"Uncle, you should tell my sister."
"But you..."
"I'm fine." The girl shook her head, revealing a sincere smile.
"It's all in the past now, Uncle."
Yes, that filthy darkness had become a thing of the past. Everything was moving toward the light.
Although Sakura had kept in touch with Rin through familiars, she had never mentioned the ugliness of the past. On one hand, she did not want her sister to worry. On the other, she feared that if her biological father, Tokiomi Tohsaka, learned of it, he would forcibly take her away from the Matou Estate.
But now, it was time.
After a moment of silence, Kariya finally stopped avoiding Rin's pressing gaze and said in a low voice:
"Rin, I want to stop your father, stop Tokiomi Tohsaka. It isn't out of righteousness, nor is it for my own selfish desires—I want him to realize that magecraft is not everything to him. There are more important things worth protecting."
"You know this too, don't you? A year ago, he adopted Sakura into the Matou family and had her inherit our Magic Crest."
At that, Rin guiltily looked away and darted a glance at Sakura, but her words remained unyielding. "W-Wasn't that something both families agreed to? Besides, Uncle, you were happy to have Sakura become your daughter too, weren't you...?"
"Yes, I was happy. I was glad Sakura came to the Matou Estate!" Kariya suddenly raised his voice, startling Rin.
But Kariya no longer had the mind to care about Rin. Even though so much time had passed, the emotions swelling within him whenever he mentioned this matter still threatened to burst through his chest.
"But that is who I am now, understand? Now—after that old man is dead, now that I have a new life, Rin!"