The departure of Kiritsugu Emiya and Saber did not bring Shiomi's eting to a close.
Compared to the emotionless Magus killer who stord out, it was the implications of the Holy Grail War itself that still held everyone's attention.
Through Morgan's Magecraft, everyone had seen the abnormalities within the Greater Grail.
If even that wasn't enough to convince them, as Morgan said, they'd simply have to go and confirm it themselves.
...Though everyone already knew—it wouldn't change the outco.
"...I'll go to Mount Enzō myself to verify that the Greater Grail has been corrupted," Tokiomi finally said.
He watched as Morgan dispelled the projection of the Grail. Though torn inside, his duty as head of the Tohsaka family didn't allow him to feign ignorance or avoid the issue. Instead, he responded with calm reason.
He carried himself with poise.
Tokiomi, who lived by the Tohsaka family code of elegance, maintained his usual composure—but anyone could see the conflict behind his furrowed brow.
"However, Shiomi-kun, you didn't bring us all here today just to reveal this truth. Would you care to elaborate further?"
Tokiomi posed the question, already suspecting Shiomi's intent, but needing to hear it spoken plainly before everyone present.
Shiomi gave a small nod. Morgan, anwhile, walked slowly to an empty bench and sat down, clearly signaling that her part in the discussion was finished.
"My purpose is simple," Shiomi said, standing in the center aisle and eting Tokiomi's gaze. "Now that we know the Greater Grail has been corrupted, continuing the Holy Grail War serves no benefit—and only causes harm. So, I propose we suspend the Holy Grail War and work together to purify the Greater Grail."
This had beco Shiomi's new mission, shaped by a shift in his objectives.
"A very reasonable stance," Tokiomi said, giving a deep nod.
While the pursuit of the Root had long been the Tohsaka family's inherited aspiration, Tokiomi couldn't, in good conscience, rely on a corrupted Grail. He had no way of knowing what kind of price Fuyuki might pay if a tainted pathway to the Root were opened.
In that sense, Shiomi's decision was the correct one.
"However, based on our current assessnts, purifying the Greater Grail will require extracting the corrupted mana within it," Shiomi continued. "According to our projections, even if the purification succeeds, much of the mana accumulated over the past sixty years will be lost—"
He paused, shifting his gaze to Waver.
As one of only three Masters present, Waver may have been the least experienced, but that didn't an he should be left out of the conversation.
And Waver, of course, understood what that look ant.
If the Grail's mana reserves were depleted through purification, then even if a victor erged, the mana converted from Servant souls alone would be insufficient to make the Grail function as a wish-granting device.
In other words, to agree to purify the Grail was to accept that the Holy Grail War would end here.
"I'm fine with it..."
Waver muttered his stance. He'd never had a concrete wish for the Holy Grail; joining the war had just been his way of proving himself to the teachers and classmates who had written him off. In contrast, the real issue lay with Iskandar.
"Hmm... Honestly, I'm disappointed too," Iskandar said, scratching at his beard. "But if the Grail's been tainted, then there's nothing to be done."
After all, entrusting sothing like the restoration of his physical form to a corrupted Grail wasn't a risk Iskandar could take lightly.
With that, the two of them had made their positions clear, both showing varying degrees of support for Shiomi's proposal.
Given the situation, it was the most pragmatic decision for everyone involved.
As for Gilgash, he continued to sit with his back turned to Shiomi, radiating pure boredom. No one bothered to ask for his opinion—everyone quietly agreed to let it lie.
And so, under the supervision of Risei Kotomine, the Masters of Archer, Rider, and Berserker reached a new consensus: to purify the Greater Grail and bring an end to the Fourth Holy Grail War.
Afterward, as the two groups who had contributed most to the defeat of Caster the previous night, Shiomi and Waver each received a supplentary Command Spell from Father Risei.
Neither of them had used any of their original Command Spells, so the additional marking made their seals look oddly asymtrical. Still, valuable mana resources weren't sothing to complain about.
The only one left bitter was Tokiomi Tohsaka—he had orchestrated the whole Caster hunt, yet ended up with nothing, thanks to the King of Heroes' refusal to follow orders.
Once the eting wrapped up, Tokiomi stayed behind to consult with Father Risei on how to proceed. anwhile, Shiomi and Waver left the church with their Servants.
"Chin up, kid!" Iskandar clapped Waver on the back. "The war might be over, but an extra Command Spell could still co in handy!"
Waver gave him a look. "Are you an idiot? You can't use a Command Spell to purify the Grail. No matter how you spin it—"
"Not necessarily," Shiomi cut in. "There are still so who haven't accepted this resolution."
His words made both mbers of the Rider camp tense slightly—especially Iskandar.
Not only had they learned that Saber's true Master wasn't the one they had assud, but it was also clear her relationship with that Master was strained beyond repair. The two could never function as a team.
And considering Kiritsugu Emiya's earlier deanor, it wasn't hard to imagine he might ignore the consensus the other three factions had reached and try to continue the war on his own.
"Now that you ntion it, Saber and her Master really are the kind who obsess over their own ideals," Iskandar said bluntly. "I was planning to knock so sense into her last night, but that didn't quite work out."
"There's no need for that, King of Conquerors," Morgan suddenly spoke. "If she's chosen to bear Britannia's fate, then she's already made her resolve. If soone like her could be swayed by a few words, then this whole situation wouldn't exist."
Iskandar gave it so thought. "Maybe so... but you're her sister, right? Doesn't that make you about the sa?"
"Who knows?" Morgan said with calm certainty. "As a Servant, maybe I've already reached my end. I've made the choice I believe in. Everything happening here is just a continuation of that choice."
"You really are different," Iskandar laughed. "At least your face doesn't have that sa clouded look Saber always wears."
"I've outgrown that stage."
Morgan responded flatly.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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