Unlimited Ambition

Chapter Thirty-Two: Kariya Matou's Lament

"I hope you can at least give me a splendid performance so that I will recognize your value as a subject."

With Gilgamesh's blessing in mind, Kirei Kotomine, his face cold, his heart burning with a twisted passion, prepared to act.

First, he found Matou Kariya, who was wandering around alone.

"Well then, Mr. Matou, could you give me a little time so we can have a proper talk?"

At this moment, Matou Kariya was as restless as a fox trapped in a cage. As time passed, his physical condition deteriorated—the battle at the Central Bridge a few days ago had almost drained his magical energy, and by the time he returned to the Matou mansion, he was barely clinging to life.

However, he is still alive, living a life of extreme shame and disgrace.

Although Matou Kariya felt that he still had a mission to complete and should not die like this, whenever he thought about what he was living for, he felt an urge to die immediately.

"The magic inside is left behind by the insect that took Sakura's virginity that day. Kariya, you live on this gift from a young girl. Be grateful, ahahaha..."

Recalling that night, the thing her so-called "father" used to heal her, Matou Kariya felt an urge to cry.

Therefore, Matou Kariya's actions over the past two days have become somewhat frantic. He's been desperately searching for his enemy in Fuyuki City, day and night. His thought is: once he finds him, no matter the time or place—he'll rush in and destroy him. As for any so-called mage's code of conduct, Matou Kariya has already flushed it down the toilet after cleaning up his mess.

However, in just a few days, the Holy Grail War has progressed to its second half. Basically, everyone who was supposed to die is dead. Only me, Gilgamesh, and Lancelot remain.

Gilgamesh is currently hiding in the basement of the Holy Church. I'm also hiding in the Einzbern family mansion. So, since he can't find anyone, he's like a resentful woman with pent-up desire but nowhere to vent it; his bad mood is understandable.

"Hmph... Father, I remember you withdrew from the Holy Grail War." Matou Kariya said this, although he hadn't had much interaction with this priest. But Matou Kariya could tell that this guy was no pushover. It seemed that a half-baked, hastily trained mage like himself, without the help of a Heroic Spirit, probably wouldn't last a single round against him.

I'll just listen to what he has to say, even if it's just a little.

Matou Kariya thought to himself.

"You want to kill Tokiomi Tohsaka, isn't that right?"

Upon hearing Kirei Kotomine's words, Kariya Matou's remaining single eye suddenly contracted, erupting with an extremely terrifyingly scorching flame: "So what if that's the case?"

The Matou family did manage to do some intelligence analysis. They realized that the falling out between Kirei Kotomine and Tokiomi Tohsaka was a pretense; their real intention was to sabotage others. Kariya Matou could see that as well.

"I can let you kill Tokiomi Tohsaka."

Kirei Kotomine said this.

At this moment, like a fish drawn by the scent of bait, Matou Kariya was unknowingly captivated. However, having missed the final scene of the battle at the Central Bridge, he was unaware that the real Tohsaka Tokiomi was actually dead, and that everything he had pursued had become a darkly humorous joke.

"Go on." Of course, Matou Kariya himself would never think that way.

"I can take Tokiomi Tohsaka to the Church tomorrow night at 8 o'clock, and at the same time distract his Heroic Spirit. What you do then is up to you."

"No, Father, explain yourself. What is your reason for helping me? And what is your reason for betraying Tokiomi Tohsaka?"

"The reason...?" Kirei Kotomine pondered for a few minutes. "Because I've been chosen again by the Holy Grail and become one of the participants in the Holy Grail War. So, I want to form an alliance with Tohsaka-sensei's Heroic Spirit. So, before that, I must kill Tohsaka-sensei. But I myself don't have that strength. That's why I approached you, who possesses a Heroic Spirit—you can rest assured that after this, we can still cooperate. After all, that most terrifying enemy, neither of us alone can defeat him."

“You mean Saber… Yes. Father, your reasoning sounds very reasonable. But for some reason, I always feel that you have ulterior motives.”

"Well, it's up to you. I'm just bringing up the suggestion; whether you do it or not is entirely up to you."

"Do it, why not do it? That guy Tokiomi Tohsaka..."

The mere mention of Tokiomi Tohsaka's name stirred Kirei Kotomine's heart once more, leaving him breathless. At the same time, he secretly calculated: "My Berserker Heroic Spirit possesses the ability to turn anything it captures into its Noble Phantasm. Therefore, it's a perfect counter to that Archer Heroic Spirit. After forming an alliance with it, as long as I defeat Saber, defeating the Archer will be a certainty. In that case, the Holy Grail…"

At this moment, Matou Kariya completely forgot the unbearable pain in his body and let out a laugh that was not much better than a cry, like that of a night owl.

After breaking up with Kariya Matou, Kirei Kotomine once again took out his phone and dialed the Matou family's number in a neighboring city.

"Hello, is this Ms. Tohsaka Aoi? This is Kirei. I'm so sorry, we've lost the Holy Grail War... No, Master's life is spared, but his condition is very bad... No, no, it's not life-threatening yet, he's just temporarily incapacitated... Don't worry, I've arranged for him to stay at the Holy Church... Yes, Master really wants to see you now. Could you please take some time to return to Fuyuki City... By the way, Master needs some special magical healing, so he can't see anyone before 8:05 PM tomorrow night, and the Holy Church won't be open to the public. Please remember the time... No, no, no, this is all I can do... It's already very kind of you not to blame me... Okay, goodbye, see you tomorrow... Please remember, it's 8:05 PM..."

After that, Kirei Kotomine ended the conversation, and for some reason, a wonderful smile appeared on his lips... as if he were enjoying it.

"Is this... the kind of entertainment that suits me...? No, it's too early to draw conclusions until the very last moment. So, let's wait until tomorrow night..."

The following evening, at eight o'clock... just as I was dragging Kiritsugu Emiya to a bar in Fuyuki City for some fun, Kariya Matou stumbled to the entrance of the Church. Looking at the time, 8:03, he realized he was slightly late. But it should be fine. It was only a short time. Looking down at the fearsome black knight beside him, a figure he himself feared, Kariya felt victory was assured.

"Tokiomi Tohsaka! Accept the judgment of justice!" He uttered this self-satisfied line as he forcefully pushed open the doors of the Holy Church. However, the figure in the red suit, with his back to him, remained motionless. Was he paralyzed with fear? Yes, he must be paralyzed with fear. This guy, who usually only knew how to put on airs, was naturally terrified now that his precious Archer was gone. Ahahahaha…

Immediately, Matou Kariya pounced on him, shoving Tohsaka Tokiomi to the ground and punching him. But "Tohsaka Tokiomi" didn't seem to put up any resistance at all.

Gradually, Kariya Matou seemed to sense something was wrong. Even if this guy was terrified, he should at least beg for mercy. This complete lack of reaction made him seem more like a dead man… a dead man?

Then, Matou Kariya stretched his finger in front of Tohsaka Tokiomi's nose.

There was indeed no breath left...

"do you died?"

Matou Kariya muttered with slight dissatisfaction, feeling a little resentful that his enemy had died so easily and without explanation.

However, at this moment, Aoi Tohsaka, who appeared a little later, appeared at the door.

"what--"

After a short scream, Aoi Tohsaka covered her mouth, tears streaming down her face.

"Um, that...Aoi..."

Although he believed he had done nothing wrong, Matou Kariya was at a loss for words in front of his childhood friend.

"Just how much more does the Matou family want to take from me?!" the widow cried. "First you took Sakura away from me. And now you've killed my husband... What did I do wrong to deserve this?!"

"—No, that's not right. I'm doing this for everyone's good! Believe me, Aoi, if we just bear with it a little longer, we can be together, and Sakura and Rin too—"

However, Kariya Matou's words were quickly interrupted by the woman in front of him: "What?! It's all a lie! Kariya, from beginning to end, you've only ever thought about yourself!"

"What are you saying?! How is this possible?!" Upon hearing these words, Matou Kariya lunged at Tohsaka Aoi as if he had gone mad, grabbing her by the neck: "I risked my life, I did everything... and you, you actually said such hurtful things to me!!!"

Driven delirious by the worms inside his body, Matou Kariya wept as he gripped his beloved's neck with tremendous force, as if he wanted to kill her.

Finally, Aoi Tohsaka struggled a few times and then stopped moving.

"what!"

"Aaaaaaaahh ...

Slightly regaining his senses, Matou Kariya looked at the lifeless Tohsaka Aoi before him, screamed, and scrambled away...

Chapter Thirty-Three: The Berserker Group Destroyed

"For your first work, it's quite impressive to have achieved this level. Kirei Kotomine, it seems you really do have the talent for evil." As Kariya Matou ran away as if he had gone mad, Gilgamesh's figure slowly emerged from the side and spoke to Kirei Kotomine, who had also been hiding in the side and had only just stepped out.

"The wine tastes exceptionally good today." Kirei Kotomine didn't answer her question, but instead poured himself a glass of red wine. He then wasted it by downing it in one gulp. The wine was the same as always. However, Kirei Kotomine tasted a different flavor in it.

"Hahahaha... So this is what they call entertainment, Kirei." Gilgamesh, unperturbed, laughed heartily as he spoke.

"Is this what entertainment is?" Kirei Kotomine repeated Gilgamesh's words, then poured himself another glass of wine, and after thinking for a moment, poured one for Gilgamesh as well.

At that moment, the pillar that sustained Matou Kariya's will to live snapped. Completely devoid of the will to live, Matou Kariya stumbled forward, running towards his home, until he reached the basement.

"Uncle Kariya?" At this moment, Sakura was lying on the filthy bed in the basement and looked surprised when she saw Matou Kariya come over.

"No need to say anything more, just hurry up and run away with me. It'll be too late if we're any later."

Kariya untied the belt binding Sakura, then hugged her and successfully escaped...

—This is where my delusion ends.

With a "thump".

Kariya Matou collapsed in the basement of the Matou mansion. A faint, contented smile remained on his lips. And so he died.

"He died in the end, huh. A worthless piece of trash." Then, Zouken Matou slowly descended the dimly lit staircase, looking at Kariya Matou's already growing cold body, and couldn't help but let out a soft snort: "Failed, huh. But it's alright… From now on, it's up to you, Shinji. Don't let me down…"

Meanwhile, having completely lost his master's restraint, Lancelot began to weaken—but at the same time, his madness was no longer hindered. After letting out a beast-like howl, Lancelot revealed himself madly, wielding the indestructible, lake-light magic sword in his hand, wreaking havoc and slaughtering his way towards the Einzbern family's castle.

"What's wrong?! Ah! A monster!!"

"What's going on?! Noooooo!!!"

The citizens of Fuyuki had largely learned their lesson during this period. Although there was no explicit curfew order, after sunset, all rational citizens would stay in their homes—until the crazed Lancelot smashed down their doors with a single sword strike and then cut them in two—because of the human factor, Lancelot's disappearance was significantly delayed—and even managed to reach the Einzbern family's castle.

At this moment, Einzbern Castle's defenses were exceptionally weak—Emiya Kiritsugu, known as the Magician Killer, along with the legendary Demon Prince and his concubine—well, the three of them—were out drinking. Inside, only an eight-year-old girl who had just been introduced to magic, a female assassin who looked to be over twenty, but who knew if she was over thirty, and a young woman on the verge of death remained.

In addition, the Magic Workshop's defenses were destroyed by Kenesh many days ago. After I moved in, I found arranging those things troublesome and unnecessary, so I didn't rearrange them.

Therefore, Lancelot easily broke in.

"Awooo!!!!!"

However, he found nothing he wanted there. Enraged, Lancelot began a rampage of destruction—for a Heroic Spirit, demolishing an entire castle was not difficult.

"You are--"

At that moment, Maiya, the only person in the castle who could be considered a combatant, stepped forward—and was subsequently brutally murdered.

The automatic rifle in the female assassin's hand had absolutely no effect on the legendary Heroic Spirit; hitting her was like a tickle. The Heroic Spirit's sword strike—without even getting close to Maiya—teard her body apart with sheer pressure. It severed her head, cut off her limbs, and then ripped out her internal organs, scattering them on the ground.

They were so dead they couldn't be dead anymore.

However, the black knight was still not satisfied and continued to advance, destroying everything in its path.

Soon after, he appeared at the door of Irisviel's bedroom, violently smashed the door, and the berserker rushed into Irisviel's room, where she was completely defenseless.

At this very moment, drawn by the call of a Heroic Spirit—a Heroic Spirit without a master—Irisviel, as a part of humanity, finally shattered completely. The Holy Grail, shining with boundless glory, finally revealed its true form. And the brutal Black Knight's body, at this very moment, involuntarily moved towards that dazzling Holy Grail.

At this moment.

"...This feeling of palpitations is really awful...something must have happened."

I've personally experienced countless hardships. And given my own god-level strength, the omens I sensed were probably true. However, I just said everything would be fine, then I dragged Emiya Kiritsugu out for drinks—we hadn't even arrived yet—and then this damn thing really happened—this, this, this is so embarrassing.

"What happened?"

As expected of an old married couple. Yuki quickly noticed the unease in my eyes—but Yuki, can't you at least give me some face? I was just thinking of briefly leaving my body to check if anything had happened so I could fix it. Now that you've said that, it's all ruined.

At this moment, even Kiritsugu Emiya, who was walking a little ahead and trying his best to act as if he had nothing to do with us, the couple, had to turn around and look at me with a probing gaze.

"Hmm...it seems something's happened, but don't worry—I'll go back for a bit, right away—"

"Then forget it, let's go back together."

At that moment, Kiritsugu Emiya also felt a sense of foreboding. He interrupted me abruptly, then walked straight ahead.

It's a little frustrating.

I shrugged, gave Yuki a wry smile, then turned and followed behind Kiritsugu Emiya. The three of us quickly left the deserted pedestrian street, got back into the car, started the engine, and drove towards the castle on the outskirts of Einzbern Road…