"Rider, isn't this the most correct strategy? Also, didn't you say you didn't care about Saber? Why target her?" Waver asked, dissatisfied.
"Ah, that... because Saber must be defeated by me. That's my duty as a Servant!"
"W-why?" Waver was very confused.
"Because... if that foolish woman isn't defeated by me, she'll keep walking down her wrong path. Wouldn't that be too pitiful?"
Waver drooped his head. "Fine... do as you please!" He had resigned himself... "Alright, kid! Rest, get a good night's sleep, then we'll continue fighting!"
This time, Waver didn't argue. Having been up all night, he quickly fell asleep... As Kirei Kotomine killed his teacher, Tokiomi Tohsaka, a round of applause suddenly came from inside the house... "What a good show... Kirei Kotomine..." The voice was cold, as if completely indifferent to what had just happened.
"Who?" Kirei Kotomine was on guard. He hadn't sensed anyone else here... But when he saw the newcomer, he relaxed his guard, because the other party was not someone he could resist, and also bore no ill will. "Ryougi Raku?"
Ryougi Raku simply sat there, witnessing the entire process.
"What are you doing here?" Kirei Kotomine asked in a deep voice.
'Could it be that he knew what I was going to do and was waiting for me here?' Thinking of this possibility, Kirei Kotomine couldn't help but shiver. For his inner thoughts to be completely known by another... such a terrifying thing... "Nothing. I'm just here to make a deal... Also, have you finally found what you're looking for?"
"A deal? What is it?" He selectively ignored the latter part of Ryougi Raku's sentence.
"Heh heh, it's something very simple... I'm sure you'll agree..." Ryougi Raku said with a smile, "...Ah, right, Tokiomi Tohsaka's letter, it was to ask you to look after his daughter, wasn't it? How about this? Killing Rin Tohsaka's father, and then acting as her guardian to teach her, doesn't that bring you pleasure?" Ryougi Raku's words were laced with temptation, subtly guiding him.
Kirei Kotomine was silent for a moment, then said, "I would have done so even without you telling me..."
"Is that so... Then I really overstepped my bounds..." He shrugged, uncaring.
'Hmm, it seems the situation hasn't changed much. Although, even if Rin Tohsaka were on her own, she could probably manage? But, just in case, it's better to keep Kirei Kotomine around. With his care, Rin Tohsaka might have a slightly better life... If, due to some other matter, Rin Tohsaka were to perish so young, that kind of storyline isn't what I want...' Ryougi Raku naturally had his own thoughts for coming here. Now that he saw Kirei Kotomine's objective was the same as in his memory, he was temporarily relieved... "Alright. Let's not talk about these things, let's continue to talk about things that can bring you pleasure..." Putting his thoughts aside, Ryougi Raku began to get down to business... "Kariya... go to the church tonight..." Ryougi Raku said to Kariya Matou at the Matou residence.
"...Is something wrong?" Kariya Matou asked, puzzled.
"Heh heh, it's the good thing you've been hoping for..." He stared at him deeply, "...You'll definitely be satisfied."
"Oh, right, hand over the right to use Berserker to me. He still has a most important role... How about it?"
Kariya Matou nodded, "Whatever you say..." Kariya Matou indeed had no intention of resisting Ryougi Raku.
"Mm, then thank you... I'll have you go to the church when needed tonight, be prepared..."
'Restore Berserker's sanity? Lancelot, you must want to catch up with King Arthur...' Ryougi Raku thought quietly. The Holy Grail War was about to end, and Ryougi Raku also had to seriously consider his plans after the Holy Grail War...
---
In the evening, Kariya Matou obediently arrived at the church.
He didn't know Ryougi Raku's purpose in having him come here, but Kariya Matou, though capable of such cruelty to himself for his goal, was easily controlled by others.
To him, after Sakura was saved, the Holy Grail War was no longer his concern. He didn't care who got the Holy Grail, as long as it wasn't that person—Tokiomi Tohsaka... The ownership of the Servant was transferred to Ryougi Raku, and Kariya Matou felt no reluctance. That large black fellow was indeed draining his magic, and his body couldn't endure it for too long. Berserker's only purpose for Kariya Matou was to defeat Tokiomi Tohsaka's Archer, but even defeating Tokiomi Tohsaka's Servant wasn't as satisfying as truly defeating Tokiomi Tohsaka himself.
He didn't understand the purpose of coming to this church; his mind was solely focused on how to get revenge and make Tokiomi Tohsaka pay his due!
And so, the scene he witnessed in the church made him like an enraged beast, panting heavily, forcefully suppressing his impulses.
There was only candlelight in the church, making it hard to see clearly... But that figure sitting in the chair, Kariya Matou was so familiar with it, so familiar that even if it turned to ash, he would recognize it. It was—Tokiomi Tohsaka.
Rage erupted, and Kariya Matou was completely out of control. "Tokiomi... Tohsaka!" He gritted his teeth, his voice suppressed.
Tokiomi Tohsaka didn't reply. Of course, he couldn't reply; he was merely a corpse... But Kariya Matou didn't think so. He believed it was Tokiomi Tohsaka's arrogance as a magus... "Hmph, not speaking! It doesn't matter. Waiting for me here? Are you going to kill me? Too naive! I won't fall before you get your just deserts!"
Kariya Matou displayed his courage. Even though he knew he had no chance against him, he still stepped forward resolutely.
But Tokiomi Tohsaka allowing him to approach so easily still puzzled Kariya Matou. Given Tokiomi Tohsaka's personality, he wouldn't be so relaxed.
In his confusion, he reached a place within arm's reach... After a slight hesitation, he still reached out... "Tohsaka..."
He gently pushed Tokiomi Tohsaka's shoulder, but Tokiomi Tohsaka simply toppled over like a doll... Kariya Matou stood frozen, staring in disbelief at Tokiomi Tohsaka's corpse. He couldn't be mistaken about that feeling; no life, no warmth, a genuine corpse!
"W-why?" Kariya Matou's mind was in a mess. The object of his hatred was dead. He should have been happy, but now he felt no such emotion... "How is this possible?" He shook his head, unable to believe it. This arrogant magus, this person who had always been extremely cautious, had died so easily?
'Did the Lord do it? No... no, the Lord shouldn't do such a thing. Then who? Maybe it was the Lord?' Kariya Matou's mind was completely muddled, he could only guess wildly.
It wasn't until a gentle voice sounded that Kariya Matou's chaotic thoughts were interrupted... "...Kariya?" The voice was gentle and pleasant, a voice Kariya Matou wished to hear even in his dreams.
He turned his head blankly, seeing that figure, the figure he had deeply missed, the figure that lingered in his heart.
Anyone would guess what had happened given the situation: a living person, a corpse, and a grudge between them... "Ah..." Kariya Matou's mind hadn't caught up yet; he just instinctively let out a murmur... "Aoi..."
His call received no reply. Aoi Tohsaka walked step by step towards Tokiomi Tohsaka's corpse. That aura made Kariya Matou unconsciously take a few steps back.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶) ‹ (TL : More Chapters @patreon.com/c/Gooberilla)