Chapter 73: There’s a Reason Why the Tohsaka Family Can Summon Gilgamesh

"Sakura? Yes, she still lives with the Matou family, but she's been visiting the Emiya household a lot lately. She looks pretty happy... Is there a problem?"

Tohsaka Rin had always kept an eye on her younger sister, though she had never pried into the specifics of the Matou family's magecraft due to the unspoken rule against investigating other families' magical inheritances.

She had always assumed that the Matou family's magecraft had declined.

"As soon as we resolve the situation here, bring her out immediately! Even if it means going to war with the Matou family, so be it!"

Tohsaka Tokiomi didn't even have the energy to complain about another timeline where Sakura had also ended up in a family with the surname Emiya. He simply gave Rin a father's command, his voice filled with urgency.

"As things stand, the only combat-capable magus in the Matou family is that old relic, Zouken Matou. As long as we have Servants, breaking through their defenses won't be an issue. The only thing to watch out for is whether Zouken himself is a Master."

"But wasn't it you who decided to give Sakura to the Matou family?"

Faced with her father, who had completely lost his composure, Rin's heart pounded. The Tohsaka and Matou families had been close allies for generations. Though they had grown distant in recent years, the Matou family still cooperated with the Tohsaka in managing the ley lines. What could have possibly angered her father to this extent?

"That was the old Matou family—not the current one. Their magecraft now... the insect magecraft..."

Tokiomi glanced at his grown-up daughter. In this timeline, he had not been around to support her—Rin had been forced to bear everything alone. He couldn't shield this Rin under his wings. And so, he chose to lay everything bare.

Hearing Tokiomi's explanation, Atalanta's face darkened. She clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms.

"To do such things to a child...! Little girl, don't worry. Even if this useless man won't help, I will stand by you!"

Jason sprang up in protest. "Hey, what kind of thing is that to say!? Of course, I'm going to help too! Look, don't we have Heracles here? Against a twisted magus like that, Heracles can just—"

"It sounds like something interesting... valuable for research. Perhaps I should collect some samples."

Asclepius spoke with unsettling calm, but whether he was truly interested in gathering materials was beside the point.

"...How could this happen? Sakura, she..."

Only now did Rin fully grasp what had been done to her sister. When she turned to face her father, there was blame in her eyes.

"I understand now. I will end this battle as quickly as possible. Assassin, I have no intention of fighting you right now. But to preserve my combat strength, I must claim victory. I won't hold back!"

"...I am the same... This is for my Master... I cannot allow myself to lose!"

Serenity responded with equal determination. She fought for Jiang You—other Masters' tragedies were not her concern.

"Then let's begin. [Tohsaka Tokiomi]'s effect: When a Special Summon is successful, I can add one [Gem] Spell Card to my hand."

[Tohsaka Tokiomi]★3 ATK 1200

"The card I'm adding is [Inherited Jeweled Necklace]. Now, I activate [Tohsaka Rin]'s effect from my hand. Once per turn, I can send one [Gem] Spell to the Graveyard to Special Summon myself in Attack Position!"

[Tohsaka Rin]★3 ATK 1200

"Father, I have always longed for the day I could stand by your side, fighting alongside you."

Rin lifted her head, trying to appear strong—so her tears wouldn't fall.

"Is that so? Because of my mistakes, you've suffered a great deal, haven't you?"

Tokiomi had already accepted his failure. He had no right to expect too much from this version of Rin—nor did he deserve to.

"Running a family alone must be exhausting. When I inherited the Tohsaka name from my father, I made many mistakes as well. Rin, you're already far more capable than I was!"

"Hearing you say that makes me very happy. Now, let's continue the duel! I activate [Inherited Jeweled Necklace]'s effect. From my hand or deck, I Special Summon one Level 5 or lower Archer Servant. The summoned Servant's effect is negated for this turn. I choose to summon the great huntress who once repelled the Calydonian Boar—[Atalanta]!"

[Atalanta]★4 ATK 2000

A green-haired, feline-like huntress gracefully leaped onto the battlefield, bow drawn and ready.

"Rin, let me aid you in this as well. Those who harm children... must not be forgiven!"

Having learned of Sakura's suffering, Atalanta seethed with barely contained fury. She longed to unleash her Noble Phantasm against Zouken Matou that very instant.

"Thank you, Atalanta. Due to [Tohsaka Tokiomi]'s effect, every time we activate a Spell, the opponent takes 250 LP damage, and I recover 250 LP. And since I have the same effect as my father, that's a total of 500 damage to the opponent and 500 LP restored to me!"

Rin and Tokiomi simultaneously unleashed a barrage of gem-infused magical blasts at Serenity. The shattered gemstones became catalysts for healing magecraft, restoring Rin's vitality.

Rin's LP: 4000 → 4500Serenity's LP: 4000 → 3500

"Ah!"

Serenity let out a small cry as the duel's damage transferred to her body. But this was only the beginning.

"Next, I activate [Emerald Magecraft of Sacrifice]! I send one [Gem] Spell to the Graveyard to add another to my hand. Father, let's activate another spell together!"

Rin's LP: 4500 → 5000Serenity's LP: 3500 → 3000

"It's not over yet! [Brilliant Sapphire Magecraft]! I can only activate this when there are three or more [Gem] Spells in the Graveyard. I shuffle three back into the deck and draw one card!"

Once again, their gem-based magecraft took effect, creating a massive disparity in life points—right from the first turn.

Rin's LP: 5000 → 5500Serenity's LP: 3000 → 2500

A relentless cascade of direct damage sent Serenity to her knees, pain wracking her body.

"As expected of my Master! My Master, the strongest of them all!"

Jason couldn't help but praise Rin. As a magus, her talent was outstanding.

"But of course!"

Rin accepted Jason's praise as if it were only natural. "However, Father and I can only use our [Gem] Spell effect three times per turn. I set my last card in the back row and end my turn!"

"...My turn... Draw! It's not over yet... Everything I do is for my Master!"