Chapter Eleven: The Director Arrives

My name is Illya.

I am busy establishing a boundary field. It seems someone has arrived in Fuyuki?

374:44:23

No one understood the talent of Waver Velvet. His family’s lineage as magi had only reached its third generation. Even though he had entered the Clock Tower through self-study without the guidance of a famous mentor, he remained unremarkable among students who hailed from lineages of at least six generations. When his fellow lecturers mentioned him, they would only call him "that lucky kid." Because in the world of magecraft, one's superiority is determined beforehand by their origin, no one expected anything from him.

However, his lecturer, Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald, did not think so.

Kayneth himself was the heir to the Archibald family, a prestigious name spanning nine generations. He had not only inherited the Crest—the repository of magical achievements passed down through the ages—but also possessed a rare and commensurate talent. Even among the numerous and highly acclaimed research achievements at the Clock Tower, if one were to mention the "famous Lord El-Melloi," who was advancing rapidly to the forefront, everyone would nod in admiration.

Yet, Kayneth, who was constantly praised and gathered the envy and jealousy of others, felt no satisfaction or sense of accomplishment. Just listen to what they praised most: "As expected of the eldest son of the prestigious Archibald family." "A family lineage spanning nine generations is truly extraordinary." "A genius of noble blood."

Why didn't they praise his extensive magical experience? Why didn't they laud his profound understanding of magecraft? Why didn't they marvel at the exquisite techniques he employed when casting spells?

Kayneth had once utterly crushed the heirs of families with ten or eleven generations of history in a magical competition, but those people merely tossed him a light "genius" before turning to flatter the long history of the losers' lineages. That was the first time he realized how much he loathed the concepts of prestigious names and bloodlines.

Although he detested this mindset and wanted to shatter it, his own status prevented him from doing so. It was much like how, no matter how loudly a rich man's son might clamor for people to focus on his own efforts and talent after succeeding, everyone would only offer symbolic agreement before turning to analyze how much his father's wealth and connections had contributed to his success.

Thus, he strove to become a Clock Tower lecturer and entered into a marriage contract with the daughter of the department head. If his status at the Clock Tower were high enough, wouldn't it be easy to deal with those who obsessed over bloodlines? And no one would ever guess that he was acting out of spite because others ignored his efforts and talent.

At this point, Waver Velvet entered his view. Although Waver came from a small family with only three generations of history, in Kayneth's eyes, the magical proficiency of this petite, cute boy—who looked like a girl—had already surpassed those wastes with five or six generations of heritage. He was, in a sense, Kayneth’s own surrogate. Therefore, Kayneth had been secretly looking after him. Kayneth had decided that if one day Waver could reach the level of nine, or even eight generations of heritage, he would ignore all opposition and take him as a personal disciple.

But this promising student had stolen his "entry ticket" to a certain magic competition and run away.

While reflecting on whether he had been too good to Waver, Kayneth prevented the Clock Tower from sending out chasers, all while preparing a new "entry ticket" known as a catalyst.

"I am going to participate as well, in that magic competition called the 'Holy Grail War,'" a proud and unquestionable voice sounded from behind Kayneth, who was choosing a catalyst.

It was a young lady with waist-length red hair that looked like burning flames, both sensual and noble. Yet, the majestic aura radiating from her stern gaze was as cold as an ice queen.

Sola-Ui Nuada-Re Sophia-Ri was the daughter of Kayneth’s mentor, Lord Sophia-Ri of the Department of Spiritual Evocation, and she was also Kayneth’s fiancée.

She possessed the rare dual attributes of Earth and Fire. Although she had not inherited her family’s Magic Crest, she possessed many Magic Circuits. Combined with the magical upbringing she had received since childhood, if she hadn’t been engaged to Kayneth, she could easily have become the head of a fledgling magus family.

"Ah... of course, very well." Kayneth’s gaze blurred for a moment, and he immediately nodded in agreement.

This was not a charm spell, but a natural attraction. Possessing the dual attributes of Wind and Water, Kayneth could not refuse any request from a fiancée whose magical attributes were perfectly complementary to his own. He had first met Sola-Ui at her eighteenth birthday party, and the fact that he had proposed on the spot out of love at first sight had been a point of mockery by her for several years.

"My number of Magic Circuits is about the same as yours. If it is merely to provide mana for a familiar called a 'Heroic Spirit,' I can take your place, while you retain the Command Spells," the Queen said. "Such a small matter, you can certainly handle it, right?"

"Although that is not an ordinary familiar... as long as you are happy," Kayneth shook his head, pushing away the thought of explaining to his fiancée what a Heroic Spirit was. "Then, what catalyst should we choose..."

"As the most excellent lecturer at the Clock Tower, we must naturally summon the strongest class!" Sola-Ui stepped forward with great momentum, picking up the box containing a catalyst that was a broken sword hilt. "This must be the legendary 'Sword in the Stone' that King Arthur broke after killing a knight. Let us use it to summon Saber and sweep away those three indigenous families from the countryside and the other small fry to claim victory!"

Though he felt many things were off, Kayneth obediently nodded.

328:21:19

In the underground workshop of the Tohsaka residence, Kirei Kotomine was preparing to summon Assassin.

Assassin and Berserker were classes that could be specified by the summoner in the Holy Grail War by increasing the incantation. Tokiomi Tohsaka believed that the Assassin class ability [Presence Concealment] was too great a threat to a Master. With three Masters already gathered, it was better to bring it under his control so it could act as a surprise force when the other two Servants attacked.

As for the reason Ryunosuke Uryu had chosen to summon Berserker, he had proposed it himself:

"Because I have only recently learned magecraft, I cannot make use of it in battle. However, I have no problem providing mana to a Berserker, who, due to Mad Enhancement, only requires more mana to provide powerful combat capability."

"Kirei, you have served as an Executor for a long time and have richer experience in fighting magi. It is most appropriate for you to command the strategically superior Assassin."

"As for Berserker's actions, please let the Master and Kirei have full command during battle; I can completely ensure the mana supply!"

Tokiomi Tohsaka naturally praised this highly, but Kirei Kotomine always felt something was wrong. According to his experience, at this "senior brother's" age, he should be in a stage of eager self-expression. Yet, everything he displayed at every moment was an abnormal state of conforming to the wishes of "others," even at the cost of his own interests. He was like an actor on stage, striving to express to an unknown audience that this "character" was a "good person."

However, though he was "abnormal" in many ways, Kirei was not much better himself. This resulted in a subtle sense of mutual understanding, so after confirming that he would not be detrimental to the Tohsaka family, Kirei stopped paying too much attention to his strange words and deeds.

"Kirei, I've drawn the summoning circle for you. Want to check it?" Ryunosuke Uryu stood by the magic circle, holding a paint bucket and calling out.

"Thank you." Kirei Kotomine nodded slightly and walked forward.

Because it was not the power of the magus but the power of the Holy Grail that actually summoned the Servant, as long as the materials used to draw the circle allowed for mana circulation, the Master's role was merely to be the link between the Heroic Spirit and this world, and then to provide the mana for the other party to materialize.

He had originally intended to use mercury mixed with his own blood, but after Ryunosuke Uryu heard this, he volunteered to prepare "more suitable materials." In the end, he brought a strange solution mixed with hydrangea petals and red pigment. At the time, Kirei had already drawn his Black Keys, but was stopped by his father and his teacher.

"Very well." Kirei Kotomine nodded after checking the circle, then looked at this slightly guilty senior brother. "I do not wish for a next time."

"Apologies, it was just because I accidentally heard the conversation between your father and the teacher, slightly..." Ryunosuke retreated away from the circle with a fawning smile.

Kirei Kotomine stood up in silence, extended his right hand toward the circle, and his low voice resonated.

"Fill, fill, fill, fill, fill, repeat five times,"

"However, fill each until the time for destruction."

【You are...】

"…Declare!"

"Thy body shall be under my command; my fate shall be with thy sword!"

【...the one who loves me】

"Submit to the summoning of the Holy Grail. If thou wilt obey this will and this reason, then answer me!"

Kirei Kotomine ignored the words floating in his mind and the pain coursing through his body with an iron will, continuing to recite the incantation.

The magic circle drawn on the ground began to emit a bright, dazzling light.

"I hereby swear."

"I am the one who achieves all the good in the world, I am the one who realizes all the evil in the world."

"Thou art clad in the seven heavens, come forth from the ring of restraint—"

【You are... the one who loves me】

"—ASSASSIN!"

The underground workshop plunged into pitch darkness in the next instant, as if the lamps originally used for lighting had never existed. Undoubtedly, some "existence" had appeared right in the center of the magic circle, but the two magi present could feel nothing. Out of caution, they did not make any further moves.

"Kirei?" Ryunosuke Uryu's voice came from the darkness.

"It succeeded. I can feel the connection of mana," Kirei Kotomine said, looking toward the magic circle. "But I cannot perceive his location at all."

The darkness began to recede, and the underground workshop gradually brightened. The scene at the center of the circle was revealed to the two magi.

"She is..."

"…Assassin?"

A little girl who looked only five or six years old, wearing a tight-fitting dark blue and black suit, with brown skin and short, dark red hair, was sitting there in a daze.

The only object that might be related to Assassin was a silver mask she wore tilted to one side of her forehead, which looked more like a cat than a skull.