Magician in Type-Moon

Page 70

Kirei paused for a moment, then turned to look in the direction of the confessional. That familiar voice belonged to his father, Kotomine Risei.

In the confessional, dim light streamed in through the narrow window, forming a few faint beams of light.

The cramped space contained only an old wooden bench and a low wooden table.

A portrait of the Passion of Jesus hangs on the wall, faintly gleaming with a mysterious light.

Kotomine Riku walked out of the confessional, his figure appearing particularly solemn in the candlelight.

His gaze fell on Tokiomi on the altar, his expression unchanged, he simply watched quietly.

“Yes, Father, he died in battle,” Kirei replied calmly, his voice devoid of any emotion.

But he was not at peace; in fact, he felt a little flustered.

Shouldn't Father still be at the Kumagai Air Base of the Air Self-Defense Force, overseeing the overall situation? Why is he here now?

No wonder Gilgamesh, the King of Heroes, didn't step forward to mock him; he wanted to see him make a fool of himself.

If Gilgamesh's father, being an old friend of the Tohsaka family, were to discover that he had murdered Tokiomi Tohsaka, the scene would surely satisfy Gilgamesh's pleasure.

He must be nearby, quietly enjoying this farce.

Is this your twisted sense of humor, Gilgamesh?

“Father, I have prepared the arrangements for the Mass for Mr. Tokiomi. Please allow me to perform the final rites for him.”

Kirei said calmly, trying to hide his inner anxiety.

Lizheng nodded, signaling Qili to continue.

His gaze swept across everything on the altar, as if assessing whether the upcoming Mass conformed to church norms.

Kirei took a deep breath and began to recite the Mass prayers. His voice was deep and calm, echoing in every corner of the church.

The candlelight cast soft shadows on his face, making him appear even more dignified and solemn.

However, deep within his heart, Kirei's thoughts were churning like a tidal wave.

Gilgamesh's presence was like an invisible shadow, constantly looming over him.

Under the father's watchful eye, the Mass finally had a qualified audience member, and the identity of this audience member made the ceremony even more complex and interesting.

Kirei felt his father's deep gaze, and his heart was filled with conflicting emotions.

He didn't want his father to uncover the darkness in his heart, but a desire to be exposed was quietly growing within him.

He maintained a calm exterior while waging a fierce internal struggle.

Kotomine Riki stood to the side, his expression still cold and stern, as if judging his son's every move.

"May the Lord accept his soul and grant him eternal peace." Kiri whispered the last prayer, then clasped his hands together and bowed deeply.

At the very last moment of the prayer, Kirei looked at the cross on the altar, lost in thought.

Li Zheng's gaze swept across the altar again, as if he was pondering something.

Then, he turned to Kirei and said calmly:

"Kirei, now that Tokiomi is dead, you have no reason to continue participating in this Holy Grail War. I hope you can stay away from this conflict now."

Kirei was slightly taken aback. Logically speaking, he really had no reason to continue participating in this Holy Grail War.

But he had only just begun to discover a trace of his inner self. If he were to withdraw from the Holy Grail War now, he might never have such an opportunity again.

He had a premonition that if he quit, he would become that empty person again, forever and ever!

How could this happen? It shouldn't be like this. He wouldn't allow such a thing to happen!

A barely perceptible malice quietly arose in his heart, and his gaze became more resolute, even carrying a hint of coldness.

But things haven't gotten to that point yet, and I have no reason to...

So he raised his head, looked directly at his father, and said:

“Father, since the Holy Grail is an omnipotent wish-granting device (anal-bursting machine), the death of Tokiomi-sensei is inextricably linked to me. I want to win this Holy Grail War and give my teacher a chance.”

A hint of doubt flashed in Kotomine Risei's eyes, but he did not interrupt Kirei.

"Furthermore, King Gilgamesh has already signed a pact with me, and I have agreed with him on the use of the Holy Grail..."

The lie came out of Kirei's mouth in a calm and firm tone, as if he were stating a very simple fact.

His eyes were unwavering, as if he genuinely believed everything he said.

To be able to lie to his father so openly was something Kirei could never have done before.

Li Zheng remained silent for a while, his gaze fixed on Qi Li, as if trying to pierce through his soul.

"Do you really think you can control that Hero King?"

“I know it’s difficult, but it’s a responsibility I have to take.”

This is a lie, but once the first lie is told, the rest are like a flood that cannot be taken back.

A cold glint flashed in Kirei's eyes. This lie became his shield against his father's doubts, but also a step towards a dark path.

Li Zheng fell into deep thought again, and finally he nodded slightly:

"Since you've made up your mind, then go for it. I just hope you don't forget your original intention."

“I will not forget, Father,” Kirei replied.

"Leave Tokiomi's funeral arrangements to me. You've been through so many battles, you must be exhausted by now, so go back and rest."

Li Zheng's voice carried a hint of concern, but his words sounded more like an invitation to leave.

Kirei bowed slightly to show his respect for his father. Although he was somewhat reluctant, he left the church without looking back and prepared to go to the Tohsaka family residence.

After all, it is one of the locations where the Holy Grail will descend, and it is an important strategic base.

As Li watched Qi Li's figure gradually disappear at the church entrance, a complex emotion welled up in her heart.

He kept watching his son's back until it completely disappeared into the night before slowly turning his gaze away.

Li Zheng opened her tightly clenched hands, looking at the sweat on her palms and a crimson gem shimmering with magical light.

Overwhelmed with grief, the elderly man, now in his twilight years, had tears streaming down his wrinkled face.

He looked at the gem in his palm and murmured to himself:

"It's all my fault, Tokiomi, I'm so sorry..."

The gemstones shimmered faintly in the candlelight, as if responding to Li Zheng's whispers.

His voice echoed in the empty church, filled with endless sorrow and helplessness.

Li Zheng gently closed her palms and gripped the gem tightly.

This Holy Grail War might even draw the Overseer into it... He needs to make some preparations...

Of course, you have to make up for your own mistakes...

Chapter 98 Something is wrong

Three hours had passed since the battle on the overpass. Because it was winter, night fell much earlier than usual.

As the orange glow of dusk faded and night quietly fell, Matouchi walked wearily back to Ryudouji Temple.

On the silent street, only the sound of his footsteps echoed in the emptiness. The aftershocks of the battle still reverberated in his heart, and he could almost hear the roar of the heroic spirits clashing in battle.

The intensity and brutality of that battle kept him on his toes.

Ryudong Temple is nestled on the mountainside, surrounded by tall trees, and appears particularly eerie under the moonlight.

As Matouchi stepped onto the stone steps leading to the temple, he felt each step was incredibly heavy.

Yesterday's battle caused severe damage to Ryudo-ji Temple. Part of the temple gate was breached, and the broken wooden planks were temporarily repaired by craftsmen, but cracks are still visible.

There are several signs of collapse on the courtyard wall. The craftsmen have already rebuilt part of the wall, and the exposed bricks are particularly conspicuous.

Broken tiles were scattered on the temple roof, and in some places the wooden beams inside were exposed.

The craftsmen had already covered the most severely damaged areas with new tiles during the day, but the entire restoration process had only just begun.

The yard was cluttered with timber, bricks, and tools used for repairs.

Matouchi pushed open the heavy wooden door and entered the temple. The interior was dimly lit, and cracks and burn marks left by the battle could be seen on several walls.

Several craftsmen had been busy all day and had made temporary repairs to a few damaged sections of the wall, but the overall structure still looked dilapidated.

Inside the temple's main hall, there were still traces of the battle on the floor, with several sections of the floorboards breached, revealing the structure beneath.

The craftsmen placed markers around the holes, preparing to continue repairs the following day.

Matou Ike's gaze swept over every corner of the temple, and after confirming that there was nothing amiss, he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Less than a tenth of it has been repaired? They clearly hired the best construction team in Fuyuki. It's only 6 p.m., and even though it's already dark, it's a bit irresponsible of them to leave so early."

"Moreover, each person is paid a daily wage of 15 yen. Although this money is not paid by themselves but is drawn from the finances of Ryudouji Temple, it still hurts a bit."

Matouchi sighed, a pang of heartache rising in his heart as he recalled the exorbitant fees. He had clearly been treating Ryudouji Temple's finances as his own personal treasury.

"Maybe after the Holy Grail War ends, I should open a renovation company. No, wait, it seems like being a monk is more profitable."

He gave a wry smile, and thinking about the financial figures of Liudong Temple, he couldn't help but feel that he might really have to become a monk in the future.

Dispelling the absurd thoughts from his mind, Chi walked into the simply renovated side room and lay down on the tatami mat.

He glanced at the ceiling, now free of holes, and cleared his mind. After this intense battle, he needed time to sort out his thoughts.

As for Berserker, he went to find Caster first, wanting to ask how to suppress the madness in his head.

Lying on the tatami mat, Matou Ike took a deep breath, feeling the tranquility around her.

Matouchi lay on the tatami mat, beginning to review the changes in the entire battle and the information gained that day.

First, there's Assassin and Lancer, since the incident stemmed from their fight.

After the barrier of Iskandar the Conqueror was broken, he landed right at the gap in the viaduct.

So he followed the clues and found the location where Lancer and Assassin were fighting.

When he touched it, he only saw an Assassin's bald head lying quietly in the water, beginning to dissipate as if it had become a spirit particle.

Assassin is dead, but what about Lancer? There are traces of a third party on the ground—a woman's footprint, preserved as evidence by the soft soil.