[Ding! Kayh's answer was incorrect, 1 Saint Quartz has beeed.]

  Kayh: "Huh? My guess was wrong?"

  Chihiro: "Kayh, you're still giving Emiya Kiritsugu too much credit."

  Kayh: "What do you mean by that?"

  Emiya Kiritsugu: "It was Hisau Maiya who killed them."

  [Ding! gratutions to Emiya Kiritsugu for answering this question correctly and obtaining 3 Saint Quartz.]

  Kayh: "???"

  Waver: "Hisau Maiya? Who is that?"

  Chihiro: "You fot already? She was the woman who kidnapped So-ui at the beginning."

  Waver: "ht. Emiya Kiritsugu's aplice."

  Chihiro: "Though 'aplice' might not quite capture the depth of it."

  Emiya Kiritsugu: "..."

  Irisviel: "..."

  Irisviel: "Chihiro-san, please don't start rumors like that."

  Chihiro: "Haha, just kidding."

  [The video tinues.]

  ["The tract takes effeow."]

  [Kayh, still trembling, looked up at Emiya Kiritsugu, his voice barely a whisper.]

  [This proud magus who oood at the top of his field now seemed reduced to a broken shell, powerless aed.]

  ["Yes, I won't harm you."]

  [Emiya Kiritsugu's voice was low, almost as if he were speaking to himself rather than to Kayh.]

  ["Bang!"]

  [A gunsh out, and blood spttered as bullets tore through both Kayh and So-ui.]

  [It was Hisau Maiya, firing from the rooftop of the building opposite, precise and merciless.]

  [Kayh crumpled to the ground, his eyes wide with shod pain, while So-ui y motionless, her lifeless body slipping from his arms.]

  [Kayh, barely scious, extended a shaking hand toward her, but his strength was fading fast.]

  [Emiya Kiritsugu looked down at the broken magus, murmuring coldly, "It's not me breaking the tract."]

  [It was clear to everyog that Maiya hadn't acted of her own accord. This was Kiritsugu's pn from the start, using Maiya as his agent to sidestep the promise he'd made.]

  [Kayh's lips moved as he tried to speak, his voice a strangled whisper of grief and rage.]

  ["Kill me... just end it."]

  [Kayh g to Emiya Kiritsugu's pant leg, begging, his dignity entirely stripped away.]

  [In a st, pitiable show of mercy, Artoria stepped forward and ended Kayh's suffering with a swift, strike. She grahe fallen lord a shred of dignity in his final moments, unwilling to let Kiritsugu's cruelty linger any longer.]

  [The video ends.]

  Kayh: "Emiya Kiritsugu! You are... a despicable, heartless...!"

  Kayh was beyond furious, hurling curses in the group chat in a way none of them had ever seen before. His posed image shattered as he vented his urained fury.

  The rest of the group watched in silence, both startled and sympathetic. Even Waver, who had cshed with Kayh numerous times, felt a pang of pity for his former teacher.

  Waver: "Teacher..."

  So-ui and Diarmuid stood by Kayh's side, their faces refleg the same seething rage. For Diarmuid, who had pledged himself to his Master's honor, this betrayal was unfivable. And for So-ui, the reminder of her brutal end only deepened her bitteroward Kiritsugu.

  What had once been a feud between Kayh and Kiritsugu had now turned into a united front. The entire Laeam was bound by their shared hatred, resolved to seek vengeance for the suffering they had e Kiritsugu's hands.

  Seeing the repy of the events, So-ui g Kayh with a slightly different expression. Before, her feelings toward him had been lukewarm at best, a sense of duty rather than affe, as their e was more political alliahan romance. But now, after seeing his grief and helplessness, something softened in her heart.

  ---

  Gilgamesh: "Hahaha! What a delightful spectacle!"

  Iskandar: "King of Heroes, now is hardly the time to revel in someone else's misery."

  Gilgamesh: "Ah, but I find this very amusing. Watg mortals g to their fleeting pride, only to see it shattered so easily."

  Tohsaka Rin: "You and Emiya Kiritsugu really deserve each other."

  Artoria: "Kiritsugu, I trusted Irisviel's faith in you, and I wao believe you had some higher purpose. But... I was wrong."

  Artoria: "I see now that you're er than the monsters you cim to be fighting."

  Emiya Kiritsugu: "If you think killing a Master is cruel, then you're even more han I thought, Saber."

  Artoria: "Enough! The Servant had already withdrawn. You went ba your word and ordered his Master's execution. Do you feel no shame?"

  Emiya Kiritsugu: "A Servant be re-tracted. Leaving an enemy Master alive only creates unnecessary risk. This isn't about honor—it's about survival."

  Diarmuid: "Spoken like a coward who fears true battle."

  Artoria: "Your words make a mockery of every knightly vow."

  Emiya Kiritsugu: "And your 'chivalry' is little more than a fairy tale."

  Chihiro: "Alright, alright, everyone. we save this argument for aime? This bad-forth is clogging the chat."

  Artoria: "..."

  Emiya Kiritsugu: "..."

  They had bee so engrossed in their argument that they hadn't realized they were airing their grievances publicly.

  Zhang Jiao smirked. "What do you make of this, Chihiro? Kiritsugu's methods, I mean."

  Chihiro sighed. "Holy, it's a hard thing to judge. Kiritsugu was making sure to elimiure threats, no question about that."

  "Imagine if Kayh had been allowed to survive and use his resources against Kiritsugu ter on. Pragmatically, it makes sense. But still... it leaves a bad taste."

  Sigurd, standing beside Chihiro, nodded. "It seems like a life driven by fear of retribution more than honor. Practical, yes, but... hollow."

  Zhang Jiao chuckled. "You're learning well, Chihiro. Sometimes there is no answer."

  Good and evil often defied clear definitions. Was it really wrong to prioritize survival over the ideals of nobility and honor? The versatiohem all p their own perspectives on morality.

  [The first question ehe sed question is about to begin.]

  [This question is also a multiple-choice question. Please watch the following video and choose the answer based on the prompt.]

  [The video begins.]

  [In the shadows of ay room, Kotomine Kirei was seen pag his belongings.]

  [Moments earlier, Tohsaka Tokiomi had ordered him to withdraw from the Holy Grail War, instrug him to return to his duties as an observer.]

  Tohsaka Tokiomi: "Is this video reted to Kirei? I don't recall this part of our arra."

  Kotomine Risei: "What could be happening to my son...?"

  Chihiro smiled wryly, thinking to himself. "You'll find out soon enough."

  ["Are you still hesitating?"]

  [A golden figure appeared, addressing Kirei with a tone of amusement.]

  ["Don't be so unsure of yourself, Kirei."]

  [Gilgamesh's voice held a hint of dession, as though chiding a child.]

  ["The Holy Grail is still calling to you. Admit it, you want to tinue."]

  [Kirei stopped pag and stood still, his face expressionless, yet his eyes darkened with a hidden flict.]

  ["I've lived my life searg for purpose," Kirei said, his voice low, as though fessing a long-buried truth. "I've endured all manner of suffering, yet I've found no meaning in anything I do."]

  ["And now, just when the answer I've long sought is within reach..."]

  [Gilgamesh smirked, reing elegantly on the sofa. "Is that hesitation I hear? How disappointing, Kirei."]

  [Kirei's expression hardened. "I fear that once I find the answer, I will no longer be the same."]

  [ "Ring Ring Ring..." ]

  [ At this moment, Kirei received a call. ]

  [ "Did you receive some iing information?" ]

  [ Gilgamesh suddenly appeared beside Kirei, his posture close, giving off a strange impression. ]

  Iskandar: "It seems these two have an unusual retionship."

  Waver: "pared to Tohsaka Tokiomi, this guy looks more like Gilgamesh's Master."

  Tohsaka Tokiomi: ".…"

  He hadn't realized that Gilgamesh and Kotomine Kirei had grown so close.

  Emiya Kiritsugu: "This man is extremely dangerous."

  Kayh: "Hmph, do you really have the right to call others dangerous?"

  [ "I've found Einzbern's current base." ]

  [ Kirei hung up the phone, his tone calm. ]

  [ Gilgamesh reed ba the sofa, a smug expression on his face. "What? Didn't you pn on seeing this through from the very beginning?" ]

  [ "I did hesitate for a moment and thought of quitting," Kirei replied, raising his arm to reveal his and Seals – the mark left by his te father, Kotomine Risei. "But as you said, I don't have any choice but to see this to the end." ]

  ***

  Support me on patreon to read 40+ advanced chapters: patreon./Blownleaves.