They've already fought their way through the Holy Grail War, and you still call them dragons?

"But...is this summoning error my fault?"

Emiya scratched his head, feeling somewhat helpless. The information he had provided to Minamoto no Chisei was foolproof. Even when the other party suggested preparing a large number of relics, an unprecedented situation, he had carefully analyzed the situation based on his experience and responded seriously.

Moreover, when he and Minamoto no Nakagawa met for the first time, the other party admitted that his ancestor was Minamoto no Raikou, so after that, Emiya always had a preconceived notion about him.

Who knows... Minamoto no Chisei himself is not a descendant of the Minamoto clan at all!

After thinking for a long time, Emiya was determined not to take the blame. This was not his fault, it was definitely the fault of a suspicious person who forged the identity of Minamoto no Chisei!

Emiya hurried back to his room and found the lines of information he had written in his personal notebook... He flipped to the handwriting of "Eight Family Heads" and added a new line to the label "There is a traitor":

"Young Master Genji is a fake."

Emiya paused here and carefully recalled the whole process of meeting Charlotte in the suburbs today, and then bravely entering the unknown "Mirror World" with Eri and the other two, and finally successfully escaping after killing a ball of black mud and saying goodbye to Charlotte.

He wrote down two more lines:

"The Black Grail is suspected of twisting the earth's veins."

"The 'power' that Eri wields is related to 'death'... Is the deity actually 'Izanami'? (Note: To be confirmed by Nono)"

Then--

Emiya flipped through the SMS messages on his phone again. Charlotte, who was in the address book, seemed to be still feeling lonely late at night. She had sent another message at some point, which was now quietly lying in the "unread messages" of Emiya's phone:

"Let me ask you, are there any large religious organizations near Tokyo? Watch out for the Holy Church, they should be here too."

Chapter 180: The Holy Church: We have a strong claim to the Holy Grail

Emiya stood by the window of the room, looking through the glass at the quiet night scene with scattered lights in the distance.

The gurgling sound of water reached my ears, soft and rhythmic, like some kind of peaceful melody. That sound came from the bathroom—Eri was taking a bath.

Emiya turned off the exterior headlights, so the warm yellow bath light was particularly conspicuous, casting her shadow on the wall of the aisle through the frosted glass. The deep red outline swayed gently with the sound of water, like a flowing silhouette painting.

Emiya's fingertips tapped the phone screen, causing it to suddenly light up. His gaze swept across the screen, his brow furrowing slightly. "So the Holy Church is coming, after all? Aren't they claiming to be here to manage the Holy Grail and oversee the war?"

"Hey, how did you know?"

Charlotte, the child's sister, suddenly replied with a message. Emiya was stunned for a moment, then realized that this girl was still awake at this time and was secretly peeking at the screen.

"You guessed it, right? Anyway, once the Holy Grail War was publicized, it immediately caught the attention of the Church. Historically, the legends of the quest for the Holy Grail were all products of the influence of Christianity."

"They claim that 'holy relics'—not the catalyst for summoning heroic spirits, but a religious term—meaning sacred objects such as saints' remains and blood, the nails of Jesus' crucifixion, and the 30 silver coins Judas received, should be under the management of the church."

"And the 'Holy Grail' should also fall within this category, so the Church cannot ignore this Holy Grail War."

Emiya's eyebrows rose, "So, the Church is going to claim the Holy Grail as theirs, isn't it?"

"No, they simply used this slogan to gain a legitimate opportunity to interfere. The Church denounced the technology of manipulating the dead and the undead as heresy. In fact, as you can see, the Holy Grail War is based on the summoning of 'heroic spirits' similar to those in Norse mythology."

Charlotte's next message was worded a little more uncertainly:

"So I guess that when the Church first learned of the Holy Grail War, they would at most send people to observe and monitor it. Until the very last moment—when the true face of the Holy Grail is revealed—the Church's people probably won't act rashly...right?"

"It would be best if things develop as you say. Don't forget what we went through today. Even if the church doesn't choose to help, it would be best if it doesn't interfere."

Emiya's thoughts instantly jumped to the image of a shadowy figure resembling "all the evil in this world." With the presence of such evil, the danger of the Holy Grail War suddenly increased several levels. The Church's involvement might complicate the situation even further. Perhaps a visit was necessary.

He couldn't imagine what kind of evil consequences Odin would cause by organizing the Holy Grail War and deliberately cultivating such a thing... Human evil? Beast?

When this was mentioned, Charlotte's reply became full of resentment, as if one could see her puffed-up little face through the screen.

"Speaking of that thing that looks like a black shadow and black mud, what on earth is it? I was really scared when I first saw it! I'm telling you, I'm not scared..."

"But could this black thing be the product of an experiment gone awry, carried out by the mastermind behind the Holy Grail War? Or perhaps this monster has a voracious appetite, using the name of the Holy Grail War to attract participation, while actually feeding this... 'Holy Grail'?"

Perhaps it was because it was so late, but those who had stayed up longer were actually more excited. The little girl was filled with enthusiasm, her imagination brimming. She began researching the phenomena of Heroic Spirits, the techniques of séances, and the underlying mechanisms of the Holy Grail. As luck would have it, she came up with a startling hypothesis: "Black Mud = Holy Grail."

Emiya gasped, his heart suddenly filled with astonishment at Charlotte's ability to hit the mark unexpectedly. He slapped his thigh and continued her words:

"Isn't that a coincidence? I actually have a guess myself, and it coincides with yours. If we continue along this line of thought, we might be able to catch the real culprit first. Isn't that much better than a foolish, bloody fight over a broken cup filled with black mud?"

"Do you really think the same as me?" Charlotte was a little unconvinced. Even through the screen, she could feel the little girl's pouting and cheeks. "You're not just trying to get me to join your team as a laborer, are you?"

"Otherwise, do you still want to rely on your little pseudo-Servant strength to become the combat force?"

Are you kidding me? Judging from Charlotte's behavior in the mirror world last night, Emiya would rather take Eri with him than send this mage-type Rider to the front lines.

Charlotte was speechless and angrily replied, "Hmph! Don't underestimate me! I'm a child prodigy from the Clock Tower!"

----

By the time Emiya and his companions finished their discussion, it would only be a few hours before Tokyo would be greeted by another sunrise. On this bright morning, the sun gently shone on the front of the church, seeming to gild the ancient building with a golden glow.

Wearing an apron that smelled of braised eggs and barbecued pork, Uesugi Yue picked up his cleaning tools early in the morning and began sweeping the small prayer room. He had recently reopened his business and had returned to being the eloquent Master Yue known to University of Tokyo students.

But he is no longer Master Yue at this moment, but has transformed into a part-time pastor of the community church, or an ordinary volunteer.

This work has actually been going on for a long time.

Uesugi's mother, Charlotte Chen, was a devout nun in the French Catholic Order. She dedicated her life to the Church and God. Today, Uesugi has inherited her mother's faith, volunteering part-time at the church whenever he has time and praying for God's forgiveness for the sins he has committed.

Sometimes, not just in the early morning, but even in the entire afternoon, he would sit in the church, watching the sun gradually set, as if he were back in his childhood, back in that small church on the outskirts of Lyon. He could hear people constantly discussing Sister Charlotte...

Uesugi Yue knew that the only time his mother betrayed her faith was to give birth to him.

My mother and father's union stemmed from a sudden love affair. At the time, my mother, Charlotte, was a novice nun, and my father, a former film star and a master of Go. While visiting Japan as a representative of the French Catholic Church, my mother lost to my father in a Go tournament at a cultural exchange and fell in love with him. They eloped to Lyon, France.

This was a mistake made by a young woman's budding love. My mother, as a novice nun, was destined for lifelong service to God. Once she married and had a family, she could no longer remain a nun. My father urged her to abort the baby. The tragic fate of my grandmother and uncle had instilled in him a deep hatred for his own bloodline.

However, his mother insisted on giving birth to Uesugi Koshi, so that the fetus in her womb could be saved.

However, just then, ninjas from the Snake Eight Clan arrived, ready to take them away. The father threatened to take his own life, ordering the family not to disturb them. He knew that bringing his mother back to the family, surrounded by brooding women, would be sheer torture.

His mother hid the fact that she was pregnant and joined the French Catholic Church, becoming a seemingly free and carefree lifelong nun. Uesugi Yue was born, raised and spent his childhood there.

Every day after school, he could go to the church to visit his mother, but unfortunately, he could never see her face to face. Although he was not religious, he regularly prayed like other children and affectionately called her "Mom Charlotte." But only Uesugi Yue knew that she was his mother.

Until one day, Uesugi Yue's bloodline awakened, and the Word Spirit burst out, destroying three blocks. At this time, his family members suddenly appeared and said they would take him to the other side of the world to become "Emperor".

Uesugi Yue was very happy at that time, thinking that he could travel for a few years and then come back to be with his mother. However, he did not expect that this trip would be the last time they would be apart.

"Ugh……"

Uesugi Yue sighed softly, his memories swirling in the dust at his feet, and he paused his broom. He gazed through the church's stained glass windows, toward the distant sky. Sunlight filtered through the glass, illuminating his face and the complex thoughts and reflections in his eyes.

Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps interrupted his thoughts.

Five people entered the church, four of them blond, curvaceous foreign nuns, led by a spirited, elderly priest. Their arrival seemed to shatter the church's tranquility, and an indescribable tension filled the air.

"Hmm? Where are you guys from? You came from the West across the ocean to organize a Catholic faith exchange meeting?"

Uesugi Yue had been a volunteer at the community church for many years, and he had never seen foreign nuns or priests transferred here. As he spoke, he tightened his grip on the broom, and the muscles in his arms quietly tensed.

He felt that this group of people was not simple.

"I have finally found you, the former Shadow Emperor of the Snake Eight Clan, Uesugi Yue."

The old man laughed heartily and said something that made Uesugi Yue's face change drastically.

"You know me? What do you want to do?" Uesugi Yue's voice was filled with a hint of caution and coldness. The title of "Shadow Emperor" was irritating him.

"It's nothing, we are just interested in you, Excellency." The old priest's tone was calm and relaxed, as if he was talking about an insignificant matter.

Several people slowly approached.

Uesugi Yue sensed that the person coming had ill intentions, so he raised the broom in one hand and the dustpan in the other, and assumed the ancient swordsmanship stance of "Niten Ichiryu" like a civilian swordsman.

Uesugi Yue is indeed a sword saint. He is a Niten Ichiryu Menkyo Kaiden. Even if he does not use the power of words, relying on his imperial strength, he can easily swing a long weapon anytime and anywhere and turn himself into a battlefield harvester.

He swung the broom lightly, and the smell of barbecued pork from his apron drifted in with the air flow.

"Don't be disrespectful to adults!"

One of the nuns frowned at the strange smell of barbecued pork. Then she noticed that Uesugi Yue had pointed the tip of his broom at the old priest and, unsheathed from under his sleeve, had unleashed a short, blunt sword. The sword flew through the air with a whooshing sound, and Uesugi Yue could tell it could easily pierce the concrete floor!

boom!

However, the next second, the dagger was shattered on the spot by another object that was chasing it.

Uesugi Yue took a closer look and saw that it was a bronze coin that had popped out of the old priest's hand. That thing wasn't real currency, but something used by casinos in the last century as a high-stakes token. Now, this antique gadget had become a dangerous weapon, like a bullet.

"I'm sorry, this is the first time these girls from the church have been on a mission. It's natural that they're a little impulsive. If they've offended His Excellency the Shadow Emperor, I can apologize on their behalf."

The old priest bowed slightly with an apologetic look on his face. With his kind and gentle appearance and thin figure, he didn't look like a ruthless person who could easily shoot coins as bullets.

Uesugi Yue looked back and saw the front wall of the prayer room pierced by a coin. He said expressionlessly, "You have vandalized the wall of a community church, a public welfare facility, without permission. Remember to pay compensation."

"Of course." The old priest's tone contained a hint of disdain. It was obvious that he was financially well-off and did not take this small amount of repair fee seriously.

"Oh, and since you've come to me, you should tell me who you are." Seeing this, Uesugi Yue put down his dustpan and broom and patted his apron. "That way, I can figure out how to treat you. After all, it's not business hours yet, so we can't serve ramen. All we have are these powerful fists."

"Haha, you can call me Demio Cervantes. As for our identities... have you heard of the Holy Church?"

Chapter 181 Son, I am your father!

"The Holy Church?"

Uesugi Yue narrowed his eyes, a look of wariness and confusion creeping over his face. He had long since transitioned from movie stardom to a ramen chef, oblivious to the world outside and alone for many years, so he had never heard of this term before.

"You can understand it this way," Father Cervantes said as he leisurely paced through the church, his resounding voice echoing through the empty hall. "The Church of the Holy Trinity was established with the approval of His Holiness the Pope and in conjunction with the Order of Solomon's Temple."

"Mr. Uesugi, we were able to find you because we found records of your incident from our colleagues in the Lyon district of the French Catholic Church—"

"Do you remember that when you were a child, you awakened your Word Spirit and accidentally lost control, destroying three blocks of Lyon. It was our Solomon's Temple and the Snake Eight Clan, to which you originally belonged, that worked together to suppress the situation."

"The purpose of our Holy Church is to tell the story of God's love and to help the poor and those in need. At the same time, we are also expanding the territory of our faith while hunting down and eliminating heretics."

"Now that you are one of those who recognize the glory of God, why don't you join us and work together?"

Uesugi Yue laughed a little. He felt that the old man's words brought him back to the barbaric and bloody Middle Ages, as if he was participating in a Renaissance in the form of a "witch hunt". This idea was simply stale, smelly and fantastic, like an old book turned out from the dust of history, exuding a rotten smell.

"Heretics?" Uesugi Yue murmured softly, "Sorry, I only want to help the poor and my neighbors. Hunting heretics... I really don't have any interest in it."

Uesugi Yue had never heard of the Holy Church and the Order of Solomon's Temple, but judging from the fact that they were able to investigate his Shadow Emperor's identity, they should be somewhat similar to mixed-race forces like the Secret Party.

If these people thought that they could rely on their common "Christian faith" to encourage Uesugi Yue to join their ranks and provide their precious Shadow Emperor bloodline, or to serve as the number one general of the Holy Church and bravely charge everywhere to expand their territory, then they were totally wrong.

Uesugi Etsu chose religion not for God itself, but because of his thoughts about his mother and as an act of atonement for a life filled with sin and regret. His faith was a form of self-salvation, not a desire to participate in some grand mission.

"Your Excellency has misunderstood," Cervantes' eyes contained some deep meaning, as if he could see through Uesugi Yue's thoughts.

"Your Excellency was once the Shadow Emperor of the Eight Snake Clans. You must be familiar with the secrets of the dragon race and the hybrids. Our mission as a Holy Church also involves maintaining world peace on the surface and preventing those dangerous forces lurking in the shadows from getting out of control, especially those related to our church."

"And the Holy Grail War currently taking place in Tokyo is precisely the situation we need to monitor and guard against."

Father Cervantes noticed Uesugi Yue's doubts and explained:

"While you were still steadfast in your community church, the world outside was undergoing changes beyond the expectations of us old folks, like the Holy Grail War."

"Someone is using the 'Holy Grail', a weapon capable of granting all wishes, to ignite a Holy Grail War, a battle between fearsome Heroic Spirits. These Heroic Spirits are renowned heroes of past ages, possessing extraordinary combat power and, due to special attributes, are impervious to modern weaponry. Anyone who qualifies for this Holy Grail War will have the opportunity to command Heroic Spirits."

"Think about it, if this kind of news were to be publicized, how many people would be able to resist such temptation? Tokyo is already in a dangerous situation..."

"enough!"

Uesugi Yue's voice was faintly impatient, as if he was suppressing his inner irritation.

"I'm not interested in the Holy Grail War you're talking about. Since you want to control the Holy Grail, then go ahead! Let me be frank, the church is supposed to provide aid to the poor and needy, and comfort and guidance to the lost. It's not a place for you to kill and profit! You've got the wrong people. You should be looking for the Snake Eight Clans!"

Now, apart from missing his mother and confessing his sins every day, Uesugi Yue is thinking about his son and daughter, and has no intention of "leading the army to war".

The old priest seemed to have anticipated Uesugi Yue's answer, and his tone was meaningful:

"You still don't understand the situation in Tokyo. Under the huge tide of the Holy Grail War, even the Eight Snake Families were forced to participate. It can be seen that Tokyo is so big that it can no longer accommodate this small peaceful church."

"...If the Holy Grail War were to spread to countless neighborhoods and displace countless Tokyo citizens, would you still think we should remain in the church?"

Cervantes threw down the last words, took the nuns out of the church gate, and left decisively without trying to persuade Uesugi Yue again.

Uesugi Yue stood there, staring at the church door slowly closing and the bright light beginning to shrink. "The Eight Snake Clan...participating in the Holy Grail War..."

He had initially been unmoved by the Holy Church's words, but the intelligence they mentioned had him on high alert. The Snake Qi Eight Clan were participating in the Holy Grail War... a war so dangerous it sounded beyond his comprehension, and one of his sons was the current Shadow Emperor of the Snake Qi Eight Clan.

The Emperor is a vital force in the family. If a crisis arises during a war, the Emperor will undoubtedly be forced to take the field. How many factions would be affected by such a dangerous war? Would the secret party also join in? Would his son die a heroic death in the process?

Uesugi Yue squatted in the church and pondered for a long time. Finally, he realized that he couldn't hesitate any longer. He had to recognize his children together! If he didn't recognize them, it would be too late!

He could never forget the tragedy of his mother in the past years. Life is a series of hasty farewells. Perhaps the child is like a kite flying high and breaking free from the nest. The long line of family affection will be quietly severed in a certain farewell at some point.

This time, he not only wants to make up for the connection, but also wants to protect his children if possible!

At this time, there was another knock on the church door.