From an early age, Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald showed exceptional abilities compared to other children. No matter what challenge arose, no one could find a better solution than Kayneth. He remained undefeated in every competition he entered. Because of these achievements, people began calling him a "genius" during his childhood.
No one ever questioned whether he deserved to be called a "genius," and nothing ever threatened this reputation. As a result, he didn't need to develop pride or arrogance—he simply became comfortable with his status. Kayneth never experienced failure or had to confront his limitations.
In those days, he controlled everything in his world without encountering obstacles or worrying about what he couldn't accomplish. His many achievements made all the honors he received seem completely natural. The belief that nothing existed beyond Kayneth's capabilities wasn't just his own opinion—it was shared by everyone around him.
Nothing changed when Kayneth started his professional career. He became one of the twelve Lords of Clock Tower before turning 20, secured the position of Department Head of Mineralogy, and earned recognition as a first-class lecturer in Spiritual Evocation. None of these accomplishments gave him any particular satisfaction or sense of achievement—they were simply expected outcomes in his life.
He viewed the Holy Grail War with the same attitude. Even though Tokiomi Tohsaka and the Einzbern family were well-respected names even in London, he considered them merely participants in a ceremony taking place in a country that had little magical significance.
Kayneth didn't join the Holy Grail War because he needed to or had some urgent reason. He simply wanted to add the Holy Grail War to his list of achievements.
As a Lord, he naturally expected to win, but still made thorough preparations appropriate for someone of his standing.
But then something unexpected happened just before he was set to leave for Japan.
The artifact Kayneth had carefully prepared was stolen. The thief who vanished from Clock Tower along with this precious relic was none other than his own student, Waver Velvet.
Waver came from a family with only three generations of magical history and was just an average student. He'd been holding a grudge ever since Kayneth publicly criticized his thesis in front of everyone.
People at Clock Tower saw his theft as simple revenge, but nobody imagined Waver would actually travel all the way to Japan to enter the Holy Grail War himself.
While Kayneth was absolutely furious about this betrayal, he had to focus on preparing for the upcoming Holy Grail War. And today, the distinguished Lord of Clock Tower took the first step in what he considered his inevitable path to victory.
On the thirty-second floor of the hotel in Fuyuki City, Kayneth occupied the highest and most exclusive suite in the entire city. Though it had started as a typical modern hotel room, since Kayneth's arrival, he had transformed it into a proper workshop for his magical work.
Kayneth carefully removed an object from his travel case—a small piece of aged, weathered wood.
"Is that what you're using for the summoning?" A red-haired woman leaned in with interest. "What exactly is it?"
This was Sola-Ui Nuada-Re Sophia-Ri, Kayneth's fiancée and daughter of his mentor, the Department Head of Spiritual Evocation. Their engagement—the union between the Archibald and Sophia-Ri families, joining a brilliant prodigy with the department head's daughter—had become a favorite topic of conversation throughout Clock Tower.
Sola-Ui had come to Fuyuki to serve as Kayneth's assistant during the Holy Grail War.
"It's a fragment of the Round Table," Kayneth explained simply. "I acquired it from the Summoning Department." He didn't elaborate further, assuming the artifact was famous enough to need no additional explanation.
The Summoning Department at Clock Tower actually operated under the Department of Spiritual Evocation, which meant the division that kept all those valuable relics answered to both Kayneth and Sola-Ui's father.
"The Round Table from Britain? Are you saying you might summon King Arthur?" Sola-Ui stared with amazement at the plain-looking piece of wood in her fiancé's hand.
The Knights of the Round Table were, of course, the legendary warriors who served under King Arthur.
History tells us that Arthur created a round table specifically so there would be no "head" position, making everyone equal regardless of their rank.
Each knight who sat at that famous table became a legendary hero in their own right. Besides King Arthur himself, there was Lancelot, Galahad, Gawain, Tristan, Percival... any one of them, if summoned as a Servant, would possess remarkable power and fame.
"With just a fragment of the Round Table, we can't know exactly which knight will answer the call," Kayneth said with a slight smile. "But I'm certain it will be a Heroic Spirit worthy of someone of my status."
This was a test for Kayneth. He completely trusted in his exceptional ability to turn uncertainty into certainty, which is why he selected the Round Table fragment as his replacement relic.
The moment had arrived. Kayneth quietly rose and placed the relic on the altar beside the summoning circle. ... The intense moment of summoning passed in an instant.
The mighty knight who once rode across ancient Britain now stood in the hotel living room.
He had golden hair, pure white armor, an impressive physique, and a noble presence.
He was clearly a hero perfectly suited to serve someone of Kayneth's status.
As Kayneth examined his Servant, his expression remained completely unchanged.
The best class, the best knight—everything was exactly as he expected.
Facing the magus, the golden-haired knight knelt on one knee and showed the proper respect between a servant and his master.
"I am Saber, Knight of the Round Table, Gawain. In the name of the Sun Knight, I vow to bring you absolute victory."
Gawain was one of the Knights of the Round Table from King Arthur's legends. He was among the first knights to follow the king and remained loyal throughout their journey.
He carried the holy sword of the sun, a weapon similar to Excalibur and was known as an unbeatable knight during daylight hours.
From Gawain's perspective, Kayneth—a Lord of Clock Tower carrying on Britain's legacy in modern times—was a master truly worth serving. So when he appeared in this world, he felt pretty good about his situation and was both confident and excited about the upcoming Holy Grail War.
Kayneth looked down at the knight's broad back and was about to speak when his fiancée Sola-Ui suddenly rushed to Gawain's side and helped him to his feet.
"Please stand up, Sir Knight," she said quickly.
"Thank you, my lady," Gawain replied.
Kayneth watched with a strange expression as Sola-Ui helped Gawain up.
As soon as the knight was standing, Sola-Ui turned to her future husband with a cold tone.
"El-Melloi, why aren't you saying anything? Isn't Saber your Servant?"
Kayneth seemed to snap out of a daze, nodding awkwardly. "Yes... of course. Welcome, my knight."
"Thank you, Master. And you as well, my lady." Gawain bowed respectfully to both of them.
Though things felt a bit awkward at first, the mood in the room soon returned to normal.
However.
No one had noticed the subtle glances that the only woman in the room kept directing toward the knight.
If only Kayneth had seen it sooner…