Tokyo.
In a presidential suite of a five-star hotel.
Nigel Saverott stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, expressionlessly gazing at the neon-lit nightscape of Tokyo.
Suddenly.
He sensed something and turned to look at the full-length mirror beside him.
The surface of the mirror rippled like water.
He picked up a trench coat from the coat rack, put it on, and covered himself completely before walking up to the mirror and stepping into it.
The world inside the mirror was pitch black.
Only the faint glow of candlelight could barely illuminate the blurry figures.
By the time Nigel entered, several people in trench coats had already arrived, and more were emerging from the shadows.
Soon.
Everyone stood around the round table at the center, where a single candle burned.
"Nigel."
The man standing at the head of the table spoke in a low voice.
"The task I gave you was to have your Servant delay the Tohsaka family's Servant for a while."
"Just a while."
"Muzan Kibutsuji would have escaped Tokyo."
"By then, everyone's attention would be drawn to it, and our next plan would proceed smoothly."
"But."
The man's voice betrayed no age or distinctive features.
Nor did it carry any anger or questioning tone. It was as if he were a third party narrating something entirely unrelated to himself.
He paused before continuing, "Your Servant failed."
All the figures hidden beneath their black trench coats turned to look at Nigel.
Their faces were unseen.
But Nigel could feel the weight of their gazes on him.
Even though he was a "Brand" magus of the Clock Tower, second only to the "Grand" magi, and had climbed to this position through his own talent and effort, unlike the heads of noble families who relied on their lineage.
Even though he had experienced such gazes many times before.
Nigel.
Still couldn't help but feel a sense of oppression, unease, and anger.
"Your intelligence was flawed."
Nigel suppressed the discomfort and disgust in his heart.
He said indifferently, "My Servant reported that the opponent suddenly unleashed several times the power previously recorded in the information. This was not in the data."
Silence.
After a few seconds of silence, everyone averted their gazes.
The man spoke again, "Muzan Kibutsuji is dead."
"But it doesn't matter much. He was just a Dead Apostle."
"If he's dead, then he's dead."
No one objected, clearly agreeing with his statement.
If it weren't for this remote, lawless wasteland in the Far East.
If it weren't for the fact that they had never deeply entrenched themselves here to avoid drawing attention.
Resulting in a lack of useful subordinates.
If it weren't for the fact that the other party had some influence here and was of use to them, they wouldn't even glance at such trash under normal circumstances.
"But."
"The Tohsaka family's Servant, this anomaly, must be eliminated."
"Who is he?" someone suddenly asked.
"Unknown."
Dual swords, one for slaying humans and one for breaking magecraft.
Thunder magic.
The ability to traverse space through imaginary numbers, and the ability to pinpoint Muzan Kibutsuji's location, seemingly akin to clairvoyance.
These were all very prominent and powerful traits.
But.
"Nothing."
"Perhaps it's someone from China who's unhappy with the commotion at their doorstep."
China.
That was a world completely isolated from the Far East and the orthodox Western magecraft society.
Their cultivation system was vastly different from magecraft.
They had no contact with the outside world, to the point that even the island nation, which magi disdainfully referred to as the "Far East," had to travel all the way to Europe to seek magecraft.
"Anyway."
"Regardless of who he is."
"Nigel, have your Servant take the elixir."
His tone was light, as if he had already seen the image of Kaito's death.
—Although the Tohsaka family's Servant is strong.
Nigel's Servant.
Is special.
Any man she targets, combined with the elixir Nigel has developed, will be easily killed, even if the top Servants from the Throne of Heroes were to descend.
"The anomaly must die."
Nigel didn't respond. He looked up at the man, then scanned the room, seemingly unable to find the person he was looking for.
"After the Tohsaka family's Servant dies."
"I will convince that person to grant you what you desire."
"Fine."
Only then did Nigel coldly agree.
"Anyway."
"Everyone."
"This Holy Grail War has gone on for far too long."
"This will be the last, and it must be the last."
"Let us, for the future of this planet, for our long-cherished wishes, for the great cause of our Lord, end this Holy Grail War!"
Nigel expressionlessly exited the mirror.
He casually hung the trench coat back on the rack.
Recalling everything that had happened in the mirror, his eyes were filled with undisguised coldness and disdain.
"Hmph, a bunch of bugs scurrying in the shadows."
"Such big talk."
Nigel clenched his fist, his eyes burning with anger.
After a long while, feeling his breathing grow labored, Nigel finally snapped out of it and returned to his expressionless demeanor.
He coldly ordered into the air, "Lancer."
"Find an opportunity."
"Have the Tohsaka family's Servant take the elixir."
After a few seconds of silence.
The air carried Brynhildr's voice, now tinged with even more sorrow.
"Yes, Master."
The typhoon lasted another day.
It wasn't until Tuesday that it finally subsided.
By the time Kaito woke up in the warm, ample embrace of Kocho Kanae.
Rin Tohsaka was already gone.
The vast Tohsaka estate was now empty, with only him and Kanae remaining.
—He had temporarily returned Kanroji Mitsuri to Ubuyashiki Amane. The division was busy, and an extra pair of hands would help resolve things sooner.
After preparing breakfast for Kaito.
Kanae considerately crawled under the table.
To have her own breakfast.
"Master, what are your plans for today?"
Hearing this, Kaito looked down.
At Kanae, who was diligently working under the table.
Tears of gratitude welled up in his eyes.
Look!
Look!
Knowing the family was poor and the table small, she voluntarily went under the table to eat.
What a considerate girl!
It was precisely because she was so considerate.
That Kaito couldn't bear to hand her over to Amane, only giving her Mitsuri, whom he hadn't yet had the chance to "eat."
"I'll go to school and take a look."
Although the rules of the Holy Grail War prohibited fighting during the day.
Rules only bound ordinary people.
And obviously.
None of the participants in the Holy Grail War were ordinary people.
On the contrary.
They were all a bunch of lunatics who would stop at nothing to achieve their goals.
Leaving Rin alone at school made Kaito somewhat uneasy.
"You stay home and keep watch."
"Yes, Master."
Kaito stroked Kanae's smooth hair.
"This can't go on."
If it were just a seven-day war.
It wouldn't be a problem to guard Rin after she left the Tohsaka estate, a stronghold of magecraft.
But this Holy Grail War.
Was clearly different from the ones he had heard about back home.
It might last ten days, or even months, or a year or two. He couldn't possibly guard Rin, who still had to attend school, every single day, could he?
"It's time to find Rin a bodyguard."
Thinking this.
An image of a bewitching, stunning woman appeared in Kaito's mind.
"You're the one."
By the time Kaito finished another bath, courtesy of Kanae's attentive service.
His youthful vigor got the better of him.
By the time he left the house, it was almost 10 a.m.
Thinking there wouldn't be many people on the train at this hour, and considering he hadn't experienced Japan's public transportation since arriving here.
Kaito decided to take a ride today.
Arriving at the station, he bought a ticket and boarded the train. The carriage wasn't too crowded.
Although there were no seats, the space was relatively spacious.
Kaito found a spot by the window and stared out at the scenery, lost in thought.
After some time.
He felt someone bump into him.
Turning around.
He saw the carriage was now packed with people. Kaito was stunned.
What?
Had so many people boarded while he was lost in thought?
"Sorry."
Kaito looked down at the girl who had accidentally bumped into him.
He was momentarily stunned.
Was this...
Nakano, Nakano...
Kaito glanced at the black butterfly hairband on the girl's head and the sweater she wore under her school uniform.
It must be Nakano Nino, right?