Chapter 85: An Unacceptable Fact

The reason why Kayneth suddenly became so hostile toward Kariya was simple: what happened the previous night.

If Lancelot hadn't interfered, Iskandar might have eliminated Artoria entirely.

Instead, their efforts were reduced to nothing more than a ridiculous performance. They gained nothing, and worse, Diarmuid had suffered a humiliating defeat.

No wonder Kayneth was so resentful.

---

Zhang Jiao glanced at Chihiro and asked, "Chihiro, what's your choice for this question?"

Chihiro shrugged slightly. "What do you think?"

Zhang Jiao thought for a moment before replying confidently, "Well, I think we should go with A."

Chihiro raised an eyebrow, a bit surprised that Zhang Jiao had landed on the correct answer. "Why?" he asked, genuinely curious.

Zhang Jiao explained, "From Matou Kariya's voice after the black screen, it's clear that he lost control. People can do anything when they lose control."

"From his last words, you can tell there's malice involved. So, C and D can probably be ruled out."

"As for the remaining two options, I think B is less likely."

"Despite everything Kariya does have genuine feelings for Tohsaka Aoi. It's not just about appearances with him."

"That leaves A."

"Impressive!" Chihiro gave Zhang Jiao a thumbs-up.

He hadn't expected Zhang Jiao to understand Kariya's mindset so clearly. Truly, he was worthy of being a seasoned thinker.

---

[The time for answering questions ends. Resuming the video.]

[Video continues.]

[The dark screen returned to reveal Matou Kariya straddling Tohsaka Aoi, his hands tightly gripping her neck.]

[Her struggles gradually weakened until they stopped completely.]

["Ahhh!!!"]

[Matou Kariya suddenly snapped out of his rage, clutching his head and letting out an anguished scream before stumbling away like a zombie.]

[All of this was witnessed by Gilgamesh and Kotomine Kirei, who were watching from the shadows on the second floor.]

[Gilgamesh swirled his glass of red wine, as if enjoying a fine play.]

[The correct answer is A.]

[Congratulations to Chihiro, Hassan of the Hundred Faces, Zhang Jiao, and Sigurd for obtaining 3 Saint Quartz.]

[Waver and Emiya Kiritsugu answered incorrectly and will have 1 Saint Quartz deducted.]

Matou Kariya: "No, this is fake! This has to be fake!"

His voice cracked with despair as the realization of his actions in the video shattered him.

Tohsaka Tokiomi: "Silence!"

Tokiomi's fury was palpable. Seeing his wife nearly strangled to death filled him with rage.

Tohsaka Tokiomi: "You claimed you would protect Aoi. Is this your version of protection?!"

Matou Kariya: "No, no! The video isn't real! It's all Gilgamesh and Kotomine's plot against me!"

Tohsaka Tokiomi: "Did they force you to attack Aoi?! No! This is entirely your fault!"

Matou Kariya: "Shut up, Tokiomi! This is all because of you!"

The Tohsaka sisters, Rin and Sakura, watched the argument unfold, their faces pale with confusion.

Tohsaka Rin: "How could this happen..."

Tohsaka Sakura: "Mother…"

For the two girls, the argument and Kariya's breakdown left them uncertain of how to see him anymore.

Waver: "Teacher, didn't you say B was the right answer?"

Kayneth: "How is this my fault? Who could've predicted Kariya would spiral into such madness?"

Even Kayneth couldn't wrap his head around why Kariya, who had supposedly cherished Aoi, would turn violent against her.

The shift in his behavior was staggering.

Emiya Kiritsugu: "If I can't have it, I'll destroy it. I didn't think Matou Kariya would actually be this extreme."

[The scene shifted to a hospital ward.]

[Tohsaka Aoi lay motionless in a bed.]

[A doctor informed the young Tohsaka Rin that her mother had become comatose and might never wake up again.]

Emiya Kiritsugu: "Though he didn't kill her outright, the oxygen deprivation caused severe brain damage. Honestly, it's worse than death."

Tohsaka Tokiomi: "Kiritsugu, keep your mouth shut!"

Emiya Kiritsugu: "I'm only stating the facts. Her consciousness wasn't sealed, but the brain damage made her vegetative. She won't wake up again and likely won't live long."

[Time passed in the hospital room. Tohsaka Rin grew from a child into a young woman.]

[Aoi's condition worsened day by day until her heart monitor displayed a flat line.]

[The video ended.]

Tohsaka Rin: "Mother… she died in the end."

Matou Kariya: "Aoi, no… how could this happen?!"

He sobbed uncontrollably.

Tohsaka Tokiomi: "Kariya, this is all your fault!"

Tokiomi couldn't bear to imagine the hardships Rin would face, living alone after losing both parents.

As for Kotomine Kirei, Tokiomi could only hope the Kirei in the video would meet his end during the Fourth Holy Grail War. Otherwise, Rin's future would be bleak.

The Kotomine Kirei in the video had clearly fallen. He wouldn't show Rin kindness, much less care for her properly.

[Congratulations to Waver and Emiya Kiritsugu for answering two questions correctly and receiving 1 Saint Quartz. Chihiro, Hassan of the Hundred Faces, Zhang Jiao, and Sigurd have answered three questions correctly and earned 3 Saint Quartz.]

Waver: "Chihiro, you and your team swept the board today, huh?"

Chihiro: "It's all about trying. Sometimes you turn a bicycle into a motorcycle. You should try it next time."

Waver: "No thanks. I don't have your luck."

[The first round of questions is over. The second round begins now.]

[This is a classification question. Watch the following video and classify the content as instructed.]

Waver: "Classification question? What does that even mean?"

Kayneth: "Stop asking pointless questions. Just watch."

[Video starts.]

["This is a story about the Holy Grail and humanity's desire to fulfill their wishes."]

[As the narration ended, a flag flapped in the wind, and the scene changed to show a woman seated in a car.]

[The woman's face was strikingly familiar.]

Waver: "Saber, is that you?"

Kayneth: "No, look at the braid. That's Joan of Arc."

Bluebeard: "Ah! My holy maiden!"

Bluebeard: "Joan of Arc, I've finally found you again!"

Waver: "Joan of Arc is alive in the present day? Or has she been summoned as a Servant?"

Tohsaka Tokiomi: "Look at the surroundings. It seems like Europe."

Kayneth: "Indeed. Could this be another summoning event?"

Chihiro couldn't help but mutter internally, Is this a trailer for Fate/Apocrypha?

This wasn't the first time something like this had appeared.

["My name is Jeanne d'Arc, and I am the ruler of this Holy Grail War."]

["My duty is to oversee the rules of this Holy Grail War."]

[The scene changed to show a duel between two figures.]

[One was a knight in white armor—Mordred.]

[Her opponent was a muscular man with white hair and a glowing blue core in his chest.]

[The two clashed, their weapons radiating red and blue light as they struck each other.]

Artoria: "Sir Mordred…"

Waver: "Her opponent looks formidable. I wonder who he is."

Sigurd: "That man… he seems familiar."

["This is not just a story of Servants, nor simply one of Masters…"]

[The video shifted rapidly, showcasing a series of Servants appearing one after another.]

[A tall, thin man with white hair emerged from the darkness.]

[A street in a small town showed a scantily clad white-haired boy drawing two curved daggers from his back.]

[A pink-haired figure holding a spear rode a griffin through the sky.]

[A massive man wearing what looked like an iron cage over his head rampaged through a forest.]

[A figure in a strange golden mask struggled to cover a shattered part of it.]

[A catwoman in a green outfit crouched in a tree, observing quietly.]

[An elegantly dressed old man raised his arms dramatically in a barren field.]

[A woman in noble attire blocked an attack inside a grand hall.]

[A girl wearing a wedding dress and a horn on her head swung a massive hammer through the smoke.]

[A man in green gentleman's attire held a book, shouting an incantation.]

[A flash of light streaked across the screen as a centaur loosed an arrow from his bow with incredible precision.]

[Facing an onslaught of attacks, a young man with green hair pressed forward fearlessly.]

["This is our war!"]

[A white-haired priest in a red robe smiled gently, exuding a calm and ominous aura.]

["Then please, begin your performance."]

[The video ended.]

Kayneth: "What on earth is this? All of these… they can't all be Heroic Spirits!"

El-Melloi II: "Do you really need to ask? It's obvious that they are."

Tohsaka Tokiomi: "What kind of Holy Grail War is this? So many Servants are participating!"

Tohsaka Rin: "Isn't it just like our situation?"

Tohsaka Tokiomi: "No, it's different. Our situation only has extra Servants because of the Q&A system."

Kayneth: "This appears to be a completely different kind of Holy Grail War, likely in another world. Regardless, I've never heard of a large-scale conflict like this before."

[The narrator spoke again.]

["This is the Fourth Holy Grail War, taking place in a parallel world."]

["For reasons unknown, this Holy Grail War has become a battle between seven Red Servants and seven Black Servants."]

Kayneth: "This is also the Fourth Holy Grail War?"

Tohsaka Tokiomi: "But isn't the Fourth Holy Grail War supposed to occur in Fuyuki City? This one seems to be happening somewhere in Europe."

***

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