Scorching magical power swirled into a whirlwind centered on the red-clothed archer, his low chanting like a prelude announcing the world's end.
On the other side, the gem pendant at Rin's fingertip, accumulating ten years of magical power, blazed with brilliance surpassing the stars themselves, destructive energy on the verge of eruption.
The air grew so heavy it seemed ready to drip, a devastating battle beyond redemption about to explode in the next second.
"That's enough."
A clear and steady voice, not loud, yet precisely cutting through the charged magical roar.
Leo stepped forward, standing before Medea.
"Medea, fall back behind me."
He gave the command without turning his head, his voice carrying undeniable resolve. "And close your eyes. Don't look at me."
"Master?" Medea hesitated slightly. Though confused, out of trust in her ally, she immediately ceased her magical output, retreated a few steps as instructed, and obediently closed her eyes.
Almost in the same instant Medea closed her eyes, Leo raised his hand and, with a crisp motion, yanked off the ridiculous hood on his head.
In that instant, it was as if all the moonlight in the world was drawn toward that face exposed to the air, pouring down upon it completely.
It was a face beyond any words to describe—transcending the boundaries of gender and species—a visage so perfect it made the heart tremble.
It was not handsome, nor beautiful, but rather a more primordial manifestation of "charm" capable of directly shaking the soul.
Rin Tohsaka, about to stake all her magical power on a final gamble, froze mid-motion.
Her sapphire-like eyes, burning with anger moments before, suddenly contracted sharply upon seeing that face, then dilated intensely.
All her anger, jealousy, and resolve... were all consumed in this moment by a more overwhelming, more primal emotion.
It was a fascination bordering on faith, a mad desire to possess it, to merge it into her very bones.
Archer's chanting also stopped. He frowned, watching his master's suddenly vacant expression, then glanced at Leo, his wariness deepening.
Kojiro Sasaki also lowered his sword, stroking his chin with interest, as if appreciating a drama more fascinating than the clash of blades.
"...You..."
Rin Tohsaka's lips trembled slightly, the light from the gem in her hand dimming. As if pulled by invisible threads, she involuntarily stepped forward. "...Come with me."
Her voice was no longer sharp, but carried a hint of grievance and pleading.
"Come back with me. I won't let you leave me again."
Here it comes.
Leo thought to himself.
He had anticipated this reaction.
He met Rin's infatuated gaze, a smile playing at the corner of his mouth—extremely subtle, yet filled with infinite gentleness and apology.
"Rin."
He called her name softly, his voice seeming to carry magic, making Rin Tohsaka's body tremble.
"I want to go back with you too."
He spoke slowly in a tone filled with ambiguity and resignation. "But not now."
"Why?!" Rin immediately pressed, her eyes full of confusion.
"Because I'm staying here for you..."
Leo's voice dropped lower, carrying an intimacy only the two of them could hear. "In this Holy Grail War, there can only be one victor. I'm staying here to clear obstacles for you, to help you obtain the Holy Grail."
"Don't you want to obtain it?"
He began spouting nonsense, instantly reversing his position from "enemy" to "a lover lurking as a mole in the enemy camp."
Rin Tohsaka was completely bewildered by his words, staring at him blankly, her mind momentarily unable to process the enormous amount of information.
"Help... me?"
"Of course."
Leo's eyes were incredibly sincere, as if every word he spoke came from the depths of his heart. "I know how desperately you desire me, and how much I desire you. But Rin, we cannot indulge only in present pleasures. Please wait a few more days, won't you?"
He leaned in a bit closer, his face radiating lethal attraction in the moonlight.
"After this Holy Grail War ends, seven days from now, when all the dust has settled... I swear, I will come to your door myself and 'apologize' to you."
He pronounced "apologize" with particular softness, yet filled with indescribable implication.
This mixture of deep affection wrapped in "thinking of you," the promise of "future reunion," and the appeasement of "lowering himself," like a precisely calibrated drug, completely dismantled Rin Tohsaka's last shred of rationality.
Her heart, filled with jealousy and possessiveness, was instantly flooded with immense happiness and anticipation.
So... so he doesn't reject me. He's thinking of me!
He's helping me!
Once this thought took root, it could not be suppressed.
The anger on Rin's face completely dissipated, replaced by a shy blush.
She looked at Leo, her eyes infatuated, as if trying to etch his image into her heart forever.
"...Really?"
"Really." Leo smiled and nodded, his smile warm enough to melt ice and snow.
"...Then it's a promise."
Rin's voice became as soft as a kitten's, speaking carefully. "Seven days from now... I'll wait for you. You can't lie to me, and you can't look at other women!"
"I promise."
Having received confirmation, Rin Tohsaka let out a long, satisfied sigh.
She turned and commanded the still-wary Archer: "Archer, we're leaving! Truce for tonight!"
Archer gave Leo a long, complex look—one filled with resignation, wariness, and even a hint of inexplicable pity, perhaps for his own master.
He said nothing, merely nodded silently, his form dissolving into spirit form and vanishing.
"Then I'm going."
Rin Tohsaka kept turning back with every step, her eyes full of reluctance. "You... you must think of me."
Having spoken this embarrassingly sappy parting, she finally turned and hurried down the mountain path, her figure quickly disappearing into the night.
Only after confirming that their presence had completely left the Ryuudou Temple's vicinity did Leo exhale a long breath, the warm smile on his face vanishing without a trace, replaced by exhaustion.
He quickly put the hood back on, concealing that troublesome face.
Only after finishing this did he turn back and see the two servants behind him, both with equally subtle expressions.
Kojirou Sasaki, holding his long sword, looked at him with an amused expression, his eyes full of curiosity.
And Medea, who had just opened her eyes, wore an expression of utter disbelief, as if witnessing a miracle.
Leo spread his hands helplessly toward them.
"Alright, all done~"
He said in a relaxed tone, "Tonight's emergency has been temporarily resolved."
Read 30 advance chapters on: patre on.com/Bored_Mortal