A Dimensional Journey Begins with the Dragon Clan

The letter that Tokiomi entrusted to the association was absolutely perfect, a true reflection of the author himself. The transfer of the body and the removal of the seal were all accurately carried out by Rin's protector, Kotomine Kirei, at the association's headquarters in London. The seal was given to Tokiomi's friend for safekeeping, ensuring that it could be transferred to Rin without any mistakes in the future.

The transplantation of the seal will cause a great burden on the human body, so it is best to transplant it step by step before the secondary sexual characteristics of the heir fully appear. If the previous generation of the clan leader dies suddenly, many unexpected difficulties will often arise. But Tokiomi overcame all of this and made full preparations. He taught Rin the essence of magic accumulated by the Tosaka family from generation to generation without omission.

However, due to various procedures such as the transfer of the body and the removal of the seal, more than half a year had passed before Tokiomi's body returned to his hometown. Therefore, the people who attended today's belated funeral had nothing to do with their family's reputation and achievements in their hometown, but were a very small number of people who knew some inside information. Such a deserted funeral was also a sin that a magus should bear.

Kirei looked at the cemetery that had suddenly become deserted, and turned around to greet the taxi waiting at the back door.

"Isn't it time to let Mother out?"

“——Yeah, that’s about it.”

The widow, Aoi Tousaka, who was supposed to preside over the funeral, did not appear in front of everyone because she was bedridden. Although she was reluctant to let her contact with outsiders, Rin still hoped that her mother could see her father for the last time before the coffin was covered and buried.

Rin had been waiting for her mother to arrive while other mourners were present. She walked to the car, helped her mother onto the wheelchair, and pushed it towards Tokiomi's grave. The beautiful widow who still looked very young in the wheelchair had no expression on her face, and just stared into the void with her dreamy eyes.

"Mom, come and say your final goodbye to Dad."

At Rin's urging, Aoi's dreamy sight finally slowly focused on a point on the ground.

Her eyes slowly swept across the tombstones around her, and she widened her eyes belatedly.

"Ah--er, Rin? Whose funeral is today?"

"Yes, because my father passed away."

“Oh no! We have to get Tokiomi’s mourning clothes out quickly—Rin, go help Sakura change her clothes first. Ahhh, what should I do? I haven’t prepared anything…”

Aoi, who was sitting in a wheelchair, fell into a brief panic, and then she suddenly bent down like a puppet with its strings cut off. When she looked up again, she smiled gently at the empty air in front of her and stretched out her finger forward.

"Look, dear, your tie is crooked again. There are threads on your shoulders. Haha, you should cheer up a little. You are the father that Rin and Sakura are proud of..."

Aoi kept talking to her husband, who was the only one she could see, while Rin just silently guarded her mother.

Due to the sequelae of hypoxia that damaged her brain, Tōsaka Aoi can no longer communicate normally with Kirei and Rin. For Rin, Aoi is undoubtedly an innocent victim involved in the Fourth Holy Grail War, just like her father.

For Aoi, who can no longer perceive reality correctly, perhaps this is happier. Her heart stays in the time when Sakura was still at home and Tokiomi was still alive. Wandering in the empty Tousaka mansion, she talks and laughs with her husband and second daughter in her memory, and lives forever in the dream of a happy and perfect family.

Only Rin was left alone in the real world. She took care of her mother, but could only watch her silently, unable to step into this happy scene. She hid the sadness that no one could understand, and took on the responsibility of being the head of the magic family with her young body, enduring the pain of the mark. For a girl who was still an elementary school student, this was too cruel a fate.

But for Kotomine Kirei, it is a great fortune to be the protector of such a tragic girl.

He can only feel joy from the pain and sorrow of others. For Kotomine Kirei, who has long been aware of his own abnormal nature, Rin's current situation is undoubtedly the best environment for her to grow into a sentimental girl. And Kirei can appreciate everything at the closest distance, which is undoubtedly the same enjoyment as tasting the best wine.

And yet—much to his chagrin—he actually received absolutely no such reward.

Although she bore such a tragic fate, the young girl never shed a tear or even said a single word of weakness.

Even now, in front of her poor mother who couldn't understand her father's death, Rin still looked calm, forcibly suppressing the pain in her heart, waiting for her mother to calm down. This was something that a child of her age who was spoiled by her parents could not endure.

Rin has acknowledged and accepted her fate, and has the courage to face it resolutely. Such rare self-esteem and self-control are the greatest virtues of the girl named Toosaka Rin, but for Kirei, this is the most annoying thing for him.

After experiencing all the bitterness, this gem named Rin began to take shape from the rough stone. She thought that seeing the ugly appearance of her beloved mother would leave a trauma in her heart, but she unexpectedly accepted her mother's weakness of indulging in fantasy with a tolerant and compassionate heart.

This girl is gradually moving towards the path of the outer law called the Way of Magic. Perhaps in the end, she will be like her father, abandoning all the distortions and evils of a magician and forming the most upright and balanced personality. Of course, this is the most boring development for Kirei. He was so looking forward to seeing what kind of twisted flower Tokiomi's daughter would bloom into.

Hiding the secret in his heart, Kirei placed his hand on Rin's shoulder as if to encourage her.

"I will stay in Japan for a while... Are you worried about anything in the future?"

"…Nothing. I've troubled you too much. Now everything is fine."

The girl answered in a tough tone without even looking at Kirei.

Rin followed her father's last words and did not raise any objection to Kotomine Kirei becoming her protector. But even so, she could not hide her dislike for him. As Tokiomi's assistant, she went to the same battlefield, but ultimately failed to protect Tokiomi. Rin is still full of anger and suspicion towards Kirei.

Kirei just found Rin's blunt hatred ridiculous. What kind of expression would this girl have when she learned the truth one day? He had been looking forward to it.

"The next time we meet will be in half a year. Then we will have the second imprint transplant. Please take care of yourself."

"…I know even if you don't tell me."

"I think I will be working away from home most of the time from now on. I'm sorry but I don't think I can settle down in Japan. I'm really not qualified to be a protector—"

"It's okay if you're busy. I'll take care of mother and the Tohsaka family when you're not around. As for whether you want to go fight heretics or do something else, it's fine as long as it doesn't cause any trouble for us."

Haha, is Rin also so bluffing? Her tone today is sharper than usual. Sure enough, today will be more painful for the girl.

A slightly evil thought suddenly flashed through Kirei's mind.

"——Rin, from now on you are the true leader of the Tousaka clan. To celebrate this special day, I will give you a gift."

As he spoke, Kirei pulled out a scabbard short sword from his bosom.

This was the sword of Azoth that Tokiomi had given him before his death, a symbol of friendship. Today's funeral reminded Kirei of his old friend, so he brought this sword with him. This was also a little compensation for the person who died at his hands.

"This is what I got when my magic training was recognized by Master Tokiomi in the past. I think it's better for you to hold it from now on." Rin took the dagger, unsheathed it and examined it carefully. She stroked the leather of the hilt and the magic pattern on the blade almost respectfully, as if she could feel the warmth of her father's fingers.

"……Father……"

Suddenly, small ripples appeared on the dagger in the girl's hand - a tear suddenly rolled down on the flawless blade.

This was the first time Rin cried in front of Kirei.

Just like tasting the long-awaited fine wine, Kirei's heart was vibrating with joy.

Rin didn't know. The short sword in her hand, which had received her own tears, was once stained with the blood that flowed from Tokiomi's heart. Perhaps she would keep this sword as a relic to commemorate her father and keep it very carefully. Under the premise that she didn't know that this was the murder weapon that killed her father.

This extreme irony and the pleasure of trampling on a pure heart brought Kotomine Kirei supreme satisfaction.

Rin, who lowered her head and shed tears, did not notice the priest who was smiling silently beside her. She just held the sword of destiny tightly in her hand.

Five years later.

It was a beautiful moonlit night. Emiya Kiritsugu stood quietly by the window, gazing at the moonlight.

Although it is winter, the temperature is not very low, just a little chilly on the skin. This is the perfect weather for moon watching.

Next to him sat a young man, who was also quietly gazing at the moon with Kiritsugu.

His name is Shirou.

She was the only one Kiritsugu saved from the flames that caused him to lose everything.

Five years have passed since then. Shirou, who was still a child then, has now grown up.

Kiritsugu adopted Shirou, who was left without support due to the fire, as his son, and renovated the abandoned house with a warehouse that Irisviel bought, and managed to survive.

  As for why he did this, even he himself didn't know. There was no other place to go. Did he even have no reason to live?

The purpose and faith that the man named Emiya Kiritsugu once had were reduced to ashes in that fire. What returned from that wasteland was nothing more than a wreck with only a beating heart.

In fact, if Shirou had not been rescued, Kiritsugu might have actually died a long time ago.

But he met Shirou. He met this kid who had survived the fire that killed so many people.

It was this miracle that allowed him to be reborn from the body that was once called Emiya Kiritsugu.

Even now, it's a strange life.

The man who lost his wife and daughter became a father again——

The child who lost his parents became a son again——

Looking back, every day is a repetition of the same monotonous life.

Shirou now calls Kiritsugu, who is less than 40 years old, "Dad." Perhaps he feels that this is more natural.

But in fact, the energy remaining in Kiritsugu's body has almost reached the point of exhaustion. In this respect, he is no different from the old man.

After that, he spent the years in peace and quiet as if he were in someone else's dream.

The life that had lost everything had been broken, but that day five years ago was the dividing line. After that, no one disappeared in front of Kiritsugu anymore.

Whether it is Shirou, Yamato, old man Leihua or the young people of the Fujimura group, none of them left after they met and are still together today.

And the previous meeting was just the beginning of a farewell.

But such happiness is not without reason.

Because what he lost before can never be returned.

Kiritsugu had used "travel" as an excuse to trick Shirou into staying at home several times, and went to where Einzbern was. He wanted to rescue his daughter who was left alone in the winter city.

But no matter how persistent Kiritsugu was, Eubusta Kuhaid refused to open the forest barrier. This was only natural. Due to Kiritsugu's betrayal at the last minute, Einzbern failed in the Fourth Holy Grail War. Even if he was punished, he could only remain silent. But Ahad did not do so. Did he want to exile the betrayer like a wild dog, and let him live with the shame for the rest of his life? Or did he want to make Kiritsugu never see his daughter again in his life as the most severe punishment for him? In short, this has become a fact.

If it was Kiritsugu, who was once known as the "magician killer", he might have been able to force his way through the extremely cold barrier and rush to his daughter. But now, Kiritsugu, who had been exposed to "all the evil in the world", has been eroded by the curse, and his body is gradually weakening. His hands and feet are shrinking, his vision is blurry, and he has completely lost the ability to perform magic, almost no different from a seriously ill patient. He is unable to even find the starting point of the barrier, and can only wander in the wind and snow until he dies.

He knew that his efforts were in vain. Recently, Kiritsugu had vaguely felt that his death was approaching. It should be said that from the moment he was cursed by the black mud, there was not much time left.

So he has been staying at home recently, dazed and immersed in memories.

What is my life?

He thought so as he and Shirou quietly looked at the moonlight.

"...When I was very young, I admired the embodiment of justice."

Suddenly, he murmured unconsciously.

Just like a ship that sank long, long ago, a forgotten language suddenly came out of my mouth because no one cared about it. Yes. I don't know when, I seem to have said such words to someone. Although it didn't come true in the end. But when did it happen? (End of this chapter)