[—You didn't catch me; I let you catch me.]
…
…
"Heh, what a fool."
A sharp, cold male voice echoed, its unmasked malice jolting the barely-escaped Kiritsugu.
Kayneth, just arrived, had no patience for a dying man's thoughts. Hands behind his back, he watched the limping Kiritsugu above, his scornful gaze like one on a circus clown.
"I expected rural magi outside the Clock Tower to be worthless, but you're even worse. Modern firearms, infrared scopes… using such things in a magical contest. Did you think I've been cut off from the world all these years? Short-sighted fool."
His biting sarcasm rang through the night.
Unlike the isolated Atlas Institute or Wandering Sea, the Clock Tower, one of the Mage's Association's three branches, was open to global magi, located in bustling London. It wasn't ignorant of worldly changes or tech.
Many old magi saw tech as a mistake, demystifying the world, hindering magecraft, and shunned it. To Kayneth, they were fools. As El-Melloi's leader, he viewed tech and change differently.
Tech eroded mystery, a result of the Age of Gods' end and humanity's choice—unchangeable, lamenting useless.
Weaklings whined about circumstances; the strong adapted…
He studied scientific theories and inventions, not to rely on them, but to draw inspiration for magecraft, advancing in this era.
Countering heat signatures and ballistics was child's play for his intellect.
The trap was for his disciple, but it caught this tech-using fool.
He pondered… then realized.
"Oh, I know you. Firearms, Time Alter, Kiritsugu Emiya, heir of Noritaka Emiya, the so-called disgrace, Magus Killer."
Kiritsugu was notorious in the mystic world, a pariah who'd slain dozens of magi. His Time Alter was research-worthy; his father was a Clock Tower student, a peer of Kayneth's professor, Yuliphis.
Before coming, Kayneth had Intelligence gather data, including Kiritsugu's recent Einzbern marriage. Seeing him here wasn't surprising.
Recalling the bullet aimed at him, Kayneth's eyes chilled.
He scorned such tactics but admitted their threat. Without the bait, he might've been hit. At that speed, even Mystic Codes couldn't deploy fast enough. Other magi might've died.
His gaze grew colder.
Initially, he'd come for a magical exchange, not taking these rural bumpkins seriously, even planning a honeymoon with Sola.
But the first night, someone aimed to kill. This wasn't a friendly contest—it was a deathmatch!
No wonder Roy warned: "Don't come to Japan, you'll die."
Without his traitorous disciples, he wouldn't have prepared so thoroughly. By their plan, with such ruthless foes, he might've died. Bringing Sola would've been throwing her into a pit!!
Realizing this, Kayneth shivered, reflecting on his actions.
So…
Roy knew the Grail War's dangers and tried to stop him?
This obvious truth dulled his anger toward Roy.
That rebellious kid still cared for his professor, not fully fallen. He could be re-educated.
But punishment was still due, just lighter.
Now…
Realizing this wasn't a simple ritual, Kayneth shed his flippant attitude.
This demanded a heavy strike!!
Focusing on the terrified Kiritsugu above, he acted.
Kiritsugu, seeing the figure below, recognized him.
Golden slicked-back hair, classic noble attire, haughty demeanor—the famed Clock Tower Lord of Mineralogy, Kayneth!
Why him?!
He cursed his luck.
Being ambushed by a prepared Lord was a boast-worthy tale—if you survived. Having failed, Kiritsugu fled.
He'd just found a way to save the world. He couldn't die in a meaningless magical duel!! With his Stinger RPG, grenades, C4, and special arrangements at a military base, he had too many cards left to die!!
But Kayneth didn't see it that way. He couldn't forgive a sneak attacker.
"Hmph, trying to escape?"
With a cold snort, he flicked his fingers, tossing three red, yellow, and blue gems—priceless materials for gem magecraft, beyond rural magi like Tokiomi.
"Come and go as you please? Not so easy. Sneak attack? Be ready to pay!!"
"You magus disgrace!"
With a roar, he chanted.
"—Three Original Stones."
As the incantation ended, the tricolor gems glowed with magical life, streaking through the night in arcs, locking onto Kiritsugu from three angles, striking fast.
Sensing the massive mana closing in, Kiritsugu's brows jumped. Turning, he saw the gems' afterimages.
"Shh, can we reconcile?"
"Now you jest?"
Kayneth sneered.
Boom—!!
Mana and explosions engulfed the area.
The night was long, heroes' battles dazzling. But in an unseen corner, the Masters' fight was just as thrilling.
***
If you enjoyed this story, don't forget to drop 5 stars and your power stone. And if you want to read more than 70 chapters in advance, feel free to visit: pat reon . com / KangTL