Shirou, who returned from the Fairy Kingdom

He was no longer the chief knight of the glorious Fiona Knights, but this.

Webber and Rider looked curiously at the photo Shirou had pulled out.

The background is a forest at night, where two figures are facing off under the moonlight.

The photo features a blonde beauty in a suit of light silver armor on one side, and a figure shrouded in an extremely evil, dark aura on the other.

The figure's entire upper body was covered in sharp, barbed sideburns, and on its shoulder was a terrifying wild boar's head.

Weber exclaimed in shock: "This...this is Lancer!?"

Irisviel and Saber were also shocked: When did you take this photo?!

Of course, Shirou secretly took this picture while Saber and Lancer were confronting each other. Who fights the Holy Grail War without a hidden camera?

The red-haired boy further explained to the photo: "Wave, since you are an outstanding student of the Clock Tower, you must have heard of the legacy of Diarmuid, right?"

It is said that the boar that killed the hero Diarmuid was none other than his half-brother in disguise.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that it was a cruel joke of fate.

The legend of a warrior returning from the underworld, transformed into a monster in pursuit of revenge—this tale is now manifesting in Diarmuid himself.

Weber looked bewildered: "W-How could things have turned out like this..."

Saber wanted to say something, but Shirou stopped her with a look.

“Wave, if I remember correctly, the reason Kenneth chose Diarmuid as his Servant was because you stole the relic he had prepared beforehand, right?”

"Well……!"

Upon hearing Shirou's words, Waver's face grew even paler.

As a magician, Webber Wilvet did not come from a prestigious family; his family has only been in existence for three generations.

He accumulated knowledge through semi-self-study and was eventually recruited by the highest institution of magic.

Weber himself regarded it as the greatest honor and became even more convinced that he was a truly talented person and would become the best student in the history of the Clock Tower.

however--

After enrolling, he quickly came to terms with reality.

True top students are all sons of noble families for more than six generations. The nobility of bloodline and the years of inheritance determine a magician's innate talent, a fact that has been proven in the thousand-year history of the Clock Tower.

However, Weber refused to yield, believing that the differences in lineage could be bridged through experience and skill.

His dangerous idea of ​​undermining the foundation of the clock tower was quickly rejected by those around him.

The first to be affected was lecturer Kenneth.

The clock tower prodigy, who prioritized lineage above all else, publicly tore up Weber's painstaking thesis, which greatly humiliated the proud young man, and he harbored a deep grudge ever since.

It was under these circumstances that he learned about the Holy Grail War in the Far East, stole Kenneth's relics, and then fled directly to Japan to join the war.

Weber wanted to win the Holy Grail War in order to prove Kenneth and the Clock Tower wrong.

However, to his surprise, although Kenneth lost the prepared relic, he quickly prepared a new one, since the Spirit Conjuring Department had no shortage of mediums.

Waver was not excited by his teacher's appearance in the Holy Grail War; instead, he felt fear.

Even if he became arrogant, he knew very well how terrifying Kenneth was as a magician, and that he could never be his match.

however--

Are you suddenly telling him that Kenneth not only failed to perform at all, but was also held hostage by his own servant?

My fault? This is my fault??

Is it because I stole a piece of the Conqueror King's cloak that his life was threatened?

“This is impossible!” Weber shouted anxiously.

He knew very well that Kenneth was a cautious and suspicious man who would be wary of his followers and would not be easily controlled by them.

And...aren't there Command Seals too?

"As long as the Command Seals are active, Kenneth can't possibly be controlled by Lancer! You're lying!"

Shirou nodded: "You're right. Normally, Kenneth wouldn't be kidnapped by his own Servant."

However, even that man had weaknesses.

Weber frowned: "Weakness? What weakness?"

"Sola Nazele Sofiali".

Shirou said, "Lancer has taken control of Kenneth's fiancée, Sora, and is using her as leverage to force Kenneth to comply."

"what???"

This was indeed something Weber hadn't considered.

Kenneth was deeply in love with his fiancée Sora, a fact known to everyone in the Department of Spirituality.

If Lancer really does control Sora, then it's not impossible for Kenneth to submit to him!

After all, Diarmuid is said to have once taken away his lord's fiancée!

Weber completely believed Shirou's nonsense.

On the other side, Saber and Irisviel both showed subtle expressions.

Shirou... he can lie without batting an eye...

"So the question comes back to square one, Weber."

Shirou stared at the clock tower boy and asked a question.

"Kenneth is the man you hate to the core, right? Now that he's in this situation, how do you feel? What are your plans for the future?"

"I……"

Weber bit his lip, his expression deeply shaken.

As for Rider, who was sitting next to him, he had somehow returned to his seat on the floor and started playing a strategy game by himself.

Shirou is right, this is indeed not a topic he can decide on behalf of his Master.

Even Iskandar, the King of Conquerors, should not interfere in his Master's private affairs.

"I……"

Weber was still hesitating.

He truly hated Kenneth intensely, and on several occasions even considered killing him, but...

The thought that the man had fallen into this predicament because of him made Weber far from happy; on the contrary, he was quite upset.

"Hey."

Shirou jumped off Irisviel's lap.

"Let's go, Alice."

The silver-haired android blinked: "Huh? Are they leaving already?"

Shirou narrowed one eye with a sly expression and said sarcastically, "My mission is complete. Please have him send the news of Professor Kenneth's death in the Far East back to London."

With that, he took Irisviel's hand and led her outside.

"Wait a moment!"

Weber, who had been hanging his head, suddenly shouted.

Shirou and the others turned around and saw the boy clench his fist and speak.

"I must go and save Lord El-Melloi."

Shirou feigned surprise and said, "Huh? Isn't Kenneth your most hated enemy?"

I heard he takes pleasure in humiliating you every day at the Clock Tower.

Weber gritted his teeth and said, as if squeezing the words out from between his teeth, "You're right, I absolutely cannot forgive that guy."

Despite being a lecturer at the Clock Tower, he openly tore up my thesis and publicly mocked my ideals. Such a person is not fit to be a teacher.

When I heard from you that he is in deep trouble, I did feel a moment of relief.

He deserves it! Who told him to be so arrogant and conceited all the time! But…

I still can't feel genuinely happy.

"Why?" Shirou asked, frowning.

Waver replied, “Of the other six Masters, he is the only one I know.”

Moreover, I am partly to blame for that man's current predicament.

If I hadn't stolen his relics, things wouldn't have turned out this way.

"But you're already enemies who're risking your lives to fight each other, aren't you?" Shirou asked again.

"Ughhhh! I just can't stand by and do nothing!"

Weber seemed to have given up, clutching his head and growling softly.

Shirou sighed, "Wave, it seems you're not a qualified magician."

Weber replied in a dejected voice:

"If a magician is to stand by and watch his teacher die... I'd rather not be such a cold-blooded creature."

Shirou said, "I understand. Let me meddle this once and I'll help you rescue Kenneth."

"Huh? Why? What are you up to?" Weber asked suspiciously.

Shirou readily agreed: "Didn't I say that Lancer has become a vengeful demon, and Saber is now his target? So don't get me wrong, it's all about defeating Lancer."

"I see."

Weber readily believed Shirou's words.

"Hey, Rider, your Master has made a decision, what are you going to do?"

Shirou looked at the giant man who was silently playing a game with his back to everyone.

Weber nervously swallowed.

Although he had just made some tough remarks in front of outsiders, he knew very well that if Rider didn't agree, there was nothing he could do.

The Conqueror King put down the game controller, stood up, and stretched: "Since it's the kid's decision, then I'll play along to the end."

Upon hearing this, Weber was overjoyed and immediately entered a state of fantasy.

—Once Lord El-Melloi is rescued, he'll realize how shallow his past thoughts were! Waver Velvet is such a brilliant magician! Hahaha!

"Very good, then it is decided."

Shirou extended his right hand to Webber in a friendly manner: "Although it's a bit late, please allow me to introduce myself."

"I am the final Master of this Holy Grail War, and my name is Shinji."

Irisviel: “…”

……

……

Next, Shirou began to announce his strategy to everyone.

it's actually really easy.

The first step is for Saber to lure Lancer into action.

The second step was for Webber to arrange a private meeting with Kenneth.

Thirdly, taking advantage of this opening, Shirou once again sneaked into the top floor of the Hyatt Hotel and kidnapped Sora, who was locked in a room.

The second point is crucial: Kenneth is nearly invincible in his own magic workshop, and Shirou doesn't plan to use the "Royal Command Spell" tonight.

Therefore, the collaboration with Weber became crucial.

If anyone else had asked Kenneth to meet them alone, they would have been ignored.

Kenneth was a more cautious magician than anyone else, and he would not easily reveal himself to his enemies, just like in the Battle of Warehouse Street.

But if it were Webber—the clock tower’s worst student—who was provoking him, Kenneth would definitely accept the challenge.