The Ultimate Lich King of the Multiverse

"Is it really too late to search for a new Holy Relic?"

Hearing Jubstacheit's words, Yoru frowned slightly. He understood perfectly well what it meant for the relic to be stolen. In short—it wasn't good news.

"Finding a suitable relic isn't something that can be done easily. I spent decades preparing that particular item… only for someone else to snatch it away!"

Jubstacheit sighed helplessly. For such a blunder to occur at the most critical moment—it was easy to imagine the old man's frustration.

Could it be that this Holy Grail War would once again end in bitter disappointment?

"There's no choice. Without a Holy Relic, we'll just have to summon directly."

"That's true… but that makes the outcome far too random."

Jubstacheit sighed again and glanced at Yoru.

"This time… our chances of winning the Grail War are slim. That damned thief who stole the Einzbern relic! Damn it, Yoru—even if we can't win this time, you must hunt down that vile scoundrel and tear him apart!"

"What was the relic you prepared?" Yoru asked, frowning slightly.

Jubstacheit let out a deep sigh before answering.

"It was an artifact from around 1,500 years ago—an item preserved as a conceptual treasure. The scabbard of King Arthur."

"They say that simply wearing this scabbard would grant healing and prevent aging… Of course, that only works if its 'original owner' supplies it with mana."

"That really does sound impressive… but what a shame it was stolen."

Yoru shrugged helplessly.

"So, who was behind it? Did they leave any clues?"

"The attack was ruthless. If I'm not mistaken… it was the Magus Killer."

Jubstacheit narrowed his eyes slightly. Yoru, too, wore a thoughtful expression.

Kiritsugu Emiya… That man may very well be the greatest threat in this Holy Grail War. Just this one move had already put the Einzbern at a severe disadvantage.

"He's apparently joined the Matou family—participating as Zouken Matou's adopted son. Since he stole our relic, we'll make sure he appears first in this war. Even if we have to act as the Tohsaka's pawns, that wretched man must pay!"

"I understand."

Yoru responded calmly. Jubstacheit sighed again, and looking as though he'd aged years in mere moments, he left the room in dejection.

Yoru and Irisviel returned to their room.

"No Holy Relic… What should we do now?"

Not only Jubstacheit—even Irisviel wore a troubled expression. Without a relic, their chances of victory in the Grail War had dropped dramatically.

"Holy Relics aren't limited to items once used by heroes, right?" Yoru said, as a sudden thought came to him.

"That's true. But the closer the connection to the hero, the higher the chance of summoning them. For example, using King Arthur's scabbard would virtually guarantee summoning King Arthur."

"Then… what if we use an item from another world as a relic?"

Yoru asked curiously, and in his hand appeared a plain-looking staff.

Ever since he had arrived in this world, Yoru had almost forgotten about it. Looking back, this staff might have had something to do with how he came here in the first place. At that final moment, an unknown flame strong enough to kill him had been absorbed by the staff.

And when he woke up, he had already arrived in this world—and the staff itself had subtly changed.

It still looked unimpressive: a short rod with a triangular arrowhead at one end, and a twisted heart at the other.

If it resembled anything, Yoru vaguely recalled it looking like the hand of a clock tower.

"What is… that thing?"

Irisviel looked at the object in Yoru's hand with curiosity and asked.

"I don't know either. But it was used by a god, so maybe we can summon one too, hmm? Let's just use this as our relic."

Yoru joked, and Irisviel nodded lightly. At this point, they had no choice but to place their hopes in this mysterious, unidentifiable object.

Maybe… it would bring a surprise?

Staring at the unremarkable little artifact in his hand, Yoru thought to himself.

He had no intention of giving up on the Holy Grail War like Jubstacheit. If the summoned Servant turned out to be weak, he would simply take the field himself.

A Heroic Spirit was still just a Heroic Spirit. Could they really match a god?

All magi shared the same wish.

They killed one another in cold blood over a miracle. Now, their summons for heroes from another time and space echoed across the land.

Perhaps only one person was different.

He did not belong to this world, and for this world, he was merely a passerby.

Yoru was inspecting the magic circle etched into the floor of the chapel.

The now hopeless Jubstacheit had not shown up again. He seemed to have given up, letting Yoru do as he pleased. In the old man's eyes, this war was already lost.

"I wonder what kind of Servant will be summoned…"

Irisviel murmured as she stood by his side, looking up at the relic placed on the altar.

That plain, clock-hand-like staff now radiated magical energy—as if it truly were a hand of fate.

Irisviel's gaze grew vacant. For a moment, she thought she saw the smile of a devil.

What was this thing… really?

And what kind of being would it summon?

"All right… everything looks good."

After checking the circle, Yoru clapped his hands and took several steps back. His expression grew solemn.

"Then… let us begin the declaration!"

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