So it was me after all?' What does that half-baked guy, who can't even use Archer's arm properly, think he can do?
Medusa still shows the will to fight us. If we fight here, civilian casualties would be huge. They are all sacrifices for the Grail, meaningless deaths shouldn't happen.
"No, it's fine. Let's go now. Anyway, they're just fools not even worth dealing with. Come to the Greater Grail sometime. Anyway... you can't defeat us."
We, along with the shadows, reach the front of the Grail.
"Now, it's festival time, Sakura. Let's prepare the ritual? The ritual for our wishes..."
Now... now soon. Wait for me, everyone... Again, again, just like those happy days...
"... Caster. There was something I wanted to ask you. Rider seemed to have roughly guessed... what is your wish?"
"My wish? Well, it's fine. I suppose I can tell you. My wish, it is one."
Me and my wives...
A new life where we can all die together at the same time, possessing ordinary human lifespans.
"That is my wish."
"Is that possible with the Grail?"
"With your Grail, it's possible. My Noble Phantasm is a wish to summon my wives... I have no interest in this world. After you also fulfill your wish, I will take this Grail and go to the Reverse Side. Then I'll summon my wives, incarnate them, meet Scáthach, and make Scáthach's body like that of an ordinary human. With Angra Mainyu (All the World's Evils), it's possible... We will, spend those happy days once more in the Reverse Side. This time for sure... all together, we can find rest. Since I'm taking the Grail with me, the world won't be destroyed, isn't that good? With the Grail's power, I can open the gate to the Reverse Side, so going there isn't a problem... Or, will you come with me too? How about becoming my daughter?"
"... I'll think about that. With Caster, it seems like it would be fine... but still..."
"Attachment, is it? Well, there's still time, so take your time... time is on our side. Saber, what about you?"
"If possible, I would like to go with you."
"Is that so... That's fine too. I hope Medusa makes the right decision. To be honest now... I've grown to like her? I'm in a good mood now. Soon, I can fulfill my wish. This time for sure... definitely."
Ahh... Now at last, I...
Creeeak...
An old storeroom in the mansion. The head of the Tohsaka family takes out a certain box from inside the dusty storeroom.
"Found it. As expected, that memo was real."
She opens a box and takes out a treasure passed down through the generations of the family. For the final battle...
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