Type-Moon: Root Seiko

"If everything goes smoothly, that will at least be enough for me to summon Heroic Spirits in the Middle East, and then clear away any obstacles on my way back to Fuyuki. If the Greater Grail's veins are ready, then everything will be fine... If not, I'll just look for other ways to supply the Grail with magic; there's always a way."

This is essentially taking things one step at a time, and the potential risks are huge. Luo Zhen knew this, and Tokiomi certainly knew it too.

For a family that is not good at handling emergencies, Tokiomi's idea was quite bold, and it is indeed commendable that he could make such a do-or-die decision in one night.

However, Luo Zhen still reminded them, "Don't make Rin and Sakura sad."

"In their eyes, you have always been a reliable and upright father. It's one thing to scheme and plot for the Holy Grail War, but since you've decided to do it, you must come back safely. Don't just die on the way. That's what it means to have a good ending, and it's also to fulfill your covenant with us."

"...Yes. Thank you, Lord Luo."

Tokiomi didn't say anything more sentimental, but simply gratefully reached out and shook hands with Rajiro.

There is almost no such thing as friendship among magicians, let alone the kind of friendship where they would entrust their lives to each other.

Even though this cooperation was initially based on a pact of accomplice, in the six months they spent together, Tokiomi had indeed grown to appreciate this unpredictable but good young man more and more, and one could even say he was relying on him.

If there's anyone in the world I could entrust my two daughters to, it's him. Tokiomi Tohsaka wouldn't even consider anyone else.

“I can’t take Rin and Sakura with me. They must live on as the future of the Tohsaka family.”

"And right now, the only safe people in all of Fuyuki are you, Luo Zhenjun, and Ms. Aozaki. ...Is that woman the legendary saint?"

Tokiomi Tohsaka's gaze drifted to the blonde girl playing with his two daughters outside the study.

Although Rin was still a little jealous with her cheeks puffed out, she had been healed by Jeanne's infinitely tolerant smile and proudly let Jeanne pat her head.

As for Sakura, she had a good impression of this older sister from the very beginning, feeling that the two were Stands with the same attributes, and that they might become true best friends with perfect teamwork in the future.

Luo Zhen didn't hide anything: "Yes, Joan of Arc of France."

"That's good. The renowned saintess is unlikely to lose to a mere assassin."

Tokiomi was more confident than both Rojin and Joan of Arc, which was also a way of encouraging himself.

He and Luo Zhen hit it off immediately and decided to have Rin and Sakura stay at his house while he was away from Fuyuki.

If Tokiomi had been a little more cowardly and had sought the protection of Rōzō and Aozaki Tōko, and moved his whole family to Rōzō's house, it would have been much easier to defend.

But that was a humiliation that Tokiomi Tohsaka's aristocratic mindset could not accept, and his chances of winning the Holy Grail War became extremely slim. After all, no matter how much he relied on the contract, the Grand Puppeteer probably wouldn't have the patience to continue protecting a partner who was completely incapacitated and unable to provide any help.

This was a decision made by Tokiomi Tohsaka based on his self-awareness and balancing his roles as a magician and a father.

Luo Zhen was naturally willing to protect Rin and Sakura, and on that basis, he continued to ask their mother, "Then, Ms. Aoi, what will you do?"

“I am Tokiomi’s wife, so naturally I will accompany him. After all, he can’t drive, and I will have to arrange the long-distance flights and itinerary.”

The gentle woman showed no fear; her smile was both humble and noble, inspiring admiration.

There was no need to say anything more, and Tokiomi, the mustachioed uncle, showed a somewhat embarrassed smile.

...Luo Zhen still had the same opinion: his family was really not suited to be magicians.

If it weren't for the so-called tragic wish of the family, the Tohsaka family would be an enviable and perfect family, and there would be no need for them to be prepared for the eternal separation of life and death.

He said no more, and everything was settled.

Ms. Aoi put her luggage in the car, and Tokiomi took the opportunity to say goodbye to his daughters.

Sakura held the two sisters' favorite silver kitten in her arms, looking up at her father with a bewildered yet obedient expression.

Tokiomi squatted down in front of the two women, looking into their equally blue mixed-race eyes.

His daughters—the most perfect miracle honed over five generations of the Tohsaka family—were a treasure far too luxurious for someone of his mediocre talent.

If this is the last time I see them, what can I leave for them?

...As if by some strange twist of fate, Tokiomi Tohsaka suddenly spoke:

"Rin, Sakura. If you don't like magic in the future, then give it up."

“Huh?”

The two sisters were both stunned.

Chapter 37 The Tohsaka family's taste in men...

Tokiomi Tohsaka has always felt guilty towards his two daughters.

Looking at the two innocent children before him, his previously dry throat suddenly became clear, allowing his words to flow out clearly:

"Your talents in the path of magic far surpass mine. Although it may make me a little sad to say this, I am probably the most mediocre among all the heads of the Tohsaka family throughout history."

"My father's dignity today is entirely due to two things. One is that he has always adhered to the Tohsaka family motto, which is 'to maintain elegance at all times and in all places.'"

A belief, if consistently upheld, can become a person's strong backbone for survival. Tokiomi Tohsaka believed this.

Because of this ancestral family precept, and because I have thoroughly implemented it.

Therefore, one can silently lick away all the hardships, suffering, and resentment on the road of life and cultivate one's self-respect.

Since I lack talent, I'll put in twenty points of effort to accomplish what others take ten.

It is precisely because this path was so arduous that Tokiomi Tohsaka was able to be proud that he had truly persevered.

Then came the second thing, Tokiomi continued: "Secondly, it was because your grandfather, my father, gave me the opportunity to choose."

"Because my father is such a dull child, my grandfather probably knew that if I inherited the family business, I would have a very hard life."

"So when he was planning to retire and hand over the family seal to me, he specifically asked me: 'Do you want to inherit the Tohsaka family?'"

In reality, this is just a formality without substance.

The Tohsaka family is a single-lineage family, and Tokiomi's mother died when he was still young.

His father never remarried, and had only this one dull-witted heir in his entire life.

Tokiomi's father could not allow the Tohsaka family's magic crest to go vacant; there was only one blood-related child who could inherit the family line.

Even so, it was Tokiomi's treasure, and became the soul that filled his body.

"I embarked on the path of magic by my own will, and I chose to become a magician."

"This has given me the noble pride to endure all suffering, and I would like to pass this gift on to you... but I'm sorry, Dad can't do it."

For the first time, Tokiomi expressed his guilt, awkwardly patting his two daughters' heads.

They all looked surprised and their eyes widened.

It was then that Tokiomi realized that he seemed to have never done this kind of thing a father should do before.

This made his throat bob, and his words flowed again: "You are too outstanding, so outstanding that you have no chance to live an ordinary life. If you do not embark on the path of demonic cultivation, if you do not develop your talents and become powerful enough, you will definitely encounter extremely painful things."

"So Dad can't ask you whether you want to inherit the family business like Grandpa did. If you want to survive on your own, you have to take this path."

"However, it's not entirely hopeless. If you really don't like magic, then forget about the Tohsaka surname. Then find someone strong enough to protect you, and who will treat you kindly and love you... Dad believes you have the same eye for men as Mom. Good luck."

"Hey, what kind of father talks to his 6- and 7-year-old daughters like that... Luo Zhen, standing next to him, was filled with complaints and wanted to vomit."

He was initially touched by the heartwarming scene between the father and daughter.

Unexpectedly, Tokiomi Tohsaka went through such a long and complicated process before coming up with this solution.

What made him instinctively stand at attention even more was the sight of Rin and Sakura Tohsaka. After hearing their father's words, the two girls almost instinctively turned around and looked at him.

The two girls were also a little surprised, staring at each other for a while with wide eyes... and then looked at Luo Zhen.

Luo Zhenshi really didn't know how to respond to the two girls' expectant eyes, so she turned to look at Jeanne.

"……(〃°ω°〃)"

The saintess, actually suppressing a laugh, pursed her lips and desperately looked away!

Narajin could only look to Tokiomi Tohsaka, the culprit... It was all Tokiomi's fault!

This wicked mustachioed uncle clearly saw Luo Zhen's gaze.

But he maintained his composure, pretending nothing had happened, and repeated what he had just said:

"Dad trusts your judgment in choosing men. Just like your grandma chose grandpa, and your mom chose me."

“Rin, you have a lot of your grandmother’s demeanor, and you look a lot like her. She was a noble woman who looked great in long dresses, and she had the courage to travel all the way from Northern Europe to Japan and choose to be with the man she loved. You can definitely be like her, with the spirit to pursue what you want without fear of differences in race, age, or position.”

“Sakura, you have inherited all of your mother’s good qualities. You will definitely become a gentle yet strong woman like Aoi in the future. The Tohsaka family is able to live in peace and prosperity because of her strength. You will also become a kind, gentle, and peaceful person like Aoi, a pillar of support for your loved ones.”

...To be honest, these lines are really inappropriate for such a young daughter.

But for the first time, Tokiomi abandoned his pride in front of his daughters, focusing only on expressing all the wishes and blessings he could think of in that short time.

This is incredibly elegant, an elegance that no one can question.

If there had been more time, Tokiomi would have had even more to say.

What are the conditions for opening the secret manuals stored at home? What tools should be paid attention to in the workshop? How to open and close the barrier?

What I originally intended to teach them over five, ten, or twenty years has now had to be condensed into a mere five minutes... It really is too short.

Ultimately, it was his exceptionally talented daughters who comforted Tokiomi Tohsaka... or rather, who helped him overcome his inner cowardice.

"Father, we'll be fine."

Rin blinked her bright eyes and took her younger sister's hand:

"I will protect the Tohsaka family, and I will protect Sakura. This is my own choice, just like my father's."

"Me too!"