[As Kotomine Risei was chanting the spell, a Command Seal suddenly appeared on Kayneth's hand.]
["Please continue to fight with honor as a Master."]
["Bang!!!"]
[A gunshot rang out, and Kotomine Risei fell to the ground in a pool of blood.]
[Kayneth had shot Kotomine Risei, his expression twisted with fury.]
[Video paused.]
[Question: Why did Kayneth kill Kotomine Risei?]
Kotomine Risei: "I'm dead!"
Kotomine Kirei: "..."
Kayneth: "Uh, this…"
Tohsaka Tokiomi: "Kayneth, why would you do this?"
Kayneth: "Don't ask me; I have no idea."
The version of himself in the video seemed to have fallen into an extreme state. Kayneth couldn't comprehend his own actions.
Moreover, he was using a pistol, something he'd always looked down upon as crude. What could have possibly driven him to this point?
Waver: "Could it be that the professor found out Kotomine Risei was being deceitful and got angry…"
Tohsaka Rin: "Isn't that a bit of a stretch for murder?"
Emiya Kiritsugu: "It was to prevent anyone else from obtaining the Command Seals."
Kayneth: "Ha! That's something you would think of, Emiya. Don't assume everyone shares your ruthlessness."
[Ding! Congratulations to Emiya Kiritsugu for answering correctly. He receives 3 Saint Quartz.]
Kayneth: "…"
Kotomine Risei: "..."
Waver: "...so the professor in the video really did get pushed to the edge."
Kayneth: "No, that couldn't have been me!"
Impossible. There was no way he, Kayneth Archibald, would fall to such lows like Emiya Kiritsugu.
[Video continues.]
["There's only one Command Seal left, and the situation is dire. I can't let anyone else acquire it."]
[Kayneth, still in his wheelchair, slowly left the church.]
Kayneth: "…"
The evidence was damning.
He now wished he could reach into the video and strangle himself. This was beyond embarrassing.
[In an abandoned building, Kayneth's new base…]
[Kayneth, having just learned that Sola-ui had been captured, began venting his anger on Diarmuid.]
["You useless fool! You talk about chivalry, but you can't even protect a woman!"]
["Your so-called 'honor' is laughable."]
[Diarmuid, feeling the weight of his failure, bowed his head. "I am deeply ashamed."]
[Kayneth was unrelenting, continuing his tirade: "For all your boasts, you can't even protect your Master. What good are you as a Servant?"]
Diarmuid couldn't endure the scolding any longer. He tried to explain, "Forgive me, my lord, but I don't have a formal contract with Lady Sola-ui, which limits my ability to sense her condition."
["And yet you didn't think to be more vigilant?!"]
[Kayneth was angrier than ever.]
[Diarmuid replied, "The mana flow hasn't been severed. Lady Sola-ui should still be alive."]
[Kayneth: "Knowing that she's alive is pointless if we can't find her."]
[The argument between them escalated, their tension palpable.]
---
Diarmuid: "..."
Kayneth: "..."
Curse it all. Why did today's video have to focus so much on his blunders? Why did it only show his worst moments?
Waver: "Professor, it looks like you really do resent Diarmuid a lot."
Tohsaka Rin: "Even if he failed to protect his fiancée, scolding him this much seems excessive."
Chihiro: "Let's not forget the interaction between Sola-ui and Diarmuid in yesterday's video."
Waver: "...Ah, that's right."
Tohsaka Rin: "My condolences, Professor Kayneth."
Kayneth: "What nonsense are you all talking about?"
Diarmuid: "Lady Sola-ui and I have no such relationship."
Sola-ui: "… …"
[After the heated exchange, Kayneth began to blame himself for letting Sola-ui participate in the war.]
[Diarmuid tried to console him, only to be further insulted by Kayneth.]
[Kayneth brought up Diarmuid's historical grudge with his former lord, Finn.]
[Clearly, Kayneth was aware of Sola-ui's feelings toward Diarmuid, which fueled his resentment.]
[His hurtful remarks struck a nerve, almost pushing Diarmuid to the breaking point as he clenched his red spear tightly in frustration.]
[Kayneth noticed Diarmuid's reaction but remained unperturbed, flashing the Command Seal as a reminder of his control.]
[It was evident that Kayneth had abandoned all pretenses of honor and civility.]
[He continued his verbal assault, taunting Diarmuid mercilessly.]
[Diarmuid eventually sensed someone approaching, forcing him to hold back his anger.]
Gilgamesh: "Kayneth, you're rather impressive at pushing people's buttons."
The First Emperor: "I think we need to have a serious talk, Kayneth."
Iskandar: "So, this is how you regard us Servants, is it?"
Earlier in the video, during his rant against Diarmuid, Kayneth had made it clear that he viewed Heroic Spirits as mere tools, a comment that had angered several of them.
Kayneth: "…"
This was the second time today he wished he could dive into the video and silence his past self.
All he wanted was to berate Diarmuid. Why did he have to offend all Heroic Spirits in the process?
Now he was in hot water.
Kayneth: "You're all reading too much into this. That was only something said in the heat of the moment. It doesn't reflect my true beliefs."
Artoria: "If it's something you said, then it's part of who you are."
Kayneth: "…"
Fine. Perhaps it was better to stay silent for the rest of the video.
[A car pulled up outside the abandoned building—it was Irisviel and Artoria.]
[They had arrived after receiving a message from Emiya Kiritsugu.]
[Diarmuid stepped out of the building, ready to confront the intruders.]
[Immediately, Diarmuid asked about Sola-ui's whereabouts, but Artoria and Irisviel were clueless.]
[Realizing they were telling the truth, Diarmuid stood down.]
Waver: "Something feels off here."
Chihiro: "It's a trap, clear as day. How did you not realize this, Diarmuid?"
Diarmuid: "..."
---
[Diarmuid: "Saber, you didn't come here just to chat, did you?"]
[Artoria: "Of course not. I'm here to finish our duel from before."]
[Diarmuid raised an eyebrow, replying, "You've already used your Noble Phantasm once tonight to deal with Caster. You must be low on mana."]
Everyone watching felt the same way.
[Artoria reverted to her blue armor, Excalibur in hand, and smiled slightly. "Then no one else will interfere with us tonight. This duel shall be ours alone."]
["Indeed, though it's nearly dawn, this is the perfect opportunity."]
[Diarmuid grinned, saying, "Saber, nothing can soothe my restlessness like your fighting spirit."]
--
Chihiro: "It's supposed to be a duel, but your words make it sound like a confession."
Tohsaka Rin: "I can't deny, it does feel strangely romantic."
Artoria: "Really? It seems normal to me."
Irisviel: "Uh, well… I suppose… it could be interpreted that way."
[Without further delay, Artoria and Diarmuid engaged in their second knightly duel.]
[Though Artoria's mana reserves were depleted, Diarmuid had lost one of his Noble Phantasms, evening the odds for both sides.]
[Video paused.]
[Question: What will be the outcome of the duel between Artoria and Diarmuid?]
Waver: "Are we supposed to predict the outcome again?"
Tohsaka Rin: "Isn't it obvious? Saber will surely win."
[Ding! Congratulations to Tohsaka Rin for partially answering the question correctly. She receives 1 Saint Quartz.]
Tohsaka Rin: "＼(＠＾０＾＠)/!"
Diarmuid: "It seems I lose in the end."
Artoria: "It's just a video. Victory or defeat here doesn't define us."
Waver: "But the question only gave you part of the points. We still need to know how Saber wins."
Iskandar: "What's there to explain? She wins through skill and determination, as any true knight would."
[Ding! The Conqueror King answered incorrectly. 1 Saint Quartz will be deducted.]
Iskandar: "Hmm? What does that mean?"
Tohsaka Tokiomi: "It suggests that Saber didn't win through the duel itself."
Waver: "Could it be… Emiya Kiritsugu took the opportunity to attack my teacher, Kayneth?"
Chihiro: "Knowing Kiritsugu, that's highly likely."
Emiya Kiritsugu: "I used Sola-ui as leverage to force Kayneth to order Diarmuid to commit suicide with the Command Seal, then killed both Kayneth and Sola-ui."
[Ding! Congratulations to Emiya Kiritsugu for answering correctly. He receives 3 Saint Quartz.]
Kayneth: "!!!"
Sola-ui: "!!!"
***
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