Chapter 36: ACT.5 "The Cause"

This winter is so cold that I feel like uttering the chuunibyou poetic phrase: “A fish drowning in the deep sea.”

The breath I exhale is white. The air I inhale carries a chill so intense it irritates my throat and nose. Adding to this, being in a park late at night means there are no people around, making it feel even colder.

No, it’s not just the park; it’s the entire town. The rumors of the vampire have reduced the number of people walking at night, and the town's entire vitality has grown cold.

The vampire rumors. I know about them—yes, it’s about the TATARI. But in the [Original Work], this should have played out on a hot, humid summer night. However, it has now begun, or rather, it has already begun, in the winter after the New Year.

At first, I thought I might be the cause. That’s because the vampire TATARI is a vampire that manifests using human rumors as a medium. Moreover, he is a cheat who can reproduce something merely by being thought about or seen, even if it is not spoken aloud. For a vampire like that, a person like me, who possesses all sorts of Type-Moon knowledge, such as [Original Work Knowledge], is extremely convenient.

For example, the King of Heroes. For example, the King of Knights. For example, the King of Conquerors.

Even if the TATARI only knows the forms of these heroic spirits from all ages and places through text or pictures, he can reproduce them.

The rumors currently circulating in town, and the TATARI that fought Shiki last night, were exactly like that. Although at that time it was merely reproducing a regular human and not a Heroic Spirit, if things continue this way, we will undoubtedly face a Heroic Spirit—ah, my nose.

“A-CHOO!”

Even with a body sturdier than a human’s, vampires still feel cold when it's cold. Snot drips from my nose with the sneeze, and unfortunately, I don’t have a tissue. As I was wondering what to do,

“Hmm, are you cold?”

The tall priest standing next to me said this and offered a packet of pocket tissues from his robe. I wanted to express gratitude for the priest’s natural kindness, but the words didn't immediately come out. That’s because he is none other than Kirei Kotomine—a main antagonist figure in Fate, alongside the Worm Mage and Sakura.

“Do you not want it? I don’t think it's good for a lady to have snot dripping for so long.”

“Eh, ah, yes…”

I was hesitant about how to respond, but the priest offered extremely common-sense advice. Or perhaps I should say, I received it—and from that Kirei Kotomine, of all people.

Nevertheless, what he said was true, so I accepted the tissue along with a nod of thanks. The paper had no magical processing; it was truly just a regular tissue, and I used it to blow my nose right away.

“It is still the cold season, so it would be good to be careful to carry tissues from now on.”

“Thank you…”

On top of that, he tells me it's cold, so I should watch out for a cold, and I must carry tissues. He’s like a mother. Honestly, I can't keep up with the gap between this and the Kirei Kotomine I had in mind. To begin with, the impression I get from the priest standing next to me is not that of a member of the Pleasure Club who loves the misfortune of others more than three meals a day.

Although his expression is scarce, he gives a strong impression of a tall, serious priest. He doesn’t look at all like the man who felt pleasure, thinking, “The wine is delicious!” while watching Kariya Matou’s futile efforts.

However, it is certain that the Holy Grail War, which was the catalyst for his awakening to pleasure, has erupted as it did in the [Original Work]. After all, the reason I came to Misaki Town via Ciel-senpai this time was that I was asked for the opinion of a Holy Grail War participant. And the reason I’m standing here with this priest in a park at night is, of course, to search for the TATARI; we are currently waiting for Ciel-senpai.

“Thank you for waiting.”

And just as I mentioned Senpai, she arrived herself. First, I must tell her the results of the information gathering.

“You have come. Then, let us begin.”

Senpai and I nodded at the priest’s words.

“Regarding whether the various rumors circulating in Misaki Town are similar to the Fourth Holy Grail War, the conclusion is guilty. Frankly, I am troubled by how much I recognize them. Especially, the human that the TATARI materialized last night was definitely a member of the Einzbern family, a participant in the War.”

“As I thought…”

Senpai wore a serious expression at Kirei Kotomine’s words. She must have realized the worst-case scenario, the same as me—the possibility of confronting a Heroic Spirit reproduced by the TATARI.

But there is a problem. The TATARI cannot exist without an originating rumor, person, or legend. The [Original Work] plot was the reproduction of Arcueid-san, who had been staying long-term with a mixed-blood person like Akiha-san.

This means that an anomaly, something outside the norm, has slipped into this town. I am the prime suspect—but there is also something else.

“There were three Masters who survived the Fourth Holy Grail War. One is Father Kirei Kotomine, one is the Clock Tower Magus, Waver Velvet, and the last one is Kiritsugu Emiya. This means there is a high possibility that one of these three visited Misaki Town.”

The possibility of the Mysteries of Misaki Town and the Mysteries of Fuyuki being connected. This means that one of the Masters who survived that intense Holy Grail War, which included building explosions, came to Misaki Town.

If this is the case, the TATARI can definitely reproduce what happened, just as the TATARI in the [Manga Version of the Original Work] reproduced Shiki Tohno’s secret knowledge of Satsuki Yumizuka's vampirization and death as a rumor. The candidates are these three.

“I have never visited Misaki Town, as I was working for the Church in Fuyuki or overseas.”

One is the priest right in front of me, Kirei Kotomine. But he has not visited Misaki Town because of his participation in overseas subjugation missions and his duties as a guardian.

“The Clock Tower Magus, Waver Velvet. He has visited Japan several times to visit the family that took care of him during the Holy Grail War, but he has not come to Misaki Town. Checking his schedule, he has only traveled to Tokyo’s Akihabara or other tourist spots, aside from Fuyuki.”

The second is Waver Velvet, who is making a name for himself as Lord El-Melloi II, a notable lecturer at the Clock Tower. According to what Senpai investigated, he also does not seem to have been involved with Misaki Town.

Speaking of which, he is probably visiting the elderly couple who took care of him in Fuyuki, but Akihabara, huh? He is a game enthusiast himself, but I wonder if he participates in Comiket, like how I saw the doll maker and the magician before?

“The only one remaining is Kiritsugu Emiya, the Magus Killer—this man visited this town.”

The last one remaining. Kiritsugu Emiya, feared as the Magus Killer. Senpai cannot hide her disgust at the fact that this man once came here. What did that Ally of Justice do that made Senpai, who rarely shows signs of disliking people, hate him this much, even more than what I know from the [Original Work Knowledge]? Well, I was also surprised that the Ally of Justice came to this town...

“According to a story Satsuki Yumizuka heard from a back-alley doctor who lives in this town, it seems that the man visited that doctor to try and repair his body as a magus.”

“A back-alley specialty… You don't mean Sougen Tokinan, the doctor Tohno-kun always goes to, do you, Yumizuka-san!?”

“Ah, yes. That’s correct, Senpai.”

Kiritsugu Emiya had most of his Magic Circuits destroyed in the Holy Grail War, and that body was steeped in a curse. In the Holy Grail War, his skill in dispelling the Tohsaka barrier declined to the point where he couldn't even perceive or penetrate the Einzbern barrier.

Therefore, it is natural for him to try to repair his body and Magic Circuits. The only doctor who lives in this town and knows about the back-alley matters and the world of the Mystics is Dr. Tokinan.

Certainly, the Doctor is more of an exorcist than a magus, but he is skilled enough to manage Shiki’s perpetually deteriorating body, which harbors the extraordinary Mystic Eyes of Death Perception. So, I thought perhaps Kiritsugu Emiya might have also sought advice or treatment, and when I asked the Doctor himself, it turned out to be completely correct.

Honestly, I thought it was a joke, but since physical evidence, even a patient’s chart, came out, there’s no mistake. Senpai, please take a look at this for now.

“—! Is that a patient chart? Let me see… I see, his body had become practically dead as a magus. And what is this physical state? What kind of curse did he receive? So, he secretly tried to get treated… It all adds up.”

The patient chart I handed to Senpai contained detailed information about the illness that was only vaguely understood on the surface in the [Original Work]. It was a condition that made me want to comment, “I can't believe he’s still alive,” even as an amateur.

The Doctor himself said he threw up his hands, deeming it beyond human ability. He said he gave him medicine to ease the pain as a mere comfort and offered some advice for a longer life.

“However, to think that I would have a connection with that man again.”

The priest suddenly let out a remark. I couldn't help but ask him about it.

“Kotomine-san, what do you, um, what do you think of that man, Kiritsugu Emiya?”

“...He is a man I dislike. A foolish man who discards ordinary happiness of his own accord.”

He spoke while turning his face away from my question. Kiritsugu Emiya, a man who discards ordinary emotions and happiness of his own accord. Kirei Kotomine, a man who cannot feel ordinary emotions and happiness. When you think about it, these two can never truly understand each other.

Speaking of which, in Zero, this priest felt anger towards Kiritsugu Emiya—

“But this is a stroke of luck.”

In an instant, a shiver-inducing murderous intent and smile leaked from Father Kotomine.

“Even if it is an illusion, he is still him. This time, I can crush him completely. Ah, truly, this is a worthwhile task.”

Yes, the priest chuckled. The impression of the serious priest he gave moments ago collapsed. Hello, it’s our Pleasure Priest.

Seriously, this person's appearance suddenly turned malicious! He looks exactly like a villain, and it’s unsettling to see it in real life! Ciel-senpai even covered her face and looked up at the sky, perhaps reminded of a sadistic superior.

“Haah, I thought you were a serious person, but this is how it is, after all… Well then, I understand the situation. Let’s begin the search, Father Kotomine, Yumizuka-san.”

Ah, that’s right. The conversation I needed to have with Senpai is over. There are many elements of concern, such as the Holy Grail War and Shion, but the current task is to search for the TATARI.

“Hmm, that is true, but it seems they have come to us again.”

“—! It certainly looks that way!”

I couldn't react, uttering a foolish sound like "Eh," as I turned to look in the direction Father Kotomine and Senpai were facing.

“A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-AH—!!”

The figure was ambiguous, like a glitching TV screen, but something that was human and yet not human was there.

Damn it, when did it get here?! And the two spears in its hands. This is definitely the Holy Grail War’s…

“Lancer, the Servant of the late Lord El-Melloi,”

The priest murmured admiringly. However, he and Senpai have already assumed a stance with the Black Keys, the weapons symbolizing the Executors, in their hands.

With Shiki and Arcueid-san not present, we don’t know how much effect we will have on the TATARI, which is merely a phenomenon, but we have no choice but to do this. I visualize an electric current flowing through the electronic circuits in my body and activate my Magic Circuits.

Now, how much can I accomplish?