Shinji, struck by Amaterasu, rolled around frantically on the ground, screaming hysterically.
Shinji began to regret taking part in this so-called Holy Grail War, but it was obviously too late to take it back now.
When Shinji saw Shirou Emiya and Rin Tohsaka, he frantically rolled toward them, pleading in agony:
"Emiya! Tohsaka! Save me!"
"I don't want to die yet!"
"Ahhhhhhhhh!"
Before Rin Tohsaka could pull Shirou Emiya back, Shinji's screams abruptly cut off beneath the roar of the black flames. His entire body had been consumed by the dark fire.
Aside from a few scorched marks on the hallway floor, nothing remained of Shinji.
If Shirou Emiya and Rin Tohsaka hadn't seen it with their own eyes, they probably never would have imagined that this was how Shinji Matou would die.
With Shinji's death, Rider, whose neck Sasuke's Susanoo had snapped, turned into motes of magical energy and vanished completely from the hallway.
At that moment, Shinji Matou and Rider became the first Master-Servant pair eliminated from this Holy Grail War.
Shirou Emiya and Rin Tohsaka stared at Sasuke as though he were a monster. They couldn't help wondering, Is this person really a mage and not a Servant?
No ordinary mage could possibly defeat a Heroic Spirit's Servant, could they?
Although Rin Tohsaka had already suspected as much, she was still somewhat surprised that Shinji Matou was a Master.
It was probably the first time in history that a Master with a Servant had been killed by a mage outside the Holy Grail War.
As for Shirou Emiya, his feelings at that moment were truly complicated.
The girl who had gone missing from the school's archery club a few days ago was named Ayako Mitsuzuri. The last person she had been seen with was Shinji. Although she had been found, she was suffering from some mental issues.
Considering the way Shinji had acted toward Kaoru Sakura, who had been attacked by a Servant yesterday, and his behavior over the past few days, it wasn't hard to figure out that he was the school's third Master.
Whether he took part in this Holy Grail War as a mage or as a Master, he should have been prepared for the possibility of being killed by someone else.
Even so, watching a former friend die right in front of him left Shirou Emiya at a loss for words.
Shinji Matou had dragged innocent people into this. No matter how Shirou Emiya looked at it, he couldn't bring himself to say anything.
Seeing that the two of them were silent, Sasuke continued:
"If there's nothing else, I'll be going."
Just as Sasuke was about to leave, Rin Tohsaka called out to him.
"Wait!"
"If possible, could I ask you for help again in the future?"
Rin Tohsaka didn't care about Shinji Matou's death. After all, Shinji's personality really was awful.
Besides, Shinji Matou had brought this trouble on himself. Given how things had turned out, he deserved what he got.
But she barely knew any mages in Fuyuki, and Sasuke was the first mage she had met who was this powerful and possessed Mystic Eyes.
She would rather win this Holy Grail War through her own efforts, but having another ally was the safer choice in case anything went wrong.
Besides, learning about different kinds of Magecraft was part of Rin Tohsaka's principles as a mage.
Sasuke answered Rin Tohsaka in an even tone:
"I already told you."
"You saved Kaoru. If there's anything you need help with, just ask."
"Anything else?"
Shirou Emiya remained silent, unsure what to say.
Rin Tohsaka seemed to want to say something, but hesitated.
If Shinji Matou was the school's third Master, then there was probably another Master hiding somewhere on campus.
Since Shinji Matou had no aptitude for Magecraft, other Masters would hardly be able to detect him unless his Servant made an appearance.
But judging by what had happened over the past few days and her own sense of the school, Rin Tohsaka believed there was likely another Master and Servant pair there, besides Shirou Emiya and Shinji Matou.
Still, Rin Tohsaka felt that Sasuke Uchiha had nothing to do with this Holy Grail War. He had already avenged Kaoru Sakura, so there was no need to involve him in what came next.
"Nothing. Just make sure Kaoru gets plenty of rest at home for a while."
Sasuke nodded, then turned and walked out of the school.
Sasuke soon disappeared from the campus. Rin Tohsaka sighed and looked toward Shirou Emiya, who had been silent for a long time.
"Emiya, sorry for the trouble, but let me come to your house. I have something to discuss with you."
Night quickly fell over the sky, and Sasuke returned to Fish Fresh House.
Since the shop had closed for the day, Kaoru Sakura was the one who opened the door for him.
Kaoru Sakura was dressed for home in a white long-sleeved shirt and a black skirt that fell below her knees, with a pink apron patterned with cherry blossoms over it.
She had hurried downstairs, so she was still holding the wooden rice paddle. A moment later, though, she turned it into a weapon to interrogate Sasuke.
"Big brother, where did you go this afternoon?"
"Tell me the truth!"
Kaoru Sakura pointed the rice paddle at Sasuke and demanded an answer.
"I had something to do."
Sasuke walked inside, locked the door, then headed upstairs with an impassive expression.
Following him, Kaoru Sakura muttered under her breath:
"Something to do? What something?"
"Big brother, you didn't go on a date with someone, did you?"
The fact that Kaoru Sakura could ask him something like that told Sasuke that she had mostly recovered. Otherwise, she wouldn't have asked such an out-of-the-blue question.
Before Sasuke could say anything, the old man, Sakura Masayoshi, called out from upstairs:
"Don't be so forward, girl. Stop prying into your brother's business."
Kaoru Sakura had heard this so often that she responded with her usual playful grin:
"Okay, okay!"
"I was just asking!"
As she spoke, Kaoru Sakura sat down at the dining table and served Sasuke some rice.
Kaoru Sakura usually took care of the cooking at home. She had started learning to cook in elementary school, so she was quite good at it.
After sitting down, Sasuke nodded politely to Sakura Masayoshi, who was seated at the head of the table.
Sakura Masayoshi nodded back in acknowledgment.
Neither of them said anything. It seemed they both understood what was going on.
Sasuke accepted the bowl and chopsticks Kaoru Sakura offered with both hands, then said to her:
"Kaoru, stay home and rest for the next few days."
"I'll explain things to your teacher."
Kaoru Sakura, who knew nothing about what had happened, naturally found this baffling and asked:
"Why?"
Sasuke replied in his usual calm tone:
"Because you need to rest."
"Huh? Isn't that a bit much?"
Clearly, Kaoru Sakura didn't think she needed to rest. She had been a little sleepy during the day, but after sleeping all afternoon, she no longer felt tired at all.
"Listen to your brother."
This time, Sakura Masayoshi, the most respected person in the household, had to step in. Kaoru Sakura argued a little more, but in the end, she gave in.
But wherever there was a struggle, there was always risk.
Tonight was destined to be anything but peaceful.
Before you continue