Chapter 57: That Eminent Figure

Kariya Matou wandered the streets, lost and broken, his expression frozen, pupils wide, fists clenched. This desolate appearance inevitably drew the attention of passersby, but he paid them no mind. Even though it was a ceasefire period during the day, it was clear that this man had already thrown aside the principle of hiding himself as much as possible during the Holy Grail War.

For Kariya at this moment, none of that mattered anymore.

In truth, he knew nothing about the so-called Holy Grail, nor did he understand the ways of magecraft. Aside from possessing magical circuits, he was a complete outsider in this field, someone who had only swallowed the necessary instructions at Zouken’s demand without comprehension.

And this morning, one of his reasons for participating in this war had vanished.

The Matou residence had been razed to the ground by an unknown pair. After personally confirming this, Kariya had begun wandering aimlessly through the city, searching everywhere.

Zouken was irrelevant, but Sakura was innocent. As if to convince himself, Kariya drifted, searching as he went.

Just as he was about to give up, passing through the shopping street, he was drawn by a pleasant aroma.

It was the scent of freshly fried pork cutlets. Ever since his transformation, he had lost the right to taste such things, yet out of nostalgia, he numbly gazed at the little shop. Then, a girl entered his view—a child in a purple dress trimmed with lace, black knee-high socks, tiptoeing like a doll.

"Will Lord Roland like this flavor?" Sakura Matou tasted a piece of pork cutlet, pondering with some distress. After a moment’s hesitation, she picked up the small basket woven by Caster and left.

"That’s enough for today. I’ll head back."

Just as she turned into a small alley to begin her journey home, an excited voice called out from behind her.

"Sakura?"

"Uncle Kariya?"

Seizing the chance, Kariya rushed over, reaching out to Sakura with trembling excitement.

"How are you here? Did that old worm let you out? ...No matter, come with me now! The Matou family has already fallen—you can return to Aoi’s side..."

But before his hand could touch Sakura, an invisible shield blocked his movement, and blue lightning crackled across his body. The outermost layer of his familiars broke disguise and fell to the ground as charred husks.

By the time Sakura recovered from Kariya’s barrage of questions, she saw him clutching his mutilated hand, pitiful and desperate.

"Are you alright, Uncle Kariya? That’s the charm given to me by the master. Your emotions were too agitated—it triggered the self-defense reaction."

Sakura glanced at Kariya with concern. She couldn’t understand his naïveté, but his goodwill was genuine, as long as he didn’t touch her forbidden boundary.

"As for returning to the Tohsaka family, that’s impossible now. Uncle Kariya, you needn’t trouble yourself any further. Please take care."

Before Kariya could pursue the identity of the "master" Sakura mentioned, the girl’s words turned his face ashen.

"Why? Sakura, you needn’t worry! You can return to your former life! There’s no need to fear Tokiomi; soon, he won’t be able to interfere with you anymore!"

Kariya’s face twisted, his hoarse voice rising.

"But, Uncle Kariya, you’ve never asked me if I wanted to return to that old life."

Even now, he forced his well-intentioned will upon her, never considering how she felt. Though his intentions were irreproachable, what Sakura saw in him was nothing but the same twisted obsession as Zouken—an urge to satisfy his own desires.

Watching Kariya, half-mad in his performance, Sakura’s tone grew cold.

"Though it started as my grandfather’s command, it was I who wished to stay by the master’s side. I belong neither to the Tohsaka nor the Matou. Sakura belongs only to the master. Please recognize reality and put away those childish hopes."

She gave Kariya a slight bow, issuing a cruel yet polite farewell.

"Uncle Kariya, please don’t come looking for me again. I fear the master may misunderstand."

Seeing Sakura, always so obedient, adopt such a demeanor, Kariya stared in disbelief. He gritted his teeth, determined to act upon his will—this opportunity was too rare. Sakura was alone; Zouken was nowhere in sight.

"No, Sakura... I don’t believe it. You must have been coerced into saying such things... If so, I’ll use force if I must! I’ll take you back to Aoi’s side!"

Though Sakura possessed a high-grade protective charm, ultimately it was just a tool. Without a supply of power, it would eventually be depleted. If Sakura truly resisted, he would have to resort to his Servant.

"Forgive me, Sakura."

Kariya raised his hand. The hum of insects swelled in the silent street. Swarms of bugs crawled from his body, repairing his injuries as they eyed Sakura hungrily.

Yet hearing the sound that once filled her with terror, Sakura merely turned, her gaze cold and indifferent.

She clenched her bracelet. Compared to Kariya, the reckless amateur, Sakura’s studies in magecraft surpassed his, and with Caster’s tools, anyone who underestimated her would suffer dearly.

Everything about Sakura belonged to Roland. This was a law engraved in her heart. She would never allow herself to be taken by anyone else—not her mother, not her sister. To violate this law was to become Sakura’s enemy.

Just as she was about to attack, a hand pressed gently atop her head. The familiar touch made her nestle her face against it, happiness shining as she looked at the newcomer and cried out in delight.

"Lord Roland!"

Roland smiled, stepping out from the shadows, his calm and indifferent gaze settling on the armored figure of Kariya, encased in a cloud of insects, ready to charge.

"Come," he said softly.

In the next moment, pairs of dark red eyes blazed to life in the shadows of the empty alley. Two shadow ninja appeared before Roland, left and right, forming a barrier to shield Roland and Sakura behind them, utterly disregarding the Kariya behind them, as if meeting the eternal lord mattered far more than confronting an enemy.

Then, they turned, crimson pupils flashing unrestrained hostility.

More shadow ninja appeared atop the surrounding walls and at the entrance to the alley, sealing it tightly. They surged forward, pummeling Kariya with fists and feet, forcing him to once more taste long-forgotten pain.

"I suddenly understand that golden fool a bit. Everyone wants to touch what’s mine—it’s hard to stay happy. But Kariya Matou, you really do look best crawling on the ground."

Clutching his abdomen, battered helplessly by the shadow legion, Kariya vomited a mass of dead, blackened insects. Forgetting everything else, he quickly called out his trump card.

"Berserker!"