My family runs an adventurer's guild.

The ensuing citywide coma and massive fire could be conveniently dismissed as "natural disasters."

—As islanders whose daily lives seem to be straight out of disaster movies, the Japanese people are quite resilient in the face of disasters such as typhoons, earthquakes, tsunamis, fires, and blizzards. After all, they have lived in a place where earthquakes occur several times a month for generations. If they weren't mentally strong, they would probably have scared themselves to death long ago.

The collapse of the Hyatt Hotel late last night, according to the government's explanation, could be attributed to the aftermath of the daytime terrorist attacks, caused by bombs left behind by terrorists... So what about today's chaos? Is this really a war?

Explosions and gunshots were heard all over the streets!

Self-Defense Forces, police, and US troops stationed in Japan opened fire on each other in the streets, resulting in a chaotic three-way brawl!

Armored vehicles are being deployed and firing their cannons in the streets!

Fighter jets roared overhead!

Furthermore, an unknown armed helicopter appeared over Fuyuki City, raining down rockets and bullets upon the ground!

Amaterasu Omikami! What on earth is going on?

Could it be that the Japanese Self-Defense Forces, which have always been weak, have suddenly become incredibly powerful? They actually intend to use force to overthrow the traitorous government and say "no" to the Americans?

But why didn't any word of it leak out before?

Could it be that those cowards in the Self-Defense Forces have somehow awakened their Yamato spirit, been possessed by the soul of the Showa-era staff officer, and are about to go it alone again?!

Ah, this feeling is really quite subtle... If Yukio Mishima, the right-wing writer who committed seppuku in a Self-Defense Force camp more than 20 years ago to show his loyalty, could see this scene of "Self-Defense Forces rising up" before him, he would probably be very gratified in the afterlife.

But the problem is... damn it, even so, please don't use Fuyuki City as a battlefield, okay?!

Faced with the hail of bullets sweeping through the streets, the citizens of Fuyuki screamed and dodged in all directions, while spreading countless rumors.

As a result, once such panic begins, it is difficult to end.

First, the gunfight broke out in Shinto, which was engulfed in riots within minutes. Then, the plague-like riots spread to Fukayama Town on the west bank of the Mien River, and the entire city was plunged into a huge disaster.

Amidst distant gunshots and explosions, rumors spread everywhere, and panicked citizens filled the streets.

People either fled frantically to the suburbs or hysterically roared and vented their frustrations.

The only bridge connecting the two urban areas, the Miwon River Bridge, was completely blocked by traffic and pedestrians. Clashes broke out between Self-Defense Force members ordered to maintain order and citizens who were eager to escape, resulting in many people being pushed and falling into the river.

Meanwhile, a large number of journalists from various countries, carrying cameras and microphones, flocked to Fuyuki City like sharks smelling blood. Regardless of what unknown secrets were hidden behind this sudden armed conflict in Fuyuki City, the fact that Japan, an island nation, had once again fallen into war after half a century was already a Pulitzer Prize-worthy news story!

In addition, with the Self-Defense Forces and police officers urgently dispatched, American warplanes flying overhead, and mysterious foreign figures appearing in Fuyuki City... within just a few hours, the entire city of Fuyuki was plunged into unprecedented and violent turmoil, like boiling oil in hot water...

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As Fuyuki City instantly turned into a battlefield, and the entire situation slid into a complete abyss of chaos, Tokiomi Tohsaka and Kirei Kotomine both had a terrible premonition that disaster was imminent.

Under severe pressure from the Mage's Association and the Holy Church, in order to protect himself and save himself, Tokiomi Tohsaka had no choice but to bite the bullet and exert his greatest initiative. He even managed to dig out the reclusive old man Zouken Matou.

"...I say, this is just too unreasonable! My good-for-nothing participant died last night, and this Holy Grail War has nothing to do with my Matou family anymore. Why should I, an old man who's half-buried in the ground, have to work hard and risk my life for you!"

Standing in the church in Fuyuki City, Zouken Matou, who had been forcibly brought there, complained with a displeased expression, "...And you actually want me to go with you to defeat Caster? Not to mention that using magic during the day is forbidden, how can we mortals fight against Heroic Spirits?"

"...The problem is that the Mage's Association doesn't care about these principles at all, and with things getting this big, none of us can escape!"

Tokiomi Tohsaka replied curtly, the urgency and severity of the situation rendering him unable to maintain his so-called elegance any longer. "...The Clock Tower has sent an ultimatum: if we cannot eliminate that crazed Caster and end this damned disaster by this evening, the Mage's Association will issue the harshest sanctions, designating the Tohsaka and Matou families—who manage the local spiritual veins—along with the Einzbern family in Germany, the three creators of the Fuyuki Holy Grail War, to be sealed away. The spiritual veins of this land will be transferred to other families, and the entire Holy Grail system of Fuyuki City will be dismantled... If you're not afraid of being designated for sealing by the Mage's Association, then go back yourself!"

"...Designated seal? Hiss—that's ruthless? Has the Clock Tower gone mad?"

Even with Zouken Matou's age and experience, hearing such a cruel punishment made his eyebrows twitch and his expression change drastically.

The so-called "sealing designation" may sound like protection, but in reality it means life imprisonment and deprivation of political rights for life.

Any magician who commits a crime or gets into trouble, or a magician who is too talented but doesn't have a powerful family to back him up, may be "sealed" by the Clock Tower Magic Association. They will be stripped of their human rights, arrested, and then preserved by magic as a valuable specimen to be passed down to future generations. To put it bluntly, it's like being framed for a crime and turned into a rare beast specimen preserved in formalin, which is almost like a death sentence.

The measures mentioned above only apply to the designation of a seal on an individual. If the seal is designated to an entire family, the consequences are far more severe, typically involving the confiscation of their territory and all their wealth, much like the abolition of feudal domains and the extermination of the entire clan in ancient Japan.

Such a severe punishment cannot be imposed lightly, otherwise the Magic Association would be constantly preoccupied with internal strife.

However, given that the situation in Fuyuki City is completely out of control and the Mage's Association's greatest principle of "absolute secrecy" is about to be broken, it is understandable that the Clock Tower would issue such a stern ultimatum to the "Big Three" families that are hosting the Holy Grail War in Fuyuki City.

Therefore, despite his deep reluctance, Zouken Matou had no choice but to reluctantly agree to cooperate.

"...Alright! Since things have come to this point, there seems to be no way to refuse. If there's anything I can help with, please feel free to ask! But let me make this clear beforehand: although I have a few family secrets, if you want me to personally charge in and face Caster head-on, that's absolutely impossible..." Matou Zouken nodded reluctantly in agreement.

"...Rest assured, it is my mission to eliminate Caster. You only need to help me use magic to scout and locate him, so that I can find Caster's location. That will be enough." Tokiomi Tohsaka said with a calm smile and confidence.

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Fuyuki City, outside Fukayama-cho, the farmhouse where Rider Master Waver is temporarily staying.

Hearing the distant explosions, watching the wisps of black smoke rising from behind the treetops, and seeing the refugees fleeing with their families on the road outside, the young magic apprentice Webber couldn't help but feel his blood boil and his heart pound with excitement. "...They're already fighting this fiercely! Should I join in too?"

However, looking up at the "inflatable orange cat" in the corner, still round and chubby like a balloon, and then looking down at the little imp he had just caught in his insect net, who was pouting and sulking, he had no choice but to suppress his enthusiasm.

"...Sigh, although I'm tempted to take advantage of the situation, Rider is just not cooperating! I'll wait until that orange cat recovers before trying again!"

Chapter 58, Heroic Spirits Gather

As a small local city with only a few hundred thousand inhabitants, Fuyuki City naturally does not have its own passenger airport.

So at this very moment, at F Airport, the closest international airport to Fuyuki City, a luxury charter plane from the Italian airline Vorale, originating in Germany, is slowly landing on the runway with a loud roar.

Then, Mrs. Irisviel von Einzbern, who was traveling abroad for the first time in her life, appeared on the gangway at the hatch.

—Although the Japanese archipelago, like Germany, was experiencing the harsh winter winds, the winter in the Kansai region of Japan was incomparable to the severe winter in northern Germany. Looking up at the soft afternoon sunlight, Irisviel felt a sense of relief.

"...This is where Kiritsugu was born..."

It's such a pleasant place with a comfortable climate, unlike the Einzbern castle, where it snows all year round.

Although she had learned about this place through photos and other means before, Irisviel couldn't help but exclaim in admiration after experiencing it in person.

Stepping off the plane and gazing at the unfamiliar world and country, Irisviel was incredibly excited, her crimson eyes sparkling with excitement as she let the cool breeze ruffle her flowing silver hair.

"...Hmm, this place finally looks a bit like another world..."

Princess Catherine, who had obtained the Saber class, skipped and hopped out of the plane, curiously taking in the scenery of the Japanese airport.

—In the eyes of Catherine, the "childlike" golden dragon princess and a true native of this magical world, the medieval-style "Winter Castle" of the Einzbern family offered her absolutely no sense of novelty:

Whether it's the furniture, clothing, or food, the medieval-style Einzbern Castle is almost identical to the castle and palace she originally lived in in the Golden Dragon Kingdom, except that it's smaller and simpler (laughs).

Before boarding the plane in Germany, Princess Catherine accidentally fell asleep in the castle. While sleeping, she subconsciously set up a protective barrier on her bed, making it impossible for anyone to wake her. In the end, her maids carried her, bed and all, into a large iron cage and onto the plane. She didn't wake up until they were almost at Japan...

Therefore, it wasn't until she landed at the airport on the Japanese side that she saw the scenery of a modern global city for the first time.

—Although it is just an empty airport, there is still a considerable gap between it and a bustling modern metropolis.

“…Ah, that’s right, Saber. In your opinion, this is the other world! How was your trip by air?” Irisviel, who considered herself a “modern person,” blinked her beautiful big eyes, eager to know how Princess Catherine, this “medieval antique,” ​​felt about flying.

—Although she knew that the other party came from another world completely different from Earth, in the innocent, lively, and simple-minded Mrs. Irisviel, she still couldn't help but regard Catherine as one of those medieval princesses living in castles in Grimm's fairy tales... Obviously, this was wrong.

Therefore, Princess Catherine's subsequent reaction immediately dashed Irisviel's hopes of showing off.

"...I don't feel anything special." Catherine gave her a sideways glance as if she were an idiot. "...Have you forgotten? I can fly!"

"...Ah! I almost forgot, you're a dragon! Flying is probably nothing surprising to dragons."

Clearly, Irisviel, being a lively young woman, wasn't deterred by Princess Catherine's unwitting replies and quickly found a new topic of conversation, "...Hmm! Saber, what are your plans next? How about we go have a big Japanese feast together?"

"...That sounds good, but I'd rather see the city streets here, which are different from my hometown..."

Princess Catherine followed Irisviel into the waiting hall, answering calmly, "...Besides, I've been a little curious since earlier, why are all the humans here staring at us? Is our clothing strange?"

"...Ah...is that so?" Irisviel looked completely bewildered.

In fact, following Kiritsugu Emiya's instructions before her departure, she had already disguised herself before setting off. She took off her usual Victorian-style princess dress and high heels and put on relatively "commoner" flat boots and a knee-length skirt. She also did not wear too much heavy jewelry and felt more free to move around than usual.

The problem is that for the Einzbern family, who have lived in isolation for centuries, what they consider "commoner's clothing" is actually far removed from the realm of "commoner" attire—just look at what kind of "commoner's clothing" Mrs. Irisviel is wearing:

The flowing silk shawl and knee-high leather boots, along with the luxurious silver fox fur coat, all looked like the kind of extravagant clothing you'd only see in the windows of high-end department stores, and they were definitely pricey.

Although they went to great lengths to prepare these "commoner's clothes" in order to disguise themselves as ordinary people, unfortunately, this was only how the Einzbern family perceived them as commoner's clothes...

On the other hand, for Irisviel, who was cherished as a treasure since childhood, only such luxurious attire could match her flowing silver hair and beautiful appearance.

Moreover, a stunning beauty like her will never look like an ordinary person, no matter what she wears.

As for Princess Catherine, who is less than one meter tall, she wore a smaller version of the same style of children's clothing as Mrs. Irisviel.

So when the two walked side by side at the airport, they truly looked like a queen and princess from a fairy tale, so beautiful and dazzling that it was hard to look directly at them.

Whether it was their luxurious and expensive high-end clothing or their gold and silver hair colors, which were extremely rare in the East, everything looked so harmonious and complementary. When the Japanese people around them looked at these two Western beauties, one tall and one short, they were either filled with infatuation and fascination or with envy and jealousy.

"...Hehe, I think it's because Saber is too cute."

Irisviel covered her mouth and laughed.

—As a naturally lively woman who knows how to have fun, Irisviel actually enjoys being the center of attention.

However, her unintentional remark inadvertently touched a nerve with Princess Catherine.

"...First of all, I hate the word 'cute.' Secondly, why have you been calling me Saber since just now?"

Princess Catherine said unhappily, "...That's hardly a proper title! Please call me Your Highness!"

“…Huh? But wouldn’t that reveal your identity to the other contestants?” Irisviel asked, puzzled.

According to the Einzbern family records, the Holy Grail War was a duel between heroic warriors who had once made a name for themselves on the battlefield.

The myths and legends inherited by those heroes often contain information about tactical principles, strengths, weaknesses, and so on.

In other words, the Heroic Spirits had already exposed their skills and weaknesses from the very beginning.

For this reason, during battles, the true identity of a Heroic Spirit must be kept secret as much as possible. When Masters address Heroic Spirits, they usually cannot use their real name or title, but instead use their class as a substitute.

That's why Irisviel continued to refer to Princess Catherine as Saber after leaving the castle.

However, she was unaware that all seven Heroic Spirits in this Holy Grail War actually came from the same place.

"...This matter couldn't possibly be kept secret anyway! Although I might not recognize them, they should all recognize me as the princess!"

Princess Catherine gave her a strange look. "...Didn't I tell you before? Besides me, the six heroic spirits who descended to this world are a god, a silver dragon, a pseudo-dragon, a little fairy, a ghost, and a lowly kobold slave..."

“…Wow! This is the first time I’ve heard of this!” Irisviel’s eyes lit up. “…Do you all know each other?”

"...Heh heh, they should all recognize me, but I don't really recognize them! How could those lowly and humble people possibly be worthy of associating with this princess?" Princess Catherine puffed out her chest arrogantly, striking a very impressive pose.

However, Irisviel laughed, "...Oh, I see, my little princess! Hehe, you look so funny!"

"...What's so funny? And! Drop the 'little' from her! Call me Your Highness!"

"...Hahaha! You look even cuter when you're angry! Come on, my little princess. Don't worry about it."

As Mrs. Irisviel spoke, she took Princess Catherine's hand, half-dragging the flustered girl, and skipped and hopped towards the airport exit. "...Since we've come all the way to Japan, let's go somewhere for a big meal before our war begins."

She announced in a voice as melodious as a song, her expression brighter than ever before.

Even knowing what she, as the Holy Grail, would become as the war progressed, and knowing that her days were numbered, Mrs. Irisviel remained optimistic and cheerful, and accepted her fate with great equanimity.

Laugh when you can, cry when you want to, seize the last moments of your life and enjoy the beauty of this world.

This was Mrs. Irisviel's thought at that moment: to maintain a cheerful and innocent smile even at the very last moment of her life.

So, upon arriving in Japan, Irisviel handed over all her luggage to the homunculus maids who had traveled with her by plane, instructing them to deliver the luggage to Einzbern Castle on the outskirts of Fuyuki City and then return directly to Germany. Then, she and her little guest from another world, Catherine, took a stroll through the foreign city before reuniting with Kiritsugu, considering it a final pre-war pastime.

Unfortunately, even this small and humble dream was not realized by Mrs. Irisviel.

As soon as she stepped out of the departure hall, she saw two familiar figures guarding the door.

"...Huh? Kiritsugu and Maiya? What are you doing at the airport? And...Maiya, are you alright with your injury?"

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Outside the departure hall, Irisviel, Princess Catherine, Kiritsugu Emiya, and Maiya Hisau had already met up before even reaching Fuyuki.

Compared to Mrs. Irisviel, who was dressed in a dignified and elegant manner, Kiritsugu Emiya and Maiya Hisau looked much more disheveled.

Kiritsugu Emiya was in a slightly better condition, though he looked travel-worn and disheveled, as if he had just squeezed onto the subway during rush hour for several hours and then walked dozens of kilometers.

Miss Hisayu Maiya fared much worse. Not only were her clothes almost torn to shreds, but she also had bloodstained bandages wrapped around her head, hands, and legs, and one of her eyes was swollen.

At this moment, she stood outside the bustling airport gate. If she hadn't used a "suggestion magic" on herself beforehand to make ordinary people ignore her injuries, the police would probably have already come over to question her!

The reason why Hisa Maiya ended up in such a sorry state was not mainly because of her brief encounter with the Caster kobold sorcerer Quark at the inn—even the fireballs Quark later fired at her on the street after chasing her out of the inn did not hit her at all.

The problem is that although the kobold warlock Quark did not directly harm her, he attracted the attention of various factions in the city.

In order to escape Quark's pursuit, Hisayu Maiya had no choice but to use the smuggled weapons and engage in a gunfight in the streets.

As a result, she was unlucky enough to be mistaken for a dangerous terrorist and was subjected to a joint operation by the US military, the Japan Self-Defense Forces, and the police in the streets and alleys of Fuyuki City.

Therefore, in order to escape from the encirclement and suppression of the US military, Self-Defense Forces and police stationed in Japan, Hisayu Maiya had to engage in an extremely arduous street battle, leaving herself covered in wounds.

Thanks to the reckless actions of the kobold sorcerer Quark, which drew most of the firepower, and with the timely rescue by Kiritsugu Emiya, Hisau Maiya finally managed to break through the encirclement, suffering only minor injuries.

The problem was that most of the firearms and ammunition that had been smuggled in were lost or consumed during the breakout. In the end, all that could be handed over to Kiritsugu Emiya were fifteen rounds of ammunition and two New Nambu M60 pistols carried by Japanese police officers...