Chapter 13: Kariya Dreams ②

It must be a dream.

The reason I could assert this so instantly upon seeing the scene was that it was simply too good to be true.

I didn't know where it was. It could have been a neighborhood park, a meadow blessed by the sun and overgrown with grass, or even a paradise; the location itself didn't matter. What was certain was that it was a scene where such peaceful things felt perfectly at home. There was a mother and her children. That alone was enough to fill a person's heart.

If I had seen this while out for a stroll on a holiday, I would have felt the usual, unremarkable sentiments. I would have bought a coffee from a nearby vending machine and sipped it while sitting on a bench. If I could hear the children’s laughter, I might even have offered a silent blessing. If they were strangers, it would be even better. I could bless them innocently, knowing nothing of their circumstances.

But this mother and her two daughters were faces I knew well. Aoi Tohsaka, and Rin and Sakura.

It was a space where everyone could smile—including Sakura. Holding her mother’s hand and being teased by her older sister, she looked happy even as her face turned red. It was a smile I could only remember vividly at times like this. Even though it had been a long time since the girl once known as Sakura Tohsaka, now Sakura Matou, had stopped smiling.

What was there was just a typical day off. Utterly commonplace, nothing special, and therefore blissful. It was just an ordinary family—nothing more.

I felt terrible. I covered my eyes and groaned. Or rather, that’s just how I felt. I had no physical sensations, and I couldn't look away. That is the nature of dreams. Like a video that belongs to you but doesn't obey you, you are forced to watch it until you wake up.

Sakura Matou still couldn't smile. At least, I had never seen the moment when she was able to. This was nothing more than a delusion—a dream of a man who had accomplished nothing, born solely from my wish that things could be this way.

Above all, one man was missing from the scene. Tokiomi Tohsaka. Aoi Tohsaka's husband and the biological father of Rin and Sakura Matou. If this were truly a family gathering, he was a man who naturally should have been there. The fact that he was absent clearly reflected my own ugly, one-sided emotions. I was projecting my own malice onto their smiles. The convenience of it was so pathetic I almost wanted to laugh.

He was a man I once hated—no, a man I still hate. Even if the feelings I directed at him were closer to a temper tantrum, it didn't change the fact that I harbored murderous intent toward him. If asked for reasons why I couldn't forgive him, I could list them endlessly. But the true reason for stating them was, after all, jealousy or something similar.

I loved Aoi. Even if those feelings are now distant, I can conclude that it was indeed love. Eventually, I gave up on Aoi and, on my own, entrusted her to Tokiomi. I had placed my trust in him without his asking, and then I felt betrayed by him without his knowing. Even my actions to save Sakura—if someone called them a form of "substitutionary compensation," I couldn't deny it. I am… a truly pathetic man.

The reason I regained the ability to think calmly was due to the influence of the "irregular" known as Archer. Because of his actions, I gained two things: Sakura’s safety, both now and in the future, and my liberation from the control of Zouken Matou. By achieving these seemingly impossible goals simultaneously, I gained a sense of composure. You could say my objectives were no longer tied to my emotions.

The reason to be obsessed with Tokiomi had vanished, and as a result, my feelings toward him were all that remained. Because of that, I was forced to face my own ugliness directly.

Reconfirming this only deepened my sense of emptiness. In the end, I had only changed direction; I hadn't grown up. Was it when I gave up on Aoi Zenjou, or when I abandoned the Matou family? Since when had my growth stopped?

My consciousness began to surface. My vision started to be painted over in black and white. I was about to wake up.

Suddenly, the woman turned toward me. Seeing this, I gnashed my teeth in emptiness.

Aoi had no face. I tried to reconstruct her face in my mind, but I realized I no longer remembered what her smile looked like.

If the dream was going to show me this scene, it could at least have provided that much service. I hurled my useless thoughts into the void. Naturally, no voice returned. Aoi did not show a smile. There was only a thin, plastered-on happiness that existed only in fantasy. …If only in a dream, I should have been allowed to be loved. I am a miserable man who can choose neither what to wish for nor what to manifest in my dreams.

If only something had been different somewhere. Could I have become a different version of myself? Even in my final thoughts, I couldn't be positive. Finally, everything was painted over…

---

"Kariya Matou!"

I was jolted awake by a voice screaming my name, and I immediately let out a groan.

My entire body was in agonizing pain. A while ago, when the Crest Worms were pecking at my body, the pain felt dull for some reason despite its intensity. Perhaps feeling "pure" pain was proof that I was in a healthier state than before. Not that it made me particularly happy.

Between the sharp pain and the dull ache, I focused on the sharp one and ignored it. Sharp pain is intense but momentary.

I took two or three shallow, rapid breaths. By the fourth, I regained enough consciousness to check my surroundings. Before my eyes was the face of a man I had grown quite familiar with over the past few days. His gaze was terrifyingly sharp, perhaps due to his agitation. It was the kind of look that made one think, "This is what the eyes of a killer look like." Then, looking at the night sky behind him, I realized I was lying outside.

So, where was I lying? I tried to find out, but then stopped thinking about it. The cause of the intense pain was on my back. By any estimation, the situation wasn't good.

I shifted my gaze away from the terrifying face of Kiritsugu and looked to the side. There was a wall of no great height, created by carving into the mountain slope. Near it sat an unnatural shadow. It took a moment to realize that it was the car I had been riding in. Normally, one would assume they had crashed in an accident. That answer would have been convincing, if the car's roof hadn't been peeled open.

"What... happened?"

"That's what I want to know! What happened, and why did it end up like this!?"

Losing his cool, he grabbed me by the collar. Kariya groaned at the vibration. Pain that exceeded the limits of being ignored scrambled his brain.

"Stop... I'm trying to remember..."

"Tch!"

Kiritsugu groaned in frustration and simultaneously slapped something onto my back. In that moment, a pain so intense I almost blacked out shot through me, but it quickly faded. It functioned by draining what little Magical Energy Kariya had left. The effect was likely limited to pain relief and stopping the bleeding. I couldn't expect much in the way of healing, but in this situation, it was reliable.

As I pushed myself up, I carefully scanned my surroundings again. Right now, I needed information.

There were four black lines on the road surface. The tire skid marks continued for quite a distance. This meant the impact of the crash might not have been that severe. We probably didn't have to worry about fatalities from the accident itself.

Maiya and Saber were on high alert, guarding the perimeter. Their state of heightened nervousness was, in a way, even more terrifying than Kiritsugu’s. They were the only ones there.

"…That’s right, Irisviel was kidnapped by Assassin!"

"By the Assassin? Damn it... Was letting the Overseer run free not for the sake of exhausting the Servants, but for Irisviel? What’s the situation?"

"Ah, the Assassin suddenly materialized inside the car a little while after we left the battlefield. Irisviel screamed, and the car's brakes were slammed. But the next moment, Maiya was knocked out by a blow to the back of the head. I fought back with a gun, but I was dragged out and dropped by the Assassin, who was trying to escape through the roof."

The memories returned piece by piece. Each time I remembered something, my brain replayed the pain of that moment and let out a scream. I shook my head to suppress it.

Kiritsugu held out his hand. He wasn’t even trying to help me stand up. That kind of inefficient kindness didn’t exist in him. He was holding out the handgun on his palm—the one he had given me for self-defense. A mere pistol wouldn’t do much against a Magus. Against a Servant, it wouldn’t even offer comfort.

When I checked the magazine, not a single bullet was left. It seemed I had fired every round without even realizing it.

I stood up, inserted a new magazine, and chambered the first round. At least, if it was ready to fire, it could serve as a slight comfort.

"Assassin headed in the direction of the riverbank..."

"That way, right?"

Before I could even react, Kiritsugu pointed with his thumb. I strained my eyes in that direction, but it was shrouded in darkness, making it impossible to discern anything.

"What is there?"

"Can't you see? The Civic Center collapsed just moments ago. Judging by the scale, it was undoubtedly a Noble Phantasm attack."

I see.... A building destroyed by a Noble Phantasm at this time must be related to this incident.

The Servants capable of exerting this much power were few. Excluding those who were already engaged in combat, the only possibility was Rider. It is curious how he was able to act so quickly and effectively in this situation, but one could assume that he was secretly connected to someone like Archer. Even for him, a presence that remained hidden and operated covertly in the Holy Grail War must have been highly unsettling.

I didn't know if that single Noble Phantasm strike had defeated the masterminds. But at the very least, it must have served as a smokescreen.

"So, are we going to rescue Irisviel now?"

"Yes. Luckily, the car still runs. We'll be there soon if we speed."

Kiritsugu backed the car up and returned it to the road. Maiya slid into the passenger seat, and I climbed into the back with Saber.

Not a single person here thought Irisviel was dead. It wasn't wishful thinking; it would be unnatural otherwise.

I didn't know what the Master of Assassin, Kirei Kotomine, was thinking. But there was simply no reason for Irisviel to be killed. If the intent was to kill, then Maiya and I should have been dead too. Even if there was no reason to kill Maiya, there was certainly no reason to let me live—after all, I was a Master.

And yet, I was still alive. Even if they still believed Irisviel was the Master, what purpose would there be in killing her after kidnapping her? If I had to concoct a reason for her death versus a reason for keeping her alive, the latter felt far more natural.

The rest depended on Rider’s intentions. If he hadn't intended to involve her in the Noble Phantasm strike, the probability of her being alive was high. After all, Irisviel was an excellent magus. If it was just escaping a collapsing building, it was possible unless she was extremely unlucky. It was enough to move forward with the expectation that she was alive.

The car accelerated sharply, shaking violently. The frame might have been slightly bent from the impact, but it still ran without issue. The Mercedes, sturdy to begin with and further modified, had an impressive stability.

We sped back the way we came (though continuing straight might have been closer in distance, there was no road). Driving an accidentally "open-top" car at speeds ignoring the limit on a winter night was incredibly harsh. It was even worse if you had lost a significant amount of blood.

Aware of my body creaking in the cold air, I spoke to Saber sitting next to me.

"Hey, Saber."

"Kariya, are you well enough to talk?"

"Yeah... Sorry to worry you. I'm fine."

Or rather, it was more that the damage wasn't at a level where it would matter anymore. There was no point in saying unnecessary things to worry her.

"I'm sorry. Because my Berserker was defeated, I've ended up placing a burden on you."

"If you're going to say that, then I'm also at fault for not being able to finish the fight with Lancer quickly and come to your aid. If we're talking about responsibility, it doesn't rest solely with you."

There was no hint of consolation in her words. However, I rubbed the back of my hand. Two strokes of my Command Spells remained. If I had used them, I might have been able to defeat Archer, whom I had cornered for a while. Even without going that far, there was a good chance Berserker could have survived.

Saber continued speaking, but I couldn’t bring myself to respond.

"Besides, with this, we now know Archer's True Name and his fighting style. Next time, we can fight with a clear strategy. Furthermore, the possibility of forming an alliance with Rider still remains. The battle is just beginning."

That’s right—I remembered that Kiritsugu and Maiya had been monitoring the battlefield. Since I might have died from mana exhaustion and been unable to provide any information, it was only natural for them to take precautions.

"I see… sorry."

"There is no reason for you to apologize."

Saber said, smiling almost playfully.

She had changed. Her personality and convictions seemed different, yet they were essentially the same. However, having gained mental stability, she no longer felt the need to fill her inner void with excessive pride. If I asked someone like Irisviel, I might get a different answer, but that was at least what I believed.

---

"Kariya Matou. There's something I want to ask you."

A voice reached him from the driver’s seat, despite the roaring wind. However, the tone… even accounting for the wind, it sounded too weak.

"How do you view this incident? He likely ordered them not to kill you, Maiya, or Iri…"

"You mean Kirei Kotomine, right?"

I finished the sentence that Kiritsugu seemed to have difficulty saying. I knew I was right by Kiritsugu’s sullen silence.

Kiritsugu Emiya and Kirei Kotomine. Kariya didn't know what kind of feud existed between these two. They seemed acutely aware of each other. At the very least, it wasn't a one-way obsession like the one between me and Tokiomi.

A man like Kiritsugu couldn't make a prediction about an opponent who could easily be called his sworn enemy. Part of the reason for this was his mercenary-like judgment—'never use unconfirmed information' and 'make the quickest, least risky decision based on current evidence'. But more than that, I could sense his desire not to think about the existence of Kirei Kotomine any further.

I couldn't understand that feeling. To me, Kirei was just a normal psychopath. At least, he seemed much better than the extreme psychopaths the Magi often were.

Above all, if Kiritsugu didn’t tell me what he feared, I had no way to analyze it. Since he had no intention of speaking, I had no choice but to skip that part.

"Assuming we believe what we heard from the Overseer, and applying a bit of amateur psychology… it sounds like he was troubled by something, and then God or something cleared his mind."

"God? Him? You’re saying he’s awakened to religion?"

"That’s a wrong analysis," Kiritsugu scoffed.

Kotomine Kirei was originally a religious man, but Kariya kept that to himself and continued.

"It’s not like that. People of that sort don't believe in 'religion.' They have faith in 'God' alone. And not the God that exists as a common societal concept, but a God that only they believe in."

A person who believes in nothing gains something. The nature of that something is one of two states: Pleasure or Repression. It is either affirming oneself by releasing the self, or gaining a pillar of support by repressing it. Tragically, both are the domain of the lunatic.

Whether there is no emotion at all, or no hesitation for the sake of a pretext called faith—either way, the fact that they harbor no doubt remains the same. But because the latter has its own desires at its root, it is far more terrifying. In terms of human action and performance, a person with a purpose is superior in every way. I, who had endured this past year with only my emotions as my support, knew this all too well.

In short, Kotomine Kirei is far more terrifying than before. Both in the sense that he is harder to defeat, and in the sense that you don't know what he might do next.

Still, I knew Kiritsugu wouldn't accept this. After all, most of it was just my speculation. If he called it delusion, that would be the end of it. And truth be told, I wasn't all that confident in my own thoughts either.

"Well, the details don't matter. Whatever it is, he has abstained from killing because of it. I don't know if he'll stick to it when cornered... but isn't that a sufficient opening for us to exploit?"

"...Yes, you're right."

However, Kiritsugu’s reply was non-committal, as if he wasn't fully convinced.

It probably wasn't something I should say; I knew that. But before I knew it, I had leaned forward, bringing my face close to his.

"Listen, he's a madman. Nothing more, nothing less. Even if you don't think so, pretend that's the case. You are unconsciously trying to understand him. Stop doing that."

The idea that one person can understand another is a pipe dream. I couldn’t understand what Aoi was thinking when she married and gave her child away for adoption. I couldn’t understand how Sakura felt when she killed her own heart. And Zouken Matou—I didn’t even want to understand why that man took joy in tormenting people. From someone else’s perspective, a man like me would be incomprehensible too. That I spent my life on jealousy, unfulfilled desires, and misplaced resentment—I’m the only one who needs to know that. I didn’t want anyone else to know, and I wouldn’t have stopped even if they had told me to.

What Kiritsugu was doing was, frankly, useless.

But it was precisely that which allowed him to get closer to Kirei. To put it selfishly, he should be directing that effort toward Irisviel. He was so used to being understood that he wasn't trying to understand those close to him.

I didn't care what happened to Irisviel, a Magus. But if things continued like this, Kiritsugu would end up with a tragic life he didn't want... Just like mine, for example.

If Kiritsugu Emiya were to be classified, he would definitely fall into the category of a villain. He was certainly not a good person. But after talking with him repeatedly, I simply couldn't bring myself to hate him. He was just a "good man." Precisely because he was a good man, he couldn't forgive evil, and before anyone could commit an act of evil, he became evil himself to crush it. By enduring all the consequences himself, he was stopping someone else from crying.

There was no way I could hate him. Because if he had been by Sakura’s side from the beginning, she surely wouldn't have been crying. There must have been many children saved like that.

If he just let himself be understood, he wouldn't be able to stop. He needed to be able to listen, even a little, when someone tried to stop him. He—he too—deserved to be saved.

"…You’re right. The only thing I need to think about is how to kill Kirei Kotomine."

I probably didn’t convince him with my words, but if it helped clear even a little of his doubt, that was enough.

As I started to lean back into the rear seat, I was suddenly struck by a sense of wrongness.

"Kariya, is something wrong?"

"No... nothing, probably."

"Probably?"

Saber, who was quick to spot any abnormality, questioned me. I could only give an ambiguous response. Truly, even I didn't know what was wrong.

The seat cradled my body perfectly, as expected of a luxury car. Even when I relaxed completely, the strange sensation didn't fade. No, if anything, it was gradually growing. A feeling like my body was moving even though I wasn't putting strength into it anywhere. Perhaps if the muscles throughout my body were repeatedly having minor spasms, it would feel like this.

Maybe it was an aftereffect of my injuries. It wasn't something that would kill me right now, but normally I would have been hospitalized.

I lifted my right hand to check my finger movements. They moved with a decent level of accuracy. I wouldn't call it "normal," but considering the injuries, it was sufficient. If I could manage that much, I could ignore the wrongness. Just as I made that judgment, pain erupted in my body.

"Kariya!?"

I curled my body reflexively, but I only shifted my gaze toward her to keep her from moving closer.

"I’m fine, I was just surprised."

"But—"

I was sweating profusely, but I managed to sit up straight. Seeing me like this seemed to satisfy Saber, at least for the moment.

The words "I was just surprised" were no lie. The sensation was one I had been very accustomed to until quite recently.

The sensation of my body being eaten by worms.

It wasn't that I hadn't been preyed upon until now. If I hadn't, I wouldn't have been able to provide the mana for Berserker. But that had been conveniently suppressed by Kiritsugu’s magecraft. The sensation of them crawling through my body, tearing my flesh, and stripping away my human dignity along with my cognitive abilities. I had supposedly been separated from Zouken Matou and had long since forgotten it.

(Wait a minute. Does this mean... he's nearby!)

I panicked and looked around. Darkness and the landscape flowing by at high speed. The conditions were perfect for failing to spot something—especially something as small as an insect. Still, I squinted with all my might, determined not to miss anything.

(There's no way that monster old man would appear without some kind of trap. If there is one, it's almost certainly from the outside. There's a chance he's using the worms inside me, but he wouldn't rely on the naive hope that it would make the Servant sitting next to me misjudge the situation. He'll aim for us when the situation is guaranteed to succeed.)

If one were to point out a reliable aspect of Matou Zouken, it would be that his appearance was always with the conviction of a killing blow. In other words, this caution would certainly be useful.

I pulled out my gun and disengaged the safety. Since there was nothing to aim at, the muzzle remained pointed at the air. But it was enough to alert Saber and urge her to be cautious.

"Kiritsugu, Zouken Matou is nearby. Be careful."

With that single sentence, the atmosphere instantly changed.

The car slowed slightly. It wasn’t about speed so much as being able to react instantly if something happened. Saber was armed and scanning her surroundings, just like me. Her senses were ridiculously sharp, far beyond those of a mere human. And Maiya was pointing her gun at my head—to minimize the damage if I were to be manipulated.

“What’s happening?”

"He’s getting closer. I don't know the distance, but he’s definitely there."

The buzzing of the worms was increasing. Fortunately, the sensation of them pecking at my flesh wasn't that severe. As long as I wasn't controlled, I could at least avoid being a hindrance.

While holding the gun, beads of cold sweat rolled down my face. I knew the terror of Zouken Matou firsthand, quite literally. I knew that Saber and Kiritsugu possessed extraordinary abilities. But how well could they stand against the monster's viciousness? At the very least, I couldn’t guarantee it. To me, Zouken Matou was that kind of existence.

Time passed meaninglessly, with only vigilance. Yet, they didn't lower their guard because the worm's activity was continuously increasing.

And finally, the movement of the worms reached the same level as when Matou Zouken was in good health, and...

"Behind us!"   "It's a Servant!"

I shouted at the exact same moment as Saber.

In contrast to the speed at which the front was approaching, the rear view was receding. The road we passed was swallowed into pitch-black darkness, beyond the reach of the headlights, just dozens of meters back. But through the gaps, black shadows were flickering. Unbefitting the receding scenery, something was gaining on the car. It wasn't just one or two. A countless number of "somethings" were approaching in a swarm so large it covered the entire road.

“What is that?” someone asked. I couldn’t help but agree with that single phrase.

Whatever was approaching had to be insects. And it had to be Zouken Matou. But I wasn’t even sure I could truly call “that” Zouken Matou anymore.

Stained completely in black, it desperately moved its mud-like body. Only its eyes glowed with a brilliant, crimson light. Above all, just looking at it caused a nauseating sense of dread. It was far more convincing to call it a "monster pretending to be an insect."

"O...O...O...O...O...O...O...RORORORORORO!"

Was it a word, a cry, or just the sound of wings? I couldn't even think of a way to tell. The only thing I knew was that Zouken Matou was no longer a sane being.

"Be careful, Kiritsugu! I sense a Servant's presence from that thing!"

Saber jumped out of the rear seat and stood on the trunk. The front line was only dozens of centimeters away. She calmly cut down the fast-moving insects as they lunged. For now, she was handling them with ease, but eventually, she would reach her limit. No matter how skilled Saber was, she couldn't handle being swarmed by hundred or a thousand times this number. and a swarm of insects made that possible. At worst, it wouldn't be long before the swarm clung to the car.

Regardless, I fired my gun wildly at the visible swarm. With a total capacity of fewer than 20 rounds, I emptied it in an instant. I immediately swapped magazines and repeated the process.

Maiya, who had slid from the passenger seat to the rear, also fired her gun. but it was useless. the swarm’s momentum didn't stop.

"Cut the trunk!"

Maiya's voice. Saber reacted instantly, leaning to the side and cutting the trunk from the root. The metal plate, deprived of its support, flew backward.

Inside the trunk, a mountain of firearms was lined up. And not pea-shooters like handguns. Bombs, rocket launchers, and machine guns—it was a ridiculous arsenal.

"Use this!"

I was handed a massive gun, almost forced into my grip.

I couldn't say I didn't know how to use it. I braced the gun against the seat and just had to pull the trigger. I didn't even bother aiming; I just made sure the bullets didn't fly in a weird direction. After all, as long as I aimed generally in the right direction, I was bound to hit an insect. The ejected shell casings were as thick as lipsticks. Even after taking hits like that, the insects didn't seem to be taking damage.

Maiya scattered all the bombs that had been placed in the trunk. For a moment, the area behind them lit up. Black dots were flying as if to hide the crimson pillars of fire. Each one of those dots was an insect.

Even if they don't take damage, blowing up the surroundings sends the insects flying too. If the goal was delay, it was a good method. Or so Kariya thought, but—

"Something’s wrong. Only about half of them exploded…"

Maiya’s voice was like a groan, and before long, the swarm caught up. Their numbers seemed even greater than before.

Had they absorbed the bombs, or were they multiplying regardless? At the very least, I could tell they possessed some power to neutralize the explosives. Determined not to give up, she fired a rocket launcher into the mass, but that too had little effect.

"It’s no use, we can't hold them all off!"

"They’re going to catch us!"

Resistance was futile. The swarm of insects finally reached the tires.

Is this it? Just as I was about to give up, I heard Kiritsugu's voice ring out.

“Saber, by my Command Spell. Ignore the injury to your left arm and use your Noble Phantasm!”

The feeling of an enormous magical energy flow as a Command Spell burst. The surge was so vast that even I, a half-baked Magus, could perceive it.

The moment I heard the words, I let go of my gun. It tumbled away and was swallowed by the wave of insects, but I didn't care. I quickly covered my ears with both hands. In that instant, an overwhelming band of light burned my eyes and reduced everything in its path to dust. The asphalt we had just traveled over didn't just peel away; it vanished in the afterglow of the light the moment it shattered.

Excalibur: The Sword of Promised Victory. The illusion forged by the stars.

The strongest Holy Sword, existing on a height no human could ever reach. The miracle it created rightly tore through the darkness. The ground was vertically sliced, and the cross-section, heated by the enormous thermal energy, steamed and receded into the distance.

In the past few days, I thought I had seen every miracle this world had to offer. But the brilliance of the world was something I could declare overwhelming even compared to the feats shown by other heroes. —And that was only natural. If I were to believe Saber’s words, that sword was the crystallization of human hope. There couldn't be a miracle greater than that.

...However.

Through the darkness that had been torn open, the swarm of insects approached as if emerging from the gaps. It was as if nothing had happened.

"Impossible! It didn't work!?"

"No, it was a direct hit, without a doubt."

Saber's voice was calm and detached. A creaking sound came from the gauntlet grasping the sword. That sound vividly expressed her state of mind.

"It's just that there's too much of them to deal with with just one strike."

They flowed in like waves from the left and right, bringing them back to square one. At least, that's how it looked to Kariya.

A war of attrition. The phrase came to mind. It was a despair-inducing term. Half of the ammunition, which we didn't even know was effective, had already been consumed. The bombs capable of area suppression had long since been used up. How much was left of the rifle bullets enchanted as Mystic Codes, which were effective even against Servants? Even if none had been used, it wouldn't be a significant amount. And this wasn't what you used against an opponent possibly numbering in the tens or hundreds of thousands.

How many more times could she use her trump card, Excalibur? Her left arm hadn't healed yet. In other words, the remaining number of Command Spells was the limit of its use. And even then—

"EX-CALIBURRRRRRR!"

The Holy Sword was used a second time, consuming two more Command Spells simultaneously. With this, Kiritsugu had used all his Command Spells.

The insects vanished from sight. Just disappear somewhere. I held my gun to my chest and prayed fervently. As I prayed, I knew my words probably wouldn’t reach anywhere. To say Kariya Matou was unlucky was just a kind of jinx. Whatever I wished for always turned out the opposite, so at least I could prepare myself.

And as expected, the swarm was still alive. Perhaps their numbers were starting to run low, as their density seemed to have decreased. But there were still more than enough to swallow the car.

I took a deep breath and then exhaled. This, too, was a kind of jinx. If I did that, I felt like I could swallow the entirety of the current situation. I could gain the courage to move. Without doing so, it was difficult to resolve myself.

"Kiritsugu, cancel your contract with Saber."

"What are you talking about all of a sudden?"

Kiritsugu, who had no room to look back while steering, spoke with a voice that was really cold and sharp.

"I’ll re-contract with her. If I do, she can fire her Noble Phantasm two more times."

"But there’s no guarantee that will solve anything."

Saber hesitated. There was a strong sense of aversion to the act of changing Masters. Simultaneously, there was the opacity of not having a guarantee that it would break the deadlock. It was nothing more than a haphazard plan. If things continued like this…

"And also, I'm getting off here."

I felt my breath catch. For a moment, I wondered whose it was—then realized it was my own.

If I got off in a place like this, I’d immediately become food for the worms. Anyone could understand that theory, but having been constantly fed upon by them, I understood it better than anyone.

"That's suicide. It's meaningless!"

"It is meaningful. This is the only way Kiritsugu can survive."

Saber's momentum stopped abruptly. Her left hand, which she might have been reaching out to grab his shoulder, hovered in the air.

Steelng one's resolve is simple, yet very difficult. Especially if that is the resolve to die.

Death was something I had long since resolved myself to. Ever since I returned to that demonic den called Matou a year ago. But the death approaching right before my eyes was terrifying. It wasn't something I could just vaguely endure. The terror of offering my own neck to the Reaper's scythe was immense. I wanted to scream that I didn't want to die. I wanted to cling to life pathetically.

Even so, this was a role that only Matou Kariya could fulfill.

"...You'll die."

"It'll just be today instead of a month from now."

I rummaged through the broken trunk and pulled out a gun. There weren’t many firearms I could handle without proper training. I picked one that looked simple, could be held in one hand, and could spray bullets. Then I attached extended magazines to both submachine guns.

"They might pass you by."

"The worms inside me are buzzing. It’s proof that 'that thing' still has the attribute of Zouken’s insects. No one is more suited to be a decoy than me."

I picked up spare magazines and hesitated for a moment about whether to take them. In the end, I tucked them into my belt. I didn't know if I could hold out for that long, but there was no harm in having them.

Kiritsugu said nothing. And the contract wasn't dissolved yet. Dropping out of the Holy Grail War and the increasing number of victims—surely, things like that must have been weighing on him.

"Kiritsugu Emiya, you can't die here. You made a contract with me, a promise to save Sakura-chan. I'm dying for that purpose. So, you must live for that purpose. Besides, if you live, something might work out. There's a chance you could even negotiate with someone like Archer and become his Master."

Everyone knew that was just a comfort. But even such things are sometimes necessary. Resolution leads a person toward death. And hope leads them toward life.

A sound of wind, unlike the car slicing through the air. I could hear it escape from Kiritsugu’s lips.

"…Goodbye, Kariya Matou."

"Yeah, goodbye. Please take care of... Sakura-chan."

The path (line) between Saber and Kiritsugu was severed.

The re-contracting ended quickly. Like the summoning, most of the magecraft related to Servants was handled by the Holy Grail.

Holding the guns close, I kicked off the seat. There was no need to worry about the landing. Since I couldn't do that myself anyway, I left it to Saber.

The moment I left her hands, I leveled the toys that might not even be useful at the swarm. It felt as though the ground itself was squirming. A volume of such magnitude—and of such a nauseating ugliness that I couldn't help but feel sick—was approaching. To die alongside something like that was the worst way to go imaginable. I felt a small sense of pride in myself for being able to choose it.

"Sorry for dragging you into my suicide."

"No, I don't wish for my Master to die, either. It is regrettable that I cannot claim the Holy Grail, but I would never make a decision that involves killing my Master for that purpose."

So, don't worry about it. Implied in her words, Saber drew her sword.

The Servant entered her combat stance. Mana was violently drained from me, and I vomited blood for the first time in a while. Small worms were mixed in with the blood. They were hateful things, but right now, I was relying on them. They could eat my flesh even more grandly and generate mana. The more they did, the more they would spite their original host, Zouken Matou.

On the opposite side of the swarm—behind me—there was a clattering sound. What happened? I turned to see Maiya sprawled out, holding a large quantity of firearms.

"Why did you come too!?"

"Which is better at attracting the enemy: two and two, or three and one?"

Maiya stood up immediately, as if accustomed to it. Despite jumping off a car with heavy luggage, she didn't look like she had taken any damage.

"That might be true, but…"

"Besides, two submachine guns alone are not enough for a decoy. In a case like this, you don't swap magazines; you swap guns."

Her face was as expressionless as ever. I had never seen her smile. Even now, keeping that same expression, she handed me half of the guns she was carrying.

Disengaging the safety and pointing the muzzle, she continued.

"I am the same as this. If there is a suitable place for me to be consumed, I will not hesitate."

Her fingers stroked the black steel. Incongruous with her girl-like appearance, they were rugged and blackened with oil.

In other words, that was her way of life. Inescapable. Whether she desired it or not.

I looked down at my own fingers. The callus on my right hand from writing wouldn't disappear after just one year away from the field. And my worm-eaten body wouldn't either. I had become this way to defy the Matou family. It was a life I couldn't be proud of, but I had no regrets about becoming like this. At the very least, at the moment of choice, I had made the decision with my own will.

What about her? I didn't think there was any room for choice in a life spent fighting with a gun. But there was one point where she differed from me: she took pride in being Kiritsugu’s tool.

I no longer felt like saying anything. I still didn't think that choice was "right." But she, who could accept herself, was very dazzling.

"They’re coming."

Saber’s brief voice.

Maiya and I pulled our triggers simultaneously. Pillars of fire rose relentlessly from our muzzles. Into the storm of fire that would kill a human with a single hit—I knew this, but—the tsunami of insects showed no impact. A blackness deeper than the night itself swelled just before contact, threatening to swallow us all.

"You shall not pass!"

A powerful gust of wind was given direction and crushed the mountain of insects. But if that much were enough to handle them, they would have been annihilated by the previous attack. They passed through the flanks and were surrounded in no time.

This was the horror of overwhelming numbers. No matter how many you defeat, there is no end. Because they are replaceable, they can repeat a suicidal charge without fear of loss. Moreover, if each one possesses a significant, non-negligible power, the methods for humans alone to counter it are almost non-existent.

However, that was only true if we were merely human.

Saber swung her sword in a wide arc. The wind, still halfway connected to her sword, mowed down a wide area in a straight line. Finally, she created a vortex, drawing the three of them inside it. A tornado that flowed as if to blow away anything it touched from the inside out. It didn't have the power to kill the insects, but considering the goal was to buy time, it was the best choice.

"Tch… Could they be eroding the Noble Phantasm? You two, this won't hold for long!"

"They really are monsters."

They unleashed a storm of bullets unilaterally from the inside. But they were told that this, too, wouldn't last long. I immediately swapped the empty gun for another and continued the futile attack.

"What about Excalibur!?"

"Not yet! We need to draw the enemy in a little more!"

If the primary condition was to not let them follow Kiritsugu, then we certainly wanted to reduce their numbers here as much as possible. Ideally, not a single one would pass. But… I watched the insects as they were blown away and then challenged the wall of wind again. How long would we have to endure in front of something like this?

The reason I wanted to settle things quickly wasn't just that. Since being surrounded by the insects, the inside of my body had clearly become noisier. The snapping sounds transmitted through my bones were definitely shortening my lifespan. If I continued to be eaten at this pace, I would lose my life before I could counterattack. Right now, thanks to the talisman applied when I was injured, I wasn't in a state where I couldn't move due to pain. But even if I could endure the pain, it would be the end if my bodily functions failed first.

I forced the blood and long insects overflowing into my mouth back down my throat. It was a relief that my senses and taste were already paralyzed and I felt no disgust.

"Kariya, now!"

"Fire, Saber!!"

The dome-shaped wind, which had become significantly smaller compared to the beginning, suddenly expanded explosively for a brief moment, gathering all the nearby insects in front.

With all the surrounding insects within range, the path of light burned away everything in its path. The entire area was illuminated as if the sun itself were there.

Almost simultaneously, a large amount of blood welled up from my stomach and filled my throat. I tried to hold it in my mouth, but I couldn't, and it spilled out through the gaps in my lips. Some of the insects inside me died, and the remaining ones suffered from magical energy exhaustion. In a desperate attempt to recover what they had lost, they began ravenously devouring my body further.

Currently, Saber’s specs were a shadow of her former self. This was because she had discarded everything except for the activation of her Noble Phantasm. No matter how powerful a Command Spell was, it couldn't compensate for all the magical energy for the highest-grade Holy Sword. Moreover, with the Command Spells also compensating for her left hand, the burden was far from light.

Even so, Kiritsugu had succeeded, even though his magical energy was nearly depleted. But for me, with my low aptitude as a Magus, this was the limit.

"What about behind us!?"

"There are none. The vast majority of the insects were stopped here. Even if some are pursuing, it is not a significant number. Kiritsugu can handle it."

Maiya turned around a fraction of a second before I could even react and stated flatly. Bathed in the fading light, I could see the wrecked Mercedes-Benz. Along the line connecting us, no black dots were visible.

The operation was a success. With this... there were no more worries.

I discarded the gun with a few rounds left and leveled the next one. But there was no sign of more insects coming.

Surely this couldn't be the end. But there was no sign of insects following from the direction Saber had just mowed down. I didn't know what they were up to, but as long as the situation didn't move, we had no choice but to move ourselves. Just as I thought that, I was suddenly pushed from behind.

"Gah!"

I couldn't resist the completely unexpected shove and tumbled. That said, due to being eaten, I had almost no strength left in my body anyway. Even if I had taken it head-on, I likely couldn't have endured it.

Maiya fell on top of me. I didn’t know what had happened, and I instinctively froze as I reached out to move her. Around her waist, I felt a warm, sticky sensation. I looked closer and saw a large hole in her side—something impossible by human anatomy.

(She was eaten. we was caught off guard!)

An unpleasant sound, like steak being messily bitten off. Red droplets were spraying from the gap in her torn flesh. For the first time, I saw her face contort. Beads of cold sweat from the intense pain stood out on her brow as she gritted her teeth.

Maiya dug her fingers into the flesh of her stomach. Then she pulled out a handgun and fired a bullet into her own stomach, including the back of her hand. With that, she must have killed the insects in her abdomen. The chewing sound that made me want to cover my ears stopped. In exchange—Maiya vomited a large amount of blood. The injury to her side alone was fatal. On top of that, her insides had been devoured, and she had taken a bullet.

She wouldn't make it. Her eyes, which normally showed no emotion, were losing their light in a different sense.

"Kariya!"

Saber's warning flew out.

I refocused my gaze on the surroundings, and what entered my sight were the insects that had been lurking nearby, showing their faces. Red eyes, reminiscent of blood. They were watching from everywhere.

"Did they prioritize finishing us off over chasing Kiritsugu..."

Dispersing their forces and having them lurk in separate locations. For them, who could only use a strategy of mowing down the enemies coming at them all at once, it was a fatal tactic. Likely, what was lurking wasn't just this. There should be at least two more waves remaining.

I had been resolved from the beginning. But with this, the possibility of surviving truly vanished. Was my body trembling from fear, or from the damage having increased too much?

Saber cast a barrier of wind against the insects lunging at them in the same way. However, its power was far weaker and narrower than before. Even with me literally sacrificing my own body to churn out magical energy, Saber's mana couldn’t keep up anymore.

"Damn it!"

My hand felt as heavy as if it didn't belong to me. I managed to put strength into it and tried to drag Maiya. At this rate, she would be eaten from the feet up and die.

But she pushed my hand away herself. I felt an intuitive sense of dread. I reached out to stop her—but in moments like these, my hand was despairingly slow. Unable to even fully extend my arm, I could only watch as she, clutching her abdomen, stepped outside the barrier.

Maiya's eyes were no longer looking anywhere. As the worms feasted on her body, moving in unison, she stared at an empty space—a place I probably didn’t know—and for the first time, she smiled and whispered.

"Kiritsugu... you must..."

—Live.

I didn't hear the voice. I just felt like her lip movements were saying that.

And then, she became light. It was a suicide bomb, for emergencies. She had activated it, ending her life while taking the insects with her. To the very end, for Kiritsugu Emiya.

The face of the girl who had blown up before my eyes was burned into my memory and wouldn't leave. Her choice was very "correct." For her objective, it was the most efficient action. …But that didn't mean I could approve of her blowing herself up in front of me. I tried to scream at my own powerlessness, but no sound came out. Instead, a large amount of blood flowed out along with the worms.

My own end was near too. Feeling it, I stood up.

My eyes were blurry, and I could hardly see. I had lost almost all grip strength, and pulling the trigger was the best I could do. There was no way I could aim, and the muzzle was wavering with the recoil. Still, I stood up. If I could still fight—even if it were meaningless—I would continue to fight.

It was a rebellion. Not against anyone, let alone Zouken Matou. If anything, it was an act against my own life up to this point.

"Kariya, one more time!"

"Fire, Saber!"

And then, the final light raced away.

This time, the insects approached without pause. The wind’s protection had become difficult even to envelop the two of them. There was no longer any power in Saber’s sword, which I caught a glimpse of.

The end was only a matter of time.

"Hey, Saber... Can you listen to my complaints for a little bit?"

"...Yes, as much as you need."

My voice was hardly coming out, and it must have been difficult to hear as it was choked with blood. But Saber heard it and nodded.

"I'm a pathetic man. I loved Aoi-san... but when I heard she was marrying Tokiomi, I couldn't do anything. I hated the Matou family, and ran away... When I heard that Aoi-san's daughter, Sakura-chan, was going to be adopted, Aoi-san's face came to mind. ...So, I used the excuse of 'at least for Sakura-chan' and returned to the Matou family..."

Memories full of shame. A pathetic story that anyone who heard it would scoff at. Why did I suddenly want to say such a thing?

My eyes were blind now. I didn't even know if my arms were even raised. But there were no gunshots. I must have no longer had the strength to pull the trigger. Even that, I didn't know because I had lost my senses. My body was very cold. But I couldn't even shiver.

"Saying it was for Sakura-chan's sake... I was just jealous of Tokiomi and trying to take out my frustrations on him. In the end, that's the kind of person I was. My own feelings came first... I messed up everything... and in the end, I couldn't do anything by myself."

No matter how pathetic and unsightly it was, did I want someone to know? I didn't understand my own heart. But the words spilled from my mouth as if it were natural to do so.

"Kariya, your feelings may not be commendable, indeed."

I felt Saber’s body heat against my back. Amidst the sensation of my entire body being frozen, that was the only thing that felt almost painful.

"However, regardless of your reasons, you did your best for Sakura. You must never say anything that denies that truth."

Ah—why? Those few words offered such salvation.

I put strength into my arms. I felt them rise. When I felt like I had pulled the trigger, the sound of ammunition exploding continuously was revived. That’s right, I can still fight. I have to fight.

"Furthermore, one who can risks their life for someone else is called a Knight. Even if no one else acknowledges it, I will. You are, without a doubt, Sakura’s knight."

"...I see. So, I was able to be her Knight."

Those words might have been a comfort. They might have been a final tribute for my death. But strength definitely returned to my body. It felt like I could keep pulling the trigger for just a little longer.

I felt I understood a little bit why she was King Arthur. What kind of person a King was.

Saber took a step forward. The support at my back vanished, and I almost fell, but I managed to stay standing.

"With one more strike, and my Magical Energy will run out. I won't say goodbye. ...I'll go first."

"Yeah, I'll be right behind you."

Those were the final words I exchanged with her.

"HAAAAAAAAAA!"

A war cry rose, and a sword was swung. First her feet vanished, then her lower body, then her chest, as she converted herself into mana to produce power. By the time the sword was fully swung, only her wrists remained. Even those were converted into blades of wind released from the sword, all of them becoming fangs that shredded the insects.

The surrounding insects were sliced to pieces, and at almost the exact same time, the ammunition ran out.

Squish, thud. The first sound was the sound of my feet being eaten, and the next was the sound of my body tumbling as it could no longer be supported. I had no sensation of either.

The insects swarmed all at once. Even as I felt myself being devoured, my mind remained calm.

Sakura Matou. I regretted not being able to see her through to the end. But Kiritsugu Emiya will probably manage somehow. I have no choice but to believe that. Or I’ll pray that Archer will make Sakura happy.

Aoi Tohsaka. Was it good or bad that I could remember her smile after all this time? But the fact that her smile wasn't directed at me was just like her, I suppose. I can only give a bitter smile at being pathetic until the very end.

Tokiomi Tohsaka. I wonder what finally happened to him. Even if he were alive, his apprentice is betraying him; he won't be in a normal state. I don't intend to say that’s his retribution now. But I couldn't bring myself to pity him either.

Was there anyone else?

Emiya Kiritsugu. There was nothing more I could say to him now. I just wished I could relax a little and find some happiness.

The proportion of grinding sounds increased. Likely, the insects had reached the bone and were scraping away at it. Feeling that, Zouken Matou’s smirking face came clearly to mind.

It was my final act of resistance. I lifted my right hand. Naturally, it was covered in insects, trying to devour the flesh. Ignoring the numbers that would be foolish to try and shake off, I moved my index finger toward my wrist. I hooked my finger around a slightly protruding catch. I failed several times and struggled, but I succeeded before my tendons could be bitten through.

It was a suicide bomb. Different from the one Maiya had used, this one was designed to cleanly blow me away. It was meant to let me die at an opportune moment if I ever fell under Zouken's control.

"To think... I'd actually get to use this. You never know what's a blessing in disguise in this world."

I glared at the insects—or at least, I imagined I was glaring. I couldn’t actually see them. In my mind, Zouken’s face was there instead, and I was staring right at it.

The sound was cut off with a snap. Had my eardrums been punctured? It wouldn't be long before they reached my brain. Before everything was devoured.

"Don't think... everything will go... as you planned... YOU OLD BASTARD!!!!."

I spat out my final curse and bravado.

The sight of Sakura enjoying herself with Aoi and Rin, like their original family. Even if it’s not right now, I hope it becomes reality someday. Believing that I would be allowed to wish for at least that much.

Kariya Matou, along with the surrounding insects, blew away without a trace.