My Fate Compendium of Type-Moon Chapter 5

The moment his curiosity broke free from its constraints, the man named "Ryunosuke Uryu" found the meaning of his life.

It's time for a reintroduction—

Ryunosuke Uryu, an animal enthusiast, a young man with abundant curiosity and a thirst for knowledge, who genuinely enjoys life.

At the same time, he is a murderer causing trouble in Lauterbrunnen, a town in the Alps.

Mind's Eye (True): B Insight cultivated through training and practice. In a dead end, it's a combat theory that allows one to find a way out by calmly grasping one's own situation and the enemy's abilities. As long as there's a 1% chance of reversal, one must find an opportunity to carry out the plan.

Clairvoyance: C+ Good eyesight. Both static and dynamic vision have been improved. Effective for capturing distant targets. At higher ranks, it can even achieve X-ray vision or future sight, but at rank C, it cannot reach that level.

Reinforcement Magecraft: C A beginner's magecraft that is very difficult to master, it is a magecraft that injects mana to "raise the existence of the target." Raising existence means that if it's a knife, it increases sharpness; if it's food, it increases nutrition; if it's a maid, it increases cuteness (?).

Projection Magecraft: A+ A magecraft that materializes a mirror image or replica of an item that exists (or existed) in reality using mana. Because it is formed from mana, it cannot be materialized for a long time. Furthermore, when the illusion breaks, it will dissipate like mist. It is considered an extremely inefficient act—or at least, it should be. Unlike ordinary Projection Magecraft (Gradation Air), which can only create things that are mere shells, in this man's hands, Projection Magecraft is essentially a degraded version of Unlimited Blade Works, violating the principle of equivalent exchange in magecraft. It is the creation of illusions out of thin air, a forbidden magecraft that erodes the world.

Pushing the door open and sensing the man's blade-like killing intent and the thick, unshakeable scent of blood, Ryunosuke Uryu couldn't help but feel delighted, a wide smile spreading across his face.

This was three days ago. He was hiking through the beautiful Alps, searching for the fading passion and novelty he experienced during torture and interrogation, when he unexpectedly discovered this young man, half-leaning against the hillside, covered in blood.

The overwhelming atmosphere of brutality was like a harbor for Ryunosuke Uryu, a drifting ship.

"Ah, truly..."

The joy in his heart made Ryunosuke almost speechless. After standing dumbfounded for a long time, he finally exclaimed with immense emotion:

"So cool!"

In his eyes, although the young man was weak, he was still enveloped in a terrifying killing aura, as if he had just returned from the brink of death, witnessed the scenery of the Sanzu River, and then turned back to the human world without any reluctance.

Like a leopard, arrogant and cold.

In his life up to this point, Ryunosuke Uryu had never encountered such a noble existence. Even when he had traveled throughout the war-torn Middle East, all he saw were war hyenas devoid of any aesthetic beauty; anyone could pick up a gun and become that nauseating sight.

He thought he would never find his kind in this world.

He thought he would have to enjoy this unique beauty alone.

Yet, the existence of this young man allowed him to experience the joy of finding a kindred spirit.

Ryunosuke Uryu was eager to share his joy with his "companion"—in the most devout way possible, by applying his coolest methods of torture, murder, and disposal of bodies onto his "companion."

However, the moment Ryunosuke Uryu spoke, the white-haired young man looked up with lightning speed, the cold glint in his golden eyes flashing, and the brutal killing intent almost engulfed him.

Upon realizing that the person before him was merely a backpacker who looked harmless, the white-haired youth's killing intent subsided, and he muttered:

"With such an accessory, are you also someone who likes leopards..."

The young man's final words made Ryunosuke Uryu change his mind.

Perhaps, before they both enjoyed their final "death," they had time to chat a little more about aesthetics.

With that thought, Ryunosuke Uryu bent down, picked up Sakutsuki, who was on the verge of death, and headed towards the hospital in a nearby town.

This was the origin of the murderer who appeared in the town.

Let's return to the early morning three days later.

Not long after Ryunosuke Uryu pushed open the door and found Sakutsuki awake, the two young men left the town together and headed towards the Alps.

The invitation to climb the mountain was made by Ryunosuke Uryu, and for some reason, Sakutsuki, still injured, accepted this abrupt request.

After introducing themselves, the two young men seemed to quickly become familiar with each other.

"Speaking of which, you said you 'also like leopards,' right, Sakutsuki?" Ryunosuke Uryu said casually while climbing. "I'm curious, does the 'also' refer to you, or someone else you know?"

He didn't care why Sakutsuki was there, nor how he got so badly injured—for Ryunosuke Uryu, knowing these things was enough.

Sakutsuki, following him at a leisurely pace and admiring the scenery along the way, heard the question and slowly shifted his gaze to the young man who was, in a way, his savior.

Male, orange hair, calls himself "Ryunosuke Uryu," likes leopard prints.

If two or three of these conditions were met, he might have been able to dismiss it as a coincidence, but with all four conditions met, it was impossible not to confirm it.

"Fate Zero..." Sakutsuki murmured, finally understanding the prompt from the "Fate Compendium."

[Condition 2 unlocked, reward obtained: Escape this world and proceed to the Origin of Fate.]

The Origin of Fate, Fate·Zero. The secret history of the Fourth Holy Grail War, the brutal story of seven magi fighting and killing each other.

Heroes of the past reappear under a mysterious influence, gathering to fight.

A lone king, a boisterous king, a holy king;

A maddened knight, noble yet unfortunate;

A blasphemous marshal, an assassin of a hundred faces;

Seven Masters fight individually, throwing themselves into slaughter for their own wishes.

A killer who fantasizes about saving humanity, a priest who pursues pleasure;

A calculating family head, a young and reckless magecraft apprentice;

A dying man seeking revenge; a gifted prodigy for honor; an innocent serial killer who stumbled into this war.

Seven pairs of Masters and Servants gallop freely across the stage of an entire city, fighting to seize the supreme miracle (the Holy Grail).

This is the origin of the Fate series, after which countless world lines, countless situations, and countless miracles were born.

—Henceforth, there will be no such splendor again.

Sakutsuki snapped back to reality and looked at his "savior," Ryunosuke Uryu.

He was one of the Masters in the Fourth Holy Grail War, a disruptor, a pleasure-seeker, a sacrifice in this war.

Facing the orange-haired youth's question, Sakutsuki merely smiled and replied faintly:

"It's someone I know."

"What kind of person is he? Can you tell me?" the innocent serial killer pressed, his eyes filled with genuine anticipation.

Sakutsuki then obediently replied:

"He is bright and cheerful, able to perceive the subtle feelings of others without being petty."

"Oh!"

"He always maintains an optimistic and constructive mood. He doesn't give up in the face of failure."

"Oh, oh!"

"He's also an animal lover, very fond of features on hunting parks or natural sciences. However, his preference for cruel subjects is limited to humans. Although he admires sharks and carnivorous animals, he has never thought of becoming one."

"Oh, oh, oh!"

With every sentence Sakutsuki spoke, Ryunosuke Uryu's eyes shone brighter. By the end, he simply ran over and grabbed Sakutsuki's hand, shouting as if afraid he would run away:

"Who is he? Where is he? Can I visit him?"

Sakutsuki smiled politely, subtly withdrawing his hand. "Regrettably, he cannot meet you, because—"

"Because why?" Ryunosuke's face contorted with anxiety.

"It's not time yet." The white-haired youth offered a faint smile again. "He asked me to tell you that if you reach the mountain peak, you can meet him."

"This is so cool!" Sakutsuki's evasion did not anger Ryunosuke Uryu; instead, it made him exclaim with excitement:

"This is exactly what I wanted to say! My God, is he my other half? Why does he always know what I'm thinking? Cool, so cool! Let's go! Let's go, let's go!"

In his elation, which almost made him faint, the killer almost forgot everything, vigorously swinging his legs, his eyes fixed only on the alluringly shining mountain peak.

Because of this, he did not notice Sakutsuki, who was following him at a leisurely pace, looking at his savior with an extremely peculiar gaze.

It was the look one gives to a strange, disappearing object.

[002: Ryunosuke Uryu]

[Character Information]: Innocent killer, exceptionally sensitive to the reality of death, a mad performance artist, desires to understand death, proficient in death.

[Hidden Information]: Not yet unlocked

[Completion Conditions (1/1)]:

1. Kill Ryunosuke Uryu (Incomplete)

—Henceforth, there will be no such splendor again.

This isn't to say that other works cannot reach such heights, but rather that stories like this can never be repeated; this is a story unique to FATE ZERO.

Alps Mountain Peak

"So, can you tell me the answer now?" Ryunosuke Uryu asked, turning his head as soon as he reached the peak, ignoring the soreness in his legs.

"Naturally," Sakutsuki replied, as if glancing casually at the pile of grass next to the orange-haired youth.

The faintly visible black travel bag there, along with Ryunosuke Uryu's overly familiar climbing process—undoubtedly confirmed his guess.

Thanks to this, Sakutsuki's smile became completely cold and merciless.

"Trace on."

Not the black and white twin swords Kanshou and Bakuya, beloved by Shirou Emiya, but an ordinary short sword.

Before Ryunosuke Uryu could react, Sakutsuki approached him with speed that, though weakened, still surpassed that of ordinary humans, then reached out—and thrust the sword.

The blade pierced Ryunosuke Uryu's abdomen, resting there coldly.

The wind on the mountaintop seemed to freeze, leaving only the helpless sound of blood leaving the body, so clear.

"Look." Sakutsuki scooped up a pool of clear red spring water and brought his palm close to Ryunosuke Uryu's eyes, whispering like a demon, "This is my answer. This is what you've been searching for, Ryunosuke Uryu."

Ryunosuke Uryu's eyes widened, fixed on the slowly fading substance in the palm.

"Wow..."

Red. A brilliant red, completely pure.

It was the primal color he had been seeking, so vibrant it seemed to sparkle.

This is it— Ryunosuke suddenly understood, a smile forming on his bluish lips.

This was the true "red" he had been searching for everywhere, digging in countless places but never finding.

The red gradually faded. Not just the hand, but the white-haired youth (the demon) as well, had already walked away without a hint of regret.

But Ryunosuke Uryu had found his answer.

He tenderly cradled his blood-soaked abdomen.

"I see... no wonder I never realized it before..."

As the saying goes, it was right under his nose the whole time. He never expected that what he had been pursuing for so long was hidden so close by. Ryunosuke's mind reeled from the flood of neurochemicals, as if ascending to heaven, and he knelt on the ground, trembling as he pulled out his travel bag from the grass at his feet.