Chapter 8: Investigation!

Why all the title use exclamation mark? they really love to use that particular mark, btw i forgot what is all !@#$%^&*(()_+,.:;"'?[]=+ these mark called, all of them combined not 1 by 1

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"Get out of the way!" 

Kyoko Sakura shouted at her Master, who was desperately trying to hide. The frustration of being unable to act filled her. 

Red thorny chains whipped through the air, blocking the path of the oncoming attacks.

'For once, I'm actually glad my regular attack abilities are sealed.'

Glancing at the magical sigil on her body, Kyoko felt oddly relieved. 

In her current state, if she could attack normally, her Master might not even have the chance to escape.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Sparks flew, and the silver droplets of the Moon Spirit Liquid, like a protective slime, shielded the area. However, the dents forming on its surface hinted at impending failure.

Moon Spirit Liquid—Kenneth's magical artifact—was powerful for both offense and defense. He had brought it specifically to protect Sola.

'Lancer may not be attacking with her spear, but we can't hold on much longer.' 

Kenneth, frowning, huddled with Sola under the liquid's protection, but they couldn't escape. 

Having Lancer controlled by Caster was an unexpected disaster. He had never seen such a straightforward form of control.

"Sola, use a Command Spell!" 

Making a quick decision, Kenneth urged her to act. 

They couldn't outrun a Servant like Lancer. Without understanding how Caster was controlling her, the best option was to use a Command Spell to regain control.

"But... what should I command?" 

Sola hesitated, unsure of how to give a proper order. 

While Command Spells could force a Servant to act, vague commands would lessen their effectiveness.

"Just order her to leave here immediately!" 

"With other Masters and Servants likely closing in on us, we need to escape the center of attention. We can't afford to linger."

Caster's strange magic had forced them into this desperate situation. 

These Heroic Spirits always possessed abilities beyond their comprehension.

"By the power of this Command Spell, I order you, Lancer, to leave this place!" 

Red light flashed from the Command Spell on Sola's hand. The thorny chains that filled the air paused, and the attacks ceased. 

Kenneth wasted no time, grabbing Sola and fleeing the scene.

"Hah, pretty quick to act!" 

Kyoko, now frozen in place, let out a sigh of relief. 

She was worried her Master might have made a reckless decision to fight, which would've been a disaster. 

Now, she was exposed, but that wasn't necessarily a bad thing.

'Tch, I can feel the flow of magic weakening. It seems Caster's magic isn't all-powerful. The control spell and the Command Spell have some kind of counteracting force.'

The hold Caster had on her was weakening, but the magical sigil on her body remained as strong as ever. 

Kyoko pondered how to deal with Caster, frustration growing. 

Just dealing with one opponent was already this difficult—what about the others? 

Even though she had regained her "innate skills" as a magical girl due to becoming a Heroic Spirit, those could only serve as a trump card.

Once seen by experienced warriors, her tricks might never work again.

"This war is way tougher than fighting witches!"

---

"So, the only ones left who haven't shown themselves are Rider and Berserker?" 

Tohsaka Tokiomi sat in his meticulously arranged magical workshop, deep in thought. 

He had observed the clash between Caster and Lancer through his familiars.

Of the Servants he had seen so far, only Rider and Berserker remained unseen.

"That cannon blast last night... was it really Caster?" 

Given what Caster had displayed today, it was hard to say whether the attack had been his doing. 

Rider and Berserker seemed more likely candidates for such an overwhelming display of power.

"The Matou family is participating this time too, yet they've made no moves so far. That's strange."

He frowned as he thought about the Matou family, a faction that had remained oddly quiet. 

Originally, it seemed like the Matou family didn't have a participant, but Tokiomi had heard that someone from their household had been selected as a Master. 

However, the identity of this participant had never been revealed.

Tokiomi had assumed that the Matou family simply had ambitions like any other, so he hadn't paid them much mind. But now, their silence felt unsettling.

'Could they be too quiet?'

Tokiomi wasn't sure if Rider or Berserker belonged to the Matou family, but he felt it was worth considering.

"Teacher?" 

"How is Assassin's condition?"

"He's still seriously injured and unable to move." 

Hearing this from Kirei Kotomine, Tokiomi frowned. He had hoped to rely on Assassin to gather information, but the injury had made that impossible.

"Send a familiar to scout out the Matou family." 

"You want surveillance?" 

"They have a participant, and we need to be cautious."

"Understood." 

Kirei nodded, accepting the order without further comment. 

His expression remained emotionless even as he left the room.

Unlike his teacher's clear goals, Kirei's desires were still evolving. 

Perhaps once he had been a loyal "model student," but since dreaming about parts of Assassin's life, he had begun to feel something new stirring within him—something he had never experienced before.

Was it sadness, curiosity, or even pleasure?

The urge to act, to do something, was growing, giving Kirei a sense of clarity he had never felt before. 

With these strange emotions awakening, Kirei no longer clung to his previous state of tranquility and detachment.

'It turns out, human relationships are filled with unknown possibilities.'

'The answers I seek are becoming clearer.'

At first, his goal had been to observe Kiritsugu Emiya personally, but now it seemed unnecessary.

'To make me so curious... the Holy Grail War truly is something extraordinary.'

With a sense of exploration, the priest with newfound purpose began to seek out more.

"Assassin." 

"Teacher's orders should be heeded, but sending a familiar isn't enough. Go investigate the Matou family yourself." 

"Be cautious."

Kirei gave the instructions to the shadowy figure in the corner, his tone calm.

*Whoosh!*

The figure disappeared, and Kirei couldn't help but marvel at the effectiveness of the medicine Gilgamesh had provided. 

The injuries Assassin had sustained were severe, yet within a single night, they were fully healed.

Though Kirei had traded a Dragon Ball for the medicine, that didn't matter. 

Participation in the war and the wish-granting process were not his primary concerns. 

As long as he had Assassin at his side, there would always be opportunities to steal more Dragon Balls and re-enter the fray. 

The Dragon Ball that Gilgamesh had claimed for his treasury wasn't a problem either.

As Masters, they were granted knowledge about the Dragon Balls that far exceeded what the Heroic Spirits knew. 

His scheming had gone unnoticed by Tokiomi, and the thrill of it all filled Kirei with a sense of satisfaction.

'Gilgamesh is too naive. Does he really think keeping the Dragon Ball in his treasury will prevent it from being taken?'

A faint smile tugged at Kirei's lips as he imagined the look on the King's face when his plan unraveled.