As time passed, wounds appeared on Jack the Ripper's body.
"That's too much."
"Chirp, isn't that how battles originally are?"
"Yeah, that's true."
And so, Jack the Ripper pretended to charge forward, then retreated and disappeared into the fog.
"Chirp!?"
Benienma headed in the direction Jack the Ripper fled, but as time passed and the fog grew stronger, she had to give up the pursuit and retreat.
"She ran away in the end. Well, for me, it's enough to just guard this place."
And so, Benienma entered the Clock Tower.
As dawn arrived, the fog only grew thicker.
====================
As the situation concluded, the morning sun rose.
"I never imagined they would prioritize preserving themselves…."
"Tch, fighting them put me in a bad mood."
"Still, the Noble Phantasm was quite dangerous. In the case all conditions were met. I almost died right then. I survived thanks to the talismans Tamamo-san provided, but… I never knew she could use a causality-reversal Noble Phantasm. Strangely, I can't remember what that Noble Phantasm was. The same goes for her form…."
I knew about that phenomenon well.
"I think it's probably the manifestation of an anecdote with no past identity or clues."
"Haah, damn…. For a serial killer, she's too arrogant, isn't she?"
For some reason, Mordred was producing an atmosphere that said, 'You dare tamper with Father's memory? Who do you think you are?'
"It can't be helped…. From the start, having the Information Erasure skill means we can't expect information. Still, I don't think Akira was affected by that skill, right?"
El-Melloi II's point was accurate, but he didn't really engage in close combat.
Considering that Tamamo spread a bounded field, which annoyed Jack, and that Jack retreated immediately, not wanting a war of attrition, it also meant she didn't want to waste magical energy unnecessarily.
"Right, I'm not affected by Jack's Information Erasure. But, that's not the important thing."
"Chirp?"
"Mikon?"
El-Melloi just stared intently. I continued.
"Jack the Ripper held out in an advantageous location and proved this isn't a desperate situation, right? Before breaking this situation, what is Jack the Ripper's goal?"
"……. The circumstantial evidence is sufficient, but I'm not completely sure.;;"
El-Melloi II was thinking while drinking a cup of coffee.
Even if Jack the Ripper wanted incarnation, the mages wouldn't leave her alone.
The number of mages they killed was considerable, and even if they achieved incarnation, mage families with grudges would target them.
Unrelated families might just turn a blind eye, but if they executed incarnation, it could conversely lead to condemnation from El-Melloi's position, but except for me, no one else can realize it.
The Holy Grail's magical energy was possible with Tiamat's assistance, and considering it takes 60 years even with a ley line, realizing it without Akira's faction is nearly impossible.
And the person who modified the Grail was Medea, creating a Grail capable of incarnation was an easy task, and considering that among the factions, only Akira's faction is strong enough that no one else can interfere, I concluded this was correct.
El-Melloi II, having organized his thoughts, spoke.
"Then, should we prepare for negotiations first?"
"That would be good."
"It would be better to grant their wishes and resolve this situation to ensure the students' safety. We might not avoid criticism from mages, but if we can eliminate unnecessary sacrifices, it doesn't matter."
"Then, how will you induce negotiations?"
"Hmm…."
El-Melloi pondered.
Frankly, saying "Let's negotiate!" is close to unknown whether the other side would accept or refuse.
That's a gamble with a high risk of danger, but El-Melloi seemed to have reached a conclusion after looking at the two beasts and two people.
"Then, can I entrust the negotiations to you, Akira? I believe there's no one as strong as you, to the point of ignoring danger risks."
"I don't mind… for free?"
"Hmm… if you need anything, say so. The El-Melloi family also wants to maintain good relations with you, so you can ask Reines if needed, and I'll immediately give you her phone number. If you say, 'I'll pass it to El-Melloi II,' then Reines's help will be more necessary, so I'd like you to answer without refusing."
It seems Waver Velvet has accumulated a lot of resentment toward Reines in this lifetime.
"Right… it seems Medea will use it a lot…."
If it's Medea, who can create Conceptual Weapons, receiving Reines's help to purchase materials would seem very good.
"Then, let's negotiate as planned at dawn tomorrow. What about the location?"
Then, Gray raised her hand and spoke.
"How about a cemetery? People don't pass by much, and it's a place where we can talk without worry…."
"Hmm… if we use the magecraft to make people leave and put them to sleep again, there's a risk of being discovered for mystery (or paranormal phenomena)…. That would be good."
"The problem is whether they'll come."
Then, El-Melloi II looked at me and spoke.
"Do you have the Holy Grail?"
"Huh, why?"
"Use that to lure them."
"……."
At those words, Artoria also nodded as if agreeing.
"The Holy Grail would be one of the most effective methods. It's filled with enough magical energy from Tiamat to grant a wish or two, so it's possible. Although it can't grant wishes due to Medea's modifications, incarnation should be possible, right?"
"That's simple, but still, I'm thinking of using my own power to incarnate her this time. If magical energy gets extracted again, Tiamat would probably be shocked…."
"Ahem, that's true."
"Haah? Why make a simple thing difficult?"
"Mordred, kneel down, shut up, and wait."
"Father……."
In the end, Mordred knelt down and waited.
In the end, we concluded to use the Holy Grail to draw aggro, and we had to wait for dawn.
Incidentally, because Benienma trained the students' palates, she ended up staying at the Clock Tower.
==========
Dawn arrived, and I took out the Holy Grail, showing its golden glow.
"The Holy Grail is still beautiful. It truly can be called a Holy Grail. Except that it cannot grant wishes. It's a pity that it has become a cup filled only with magical energy, not an omnipotent cup."
Artoria seemed to lick her lips while looking at the Holy Grail.
'She still can't let go of her attachment to that thing….'
"There's no way Father would be tempted by a mere Holy Grail!"
"Ahem…."
Mordred strangely stated a fact, and Artoria could only clear her throat.
Incidentally, El-Melloi II and Gray were resting at the Clock Tower, enjoying freedom in the name of sleep, which they hadn't had in a while.
How hard was he worked as a graduate student that even sleeping is considered freedom?
Tamamo spread a bounded field to prevent the fog from invading, and Artoria and Mordred just waited for Jack or Jack's Master to appear.
And not long after….
Manaka appeared?
"No, why are you here?"
"Huh? Just because? Can't I visit sometimes? Is that so strange?"
"It's surprising you weren't dissected by Jack the Ripper."
"That's~ probably because I'm a beautiful girl who reached the Root and then gave up? Ehe~"
"……. So, what do you want to say?"
"Want to try a Holy Grail War on this occasion?"
"……."
"Location, Tokyo or Fuyuki? Which one is better?"
"Any intention to refuse?"
"Of course not~ I just want to summon my prince, you could say? And the next Holy Grail War is a long time away. I'm playing to kill time!"
Artoria and Mordred were on guard, but Manaka just approached naturally.
"Who gave you the Holy Grail?"
"Hmm~ Priest Mapo Tofu gave it to me. I had up to 7, including the one he gave me? Maybe he made a deal with the fake Wizard King? Among them, I received a Grail for fun, but I didn't have to pay any price, just got it for free."
I could guess who that priest was.
Even if I took the Grail right now, Manaka isn't someone who would simply let it happen.
"Hmm…, I see."
Then, Jack the Ripper appeared from within the fog.
"The Holy Grail…."
"Jack, wait a moment."
And Jack's Master also appeared.
"Heh, a disruptor has appeared. Anyway, see you later~ Oh, did I mention spoilers? Kirei Kotomine will create a Reverse World (Singularity) with six Holy Grails…. If you don't stop it, the planet will be reduced to a blank state. Well, Akira is an exception and won't be affected, but it's better to know, right? 'This is all God's trial. Accept it, boy.' That's the message~ The period is about 10 or 12 years."
"Manaka, are you also included in the Reverse World (Singularity)?"
"Huh? No, I plan to trigger a Holy Grail War in Fuyuki. The Servant is at least one. It's the male King Arthur, corrupted by the tainted Grail. And if you don't stop it~ the holy sword is scheduled for a massive explosion! You must come to stop it~ If you don't…. the whole of Fuyuki will evaporate?"
And so, Manaka turned into black flower petals and disappeared.
'Damn, is Merlin involved too?'
Since I didn't pay attention, I had forgotten….
Either she learned magecraft from Merlin, or she's corrupted… or was created by the Grail…. It's one of the two.
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