Chapter Fifty-Eight: Can Anyone Else Do This!

The pitch-black mist rising from nowhere solidified into a tangible form, and a towering knight appeared beside Kariya Matou, granting him a brief respite. After calming the agitation within himself, he finally raised his head and looked toward the gentleman Sakura had addressed, as well as the woman in the mage’s robes standing behind him.

Recalling the exquisite talisman Sakura wore earlier, Kariya, as a participant in the Holy Grail War, was not so dull as to miss its significance.

“You’re the Master of Caster… Damn it, was it that old worm who handed Sakura over to you?”

The strange lenience Matou Zouken had shown before now made perfect sense to Kariya, and he quickly pieced together the situation.

“What kind of deal did you strike with that old worm? Give Sakura back to me! I’ll give you whatever you want!”

“How unfortunate. My possessions are not for sale,” Roland turned his gaze upon Kariya, meeting his eyes calmly and raising a question. “Moreover, the moment you dared to lay hands on what is mine, your fate was sealed. So, tell me—what is left that you could possibly trade?”

“Is that so? Then we can only settle this here and now.”

As if he had forgotten how those strange ninja-like shadows had just beaten him senseless, Kariya glanced at the Berserker by his side. Although Berserker had failed against that irritating Archer, Tohsaka Tokiomi, his power had been demonstrated enough. Facing Caster alone, surely Berserker would have the upper hand.

“It’s true that fighting in broad daylight might endanger innocents, but I don’t care anymore. I have a reason I must take Sakura away.”

“Oh, that’s no issue—Caster has already erected a barrier. But this reason of yours—let’s hear it. I too would like to know why you, of all people, are not pursuing the Grail.”

Roland tilted his head slightly, casting his gaze at Sakura, who clung to him with an expression of pure bliss.

“I believe I’ve treated Sakura well, and she is happy to remain by my side. Even if we take the worst-case scenario, her current situation is a thousand times better than what she suffered in the Matou household. So, I want to know what you’re trying to accomplish—something so important that you’d defy this child’s wishes. Or is it merely a whim?”

“Because…” Though he knew the man before him was an enemy, it was the first time since his misery began that someone wished to hear his true feelings. As if seeking validation, or perhaps to convince himself, Kariya’s body trembled.

“Because I must create! I want to create a world where Aoi, Rin, and Sakura can all be happy!”

“There are far too many corrupt, malicious magi in this world! As long as they remain tied to the hidden world, they will never know happiness! Whether it’s Tohsaka Tokiomi or that old worm, each only covets the value these girls possess. The moment they have a need, they’ll abandon them!”

Within Kariya’s eyes, a swirling blackness of muddled emotion churned.

“The moment I saw Sakura sent to the Matou house, I understood: it had to be me. No, only I could do this! Even if it means shattering the happiness that exists now, only this path can set things right. For this, no matter what, I am willing to act—this is the mission I have been given!”

“Only I can do it…” Perhaps from the rare release of pent-up emotion, Kariya’s limbs began to move. He turned slightly, gazing at the ground, then suddenly flung his arms wide, spinning grandly to reveal his twisted countenance to Roland, and let out a beastly howl.

“Could anyone else do it?!”

“Oh…” Roland nodded expressionlessly, summarizing the heart of Kariya’s words: “So, you’re planning to kill Tohsaka Tokiomi?”

The rest of Kariya’s words stuck in his throat, and he instinctively avoided the sharp gaze that seemed poised to pierce him through.

“No… I just…”

“Well then, what are you planning? Those self-centered statements—wasn’t that their core meaning? Aoi and Rin are Tokiomi’s family, yet you never mentioned him, as if his fate didn’t concern you at all.”

“Because if that man remains, he’ll only continue to bring misery upon them! Without him, Aoi, Rin, and Sakura—all of them will surely find happiness!”

“Sakura aside, do you truly believe those two in the Tohsaka family would find happiness from Tokiomi’s death? When all is said and done, this conclusion makes little sense: why would killing their husband and father bring them happiness?”

Roland stared at Kariya, as if he could see through his lies and lay bare the true purpose within his heart.

Faced with those cold, dark red eyes, Kariya took a step back, managing only a feeble response.

“Because he’s the one who let Sakura fall into this hell! If not for me, Sakura would have ended up in the worm pit!”

“It was Matou Zouken who nearly sent her there, wasn’t it? Don’t confuse the cause and effect. If you truly wished to save Sakura, couldn’t you use the leverage you possess?”

Roland spoke coolly: “No matter how terrifying Matou Zouken is, he is not a Master. You, as one who commands a Servant, are the one who holds power. If you were willing to relinquish your claim over your Servant, surely another Master would act to save a little girl. Even if you doubt it, patience is an option. So why, the moment you gained your Servant, did you attack Archer?”

“In other words, saving Sakura was less important to you than satisfying your own resentment—seeking revenge on Tohsaka Tokiomi. After all, this is your first time possessing equal power, your chance to stand on the same stage as him.”

Kariya’s teeth rattled uncontrollably; not a single syllable escaped his lips. He only stared dazedly as Roland approached step by step, bending slightly to tear away his mask and utter words of judgment.

“Kariya Matou, you are merely a pitiable soul who uses the pretense of saving Sakura as your excuse, selfishly cloaking yourself in righteousness, wielding your initial good intentions as justification for your own hatred and desire.”

Roland’s footsteps grew ever closer, their echo swelling in Kariya’s mind. When Roland reached the distance at which Berserker could strike, despite possessing no Servant himself, it was Kariya who retreated first.

The taut string of reason in his mind could no longer bear the strain, teetering on the verge of snapping.

“Don’t come any closer—!”

Seeing this scene, Roland could not help but feel a surge of delight and joy, his lips curling unconsciously.

To kill the heart is indeed amusing.

With his darkness cruelly exposed, Kariya let out a mad shout, issuing his final command.

“Berserker! Kill him!”

The shadow, long restless, erupted in agitation and lunged at Roland. Against a Servant’s power, an ordinary magus could hardly hope to react.

Yet before Berserker’s attack could land, Roland, moving at a speed beyond the eye’s grasp, raised his hand.

—In his palm, orange-red flames were brewing.

Then, from Roland’s hand, a torrent of compressed fire erupted, raising the temperature sharply—a beam of light so intense that, even in broad daylight, it dazzled the eye!