Fate: How About a New Savior?

An hour later, in the study...

"Have you found a suitable holy relic yet?"

As soon as Sakura sat down, Shiomi asked from behind the desk.

Clearly, her father already knew she was planning to participate in the Holy Grail War and wanted to have a proper talk with her.

"No, not yet," Sakura shook her head uneasily. "Considering what you said about the Fourth Holy Grail War—excluding Mother—several of the remaining Servants were way beyond standard. Preparing an appropriate holy relic isn't easy."

King of Knights, Artoria. King of Conquerors, Iskandar. King of Heroes, Gilgamesh.

Even putting those three aside, from a more rational perspective, the other three Servants weren't lacking either.

That included Hassan of the Hundred Faces.

For a faction focused on intelligence gathering, a Servant capable of acting like dozens of agents, combined with Presence Concealment, was already an exceptional asset.

Diarmuid was also a top-tier Servant. If summoned in the Saber class with both Moralltach and Beagalltach, he would likely be even stronger.

As for Gilles de Rais, his Noble Phantasm could operate independently as a magical energy reactor. In a one-on-one fight rather than a free-for-all, he could pose a serious threat.

So although Sakura was set on joining the Fifth Holy Grail War, she still hadn't settled on a relic.

After all, her father hadn't prepared a holy relic back then either—he'd intended to summon the most compatible Berserker, but ended up finding himself a wife and giving both her and Caren a mother...

It sounded absurd, and thinking about it only made it more absurd.

"I see. Then you'd better get a move on," Shiomi said, looking at Sakura. "I won't oppose you. As long as this is your own will, you have every right to pursue the Holy Grail as a Magus."

"...You're okay with it...?"

Sakura was so surprised, she couldn't close her mouth. Though she knew her father was open-minded, the Holy Grail War hadn't left him with pleasant memories.

That instantly put her at ease. Sakura gave a small, sheepish smile, realizing she could now talk things over calmly with her father.

She'd been holding back all this time out of fear that Shiomi would be against it.

"But there's some bad news concerning the participants in this Holy Grail War," Shiomi continued. "Unlike last time, the Clock Tower has two seats this time. One of them has already been decided."

"Your intel's right on time, Dad." Sakura straightened up and listened closely.

Shiomi chuckled and shook his head. "The confirmed seat belongs to the Lord of the Department of Astromancy, Marisbury Animusphere."

"...The Department of Astromancy?" Sakura was mildly surprised.

The last Lord from the Clock Tower to join the Holy Grail War was the former El-Melloi, who belonged to two departments. But he ended up facing her father and got caught in the conflict between the Democratic and Aristocratic factions—he was doomed from the start.

The Lord of Astromancy also belonged to the Aristocratic faction, but based on Shiomi's intel, that side wasn't particularly interested in political power plays.

Marisbury rarely showed up at major Clock Tower events, leaving those responsibilities to his daughter, Olga Marie Animusphere.

So Sakura knew almost nothing about the opponent she'd soon be facing.

"In my view, if there's only one spot left, Sakura needs to find a way to claim it first." Shiomi rested his chin on one hand, calmly analyzing the situation for her. "But right now, all the factions aware of the Holy Grail War are maneuvering to secure that final slot. Besides Lord El-Melloi II, the Sophia-Ri family—a branch of the Department of Spiritual Evocation—is also contending for it. On top of that, some higher-ups have proposed dispatching a Sealing Designation Executor."

The implication was clear—Sakura might have to return to Fuyuki City early and in secret, waiting for the Holy Grail's summons to receive a Command Spell.

After all, even if the original seats granted to the Three Great Families and the Mage's Association were accounted for, two slots still remained.

Those positions were typically left for unaffiliated Magus—those without backing or support, unable to prepare a proper Holy Relic, and most often destined to become cannon fodder in the war. That had always been part of the Three Families' hidden agenda when establishing the Holy Grail ritual.

Still, the benefit was that their identities remained concealed until the war began.

"Don't worry about the number of spots—I already have a good idea," Sakura said confidently, hands clasped together.

Shiomi was curious but held back from asking more, not wanting to accidentally expose any secrets. "That just leaves the Holy Relic. I'll leverage my connections at the Clock Tower and do everything I can to find something suitable for you."

"Can't my mother help me with that?" Sakura suddenly asked.

"If that's what you want, she could serve as a hidden trump card—appearing mid-battle to help you eliminate your opponents," Shiomi said with a chuckle, not finding the idea unreasonable.

"No, no, I was just kidding!" Sakura waved her hands quickly. "If she helped, then there'd be no point in me entering the Holy Grail War. I don't want her to burden herself with this."

"Your wish…" Shiomi began, but caught himself. "Forget it—I won't ask. That kind of thing is personal. You're sixteen already. If you were in a regular school, you'd be in high school. I should give you some privacy."

Sakura paused for a moment, then shook her head. "No, I can tell you. It's a small wish, but one only the Holy Grail can grant."

Seeing this, Shiomi gave her a subtle nod to go on.

"I want... the Holy Grail to give my mother a real life—not just keep her in this world as a familiar," Sakura said, gazing into Shiomi's eyes. Her voice was soft, but filled with heartfelt sincerity.

Shiomi Tenkei was stunned by the simplicity of her wish. For a long moment, he was speechless.

"Also, your talent in Magecraft is exceptional. As a Magus, you've already reached the highest level." Choosing not to comment on her wish, Shiomi shifted the topic. "But you understand what joining the Holy Grail War really means. The next head of the Tohsaka family is bound to participate..."

Which meant Sakura would eventually have to face her biological sister, Rin. Even if they allied at first, once only the two of them were left, they'd have no choice but to fight.

"I'm ready for that." Sakura placed a hand over her chest, her tone quiet and resolute. "Unless absolutely necessary, I won't risk my life. I believe Tohsaka-senpai would feel the same."

"That's the best outcome."

Even so, Shiomi felt a storm of emotions stir within him as he heard those words—but all he could do was say that much.