Shinji Matou at Your Service

Although Touko said, "Look—", almost no one paid attention to the process of the ritual, as everyone around was captivated by the information revealed in her words.

"Third Magic? Is it that Third Magic?"

More than one person asked.

Though Illya had also demonstrated it before, it was done using Zelretch Wand's Mystic Code, and neither the scale nor the meaning behind it could compare to the Great Holy Grail before them, nor to the man and woman currently opposing it.

"There is only one magic in this world called the Third Magic. Like the First Magic, the Third Magic exists in a state where its user is no longer present, and its lineage is barely hanging on. The Great Holy Grail is a creation of the Third Magic, the Einzbern family was founded by a disciple of the Third Magician, and Justeaze could be considered the current heir of the Third Magic, while Shinji only recently stepped into this field."

Touko left out one thing: she herself was also involved in this domain, though her path differed from both Shinji and Justeaze.

Upon hearing this explanation, Luvia, Olga Marie, and the other participants who were unaware of the truth showed varying degrees of shock. What they'd initially thought was simply a somewhat secretive Eastern magical ritual had turned out to be entangled with such a major secret.

After their surprise, their gazes turned to Lorelei, who held the highest authority in the Clock Tower regarding all things mystical. It stood to reason that someone like her would not let such a profound mystery slip by.

Unexpectedly, Lorelei at the center of attention showed no visible reaction, only looking at Touko with a slightly odd expression.

"What is the Aozaki family's stance on this matter?"

"I'm no longer a part of the Aozaki family, so please don't include me," Touko corrected nonchalantly.

"But it's not hard to guess what that idiot would think—she'd want a new Magician to be born, so she'd have a new rival."

"I see."

"You don't seem all that surprised?"

Touko asked.

"Indeed. Though I don't know the details, it's not without signs. Why else would the Second Magician be so fixated on this place, and why has someone been growing at such an abnormal pace?"

In terms of effort, Lorelei was no less diligent than Shinji. In terms of talent, Bathomeloi's greatest masterpiece could leave him far behind.

Even accounting for Noble Phantasms, Shinji's rapid growth was far too unusual. But if it was due to Magic, then it made sense. Bathomeloi, who had contact with the First Magician's family, understood better than anyone how irrational Magic could be. If a madman were to become a Magician, it wouldn't just spell danger for the planet and humanity—perhaps even the entire universe could be at risk.

"You seem quite concerned about him," Touko said teasingly.

Lorelei, however, ignored her.

At that moment, Kirei suddenly exclaimed, "Wait! Sister Touko, did you just say love?"

"Yeah, I did. Why?"

Touko barely managed to suppress a laugh.

"That can't be! Justeaze never... She and Shinji?"

"She didn't need to. What you little girls are chasing after, she already holds in her hands."

This time, Touko wasn't throwing Shinji under the bus. She was giving him a heads-up. What he and Justeaze were doing was never meant to hide their relationship any longer.

"!!!"

The little girls Touko referred to looked at each other, all simultaneously feeling a tremendous pressure descending upon them.

They had been competing with each other all this time, but it turned out someone had already reached the finish line long ago—and it was someone they had least expected, yet feared the most. All their petty tricks and schemes probably seemed like a farce to that woman who had always remained calm and composed.

"Perhaps it's a bit early to say this, but both he and we are destined to lead lives different from that of ordinary people. It's time to start thinking about what path we should take in the future."

Touko, the smartest and most emotionally intelligent of the family, adjusted her glasses and spoke with meaning.

"Oh, right, one more thing. Just a heads-up—I might join too. I've wandered alone for a long time… and I think I'd like to find a place to settle down."

"Eh?!"

"Sister Touko, you—"

"You, you, you, you want to—"

Touko ignored the flustered girls and slowly lifted her head.

"It's about time for the most critical moment."

Before her words had even finished echoing, the reservoir returned to perfect clarity.

In the next second, a brilliant light of blue and white, like the intertwining of yin and yang, spiraled upwards, aiming at the black sun in the sky.

The purification earlier was only the prelude. The real battle was about to begin. If they couldn't eliminate the root cause of the problem, everything they had done would be in vain.

As if sensing the threat coming from below, the black sun in the sky began to change.

It was stirring, or perhaps, it was in labor.

It seemed as though something was being born—or maybe, something was brewing.

Just before the white-blue magic reached the hole, something different from the black mud emerged from it for the first time.

It was—

A shadow.

A person.

A woman.

With silver hair that shone without a single impurity, ruby-like eyes, and a face so delicate it didn't seem human.

Everything about her was identical to Justeaze below. Even her spirit origin was the same, except for her clothes.

Justeaze wore a pure white Dress of Heaven, while the one who emerged from the hole was clad in black, like mourning clothes.

The black-clad woman spoke: "You, the discarded remnants, why have you returned?"

The pure white spiritual particles gathered, forming Justeaze's spirit form. "You're wrong. It wasn't you who discarded me. It was I who discarded you. The old me was wrong, and so were you."

"The one who is wrong is you, betraying your dream and falling into humanity!"

"So what if I—"

"No need to waste words, Justeaze."

Shinji's spirit form also appeared, in its full glory within the spiritual realm.

"She's not the old you. She's just wearing your skin, hoping to confuse us. Isn't that right, Black Holy Grail?"

"You're quite perceptive."

The black-clad woman, who had maintained a stoic expression, suddenly burst into wild laughter.

"Since you know, you shouldn't be standing in my way alongside this remnant that should have long disappeared. Otherwise, you'll lose the power you worked so hard to acquire."

"Is that so? How will I know if I don't try?"

Shinji stepped forward, now standing directly before the hole.

"Then, you will become the next offering. The six summoned Servants are far from enough to satisfy me."

The curse, now liquefied, intensified, almost solidifying into lumps. The woman, who shared the same spirit origin as Justeaze, raised her arms, proclaiming to the world.

"I am the Heaven's Grail, the embodiment of the Third Magic that can eradicate all evil at its root! Come! Offer yourselves! Offer your lives, your souls! I will devour everything, fulfilling the thousand-year-old vow."