"Hey, Waver, still no transport?"
"Sorry… not yet, Lord El-Melloi."
"What's wrong with you? Can't even find transport? Useless!"
"Sorry…"
Such a conversation unfolded on Miyama City's streets.
…
Miyama City.
A city west of Fuyuki, a few hours' drive away, connected by a tram line taking just over an hour.
Unlike coastal Fuyuki, Miyama was more inland, linked by a straight highway through dense forests.
Two foreign tourists—one blond, one black-haired—bickered loudly.
This odd pair was Kayneth and Waver, the ill-fated master-disciple duo of the Grail War, dragged here by Aozaki Touko.
Touko planned to put them on a plane back to England, but Fuyuki's apparent missile barrage halted all flights in Japan. Miyama and nearby cities entered lockdown, panic spreading as residents were evacuated to safety, fearing Fuyuki's "missiles" might strike.
This disrupted Touko's plan. After bringing the duo and Sakura, stored in her safehouse, to catch a flight, they were evacuated.
Touko considered taking them to Misaki City or smuggling them out via a coastal freighter. But after arranging their route via a payphone, she turned to find the duo gone, giving her a headache.
Seeing Sakura blinking innocently, saying Kayneth and Waver went to the restroom, Touko sighed, cursing the troublesome El-Melloi trio. She took Sakura's hand, searching the crowd.
…
In Miyama's outskirts, news of Fuyuki's "missile" barrage and golden auroras made Kayneth's brow twitch.
He stared at the screen showing countless golden gates dyeing the sky, his eyes wide.
Others might not know, but having faced the King of Heroes, Kayneth and Waver recognized the golden ripples.
The Gate of Babylon, Gilgamesh's treasury, deploying endless treasures.
They'd seen dozens, maybe a hundred gates at most. But the video showed thousands, turning Fuyuki's sky into a golden dawn. Those weren't missiles but Noble Phantasms from the golden capital!
Knowing Gilgamesh's might, Kayneth and Waver's hearts sank.
What opponent could force Gilgamesh to open so many gates?
Excluding eliminated Servants—Assassin, Rider, Berserker, Lancer—only Scáthach and Saber remained, their fates unclear.
Given Saber's disillusioned performance, they ruled her out. That left one possibility, however unbelievable.
Roy and Scáthach were facing Gilgamesh head-on, pushing him to unleash his treasury to this extent.
Good grief!!
Imagining this, Kayneth and Waver's eyes widened. The video showed countless treasures raining down, sweeping half of Fuyuki. Even from afar, they felt the battle's intensity and feared for Roy.
Having witnessed Gilgamesh's one-against-three prowess, they knew his strength.
Two words: Absolute Invincibility.
No number of Servants or Noble Phantasms could stand against him; they'd be crushed.
When Touko brought them here, Kayneth held a faint hope that Roy, ever measured, would escape if things turned hopeless. But the golden rain shattered that comfort.
Recalling his defeat by Gilgamesh's sword, and unable to reach Roy by phone, Kayneth grew increasingly worried.
While Touko arranged a freighter, he and Waver sneaked to the tram station. But Fuyuki's catastrophe halted trams, and with the city in lockdown, no taxis or transport were available amid the panicked crowds.
Soon, Waver returned from his search.
"Found transport?"
Seeing Waver, Kayneth, fraught with worry, pressed him.
"I did, but… it's a bit unusual…"
Waver hesitated.
"You idiot, who cares about unusual? Bring it here! Any later, and Roy might be ash!"
"Yes!!"
At Kayneth's scolding, Waver stood straight, fetched his find from around the corner.
"This… a bicycle?!" Kayneth nearly fainted from rage.
"Sorry, Lord El-Melloi! It's all I could find!"
"You, you…"
Kayneth was speechless with fury.
"Give it up, Lord El-Melloi. The city's locked down; even if you found transport, you're not getting out."
Touko's voice came from the corner, cigarette in hand, eyeing the bickering duo.
"And that was some long restroom break… planning to sneak back to Fuyuki?"
She raised a brow, clearly annoyed at their added trouble.
"Miss Aozaki, I appreciate your help, but as a professor, I can't leave my foolish disciple in that dangerous place. I must find him."
"Send Waver and Sakura back to England. The El-Melloi owe you a favor."
Kayneth's anger softened at Touko's appearance.
"Oh? A Lord's favor? That's not cheap."
Touko raised a brow, and Kayneth relaxed.
Good, she agreed.
"professor…"
Hearing Kayneth's plan to send him back, Waver stood uneasily, unwilling to leave.
"Waver Velvet!"
Kayneth's sharp voice made Waver snap to attention.
"Here!"
At the final moment, Kayneth skipped platitudes like "take care" Or "live well," cutting straight.
"Your thesis is garbage, utter nonsense."
Waver bit his lip.
After all he'd seen, witnessing the gap between himself and geniuses like Roy and Kayneth, he couldn't refute the obvious.
"I… I know…"
But as he resigned to the harsh truth, Kayneth's tone shifted, interrupting.
"Don't agree, you fool! If a mage lets others twist their goals, what are they?!"
"Yes!"
"As a Lord, I have countless achievements. As a professor, my students are my legacy. You, Roy, the entire class—you're my results."
"Roy is my greatest pride, while you're a complete failure, full of empty dreams."
Waver clenched his fists, head bowed, silent.
"Heh, I know you're frustrated. That's why you stole a relic and joined the Grail War. That's reality, a mage's way. To prove right or wrong, show your results and talent to silence doubters."
"If you're still unwilling, then…"
Waver looked up, stunned, at Kayneth under the moonlight.
"Prove it to everyone who doubts you!"
"Lord El-Melloi…"
"I know… Roy told me you'd inherit my mantle as El-Melloi II, and I'd die in this war. I knew but refused to face it."
"You delayed finding transport, knowing I might die, didn't you?"
"I…"
Waver nodded, his intent exposed.
He'd stalled deliberately, knowing Kayneth might die in the Fourth Grail War, desperate to keep him from Fuyuki's dangers.
"As I thought. I treated it as a joke."
As if resolved, Kayneth sighed, continuing, "But now I understand what Roy meant. I might die, so might he, and you might inherit my mantle…"
"So, Waver, you want to prove bloodline theory wrong?"
Kayneth squinted, his oppressive aura making Touko frown.
"El-Melloi II? Him?"
Touko eyed Waver, seeing no trace of a Lord's caliber.
But Waver didn't back down, answering firmly the question he'd always wanted to challenge.
"Yes! I believe my ideas aren't wrong!"
"Good. You're a naive fool, but not talentless. I misjudged you."
Kayneth frowned, then decisively used his Volumen Hydrargyrum to strip his nine-generation Magic Crest, handing it to Waver.
"Prove it! Challenge me, a genius! If Roy and I don't survive, take this Crest back to the El-Melloi. My will inside names you my successor, to complete the experiments and problems stored within. That's your best shot to refute my theory!!"
"…Me?"
Waver's breath hitched. His dream, now realized, felt overwhelmingly heavy, leaving him unsure.
"This is your final assignment."
"professor, I…"
At Kayneth's command, Waver instinctively took the precious Crest.
With that, Kayneth seemed free of burdens, mounting Waver's bicycle under the moonlight, ready to head to Fuyuki.
Waver, smiling bitterly, watched his professor, likely never to return, yet upholding noble pride and professorly duty. He wanted to stop him but couldn't speak.
Because…
Thud!
Before starting, Kayneth was yanked off by Touko, knocked out with a hand chop, and dragged along the ground.
"Done with your touching farewell? If so, come with me."
After watching their drama, Touko grabbed Kayneth at the last moment, ensuring a "quality nap."
Though she cared little for him, Roy had instructed her to keep Kayneth from returning to Fuyuki, even by force, if needed.
So Touko didn't bother talking, knocking him out and planning to drag him away. As for the kid…
She hoisted Kayneth, then squinted at Waver with a chilling smile.
"Magus, walk with me willingly, or get knocked out and carried?"
"I'll walk!!"
Seeing Kayneth's fate, Waver, ever pragmatic, raised his hands, choosing to follow Touko.
"Good. Let's take Sakura to my safehouse…"
Touko's frown eased at Waver's cooperation.
But turning, she found Sakura, who'd been trailing her, gone, her eyes widening.
"Sakura? Where's my kid?!"
…
In a Miyama alley.
A small, adorable girl was drawn here by some strange guidance.
Minutes ago, Sakura, placed a dozen meters from Touko, froze as if noticing something, then wandered off.
"Sister!"
Alone, Sakura clutched a small designer bag from Scáthach, filled with snacks Touko bought.
Soon, a peculiar figure in the alley's shadows caught her eye.
In a damp corner, against a moldy wall, sat an old wanderer in a hooded cloak.
His thick white beard and tattered black robe evoked pity, blending perfectly with the darkness, like an abandoned statue awaiting decay.
Without close inspection, he was nearly invisible, an eerie presence.
And the strange attracts the strange. Sakura, with her Imaginary Numbers affinity, was drawn to him.
Seeing the silent elder, she tiptoed closer.
"Hm?"
Sensing her, the old man opened his cloudy eyes, spotting a six- or seven-year-old girl. Kindly, he asked, "What's wrong, girl?"
"I… I got lost from my nee-sama," Sakura said nervously, eyeing his frail frame and worn robe. Thinking, she pulled colorful gems from her bag, offering them. "Grandpa, these are for you."
The gems were gifts from a "grandmaster" Kayneth. Though unsure of their use, Sakura saw Scáthach trade similar gems for money, believing they'd help the old man.
As his eyes opened, the alley's darkness surged, shadows twisting, forming an abyssal vale, isolating it from the world. Even Touko, mere meters away, couldn't sense her.
"Gems?"
The old man took them gently, curious. "Why give these to me?"
"Because… Grandpa looks like he needs them more. Oh, I have candy too!"
Feeling it wasn't enough, Sakura dug out a leftover candy, offering it alongside the gems.
"Candy and gems… Ignorant of their true value, yet judging what I need? Treating wealth and sustenance equally, giving all your kindness…"
The old man's eyes flickered, studying the girl whose fate had shifted dramatically. "Lost from your family?"
"Yes, I can't find Touko-nee."
Sakura nodded, wary of the dark surroundings.
"Stay with Grandpa for a bit, then. Keep me company until your family finds you, so you're not scared."
He didn't take the gems but accepted her kindness, picking up the candy and popping it into his mouth.
It was sweet…
And her kindness felt good.
He patted Sakura's head, noticing the dim environment. Tearing a piece of his robe, he handed it to her as a cushion.
Sakura didn't mind his bedraggled state, taking the cloth and sitting beside him, her fear easing.
"Grandpa feels so warm. I'm not scared anymore."
She smiled brightly.
"Heh, good. I quietly slew the fear in your heart, so you should feel better," He chuckled, asking, "What's your name, girl?"
"Sakura, Sakura Tohsaka… No, Daddy said I'm not Tohsaka anymore. I share Nii-san's surname, Crowley… So, Sakura Crowley? That sounds weird." Reflecting, her fear gone, she brightened. "What about you, Grandpa?"
"My name… I've had many. Since we're in Japan, call me Enma."
He gave an odd name.
"Enma? Like King Enma? That's weird…"
Sakura tilted her head, curious. "Are you a god?"
"Not a god, just a lonely old man from the vale. Names are just labels. Call me Grandpa if you like."
"Okay, Grandpa!"
Sakura beamed.
"Are you a foreigner? Your clothes are odd… like from another era."
"A foreigner, a time traveler… Not inaccurate. I was summoned to check this worldline's issues, to see if my blade of death is needed. I just left Fuyuki."
Enma smiled, in good spirits. "Some changes seem positive, so I may not need to act."
"You're from Fuyuki too? So am I!"
Sakura's eyes lit up. "Do you know what's happening there? Onii-san said he had important things to do, and Fuyuki's dangerous, so I left with Touko-nee and Lemon-Head Uncle."
"…"
Enma stood slowly, his cloudy eyes clearing.
"Crowley… an interesting youth. Don't worry, I confirmed he hasn't caused real harm. His knell hasn't rung."
"Your words are hard, but… does that mean Onii-san's safe?" Sakura blinked.
"Safe…"
Enma stroked his chin, pondering, then answered.
"I can't see his fate, but he seems in control. Rest easy."
Patting her head, he glanced aside. "Your family's coming."
"Really?" Sakura turned, seeing a frantic Touko with Waver, carrying Kayneth, approaching. "I'm here, Touko-nee!"
"Sakura!"
Touko rushed over, scooping her up. "Are you okay? Why are you alone here? Hurt?"
"I'm fine! I met a warm Grandpa. With him, I wasn't scared."
"Bye, Grandpa…" Sakura smiled, turning to wave at the vale's guest.
"…Huh?!"
But Enma was gone, as if never there, leaving only the torn robe as proof.
"What a strange Grandpa…"
Sakura tucked away the cloth, scratching her head.
"Gone in a blink… like the real King Enma."
***
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