Chapter 26: The Sister's Summons
"Lady Hortensia."
Suddenly, a monk approached.
"Is something the matter?"
Caren looked at the monk with an expression tinged with aloofness. Toward her colleagues, Caren could neither be said to dislike them nor did she have particularly good feelings for them; it was simply her usual social distance, keeping others at arm's length.
Ultimately, Caren was not devout toward the so-called God she believed in. After her mother committed suicide and her father died mysteriously in a Holy Grail War, she no longer maintained a sense of awe toward the divine. Up until now, she had stayed only to survive; becoming a member of the clergy was merely because her grandfather and father were both priests, making her familiar with the profession.
"Priest Kotomine is waiting for you in the back hall." The monk maintained a socially polite distance and bowed to Caren.
"Why is Grandfather looking for me at this time?"
Vaguely, Caren felt it likely had something to do with the impending Holy Grail War.
"The Priest did not say; my task was merely to summon you," the monk stated politely.
"I understand. I'll head over now."
Caren returned the gesture and headed toward the back hall. Crossing the empty main hall, she stepped up the stairs and pushed open the doors to the rear chamber.
"You've come."
The old man sitting behind the desk immediately revealed a kind smile upon seeing Caren's arrival. Then, he stood up, holding a somewhat bulging envelope and a key, which he placed into Caren's hand.
Caren took them, curiously opening the envelope to see a stack of Japanese yen inside.
"Grandfather... what are these?"
Caren frowned slightly, looking at her grandfather with a heart full of doubt.
"Caren, I am advanced in years now. This Holy Grail War will be overseen by me and another Catholic priest; we will both be placing ourselves in danger."
Kotomine Risei's posture had become slightly hunched, and his face appeared increasingly aged.
"I do not know when I shall go to meet the Heavenly Father, and I cannot allow you to face the danger here with me. Therefore, until the Holy Grail War is over, go and live in the Semina
Apartments in Shinto, Miyama-cho. That apartment building is under my name, and I have some properties surrounding it. Until this war ends, whether I am still alive or not, you shall inherit those assets."
Hearing Risei's words, Caren couldn't help but feel moved.
"Grandfather... I..."
Her grandfather had treated her very well over the years; Caren naturally wasn't without emotion, and in the end, she felt a sense of reluctance to part. Holding the bulging envelope, the girl stood there, somewhat conflicted.
"Sigh, go now. You are the last descendant of my Kotomine family. No matter what, I do not wish for you to be drawn into this whirlpool."
Risei waved his hand.
Caren, unable to hide her inner emotions, bowed deeply to the grandfather who had raised her for ten years, then turned and left the back hall.
Closing that door, Caren suddenly felt as though she had completely severed her connection to the world of magecraft. From now on, her life would likely become like that of a normal person. A normal job, a normal life, a normal marriage and children... thinking of this, the face of the man who had stolen her first kiss seemed to float before her eyes again.
In the end, she and he were just chance acquaintances; from here on, they would have no further relationship. Caren exhaled, not knowing if her current mood was one of relief or regret... she only felt as if a stone were blocking her chest, a bit stifled.
Suddenly, Caren felt a burning sensation on the back of her left hand.
"A spiritual barrier...?"
Caren immediately thought of the "curse" she had been born with. However, according to that Mr. Orihara, after that kiss, her "cursed" constitution should have been completely altered.
"Was I lied to...?"
As expected, one shouldn't just trust strange men!
Caren couldn't help but feel nervous and hurriedly raised her left hand. Then, her eyes widened as she looked at the back of her hand in disbelief.
What brought her that burning sensation was not a wound from a spiritual barrier, but deep red, irregular lines—branded onto the back of her hand like an exquisite tattoo.
"This is..."
Caren didn't even realize that her tone, besides nervousness, carried a trace of hard-to-conceal excitement.
"Command Spells!?"
"…"
Caren Hortensia had become a qualified participant in the Holy Grail War.
However, she did not inform her grandfather of this matter. She worried it would cause the elderly man to completely collapse.
"What exactly... is my wish for the Holy Grail..."
Lying on the clean white bed, Caren rested her head on a soft pillow, extending her left hand to observe the crimson Command Spell patterns. While murmuring, the girl swung her fair, slender legs.
The girl was currently living in the Semina Apartments in Shinto, Miyama-cho. There were many residents here; they perhaps did not yet know that the newly moved-in Caren would soon become their landlord.
"Forget it, there's no point in thinking about that. Let's perform the summoning ritual first."
The girl in pink pajamas sat up from the bed, her long silver hair draping down. Then, she went to the center of the living room and began to trace the magic circle for summoning a Heroic Spirit using the materials she had prepared.
"Without a catalyst, I wonder which Heroic Spirit I will summon..."
The nervousness and curiosity regarding the unknown caused Caren's heartbeat to accelerate. When the pendulum reached the correct position, without a moment's hesitation, the girl raised her hand.
"I announce—
Thy body shall be under my command, and my fate shall be with thy sword. In accordance with the call of the Holy Grail, if thou art willing to obey this will and this reason, then answer me. I hereby swear: I shall achieve all the good deeds of the world! I shall punish all the evil deeds of the world!
Seven days clad in the three great words of power, come forth from the circle of deterrence, Guardian of the Scales!"
Called by the girl's incantation, the wind blowing from the center of the summoning circle surged. The summoning caused quite a commotion, though fortunately, it caused no damage to the surroundings.
"Now... I have joined the Holy Grail War too..."
Caren felt a bit dazed. Just yesterday, she was a plain nun of the Holy Church; today, her identity had suddenly shifted to a participant in the Holy Grail War. This was already the second incredible event she had encountered since coming to Fuyuki City.
"Master, I suggest you take a rest first. Your complexion looks a bit poor."
Hearing that gentle female voice, Caren instinctively looked toward the figure sitting on the tatami.
Announcement!
New Fanfiction!
Hikigaya's Path to Become a Jujutsu Sorcerer is Wrong as Expected
Following an unusual request from Yotsuya Miko, the world of Jujutsu is unveiled to the Service Club. However, Cursed Spirits are merely the beginning, as this world harbors far deeper secrets.
Magic and swords, curses and abilities, and the beautiful girls gradually gathering around... This kind of youth romantic comedy is definitely a huge problem.
Multi X-Over (Jujitsu Kaisen, SAO, Amagi Brilliant Park and others)
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