"So..."
"What do you intend to do next, King of Heroes?"
Kirei Kotomine asked calmly.
"That doesn't depend on me."
Gilgamesh looked at him with an amused smile.
"It depends entirely on what you choose to do."
"As for me..."
"I can hardly wait to see Saber's expression when he learns the truth behind the Holy Grail War..."
"...and is betrayed by his own Master."
"That scene is certain to be entertaining."
"Hahahahaha!"
"I see."
Kirei nodded thoughtfully.
"Then I know what I must do."
"Kirei."
"Don't keep me waiting."
Gilgamesh's tone carried the unmistakable authority of a king.
Even with Independent Action (Rank A), he could not remain materialized forever after losing his Master's mana supply.
Ultimately...
His current body was nothing more than a vessel of magical energy created by the Holy Grail.
No matter how powerful Gilgamesh was as a Heroic Spirit, he was still bound by that limitation.
The same was true for Leon.
"As you command..."
"My King."
Kirei bowed respectfully.
Behind them...
Tohsaka Tokiomi 's corpse had already gone cold.
No matter how glorious one's life had been...
Death reduced everyone to the same lonely end.
Not long afterward—
A pillar of rainbow light descended upon the Tohsaka Mansion.
The Bifrost.
Leon emerged from the fading light.
Perched comfortably atop his shoulders was Rin.
One arm still rested lightly around Aoi Tohsaka's waist.
After landing, Leon politely released her.
Aoi's cheeks flushed faintly as she lowered her head in thanks.
For a woman who appreciated handsome men...
Even one who was happily married with children found it difficult to ignore Leon's charm.
Fortunately...
Her daughter was standing right beside them.
That alone was enough to suppress any inappropriate thoughts before they could take root.
"Mr. Knight..."
"Was that magecraft?"
"Or your Noble Phantasm?"
"But Mom said there's nothing like that in King Arthur's legends."
"So..."
"Can you tell me what it was?"
Still sitting on Leon's shoulders, Rin gently shook his head from side to side as she asked with sparkling curiosity.
During the trip back, Aoi had already explained Leon's supposed identity as King Arthur.
"Rin."
"Don't make things difficult for Saber."
Aoi shot her daughter a mildly reproachful look.
How could she casually ask another Servant about one of his greatest secrets?
"Hmph."
"I've already decided that I'm going to marry Mr. Knight when I grow up."
"So isn't it perfectly normal to learn a little about my future husband in advance?"
The declaration landed like a thunderbolt.
She had completely forgotten her earlier determination to help her father win the Holy Grail War.
"Rin!"
Aoi nearly choked in disbelief.
Her chest rose and fell as she struggled to compose herself.
You're only six years old!
How are you already talking about marriage?
At this rate you'll be giving yourself away before you're even grown up!
Fortunately...
Leon showed absolutely no interest in children.
He reached up, gently pinched Rin's soft, chubby cheek, and replied with complete seriousness.
"I prefer mature women."
"Someone like your mother."
"I'm not interested in little girls."
"Then Mom's my love rival!"
Rin puffed out her cheeks and glared adorably at Aoi.
She looked exactly like the six-year-old child she was.
"...Yes."
"Looks like we are rivals."
Unable to help herself, Aoi rolled her eyes affectionately at her daughter's childish antics.
Then, acting as the lady of the house, she led Leon toward Tokiomi's study.
However—
The moment they stepped through the front gate...
Walking along the pebble path lined with blooming flowers...
They had barely taken two steps—
Leon's eyes narrowed.
Without the slightest warning, he wrapped an arm around Aoi's waist and pulled her into his embrace.
At the same instant—
He vanished from where he stood.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Three daggers flashed through the air.
They struck the exact spot where Aoi had been standing only a heartbeat earlier.
The cobblestones exploded into powder upon impact.
"Mr. Knight!"
Terrified, Rin instinctively wrapped both arms tightly around Leon's head.
The trauma of being kidnapped by Caster and Ryunosuke Uryū came flooding back.
"Saber..."
"What happened?"
Still shaken, Aoi remained quietly within Leon's protective embrace instead of struggling free.
She trusted his judgment completely.
"Assassin."
Leon swept his gaze across the garden.
One after another—
Dark figures emerged silently from among the flowerbeds.
Dozens of black-clad Assassins surrounded Leon, Aoi, and Rin from every direction.
"Assassin...?"
Aoi's face turned pale.
"But that's Kirei's..."
She stared at the encircling Servants in disbelief.
The one attacking her...
Was the Servant belonging to her husband's own disciple.
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