"She is nothing more than a decoy put forward by the Einzbern Family to draw everyone's attention. In the first place, having the Holy Grail itself serve as a Master is highly abnormal."
"Even if we take into account the natural protection afforded to the Grail—that no one can simply kill her if the Holy Grail War is to proceed normally—it is still far too unusual."
"Viewed from that perspective, the existence of the man hired by the Einzberns finally makes sense. He was never merely the Magus Killer. From the very beginning, he was intended to participate in this Holy Grail War as Saber's Master."
"Kiritsugu Emiya."
"He was hired with money to fulfill the Einzbern Family's obsession—their centuries-old desire to see the Holy Grail descend."
"What a disappointment."
Gilgamesh casually raised his golden goblet.
"So even Saber's Master is nothing more than a mongrel. Every last one of them is just an ordinary fool, chasing after my treasures for one trivial reason or another."
"Well…"
Kirei Kotomine sighed.
"So those are your only thoughts after hearing all this information? It seems Assassin and I went to quite a bit of trouble for nothing. That's rather disappointing."
"For nothing? What are you talking about, Kirei?"
A delighted smile spread across Gilgamesh's face.
"Haven't you and Assassin already achieved something quite significant?"
Kirei frowned slightly.
"My King... are you mocking me? If you wish to laugh, then laugh."
"Why do you still fail to understand, Kirei?"
Gilgamesh reclined lazily in his chair.
"Though I suppose that is only natural. You, too, are one of those ordinary mongrels."
"Even without realizing it, every soul instinctively seeks pleasure. Those inner impulses reveal themselves as one's interests and curiosities."
"Kirei, the very act of recounting what you've seen and understood already carries meaning. The subjects you speak of the most are precisely those that interest you the most."
"After all, isn't uncovering another person's secrets something that brings pleasure to the man known as Kirei Kotomine?"
Gilgamesh smiled before continuing.
"First, eliminate those you deliberately chose not to discuss in detail. Conscious concern is merely obsession—just as it is with the man named Kiritsugu Emiya."
"So then, after excluding him—and yourself—which of the remaining five Masters did you describe with the greatest enthusiasm?"
"..."
Kirei fell silent.
For the first time, the hollow eyes that seemed indifferent to everything flickered with a faint light.
Gilgamesh continued,
"Berserker's Master... according to your report, his name is Kariya Matou, wasn't it?"
"Kirei, you were exceptionally thorough when describing that man."
"And therein lies the key to a pleasure you have yet to recognize."
Kirei looked puzzled.
"That is only because his circumstances are unusually complicated and required a more detailed explanation..."
"No."
Gilgamesh immediately dismissed the excuse.
"Kirei, you have no secrets before me. Nor is there any need to hide your true nature."
"Only when investigating this man did you instruct Assassin to uncover every last detail of his life."
"Otherwise, how could anyone's story possibly be told in just a few short sentences?"
"Take Caster's Master, Ryunosuke Uryū. What twists and turns shaped him into the warped creature he is today?"
"Or Lancer's Master, Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald. He is a peerless genius of the Clock Tower. What experiences forged the personality he possesses now?"
"Kirei, you may deceive yourself before me if you wish—but do not actually succeed in fooling yourself."
"Your special attention toward Kariya Matou stems from an interest you yourself have yet to acknowledge."
"Deep down, you've already assumed that Kariya Matou would eventually become the insolent fool daring enough to challenge me."
"And it is precisely that ignorant, reckless courage that brings you pleasure."
With that, Gilgamesh drained the crimson wine from his golden goblet in one smooth motion.
"I have learned much."
Kirei solemnly bowed with the respect of a student before his teacher.
"I admit that my judgment was flawed."
"Viewed from a long-term perspective, Kariya Matou is indeed no significant threat, nor is he worthy of particular concern. Even his suspicious movements will inevitably reveal themselves the next time he challenges you."
"But... interest?"
He nodded thoughtfully.
"Yes... A man capable of being so utterly mediocre truly is a rare specimen among the Masters of every Holy Grail War."
"From that perspective alone, I suppose he does possess qualities worthy of my attention."
"However..."
Still kneeling on one knee, Kirei looked up at Gilgamesh.
"Did I overestimate his potential, causing Your Majesty to devote too much attention to that filthy worm?"
"So that is what you were thinking."
Gilgamesh smiled with clear amusement.
His crimson eyes narrowed into razor-sharp crescents.
"Kirei... imagine a scenario where one chance in ten thousand, together with impossible luck, allows Berserker and his Master to survive until the very end."
"Can you imagine what would happen then?"
"…."
Kirei fell into deep thought, unable to answer for quite some time.
"Kirei."
"Let me reveal something to you."
"Among the Noble Phantasms I possess is one that originated from the sublimation of my own spirit—a Noble Phantasm that is constantly active."
"Its name is Sha Naqba Imuru."
"Sha Naqba Imuru?"
The confusion in Kirei's eyes deepened.
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"Its ability allows me to perceive, at a single glance, an opponent's True Name, their Noble Phantasms, and every truth concealed beneath layers upon layers of deception."
"What?!"
"You possess such a Noble Phantasm?!"
Kirei was genuinely shaken.
Even Tokiomi Tohsaka had never known this secret.
Wouldn't that mean that every secret in the world lay exposed before Gilgamesh's eyes?
Is this the foundation of the absolute arrogance with which you look down upon the entire world, King of Heroes?
"But, Kirei…"
"Don't you think that such omniscience is unbearably dull?"
"It is like watching your favorite film while already knowing the ending before the story has even begun."
"That kind of omniscience is utterly boring. There is no joy to be found in it."
Gilgamesh spoke with complete nonchalance.
"So, in order to experience greater pleasure—and to prevent it from spoiling everything in advance—I sealed this Noble Phantasm shortly after Tokiomi summoned me."
"That is why I now require your reports."
"So that, piece by piece, they may unveil for me the full picture and truth behind this Holy Grail War."
"Savoring it little by little is far more pleasurable than devouring the entire feast in a single bite."
"Can you understand that, Kirei?"
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