It was honestly disgraceful. First off, the mere notion that us proper magi were reliant on spellcasters, of all people, to get anything resembling a Holy Grail War going again was a failure of the Clock Tower and its insufferable politics that was unlikely to be topped for centuries, if not longer. Then, the fact that there wasn't even an attempt to try and conceal the existence of magecraft… having no pride in oneself as a practitioner of the art and not even bothering to try and reach the root was one thing, but to accept the notion that it was okay for the general populace to learn of its existence was another. Protecting the secrecy of magecraft was the responsibility of magi and spellcasters alike; to shirk that duty was to lose all modicum of respect.

And that Executor, saying there wasn't a need to place up a bounded field to hide the fighting because Rider 'was being careful'… Has the Church lost all sense of its duty, just because it is no longer in the role of overseer? The mere fact they would actually take a master position for themselves in such an open manner was unusual; they may have had a master in past wars, but they still served as overseers. Their only objective before was ensuring a proper magus won the war, and used the grail to reach the root. Why would they then decide for this war to refuse to work alongside the Association, against these rogue spellcasters who were known to have no interest in the root?

"Wow, rude" the man turned around to face 'me', smile on his face. "Didn't anyone ever teach you not to interrupt a conversation you have no business in?"

"Ah, but I do have business in this. The existence of magecraft is to remain a secret, yet you all seem set on revealing it to anyone who happens to walk by."

"I know I said I support greedy plays, but hogging the existence of the game to yourselves isn't a greedy play; its just greed. Beautiful greed, but also limiting greed. As someone who wishes to see as much beauty as they can, I'm all for having more players; increases the possibility and probability of being able to see new creations and destructions, you know?"

"No, I don't" I sighed at the mad man's ravings. "Frankly, I don't care to know either; how you could consider a Holy Grail War to be a mere game is grossly undignified."

"Oh, big words! You must be one of these Clock Tower folk I've heard about, then. Unless the Clock Tower is also in the business of sending child soldiers?"

"Yeah, she's one of the proper magi" the girl beside him rolled her eyes in blatant disgust. "Take it you have something to do with the lack of outside attention this has attracted."

"Naturally" I smirked, looking towards the Executor. "You can thank me for doing your job for you later."

In response, the Executor flung a blade right at 'me'. As the illusion shattered to pieces and dissipated, he snorted dismissively.

"Your petty heretical tricks will not fool me, magus."

"My, how rude" I cast a sarcastic smile as I reappeared off to the side of where the illusion had been. "Is that how you treat all ladies?"

"Oh, don't tell me you're one of those bitchy, fake types" the other man laughed. "You'd look much better if you actually just smiled more, y'know, rather than fake it."

"…I see why everyone hates you" I glared at him.

"Eh, join the queue to kick my ass if ya want. Think you'll be disappointed by the wait time, though!"

"You take pride in such a thing? Being despised by all around you?"

"Nah, pride is worthless; the fact you clearly think pride has value is something I honestly find depressing. Beautiful, but depressing. However, being so thoroughly despised is highly amusing!"

"Then let's see how funny you find this then."

Just smile and continue, Elise. A noblewoman must always remain dignified and poised, even in the presence of such filth.

With the flick of my fan, I turned to face the office buildings across town. Right on queue, a streak of red light arced across the sky. Followed by another, and another. One by one, in rapid succession.

"In a perverse way, I suppose there was a benefit to your crass method of waging this war; made finding you all the easier."

"Ah, Archer's master, then" the annoying man smiled at the red lights rapidly closing in on him. "This makes sense, but also seems… completely unfair."

"Forget that" the closest of the two boys yelled. "Scatter!"

You would consider such a serious matter to be nothing more than a game? Fine then; allow me to show you how a magus really plays…