Chapter 567: The Last Watcher
What is that?
What is that?!
"He's... killing people..." Kishinami Hakuno whispered in disbelief, while Matou Shinji behind her let out a scream.
"Eeeek! A monster?!"
It was unclear which remark had provoked the white-haired man, but his malicious crimson eyes immediately locked onto the two of them, his murderous intent surging like raging waves: "Ooooh! How dare you! How dare you—"
As if touching a dragon's reverse scale, an unspeakable taboo, the man's face twisted in fury:
"You dare call us monsters?! You shameless, ungrateful fools, do you even realize what kind of fabrication you're spewing?!"
The ferocious iron spear twisted as the man in tattered cloak spread his arms and roared the true name of slaughter:
"Kazikli Bey!"
The wind shrieked a piercing wail.
By the time Hakuno reacted, she had already been knocked to the ground by a lifted body. Looking up in shock, she saw the stiff face of a classmate right before her eyes. A thorny iron spike, gleaming coldly, had impaled him from bottom to top—piercing through bones, tearing through flesh—coming so close to the girl's nose that the bloodstains and rust on it were clearly visible. The metallic scent of blood rushed into her nostrils, making Hakuno's head spin slightly.
Looking around, one, ten, a hundred... Far more than just the single spear that had impaled her classmate. The moment that man unleashed his Noble Phantasm, she had been plunged into an endless, terrifying hell of spears!
"Are... are you okay?"
On the other side, Shinji faced the same peril. Had it not been for another female classmate rushing to push him aside, it would have been him—not her—pierced by multiple iron spikes.
He should have felt grief and gratitude, but when Shinji's eyes met those of the girl who had saved him, a deeper terror spread, gripping his heart tightly.
"Aah, Matou... kun... so amazing... zzzzt."
The female classmate who had taken the fatal blow for Shinji had hollow eyes. Amidst the alarm of abnormal data, she spoke absurd yet easily understandable words.
"Please tutor me later..."
Shinji remembered how, just a week ago, this same classmate had leaned against his desk with a bright smile, asking him for help with her homework.
Though he had longed endlessly for them to wake up, to abandon Sakatsuki and return to his side—it should never have been like this, never in this state!
Ah.
Aah.
Blood, so much blood.
Madness, everything's gone mad, these classmates, this sudden murderer...
Everything in this world is a lie!!!
"Waaahhhhhh!"
Amidst his heart-wrenching screams, Shinji's face was smeared with snot and tears as he scrambled to his feet and fled. His pitiful state resembled a drowning dog, and before Hakuno could call out to him, he had already vanished down the hallway.
The white-haired man responsible for this slaughter did not give chase. He didn't even spare another glance in their direction. Instead, he turned, his gaze settling on a twin-tailed girl who had appeared out of nowhere.
"You bastard, having fun bullying those who can't fight back, huh?"
The girl's tone betrayed no emotion as she stepped lightly over the scattered corpses like a deer. Her form-fitting red dress flickered like dancing flames down the corridor until she stood before the white-haired man who was on high alert.
"Trying to boost efficiency by eliminating Masters still in the preliminaries before the finals? Maybe I should join in the fun?"
The white-haired man naturally didn't believe this offhand joke. Sensing the faint but palpable killing intent from the girl, he raised his vicious iron spear in readiness. Tohsaka Rin's gaze swept the surroundings, but she didn't find the figure she was hoping to see. A soft sigh escaped her heart.
Not here... Was he killed before I arrived?
What a shame, even though I came as fast as I could.
Suppressing her regret, Rin lifted her eyes to the unreasonable white-haired spearman (Lancer). Even if this Servant could kill her effortlessly, her blue eyes burned with fighting spirit.
"After all, it's better to take you out as opponents first!"
Pointing her arm forward like an unwavering spear, Rin loudly called the name of her contracted partner:
"Lancer! Though our contract is new, show me what you're made of now!"
And so, before the towering, menacing white-haired man, a warrior appeared—short blue hair with a long ponytail at the back, wearing a pair of blue earrings, crimson eyes, blue eyebrows, and a skintight blue bodysuit. In his hand was none other than the famed Gáe Bolg.
"Hey, don't be so rough with your orders, miss."
With that teasing remark, the blue spearman blurred into motion. Sparks flew, illuminating the fierce expressions of the two men before the clashing of spears echoed down the hallway.
"Praise be."
The white-haired man knew this was a spearman of equal spiritual rank, a warrior who could make his blood boil. So he cast aside his arrogant facade, his face now serene and devout as a believer's.
A tiger retracting its claws isn't surrendering—it's gathering strength for the next kill.
And this ferocious tiger would face the Child of Light, whose might matched his fiery temper!
"Bring it on!"
The two thorned spears clashed violently. Amid the deafening impacts, no one noticed Hakuno Kishinami crouching low, silently fleeing the perilous corridor.
After enduring a series of ordeals, the bewildered girl was mentally and physically exhausted. Only one thought remained in her mind:
Run.
Get out of this school.
Go back... home.
Yes, if I can just reach there...
...Huh?
Her steps halted abruptly. Hakuno stood frozen, her thoughts grinding to an inevitable halt.
Wait... I... have nowhere to return to...
Clutching her head, she racked her brain, but only growing panic enveloped her like a creeping shadow.
How old am I? Where do I live? How many family members? What was I doing before coming to this school?
I can't remember anything!
It was as if her memories had been severed. Hakuno looked around blankly until she finally spotted a familiar figure with its back turned to her.
"Shinji! Do you know where my home is?"
Yet her 'friend' did not respond. Matou Shinji merely faced the wall, laughing maniacally to himself. The laughter grew louder and louder, as if he were vomiting out all his past wretchedness. The blue-haired young man laughed with utter madness.
"Ahahaha! Right! So that's how it is! Truly befitting of the Holy Grail War! Even the preliminary rounds are extraordinary!"
Finally, the young man turned around. His face was flushed from laughter, tears still clinging to the corners of his eyes, yet his expression was filled with sudden enlightenment—even carrying a condescending smugness.
"Hakuno... I've regained my memories. How amusing!"
"W-what do you mean?"
Even her friend had begun spouting incomprehensible words. Kishinami Hakuno was utterly flustered, but Shinji offered no further explanation. Hands in his pockets, he swaggered past the girl with an air of triumph:
"See you later. I'm off to the next stage. Surprisingly, the school life we shared was quite fun. Come to think of it, I never actually attended high school..."
"Shinji, what on earth are you talking about...?"
Hakuno turned around in bewilderment, but the space behind her was empty. The young man named Matou Shinji had vanished without a trace.
Just like—Leo, who had disappeared into the wall the day before.
Forgotten memories, the world's anomalies, the dissonance in her heart, Shinji's words, the sudden appearance of killers, and their talk of preliminary rounds...
The experiences of these two days wove into layer upon layer of a net, tightly ensnaring Hakuno's heart. As the girl clutched her head in agony, a familiar, nightmare-like figure appeared before her with a soft exclamation.
"Oh, it's you—the blasphemer who escaped by sheer luck earlier."
The ancient battle armor bore fresh bloodstains, its damaged state a testament to the life-and-death struggle its wearer had endured. It was precisely for this reason that the white-haired man's killing intent had been tempered into something even more concentrated and terrifying.
"Though I'd love to tear apart that mad dog who was sent flying out of the school building, I suppose I should heed my wife's (Master's) words."
The iron spear rose, and even this simple motion stirred a whirlwind that nearly sent Hakuno stumbling to her knees. The white-haired man pointed the spear's tip directly at her, his face once again twisting into a smile steeped in bloodlust.
"Killing the Master candidates before the finals—nothing could be easier!"
Before he even finished speaking, Hakuno mustered every ounce of strength she had and bolted. The white-haired man, however, showed no urgency in giving chase. Instead, he followed at a leisurely pace, savoring the hunt. To him, this girl was the perfect bait—a pretty girl fleeing in panic. Anyone would be tempted to investigate the source of her frantic footsteps.
Until prey took the bait, he would relish the thrill of the slaughter...
With crimson eyes brighter than any human's, the white-haired man who resembled a monster more than a person strode forward, pursuing the girl through the school building. Up the stairs, down the hallway—until finally, exhausted, the girl's knees gave way. Her body lurched forward uncontrollably, crashing heavily against the door of a room.
Thud!
Her head hit the door with a thud, leaving Shiraino momentarily dazed. Every inch of her body ached as if she were on the verge of death. To make matters worse, the white-haired man who had failed to catch his prey seemed to have lost his patience. Gripping a menacing iron spear, he advanced step by step.
"Looks like there's no one left. What a pity, little girl... you're the last one."
Am I going to die...?
Shiraino squinted as blood trickled from the wound on her forehead, nearly obscuring her vision. Weakly leaning against the door, she tilted her head slightly. In her fading sight, the room's nameplate reflected hazily, its letters wavering like mist as her consciousness grew fainter.
What... does it say, exactly?
And why... had she even run here in the first place...?
The next moment, the support behind her vanished. She fell backward uncontrollably, landing in a steady embrace.
Blood stained both their clothes as Shiraino gasped weakly, struggling to keep her heavy eyelids from closing. She desperately tried to see who had caught her, but dark spots gradually overtook her vision. In the end, all she could glimpse was a blur of silver-white and two flickering golden lights.
Only the words "Infirmary" on the nameplate above the boy's head finally came into clear focus.
Ah... so it's you...
The moment she recognized the boy, Shiraino's eyes shut completely as she slipped into unconsciousness.