"Shichen-nii, are you sure we don't need to deal with that… Sasaki?" Rin Tohsaka couldn't help asking once they were inside the temple.
"It's fine. Leave him be—he's in a pretty unfortunate position himself," Shichen said.
"Unfortunate?"
"Yeah. Sasaki's basically the same kind of case I mentioned with Lily—he was summoned by a Servant. A Servant's Servant," Shichen explained.
"What?! How is that even possible?" Rin's eyes went wide.
Shichen's situation was already an extreme exception; she couldn't believe anyone else could pull off something similar. A Servant summoning a Servant completely violated the structure of the Holy Grail War.
What the hell was going on with this Grail War?
"But it's right there in front of you," Shichen shrugged.
"Then Sasaki is…?"
"Summoned by Caster."
"…That figures," Rin murmured.
Among the seven classes, only Caster specialized in magecraft to that extent.
"But that still doesn't explain why you let Sasaki go," Rin pressed.
Lily spoke up, a little aggrieved. "Master, do you need Sasaki for something? You already have Lily. I should be enough."
"Is Lily jealous?" Shichen teased.
"I'm not jealous… just a bit frustrated," Lily sighed. "It feels like I can't help with anything…"
"Can't be helped—your Master's just too strong," Shichen laughed, ruffling her hair.
"Master is amazing, but I want to help too…"
"You'll get your chance," Shichen reassured her.
"Really?" Lily looked up at him, eyes shining with anticipation.
"Really. Even your 'sister' didn't do much at the beginning—but later she helped a lot," Shichen said with a grin.
"Then that's fine," Lily relaxed, visibly relieved.
"Your Master only needs you. He doesn't need Sasaki," Shichen added.
"Mhm!" Lily nodded hard.
Rin sighed. "If you don't need Sasaki, then why spare him?"
"Just a little charity," Shichen replied.
"Charity?"
"Yeah. He's kind of pitiful. Dragged in for no reason, treated like a Servant's Servant, crippled by Caster—I figured I'd give him at least one decent thing."
"So that's it… I thought maybe you admired Sasaki or something," Rin said.
Even if Sasaki was largely a folklore figure, his fame was still big enough that people admired him.
"Not to that extent," Shichen shook his head.
No matter how famous Sasaki was, Shichen wasn't the type to "admire" him. Familiar or not, Sasaki wasn't on that level.
"Anyway," Rin said, still heated, "that Caster is awful! She's not some kind of villain, is she?"
"Caster's… actually kind of pitiable too," Shichen said.
"Huh?" Rin frowned, confused.
"A woman trapped by love—how wrong can she really be?" Shichen sighed.
"Trapped by love? Shichen-nii, do you know who she is?"
"If my guess is right," Shichen answered cautiously.
With Sasaki here, Caster should be that Heroic Spirit.
"Master is incredible! You really know everything!" Lily said proudly.
No wonder her future self would be drawn to him and become one of his partners—she was starting to understand.
"Is that so? Then praise me more," Shichen said, enjoying it.
"Master is the best! I'm so happy you're my Master!"
"Mhm, mhm~"
"…What are we even here for?" Rin snapped. "Hello?"
"To end the Holy Grail War… and she's here," Shichen said, stopping them with an arm.
Both girls halted immediately, on alert, staring up at the dark shape sweeping through the sky—like a giant bat.
Then they saw it clearly: it was a woman.
She wore a hooded cloak in deep indigo and violet over a long purple robe. Her face was hidden by the hood; you could barely make out her chin. She looked like a mysterious witch straight out of legend.
"Caster!" Rin identified her instantly, tense and ready.
Lily also stepped forward, placing herself between Caster and the others.
"Two girls and a boy, all unharmed… What is Assassin even doing?" Caster muttered sharply to herself.
"Caster! Why did you violate the Grail War rules and summon a Servant?" Rin demanded.
"Why?"
Caster's gaze landed on Rin. "To win, obviously. What else?"
"You've broken the rules—you've forfeited your right to participate."
"You've got a strong sense of justice for a little girl," Caster scoffed. "But the rules of the Holy Grail War aren't yours to decide."
Shichen raised an eyebrow. That meant Caster already knew Kirei Kotomine was dead. Then again, Shichen hadn't tried to hide anything.
What happened at the church would spread fast.
Kirei had inherited the church and served as the overseer of this Grail War. Masters and Servants would be watching him closely—it was only natural.
"Then don't blame us if we don't hold back," Rin said, pulling out gemstones. "I don't care what kind of 'trapped by love' excuse you have."
"Trapped by love?" Caster's voice turned icy, her stare locking onto Rin like she wanted to tear her apart on the spot. "What did you just say?"
Shichen stepped forward, pressing a hand down on Lily to keep her from moving, and looked up at Caster.
"You are…?" Caster's attention snapped to him.
"Caster—no, Medea," Shichen said calmly. "Do you want me to help you?"
"You…" Caster's tone was pure shock. "How do you know who I am?"
"Don't worry about how," Shichen said. "Just answer this: do you want my help? I can grant your wish."
"My wish…" Caster fell silent—clearly tempted.
But the next instant, a beam of magical energy blasted down from above like lightning, striking toward Shichen and the others.
Shichen didn't even look. He lifted a hand, and a barrier formed—blocking the beam effortlessly.
"What?!" Caster's eyes widened. "What kind of magecraft is that?"
Rin exploded in outrage. "Sneak attack?! So you are a—mmph!"
Before Rin could finish calling out Medea's name, Shichen clamped a hand over her mouth.
"Don't," Shichen murmured. "Why provoke her? A love-crazed woman is the last person you want to push."
"But—" Rin tried to protest.
"Relax. She has her reasons. Give her one more chance," Shichen said.
"…Fine. I'll listen to you, Shichen-nii," Rin said, lowering her gemstones—though she still glared at Caster like she wanted to incinerate her.
That attack had been brutal, and Rin hadn't even had time to react. If Shichen hadn't been there, she'd have died.
Caster really was ruthless.
But "trapped by love"… As a girl, Rin couldn't help being curious.
"Caster," Shichen called again. "Is my sincerity enough?"
"…Why?" Caster asked, voice strained. "Why would you do this?"
She didn't know Shichen at all. This was their first meeting, yet he claimed he could grant her wish.
It was suspicious. She'd been betrayed before—she wasn't about to trust easily again.
And yet… even her attack hadn't changed his stance. That made no sense to her. It made her curious.
"Simple," Shichen said. "I know everything about you—so I want to help you."
A "traitorous beauty" wasn't a traitor at all—she was the one who'd been betrayed.
"Everything about me?"
"Yes. Your previous Master… and how you met Souichirou Kuzuki."
"…What…?"
"Kuzuki-san?! Caster's Master is Kuzuki-san?!" Rin blurted out again, stunned.
Shichen immediately covered her mouth again. "Stop yelping."
"Mmgh!" Rin shut up at last, burning with curiosity instead.
"Caster, let's continue," Shichen said.
"…You really know it all?" Caster's voice was cautious.
"I do. I know you were betrayed," Shichen said. "I don't want anything from you—I just want to fulfill your wish. But there's a price."
"A price?"
"I'll make you a normal human," Shichen said evenly. "No magecraft. No magic circuits. No more power."
"…!"
"In exchange, you can stay with Souichirou Kuzuki—live a normal life with him, grow old together."
Caster fell silent. It was obvious she wanted to agree—maybe even right now.
But she wasn't going to decide alone.
"Caster."
A steady voice cut in. Footsteps—calm, measured.
A tall, straight-backed man appeared in a suit, his face stern.
Shichen's colleague: Souichirou Kuzuki. Also Caster's Master.
"Souichirou-sama," Caster immediately descended and moved to his side.
"Kuzuki-san. Long time no see," Shichen greeted him first.
"Shichen-san," Kuzuki replied with a nod.
He wasn't surprised. Shichen hadn't tried to hide the Command Seals on his hand.
"So?" Shichen asked. "What do you think of my proposal?"
"Don't ask me," Kuzuki said, shaking his head. "Caster should decide."
"Souichirou-sama…"
"Do what you want," Kuzuki continued. "Don't worry about me just because I'm your Master. I'll respect your choice."
"Souichirou-sama…"
~~~
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