Fate: Question And Answer System of Traversing Heroic Spirits

Time flies. Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months.

More than a year had passed since the Fourth Holy Grail War.

During this time, Chihiro successfully "graduated" from his apprenticeship at the Shinto shrine on Mount Koya.

Of course, that was just a polite way of putting it.

The reality? He was kicked out by his mentor, Tachibana Kosei.

Kosei had grown tired of Chihiro's lazy attitude toward daily shrine duties and his tendency to avoid strenuous training. Deciding that Chihiro had grown old enough to fend for himself, Kosei declared he wouldn't support an idle freeloader anymore and sent him packing.

Chihiro, for his part, didn't argue. Deep down, he knew it was time to move on.

After leaving the shrine, he rented a modest villa in the city and became a self-proclaimed "stay-at-home practitioner."

With his knowledge of Onmyōdō, along with the magical techniques he'd picked up during the Holy Grail War, he had more than enough material to keep himself busy.

Among his repertoire were the foundational spells of Onmyōdō, Code Cast, Ars Ignis, and even Tongtian Lu.

Before Zhang Jiao had disappeared, he had passed down the Tongtian Lu Talisman to Chihiro. He'd even left behind two cards he obtained from the chests, one centered on necromancy and the other on the manipulation of imaginary numbers.

However, Zhang Jiao had warned Chihiro against using necromancy, emphasizing that it was a dangerous and morally ambiguous path.

"I've already taught you enough," Zhang Jiao had said. "Stick to what's virtuous. You don't need to dabble in such dark arts."

It was a sentiment Chihiro respected, even if he didn't fully understand it at the time.

Zhang Jiao had truly been a generous teacher, one who looked out for him even in their final moments together.

---

As for the others?

Life had settled into a semblance of normalcy for most of the former participants in the Fourth War.

The Tohsaka and Emiya families had adjusted to peaceful lives. Those who went to school resumed their studies, while those who stayed home tended to their families.

During this time, Emiya Kiritsugu quietly located Shirou, but upon seeing that Shirou already had a happy and supportive family, he chose not to interfere.

Kayneth, on the other hand, achieved his dream and married Sola-ui.

The most drastic change, however, was Waver Velvet.

After the war, Waver formally became Kayneth's apprentice, completing his education under the Lord of El-Melloi. Upon graduation, he accepted a position as Kayneth's deputy and began assisting with his research.

In addition to mastering Western magecraft, Waver also started experimenting with psionic abilities, thanks to the superpower training box he had acquired during the quiz session.

Though it would take three years for the device's effects to fully manifest, Waver had already begun to see results.

He now had limited proficiency in telekinesis, clairvoyance, and short-range teleportation. However, his attempts at training these powers often ended in disaster.

One infamous incident involved Waver accidentally using X-ray Vision on Kayneth's younger stepsister, Reines.

The poor girl walked into Waver's room unannounced, and he inadvertently saw… everything.

Flustered, Waver attempted to teleport away but only succeeded in transporting his clothes, leaving himself standing stark naked in front of her.

Unsurprisingly, the event led to Waver's engagement to Reines.

"You've already seen everything," she had said bluntly. "Now take responsibility."

And that was that.

---

One peaceful afternoon, an unexpected notification suddenly appeared in the group chat:

[Ding! The second round of the quiz begins. Everyone, please prepare!]

The familiar system message instantly grabbed everyone's attention.

Kayneth: "Ah, finally. The quiz is back."

Gilgamesh: "Hmph. You made me wait for an entire year, mongrels."

Waver: "Wait, quizzes are usually tied to major events. Does this mean something big is happening?"

Tohsaka Tokiomi: "Perhaps, but nothing unusual has occurred in Fuyuki."

Chihiro: "Big events don't necessarily have to happen in our world."

Waver: "You mean… other worlds?"

Tohsaka Tokiomi: "Now that would be interesting."

Kayneth: "I'd like to see what other worlds are like as well."

Iskandar: "In that case, I hope it's the Faction Wars world we saw in the previous quiz."

Waver: "Why are you so excited? It's not like you could participate."

Iskandar: "You're wrong, boy! Nothing is set in stone. Just look at the last Holy Grail War—Zhang Jiao wasn't supposed to be Caster, yet he was summoned. Who's to say I won't get another chance?"

Waver: "…"

Chihiro: "So you're telling me 'love will find a way,' huh?"

Iskandar: "Hahaha! Don't misunderstand, boy. My desire to participate isn't born of sentimentality. I simply wish to challenge Achilles!"

Waver: "But Achilles is also a Rider. How would you even face him?"

Iskandar: "Simple. If there are two opposing sides, I'll join the other faction. That way, we'll be rivals on the battlefield."

---

Suddenly, a cascade of notifications flooded the group chat:

[Ding! "Illya" has joined the group chat.]

[Ding! "Lionheart" has joined the group chat.]

[Ding! "Kotomine Shirou" has joined the group chat.]

[Ding! "Gordes" has joined the group chat.]

[Ding! "Fiore" has joined the group chat.]

[Ding! "Darnic" has joined the group chat.]

[Ding! "Celenike" has joined the group chat.]

[Ding! "Roche" has joined the group chat.]

[Ding! "Caules" has joined the group chat.]

[Ding! Connection established with the Throne of Heroes!]

[Ding! "Fair Maiden" has joined the group chat.]

[Ding! "Rebellious Knight" has joined the group chat.]

[Ding! "Astolfo" has joined the group chat.]

[Ding! "Huntress" has joined the group chat.]

[Ding! "Little Sun" has joined the group chat.]

[Ding! "Heels" has joined the group chat.]

[Ding! "Shakespeare" has joined the group chat.]

[Ding! "Avicebron" has joined the group chat.]

[Ding! "Grand Duke" has joined the group chat.]

[Ding! "Empress" has joined the group chat.][Ding! "Spartacus" has joined the group chat.]

[Ding! "Siegfried" has joined the group chat.]

[Ding! "Chiron" has joined the group chat.]

[Ding! "Jack" has joined the group chat.]

[Ding! "Frankenstein" has joined the group chat.]

---

The system had added a massive influx of new members to the group all at once.

Although the original members didn't recognize most of the newcomers, certain nicknames—like "Rebellious Knight" and "Siegfried"—immediately hinted at their identities.

Chihiro: "Wow, Iskandar, you're incredible! Everything you say turns out to be true."

Iskandar: "…"

Waver: "You've got some sort of prophetic mouth, don't you?"

Irisviel: "Illya? Is that really you?"

Illya: "Hi, Mom! Hi, Dad! Is this the group you told me about? It's amazing!"

Emiya Kiritsugu: "It seems to be her."

Artoria: "Illya, shouldn't you be in class right now?"

Illya: "It's fine! I told the teacher I wasn't feeling well and left early."

Irisviel: "…"

Kiritsugu: "…"

Lionheart: "Uh… What is this? Am I hallucinating because I've been overworking myself?"

Darnic: "A question-and-answer group? Is this some kind of magical artifact?"

Rebellious Knight: "Oi, what the hell is this thing?"

Artoria: "Mordred… It's you."

Rebellious Knight: "What!? Father?! Is that really you?!"

Artoria: "Yes, it's me. Long time no see."

Rebellious Knight: "Where are you?! What is this?!"

Artoria: "Sigh… You're just as reckless as ever, Mordred."

Lancelot: "Mordred… It has been a long time."

Rebellious Knight: "Lancelot?! You damn traitor, how dare you show your face here?!"

Artoria: "Enough, Mordred. Let the past stay in the past."

Rebellious Knight: "Father… but…"

Fair Maiden: "Excuse me, but what exactly is this group?"

Bluebeard: "Ah, my Saint! You've finally come!"

Fair Maiden: "Wait, what? Who are you?"

Bluebeard: "It is I, your most loyal servant—Gilles de Rais!"

Fair Maiden: "Gilles… Oh no, what happened to you?!"

Bluebeard: "Ah, Saint, everything I've done was for you! To spread your glory!"

Heels: "Hahaha! This is fascinating. Can we actually communicate from the Throne of Heroes?"

Chiron: "That voice… Could it be Achilles?"

Heels: "Teacher Chiron! You're here too?!"

Chiron: "Indeed. It's been far too long, Achilles."

Shakespeare: "This is truly a wondrous device! A stage where all voices may mingle freely."

Avicebron: "A fascinating invention. Its workings seem entirely beyond mortal understanding."

Spartacus: "Hahaha! Tell me, are you all oppressors?"

Grand Duke: "Oppressors? What are you talking about?"

Spartacus: "Oh, no reason! Just curious!"

Darnic: "The Throne of Heroes… Are all of you Heroic Spirits?"

Astolfo: "Yup! I'm Astolfo, one of Charlemagne's Twelve Paladins! Fly high and scatter! Uh, well… don't scatter this time!"

Kotomine Shirou: "I didn't expect to be dragged into something so unusual before the Holy Grail War has even begun. I wonder if this is a blessing or a curse…"

Kotomine Risei: "Wait a moment… Kotomine Shirou? What is your connection to the Kotomine family?"

Kotomine Shirou: "Huh? Father? You're alive?"

Kotomine Risei: "…Excuse me?"

Tohsaka Tokiomi: "Ah, I see. This must be a Kotomine from a parallel world."

Kotomine Shirou: "Parallel world?"

Kotomine Risei: "I see… I must apologize, I'm not the father you know. We're from entirely different worlds."

Kotomine Shirou: "I see… That's a relief. Still, you seem quite familiar with this group."

Kotomine Risei: "Of course. We've been part of this group for a year now and even participated in a previous quiz session."

Kotomine Shirou: "Is that so?"

***

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