Time flies. Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months.

  More than a year had passed sihe Fourth Holy Grail War.

  During this time, Chihiro successfully "graduated" from his apprenticeship at the Shinto shrine on Mount Koya.

  Of course, that was just a polite way of putting it.

  The reality? He was kicked out by his mentor, Tachibana Kosei.

  Kosei had grown tired of Chihiro's zy attitude toward daily shriies and his tendency to avoid strenuous training. Deg that Chihiro had grown old enough to fend for himself, Kosei decred he wouldn't support an idle freeloader anymore a him pag.

  Chihiro, for his part, didn't argue. Deep down, he k was time to move on.

  After leaving the shrine, he rented a modest vil iy and became a self-procimed "stay-at-home practitioner."

  With his knowledge of Onmyōdō, along with the magical teiques he'd picked up during the Holy Grail War, he had more than enough material to keep himself busy.

  Among his repertoire were the foundational spells of Onmyōdō, Code Cast, Ars Ignis, and even Tongtian Lu.

  Before Zhang Jiao had disappeared, he had passed dowongtian Lu Talisman to Chihiro. He'd eve behind two cards he obtained from the chests, oered on neand the other on the manipution of imaginary numbers.

  However, Zhang Jiao had warned Chihiro against using neancy, emphasizing that it was a dangerous and morally ambiguous path.

  "I've already taught you enough," Zhang Jiao had said. "Stick to what's virtuous. You don't o dabble in such dark arts."

  It was a se Chihiro respected, even if he didn't fully uand it at the time.

  Zhang Jiao had truly been a generous teacher, one who looked out for him even in their final moments together.

  ---

  As for the others?

  Life had settled into a sembnce of normalost of the former partits in the Fourth War.

  The Tohsaka and Emiya families had adjusted to peaceful lives. Those who went to school resumed their studies, while those who stayed home teo their families.

  During this time, Emiya Kiritsugu quietly located Shirou, but upon seeing that Shirou already had a happy and supportive family, he chose not to interfere.

  Kayh, oher hand, achieved his dream and married So-ui.

  The most drastic ge, however, was Waver Velvet.

  After the war, Waver formally became Kayh's apprentice, pleting his education uhe Lord of El-Melloi. Upon graduation, he accepted a position as Kayh's deputy and began assisting with his research.

  In addition to masteriern magecraft, Waver also started experimenting with psionic abilities, thanks to the superpower training box he had acquired during the quiz session.

  Though it would take three years for the device's effects to fully ma, Waver had already begun to see results.

  He now had limited profi telekinesis, cirvoyance, and she teleportation. However, his attempts at training these powers often ended in disaster.

  One infamous i involved Waver actally using X-ray Vision on Kayh's youepsister, Reines.

  The pirl walked into Waver's room unannounced, and he iently saw… everything.

  Flustered, Waver attempted to teleport away but only succeeded in transp his clothes, leaving himself standing stark naked in front of her.

  Unsurprisingly, the eveo Waver's e to Reines.

  "You've already seehing," she had said bluntly. "Now take responsibility."

  And that was that.

  ---

  One peaceful afternoon, an ued notification suddenly appeared in the group chat:

  [Ding! The sed round of the quiz begins. Everyone, please prepare!]

  The familiar system message instantly grabbed everyone's attention.

  Kayh: "Ah, finally. The quiz is back."

  Gilgamesh: "Hmph. You made me wait for aire year, mongrels."

  Waver: "Wait, quizzes are usually tied to major events. Does this mean something big is happening?"

  Tohsaka Tokiomi: "Perhaps, but nothing unusual has occurred in Fuyuki."

  Chihiro: "Big events don't necessarily have to happen in our world."

  Waver: "You mean… other worlds?"

  Tohsaka Tokiomi: "Now that would be iing."

  Kayh: "I'd like to see what other worlds are like as well."

  Iskandar: "In that case, I hope it's the Fa Wars world we saw in the previous quiz."

  Waver: "Why are you so excited? It's not like you could participate."

  Iskandar: "You're wrong, boy! Nothing is set in stone. Just look at the st Holy Grail War—Zhang Jiao wasn't supposed to be Caster, yet he was summoned. Who's to say I won't get another ce?"

  Waver: "…"

  Chihiro: "So you're telling me 'love will find a way,' huh?"

  Iskandar: "Hahaha! Don't misuand, boy. My desire to participate isn't born of seality. I simply wish to challenge Achilles!"

  Waver: "But Achilles is also a Rider. How would you even face him?"

  Iskandar: "Simple. If there are two opposing sides, I'll joiher fa. That way, we'll be rivals otlefield."

  ---

  Suddenly, a cascade of notifications flooded the group chat:

  [Ding! "Illya" has joihe group chat.]

  [Ding! "Lio" has joihe group chat.]

  [Ding! "Kotomine Shirou" has joihe group chat.]

  [Ding! "Gordes" has joihe group chat.]

  [Ding! "Fiore" has joihe group chat.]

  [Ding! "Darnic" has joihe group chat.]

  [Ding! "ike" has joihe group chat.]

  [Ding! "Roche" has joihe group chat.]

  [Ding! "Caules" has joihe group chat.]

  [Ding! e established with the Throne of Heroes!]

  [Ding! "Fair Maiden" has joihe group chat.]

  [Ding! "Rebellious Knight" has joihe group chat.]

  [Ding! "Astolfo" has joihe group chat.]

  [Ding! "Huntress" has joihe group chat.]

  [Ding! "Little Sun" has joihe group chat.]

  [Ding! "Heels" has joihe group chat.]

  [Ding! "Shakespeare" has joihe group chat.]

  [Ding! "Avicebron" has joihe group chat.]

  [Ding! "Grand Duke" has joihe group chat.]

  [Ding! "Empress" has joihe group chat.][Ding! "Spartacus" has joihe group chat.]

  [Ding! "Siegfried" has joihe group chat.]

  [Ding! "Chiron" has joihe group chat.]

  [Ding! "Jack" has joihe group chat.]

  [Ding! "Fraein" has joihe group chat.]

  ---

  The system had added a massive influx of new members to the group all at once.

  Although the inal members didn't reize most of the newers, certain niames—like "Rebellious Knight" and "Siegfried"—immediately hi their identities.

  Chihiro: "Wow, Iskandar, you're incredible! Everything you say turns out to be true."

  Iskandar: "…"

  Waver: "You've got some sort of prophetic mouth, don't you?"

  Irisviel: "Illya? Is that really you?"

  Illya: "Hi, Mom! Hi, Dad! Is this the group you told me about? It's amazing!"

  Emiya Kiritsugu: "It seems to be her."

  Artoria: "Illya, shouldn't you be in css right now?"

  Illya: "It's fine! I told the teacher I wasn't feeling well a early."

  Irisviel: "…"

  Kiritsugu: "…"

  Lio: "Uh… What is this? Am I halluating because I've been overw myself?"

  Darnic: "A question-and-answer group? Is this some kind of magical artifact?"

  Rebellious Knight: "Oi, what the hell is this thing?"

  Artoria: "Mordred… It's you."

  Rebellious Knight: "What!? Father?! Is that really you?!"

  Artoria: "Yes, it's me. Long time no see."

  Rebellious Knight: "Where are you?! What is this?!"

  Artoria: "Sigh… You're just as reckless as ever, Mordred."

  La: "Mordred… It has been a long time."

  Rebellious Knight: "La?! You damn traitor, how dare you show your face here?!"

  Artoria: "Enough, Mordred. Let the past stay in the past."

  Rebellious Knight: "Father… but…"

  Fair Maiden: "Excuse me, but what exactly is this group?"

  Bluebeard: "Ah, my Saint! You've finally e!"

  Fair Maiden: "Wait, what? Who are you?"

  Bluebeard: "It is I, your most loyal servant—Gilles de Rais!"

  Fair Maiden: "Gilles… Oh no, what happeo you?!"

  Bluebeard: "Ah, Saint, everything I've done was for you! To spread ylory!"

  Heels: "Hahaha! This is fasating. we actually unicate from the Throne of Heroes?"

  Chiron: "That voice… Could it be Achilles?"

  Heels: "Teacher Chiron! You're here too?!"

  Chiron: "Indeed. It's been far too long, Achilles."

  Shakespeare: "This is truly a wondrous device! A stage where all voices may mingle freely."

  Avicebron: "A fasating iion. Its ws seem entirely beyond mortal uanding."

  Spartacus: "Hahaha! Tell me, are you all oppressors?"

  Grand Duke: "Oppressors? What are you talking about?"

  Spartacus: "Oh, no reason! Just curious!"

  Darnic: "The Throne of Heroes… Are all of you Heroic Spirits?"

  Astolfo: "Yup! I'm Astolfo, one of Charlemagwelve Padins! Fly high and scatter! Uh, well… don't scatter this time!"

  Kotomine Shirou: "I didn't expect to be dragged into something so unusual before the Holy Grail War has even begun. I wonder if this is a blessing or a curse…"

  Kotomine Risei: "Wait a moment… Kotomine Shirou? What is your e to the Kotomine family?"

  Kotomine Shirou: "Huh? Father? You're alive?"

  Kotomine Risei: "…Excuse me?"

  Tohsaka Tokiomi: "Ah, I see. This must be a Kotomine from a parallel world."

  Kotomine Shirou: "Parallel world?"

  Kotomine Risei: "I see… I must apologize, I'm not the father you know. We're from entirely different worlds."

  Kotomine Shirou: "I see… That's a relief. Still, you seem quite familiar with this group."

  Kotomine Risei: "Of course. We've been part of this group for a year now and even participated in a previous quiz session."

  Kotomine Shirou: "Is that so?"