"It's so perfect... I can't believe this is an unearthed artifact from 1,500 years ago."
"This isn't just an artifact—it's a legendary holy relic. It's a product of an age of magic, far beyond those dusty old antiques."
Irisviel carefully lifted the golden scabbard, her eyes gleaming with admiration. She held it with the utmost care, marveling at its craftsmanship.
"They say that as long as one carries King Arthur's scabbard, they will retain their youth and emerge unscathed from a hundred battles. It grants invincibility... though, of course, it still requires a supply of mana."
Kiritsugu, initially captivated by the scabbard's beauty and mystery, soon shifted his focus to its practical use. His calculating expression made Irisviel sigh.
"So, what you're saying is… even if I use it to summon a Servant, I can still keep it as a tool."
Irisviel could only smile helplessly. Honestly, would Kiritsugu Emiya ever see things the way normal people did?
"Servants exist as tools. They serve the Master, whether they are Saber, Archer, or Lancer."
Whenever Kiritsugu entered this cold, tactical mindset, Irisviel felt as though he became someone else entirely—like he was shedding his humanity, piece by piece.
"Only you can choose the right Servant for yourself. Trust Grandfather's judgment."
"Yeah, yeah..." Kiritsugu responded, sounding a little impatient. If old man Acht knew how Kiritsugu was treating the rare relic he had painstakingly acquired, he'd probably be fuming, beard bristling with rage.
"You don't like the scabbard?" Irisviel asked, feigning indignation, though amusement sparkled in her eyes.
"Of course I do! But let's be honest—who else could summon a more powerful Servant than us? Absolutely no one!" Kiritsugu declared. "With this relic, we can guarantee summoning the strongest Heroic Spirit! It's just a shame… our compatibility is abysmal."
Normally, Servants are summoned based on a Master's affinity, but a holy relic can override that and call forth a specific Heroic Spirit. Without it, Kiritsugu might have ended up summoning a certain red-clad Counter Guardian instead.
"So, you're worried about making a contract with the King of Knights?"
"Of course. Someone like me is exactly the kind of person King Arthur would despise."
"Fighting with honor, like a true knight? Yeah, that's not my style. My approach is to end the battle before the enemy even knows it started. Do you think a righteous King Arthur would get along with a guy like me?"
Irisviel remained silent, simply watching Kiritsugu with a knowing look.
Yes, Kiritsugu Emiya was the kind of man who would do anything to achieve his goals.
"...But! It's King Arthur! Wouldn't that be a waste? This might be the strongest Saber!"
Indeed, summoning King Arthur as Saber would grant him an incredibly powerful Servant. But... deep down, Kiritsugu knew that Caster or Assassin would align far better with his own ideology.
At that moment, a sudden voice interrupted them.
"Ah, finally!"
Kiritsugu turned his gaze toward the laptop screen in front of him—something he had specifically requested.
"Alright, let's take a look at our competitors."
The representative of the Tohsaka family was, of course, Tokiomi Tohsaka. A highly skilled magus, especially well-versed in gemstone magecraft. Unique and dangerous.
Then there was the Matou family… They had turned an ordinary man into a Master? That meant they were up to something.
Another notable participant was that guy—Kenneth El-Melloi Archibald. An expert magus with affinities for both wind and water. A serious pain in the neck.
Kiritsugu nodded as he continued scrolling. Then, he froze.
His expression darkened as he read the next name.
"Kirei Kotomine…?"
Something about this man set off alarm bells in Kiritsugu's head.
"What is it, Kiritsugu?"
"This Kirei Kotomine… he's strange."
Irisviel leaned in to read the information on the screen.
"Kirei Kotomine… traveled with his father as a child, later graduated from St. Ignatius Seminary, even skipped grades and became student council president… Sounds like quite an overachiever."
Kiritsugu's gaze remained fixed on the screen.
"With skills like his, he could have risen to the highest ranks. So why did he become an 'overseer' instead?"
"Maybe because of his father, Risei Kotomine?"
"Unlikely. This wasn't his original career path. He even switched professions multiple times—something doesn't add up."
Irisviel waved a hand dismissively. "Come on, it's just Risei Kotomine's son. No matter how strong he is, he's not going to be stronger than the others. You don't need to stress over him."
Kiritsugu didn't respond immediately. He kept scrolling through Kirei's history, his frown deepening.
"That's the thing—that's what makes it strange."
After a long pause, he finally spoke again.
"Maybe… he's never had something called 'passion' in his life."
His voice carried an unusual weight, making Irisviel blink in surprise.
Kiritsugu Emiya had faced countless enemies, each with their own ambitions and desires. If he labeled someone as "troublesome," it meant they were an obstacle. But if he called them "dangerous"…
That meant they were a real threat.
"So, you think he's more dangerous than the others?"
Kiritsugu took a deep breath, then nodded firmly.
"Kirei Kotomine… is truly a terrifying man."
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