freenovelworld Chapter 96 The Knight's Oath
Chapter 96 The Knight's Oath
The tranquility of the Tohsaka residence had vanished, replaced by a heart-pounding hum as the magical barrier was fully activated.
Inside the study, Tokiomi Tohsaka stood by the window, watching his wife Aoi directing her familiars to move luggage in the courtyard.
His expression remained impeccably composed, but the tightness in his lips betrayed the gravity of his heart.
"You've made up your mind, Tokiomi." Arthur carried two cups of freshly brewed black tea into the study and placed one of them on Tokiomi's desk.
"Before the war officially begins, let the lady and children leave Fuyuki."
"Ah, this is a necessary arrangement, Mr. Arthur." Tokiomi turned around, picked up his black tea, and took a small sip.
"As the head of the Tohsaka family, pursuing the 'Root' is my long-cherished wish, but that does not mean that I should let my wife and daughter live in fear amidst the clash of swords."
Leaving family members in the heart of a battlefield that could be reduced to scorched earth at any moment is an extremely inelegant and irresponsible act.
Tokiomi put down his teacup, his gaze becoming deep and cold:
"Moreover, among our opponents this time, there may be a magician assassin like Kiritsugu Emiya, who has no bottom line and will stop at nothing to achieve his goals."
"If any enemy tries to blackmail me by attacking Aoi and the children, it will be the greatest disgrace to the Tohsaka family."
Arthur nodded slightly, expressing his absolute support for Tokiomi's decision.
"Your judgment is correct. Not long ago, Gilgamesh descended, and another... another king appeared in the distance..."
A complex light flashed in Arthur's emerald eyes. He knew the terrifying destructive power that would result from a collision between beings of this level.
"Once war breaks out, even I cannot guarantee the safety of the entire mansion amidst the aftermath of a battle between multiple Servants. Going to the Zenjo family is indeed the best option."
Tokiomi looked at the blond youth in front of him, a hint of relief flashing in his eyes.
With the oldest king and the king of knights, the Tohsaka family is now invincible in this war.
……
The afternoon sun streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the corridor, casting a warm glow over the mansion as if it were a place of parting.
Arthur was inspecting the car in the vestibule, making sure no magic traps had been set.
Just then, I felt a slight tugging at the hem of my clothes.
He looked down and saw Sakura, who was dressed in a neat dress.
The girl clutched a plush bear tightly in her arms, her purple eyes filled with a worry beyond her years.
"Brother, are we leaving soon?" Sakura's voice was soft, tinged with reluctance.
"Yes, we're going to stay at Grandpa's house for a while." Arthur knelt down and gently ruffled Sakura's hair.
"It's safe there. Sakura and her sister can play peacefully in the yard. Once our 'work' here is over, we can go home."
Instead of her usual happy smile, Sakura bit her lower lip hard and clenched her fists even tighter.
"Brother... will you stay with Father?"
Arthur was slightly taken aback.
His original plan was to personally escort them to the Zenjo family and then dedicate some of his energy to helping Tokiomi achieve victory.
But his main focus is still on protecting Sakura, after all, it's a promise he made to the child.
"Although Father always seemed very strong and fearless, but..." Sakura's eyes reddened slightly, and her voice choked with emotion.
The night before, I saw my father alone in the study looking at my mother's photo...
I know that those summoned Heroic Spirits are extremely terrifying. I don't want anything to happen to my father, I don't want anything to happen to the Tohsaka family...
Sakura raised her head, her clear eyes fixed on Arthur, tears welling up in her eyes, but stubbornly refusing to fall.
"Brother, my greatest wish is for our family to be safe and sound... So, please stay here and protect Father's safety, okay?"
Looking into the girl's pure and pleading eyes, Arthur felt as if something soft had struck his heart.
In this world full of scheming, betrayal, and cruelty, this undisguised and pure family affection shines like a miracle.
"……I see."
Arthur knelt on one knee, placed his right hand on his chest, and bowed his head to the young girl before him.
"I swear to you on the honor of a knight, Sakura, I will stay by Tokiomi's side and be his strongest shield."
No matter what storms we face, I will protect this home and everything you cherish.
Arthur raised his head, revealing a warm smile like sunshine: "Because Sakura's smile is also a treasure I swore to protect."
An hour later, in front of the gate of the Tohsaka residence.
Aoi, along with Rin and Sakura, is saying their final goodbyes to Tokiomi.
Although Tokiomi's attitude remained dignified, he did not let go of his wife's hand.
"Madam, Rin, Sakura." Arthur stepped forward, his palm open, revealing three ruby pendants that shimmered with a warm luster.
Inside the gemstone, there are faint, peculiar golden patterns flowing within.
Those were runes that Arthur personally engraved after borrowing the finest gems from Tokiomi, and infused with pure dragon essence.
"This is a talisman for you."
After handing one of the pendants to Aoi, Arthur placed the other two pendants around the necks of the two girls and carefully adjusted their collars.
"I have engraved the 'Guardian' rune inside. If any deadly danger is encountered, the rune will automatically activate and form a barrier to resist the attack."
He looked intently at the two girls:
"Not only that, no matter how far apart we are, as long as the barrier is triggered, I can sense it instantly and use it to remotely intervene with magic."
So, wearing it is like I'm always by your side.
Sakura obediently grasped the ruby on her chest, feeling the warmth emanating from it, and nodded vigorously: "Thank you, brother."
Meanwhile, Rin, standing to the side, clutched the pendant tightly, her eyes slightly red.
As the heir to the Tohsaka family, she has always strived to appear as strong and elegant as her father.
But at this moment, facing the unknown war and separation, she is still just a child.
Arthur personally drove the three of them safely to the Zenjo family mansion, far from the center of Fuyuki City.
After confirming that the surrounding barrier was flawless and that no familiars were following him, Arthur stood by the car door, preparing to return to the Tohsaka residence.
"Well then, Madam, I shall take my leave now. Please take care."
Just as Arthur was about to turn around and get into the car, Rin suddenly let go of Aoi's hand and ran quickly to Arthur.
She tilted her head back, biting her lip hard to hold back her tears, and said loudly in a tone that was both proud and pleading:
"Hey, Arthur! You're the knight I acknowledge!"
Rin stretched out her small hand and pointed at Arthur's chest:
"The Tohsaka family will never lose! So you can't lose either! You must win, and then you must come back to me safely with Father! Do you hear me?!"
Looking at the proud girl in front of him who was pretending to be calm but was actually worried about them, Arthur was stunned for a moment, and then couldn't help but chuckle.
The laughter seemed to sweep away the gloom and heaviness of the past few days.
"Ah, as you command, Miss Rin."
The blond knight bowed slightly, the evening sun casting a sacred glow upon his figure.
"I will definitely win, that's my promise to you."
With the roar of the engine, the car drove away from Chancheng home.