When was it…that Zouken first noticed the existence of this outsider?
By the time Zouken realized that both Tokiomi Tohsaka and Kirei Kotomine had marks of Command Seals, Zouken didn't even have a single candidate to fight.
The second son, Kariya Matou, had long since abandoned the family, and the eldest son, Byakuya Matou, was utterly useless.
My choices were few and far between. It was as if, if I could not make a decision soon, this Holy Grail War would eliminate one of the founding families.
But at that moment, Zouken saw it—
A peculiar individual, whose movements were erratic and elusive, to the point that even his familiars could not fully track his presence.
After observing for half a month, Zouken Matou had begun to discern the traces of his actions.
Though Zouken still could not comprehend his exact movements, he was certain that this individual had not come to Fuyuki City for any mundane human reason.
Not engaged in any work, wandering idly every day, often disappearing for half a day before reappearing in the city.
His movements alone could not prove anything, but the inability to justify his actions was, in itself, the greatest suspicion.
If his motives could not be understood from the perspective of human society, then they must belong to the world of the supernatural.
There were not many mysteries lurking in Fuyuki—only the magic ritual that had persisted for two hundred years:
The Holy Grail War.
Zouken was highly confident that this man, Alaric, had come for the Holy Grail War, despite the extremely weak magical response observed by his familiars.
Yet, Zouken was confident that he could help Alaric enhance his magic circuits and raise his standards to the level required to participate in the Holy Grail War.
To have evaded his familiars for so long, Alaric must possess unique abilities.
It was precisely because of this that Zouken trusted his judgment.
And the moment Zouken's voice resonated from the black butterfly, Alaric reacted as if he had just heard something unbelievable. He immediately turned around, kneeling on the bench, pressing his hands against the backrest to lift his body.
With a face full of surprise and delight, Alaric stared intently at the butterfly clinging to the wall, as if trying to pull out the consciousness hidden within it.
Then, with a curious expression, he asked:
"The Holy Grail War? What gave me away?"
Alaric had long noticed that Zouken had been observing him, but he had not expected him to deduce his objective.
Although he had been keeping a low profile to avoid detection, now that he had been exposed, Alaric showed no concern.
Especially considering that the Matou family was now barely distinguishable from decline, the only thing he needed to be wary of was the connection between the Matou and Tohsaka families.
As one of the Three Founding Families, if something major happened to the Matou, it would be difficult to keep it from the Tohsaka's watchful eyes.
Thus, even after noticing Zouken's gaze, Alaric had ignored it for quite some time, knowing that his familiars could not keep up with him.
This situation only changed when Alaric learned that the Holy Grail had begun selecting Masters and, in doing so, caught a glimpse of All the World's Evils within it.
To become a Master and summon a Servant to aid him in analyzing the Holy Grail.
["Kehaha, of course, this old one can see what you seek, Magus!"]
The butterfly flapped its wings, letting out an unsettling laugh, its decayed essence revealing its intentions before Alaric:
"If you wish to participate in the Holy Grail War, then cooperate with me!
Only magi of sufficient caliber will be chosen by the Grail. If you seek to enter the war, I can help you!"
Upon hearing Alaric's response, Zouken became even more certain of his identity as a magus. Now, all Zouken needed was confirmation from the Clock Tower's intelligence network.
As a magus who had maintained contact with the Clock Tower for years, before attempting to form an alliance with Liye, Zouken needed to verify his identity.
If he were a genuine magus, then he would undoubtedly be registered with the Clock Tower—
Unaware of Zouken's thoughts, Alaric nodded as if suddenly enlightened:
"So, you're saying you'll help me strengthen my magical aptitude so that the Holy Grail will choose me?"
There were still three years until the Great Holy Grail accumulated enough mana to initiate the true Holy Grail War. During this time, anyone had the chance to become a Master and participate in the conflict.
But to Alaric, that didn't matter much.
"If you're looking for someone to fight in the Holy Grail War for you, just ask your son."
Unmoved by Zouken's offer, Alaric said with a playful smile:
"Oh, and you'll have to make a contract with me—one that ensures you won't leak any of my information.
That's not something you can refuse, Matou Zouken."
Before the words even fully left his mouth, a gem-like luster spread across his irises, replacing the pale-gold dragon's eyes with something far more terrifying—Death, in its most absolute form.
["You…!"]
If he had merely rejected Zouken's offer, Zouken wouldn't have been particularly upset.
Alaric was simply a good option, not his only option.
What Zouken could not tolerate, however, was his threat—and the fear it instilled in him.
Even if it was just a verbal threat, the moment Alaric revealed his Mystic Eyes, Zouken's body, far away in the Matou estate, began trembling uncontrollably—on the verge of breaking apart into a swarm of insects.
Zouken was afraid to approach him. Zouken was afraid to touch him.
Even through the familiar's vision, Zouken instinctively shuddered. His insect-ridden body, down to its very cells and nerves, screamed in terror—
Stay away! Stay away! Stay away, stay away, stay away!!!
The fear of death had long been engraved into Zouken's decayed soul. The overwhelming will to survive had already replaced all his grand ambitions—leaving only the desperate desire to live, by any means necessary.
And when faced with Alaric, that survival instinct peaked in an instant, as if even continuing this conversation was an act of defiance against life itself.
What the hell is this guy?!!!
Zouken couldn't comprehend him at all—Zouken couldn't understand!
His fear reached its zenith in an instant. Zouken could no longer endure this situation.
"Don't move. I know where you live."
Just as Zouken was about to dismiss his familiar and cut off communication with Alaric...
"If you run, I'll have to come find you at your house."
'——'
["I underestimated you."]
Forcing down the fear that threatened to consume Zouken, he saw that Alaric had no intention of making a move—so he continued:
["You're not a magus. Are you an Executor?"]
Most magi dedicate themselves to researching Magecraft, striving to reach the Root, and generally lack combat prowess, relying on Mystic Codes for protection.
Magus like Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald, who crafted top-tier Mystic Codes, were among the strongest of their kind.
But Alaric was different. Zouken was certain that just those eyes alone could kill him!
What are those eyes?!
Unable to grasp the answer, Zouken finally understood what made Alaric so unsettling.
A weak magical response, yet an absolute physical presence!
Could he be an Executor from the Holy Church? Or perhaps… someone who walked out from the Burial Agency?!
That thought crossed Zouken's mind.
The Burial Agency was the Church's most elite combat unit.
They possessed overwhelming battle prowess and were granted the authority to eliminate any heretic—even if they were a Cardinal.
But the Church already had people stationed in Fuyuki, including the Kotomine father and son, who were connected to the Eighth Sacrament and Holy Relics…
Zouken just can't figure it out, not at all.
Matou Zouken, overwhelmed by his fear of death, had started spiraling into wild thoughts, stretching Alaric's identity to an absurd extent.
While Matou Zouken was caught in his mental storm, Alaric simply waved his hand, trying to pull his attention back.
"Sign the contract."
After witnessing the contract of the Three Goddess Alliance, Alaric, who had studied at the Clock Tower, paid special attention to magic related to contracts. While his primary studies focused on general foundations, and his secondary studies covered individual foundations, creation, and astromancy magecraft, he also added curses to his curriculum.
Though he hadn't made much progress, he still learned basic contract magecraft.
Its binding force was weak, and it was easy to break.
But Alaric found it amusing.
When he saw Matou Zouken, he realized immediately that the old man posed no real threat—he was pathetically weak.
["Fine, this old man will sign a contract with you."]
Suppressing the storm in his mind, Matou Zouken concluded—so long as it didn't threaten his life, anything else was acceptable.
"By the way, how about letting me take a look at your family's magical texts?"
Just as they were about to sign the contract, Alaric suddenly spoke.
"Since no one in your family is inheriting magecraft anymore, why not let me have a look?"
As one of the Three Founding Families, the Matou family's magical texts were bound to contain extensive knowledge about the Holy Grail system. Furthermore, the Matou were the ones who provided the Command Seal technology, making their knowledge vastly different from the widely available information at the Clock Tower—it was truly a hidden treasure trove!
"This isn't a negotiation."
Resting his chin on one hand, Alaric smiled.
"Old man Matou, you wouldn't want to be kicked out before the Holy Grail War even begins, would you?"
It was nothing more than a verbal threat—he hadn't even displayed an ounce of force.
Yet, Alaric succeeded. Without needing Matou Zouken to guide him, Alaric set off immediately and, after taking some time, entered the Matou residence directly.
...
Due to Matou Zouken's peculiar nature, not many people were usually active in the mansion. Even after Alaric ignored the barriers set up around the estate and forcefully entered, the only person he encountered was—
A four-year-old boy, dressed in a pure white shirt and black trousers.
Despite his young age, he displayed a remarkable level of intelligence, as if he understood the disparity between people.
Even when Alaric barged into the mansion, the boy did not cry out in alarm—because from the shadows emerged the person he revered the most—his grandfather.
A man his father feared and revered.
The only magus left in the Matou family.
A being meant to stand above ordinary people...
The Matou were a family of magi—a special lineage.
Though that was already a thing of the past. There was no one left who could practice Matou magecraft, and in the future, the family would fully integrate into society as ordinary people.
But Shinji believed that even if the family could no longer wield magecraft, the knowledge accumulated in their magical texts remained. That alone made their family special.
He took pride in being part of this special family, and as the only son, he would one day become its heir.
At least, that was how it was supposed to be.
But with the arrival of a certain man, everything crumbled.
Even his almighty grandfather bowed before this man, surrendering the family's magical texts without resistance.
Their family's knowledge and wealth, which should have belonged to them, were now completely taken by this man.
The young heir's pride—shattered in a single day.
...
Time passed quickly. Hours after Alaric entered the Matou residence, night had fallen.
"You're Shinji, right?"
Having finished reading through the texts, Alaric was about to leave the Matou residence. He planned to return in a few days, but on his way out, he once again encountered the blue-haired boy.
"Are you a magus?"
Ever since Alaric stepped into the mansion, Matou Shinji had been silent. Now, he gazed at the man who had shattered his family's pride.
"Are you a magus stronger than my grandfather?"
Step. Step.
Alaric halted in front of Shinji and crouched down, his long, pure-white hair tied into a ponytail swaying in the wind. With a smile, Alaric replied:
"In terms of magecraft, I'm not as skilled as your grandfather right now.
After all, five hundred years of accumulated knowledge isn't something that can be surpassed overnight."
"But—"
Grandfather isn't as powerful as you, is he?
The young Shinji thought to himself.
But Alaric didn't continue the conversation—he simply turned and left.
...
In the days that followed, Matou Shinji continued to see Alaric at the mansion every few days. Though they rarely spoke, during idle moments, Shinji found that he could occasionally chat with Alaric.
Seasons passed—spring turned to autumn, and winter thawed into spring once more.
Years flew by.
During this time, Alaric not only interacted with the Matou family but also often encountered the Tohsaka family when they went out.
For some reason, whenever Alaric was out relaxing, he seemed to run into the two Tohsaka sisters quite frequently.
As the Holy Grail War approached, a crucial event occurred—due to Alaric's intervention, the agreement between Matou Zouken and Tohsaka Tokiomi never came to fruition.
As a result, Matou Byakuya never adopted Tohsaka Sakura as his daughter.
Instead, she was only given the Matou name and allowed to stay at the Tohsaka residence.
She and Tohsaka Rin remained sisters in bond, though their last names differed.
Tohsaka Tokiomi hadn't expected this outcome, but as long as Matou Zouken passed down the family's knowledge to Matou Sakura, he considered it acceptable.
Sakura's talent would not be wasted.
Tohsaka Tokiomi could accept any circumstance—as long as that remained true.
Yet, he was never informed of the true reason for this change.
It was merely a verbal agreement between Alaric and Matou Zouken—the family's participants in the Holy Grail War had to be from their bloodline.
If Zouken chose not to participate, that was fine.
But if he wished to enter the war, he had only one candidate left—Matou Kariya.
The man who had once been the heir to the family, only to abandon it in defiance.
But that was not Alaric's concern.
...
Two years passed in the blink of an eye.
With the Matou family's magical texts in hand, Alaric made significant progress in analyzing the Holy Grail.
At the very least, it was no longer incomprehensible to him.
While he understood the Greater Grail's leyline connection ritual, the Third Magic hidden within still eluded him—almost as if it would only reveal itself at the final moment.
Alaric wasn't the only one preparing.
Tohsaka Tokiomi, too, was making final preparations for the Holy Grail War.
Meanwhile, Kotomine Kirei had been assigned to the Mage's Association, becoming Tokiomi's student.
Though not from a magus lineage, Kirei was born with magic circuits due to his father's deep faith, granting him the ability to manifest mysteries.
Now under Tokiomi's tutelage, he studied various magical disciplines—alchemy, necromancy, summoning, and divination.
Though he had no particular specialty, he was developing in a well-rounded manner.
Everything was in preparation for the upcoming war.
...
One winter day—
"Teacher, that young man has met with your wife and daughters again."
Kotomine Kirei, ever expressionless, faithfully reported his observations.
For two years, Alaric's activities in Fuyuki had finally caught the attention of both Tohsaka Tokiomi and the Church representatives, the Kotomine family.
And the reason was simple—his interactions with Tohsaka Aoi and her daughters had become too frequent.
Their encounters in the park seemed coincidental, but Tokiomi began investigating Alaric's identity.
Eventually, he discovered that Alaric was a dropout from the Clock Tower—an inexperienced mage of no real threat.
Thus, he dismissed Alaric as irrelevant.
And so, time continued to pass.
The final year passed quietly, and finally, the Greater Grail System, which had been absorbing the magical energy of the earth's ley lines, reached its moment of fulfillment. An invisible summons called forth all those chosen as Masters to Fuyuki, where they would participate in this false war.
Deep within the vast underground cavern—
Standing alone before the Greater Grail, Alaric could feel the vessel overflowing with magical energy. Under the influence of the Grail itself, this power could be described as limitless!
It had reached the same magical energy level as the Greater Grail of Goetia, and even deeper within, traces of the Third Magic lay hidden!
Unable to contain his excitement, Alaric spread his arms wide, his golden dragon-like eyes fixed intently on the physical manifestation of the Great Holy Grail—there was nothing else in his gaze.
After years of waiting and effort—finally, today, they would bear fruit!
"It's finally beginning—the Fourth Holy Grail War!"