In this crossover anime, Yoshikage Kira longs for a peaceful life.

Therefore, some within the Clock Tower speculate that the Greater Grail came into their hands around that time. And their actions of sealing off the entire Romanian territory during those years of accelerated time were actually preparations for secretly repairing the Greater Grail.

"Some even suspect that the idea of ​​time acceleration might also be caused by the Holy Grail. This is because the time they obtained the Holy Grail and the time acceleration phenomenon occurred almost simultaneously, and the time they claimed to possess the Greater Grail was also shortly after the time acceleration phenomenon ended."

"However, these are all just speculations. Apart from the World Tree, probably no one knows the truth."

"While announcing their possession of the Greater Grail, Yggdrasil also declared their intention to leave the Clock Tower and form a new organization. Meanwhile, rumors circulate that the Grail they possess is the key to the future!"

After a pause, Weber frowned and said:

"The latter part is almost certainly a saying that originated from the Thousand World Tree family itself, but the former is more important to the Clock Tower. The Clock Tower cannot tolerate anyone openly breaking away from their jurisdiction, so they dispatched a punitive force immediately."

"But the Yggdrasil has already summoned its Servants, and the fifty elite troops it dispatched were all wiped out, with only one person managing to return to report. In other words, the Holy Grail..."

The war has already begun. And unlike previous wars, this Holy Grail War will be divided into two factions: the Clock Tower will represent the Red Masters, while the Yggdrasil will represent the Black Masters.

"7 against 7?"

"That's right. As for the reason, I think you know it better than I do."

"I don't know."

Weber nearly choked, but still managed to explain:

"This is the emergency system hidden within the Greater Grail. When the seven Servants unite into the same faction, it will summon an additional seven Servants."

Weber gave a somewhat strange look:

"This isn't exactly a secret in the magic world. I thought you came to the Clock Tower specifically because of the Holy Grail, but you seem to really be..."

"You know absolutely nothing about this! The Greater Grail was, after all, a masterpiece of your Einzbern family, hailed as the closest artificial relic to the realm of the gods. Don't you care at all?"

"I just returned to the modern era."

"Oh, that explains it."

Waver nodded knowingly, assuming that Yoshikage Kira had just come out of the barrier.

However, this also gave him a new understanding of the Einzbern family's apathy towards worldly affairs—did they truly not care what the world would become?

Isolation from the world means stagnation and a corresponding lag in intelligence.

But considering the opponent's strength, Weber thought this was probably a form of confidence.

They are confident that they can easily cope with whatever happens.

However, whatever happens is none of his business, mainly because even if it were, he would be powerless to do anything about it.

Chapter 262 (abbreviated as Holy War)

"Alice, how much do you know about the World Tree in Romania?" Kira Yoshikage asked on the way back to the apartment.

"The World Tree?"

Irisviel looked thoughtful. "I don't know much about them. I only know that compared to the prestigious magic families that insist on inheriting as many magic circuits as possible and making the inscriptions as strong as possible, the Yggdrasil family values ​​quantity more than quality."

"The Yggdrasil Clan is not a single family, but a loose alliance pieced together by many magicians with superficial connections. Among them are..."

There are families with a short history and poor magic circuits, families that have begun to decline and whose magic circuits have become increasingly poor with each generation, and families that have been punished by the Magic Association and are wanted by the authorities.

"It is through this method of absorbing a large number of magician families that the Yggdrasil clan has become quite large in scale and has a wide range of interests. Whether it is Kabbalah, alchemy, witchcraft, astrology, runes, or even the Japanese Onmyōdō, there are people in the Yggdrasil clan who have studied them. However, their level can hardly be called outstanding; almost all of them are only second-rate."

"Most of the magicians in the Clock Tower scoff at the magic of the Yggdrasil Clan, which to some extent has contributed to their current status. Despite their vast size, they are destined never to become monarchs and will always be inferior to others."

"Hmm, that's about it. Why are you asking this all of a sudden?"

The lady blinked curiously.

Yoshikage Kira's concise statement:

"They have the Holy Grail."

"Huh?!"

Irisviel was incredulous. "How could this be? Didn't we destroy the Holy Grail?"

While the information about the appearance of the Greater Grail was not a secret in the Clock Tower, not everyone was qualified to know it, at least not the Einzbern family.

Because the Einzbern family, strictly speaking, is not a family belonging to the Clock Tower. They have neither a corresponding status nor influence in the Clock Tower, and they don't even have their own faction or power.

No matter how publicly the information about the Greater Grail is disclosed, it only circulates among the twelve rulers of the Clock Tower. The rest of the population will likely never know this secret unless someone in the know proactively informs them.

Yoshikage Kira shook his head:

"Not the same one."

In the world of magic, the Holy Grail is hailed as the most closely related man-made relic to the realm of the gods, and the success of the Greater Grail is nothing short of a miracle.

But a miracle is a miracle precisely because it is difficult to achieve.

Even the Einzberns, the creators of the Greater Grail, were unable to replicate a new Greater Grail because they lacked the same offerings as Justiza.

however.

No matter how precious the Greater Grail is, it is only relative to humanity.

In the eyes of beings who have already reached the realm of gods, the Holy Grail may be no different in value from a roadside stone.

Miracles that humans cannot achieve can be replicated by gods with ease.

The Greater Grail possessed by the Yggdrasil clan may have been created by beings who reached the realm of gods.

The only question is—why?

Since they can reach the realm of gods, they can create new Holy Grails at will.

What they hoped to achieve could obviously not be accomplished by wishing upon the Holy Grail.

If that's the case, then why create the Holy Grail at all?

Leaving aside the Yggdrasil race, what was the purpose of the being that created the Greater Grail?

The Clock Tower speculates that the Greater Grail is related to the time acceleration phenomenon of ten years ago, and that this acceleration might be the result desired by the creator of the Greater Grail. As for the Greater Grail itself, it may just be a byproduct.

But what good would it do Him to accelerate to 2018, to accelerate to the end of the world?

-

The Clock Tower, the office of Locke Belfebund, head of the Department of Summoning.

"The Holy Grail War?"

Lion Jie Li muttered to himself.

The information provided by the other party was slightly beyond his expectations.

Not only has it been only ten years since the last Holy Grail War, but the format of the Holy Grail War has also changed from a seven-player battle royale to a team-based competition.

"Can you accept the commission?" Belfebund asked.

Why are you looking for me?

Shiki-kai asked in return, "The Clock Tower shouldn't lack magicians, right?"

Although he was once a student of the Clock Tower, that was a thing of the past, and his cooperation with the Clock Tower was merely a simple employer-employee relationship.

Normally, he wouldn't ask his employer too many details.

But this time is an exception.

After all, it's a major event like participating in the Holy Grail War, so it's always good to know more information.

Shi Zi Jie Jie stared intently at the old man opposite him. Despite his short stature, his back was ramrod straight, and the wrinkles on his face gleamed like those of a wood carving. To an ordinary person, he might just be an ordinary old man.

But Shiki-Katsu understands that magicians are monsters who get stronger with age.

While physical aging is inevitable, their knowledge and experience of magic are absolutely deadly.

"Indeed, we don't lack any."

Belfebon grinned, revealing a repulsive smile. "But the situation is urgent. If we were to select from the prestigious lineages of the Clock Tower, it would be a major undertaking. Due to the inheritance and preservation of magical crests, as well as various other factors, selecting seven masters would take at least three months."

"The Holy Grail War has already begun, and we can't wait that long. In comparison, unaffiliated mages like you, who can be hired at will, are much more efficient."

"That's really straightforward."

Lion Tribulation Realm Li clicked his tongue, but didn't show much negative emotion.

Because that's the truth.

A magician is someone who, over generations, dedicates all their assets and abilities to the pursuit of reaching the root. No matter how much power they gain in the process, it is merely a byproduct in their eyes, its significance simply a means to reach the truth.

People like him, who have no interest in the origins of magic and only see it as a useful tool, are called magicians and have always been disliked by orthodox magicians. Ordinary magicians regard them as venomous snakes and avoid them at all costs.

But when it comes to actually doing something, a magician is more useful than a magician.

Because a magician's specialty is research, while combat is merely a byproduct.

However, magicians are the opposite; most of them specialize in combat and are not good at research.

The Holy Grail War, a task that requires combat, is naturally better left to these magicians.

On the one hand, they are more experienced.

On the other hand, it doesn't matter if they die in the Holy Grail War.

Since it's purely an employer-employee relationship, even if a magician dies outside, only their family will feel sorry for them.

But if they were magicians from the Clock Tower, their deaths would likely cause a huge uproar—

For example, Kenneth's death directly led to the complete collapse of the El-Melloi family, which has yet to recover.

Fortunately.

Kenneth's magic crest is well preserved and has been transferred to an heir named Reines.

Although her talent is not as great as Kenneth's, she will surely rise to a higher rank in time, at which point the El-Melloi family may still have a chance to turn the tide.

Lion Jie Li asked calmly:

"If we win, what will we do with the Greater Grail?"

"Of course, we'll ensure victory afterward. With such an easy opportunity to reach the source right before us, I doubt anyone can remain calm."

The old man's tone was full of sighs, but Shi Zijie understood the subtext—

The Clock Tower will inevitably prepare to recover troops while the war is underway, but they must wait until the last Heroic Spirit dies before taking action. Otherwise, modern magicians will only be able to die in front of Heroic Spirits, even the weakest ones.

Moreover, in order to ensure victory in the Holy Grail War, the Servants summoned by both sides in this Holy Grail War will probably not be too weak.