Time: a little over an hour earlier.
Location: the outskirts near the land where the Tohsaka residence stood.
Not long ago, two uninvited guests appeared on this heavily guarded territory—an area locked down for the Holy Grail War.
They were none other than Waver Velvet and his Servant, Iskandar, who had only just endured a night of grief and separation.
After breaking down in their base, and after personally wrapping Kayneth's body in magecraft and laying it to rest, Waver brought Iskandar here. He even wrote a proper calling card and sent it in via a familiar.
In this extraordinary period, receiving such a message shocked Tokiomi Tohsaka.
But when he saw the signature—
"Kayneth's disciple, Rider's Master, Lord El-Melloi II, Waver Velvet"—
he could not treat it lightly.
Tokiomi understood the weight of those titles. And so, as the host, he personally went out to receive Waver.
It was undeniably risky during a Grail War—but it was daytime, the visitor had come to his home, and Gilgamesh was inside the residence. Tokiomi didn't believe anything dangerous could happen.
More importantly, the lines in the message—proposing an alliance—made him pay attention.
He had just sent his student Kirei Kotomine away. This was the only chance he had to replenish combat power.
Tokiomi would not let that opportunity slip.
"An alliance between the King of Heroes and the King of Conquerors…" Tokiomi said, wearing a neat crimson suit as he studied the slender black-haired young man before him. His gaze turned oddly complex. "That is… rather sudden, Lord El-Melloi II."
Tokiomi had seen Kayneth's death through familiars last night. He felt both regret and a headache.
Regret, because a prodigy of modern magecraft had died young.
A headache, because when a Lord died in Fuyuki, the local overseer of the land's leylines would inevitably face scrutiny.
But beneath that—
Tokiomi felt something else.
Relief. And a quiet, guilty thrill.
Kayneth was gone. The greatest threat in this war—at least in the realm of magecraft—had vanished.
And now, with Gilgamesh's overwhelming power… the rest should be a massacre.
For a moment, Tokiomi's long-held frustration loosened.
He even found himself thinking that maybe it was fine for Gilgamesh to stay home playing games and doing nothing. Perhaps the optimal strategy was to wait until only the final enemy remained.
Of course, he knew that was wishful thinking.
The Ainzbern castle had already been blown apart—an object lesson.
The Three Founding Families had local advantages: the Ainzberns had their castle; the Tohsakas and Matous had their estates.
But those "advantages" were also beacons. Fixed targets. Easy to siege.
Last night had proved that brutally.
And worse—Ainzbern and Matou had clearly cooperated. With Kirei gone, Tokiomi had only one Servant's combat strength to rely on.
He was scared.
So Waver's proposal was timely—almost too timely.
That was why Tokiomi chose to receive him with unusual gravity.
To anyone who moved in magecraft society, the name El-Melloi II meant something blindingly bright: the next leader of the El-Melloi faction, a successor to the Department of Mineralogy, a future Lord.
Tokiomi could not treat such a person casually.
And yet, seeing Waver in the flesh, Tokiomi found a gap between expectation and reality.
Waver did not carry the aura of a prodigy. He did not radiate talent.
If anything…
He seemed ordinary. Almost painfully so.
Tokiomi's eye was sharp—he had once been mediocre himself, and he could recognize it.
Waver's magecraft foundation was not impressive.
Which made the situation puzzling.
Why would Kayneth, in his final moments, appoint this young man as El-Melloi II?
It couldn't be because he lacked other options. If that were the case, Kayneth could have waited for the Clock Tower to retrieve his Crest and let the faction elect a successor.
So—
What hidden quality did Waver possess?
Tokiomi's curiosity sharpened.
But curiosity was not the same as stupidity.
Tokiomi would not offend Waver now—not when he needed Waver's strength to secure victory.
"Then let us discuss the cooperation you proposed," Tokiomi said smoothly, extending a hand and inviting him to sit. "Lord El-Melloi II."
"Please don't call me that, Head of House Tohsaka," Waver replied, shaking his head and rejecting the title without hesitation.
He had used the name in the letter for one reason only: to ensure Tokiomi would receive him.
Now that they were face to face, Waver would not hide behind a title he did not feel worthy of.
"Just call me Waver. I'm nowhere near qualified for that name. Waver is enough."
"I see," Tokiomi said thoughtfully, then nodded. "Very well. Waver Velvet… let us speak plainly about the terms of our alliance."
"Alright."
Waver didn't bother with winding politeness. He stated his intentions directly.
"My plan is simple. I want cooperation between you and me—the strongest two Servants in this war, Rider and Archer, joining forces. Add Assassin as well, and we'll form the greatest combat power available. We eliminate everyone else first, and then you and I settle the Grail fairly in the end."
"…That," Tokiomi started, and hesitated—particularly at the mention of Assassin.
"If it's only Archer and Rider, I can decide that. But Assassin is not something I can promise. Assassin's Master—my student—left not long ago. He has effectively withdrawn from the Holy Grail War."
"Withdrawn?" Waver's expression turned strange, disbelief leaking into his eyes.
"Head of House Tohsaka," he said flatly, "at this stage, do you really think people are fools? No one 'withdraws' so easily. Even now you're trying to hide strength? Your relationship with Assassin was exposed on the first night. We've already confirmed it."
Tokiomi went quiet, suddenly finding himself at a loss.
"I know it's hard to believe," he said after a pause, "but it's the truth. My student entered this war solely to support my victory. Assassin was chosen primarily for intelligence gathering."
"However," he continued, shaking his head, "after the first night, much of the Servants' information has already been revealed. Assassin's presence is exposed. Remaining here would achieve little. So I told him to leave."
Waver stared.
It sounded like an excuse meant for children.
Yet Tokiomi's tone and eyes did not carry the usual traces of deception.
He might actually be telling the truth.
Tokiomi had really dismissed Assassin and his student?
If so, it explained why last night's "red Assassin" wasn't a Hassan—and why the Hundred-Faced Hassan never showed themselves.
Perhaps that side truly had stepped away.
Waver lowered his voice, then asked about the red Assassin who had killed Kayneth.
But Tokiomi knew nothing about that intruder either.
He was confused by the same contradiction: a Grail War should have seven Servants, yet this one had eight—two of them Assassins.
Still, as a member of the Three Families, Tokiomi understood the ritual better than most.
He quickly formed a hypothesis.
"This may be a rule-breaking summoning," he said. "Normally there are seven. But the Grail's capacity is not limited to that. It's possible that one party exploited a loophole and illegally summoned an additional Servant."
"An illegal summoning…" Waver nodded slowly. "Understood. Thank you for the explanation."
Then he returned to the main topic.
"So what about the alliance proposal? You understand why I came to you, don't you?"
"I can guess," Tokiomi replied.
"Then I'll be explicit." Waver's eyes hardened. "Kayneth's death last night—and Rider's actions—have thoroughly antagonized the Saber and Berserker factions. If we remain isolated, we'll be picked apart."
"And this alliance benefits you as much as it benefits me. No downside."
Waver had analyzed the situation carefully before coming, and now he laid it out step by step.
"First: the balance is broken. Saber and Berserker have allied, and that pair will likely be the strongest among the remaining factions. There's also an unknown Caster, and that illegally summoned Assassin whose depth we can't measure."
"And you say your Assassin support is gone." Waver met Tokiomi's eyes. "Meanwhile I'm alone as well."
"That means your position is one of the most dangerous."
"Because we're outsiders," Waver continued. "We can relocate and vanish if we need to. But you can't. You're tied to the Tohsaka residence. You're a fixed target—an easy one."
"If multiple Servants assault you at once, even the King of Heroes may be endangered. A single hand can't stop four fists."
"So I know what you need: a strong partner."
"And I am that partner."
Every sentence landed precisely on Tokiomi's private fears.
Even Tokiomi felt compelled to acknowledge it.
Inwardly, he was impressed—this young man had taken the chaos of a single night, organized it, and arrived at a decision with startling speed.
There was clarity in Waver's thinking that Tokiomi couldn't deny.
The alliance was mutually beneficial.
And any attempt by Tokiomi to posture for advantage in negotiation died in Waver's analysis.
Because Waver had already exposed the truth:
Yes, Rider had offended Saber and Berserker and carried risk.
But Tokiomi—publicly rooted to a known estate—was even more vulnerable.
If someone needed a target to "open the board," it would be the Tohsakas.
Waver's words made it impossible to frame this as "protection" or "patronage." This was a pact between equals.
At last, Tokiomi gave a decisive nod.
"Very well. Your perspective and persuasion are worthy of respect—no wonder Lord Kayneth chose you."
"I accept."
The two of them signed a contract, and the alliance was formally established.
"Now that the pact is formed," Tokiomi said, voice tightening with urgency, "we should prepare for the battles to come."
"Hm? You mean to strike first? Attack the Ainzberns, or assault Ryudou Temple?" Waver frowned. "That's too hasty."
There were too many enemies, too many unknowns—including the red Assassin.
A reckless offensive could end in disaster, just like Kayneth's death.
Attacking Ryudou Temple or striking the Ainzberns again would invite other factions to exploit the opening.
Waver refused to repeat that mistake.
"With both the King of Conquerors and the King of Heroes," Tokiomi said, surprised by Waver's caution, "should we not seize the initiative? Then what do you propose?"
"In some situations," Waver replied calmly, "holding the home-field advantage is better than charging into uncertainty."
"My proposal is simple: instead of attacking, we make them come to us—into terrain and conditions we choose."
"And how would you do that?" Tokiomi asked, interest sharpening.
"If you agree," Waver said, "I'll have Iskandar write a formal challenge in his own name and deliver it to the Ainzberns."
"We lure them out—then fight the decisive battle at a location of our choosing."
"A challenge… You mean…" Tokiomi's eyes widened slightly as he understood.
"Yes," Waver said firmly. "Last night's conflict never truly ended. Rider killed their companion. If Rider issues a demand for a final showdown, they will come."
"And when they do, we crush them on ground that favors us."
He paused, then added pointedly, "And even if your student has left… Assassin's Servant may still remain. Given that, what do you think of this plan?"
What did he think?
Tokiomi's face froze for a heartbeat—then an unmistakable delight surged through him.
"Excellent," he breathed, as if savoring the shape of it. "Truly excellent."
"A flawless plan."
When he looked at Waver again, the earlier faint doubt and condescension were gone.
Only admiration remained.
In that moment, Tokiomi finally understood why Kayneth had chosen this student.
Waver's raw magecraft talent might be unremarkable—
but his judgment, his strategic thinking, and the precision of his planning were first-rate.
Even Tokiomi could find no flaw.
"Cooperation, then," Tokiomi said, settling it decisively. He extended his hand. "Pleasure doing business with you, Waver Velvet."
"Likewise," Waver replied, gripping his hand.
At the very end, however, Tokiomi couldn't resist asking the question he cared about most.
"Waver… are you doing all of this to avenge your teacher? And what is the wish you would make upon the Holy Grail?"
"Avenge him…" Waver's gaze became complicated.
Maybe. But more than vengeance, it was about fulfilling a promise.
As for his wish—
"If I obtain the Grail," Waver said without hesitation, "I'll wish for my teacher to be revived."
"And I'll have him witness my growth with his own eyes."
Tokiomi's expression softened for a fraction of a second.
"I see. Lord Kayneth was fortunate to have a student like you."
He didn't say more.
But in his heart, Tokiomi made his own silent vow:
Once the alliance's purpose was fulfilled, he would betray Rider and claim victory.
No matter what, the final winner of the Holy Grail War would be him.
A hard glint passed through his eyes.
Meanwhile—
"So? King of Heroes," Iskandar boomed cheerfully, "my Master is impressive, isn't he?"
"Shut up and play," Gilgamesh snapped. "The other car is catching up. Don't drag me down."
"Fine, fine! Watch me smash them off the road!"
"You idiot! This is a racing game, not bumper cars!"
The screen flashed:
GAME OVER.
Gilgamesh's temple twitched. He was starting to regret inviting this oaf to play with him.
While Waver and Tokiomi finalized their agreement, in another room the two ancient kings sat on the floor, each gripping a controller, playing a two-player game with zero restraint.
They bickered like this constantly.
And it was obvious: even while playing, they were listening in on the negotiations.
Iskandar, for his part, was genuinely proud of Waver's growth—openly delighted by his Master.
Gilgamesh, by contrast, looked thoroughly irritated.
Especially because other people's Masters were apparently competent, while he had ended up with someone like Tokiomi.
Worse, Gilgamesh had sensed it repeatedly lately—
Tokiomi was harboring intentions toward him.
If not for fear of Gilgamesh's power, and his inability to relinquish the Grail, Tokiomi would have already moved against him.
The "obedience" was just patience.
Gilgamesh could see it: when the moment came—once he was no longer useful—Tokiomi would stab him in the back.
Gilgamesh had given him opportunities. Yet Tokiomi's nature never changed.
It disgusted him.
That was why Gilgamesh had deliberately manipulated that flawed student of Tokiomi's—to deliver a "surprise" through his hands.
But that man still hadn't returned.
Odd.
Still, it wasn't time to worry about Kirei.
Nor was it the best time to kill Tokiomi.
Because the final battle was approaching.
Gilgamesh could feel it—the knight of the holy sword would come tonight.
If he killed Tokiomi now, he'd lose Command Spells and prana supply, and that would be troublesome.
So he decided to wait.
In his eyes, this world itself wouldn't last much longer anyway.
He would do as he pleased until the end, so long as he enjoyed himself.
With a cold snort at Iskandar's bragging, Gilgamesh switched the game from racing to a fighting title—
and then, with the brutal skill he'd sharpened by playing all night, he chained together flawless combos and absolutely crushed the hulking king beside him.
Iskandar's pained howls echoed through the mansion.
Outside, as Waver and Tokiomi discussed the next phase of their plan, the two of them kept hearing alternating bursts of triumphant laughter and agonized screaming from the next room.
Their expressions grew increasingly strange.
Then both men, almost in perfect synchronization, developed matching black lines across their foreheads.
"…Those two," they thought at the same time, speechless.
"Do they seriously have zero sense of urgency?!"
What kind of Holy Grail War was this—where the Masters were negotiating life-or-death alliances while the Servants were inside loudly gaming like children?
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 120)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 100)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League (Chapter 100)
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter89)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter86)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter63)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter75)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 53
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 57
From Junkman to Wasteland 35
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