[FMMISM] Chapter 13: Changing Role

Einzbern, Matou, Tohsaka.

Two hundred years ago, these three mage families with similar aspirations cooperated with each other, causing the Holy Grail known as the 'All-Purpose Wishing Device' to come back into existence.

However, when the Holy Grail could only fulfill the wish of one person, their cooperative relationship turned into a bloody struggle of mutual slaughter.

That was the beginning of the Holy Grail War.

Since then, every sixty years, the Holy Grail would appear again in Fuyuki, a city in Japan.

In this war that was akin to a battle royale, the Holy Grail would select seven mages who qualified, granting them a portion of its immense magical energy, enabling them to summon their Servants.

Through a battle that was akin to a battle royal, a group of a mage and a Servant who defeated the other six groups would gain the opportunity to make a wish to the Holy Grail.

Unfortunately, this was a lie.

The prize was the All-Purpose Wishing Device?

It was nothing more than a colossal lie spread by the three founding families to conceal the true value of the Holy Grail War to the world of magecraft and to diminish powerful opponents.

After all, the reason the three founding families established the Holy Grail War was to sacrifice the seven Servants and thereby reach the Root.

According to mysticism, there exists a metaphysical location that acts as the 'force' existing at the top of all theories in every dimension, which is the fervent desire of every mage, known as the Swirl of the Root—from the beginning of all things to their end, recording the source of all events and phenomena in the universe.

Although it may seem absurd to outsiders, for the vast majority of mages, reaching the Root was more enticing than the All-Purpose Wishing Device.

It was precisely because the founding families concealed the information that the Holy Grail could open the path to the Root that the Fuyuki Holy Grail War was not taken seriously by the Mage's Association.

Regarding the lifelong ambitions of mages, Ragna expressed understanding and appreciation.

Ragna was, after all, born as the youngest child of humanity's evil, seeking prosperity over peace and pursuing beauty over eternity—these were the sins of Beast VI.

In his view, the ambitions of mages resonate with a saying attributed to Confucius that said—If a man in the morning hears the right way, he may die in the evening without regret.

More importantly, if Ragna were to consume the Fuyuki Holy Grail filled with the energy of the fallen seven Servants, he would possess authority and power far surpassing that of 'those who reached the Root' or the 'Holy Grail'.

At least, that was how it appeared to his mother.

His complete form was the strongest monster capable of even disrupting the Quantum Time-Locks, also known as the Human Order Foundation.

===

"Please answer my question, Master..." Morgan asked seriously. "Do you want to kill six, or seven including me?"

Upon hearing her question, Ragna chuckled lightly before waving his hand dismissively.

"No, no, no... You've misunderstood, Caster. I have no interest in reaching the Root, nor do I want to become the Evil of Humanity. I quite enjoy my carefree life now and have no intention of disrupting the world. So, I won't betray you or kill you—"

Ragna met Morgan's gaze squarely, intentionally pausing with a mocking expression.

"If I were to say something like that... Morgan le Fay, would it trouble you?"

As a witch who hated humanity, Morgan harbored ambitions unlike any hero. Her desires were in line with Manaka before Ragna met her, which was the destruction of the Human Order Foundations.

After all, only then could Morgan's sorrowful wish be fulfilled—thorough revenge and denial against 'those who did not choose her to become the rightful king.'

"..."

Morgan turned her expressionless face away from Ragna's gaze.

"I get it, Master... If that's how it is, then I'll choose to trust you for now..." Morgan reached out her hand quickly. "I'll get the Holy Grail for you. Please guide me from now on."

'...No objections, huh?' Ragna thought, raising his eyebrows before reaching out his right hand to grasp Morgan's and looking up at her face. "Let me thoroughly enjoy this Holy Grail War, Caster."

"Huh?"

In the instant their hands clasped, a glow emanated from the back of Ragna's hand.

Sensing something amiss, Morgan involuntarily exclaimed.

"Wh-What are you doing?!"

Morgan tried to pull her hand away from Ragna's grip but found that the slender wrist of the boy, who was a head shorter than her, possessed a strength that no Servant could shake.

Immediately, dense magical energy flowed into Morgan through their joined palms, gnawing her magic circuits.

Sensory organs throughout her body felt intensely activated, a tingling warmth spreading through her skin and marrow with the surge of magical energy.

"Haah... Haah... Haah..."

Morgan's cool and pure beauty, tainted with a crimson hue, became incredibly alluring. Her ample, heaving chest rose and fell with rapid breaths.

Eventually, the infusion of magical energy ceased.

Her thick thighs trembled uncontrollably as Morgan, slightly bending forward, glared at her Master with a gaze filled with resentment.

"Why did you do this?"

"Well, I'm not the type to sit back and command from the rear. So, I'll be the one to charge into battle in this Holy Grail War." Ragna answered casually, shrugging his shoulders.

He had done two things.

First, he transferred his Command Spells, giving them to his Servant. Since this was within the rules of the Holy Grail War, it was an acceptable practice.

Second, he forged a forced contract, forcing Morgan to sign a contract with him, making himself her Servant. This was something that couldn't be done under the rules of the Holy Grail War, but he made it happen anyway.

If you ask why, it was because he was the rule itself.

Although the Holy Grail kept by the Holy Church was not the true Holy Grail, it was indeed a genuine evil relic, an existence far superior to the artificial Holy Grail created by modern mages, so altering the rules of the Holy Grail War was child's play for him.

However, in order to fully enjoy the Holy Grail War, the young Beast decided to impose some restraints on himself by becoming a Servant and allowing Morgan to play the role of a fake Master.

"Haah... Haah..."

Watching her Master casually trample the Holy Grail War's rules like nothing, beads of cold sweat formed on Morgan's fair forehead.

Even though he was just a Juvenile Beast, he already possessed such power!

"Alright, it's done. You okay, Caster?"

Ragna's words snapped Morgan out of her daze caused by the influx of magical energy, her thoughts momentarily suspended.

"Yes... I'm fine..." Morgan replied, withdrawing her delicate hand from the boy's grasp, and then took a slightly awkward step back.

As her gaze fixed on the Command Spells that had transferred from the back of the boy's hand to her own body, her lips curled into a subtle pout.

'I understand the logic, but why are the Command Spells transferred to my abdomen instead of my hand?... Morgan thought speechlessly.

Obviously, it was because Ragna used the Tokyo Holy Grail War system.

"Next time, consult me before doing something like this, Master." Morgan said sternly.

"..."

Watching the boy's frivolous expression, Morgan pursed her lips and turned her face away. Unable to vent her frustration, she suddenly felt her cheeks inexplicably warm.

'I really... struggle to deal with this kid...' Morgan thought frustratedly before walking away. "I'm going out for some fresh air, Master. Just standing here is making me extremely uncomfortable."

"Got it." Ragna replied casually.

And so, the sound of high heels echoed through the mansion corridor, fading gradually until it disappeared entirely.

But suddenly, Morgan transmitted her thoughts directly into Ragna's mind with telepathy through their Master-Servant contract.

[Just so you know, it's not you that's bothering me, just the horrible stench of filth in the basement that—]

[Alright, you don't have to emphasize that. I already know.]

Ragna interrupted her words, a faint smile appearing on his face.