Tonight, Fuyuki City was exceptionally peaceful.
There were no unexpected gas explosions, no gas pipeline leaks, and no safety hazards rearing their heads. The citizens could not help but secretly wonder whether the higher-ups had finally started doing their jobs instead of drawing salaries for nothing. If that was true, it would be a good thing for ordinary people like them.
At the edge of Shinto, inside a private room at a restaurant.
Watching the boy in front of him wolf down a third full-course meal, Kariya suddenly had an absurd thought: Could this kid have gotten close to him just to mooch a decent meal, planning to slip away once he was done eating?
"I have a feeling Mr. Kariya is thinking something rather rude."
Shiki's voice suddenly rang out, startling Kariya. The boy's senses were truly sharp. No wonder he had noticed Servant Assassin's watchful gaze.
Kariya hurriedly cast those wild thoughts aside.
"Well then, now that we've finished eating, shouldn't we talk about the important matter, Hōraisan Shiki?"
On the way to the restaurant, the two had already exchanged names. To gain trust, honestly giving one's name was the first step. Now, it was time for the second.
Shiki wiped the corner of his mouth and let out a satisfied burp. This meal had finally eased the gnawing hunger in his stomach. Smiling, he directly revealed his first trump card.
His pitch-black right eye instantly changed. Amid flickering multicolored light, a peculiar pupil appeared before Kariya—a green base marked with red rings that gradually spread outward.
"Mr. Kariya, you should know what this is, right?"
Witnessing the strange transformation of that eye up close and feeling the mystical aura it radiated, Kariya sucked in a sharp breath and slowly nodded. "A Magic Eye. Shiki, that eye of yours is a Rainbow Magic Eye, the highest rank."
Although Kariya had left his family long ago, abandoned his studies of magecraft, and wholeheartedly wished to live as an ordinary person, the knowledge from the family education he had received as a child would not easily vanish from his memory.
Naturally, he knew about Magic Eyes. Ordinary Magic Eyes were one thing, but Rainbow Magic Eyes, the highest-ranked kind, were mysterious existences that even great magecraft could hardly reproduce. They were practically comparable to Heroic Spirits, perhaps even surpassing them in terms of mystery.
In this world, there were only a handful of beings with Magic Eyes of such rank. Nearly every one of them had been designated for sealing by the Mage's Association.
Shiki's display of his Magic Eye stirred something in Kariya's heart. "Could it be that, Shiki, you're relying on the power of your Magic Eye...?"
"That's right. With the power of my Magic Eye, I can ease Mr. Kariya's current condition. However, I first need to examine your body before I can determine the specific treatment." Shiki did not explain the exact ability of his Magic Eye in detail. Some secrets were better kept in one's heart.
Kariya understood that.
The two had not yet fully established trust, just as he would not casually reveal some of his own secrets.
As for letting Shiki examine him, he was not worried. His spiritualized Servant was constantly guarding his side and could ensure his personal safety.
"Then let's begin."
Seeing how straightforward Kariya was, Shiki smiled. "Don't worry, Mr. Kariya. If you sense any malicious action, you can have the Heroic Spirit beside you act at any time. Against the immense power of a Heroic Spirit, I would have no ability to resist."
After activating his Magic Eye, Shiki could clearly see the black Heroic Spirit beside Kariya.
Even without the Magic Eye, he could easily sense the powerful presence of a Heroic Spirit.
Heroic Spirits were the highest-tier power in this Holy Grail War. They were also one of the important forces Shiki desired to obtain, and the key to reaching the land of his dreams.
Kariya gave the boy a deep look without speaking, merely tacitly allowing him to proceed.
"Then we'll begin. Please don't move around, Mr. Kariya."
"Understood."
Examining bodies was nothing unfamiliar to Shiki. There had once been a period when he studied some healing ninjutsu. Though those techniques could not be used in this world, his understanding of the human body and his related experience would not disappear just because the world had changed.
Ten minutes later, Shiki's expression was grave. He lowered his head and unconsciously tapped the table for a long while in thought. Then he looked at the calm-faced Kariya and said, "The situation is extremely bad, Mr. Kariya. Your life is likely no longer under your own control. The insects inside your body are the true masters."
"Go on." Kariya's expression remained calm. He had long known his own condition. The fact that Shiki could perceive it was enough to prove that his abilities were worthy of trust.
"If you want to break free of their control, there is no other way besides eliminating the one controlling them from behind the scenes."
Kariya's face turned cold, his voice calm yet carrying a chill. "In other words, you have no way to ease my condition either. Then I advise you to leave. Getting involved in this rashly will do you no good."
Shiki quickly raised a hand to signal Kariya not to worry, then smiled. "Although I can't remove the insects from your body, sir, I really can ease your condition. It's just that the effect may not last long, perhaps only a few hours."
"The time is too short. It won't be of much help to me."
"It is indeed not long, but if it is only for doing certain things, that amount of time is already enough."
Shiki looked at Kariya seriously. "Mr. Kariya, have you ever thought about truly breaking free of your restraints, gaining freedom, and no longer being controlled by the insects?"
The words "freedom" and "control" echoed endlessly in Kariya's mind.
How could he not want freedom? But circumstances had forced his hand. With no other choice, he had accepted the alterations to his body solely to obtain power, even though that power was not entirely under his control.
But for Sakura's sake, he could not give up this sliver of hope.
Now, this boy named Shiki had brought him another possibility, and a glimmer of light flashed through Kariya's eyes.
"Shiki, you mean..."
"Kill the one behind it all."
An hour later, at the entrance to the Matou Old House in Miyamachi, across the river from Shinto.
Kariya still could not quite believe that he had made this decision so easily. Once the plan failed, both he and Sakura would face an even more tragic fate.
The thought made Kariya's entire body tremble slightly as he struggled inwardly.
He began to wonder whether his decision had been too hasty, whether he should follow his original plan and win the Holy Grail War in exchange for Sakura's freedom.
The two thoughts clashed fiercely in his mind, causing his expression to shift uncertainly.
"Mr. Kariya, do you truly think that, in your current physical condition, you can be the one still standing at the end of the Holy Grail War?"
Shiki stood beside him, idly turning a gas mask over in his hands. Naturally, he noticed the changes in Kariya's expression and instantly guessed that his resolve was wavering.
That would not do. He had to encourage him and strengthen his determination. If Kariya changed his mind, everything Shiki had done before would have been for nothing.
"Mr. Kariya, you must have felt it too. Although Crest Worms can increase magical energy, they are also a death sentence. On top of that, controlling a Servant consumes an enormous amount of magical energy. I'm afraid a single battle between Heroic Spirits could cost you half your life. To achieve final victory, you would have to go through several more battles. I truly don't believe that, in your current state, you can endure until the end and obtain the Holy Grail."
The truth struck like a heavy hammer, shattering every unrealistic hope.
"Mr. Kariya, it is time to open your eyes, abandon that hopeless fantasy, and bravely face reality."
"Yes, Shiki, you're right. I shouldn't cling to such unrealistic fantasies."
Kariya knew his physical condition well. Controlling the frenzied Servant Berserker would not only gradually affect his mind, but would also overwhelm his body. Sooner or later, he would be consumed by madness.
He had no chance of winning the battles to come.
Moreover, Zouken Matou, who controlled him, would never agree to his request. He would only watch coldly from the side, taking pleasure in seeing him struggle like a clown as he tried to fulfill an impossible wish.
That man was an inhuman piece of trash, an ancient monster who had long since lost his soul.
"Then let's go! Even if it costs me my life, I'll make Zouken die!"
"Mr. Kariya, remember this: you must never let your guard down. You absolutely cannot give him any opening to exploit."
"I understand. I'll follow the plan."
Once Kariya had steeled himself, Shiki secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
As long as Kariya's resolve remained firm, things would be much easier.
In this battle, his conviction was crucial. As long as he could persist in fighting the old monster Zouken Matou for control of the Servant and keep Servant Berserker from becoming the other man's aid, Shiki was completely confident that he could swiftly deal with an old monster who had long lost both his humanity and physical body.
"Then let's begin."
The two pushed open the door of the Matou Old House. Within the dim building, it was as though a monstrous maw had swallowed them whole.
This was the battlefield.
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