Chapter 30: Kirei Kotomine

Kirei had predicted Rin would come to meet him in a day or two. Yet, he didn't predict her to be accompanied by the Matou Family Heir and that woman's son of all people. He couldn't be wrong about anything related to that woman.

His mother was a Brand: Black, a renowned magus who soared through the Clocktower's rankings. She was a nuisance, so he kept an eye on her and her only son, who came into the world without a father. After her untimely suicide, his path to the Grail was as clear as the sky.

Yet, her son came into the mix.

'This wasn't supposed to happen. Though, isn't it better?'

He suppressed the grin from creeping on his face. A Master with no prior experience in the world of Magus. The young man's despair would be more flavorful than the tofu dish he enjoyed in the evening. Kirei's heart started beating in a lively rhythm.

"Master," a male voice echoed in his head. "I sense a servant nearby."

"It must be Rin's," Kirei said. "Don't mind them as long as there is no killing intent."

"Ou," Lancer replied.

Rin folded her arms, giving a sideways glance at Kirei. "Kirei, this is Haruki Hayashi, a new master."

"Rin, this is the first time you ask my assistance."

Rin frowned slightly and looked away.

"The Seventh I presume," Kirei said. His gruff voice sounded rather monotonous contrary to his joyous heart.

Haruki narrowed his eyes. The Priest's eyes had glowed briefly. Even the tiniest spark appeared brighter than a star at night in Kirei's lifeless pupils.

"I'm the Master of Caster-class Servant."

"She formed a new contract. I see."

The arrogant master of the Galliasta family failed in taming the woman. It was a better result since Atrum Galliasta had no desire to battle.

"What is your name, Fifth Master?" Kirei asked.

The Master of Assassin and Saber hadn't reported yet, so he assumed they had yet to be chosen. It was a bit odd as all the Masters should have been chosen by now. Gilgamesh's clairvoyance wouldn't be wrong. He believed in the King of Heroes who saved his soul from eternal pain and showed him his true nature.

"Haruki Hayashi."

Haruki revealed a calm expression throughout. Cu Chulainn was lurking within the vicinity, but he wasn't a threat. The warrior trained by Scathach held honor close to his heart. Doing a sneak attack wasn't his cup of tea. Gilgamesh was still taking a stroll. All in all, he was relatively safe even without a servant. He still kept his guard up for any quick turn of events.

"Hayashi," Kirei chuckled. "Do you know the rules of the Holy Grail War?"

"I do."

With a smile, Kirei walked toward Haruki, his boots clacking in the silence of the church. "You have taken Atrum Galliasta's place in the fifth iteration of the Holy Grail War. A ritual meant to select the people worthy of holding the Holy Grail…"

Haruki wanted to yawn at his explanation. He gave no new information, just the old boring facts about the Holy Grail. He put extra emphasis on eliminating Masters rather than Servants as it made the job easier. Haruki merely shrugged. The only Masters in this war were Kirei, Rin, Shinji, Illyasviel, and him. Other than Rin, he'd have no problem killing others. He'd rather not kill Illyasviel as long as he had a choice. She only had a few more years of life left after Einzbern modified her body. How many years though? He had no idea.

'Should I try to negotiate?'

As far as he knew, the girl got rather cocky after getting Heracles as her Servant and roamed the streets at night in search of other Masters while looking for a chance to interact with her brother Shirou. He could perhaps persuade her since Einzbern's goal of recovering the long-lost Third Magic wasn't her personal quest.

After finishing his nearly five-minute-long explanation, Kirei asked another question, "Any questions, Hayashi?"

"I understand everything."

Kirei blamed this carefree attitude on youth. After all, he had seen youths doing the most absurd things without thinking of the consequences.

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Kirei turned to the silent Sakura. The smart girl was standing with her hands clasped behind her back, hiding the two Command Spells etched on her hand from Kirei. Haruki appreciated the sight of her ample bosom pushing against her cardigan.

"Could she also be?" Kirei asked.

"No," Rin denied in a cold voice and shook her head. "She is his friend."

She had mended her relationship with Sakura—Kirei didn't need to know of this fact.

"Well, we'll get going now," Haruki said. "Thanks for your help, Kotomine-sensei. I'll be sure to win with the assistance you provided. Mage is the strongest class, I'll prove it!

He added a charming smile at the end, playing the weeb teenager's role to a tee.

Kirei trusted him, or rather the information he and the Holy Church had gathered on Kaede Hayashi and her son. He was inept at Magecraft. So Caster could only be using him as a disposable for his magical energy.

He clasped his hands behind his back and guided the trio to the gate.

Haruki waved at Kirei with a smile. "If I have questions, I'll seek you again, Kotomine-sensei."

Kirei nodded. "I'll be here."

As the Priest returned, Haruki sighed, only to feel a pinch on his sleeve. Rin looked at him, growing suspicious of his top-notch acting skills. Even she was fooled by his cheery demeanor back in the church.

"Why are you acting?"

"Deceiving an enemy," he said with a shrug. "I don't trust that guy. And you shouldn't."

"I never did."

Kirei had trained her in Bajiquan, giving her tutelage on combat and magecraft. Despite all of this, she never grew close to him. Something about him irked her. She just had this feeling tugging at her mind, that this man could never be trusted.

"Good."

He pushed back the plan of revealing Kirei's true colors until the time was right.

He took the initiative to take Sakura's hand. She looked surprised for a moment before she clutched his warm hand.

"Senpai… you look different. A little taller."

"Really?" he said, a tinge of surprise in his voice. "Am I taller, Rin?"

Rin held her chin and gazed up and down. Her focused observation ended when Archer appeared and patted her shoulder.

"Master, you should do it at private times."

Rin stepped back and raised her arms in defense. "I was just examining his physical."

Archer sharpened his eyes on Haruki. "Now that I see it, you look taller than before. An abnormal growth spurt…?"

He wasn't the one to question that since he himself grew due to the abuse of his Projection Magecraft.

"Senpai, I'm hungry! Let's go and cook something."

Sakura didn't like Archer scrutinizing Haruki so closely. So she used the tactic of a hungry little sister. Rin forgot everything in the face of Sakura's cuteness. With three bags in her hands, she began walking down the hill.

Haruki picked up Sakura in a princess carry and followed the black-haired magus.

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