Shirou, who returned from the Fairy Kingdom

Rin and Shirou's eyes met.

Tokiomi Tohsaka followed his daughter's gaze and soon spotted the red-haired boy.

The two magicians of the Holy Grail War met unexpectedly under such awkward circumstances.

An enemy attack targeting the Zenjo family...!?

A flicker of panic crossed Tokiomi Tohsaka's eyes. Considering that Rin was right beside him, he immediately summoned a Mystic Code in his hand—a staff inlaid with a huge ruby.

The magician awkwardly shielded his daughter behind him, even considering using his precious Command Spell to summon Archer, but quickly dismissed the idea.

No, he just happened to be passing by.

The man put away his magician's attire and resumed his elegant demeanor and bearing.

"You are... Shirou-kun, who is staying at the Matou family's residence," he greeted.

Shirou pointed his finger and exclaimed in feigned shock, "Ah, it's the old man who lives in the mountains!"

"Who are you calling an old man living in the mountains?!"

Rin Tohsaka stormed over, hands on her hips, and shouted, "Amamiya! You're not allowed to insult my father like that!"

"She's appeared! The violent twin-tailed girl who lives in the mountains!"

"Who are you calling a violent woman?! Aa ...

"cold……!?"

Tokiomi Tohsaka was dumbfounded.

When did her daughter meet Shirou Amamiya?

No, they're the same age, so it's not surprising that they know each other, right?

Ah... I see.

Seeing Rin and Shirou arguing, Tokiomi suddenly realized what was going on.

He realized how irresponsible he had been as a father, knowing nothing about his daughter.

At the same time, even as a magician participating in the Holy Grail War, he was a complete failure.

He racked his brains trying to get information about Shirou, but only at the level of magic, never thinking about understanding the other's interpersonal relationships.

This must be the truth behind the unease that has been lingering in my mind since last night.

I'm afraid I'll have a hard time winning this Holy Grail War.

When Archer was summoned, Tokiomi Tohsaka, who was confident to the point of arrogance, was nowhere to be seen.

"Father……?"

Rin blinked, and Tokiomi Tohsaka walked over with a serious expression.

As the former head of the family who was about to face death, the man had only one sentence left to say to the noble eldest son of the Tohsaka family.

"Rin, the Holy Grail will appear one day, and obtaining the Holy Grail is the duty of the Tohsaka family."

More importantly, if you're a magician, then it's an unavoidable path.

"I understand, Father."

The girl nodded without hesitation, and her eyes filled Tokiomi with pride.

He had never felt such a fulfilling sense of honor, not even when he inherited the position of family head.

Then, Tokiomi Tohsaka turned to Shirou: "This is an unreasonable request, Shirou-kun."

If anything happens to me... I'm counting on you for Rin and Sakura.

"Father...Father! What are you saying!"

Rin Tohsaka's trembling eyes widened.

She couldn't believe her father would say such a thing.

A perfect, great, and elegant father uttering such discouraging words... This can't be real!

The girl ran into the house as if escaping reality.

Tokiomi Tohsaka sighed as he watched his daughter's retreating figure.

He nodded to Shirou and prepared to turn and leave.

"Uncle Tokiomi, I have something to say to you."

Shirou called out to the magician.

……

……

Although he felt somewhat guilty towards the old man (Kiritsugu Emiya), Shirou decided to tell Tokiomi Tohsaka everything he knew.

What prompted him to make this decision was the scene of his father stroking his daughter's hair.

Shirou realizes that Tokiomi Tohsaka is also a father and husband with flesh and blood.

He is someone who has value in cooperation and can be courted.

It took Shirou half an hour to recount the truth about the Holy Grail War that he had heard from Kiritsugu Emiya.

The Greater Grail was corrupted in the last great war.

What will soon appear in Fuyuki is neither an omnipotent wish-granting machine nor a passage to the Root, but a "Final Device" capable of destroying the world.

Of course, he concealed the fact that killing Irisviel would make the game much easier; this was Shirou's little selfish motive.

"How can it be……"

Tokiomi Tohsaka wore an expression of disbelief.

It's normal for him to react this way; Shirou was also very shocked when he heard Kiritsugu say it.

However, there is no contradiction in the "Holy Grail contamination theory," and even though Tokiomi Tohsaka racked his brains to find a loophole, he found nothing.

"So...you want me to give up the Holy Grail War?"

“That’s right,” Shirou nodded. “Your quick understanding is a great help.”

"..."

The composure on Tokiomi Tohsaka's face vanished.

Strive for victory in the Fourth Holy Grail War, risk everything—this is how this man was taught from birth.

It can be said that the first half of his more than forty years was dedicated to making the Greater Grail appear through Tohsaka's hand and reach the Root Vortex he had longed for.

Now you're telling him that the first half of your life was actually meaningless?

Tokiomi Tohsaka broke down.

Finally, like a criminal in "The Kindaichi Case Files," he stood in the twilight and roared, "Where's the evidence? Let me see your evidence!"

“You know perfectly well that this is the truth,” Shirou said coldly.

"No...no! This isn't the truth!"

Tokiomi Tohsaka took several steps back: "I understand, you're actually very afraid of Archer, aren't you!"

You knew you couldn't beat Archer, so you fabricated this ridiculous lie to try and make me give up the Holy Grail!

Was it all for nothing...?

Shirou shook his head: It seems unlikely that he can be persuaded after all.

"I understand. Just pretend I didn't say that."

"I would have done it even if you hadn't said anything!" Tokiomi Tohsaka gritted his teeth.

"Next time we meet, we'll be enemies," Shirou said.

Tokiomi Tohsaka said, "Ah, for Rin's sake, I will plead with King Gilgamesh to spare your life—"

"Shirou-kun, I hope you will refrain from doing anything that might provoke the King again."

Shirou remained noncommittal; indeed, he and Tokiomi Tohsaka did not get along.

Just then, something suddenly occurred to me.

Since you refuse to cooperate with me, don't blame me for messing with your mentality.

Shirou's lips curled into a slight smile: "Hey, Uncle Tokiomi, don't you care how Sakura is doing these days?"

"?"

Tokiomi Tohsaka, not knowing why Shirou mentioned Sakura Matou, replied suspiciously.

“Sakura is already a daughter of the Matou family, and her current situation is not something I can inquire about casually.”

"Hmph, what a cold-blooded father."

Shirou sneered, "She has my blood in her veins, she is my daughter's sister, yet she has the audacity to say that she is no longer my daughter."

Tokiomi Tohsaka's forehead twitched as he retorted, "I don't expect you to understand. I sent Sakura to the Matou family so that she could be happy."

"happiness?"

The mockery on the boy's face intensified.

This made Tokiomi Tohsaka both unhappy and gave rise to a strange feeling and... an ominous premonition.

"Sakura... what happened to Sakura? Tell me what you want to say!" the man asked anxiously.

The boy then took a square-shaped instrument out of his pocket.

Even Tokiomi Tohsaka, who disdained modern civilization, knew that it was a thing called a recording pen.

Shirou pressed the switch with a sadistic expression.

Then, a girl's voice that Tokiomi Tohsaka knew all too well came through.

"Grandpa, where is this place... what are these insects?"

The fear and unease in Matou Sakura's voice was like a bullet piercing Tohsaka Tokiomi's chest.

----------

Volume 1, Chapter 91: Sakura: Hello, Uncle

"These pets I keep are also products of Matou's research on magic... Crest Worms."

Before the pale-faced Tokiomi Tohsaka, the boy's recording pen played the old magician's cruel explanation.

"They are monsters that crave human blood, semen, and bone marrow."

If a man is possessed by a venomous insect, his spine will be shattered and his brain drained, rendering him a cripple.

But don't worry, they are very gentle with women.

If it's a woman—the insects will choose to parasitize her body, control her nerves, and turn her into an animal that craves vaginal fluid.

On one hand, it pushes rationality to the limit, burning out the nerves in the brain to give sexual pleasure, and on the other hand, it invades the body and devours the placenta.

As a result, the woman possessed by the insects suffered complete violation and destruction of both her heart and body.

Matou Zouken continued his explanation.

"The reason why the Tohsaka brat was willing to send his daughter to me is probably because he hopes that you, who have Tohsaka blood flowing through your veins, will continue to pursue the Holy Grail."

Hmph... I will not allow such a thing to happen. I will implant a Crest Worm into your body and transform you into a Matou family woman through and through.

With her talent, Sakura should be able to be the best mother and give birth to the most outstanding magician.

But before that, you have to learn to get used to the insects' torment.

"...Grandpa, no."

The girl's desperate, hoarse voice came from the recording pen, and Tokiomi Tohsaka clenched his fist.

"If you have any resentment, blame your father who sent you here... By the way, isn't Tokiomi no longer your father? Hahaha, hehehehehehe."

Amidst Zouken Matou's repulsive laughter, the girl cried out in anguish.

"No, no, no, no... Ah—!!!"