Chapter 164: Rin's suspicion

The Fourth Holy Grail War was brutal. Both her father, Tokiomi Tohsaka, and her uncle, Kariya Matō, lost their lives during that conflict. That war had no true victors, and barely a decade later, the Fifth Holy Grail War began anew.

"Has the Greater Grail truly been corrupted?"

Rin Tohsaka shifted the topic again, her voice tinged with doubt. If what this magus claimed was true, did it mean the lifelong dream of the Tohsaka family—to use the Grail as a means to reach the Root—had been impossible from the start?

"You'll witness the truth at the conclusion of this war," Li Mo replied calmly. "If you're asking about the cause of its corruption… well, it wasn't unforeseeable. During the Third Holy Grail War, when the Einzbern summoned Avenger instead of Ruler, the fate of the Greater Grail was sealed."

He recalled the divergence between the *Fate/stay night* timeline and the *Fate/Apocrypha* timeline. In one, the Einzbern summoned Avenger, leading to the events of *Fate/stay night*. In the other, they summoned Ruler, altering history entirely. Had the latter occurred, Kariya Matō would have died defending the Greater Grail during the Third War.

"If we hadn't handled things properly during the Fourth Holy Grail War, the consequences could have been catastrophic," Li Mo continued. "Kiritsugu Emiya used Command Spells to order Saber to destroy the Grail, but he clearly underestimated the aftermath. Sixty years' worth of corruption stored within the Greater Grail spilled forth, causing the devastating fire that ravaged Fuyuki City ten years ago."

Li Mo glanced briefly at Artoria Pendragon, then turned his gaze toward Shirou Emiya. The former was directly involved in the Fourth Holy Grail War, while the latter was Kiritsugu's adopted son—and one of the few survivors of that fateful blaze.

"Saber, is that true?"

"It is."

Saber responded succinctly. Though she appeared focused on the food before her, closer observation revealed a weight in her eyes, as though recalling memories she'd rather forget.

Li Mo noticed this detail. Saber, Artoria Pendragon, differed significantly from other Servants because she retained memories from previous Holy Grail Wars. Typically, Servants only remembered their lives prior to death and lacked awareness of their existence after becoming Heroic Spirits. However, the mechanisms governing Servant summoning seemed unique in cases like hers—or perhaps even more so for those summoned by Chaldea.

"I've finished eating. Thank you for the meal," Li Mo said, breaking the silence. "Now, regarding the alliance… Shirou Emiya and Rin Tohsaka, what are your thoughts? Shall I convince each of you individually?"

"The Holy Grail War…" Shirou's emotions were complex. Initially, he hadn't wanted to participate at all. Magi and Servants alike felt distant and alien to him. But considering the information now available…

Kiritsugu Emiya participated in the Fourth Holy Grail War, which ultimately led to the great fire that devastated Fuyuki City ten years ago. He couldn't forget that day—the roaring flames acting as grim reapers, harvesting fragile lives. Amidst the ruins, he vaguely remembered seeing Kiritsugu's face, twisted with an almost manic joy.

"—Is this why, Kiritsugu?"

"If the so-called 'Greater Grail' isn't dealt with properly, will it cause another disaster like the one ten years ago in Fuyuki City?" Shirou asked solemnly.

"If left unchecked, the damage it could inflict would far exceed that tragedy," Li Mo explained. "The filth contained within it represents humanity's collective malice. When an unknowing person wields the Greater Grail and makes a wish, that wish becomes warped. For instance, if someone wished for world peace, the Greater Grail might instantly kill every human on Earth. After all, without humans, there can be no conflict—and thus, 'peace' would be achieved."

The essence of *All the World's Evil* transformed the Greater Grail into something purely malevolent. It distorted wishes, steering outcomes toward uncontrollable chaos. Every granted wish carried absolute negativity.

Of course, Li Mo had considered hypothetical scenarios where an evil individual wished for the destruction of the world. What mechanisms would the corrupted Greater Grail employ in such cases? However, pondering these possibilities carried severe implications, so he dismissed them for now.

"Can you handle the Greater Grail appropriately?"

"I believe, under the current circumstances where Clock Tower won't send reinforcements, Caster is the most qualified choice—hands down," Li Mo stated confidently. 

A magus from the Age of Gods: Medea. Due to changes in Earth's foundational rules, modern magi pale in comparison to their ancient counterparts when it comes to wielding true mysteries. Modern magi's average skill level falls far short of what ancient magi once achieved. Thus, entrusting Medea with handling the Greater Grail seemed fitting.

"I'm willing to form an alliance, just like Sakura Matō has chosen," Shirou said cautiously.

"Hold on, Shirou. Are you trusting him so easily?" Rin interjected sharply. "The Holy Grail War hasn't even ended yet, and he's already planning post-war arrangements. How do we know this isn't just an excuse for him to monopolize the Grail?"

"How can I assure you this isn't merely my pretext to seize the Grail?" Li Mo countered smoothly. "Shirou and Sakura have no desire for the Grail—they aren't traditional magi. But what about you, Rin? And me? We know nothing substantial about each other."

In a distant land, an ancient nation preserved its own distinct lineage of mysteries. Back then, the paths of magic diverged greatly from those pursued today. Historically, Onmyōji practitioners may have tread similar roads, but for families like the Tohsaka, who embraced Western magecraft, such traditions remained foreign. As for this man—who abandoned his homeland's mysteries to walk the path of magecraft—his identity remained shrouded in mystery to Rin.

After a brief pause, Li Mo directed his attention to Red Archer, seated nearby. "What are your thoughts, red Archer?"

"I'm more curious about something else," Red Archer replied evasively. "How did you come to know our identities?"