"Then... which side are you on?" Kiritsugu couldn't help asking. From the silver-haired woman's tone, she clearly looked down on the Holy Church's Executors, yet she didn't seem particularly close to the Mage's Association either.
"I'm a businesswoman who does contract work for the Mage's Association."
The corners of her lips curled into a faint smile.
"My objective this time is a magus under a Sealing Designation."
"A Sealing Designation? What's that?"
Kiritsugu's heart skipped a beat, completely unaware that the subjects they were discussing had long since crossed into secrets no ordinary person was ever meant to know.
"Ah..."
The silver-haired woman let out a thoughtful hum, her smile widening.
"A Sealing Designation is the Mage's Association's way of imprisoning exceptionally talented—or dangerously taboo—magi under the pretense of 'protection.'"
"Once they're captured, they're confined for the rest of their lives."
"The Association preserves them through special procedures so that their unique magecraft traits remain intact."
"In other words..."
"They become priceless research specimens to be studied by future generations."
"Magi placed under a Sealing Designation are those who have come closer to the realm of True Magic than ordinary magi."
"So rather than waiting to become a living specimen, most of them choose to flee from the Mage's Association."
"As for those currently under a Sealing Designation..."
She casually began counting them off.
"...Aoko—no, Touko Aozaki... Satsuki Genkiri... Norikata Emiya... Araya Souren..."
One forbidden name after another slipped effortlessly from her lips.
"!!!"
The moment Kiritsugu heard one particularly familiar name...
His expression instantly changed.
Panic flashed across his face.
The silver-haired woman had been watching his every reaction.
The instant she noticed it, the smile at the corner of her mouth widened to its limit before disappearing altogether.
The perfect interrogation...
Was one where the target never realized they were being interrogated.
She had already obtained the information she wanted.
Jackpot.
"Well then."
"I've answered all of your questions."
"Now it's your turn to answer mine."
A mysterious gleam flickered in her eyes as she looked directly at Kiritsugu.
"Do you know where the magus under Sealing Designation—Norikata Emiya—is hiding?"
"Oh, and one more thing."
"The very first person to become a Dead Apostle..."
"What catalyst transformed them?"
"That was the trigger that started this entire outbreak."
"The magus responsible for creating that trigger..."
"Norikata Emiya..."
"Should still be somewhere on this island."
"Do you have any idea where?"
Meeting the woman's gaze, subtly laced with hypnotic suggestion, the light briefly vanished from Kiritsugu's eyes.
He froze.
Then, almost immediately, clarity returned.
He lowered his head.
His eyes disappeared beneath the shadows.
The innocent spark they once held was gone.
"Oh?"
The silver-haired woman's eyes lit up as though she'd stumbled upon buried treasure.
"Now that's unexpected."
"A child like you actually broke free of my suggestion."
"No..."
She quickly corrected herself.
"It's not that you resisted it."
"You accepted your conviction so completely..."
"That my suggestion never had a chance to take hold in the first place."
She crouched until they were eye level.
"People with convictions that are either too deep..."
"Or too shallow..."
"Are always the hardest to deal with."
"So, kid..."
"Which one are you?"
"..."
Kiritsugu remained silent.
The woman showed remarkable patience and didn't rush him.
"...Father..."
"Hm?"
Several dozen seconds later, the boy finally spoke.
The silver-haired woman tilted her head in confusion.
"Just because I'm this handsome doesn't mean you can start calling me 'Father.'"
"I'm a refined older-sister type, thank you very much."
As she spoke, she deliberately crossed her arms beneath her chest and struck an alluring pose, emphasizing her undeniably generous figure.
Under normal circumstances...
The sight might have left the young Kiritsugu blushing so hard he'd have a nosebleed.
But now...
Having all but lost his family...
He had no interest whatsoever in admiring her curves.
Instead, he dropped a bombshell.
"The magus you mentioned..."
"Norikata Emiya..."
"He's my father."
The teasing smile on the silver-haired woman's striking face froze instantly.
Things...
Were progressing far more smoothly than she'd ever imagined.
...
When Kiritsugu returned to the house halfway up the mountain...
Norikata Emiya, who had been missing the entire day, had somehow already returned.
He was using an alchemical solution to rapidly destroy stacks of paper research documents while calmly packing his belongings.
Seeing Kiritsugu, he didn't scold him for running off.
Instead, he spoke with unusual calmness.
"Kiritsugu."
"You're safe."
"Thank goodness."
"..."
Kiritsugu lowered his head.
After a long silence...
He clenched both fists so tightly they trembled.
His voice shook as he finally asked:
"Father..."
"Why were you researching the Dead Apostles?"
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