The moment Kenneth spoke those words, Risei Kotomine couldn't help but laugh.
This once-celebrated prodigy—after being utterly crippled—had apparently lost his mind as well.
"I didn't mishear, did I, Mr. Kenneth? You're here for Command Seals?
You mean… the ones on my arm?"
Risei said mockingly, raising his arm. In the dim light, the densely packed Command Seals gleamed with a crimson, ominous brilliance.
Kenneth's face twisted with greed as he gazed at them. He nodded enthusiastically, his expression unhinged, like a maniac.
"I'm afraid you're out of luck. It's true that I promised Command Seals as a reward for defeating the rogue Servant.
But that reward has already been granted—to the Master of the Einzbern family.
As I recall, your Lancer made no meaningful contribution to that battle, did he?"
Risei spoke with mocking detachment, prompting Kenneth to clench his fists in frustration.
"You can't say that! That night, near the Matou estate, my Lancer did help stop that Servant's rampage!"
"Apologies, but I didn't witness your Servant that night.
The ones who intervened were Yoru of the Einzberns and the Matou family's Master."
Kenneth's face froze in shock.
"W-What?! Lancer… wasn't there?!"
He remembered giving Lancer orders to intercept Saber that night.
Why didn't that fool show up?
It must have been because he saw Saber battling Caster—and because of that ridiculous knightly code, he chose not to interfere!
Damn it! Damn it! Damn that worthless idiot!
*Why did I summon a Servant like him?!
"That's enough of this charade. I'm sorry, Mr. Kenneth, but you have no claim to any Command Seals. Please see yourself out—I need rest."
Risei gestured to dismiss him. Kenneth's face twisted in unwillingness, as though he wanted to say more, but Risei ignored him completely.
"…I suppose it can't be helped."
Kenneth sighed quietly.
Then, he pulled a handgun from beneath the seat of his wheelchair—aimed it at the priest, who had turned his back.
The dry crack of a gunshot shattered the solemn stillness of the House of God.
"If you won't give me the Command Seals, then I'll just take them myself."
Kenneth's face contorted into a horrifying, frenzied grin as he gazed with obsession at the Command Seals carved into Risei's right hand.
So many Seals… so many…
If he possessed them, he was sure—this time, he would win the Holy Grail War.
The reason he had ordered Lancer to stay outside was exactly for this moment.
From the beginning, Kenneth had planned to kill Risei Kotomine and take the Seals by force.
Now to cut off his arm…
Killing the war's official supervisor would undoubtedly cause a stir, but Kenneth had already considered that.
After all, he wasn't the only magus who used a pistol. Suspicion would most likely fall on the Matou family's filthy old rat.
Unable to suppress the giddy laugh bubbling in his throat, Kenneth was lost in the euphoria of reclaiming his status as a Master.
He felt no guilt at all for assassinating the overseer—an act that completely disgraced the El-Melloi family's honor and pride.
But just as he pushed his wheelchair forward to retrieve the prize, a sound echoed from behind.
Kenneth's face paled.
He knew who it had to be: Kirei Kotomine, Risei's son—the Master of Assassin in this Holy Grail War.
"Damn it… I have to abandon the Seals."
Casting one last bitter glance at Risei's corpse, Kenneth turned and quickly wheeled himself out of the church.
Because of the failed plan, Kenneth's face remained dark as he and Lancer returned to their hideout—an abandoned factory.
But upon arrival, they were met with an unexpected shock: Sola was missing.
"Did she go out looking for you, perhaps?"
Lancer asked in surprise, while Kenneth frowned deeply.
Sola going out to look for him didn't make sense. He and Lancer had disappeared together. If she wanted to find him, contacting Lancer directly would've been more logical.
"…Master."
After a long silence between them, Lancer suddenly spoke in a cold tone.
"What is it? Do you know where Sola went?"
"…That's not what I meant. It seems something is approaching.
It sounds like an engine with an automated drive mechanism."
Kenneth couldn't hear anything—but that wasn't surprising. A human's ears could never match a Servant's hearing.
At this hour, just before dawn, a vehicle heading directly for this abandoned factory couldn't simply be a coincidence.
Come to think of it, the concealment barrier he had placed around the area was starting to wear thin…
Kenneth mocked himself as a failed magus, a dry smile creeping onto his face.
"Lancer. Go. Destroy them immediately. Show no mercy."
"Understood."
Lancer nodded, then vanished into spirit form.
The moment he disappeared, Kenneth's act of confidence and dignity crumbled completely.
Bitterness—overwhelming bitterness—contorted his face, now full of twisted wrinkles and frustration.
Once hailed a prodigy, a genius magus…
Now, he was reduced to this pitiful state—a man who couldn't even cast magic anymore.
"Emiya Kiritsugu!!"
His fist slammed into the armrest of the wheelchair as he vented his fury.
"You mad dog! You disgrace to all magi!"
Clack, clack, clack…
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps snapped Kenneth out of his fit.
Clack.
Something landed on the floor nearby with a dull thud.
"Who's there?! Who is it?!"
Lancer had only just gone out to intercept an enemy—so who could've gotten this close?
Click.
The sound of a bullet being chambered echoed through the darkness—cold and clear, filled with unmistakable killing intent.
---
Access more chapters at patreon.com/dzeref887