In the forests on the outskirts of Fuyuki City.
For the people of Fuyuki, tonight was destined to be restless.
Unbeknownst to all, a mage-killer had infiltrated a military base in Japan, using magecraft to manipulate and control its high-ranking officers in secret.
In a clandestine war where seven mages fought for the Holy Grail, this mage employed modern high-tech weaponry—an audacious act unprecedented in the history of the Grail Wars, unthinkable to even consider.
A mage had blatantly violated the secrecy of mystery, defying the rules. A barrage of missiles rained down, leveling the entire forest on Fuyuki's outskirts.
That night, the ground trembled across the city.
With a series of relentless explosions, the once-lush forest was reduced to a wasteland in a single evening.
Crimson flames and blinding blasts flickered in the dark, like sparks in the night. Feeling the faint tremors, a young man observing from a nearby vantage point frowned.
"Kiritsugu Emiya, that madman really dared to do it…"
Surveying the scorched earth left by the missiles, Roy, standing at the forest's edge, dispelled the protection of the Earth Angel Uriel.
His expression darkened at the sight of the ruined landscape.
With the blessings of Uriel and the earth spirit Nome, he could viscerally sense the silent lament of the land and forest. The souls lost in the explosion lingered above, adding to his unease.
This tragic scene left him deeply unsettled.
*'Champion of justice, what a champion…'
'To achieve your ends by any means, even sacrificing innocents as necessary for justice—is that how you uphold your ideals, Kiritsugu Emiya? I misjudged you.'
'Compared to Tokiomi Tohsaka, Kariya Matou, or Kirei Kotomine, you're the truly irredeemable one…'*
His thoughts darkened as he and Scáthach moved toward a specific point at the forest's edge.
He had found his answers.
…
Buzz—!!
The missile barrage triggered Fuyuki's piercing air raid sirens, waking everyone from their slumber. Terrified, residents watched the violent explosions in the forest.
Nearly fifty years after the world war's end, Japan had long been free of conflict. Tonight's missile strike reignited deep-seated fears.
Elderly survivors of that era trembled, haunted by memories of bombardment.
That night, police stations, fire departments, and city hall—from Fuyuki to the broader Japan—were overwhelmed with calls. Fuyuki's aging mayor, nearing retirement, nearly fainted from shock. The deputy mayor contacted the prime minister for answers.
Tokiomi Tohsaka, hidden in a corner of Fuyuki, couldn't help but curse at the spectacle.
Those damned fools, escalating things to this level! How can this be concealed?
Kirei Kotomine, just regaining consciousness, fainted again upon hearing the news.
In both mundane and mystic circles, the night's events were uncontainable.
No lie could cover this bloody reality.
Could they claim a gas canister exploded and triggered a chain reaction?
…
On Fuyuki's highway.
A red-haired woman in a trench coat, cigarette in mouth, floored the accelerator of an off-road vehicle pushed to its limits, racing to escape Fuyuki before a citywide lockdown caused by the panic.
"Kayneth… Professor Kayneth, were those missiles aimed at us?"
In the backseat, a disheveled Waver spoke shakily, his earlier resolve and composure—shown when facing the King of Conquerors and the King of Heroes—replaced by fear and confusion.
"Isn't it obvious? They were targeting us…"
Not just Waver, Kayneth was in poor shape. Barely rescued from the blast's edge, the high-speed escape wasn't pleasant.
Though the missiles paled compared to facing Enuma Elish, it was his closest brush with death. Without his scouting familiar's warning and a pre-arranged vehicle, he'd be dead or dying. He wasn't arrogant enough to think his Volumen Hydrargyrum could withstand such an explosion.
But still…
Kayneth eyed the red-haired woman driving, cigarette in mouth, with suspicion.
He knew her, of course.
In the Clock Tower and mystic world, she was a renowned genius, not much older than him. He'd once measured himself against her.
The moment she appeared, he recognized her.
Years ago—
A wanted criminal under the Clock Tower's Sealing Designation, the genius who revived the Primordial Runes, and a Grand Mage who achieved unprecedented feats in puppet magecraft: Aoko Aozaki.
When she urged them to board, Kayneth was stunned. With danger imminent, detected by his familiar, he had no time to think, pulling Waver onto the vehicle.
The relentless explosions and flames that followed confirmed his choice was correct.
Some damned fool used missiles to wipe out the Masters challenging the Grail, aiming for a clean sweep.
As for who…
Kayneth could guess with his toes.
Kiritsugu Emiya, that despicable mage.
From the first night, Kayneth knew his underhanded tactics. In a mage's battle, he used not just pistols or submachine guns but RPGs.
He crafted anti-mage bullets, chilling to any mage.
Kayneth thought Kiritsugu had exhausted his tricks.
But he underestimated how low and extreme the man could go, using missiles, ignoring the Grail War's rules, all for victory.
This mess was beyond the local overseer's control, even with the Mineralogy Department's help. A major mystery breach loomed, requiring Clock Tower intervention.
The Holy Church was also implicated, undeniably negligent.
What about the wider world of magecraft?
Participating in a Grail War and letting such chaos spill beyond its bounds is the same as telling the general public that mystery and magic exist. A single mistake could provoke the wrath of magus around the world, forcing Kayneth to lie low.
Sigh… what rotten luck.
He'd set out confident, only to end up fleeing in disgrace, his mood complex.
But seeing Waver beside him, his spirits lifted.
He'd survived this hellish battlefield and retrieved his wayward students—a great gain.
As for the Grail? Servants?
To hell with them. He was done.
During the retreat, he used all three Command Spells to have Finn hold off threats, then severed their contract, exiting the Grail War to avoid Gilgamesh's pursuit.
Sigh…
Calming himself, Kayneth addressed Aoko Aozaki with cautious curiosity.
"Miss Aozaki, where are you taking us?"
Though grateful for her rescue, he remained wary.
This couldn't be a coincidence.
Someone just happening to pass by their battlefield, meeting them before the missiles struck, with a vehicle ready to escape? Too perfect.
Anyone with sense could see Aoko was waiting for them.
This puzzled Kayneth. He had no enmity or bond with Aoko—why would she save him?
Before Gilgamesh shattered his victory with Enuma Elish, he'd been confident, never arranging a rescue. This situation baffled him.
His wariness of Aoko peaked, two gems clutched in hand, ready to throw and escape with Waver if needed.
"To Tokyo, Misaki City, or Nukui City, then straight to a plane back to Britain."
Aoko answered frankly, revealing Roy's plan.
"Back to Britain…?"
Her response stunned Kayneth.
He'd feared she'd take them somewhere dangerous or extort him. His crests and artifacts were treasures even a Grand Mage couldn't ignore.
Indeed, Aoko had planned to leverage Kayneth, the wealthy Mineralogy lord, for profit.
But Roy's communication changed her mind.
With the Grail War nearing its climax and Kayneth and Waver's withdrawal, only he and Gilgamesh remained contenders.
The situation would spiral out of control, beyond predictions. She was to take them and leave.
With urgency, Aoko didn't haggle. She'd already profited enough and owed Roy favors. Greed now could ruin everything.
"I'll get you out of Fuyuki to meet Sakura, who's in my safehouse. Then you take her and fly back to Britain. I'm not returning to that Clock Tower hellhole."
Aoko extinguished her cigarette, speaking casually.
"Sakura… you don't mean?!"
"You know who."
Kayneth's eyes widened, his fragile heart reeling as realization hit.
"Haha, exactly, lemon-head."
"Surprised? Shocked?"
Seeing Kayneth's stunned expression in the rearview mirror, Aoko laughed.
She'd anticipated this moment.
When Roy contacted her with his plan, she pitied Kayneth, oblivious and led by his cunning student.
She often teased that Kayneth, picking a student like Roy, had struck gold.
Lucky and unlucky.
Unlucky, as Roy unwittingly tripped him up; lucky, as he always helped in critical moments.
"…Roy, where is he?!"
Surprisingly, Kayneth's first reaction wasn't anger but concern, asking where Roy was.
He didn't care why his student was linked to a wanted criminal like Aoko or what role he played in the Grail War.
He only wanted to know if Roy was safe, out of danger, waiting outside Fuyuki to exit the war and return to Britain together.
"…Huh?"
Seeing Kayneth's concern rather than anger, Aoko was briefly stunned.
She glanced at his earnest eyes, sighing.
"I see why you two are master and apprentice… Polar opposites, but your care for each other is a perfect match."
Shrugging, she answered, "Relax, Crowley's fine. He has important things to do, so he won't join you. He says to trust him."
"Trust him…? Nonsense—What?!"
The car surged, throwing Kayneth back, nearly hitting the armrest.
"Heh, nothing, just police setting up roadblocks."
"Hold on, lemon-head! We're speeding up!!"
Aoko smirked, eyeing the city exit under lockdown from the missile strike, crashing through barriers and speeding off amid police shouts.
…
Meanwhile, at the forest's edge.
A golden figure leaned on his spear, gazing at the scorched forest.
His azure eyes held sorrow, a blue mana aura pulsing, healing the war-torn land as best he could.
Blessed by spirits, he felt nature's pain.
But his reckless mana expenditure wasn't just for the forest.
—Tap, tap, tap.
The sorrow didn't last. Footsteps in the night drew Finn's gaze to the figure he awaited.
A smiling dark-haired youth and a bewitching purple-haired woman.
Roy Crowley and Scáthach.
"What a coincidence, Lancer, meeting you here…"
Tracking Finn's deliberately emitted mana, Roy smiled upon seeing him, waving casually and asking, "Since you're here, Professor Kayneth and the others have safely evacuated, right?"
"Rest assured, Mr. Crowley…" Finn gave a wry smile.
"Thanks to your arrangements, my lord and the others have safely withdrawn."
"Good to hear…" Roy approached, smiling as if relieved, though Scáthach and Finn couldn't tell if it was genuine or an act.
Perhaps both? Even Roy didn't know.
Hearing Kayneth and Waver were gone, he squinted, asking Finn a critical question.
"Lancer, since Professor Kayneth has left, and you neither followed nor faded, why stay? Do you still wish to fight in the Grail War? Do you have a wish for the Grail?"
Though asked plainly, Finn sensed a peculiar emotion in Roy's words.
Scáthach, behind him, smiled, twirling her crimson spear, ready to send him off in battle.
Facing the smiling yet deadly Master-Servant pair, even the seasoned Finn gave a wry smile.
Sometimes, this feeling was quite helpless…
"My wish? If you must ask, I do have one."
Shaking his head, Finn answered.
"But it's not like the King of Knights's obsession with changing history. I just want to live in the present, making amends for past regrets."
"Such as?" Roy pressed.
"To serve my lord as a true knight, joining this Grail War as a knight and leaving as one."
"And have you succeeded, Lancer?" Scáthach asked. "Are you satisfied?"
"More than I could ever be…"
Finn touched his hair, gazing where Kayneth had gone, a gentle smile on his face.
"My mana is nearly gone. I'll stay here, awaiting my end."
Finn had felt it—Kayneth used all three Command Spells:
—Restore mana.
—Protect us from danger.
And…
—Our contract ends, Finn. Do what you wish.
Their bond was severed, leaving him alone.
So Finn stayed, waiting for the orchestrator to meet him before fading.
Now, seeing Roy, his premonition was confirmed.
This youth, favored by the King of Conquerors, the Queen of the Land of Shadow, and the King of Heroes, adept at balancing factions, was far more complex than he seemed.
Finn and Gilgamesh had seen it at the Banquet of Kings.
Despite warnings to his lord, Finn and Kayneth trusted him inexplicably.
Though his plans and goals were unclear, knowing he wasn't an enemy and wouldn't harm his lord was enough.
The outcome proved his instincts right.
Roy orchestrated everything, but he wasn't an enemy. His arrangements saved his lord from certain death, guiding him to a new path.
Seeing this, Finn's heart found peace.
"So, you're satisfied, God-Slayer Finn."
Seeing Finn's expression, Scáthach and Roy knew he'd made his choice.
"Yes, meeting good people, seeing interesting things—this was unforgettable…"
As a knight, he had no personal wishes, only duties to his lord, ensuring his safety. Freedom, choice…
Such luxuries.
Having erred in life, did he deserve to choose his path or people?
Yes…
He did.
Not a wish or spirit's blessing, but a knight's small hope.
That sufficed.
Confirming the orchestrator's identity and his lord's safety—what more could a knight ask?
In his final moments, under the moonlight, he wished for his lord, freed from fate, a smooth and boundless life.
May he live safely.
Such a lavish end for a cruel Grail War.
Soon, having spent too much mana, Finn's body began to fade.
Seeing Scáthach's helpless expression as she lowered her spear, he smiled.
To the pair, he offered his sincere wish.
"May you both succeed in this Grail War and achieve your desires. My wish…"
"Is fulfilled."
As a knight, he fulfilled his duties, loyal without betrayal, leaving honorably, guilt-free.
For the errant Finn, this was redemption, with a small wish.
Gazing at the moon, he left his final words.
"Tonight's moonlight is beautiful…"
***
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