Type-Moon: Star Redemption of Arthur Pendragon

Tohsaka Residence.

The air inside the underground magic workshop was so oppressive that it felt like water was about to freeze out.

Tokiomi Tohsaka sat in a velvet high-backed chair, and even though the room temperature was comfortable, a fine layer of cold sweat had already seeped onto his forehead.

What happened at the Weiyuanchuan Wharf tonight was the greatest mockery of him, a magician who pursued "elegance" and "composure".

Just then, footsteps sounded outside the workshop.

Arthur entered the workshop and looked at Tokiomi Tohsaka with a normal expression.

"You're back, Lord Arthur."

Tokiomi stood up, suppressing the turmoil within him, and spoke in as calm a tone as possible, yet with a hint of probing:

"Kirei has already reported to me the situation of tonight's battle through Assassin's eyes, but..."

To so easily reveal one's true name in front of so many rival Masters, and then let that rival Saber leave—isn't that a bit too...casual?

Tokiomi's words were tactful, but the subtext was clear:

As a member of the Tohsaka family, your actions have completely undermined the secret principles and strategic planning of the Holy Grail War.

Kirei Kotomine, who had been standing silently in the shadows, raised his eyes slightly and gazed at the King of Knights.

Arthur was not angered by Tokiomi's accusations; his emerald green eyes calmly met Tokiomi's gaze.

"Tokiomi, I think you seem to have misunderstood something."

Arthur's voice was gentle yet serious:

"I am not a Heroic Spirit summoned by the Holy Grail, nor am I subject to the Command Seals in your hands."

I stand here because I made a promise to protect Sakura, not because I am your servant.

Tokiomi's breath hitched slightly, and all the words he had prepared were stuck in his throat.

"As a knight, my sword will only be wielded for the justice and protection I believe in, and will never become the blade of an assassin plotted by a magician in the shadows."

Arthur looked at Tokiomi and gave his final conclusion.

"As for Artoria... when she regains her sense of being a queen, I will naturally shatter her illusions with my own hands. Until then, I will not stoop to taking advantage of her vulnerability."

This statement definitively drew a line between Arthur and Artoria. Tokiomi opened his mouth, but ultimately could only accept it helplessly.

He knew that against such a "disruptor" with absolute power, the magician's calculations were as worthless as waste paper.

"Hahahaha! Well said, Arthur!"

"Rather than listening to this boring magician talk about his sewer schemes, your arrogant pride is more to my liking!"

With a burst of wild laughter, golden light gathered in the workshop.

Gilgamesh, dressed in luxurious casual wear, swaggered onto the sofa, his crimson eyes filled with delighted mockery.

"Your Majesty...you're back."

Tokiomi immediately bowed respectfully. He was forced to use a Command Spell at the dock earlier, and he was still wary of Gilgamesh.

"Step down, Tokiomi. Your trembling appearance has spoiled my enjoyment. This is none of your business."

Gilgamesh waved his hand dismissively, then glanced at Kirei Kotomine in the corner. "Kirei, stay here and pour wine for me and Arthur."

The Imperial Secretary felt as if he had been granted a pardon. Although he was filled with worry, he could only respectfully leave the basement.

Golden ripples rippled behind Gilgamesh as two pure gold goblets and a pot of divine sake exuding a rich aroma landed steadily on the table.

Kirei Kotomine stepped forward expressionlessly, pouring the cups for the two kings like a perfect machine.

"Although you let that boring, complaining woman go tonight, which disappointed me a bit, you can accept this drink since you pleased me."

Gilgamesh raised his wine glass.

Arthur, without any hesitation, sat down opposite Gilgamesh, picked up his wine glass, and took a small sip.

"Good wine, but Gilgamesh. If you could change your volatile temper of throwing weapons around, perhaps we would have more in common."

"Hmph, an ant that dares to look directly at the sun will naturally pay the price of being burned."

Gilgamesh sneered, then turned his gaze to Kirei Kotomine, who was standing quietly to the side.

Those red eyes, seemingly able to see through the truth of the world, locked onto Kirei's desolate heart.

"Speaking of which, Arthur, what do you think of this man?"

Gilgamesh suddenly pointed at Kirei and said:

"As Tokiomi's disciple, he has a pair of empty eyes that don't even know what he wants."

Kirei watched the carnage unfolding on the docks tonight, witnessing the tragic plight of those struggling for vain desires…

Don't you feel even a trace of joy in your heart?

Kirei's stagnant eyes trembled slightly.

"I... I don't understand what you mean, King of Heroes. I am only confused."

"Confused? No, you're just afraid to face your unusual nature."

Go and search, Kirei, search in the pain, despair, and struggle... only there will you find your feast.

Listening to Gilgamesh's seductive whispers, which sounded like a demon's murmur, Arthur did not intervene.

He had already said that if Kirei ever stepped into darkness, his sword would arrive even faster.

……

A home in Chancheng late at night.

In the quiet guest room, Sakura was fast asleep, clutching a pillow that carried the scent of her older sister, Rin.

At the neckline of her pajamas, the ruby ​​pendant, engraved with runes by Arthur, emitted an extremely faint, warm glow.

Suddenly, the moonlight outside the window was blocked by a chilling rustling sound.

Countless black marking insects, each the size of a fingernail and emitting a putrid odor, surged into the room like a tide through the cracks in the windows and doors.

Their tiny mouthparts opened and closed greedily as they crawled toward the "perfect container" on the bed, which possessed excellent imaginary number properties.

In the dark and damp underground insect storage room of the Matou family, Matou Ryogen's old face, which resembled withered tree bark, was squeezing out an extremely twisted and greedy smile.

"Hehehehe... That idiot Tokiomi Tohsaka actually sent such a perfect body to someone who has no magical defenses."

Sakura... come obediently into Grandpa's insect storage...

Just as the first Crest Bug was about to touch Sakura's body.

hum! !

Arthur, who was in the basement of the Tohsaka residence in the deep mountain town, suddenly paused, his hand holding the wine glass still.

The dormant dragon's heart within him suddenly erupted with a violent pulsation, an alarm signaling that the magical connection he had left in the ruby ​​had been triggered.

"What? My wine doesn't suit your taste?"

Gilgamesh sensed the instantaneous change in Arthur's aura; it was a terrifying killing intent that was far colder and purer than what he had felt at the docks.

"No, the wine is exquisite."

Arthur slowly set down the golden cup, his emerald eyes seemingly burning with golden flames.

His once gentle face was now extremely cold.

"Unfortunately, some fools are trying to extend their filthy claws."

Arthur did not get up.

He simply closed his eyes quietly, raised his right hand, and casually drew an ancient rune in mid-air before lightly tapping it with his fingertip.

"Burn to ashes."

Far away in the guest room of the Chancheng family home, the ruby ​​pendant on Ying's chest suddenly burst forth with a dazzling light, like a miniature sun!

"boom!!"

A miniature but extremely pure "Wind King's Hammer" mixed with the pure magical flames of the red dragon spread out from the pendant!

The swarm of insects that rushed into the room didn't even have time to scream before they were instantly vaporized into nothingness by this sacred, magical heat.

The items in the room were not damaged at all.

The swarm of insects left not a trace of ash, and Sakura, who was fast asleep, simply turned over and slept even more soundly under the protection of the barrier.

But this is not the end.

The raging dragon magic flowed along the soul-level connections between the swarm of insects.

Like a raging lightning bolt, it crossed half of Fuyuki City and poured directly into the Matou family's underground insect storage!

"Aaaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!"

Inside the insect chamber, Matou Ryouken let out an extremely shrill, inhuman scream.

His insect-like body was ignited by the flames that came back from the cause and effect, and nearly a third of his body turned into charcoal in an instant!

"What kind of magic is this?! This is definitely not Tokiomi Tohsaka's fire attribute!...That knight?!"

Zang Yan rolled around in the swarm of insects in terror, desperately trying to extinguish the flames on his body with other insects, his eyes filled with undisguised extreme fear.

In the basement of the Tohsaka residence, Arthur slowly opened his eyes, picked up the wine glass on the table, and drank the remaining wine in one gulp.

"Cleaning complete."

Arthur put down his wine glass and gave Gilgamesh, who was slightly raising his eyebrows, a calm smile.

"I'm sorry to have made you laugh, King of Heroes. Let's continue."