"HAHAHAHAHA! Hahahahaha!! Ahahahahaha!!!"
Naturally, the only person capable of such sacrilege was Kotomine Kirei, who existed here like a ghost and observed no taboos whatsoever so long as it amused him.
He laughed wildly and recklessly. To have the opportunity to see a great figure like the Jewel of the Magic Tower even once in his lifetime was enough to send him into uncontrollable ecstasy.
Emiya Kiritsugu, watching him lose his mind from the side, instinctively took two steps backward, his brows furrowing deeply in disgust.
Although the state they were currently in would probably prevent the figures from the past, within this already-fixed memory world, from perceiving them, Kirei still dared to behave so recklessly in front of the Magic Marshal.
Standing beside him, Kiritsugu could not shake the terrifying sensation that he was walking on a tightrope above a cliff, with no idea when he might lose his footing and plummet.
He glanced worriedly toward Zelretch and the ancestors of Fuyuki City's Three Founding Families.
To his surprise, despite Kirei's uproarious laughter echoing deafeningly through this almost completely sealed and tranquil chamber, Nagato Tohsaka, Makiri, and Justeaze showed no reaction whatsoever.
All three remained intently focused on Zelretch.
Seeing this, Kiritsugu silently breathed a sigh of relief.
"!!!"
Just as he was about to avert his gaze, however, he suddenly realized—with a chill of terror—that somehow, he had locked eyes with Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg's crimson eyes.
Impossible!
That was Kiritsugu's immediate reaction.
He could swear that he had not deliberately looked at the man, yet somehow their gazes had met.
There was only one possibility, and it was terrifying to contemplate.
Zelretch within this memory world had deliberately turned his head and looked toward them.
He can see us!
Kiritsugu instantly broke into a cold sweat.
He desperately wanted to flee, but he discovered that he could not even move his legs. It was as though an invisible force had pinned him to the spot.
"HAHAHAHAHA!"
Kirei continued laughing wildly, completely unaware that the "Grim Reaper" had already set his sights on him.
Kiritsugu wanted to warn him to stop laughing.
But even his ability to speak had inexplicably been taken away.
At that moment, the only thing Kiritsugu could still control was his own mind.
And the only thing he could do was silently mourn for Kirei, who had no idea that disaster was already upon him.
Then—
"Silence!"
THUD—
The Jewel of the Magic Tower, Zelretch, slammed the staff in his hand heavily against the ground, his expression dark with displeasure.
A strange ripple traveled through time and space.
Kotomine Kirei's unrestrained laughter abruptly ceased.
He had already realized that the Jewel of the Magic Tower had set his sights on him, but before he could make the slightest response—
"PFFFT!!!!!!"
Kirei suddenly vomited a mouthful of blood.
Then, in an utterly bizarre sight, blood began flowing from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth as he collapsed onto the ground on all fours, completely powerless to resist.
"Gulp~"
Witnessing this, Emiya Kiritsugu—who had only just fought Kirei to the point where both sides were left battered and exhausted—did not even dare to breathe loudly.
His Adam's apple rolled up and down with agonizing slowness.
He was terrified that making even the slightest sound might cause him to suffer the same fate as Kirei.
Fortunately—
After teaching Kirei a lesson across five hundred years of time, the Jewel of the Magic Tower, Zelretch, merely cast a casual glance at Kiritsugu, who was beside him like a frightened bird.
Then, apparently unconcerned, he returned his attention to the matter he was currently presiding over.
Throughout all of this, the three ancestors of Fuyuki City's Three Founding Families seemed completely oblivious to what had happened.
They simply remained exceptionally obedient and silent, waiting for their senior in the world of magecraft, the Jewel of the Magic Tower, to speak.
"The Einzbern Family's objective is to achieve the complete Third Magic. Makiri's objective is to eliminate humanity's Original Sin—the eradication of All the World's Evil. Tohsaka's objective is to reach the Root."
"To fulfill their respective ideals of magecraft, the Tohsaka, Makiri, and Einzbern Families will cooperate with one another, reach the Root, and obtain the power necessary to realize each of their wishes."
"I hereby declare that each family shall contribute the following—"
At this point, the Jewel of the Magic Tower paused and yielded the stage of the ritual to the three protagonists standing before him.
Nagato Tohsaka stepped forward.
"The Tohsaka Family will provide the spiritual land necessary for the Holy Grail's descent."
Makiri Zolgen stepped forward.
"To bind the Servants who will become sacrifices, the Makiri Family will provide the Command Seals."
Justeaze Lizrich von Einzbern stepped forward as well.
She removed the white hooded robe concealing her appearance, revealing long, snow-white hair falling all the way to her hips, a full and strikingly mature figure, and a pure-white, holy ritual dress.
She slowly walked to the forefront of the three.
Her ruby-red eyes contained not the slightest trace of impurity as she reverently presented herself.
"The Einzbern Family will provide the Magic Circuits necessary to realize the Third Magic."
"Mm."
The Jewel of the Magic Tower, Zelretch, gave a faint nod.
"This ritual shall be witnessed by me, Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg."
"Now then—"
"Everything is ready. You may begin."
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