My Fates Codex in Type-Moon

"You, what have you done!" At this moment, Zouken Matou felt as if his entire body was burning. His magic circuits were being destroyed, then violently intertwined, rendering them completely irreparable!

Even Kariya Matou hadn't realized the extent of the damage his single shot would cause. He parted his lips slightly and instinctively aimed the trigger at the fallen old worm.

Click, the sound was crisp.

"Stop pressing it, I only prepared one bullet for you," Sakutsuki stopped Kariya, his expression a mix of helplessness and smugness. "Although the thirty-eighth shot was a dud, at least the thirty-ninth Origin Bullet took out a three-hundred-year-old geezer. It doesn't tarnish the name of the Origin Bullet."

The Origin Bullet, Kiritsugu Emiya's strongest Noble Phantasm.

Since he had stayed at the Einzbern's for a week, how could Sakutsuki not get such a good thing from Papa Kiritsugu?

Amidst the dazzling karmic fire, the young man with golden eyes looked at the old man collapsed on the ground, a hint of pity hidden in his icy gaze.

Under the Origin Bullet, the stronger the magus, the faster they died.

This time, Zouken Matou's life had finally reached its end.

"200 years have passed. Tokiomi Tohsaka is dead, the Einzberns are stagnating, and the Winter Saint has also vanished. Why, then, would you go so far as to turn yourself into a monster, going against your original wish, rather than die?"

The youth stared at him, as if gazing upon a glory long past.

"Answer me, Makiri Zolgen."

Why?

Why didn't he want to die?

Enduring pain daily, unable to bask in the sun, living in such an inhuman way, living a life more painful than death.

When ending it all would bring liberation from suffering, why did he still cling to life, embracing all the pain?

He remembered.

That's right. In the beginning, it was for a noble cause.

To eradicate all evil, to seek miracles.

"Humanity is beyond saving. If humans cannot sever sin..."

"If the ideal land is a place unreachable by humanity..."

"Then pursue that which transcends humanity, seek a new form of humanity."

"Yes, to eliminate all evil in the world, we will dedicate our lives to this."

To grasp all things. To understand all truths, to reach a realm no one had ever reached before. To transcend the limitations of the flesh and reach the infinity of the soul.

The species known as humans. Bound by predetermined limits, wanting to break free from this endlessly spinning spiral. All hatred, all pain, were for healing and elimination.

—He remembered.

After learning of the sorrow of having no paradise. If this world were empty, if even the creation of a physical body were forbidden, then strive towards a place where it would be permitted.

It wasn't about creating a new world, but about transforming oneself, the lives of humans, into something new.

—For this.

For this, he sought the Holy Grail.

Seeking miracles beyond human capability.

Until it was achieved, there was no reason to disappear.

Therefore, he would cling to life.

"Right, that's it, messenger of the Einzberns." Zouken whispered. With his magic circuits utterly destroyed, he couldn't even retain the last dregs of his soul, only able to watch as he dissipated like sand.

"You finally remembered," Sakutsuki nodded softly, his golden eyes shedding their disdain and becoming solemn.

"I will inherit your tragic wish, pursue the Third Magic, pursue the miracle of soul materialization—but this is not for the salvation of all humanity, but to live on, and perhaps to glimpse another possibility of the future."

"Ah, is that so..." The voice gradually faded. "Suit yourself."

As the voice ceased to exist, the vast swarm of insects also stilled, being completely annihilated in the flames.

The shadow that had loomed over Fuyuki City for two hundred years finally vanished.

[006: Zouken Matou]

[Character Information]: Original name Makiri Zolgen...

[Hidden Information]: In his youth, Makiri Zolgen was an acquaintance of the 16th-century Renaissance doctor and alchemist, Paracelsus von Hohenheim. Although their research differed, Hohenheim considered Makiri a respectable idealist. In his prime, Makiri Zolgen possessed combat power comparable to Servants and could even defeat a single Servant under specific circumstances.

[Recording Conditions (2/2)]:

1. Save Sakura Matou from Zouken Matou. (Completed)

2. Permanently kill Zouken Matou. (Completed)

[Recording Condition 1 Completed. Reward "Detailed Explanation of Void Magic" obtained!]

[Recording Condition 2 Completed. Reward "Detailed Explanation of Water and Insect Magic" obtained!]

A torrent of information regarding vast magical knowledge flowed into Sakutsuki's mind, causing his thoughts to momentarily pause. By the time he regained his senses, Kariya's words had reached their conclusion.

"While it felt great taking down that old vampire, will the Tohsaka family find out about what we did?"

After all, the Tohsaka and Matou families weren't far apart. Especially since Sakutsuki, that little brat, had used an RPG to carpet bomb the area. If Tokiomi Tohsaka discovered such a major disturbance, setting aside the dirty dealings between magi, just the thought of him deciding the Matou family was incapable of raising Sakura and trying to take her away—

Sakutsuki clutched his fist, feeling a sense of powerlessness more than once.

"Don't worry, I've already hidden the Matou residence with magic. From the outside, this place looks perfectly peaceful now."

"More like creepy," Kariya retorted, his gaze filled with tenderness as he looked at the small figure Sakutsuki held. "Come here, let me hold her."

"Ohhh—" Sakutsuki drawled, deftly turning around to prevent Kariya from seeing the girl he so longed for. "Sakura was hard-won by me. Why should I hand her over to you for care?"

"Hey, you can't say that!" Kariya argued. "We Matou have an agreement with that Tohsaka fellow. This child should be under my care!"

However, Sakutsuki wasn't swayed. "Then do you know why Tokiomi Tohsaka is willing to let Sakura come here? It's to inherit the Matou family's magic crest."

The Matou residence was still burning. Beneath Kariya's stiff expression, the golden-eyed youth wore a mocking smile.

"The Matou family has been destroyed by me, and the magic crest is ruined. So, Kariya Matou, on what grounds do you expect Tokiomi Tohsaka to let his daughter stay in this place? Will you charge forward and be beaten down like a dog? Or will you kneel and beg for mercy from the one who stole Aoi Zenjo's happiness?"

Hearing this, Kariya's fist tightened unconsciously, his fingernails digging into his flesh without him realizing.

Sakutsuki continued without pause, "Don't dream of Sakura having happiness after leaving. To avoid wasting his daughter's talent, Tokiomi Tohsaka will definitely send Sakura to another family. And what are these so-called magus families like... Humph, you know better than anyone."

Didn't Kariya Matou himself flee because he feared everything related to magi?

"I, I can't let Tokiomi take Sakura away. I won't let Sakura lose her happiness," Kariya's eyes bloodshot.

"But you lack the ability to protect Sakura. Even if you flee far away, you might not escape the Tohsaka family, who have connections everywhere. You might even leave Sakura constantly under the shadow of being hunted."

Kariya Matou fell silent.

He wasn't foolish and understood why Sakutsuki was being so aggressive, but Kariya Matou absolutely refused to let go now.

"I know what you mean. You want Sakura to stay with you, right?"

"Precisely..."

"No, there's another option!" Kariya stepped forward, grabbing Sakutsuki's arm, his gaze resolute.

"Whoa, whoa, let's be clear. My sexual orientation is normal. Don't get any weird ideas!" Sakutsuki took a step back involuntarily, seeing Kariya's frantic look. "I already have someone I like!"

With a thud, Kariya Matou knelt, prostrating himself before Sakutsuki in the most standard dogeza. "Sensei, I want to learn magic!"

"...Ah, oh, so that's what it is." Sakutsuki subtly breathed a sigh of relief, his expression finally returning to normal. "I do have needs regarding the Matou family, otherwise, I wouldn't have been haggling with you for so long. But honestly, even if I teach you magic now, it will be very difficult for you to defeat Tokiomi Tohsaka—understand?"

"Of course, I understand that," Kariya Matou said, looking up, unconcerned about how humiliating his posture was.

For Sakura, he was willing to do anything.

Sakutsuki looked at his expression and finally understood Kariya Matou's objective.

"...So that's how it is. You want to tie me to your chariot."

After all, how could someone ruthless enough to destroy the Matou family fear the threat of the Tohsaka family?

Under Kariya's anxious gaze, Sakutsuki pondered for a long time before finally revealing a sinister smile.

"Although it deviates slightly from my plan, since one is willing to strike and the other is willing to be struck, I won't be polite and will take your fates."

"Where is this...?"

The next morning, led by Kariya, the group of three walked through rows of quiet residences and arrived before an ancient-looking Chinese-style building.

"Ah, as you requested," Kariya Matou said, walking ahead. "'Abandon the conspicuous Matou residence, find a new base, but still be able to go directly to Tohsaka or Matou's place'—Besides the properties owned by the Fujimura-gumi, this is the most suitable. If it weren't for that couple rushing back to their country, we wouldn't have been able to acquire it so quickly."

"Let me see." Sakutsuki wasn't interested in the history of the house. In the future Holy Grail War, which would be fought through covert means, the quality of the ley lines and other magical factors were the true advantages of the terrain. "This place is located right on a ley line node. In layman's terms, the feng shui is excellent."

The young man squatted down and gently placed the little girl he had been holding.

The black-haired little girl rubbed her eyes, still sleepy. "Mmm... Brother Sakutsuki?"

"Sakura, do you like this house?" Sakutsuki asked gently.

Sakura glanced timidly at the house before quickly replying, "You and Uncle decide, it's fine with me."

Her obedient demeanor was both endearing and heart-wrenching.

Kariya and Sakutsuki exchanged a look, first smiling, then sighing.

"There's no other way, let's settle here for now," Sakutsuki said, picking up Sakura again. He pushed open the door and walked in under Kariya's envious and jealous gaze.

"At worst, we can renovate this house from top to bottom."

"Naturally."

The two men, completely oblivious to the implications of their words, entered the stronghold with their cherished princess.

This Chinese-style building was still located in Miyama Town, the very center of the future battlefield, yet it was far from the residences of the Matou and Tohsaka families, like a tranquil spot found amidst countless undercurrents.

Although he didn't know why Sakutsuki did this, Kariya Matou was more than happy to be far away from the Matou residence.

"Here, take it." A brand-new notebook flew in a perfect parabola, landing in Kariya's fumbling hands.

Kariya caught it and, after instinctively flipping through a few pages, his expression changed. "Hey! Sakutsuki, this is..."

"As you can see, I've copied magic notes all night," Sakutsuki said casually, waving his hand as he tickled Sakura, making her giggle. "It's not the insect magic you detest, but the original water magic of the Matou family, and the void magic that Sakura needs."

"..." Kariya tightened his grip on the notebook. Undoubtedly, the notebook, worth less than a few hundred yen, contained priceless magical knowledge.

Although he still harbored a rejection of magic, for the sake of the Matou family's continuation and for Sakura's happiness, he had to pick up the mystery he had once abandoned with his own hands.

"Later, I'll use magic to connect this mansion's ley lines with the Matou family's," Sakutsuki said after a bit of playful banter, standing up and stretching his arms. "As for the subsequent disguises, I don't need to elaborate. As for magic instruction... I'm afraid I'm only half-baked myself, so I'll rely on your comprehension, Kariya-san."

"How could there be such a thing?" Kariya cast a mournful glance at his rather convenient teacher, then crouched down and gently called to the girl, "Little Sakura, that person has something important to do. Come, come to me."

"Speaking of which, this child should be called Sakura Matou, shouldn't she?" Sakutsuki said meaningfully, causing Kariya, who was holding Sakura, to stiffen.

Matou, Sakura Matou.

When his surname was attached to the name of the woman he loved, even though Kariya Matou had been prepared, he couldn't help but feel his heart surge.

Although his life was already destined to have nothing to do with Aoi... at least he could leave a memento.

Thump. Another notebook landed on Kariya's head.

Hee hee. Seeing his uncle's disheveled state, Sakura giggled, her eyes crinkling.

"What are you doing, Sakutsuki!"

As Kariya Matou protested, the young man with white hair and golden eyes, who had appeared beside him at some unknown time, whispered like a demon in his ear.

"Do you want to understand the meaning of life? Do you want to truly live?"

"Do you want to reverse past mistakes and have the one you love... become your lover?"