---
"Moreover, Tokiomi Tohsaka is already dead. Who are you even seeking revenge on?
"And besides, I already rescued Sakura. What are you still holding onto Berserker for?"
Haruka Kasugano's rapid-fire words completely short-circuited him. He even used a bit of his **[Incitement]** skill.
"That's true… then why am I still clinging to Berserker?" Kariya Matou scratched his head.
His hesitating attitude infuriated Aoi Tohsaka.
If this useless man kept dragging things out, she would die here. How could she continue her passionate romance with Haruka Kasugano?
Furious, she kicked Kariya and scolded, "Useless fool! Hurry up and give the Servant to him!"
Since Aoi had spoken, this devoted simp didn't even hesitate. "Okay, Aoi!"
Just like that, he began performing the Command Spell transfer ritual with Haruka Kasugano, transferring Lancelot's Command Spells and control to him.
Although in the Holy Grail War each Master can only summon one Servant, Command Spells can be transferred to obtain control over another Servant. During the Fifth War, Kirei Kotomine obtained Lancer from Bazett this way.
Of course, like when Sola forcibly transferred control from Kayneth, if the other party refuses, you'd have to cut off their hand to take the Command Spells. But since Kariya agreed, the transfer could proceed directly.
"When did that man come in? Sneaking around like an Assassin?" Gilgamesh noticed Haruka Kasugano.
But it was too late. With Lancelot blocking him, there was nothing he could do to stop it.
Before long, Lancelot—who had been exhausted moments ago—suddenly surged with renewed strength.
"Hm? What's going on? Shouldn't that pathetic worm have run out of mana by now?" Gilgamesh frowned.
Then he noticed that Lancelot's Master had changed.
"What the hell? Playing relay games? Absurd. You don't actually think swapping to another useless Master can change fate, do you?" Gilgamesh mocked.
Haruka Kasugano immediately used a Command Spell to recharge Lancelot. Instantly, Lancelot charged at Gilgamesh like a rabid beast.
Boom—
Even the church wall was smashed apart by Lancelot's charge.
Now empowered, the battle shifted into a one-sided situation.
Gilgamesh was forced to take to the sky to avoid his onslaught.
Though displeased, dawn was approaching. He decided to withdraw.
Besides, there was no need for him to waste effort killing Berserker.
"Mad dog, your Berserker only had one Command Spell left, and you just used it. You've already been eliminated from the Holy Grail War. How laughable."
With that, Gilgamesh dematerialized and left.
Hearing this, Kariya stared at Lancelot's back, a chill running down his spine.
"You're Rin's teacher, right? Isn't this bad? You used up my last Command Spell. Berserker will go out of control. What if—"
Before he could finish, Haruka Kasugano rolled up his sleeve, revealing densely packed Command Spells covering his arm.
Kariya: "..."
After that, Haruka Kasugano healed Kariya again and sent him home.
Aoi kissed Haruka Kasugano goodbye and drove herself home as well.
Looking at Lancelot beside him, Haruka Kasugano suddenly formed a new idea.
He had never known how to approach Artoria before—her personality was too rigid and upright, and she was extremely strong.
But now, with Lancelot…
Her emotional defenses—could finally be broken.
Hehehehe~!
Now it was time to rescue Irisviel~!
---
Meanwhile.
Kirei Kotomine quietly arrived at the sewer junction.
The place was filthy and reeking—perfectly suited to the darkness in his heart.
He walked to where Irisviel was being hidden.
She had not yet awakened and remained unconscious.
Kirei carefully drew a magic circle on the ground. It was designed to gather surrounding mana—similar to the one Irisviel had asked Artoria to draw in the warehouse.
Then he dragged Irisviel onto the circle.
As mana flowed into her, her complexion visibly improved.
Several hours later, Irisviel finally awoke.
"Cough, cough…"
She struggled to open her eyes, realizing she was in such a filthy place.
"Oh? You're awake, woman?" Kirei sneered.
"It's you! Even if you've captured me, you won't be able to threaten Kiritsugu!" Irisviel retorted weakly.
Though her body was in agony, her spirit remained strong.
"Heh. I don't need to threaten him. I only need to know what his wish is!" Kirei shouted manically.
"Tell me, woman! What exactly is his wish?!
"From the records I've seen, he's spent years fighting meaningless battles, repeating slaughter without reward—estranged from normal society, achieving nothing. Isn't he just a lost lamb?
"Isn't he, like me, an empty man inside?"
The more he spoke, the more agitated he became. He seized Irisviel's delicate throat, squeezing until she groaned in pain.
Only when she was nearly suffocating did he release her.
"Answer me!"
Already weak, she felt close to death after his brutal treatment.
She gasped painfully, hands trembling as she touched the tender, injured skin of her neck. Every contact brought unbearable pain. Her brows furrowed deeply.
Yet despite the pain, her face showed unwavering resolve.
"Fine… I'll tell you."
"Kiritsugu's lifelong wish… is to save humanity."
She brushed aside her bangs gracefully, her voice soft yet clear.
"He dreams of a world without war, without bloodshed—a peaceful world that lasts forever."
As she spoke, hope shone on her face, her beauty momentarily stunning.
"What nonsense?" Kirei muttered in disbelief.
"That's what makes you inferior to him—you have no conviction!" she continued.
"Hahahahaha!" Kirei burst into laughter. "Conflict is humanity's nature. To eradicate conflict is to eradicate humanity. That isn't an ideal—it's childish fantasy!"
"So that's why he entered the Holy Grail War? How laughably incompetent!"
Even as he said that, jealousy flickered across his face.
Because… he had no conviction himself.
He didn't even know why he lived.
Driven by emptiness, he constantly sought meaning in life.
Kiritsugu was different—he had willingly cast aside his own life's meaning.
That man possessed everything Kirei envied, yet he never cherished it. How infuriating!
Enraged, he grabbed Irisviel by the hair, drew three Black Keys, and prepared to stab her.
Suddenly—
The ground trembled.
In the blink of an eye, their positions shifted.
Irisviel was teleported ten meters away, while only a lock of silver hair remained in Kirei's hand.
She touched the spot where her hair had been torn out, her face full of grievance.
"A spatial boundary? What is this? Who's interfering?" Kirei exclaimed.
Then Haruka Kasugano appeared before him.
"I did."
Kirei froze, then flew into a rage.
"You… who are you? Wait—you're Rin Tohsaka's homeroom teacher, the one who was hit by her? You're a magus too?"
"How did you do that just now?"
Haruka Kasugano shrugged casually.
"Because this is my workshop. A simple bounded field with spatial alteration—easy to set up."
"I knew when you brought her here last night."
"Such a beautiful lady—I can't let you hurt her."
Irisviel struggled to focus her blurry vision.
"It's you! You came to save me?" she exclaimed joyfully.
But then she grew anxious.
"Be careful! He's an Executor of the Holy Church—a natural enemy of magi!"
"It's fine. This is my territory," Haruka Kasugano smiled.
With a wave of his hand, the attacking boundary activated, launching assaults at Kirei.
Kirei blocked with his Black Keys while evading swiftly.
He glanced at Irisviel—too far, and the spatial barrier prevented approach.
Only one option remained: kill Haruka Kasugano at the sewer entrance. Destroy the caster, and the barrier would fall.
So he charged.
Dodging the boundary's attacks with agile footwork, he quickly closed the distance.
After all, this was Circe's workshop—Haruka Kasugano couldn't fully unleash its power.
Soon, Kirei stood before him.
Haruka Kasugano remained calm. He donned the system-rewarded Mystic Code, the **Rune Gloves**, and engaged in close combat.
He had long wanted to test his strength.
With **Bajiquan** and **Ba Liu Techniques**, plus a body comparable to a Servant's—
And Kirei, a man capable of tearing apart Heroic Spirits with his bare hands—
Without Noble Phantasms involved, this was the perfect benchmark.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
They clashed fiercely.
The Rune Gloves were incredibly durable, easily withstanding the Black Keys.
But Kirei's combat experience was vast. At first, Haruka Kasugano struggled slightly.
Still, his Bajiquan was ranked A+++—even lacking experience, he gave Kirei no advantage.
As time passed, Haruka Kasugano's battle instincts sharpened.
Kirei began to feel pressured.
Left with no choice, Kirei suddenly stepped back three paces and threw away his Black Keys.
"Do you dare?" he challenged, empty-handed.
"Why wouldn't I?" Haruka Kasugano grinned.
He removed the Rune Gloves as well.
Seeing him take the bait, Kirei's lips curled into a smug smile.