Tenkei Shiomi squinted as sunlight filtered through the chapel's stained-glass window, the glare whitening his vision.
Slowly, he shook off the drowsiness. He hadn't even realized he'd dozed off in a place like this.
Heavy, deliberate footsteps echoed through the wooden floorboards. An elderly priest approached, entering Shiomi's field of view from the left.
This was the priest in charge of the church—Risei Kotomine, nearly eighty years old. His eyes were clouded with age, but even squinting as they were, they revealed a mind still sharp and clear.
"Getting impatient?" Father Risei asked calmly, addressing Shiomi with the gentleness one used for someone far younger.
Shiomi withdrew his arms from the back of the wooden pew, shifting from a reclined position to sitting upright. His right hand slowly lowered to rest on the silver-haired girl napping on his lap.
"No, I came here for that anyway. Waiting a bit longer doesn't matter," Shiomi replied nonchalantly. "But Father Risei, your son still hasn't shown up."
"As you know, it's only been a year since he lost his wife. He's now studying Magecraft under Tokiomi-kun, preparing for the Holy Grail War two years from now. He likely doesn't have time to spare... not even to visit his own daughter," Father Risei explained solemnly, his gaze resting on the little girl in Shiomi's arms.
Caren Hortensia.
She was the daughter of Risei Kotomine's son, Kirei Kotomine, and an Italian woman he had married. The marriage lasted only two years before his wife passed away. Knowing he couldn't care for his two-year-old daughter, Kirei entrusted her to Tenkei Shiomi, who happened to be in Italy at the time.
The two had previously worked together on joint missions that required cooperation between the Church's Executors and the Mage's Association. Because of that connection, Caren was left in Shiomi's care.
Though even now, Shiomi hadn't decided whether to change Caren's surname and formally adopt her.
"That's a shame..." Shiomi muttered, scratching his head.
Was it really that he couldn't spare the time, or did he simply not want to come? Shiomi wasn't sure if Kirei felt anything at all for the daughter he'd handed off.
Kirei Kotomine was... off. Something about him didn't sit right.
That was the strongest impression Tenkei Shiomi had formed after working with the priest on multiple missions.
"But looking at how she's doing now, entrusting her to you might've been the best decision Kirei ever made," Father Risei said. "Neither of us could have cared for Caren properly."
"Oh, it's nothing. I just happened to want to settle down, so I figured it wouldn't be a problem," Shiomi said with a casual smile, waving his hand dismissively.
But truthfully, he couldn't tell either Father Risei or Kirei that this was all because of some bizarre "will" compelling him to do it.
[Mission: Adopt Caren Hortensia— Complete.]
If it weren't for that mission, there was no way he would've just happened to be in Italy, right when Kirei's wife died.
Shiomi often wanted to question the necessity of all this.
But that will—or perhaps it was better to call it the "system"—was unreliable at best.
The first time it appeared was when he survived the Land of Shadows.
The second time was when he left that realm and returned to the outside world, receiving a so-called [Land of Shadows Training Mission Reward.]
And the reward… was simply a flawless Mage's Association registration as a certified magus.
In the four or five years since then, Shiomi hadn't received a single new mission.
He'd figured it out completely...
Shiomi had silently cursed that broken-down system more than once.
Only missions. Only penalties for failure. No clear rewards.
Sometimes you got something. More often, you didn't. Even slavery had clearer terms than this…
And now, the reason Tenkei Shiomi brought Caren to Japan and came to the Kotomine Church in Fuyuki City—
[New Mission: Adopt the Tohsaka family's second daughter, Sakura Tohsaka.]
[She's a once-in-a-century prodigy with Imaginary Number attributes. Don't miss the chance while the Tohsaka family is struggling with how to handle their overly talented children~ ❤]
[If you fail, all that awaits a third-rate magus is GAME OVER~ ❤ Ehehe~]
Ehehe, your dumb ass!
Just imagining that bratty tone made Shiomi want to yell.
This was 1992 in Japan—there shouldn't even be concepts like that yet.
...Though sometimes, Shiomi couldn't help but wonder why he had such oddly modern knowledge.
"Tokiomi-kun is already at the church entrance. He'll be coming in shortly."
Risei Kotomine had no idea what was running through Tenkei Shiomi's mind. He simply appreciated the young man's relaxed demeanor, unfazed no matter the situation.
After all, Shiomi was one of the few outstanding Magus in the Mage's Association, and had only recently been awarded the Pride rank.
He was in no way inferior to Kirei, Father Risei's pride and joy.
"Is that so?"
Just as Shiomi agreed, the chapel doors creaked open.
A man in a dark red suit stepped inside. Though he looked no older than Shiomi, who publicly claimed to have just turned twenty, his composed demeanor and commanding presence gave him an unmistakable air of distinction.
Tokiomi Tohsaka.
He was the person Tenkei Shiomi had come to the church to meet.
By his side was a young girl with black hair and blue eyes—presumably Sakura Tohsaka.
Shiomi gently picked up the still-drowsy Caren, rose from the pew, and turned to face the approaching Tohsaka father and daughter.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Mr. Shiomi. This is my daughter, Sakura Tohsaka." Tokiomi introduced his shy daughter.
It was a solemn church setting on a day of rest, surrounded by unfamiliar adults. A scene that could easily unsettle a child her age.
"So you've finally decided to accept my request and entrust your daughter to me for her training." Shiomi gave a perfect smile.
Tokiomi responded with grace, "For Sakura to inherit Magecraft from a disciple of Grand Magus Touko Aozaki is a rare opportunity."
No one knew where Tenkei Shiomi came from, nor which Magecraft lineage he belonged to. But no one asked.
However, since his Magecraft included the primordial Runes, he claimed, per the system's suggestion, to be a disciple of Touko Aozaki.
Though Tokiomi had other options—like the Matou family in Fuyuki or the Edelfelt family, with whom he'd severed ties for over sixty years—he was moved when the request came through Risei Kotomine.
The secrets of Primordial Runes and Puppetcraft were unattainable even for Tokiomi. They were the closely guarded arts of the Grand Puppeteer.
If Sakura could inherit that legacy, Tokiomi would no longer need to worry about her future.
"Mm." Shiomi nodded with satisfaction. With this, his mission would be fulfilled.
He crouched and extended his hand to Sakura. At the same moment, Tokiomi gave her a gentle nudge forward.
"From today, I will be your father." As Shiomi said the words, he felt an odd awkwardness.
After all, he now had two daughters without even being married. It probably wouldn't make finding a spouse any easier in the future.
"..."
Sakura hesitated and stopped in front of him. She didn't take his hand, instead turning back to Tokiomi with a look of confusion and reluctance.
"Go on, Sakura." Tokiomi's resolute tone carried the same trace of reluctance.
At that moment, Caren awoke. Shiomi gently set her down on the floor.
Tokiomi, having already been informed about Caren by Father Risei, didn't question anything.
"Let me formally introduce you. Her name is Caren. She's one year younger than you," Shiomi said with a smile to Sakura. "Starting today, you'll be her big sister, Sakura."
"...Big sister..." Sakura repeated softly.
She instinctively touched the ribbon by her temple.
As if something had stirred within her, the gloom in her eyes faded, replaced by a shy, joyful glow. A faint blush colored her cheeks.
Sakura stepped forward and took Caren's hand in greeting.
Seeing how smoothly things were progressing, Tokiomi smiled with quiet relief.
...
Later, Shiomi joined Tokiomi and Father Risei outside in the church courtyard for a casual chat.
"So, the next Holy Grail War will be in two years?" Shiomi asked, piqued by the subject.
Tokiomi nodded. "Yes. But any Magus who steps onto the land of Fuyuki will be influenced by the Grail and may receive a Command Spell."
"Unfortunately, I haven't seen any signs of a Command Spell yet." Shiomi raised the back of his hand as if to prove his innocence.
He truly hadn't received one. Whether it was due to his mindset or because the Holy Grail was waiting for something, he couldn't say.
Tokiomi made a light joke. "Then I can assume, at least for now, that you won't be my opponent in this Grail War. That would be... troublesome."
"It's too soon to say," Father Risei interjected. "Shiomi will be residing in Fuyuki until the Holy Grail War begins. There's still a chance he'll receive a Command Spell."
Shiomi looked surprised. "Then, if I really do obtain a Command Spell and become your opponent in the Holy Grail War..."
"Then let us wager our pride as Magi and face each other in battle," Tokiomi replied, his expression shifting from that of a father to that of a true Magus.
"But—" Shiomi glanced over at Sakura and Caren playing on the grass. "How about this: let's make a gentleman's agreement. If we're forced to fight in the Holy Grail War, we'll go no further than determining a victor. We won't aim to take each other's lives."
Tokiomi understood what Shiomi meant. After a brief pause, the two made a gentleman's agreement under Father Risei's witness.
...
Since Tokiomi and Risei still had matters to discuss, Shiomi left first, taking Caren and Sakura with him.
The moment he sat down in the driver's seat and gripped the steering wheel, a burning pain shot through his hand.
On the back of his left hand appeared three distinct, interconnected sigils glowing with magical energy.
A Command Spell.
[Did you really think the mission ended just because you adopted Sakura Tohsaka?
Of course not. Mission objective updated: participate in the Fourth Holy Grail War.
Struggle hideously to your last breath, new Magus who's stepped out from the Land of Shadows ❤]