Waver couldn't help but tremble because Kenneth was already targeting him.
"It turns out it's you, Waver, you are truly a brilliant student of mine."
Kenneth looked at Waver, who was about to shrink into a ball. The veins on his forehead popped out as he displayed a cruel smile. Although the timing was different, the core of the situation remained the same. Even though Waver had not finished his thesis, the sentiment he expressed in the school was exactly as it had been.
Kenneth was busy adjusting the curriculum and preparing to participate in the Holy Grail War, and he was already in a bad mood. Now, hearing Waver's rebellious comments, he could hardly bear it. His harsh criticism had deeply humiliated Waver.
However, Waver, being a young man, didn't realize the gravity of his actions. He had actually stated in front of Kenneth—a man with vested interests in the class system and its foremost advocate—that he wanted to dismantle the existing system of class rule. Such mockery was nothing short of seeking death.
It could be said that Kenneth only scolding Waver was an act of leniency, born out of consideration for their teacher-student relationship and the fact that Waver was still young enough to be guided. Otherwise, if other professors or senior executives of the Clock Tower had heard Waver's ideas, he would have been expelled or, at worst, he would have disappeared that very night.
Waver did not understand this; he simply believed Kenneth was unable to comprehend his grand ideas. Feeling humiliated and ashamed, he finally left in anger. Just as in the original events, after being selected as a Master, he intercepted the holy relic meant for Kenneth—a fragment of Iskandar's cloak delivered by courier. Out of a desire for revenge, he stole the relic, spent all his savings on travel expenses, and came to Fuyuki, hoping to prove he was right.
However, after that initial impulse, Waver began to regret his decision. Facing Kenneth now, he realized how foolhardy his actions were. Could a novice like him really participate in a fight between magi? Not to mention, Kenneth himself was a participant. Facing the teacher who taught him, he felt he had no chance of winning.
Looking at the oppressive Kenneth, Waver managed a smile that looked more like a sob. "Professor Kenneth, would you believe me if I said this was all a misunderstanding?"
Kenneth sneered. "A misunderstanding? What kind of misunderstanding allows you to take my belongings?" He was truly furious with Waver. The previous unpleasantness in class was a matter of professional responsibility, but stealing was different; this was the robbery of private property.
Moreover, Waver stealing the King of Conquerors' cloak had caused significant trouble for Kenneth. With time being so tight, the price for a new holy relic was much higher than usual. Furthermore, it caused him embarrassment in front of his beloved fiancée. To him, that was the most important point.
"Well..." Waver was speechless.
"Hey, that's enough. We're not here to settle your personal grudges." A giant red-haired man appeared in front of Waver, blocking the two.
The next moment, a man in dark green sleeveless tights and a full-face mask appeared next to Kenneth, confronting the giant. The red-haired giant was, of course, Alexander the Great, the Rider Iskandar, summoned by Waver with the stolen relic. The masked man was Diarmuid Ua Duibhne, summoned by Kenneth. He was the one known for his twin spears.
As for why he wore a mask? You would have to ask him. The reason he gave Kenneth was to prevent opponents from identifying him by his appearance. However, only he knew the real reason.
Kenneth looked at Iskandar with a sour expression. This Heroic Spirit, whom he was supposed to summon, was now standing opposite him. It felt like a sharp slap to his face. Kenneth, already angry with Waver, became even more disgusted. However, he endured his anger for the moment. There were outsiders watching, and if they fought now, someone else might take advantage of the chaos.
Kenneth glanced at Emiya Kiritsugu, who was sitting in a dark corner observing them silently, and sat back with a cold snort.
"Phew..." Waver was relieved when he saw Kenneth back down.
"Look at how cowardly you are. Where is that courage you had before? Didn't you shout your slogans quite loudly? Keep your head up, or you will always be looked down upon," Iskandar said, unable to hide his slight disappointment.
"I... I'm not ready yet," Waver said, his voice tight.
Iskandar shook his head. He didn't want to comment further on this Master who was timid toward the world but bold at home. Suddenly, his expression turned serious as he looked toward the church door. Diarmuid did the same, and even the Servant on Emiya Kiritsugu's side appeared, standing warily by his side.
"Rider?" Waver was about to ask what was happening.
He saw the door swing open, revealing ten figures outside. Five people and five Heroic Spirits? Seeing this lineup, the people inside the church were stunned, and their expressions immediately became solemn. Takumi and the others had arrived.
Among the Heroic Spirits, Takumi walked in front, while four women followed a step behind him, guarding him from both sides. This was clearly a single group. Takumi's team made a strong entrance, instantly suppressing the six Masters and Servants present. Putting aside the extra Heroic Spirit, the sheer numbers made their hearts sink.
There were supposed to be only seven Masters and seven Heroic Spirits in the Holy Grail War. Yet, there were five on Takumi's side alone. How could they compete with that? Their combined forces didn't even match the other party. It felt like someone was cheating.
Takumi ignored their shock, looked at the gathered group, and nodded. Kenneth and Waver, the fixed players of the Fourth War, did not surprise him. Emiya Kiritsugu was also expected. As for the Heroic Spirits, Iskandar and Diarmuid remained the same.
Takumi glanced at the masked Lancer with some surprise but didn't dwell on it. He estimated the Lancer might have different plans, but it didn't pose a threat. The only thing that truly surprised Takumi was the Servant summoned by Emiya Kiritsugu.
From the position the Servant held, it was clear that Emiya Kiritsugu had summoned an Assassin. This was his preferred class. However, this Assassin was not one of the Hassan-i-Sabbah. This Assassin wore a red holy cloth scarf and hood, with a half-exposed face wrapped in gray bandages. He wore gray plate armor worn by time, and a tactical belt around his waist with tactical daggers—the kind used by modern militaries.
Seeing this, Takumi felt a bit overwhelmed. It was still Emiya Kiritsugu! He had summoned himself. What a classic move. Takumi wondered if this Counter Guardian version of Kiritsugu shared the same self-loathing as the Heroic Spirit Emiya. Perhaps he had responded to the call simply because Kiritsugu found no other holy relics and had a high affinity with himself.
After a few moments, Takumi withdrew his gaze. He entered the church and greeted Risei Kotomine, who had come to meet him, before asking him to begin the announcements.
"I believe the three of you may be confused about why you were called here and who these people are, but please be patient and listen," Risei Kotomine explained the corruption within the Grail and the cancellation of this Holy Grail War to Kenneth's group.
The three of them reacted with deep frowns. "What do you mean? Is this some kind of joke?" Kenneth became anxious. He was the one who had invested the most in this war, and he had already boasted about his participation at the Clock Tower. Now he was being told it was aborted?
Waver didn't mind as much, as his goal was only to prove himself. However, Iskandar was not pleased. He had answered the call specifically for the Grail.
"Interesting. Is this a scam?" Iskandar said with a fierce smile. "Are you prepared to face my shadow?"
Emiya Kiritsugu remained silent, observing the scene and calculating whether the news was credible and what his next move should be.
"To call it a scam is incorrect. Previous Holy Grail Wars have never truly succeeded. You should have known the risks of failure before coming here," Takumi interrupted calmly. "Whether you believe it or not is irrelevant. We are not asking for your opinion; we are informing you."
He then looked at Iskandar. "If you are dissatisfied, you can refuse to cooperate—provided you have the strength to do so."
Suddenly, a massive amount of magical power burst forth, knocking over nearby church benches. Golden ripples unfolded in the air as dazzling magical weapons emerged, aiming directly at Iskandar. Magic circles appeared, some brewing energy and others forming barriers to seal the church.
The smile on Iskandar's face froze. Looking at the display of power, a drop of cold sweat rolled down his forehead. This level of magical energy felt like facing an entire army. Diarmuid also looked solemn, not daring to move lest Takumi misunderstand his intentions. Kenneth and Waver were horrified; to them, Takumi didn't seem human, but like a divine being or a dragon. Such power was outrageous.
Emiya Kiritsugu remained silent, but he abandoned his hidden plans. Against a being of Takumi's level, his usual methods were useless.
"Hahahaha! I didn't say I wouldn't cooperate. I was just unhappy about missing out on the Grail. It's different from what was promised," Iskandar laughed, folding his arms. He had given up on fighting, though he still wanted an explanation.
"Whether you can get a reward or not depends on if you can win," Takumi said, restraining his magical power and weapons.
"Now that the Holy Grail War is cancelled, what happens next? Do we just disband?" Kenneth asked, frowning. He didn't actually care about the Grail as much as he cared about his reputation and seniority at the Clock Tower. He had spent a fortune to be here.
"That is a good question. To ensure your trip wasn't in vain, we have made other preparations," Takumi smiled and looked toward Nero.
Nero stood up confidently. "I am Nero Claudius, the most magnificent Emperor in the history of the Roman Empire! This time, I stand here as Caster."
The group was surprised by her identity, but they listened quietly. Takumi rolled his eyes at Nero's boasting but didn't stop her.
"I knew that the arriving Heroic Spirits might be disappointed, so I prepared a celebration," Nero announced excitedly.
"A celebration?"
"Yes! The heart-warming Nerofest!" Nero declared. Beside her, Alice Nakiri pulled a few party crackers. The others, including Albedo, Keqing, Noelle, and Makoto, clapped in cooperation, while Artoria and Lumineer remained calm.
The three Masters were confused. Takumi explained, "Simply put, it is a tournament where everyone can compete to determine rankings."
"But what is the point?" Iskandar asked, scratching his head. Kiritsugu nodded in agreement.
Waver, however, seemed satisfied. He wanted to prove himself, and a safer competition was exactly what he needed.
Takumi added, "As it is a tournament, there will be prizes. We have Master spots for the next Holy Grail War. Once we deal with the evil in the world, the next war will happen much sooner—likely within a few years. I have integrated the resources of the Three Founding Families. In addition to the Tohsaka family, there are quotas for the Matou and Einzbern families. You can win them if you wish."
Takumi also listed rare materials and artifacts as prizes—things that were highly valuable in this world but easy for him to generate with his magic.
Upon hearing this, Emiya Kiritsugu became focused. "Then I will participate." He wanted that future spot.
"I will participate as well," Kenneth and Waver added. They had thought their time was wasted, but this was an unexpected opportunity. As long as they won the tournament, they could gain rewards without the usual risks. They had no reason to refuse.