After breakfast, Matou Sakura planned to go to school.

Tosaka Rin called her: "Sakura, stay home and don't go out."

Matou Sakura: “Huh?”

Tosaka Rin wiped her mouth gracefully, put down her knife and fork, and said calmly: "Matou Ranyan has passed away. As his granddaughter, how can you go to school like usual? I have asked Matou Tsuruno to call the school and ask for leave. You don't have to go to school for the next half month."

Matou Sakura was a little overwhelmed. She bit her lip and asked, "Sister, are you going to continue to go to school?"

Tosaka Rin hummed and said, "I am Tosaka. I can't use the excuse that the head of the Matou family died and won't go to school as an excuse to ask for leave."

Matou Sakura suddenly thought of Matou Shinji, and she asked in a low voice: "Then, then Shinji brother... "

"Oh, him. I had a cordial conversation with him yesterday, and then I had Archer drop him off at the Tosaka family."

Tosaka Rin will never let Matou Sakura meet Matou Shinji before the Holy Grail War is over!

No matter how annoying things Matou Shinji does, he is still Matou Sakura's brother.

Matou Sakura still has a bit of brotherly love for Matou Shinji.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have completely collapsed after killing Matou Shinji last time.

In order to prevent Matou Sakura from being corroded by the Holy Grail in her body and accidentally killing Matou Shinji, it would be more appropriate to send that blue-haired bastard to the Tosaka family.

"Don't worry, Sakura. I have set up magic so that he won't wake up until the Holy Grail War is over."

Tosaka Rin said to her sister with a bright smile: "Although the succession is coming, the news has not yet spread. As the eldest son of the Matou family, Shinji still has to take care of his grandfather's funeral, so naturally he doesn't have to go to school."

Matou Sakura looked at her sister blankly, not knowing what to say.

Although she always thought that her sister Tosaka Rin was elegant and calm at all times and in all places, she had never felt so ashamed as she did at this moment, and she felt a little jealous and sad.

It's normal for Emiya-senpai to like a sister like this, right?

Her expression darkened.

Tosaka Rin didn't know her sister's delicate and complicated feelings. She emphasized: "Sakura, you need to study at home."

Matou Sakura was stunned: "...Tutoring?"

Tosaka Rin looked at Matou Sakura seriously: "Have you fully mastered the magic of the Matou family? Are you familiar with the information of the Matou family's spiritual places and the connections related to magic? You will be the head of the Matou family in the future. Have you thought about how to entertain old friends at Matou Ranyan's funeral?"

Matou Sakura looked confused and bewildered.

Tosaka Rin sighed.

When the Matou family was completely destroyed, Sakura had no idea what to do. Matou Ranyan only treated Sakura as material and did not teach her anything about this aspect. Tosaka Rin could only teach her sister step by step how to gain a foothold in the magic world under the name of Matou.

Fortunately, Kirisakura had the Holy Grail fragments as a magic supplement at that time, which could maintain Rider's present world. This is how he managed to save his life and part of the sacred land of the Matou family from the lurking of a jackal who tried to annex the Matou family.

Tosaka Rin said seriously: "Sakura, quickly sort out Matou Ruo's magic research and the Matou family's magic, reset the Matou family's magic formation, and find Matou Tsuruno to learn about the family business. You only have half a month to learn these things."

"I will ask Archer to stay at home to protect you and help you sort out the information. I have asked him and he is very familiar with these matters."

Tosaka Rin looked at Izawa Sugi, "Archer, please."

Ize Shan nodded.

Matou Sakura was dumbfounded.

Before yesterday, she was just a humble girl struggling to survive in the shadows, but today she will become the head of the family and shoulder the legacy of Matou.

Matou Sakura thought that a girl's feelings were all poetry, but Tosaka Rin asked her to pick up the script of Feng Aotian immediately.

Matou Sakura was completely unable to adapt to this change.

Oberon's gaze slowly shifted from Matou Sakura to Tosaka Rin, his attention and curiosity completely focused on the girl with twin ponytails.

What did it mean about the last Holy Grail War? What did it mean that Sakura had no idea what to do in the past? What did it mean that she wouldn't fail again this time?

Oberon suddenly realized that what Tosaka Rin was doing was more interesting than the bloody romance that made him feel sick.

He had no idea what Tosaka Rin would do next.

So Oberon raised his hand: "I can accompany Miss Lin to school~ Anyway, according to the Lord's order, I still have to protect Shirou Emiya~"

Izawa Sugi thought about it and agreed.

Shirou Emiya in the school is also a slayer, but his Servant is King Arthur, and Arthur would not attack students wantonly in the daytime.

He said, "Rin, if you encounter a fight, remember to call me."

Tosaka Rin responded energetically. She glanced at Oberon and said, "Let's go to school."

Tosaka Rin doesn't trust Oberon as much as she seems.

As the protector, Matou Sakura has used up three Command Seals. Now Rider is free and can do whatever he wants.

Tosaka Rin thought quickly, but Archer did not stop her, nor did he object to Rider following her to school.

Considering that the two Servants had a private conversation in the kitchen that morning, maybe Archer believed in Rider? Or did Archer and Rider reach some kind of agreement?

Tosaka Rin thought to herself, forget it, since Archer agreed, then there's no problem!

She took a deep breath, cheered herself up, said goodbye to her sister, and walked briskly towards the school.

Tosaka Rin went to school, and Matou Sakura stared blankly at her sister's leaving back, and was unable to come back to her senses for a long time.

Izawa Sugi stretched out his hand and waved it in front of Matou Sakura's eyes.

Matou Sakura: “…Um, I’m sorry.”

The girl lowered her head somewhat embarrassedly.

"… Matou Ruoyan is dead, Miss Sakura, you need to quickly rearrange the Matou family's defense formation."

Izawa Sugi tried to speak in a gentle tone: "We are still in the Holy Grail War. Can your magic skills support you to survive the battle? Don't waste time."

Matou Sakura said quickly: "Yes! I, I remember that grandpa's material warehouse should be here..."

Matou Sakura finally got some energy. She used the magic seal to open the storehouse, took out many magic materials, and began to repair the Matou family's magic workshop. Izawa Sugi put the Flying Thunder God mark near the Matou family.

After a busy period, it was already noon. Matou Sakura took the initiative to go to the kitchen to make lunch and asked Izawa Sugi what he wanted to eat.

Ize Shan: "I'm not picky, anything is fine."

Considering that there was still a lot to do in the afternoon, Matou Sakura simply made some somen noodles and prepared several side dishes. The two of them quickly finished their lunch and continued to clean up the Matou residence.

Matou Sakura hesitated for a long time, but finally mustered up the courage to go to the Matou family's training ground.

This place that once brought him nightmares was now empty. All the engraved bugs had disappeared. It was as if flames were burning through the surrounding walls, and there were traces of ashes left on the ground.

"Are you scared?" Ize Shan appeared from the shadows.

"...Well, but it's no use." Matou Sakura clutched her arms tightly with both hands, her body trembling slightly.

Even if she cried, was afraid, and struggled, it was all in vain. Even if she wanted to breathe a breath of air, she had to beg for a long time... The fear in Matou Sakura's heart could not help but emerge as soon as she thought about it.

"Although it's a bit heartbreaking, are you willing to cooperate with me in casting the illusion array?"

"……Why?"

Izawa Sugi shrugged his shoulders and said, "Those experiences have been branded on your body and soul. Since they cannot be exorcised, let them become your strength."

He pointed around and said, "I will set up a triggering illusion. Anyone who comes in will experience what you have experienced, and use it to attack and prevent enemies from harming you. How do you do that?"

Matou Sakura's eyes widened. She had never thought that this was possible!

"Well, you may not like it, but..."

Izawa Shan smiled gently. He reached out and touched Matou Sakura's head. "You have been able to persist for eleven years and go to school normally without letting anyone know that you were polluted and dirty. You are amazing, Sakura."

Matou Sakura was stunned.

She was very puzzled as to why she had to suffer all this, why she had to be insulted and beaten, why she had to be abused by the Sealing Bugs. If this was the magic training of the Matou family, then, according to the magic books and common sense she had read, there must be other ways of training, right?

I must have done something wrong.

It must be that I didn't satisfy grandpa.

I must have been punished because I didn't obey.

If you were just a little better and more obedient, you wouldn't be hurt.

But now someone tells her that she can handle this, she is doing well, and she is amazing.

Matou Sakura is a little unconfident. She is not as strong and elegant as her sister. Is Archer trying to comfort her?

"Don't worry about these illusions accidentally hurting others. This is your place for practicing magic. It is wrong for others to enter without your permission. Since the other party is an enemy and has done something wrong, it is only natural for you to use illusions to punish the enemy."

Izawa Sugi couldn't say something as casual as "You're not wrong" or "What's past is past", but at least he hoped that Matou Sakura would have the awareness to protect herself.

"What? You think it won't work? There's nothing wrong with trying."

Izawa Sugi urged Matou Sakura, "If the enemy can't stand it, doesn't it prove that you are really powerful?"

Matou Sakura subconsciously touched the hairband on her temples. It was the hairband that her sister Tosaka Rin gave her when she left the Tosaka family.

Yes, her sister came to save her, and she is different from before.

So Matou Sakura mustered up her courage and said slowly, "Then, I'll leave it to you, Archer."

The training ground of the Matou family is located underground. Countless seal bugs were once raised here, and the walls and the land are filled with rich water-attribute magic. Matou Sakura's magic can move freely in such an environment, and she can even instantly absorb the magic still hidden in the land.

Of course, along with the magic comes the shadows and fears of the past.

Fortunately, with the help of Izawa Sugi's illusion, every time Sakura Matou recalled the pain in her heart, the engraved bug would turn into a butterfly with wings, and the gorgeous and colorful butterfly patterns kept spinning. Looking at such an incomparably beautiful butterfly, Sakura Matou was able to suppress the painful emotions.

Matou Sakura and Izawa Sugi spent the entire afternoon in the worm nest. In the evening, Izawa Sugi split up and said, "I'm going to make dinner. There's a little left. You can do it first."

Matou Sakura hummed, and she sat down on the ground exhaustedly, with a half-drawn illusion rune in the form of a magatama in her hand.

Sigh... No matter what kind of magic practice you do, it's very tiring.

Matou Sakura raised her head and looked around aimlessly, but suddenly her eyes froze.

At some point, a man in black wearing a red hood stood at the entrance of the insect nest.

Matou Sakura's eyes widened, her body trembled slightly, and another feeling of fear arose spontaneously.

She was the Lord, so she clearly captured the data of the man in black with a red hood. The other party was a Servant! It was Assassin!!

Matou Sakura opened her mouth and wanted to say something, but she found that she was too scared to make any sound. She wanted to stand up, but her legs and feet were weak and she had no strength at all.

Matou Sakura's whole body tensed up and she closed her eyes subconsciously.

But after a few seconds, Assassin stood there like a statue. Matou Sakura carefully opened one eye and saw Assassin suddenly pulled out a pistol and shot in all directions.

The bullets hit the air and were absorbed by the invisible magic barrier. The next second, Assassin seemed to be fighting an invisible enemy, rolling from one end to the other, jumping from above to the ground, throwing grenades and bullets, and then shooting wildly with a machine gun, with a huge noise and momentum.

Matou Sakura looked at the scene stupidly, not knowing what to do.

After seeing that all of Assassin's attacks hit the void and she herself was not harmed at all, Matou Sakura's brain finally started to work and she sensed the flow of magic power.

Oh, by the way, Archer and I set up an illusion, and the other party should be trapped in the illusion.

Matou Sakura's mood became subtle. She tilted her head and watched the Servant performing a gymnastics show in front of her. Unconsciously, she straightened her back and a different kind of light shone in her eyes.

Let her think about it, the most torturous way for the marking bug to torture people is...

Matou Sakura's body trembled, but she still stretched out her hand firmly and covered the rune. As the magic power flowed, the entire space in the illusion was filled with engraved worms.

The next second, Assassin's body suddenly disappeared at a speed invisible to the naked eye. Then he took out a special weapon and released his treasure into the air.

"Chronos Rose——!!"

Matou Sakura:!

Bang! With a huge gunshot, the runes of the magic array were devastated! !

Then Assassin disappeared in a huff.

"Ms. Sakura!" Izawa Sugi appeared beside Matou Sakura, "Is it Assassin?"

Matou Sakura ignored Izawa Sugi and murmured to herself, looking at her hands: "...I, fought him off?"

Izawa Sugi smiled and encouraged the girl: "Yes, you defeated a Servant alone, Miss Sakura. Just as I thought, you are indeed very powerful."

Matou Sakura's face brightened up a lot. She couldn't help but smile and said excitedly, "...The ritual has been destroyed. Archer, should we set it up again?"

Ize Shan smiled and nodded: "Okay."

Then he tilted his head slightly and began to think involuntarily.

Maybe it was his illusion. Was Assassin targeting him?

But why?

And why didn't Assassin attack Tosaka Rin who went to school alone, but instead attacked Matou Sakura?