Chapter 19

One o'clock...

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"Gas accidents have really been frequent lately."

"Yeah, maybe it's been too long? The gas pipes should be thoroughly repaired."

As they walked to school, two students in front of Levi were discussing in low voices.

"Last night, a gas leak occurred at the 30th floor of the xx Building, at the xx Educational Equipment Company. According to the police, the accident caused 21 employees to fall unconscious due to gas inhalation, but they were not in danger due to timely rescue..."

Levi had already seen this news on TV during breakfast. Including this one, in just a few short days, the Academy City had experienced over a dozen gas accidents of varying sizes, causing the gas company's phone to ring non-stop with requests for pipe inspections.

Due to the information being restricted, others did not know that these accidents were all limited to the Central District, where ordinary schools were concentrated. Levi learned through special channels that neither the Academy City nor the Mahouka Academy, the two major forces on the Academy Island, had experienced any abnormalities.

Although these two areas were independently managed, with different educational and regional planning from the Central District, this did not alleviate Levi's concerns. He knew that his own war was about to begin.

As he approached the school gate, Levi spotted a familiar figure not far ahead. Seeing the person at this time made Levi lose his composure from a few days ago. After some thought, he decided to greet the person as usual.

"Guess who it is?"

Levi covered the girl's eyes from behind with both hands, playing a childish game that only elementary school students would enjoy.

"Let go quickly! We're about to reach the school gate, it'll be troublesome if the other students see us!"

Although the girl's elbow didn't hit him, Levi still released his hands.

"Rin, what are you doing so secretly this early in the morning?"

In fact, when Levi approached, he saw the student council president standing under an inconspicuous tree by the roadside. She appeared to be looking at her phone screen but was actually paying attention to the students and teachers passing by, as if waiting for someone to appear.

Levi guessed that he was the person she was waiting for.

"Don't say such things! If you have time, come to the student council office quickly."

Whether or not Levi's guess was correct, when Rin saw him, she openly pulled his sleeve and walked through the school gate, heading towards the building where the student council was located. She completely forgot about her earlier concern about being seen together by other students. The sleeve that was pulled up revealed a tattoo-like pattern on her hand, which further confirmed Levi's suspicions.

"Rin, did you summon a Heroic Spirit?"

Levi's sudden question made Rin, who was sitting at the student council president's desk and flipping through documents, tremble.

"Yes, of course. You should know that all my efforts were for this moment."

Rin, who had been relaxed a moment ago, sat up straight in her chair, as if making a declaration to Levi.

"Is that so? The Holy Grail is the long-standing wish of the Tohsaka family and the greatest regret of Kirei. Your participation in the Holy Grail War is indeed justified, and I asked a silly question."

Levi received the expected answer and looked out the window with a sense of melancholy. The students of the sports clubs on the playground were practicing before class, and this peaceful scene might not last much longer.

"Once I understood what the name Tohsaka represents, I knew the mission I had to bear."

Following Levi's gaze, Rin greedily savored the ordinary school life that might soon disappear from her life. Hearing her long-lost father's name made her unable to give up the choice to break her own life.

"Perhaps, we won't have many more opportunities to meet so leisurely."

Levi walked behind the desk, reached out, and patted Rin's head. This simple gesture, though slightly inappropriate for a teacher and student, was not enough to draw much attention. However, the girl's face showed a complex expression.

How long has it been? Rin traced back in her memory. The last time Levi patted her head like this was probably years ago. Since middle school, this man had never treated her like a junior. The longer the time passed, the more she forgot that he was a figure from her father's generation.

But why now? A bad premonition suddenly arose in Rin's heart.

"Could it be...?"

Levi suddenly extended his left hand and held it in front of Rin. Except for the difference in hands, the Command Spells for controlling the Heroic Spirit were clearly imprinted on Levi's hand, just like hers!

That's right, I should have thought of this possibility earlier. Rin recalled her first meeting with Levi as a child. It was from Levi that she learned the fact that her father died in the Holy Grail War. Since then, it was only natural that he understood the Holy Grail War. Moreover, as she became more familiar with this man over the years, she learned about his long-held wish by chance.

Why did I never consider this possibility? Rin asked herself. Was it because I didn't want to think about it? I didn't want to be enemies with this man, who once overlapped with my father's shadow, and I didn't want to lose the last bit of family affection.

But...

"Hey, that kind of sentimental expression doesn't suit you. As a teacher, you should act like a teacher. Looking gloomy in front of students will only affect their enthusiasm for learning, right?"

There will always be a way, won't there? Rin Tohsaka was not a weak girl who would frown at trivial matters. Worrying wouldn't solve anything. If you can't do it, work hard to do it; if it's impossible, work hard to make it possible. Besides, things might not be that bad, and it's too early to be sad now.

"Um... but I can't give up this opportunity, and you... you can't either..."

Levi was initially taken aback by the girl's reaction but quickly understood her meaning. Yes, the goal of the Holy Grail War is to obtain the Holy Grail, and the method is to eliminate other Heroic Spirits with your own.

Although it seems like a cruel rule, there are seven pairs of Heroic Spirits and magicians. Excluding their two pairs, there are still five pairs to defeat. Even if it eventually comes down to just him and Rin, they could figure something out then.

"Let's kick out the other five pairs first. Then... hmm, you can just forfeit, right?"

"Hmph! I bet you'll be the one to give up!"

Rin's lips curled into a confident smile. That's right, working together would be a simpler solution. And from the look of it, he still saw her as the little girl with two braids. She needed to show him her excellence!

Since she had lost the chance to receive her father's praise, having Levi's approval would be acceptable. Always bearing the burden alone, at this moment, the girl suddenly realized that this man's figure had gradually filled the void left by her father in her heart long ago.

"Is that so? I look forward to your performance then."

Levi smiled warmly at the girl and then turned to a corner of the student council office.

"Did you hear that? I won't harm your Master for now, so you can come out, right?"

As soon as Levi spoke, the air near the window rippled like water. But as he waited for the person to appear, the ripple gradually dissipated, and the life force he had sensed earlier also vanished from the room.

"You can detect a spirit form of a Heroic Spirit?"

The one discovered by Levi was Rin's Servant. His extraordinary perception left Rin in disbelief.

"Spirit form? Are you talking about something like a ghost? I don't have the confidence to detect that. But your Heroic Spirit is just using a special method to become invisible, probably something like light refraction. We should prepare for class, and we can discuss the rest later."

Levi waved his hand to signal the end of the conversation, leaving the astonished student council president behind as he walked out of the office.