Fate: Hero of Justice Takeover-Chapter 199: [] The Stolen Artifact, Nightmares, and the Tense Winter Castle

Chapter 199 - [199] The Stolen Artifact, Nightmares, and the Tense Winter Castle

Just as Rin and her mother were speaking softly, a commotion nearby caught their attention.

"That's... Uncle Kariya..."

"Kariya, what's going on?"

Hearing the mother and daughter's questions, the man turned around slowly, his facial muscles twisted as he forced out a smile.

"It's nothing, just a friend's child came to find me. I was a bit surprised, that's all. Come, let me introduce you!"

With a strong pull of his arm, a white-haired, golden-eyed child who looked utterly endearing was "shyly" dragged out from behind Kariya. The child politely greeted Aoi and Rin, "Hello, I'm sorry to meet you under such circumstances. Please allow me to offer my condolences."

"It's alright. Tokiomi would surely welcome a lovely child like you." Even in her grief, Aoi couldn't help but glance at the boy a few more times, inwardly marveling at his stunning appearance.

As for Rin, her gaze shifted to Sakura, who was stifling a laugh, then back to the seemingly calm but undercurrent-turbulent "uncle and nephew" pair. Her aqua eyes filled with confusion.

Something felt off... That boy and Uncle Kariya didn't seem to be on the best terms?

In reality, only Sakura could see that the reason Sakatsuki had been "dragged" out by Kariya was because, moments before, he had been pinching Kariya's thigh fiercely in retaliation.

As for whether it hurt—just one look at Kariya's twisted expression was enough to tell.

But, being mischievous, she didn't say a word about it.

"Sorry, Aoi, something urgent has come up. I need to take this little brat to handle some things."

"It's fine, Kariya. You've helped me so much, I don't even know how to repay you. Go ahead, and make sure to take good care of this child."

"Huh? Oh, right. Sakura, stay here and keep your sister company."

After a few quick words, Kariya stumbled out of the cemetery, the child following obediently behind, looking as docile as could be.

The moment they stepped out of the cemetery, Kariya's true colors showed. He bared his teeth, trying to pinch Sakatsuki's cheek, but the latter dodged nimbly.

"You brat, why did you turn into this? You scared me!"

"It's a long story, so I won't bother explaining. But I've found this body quite useful. It grants me more privileges in human society. Even old ladies on the street give me food."

"Wow, as expected of the renowned and meticulous Magus, skilled in deception, trickery, and swindling alike." Kariya clapped half-heartedly. "So, what brings you to this Holy Grail War loser? Here to gloat?"

"Just here to settle some unfinished business." Noticing the admiring glances from passersby, Sakatsuki flashed a socially acceptable smile, though his words were as sharp as ever. "Tokiomi died indirectly because of me, and the murderer, Kirei, was taken down by me. The talented Rin-chan ending up in the hands of a third-rate magus like you is also partly my responsibility."

"...I'll endure it." Kariya swallowed his pride.

As Sakatsuki had said, compared to Tokiomi Tohsaka, Kariya's skills in magecraft were amateurish at best. He couldn't possibly teach Rin properly. And compared to Kirei Kotomine, Kariya's standing in the magical world was nowhere near that of a priest backed by the Holy Church. If Rin's talents were exposed, he would struggle to protect the mother and daughter.

Sakatsuki had clearly come today for this very reason. For Rin's sake, no matter how much Sakatsuki mocked him, Kariya was willing to endure it.

"Hey, hey, I'm just stating facts. Don't look like I'm forcing you into something shameful, Kariya." Despite his words, Sakatsuki's expression was undeniably malicious. "Give up on the path of magecraft and let Rin live as a normal person—just kidding, she'd never agree to that. So, there's only one solution."

Hearing Sakatsuki's words, Kariya looks up in shock.

In the gloomy rain that resembled London's weather, the boy declared.

"I will support Rider's Master, Waver Velvet, to become the head of the El-Melloi faction in the Clock Tower and have him protect the faltering Tohsaka family."

This was the last conversation Kariya Matou would have with the young man who had changed his life.

"By the way, where's the National Museum of Japan?"

"...What do you want to do?"

***

Here, in the darkness unknown to all.

A white-haired, golden-eyed youth walked through the silent valley, empty-handed.

In the next moment, shadows surged, and a cold glint of steel flashed in the boundless darkness.

A blade's light flashed.

"Ah!" The youth—no, the boy with a youthful face—woke up from his nightmare, instinctively reaching for his neck.

Thankfully, it hadn't actually been cut off.

"Just a dream..." Sakatsuki sighed, unable to bear the silence, and turned on the TV.

"At 18:00 yesterday evening, the National Museum of Japan was breached by an unknown individual. Artifact No. 12702 was stolen. It is reported that the artifact dates back to the early Edo period. Fortunately, there were no casualties..."

"An artifact from the early Edo period? How strange. The treasure map actually pointed to something like this?"

The culprit behind this news, thousands of miles away in Germany, fiddled with an arm "borrowed" from the Japanese museum, muttering in confusion.

"Mechanical construction... Could it be Wolf's prosthetic arm, or maybe Lili's?"

After a brief moment of distraction, Sakatsuki set it aside and turned his attention to more important matters.

This was an idea that had come to him after the nightmare.

"If this body is a creation that fulfills my wish, then it must also be the most suitable vessel for the Third Magic. How could it be limited to just one form?"

On the map placed on the bedside table, a location was marked with an "X."

That was his destination—the forest where the Einzbern family secluded themselves, and also the next location marked on the treasure map.

***

Kiritsugu Emiya and the others had arrived at Einzbern Castle yesterday. Due to the threat posed by Saber, a walking nuclear bomb, despite Acht's reluctance, he had no choice but to let them in.

However, when Kiritsugu requested to take Illya away today, he was met with outright refusal.

"No, I won't allow it!"

Even as Saber, who was busy devouring her meal, shot him a dangerous look, Acht stood his ground, unwavering: "Since you have failed, Illyasviel von Einzbern is our last hope! If you want to slaughter the Winter Castle, go ahead! I will never hand over the Lesser Grail!"

"You dare call her the Lesser Grail..." Kiritsugu's eyes darkened, and without hesitation, he flicked off the safety of his gun, aiming it at Acht's forehead.

Having abandoned his dream, his family was now Kiritsugu's only reason for remaining in this world.

"At worst, I'll kill you and find her myself!"

"Killing me won't solve anything. You'll be facing the entire Winter Castle!"

For Acht, who had spent his life pursuing the Third Magic, there was no room for retreat either. With his command, countless homunculi armed with halberds swarmed in, filling the hall to the brim.

At the same time, a few homunculi quietly slipped out of the crowd, heading in a certain direction.

"You!" Kiritsugu noticed this, and his expression turned cold. Without hesitation, he pulled the trigger.

Bang!

***

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