Zongman, the journey begins from the wrong place

Toosaka Tokiomi.

After learning that Sakura was sent to the Matou family, this name has been lingering in Matou Kariya's mind.

No, a long, long time ago, even before he met Zenjo Aoi, Matou Kariya knew about the existence of Tousaka Tousaka Tokiomi.

Anyone who has a little knowledge of the power in Fuyuki City will know that Matou and Tohsaka are the two local bosses in this city.

The existence of both parties is like two people who happen to walk on the same quiet path late at night, and both are so important that they cannot be ignored.

When he was still a child and was only receiving basic education, Matou Kariya was told that the reason the Matou family's residence was so remote was because the best spiritual land in the city had already belonged to the Tōsaka family.

In fact, there is nothing wrong with this, because the Tohsaka family had already settled in Fuyuki City for a long time before the ancestors of the Matou family arrived.

Moreover, the Tosaka family also made great efforts in the process of the Matou family settling in Fuyuki City, and even gave them the second best spiritual vein in the city.

The reason they retreated to the suburbs was entirely because the Matou family's magic was incompatible with the properties of their spiritual veins.

But now that I think about it, that might have been the beginning of the rift between Matou Kariya and Tōsaka Tokiomi—although it was only his one-sided concern and hostility.

At that time, Matou Kariya had not yet truly witnessed the true face of the Matou family's magic. After learning that he was the only remaining heir of the magic family, he naturally and inevitably developed a sense of mission to revitalize the family and a sense of superiority that exceeded ordinary people.

After all, every boy would dream of the day when the school is invaded by monsters and the life of his beloved girl is in danger. He would reveal his identity in front of everyone and fight against the enemy...

However, even such a person was slightly surpassed by Tōsaka Tokiomi in terms of family heritage, personal qualifications, appearance and demeanor, etc.

However, when Matou Kariya met a girl, he temporarily put Tōsaka Tokiomi behind him.

Her name is Zencheng Aoi. She is a well-educated young lady with beautiful appearance, gentle heart, and full of maternal and tolerant temperament.

The first time he saw her, Matou Kariya already had a name for their child in his mind!

At the beginning, things developed just as Matou Kariya had imagined.

Like many childhood sweethearts, the two gradually became familiar with each other over time and became close friends.

In anyone's opinion, it is natural for the two to confess their love, fall in love, and get married after growing up.

Until the true magic of the Matou family unfolded before him.

No matter how much time has passed, whenever Matou Kariya thinks of the first time he saw the dense sea of insects in the basement, every cell in his body will be covered with nausea.

What's even more terrifying is that Matou Kariya learned a new term that night: bacteria protector.

This refers to the descendants of a magical family who have declined to the point where they are unable to practice magic, but still have a mysterious gene in their bloodline.

Zenjo Aoi is a bacteria preserver who still retains excellent magic factors in his body and can improve the magical talents of the descendants of the Matou family.

However, all women who joined the Matou family had an extremely tragic fate without exception - they were thrown into the insect bin for training in order to give birth to excellent offspring, and were eaten by insects after giving birth.

When he thought that Zenjo Aoi would have the same ending as his mother, whom he had never met, Matou Kariya's heart was pierced by a strong emotional impact.

Justice, anger, or sorrow...

In short, when Tōsaka Tokiomi appeared as a pursuer of Zenjo Aoi, Matou Kariya was hesitant and almost gave up and was defeated.

A gap that is too big will always make people unconsciously have expectations.

When Matou Kariya became an unemployed vagrant after escaping from the Matou family, he no longer thought about surpassing Tōsaka Tokiomi, who completely inherited the Tōsaka family, but instead expected him to give Zenjo Aoi happiness on his behalf.

——That is why, when Tōsaka Tokiomi sent his daughter to the Matou family, Matou Kariya was so angry, disgusted and hateful!

"...Tōsaka, Tokiomi! That guy is just a cold-blooded magician who values nothing but himself! Since he sent Sakura here, how could he possibly come to save Sakura!!"

It was as if the anger and resentment that had been pent up in his heart for a long time burst out all at once. Matou Kariya completely forgot his fear and let out a turbid roar that almost blew the roof off the house.

Looking at Matou Kariya, who was as crazy as a wounded beast with veins bulging on his forehead, Matou Sakura trembled all over and opened her eyes wide as if she was meeting this uncle who had always been gentle and smiling for the first time.

But Noah quickly pressed her into his arms, freezing Matou Kariya's turbulent emotions with his cold gaze.

"Really? Although I'm not familiar with Tōsaka Tokiomi, you haven't even tried. Are you so sure that he won't come to save his daughter?"

Matou Kariya subconsciously wanted to refute, but under Noah's gaze, he couldn't utter a single word from his big mouth.

It was as if the deepest darkness in his heart had been dissected out bloodily and thrown easily into the light.

"Ask yourself—is Tōsaka Tokiomi really as bad as you say?"

Matou Kariya's expression instantly froze, and his face was so pale that not a trace of blood could be seen.

He wanted to roar out loudly, 'Yes, that's right, Tōsaka Tokiomi is that kind of person!'

However, deep down in his heart, there was a force tearing at his consciousness that wanted to go crazy and run wild.

Just like the sun hanging high in the blue sky when I met Aoi in the fountain park this afternoon.

Even if he looked away, even if he closed his eyes, or even dug out his eyes, he could still feel it.

That was the happy smile that appeared on her face every time she met Tousaka Aoi in the past eight years.

That was the heartfelt attachment and longing on Rin and Sakura's faces when they called out for their father.

Even when he challenged Tōsaka Tokiomi that year, the man's unfailing pride and elegance...

No, it is not.

As if all the bones in his body had been pulled out, Matou Kariya lay down in front of Noah.

His eyes were bloodshot, he held his head with both hands, the blood vessels on his forehead were bulging, and a hoarse cry came from his throat.

Must be refuted.

You have to refute it, otherwise, you will...

He tried to stop himself from answering, but he couldn't stop the sound from slipping out of his throat.

"...No, it's not."

Tōsaka Tokiomi is not a cold-blooded bastard.

This point was confirmed by Matou Kariya as early as eight years ago, or even earlier.

The answer has always been right in front of us -

If Tōsaka Tokiomi was that bad, would Matou Kariya, who gave up everything for Zenjo Aoi, wandered around, and even watched her give birth to children for other men, watch him marry his most beloved woman?

If Aoi had been even a little unhappy during these eight years, wouldn't she have noticed it since she would meet him every once in a while?

If Rin and Sakura disliked their father even a little bit, would they have waited until now?

Do not!

Tōsaka Tokiomi may have many shortcomings, but he is undoubtedly a good husband who loves his wife and daughter.

The truly ugly, truly despicable, and truly ruthless person has always been yourself!

I was surpassed by Tohsaka Tokiomi in every aspect, including family background, qualifications, and talents. I had never defeated Tohsaka Tokiomi since I was a child. I had lost my most beloved woman to Tohsaka Tokiomi. In fact, I had always wanted to defeat that man! !

Matou Kariya had never been so aware of his own ugly heart as he was at this moment.

——In fact, I never put Aoi's happiness first! I just used fighting for their happiness as an excuse to vent my jealousy and resentment towards Tōsaka Tokiomi!

I'm just as despicable as that old bug!

Looking at Matou Kariya crying and wailing in front of him, Noah couldn't help but sigh.

In his eyes, Matou Kariya overlapped with the figure of another person.

This person is the old bug, Zouken Matou, who was killed by Noah a few days ago.

Or perhaps, it would be more appropriate to call him Machiri Zolgen.

Hundreds of years ago, that man possessed strength and talent far beyond people's imagination, but he did not use his abilities to indulge in power and wealth. Instead, he chose to become a partner of justice and work hard to eliminate all evil in the world and the evil of human nature.

For this reason, he left his hometown, found a gay partner and came to a foreign country on the other side of the world, and then watched his beloved woman being squeezed into juice like a tomato in front of him.

He could no longer tell whether he was working to abolish the evil of human nature or to prevent the death of his beloved woman from being in vain. Over the long centuries, he even forgot his original purpose and became a living monster.

Noah neither despised nor hated these people, he just felt sad.

Noah believes that everyone has his or her own place and mission in this world.

The weak are confused and struggling, while the strong are sober and bear the burden.

If the weak do not recognize themselves and try to shoulder responsibilities beyond their limits, they will often either be crushed or lost.

"Ying, people are like this. They easily misjudge others and place unwarranted expectations on others—"

Noah's voice drew Sakura Matou's attention away from Matou Kariya and turned her attention to the silver-haired boy with a hint of compassion in his eyes.

"—But more importantly, it's about knowing yourself and understanding what you really want. Once you make a mistake, it's irreversible."

During the few days they spent together, the little girl had never seen him show such an expression.

More importantly, Matou Sakura looked at the silver-haired boy in front of her and couldn't help but recall that dream...

Before Sakura Matou could take a closer look, Noah took her out of his arms and got up from the sofa.

He came in front of Matou Kariya and kicked him without saying a word!

Matou Kariya is just an ordinary person, and a random kick from Noah can turn him into a bloody abstract painting hanging on the wall.

So Noah had to be very careful to ensure that he would not kick Matou Kariya to death, but instead rolled over and flew up to smash a bookcase.

"What's that expression on your face? What's that look in your eyes? And what are those tears of yours? Can crying save people? Or can it help you defeat Tōsaka Tokiomi?"

Matou Kariya, feeling as if his internal organs were nearly kicked out, covered his stomach with his hands, his eyes bulging so much that they almost popped out of their sockets.

"...Save, save people? A scum like me? Am I worthy of saving people?"

Noah showed an expression that was even more disgusted than before.

"Huh? Who says selfish kindness isn't good? Or flawed justice isn't justice? If I hadn't shown up, you'd be the only one who would have saved this child! Why don't you ask her whether selfish justice or completely righteous indifference is what's needed?"

Matou Kariya couldn't help but look behind Noah and met the eyes of the black-haired girl.

"Kareya, uncle?"

A soft cry, like the light that pierces through the endless darkness, shines into Matou Kariya's heart.

Tears blurred my vision again.

Only this time, it was hot.

"Have you cried enough?!"

A voice so calm that it could hardly be called a scolding frightened Matou Kariya back the tears that had yet to flow.

He couldn't help but look up at the silver-haired boy standing in front of him and looking down at him.

Although the other person's eyes were still extremely cold, Matou Kariya couldn't help but feel a strange feeling in his heart.

His mother was thrown into a wormhole after giving birth to him, so Matou Kariya has never felt the so-called maternal love.

Sometimes, even he couldn't help but wonder if he liked Aoi because of her gentle and tolerant maternal nature.

However, although Matou Kariya had never seen his father, he never worried about it.

Because he has Matou Zouken as his nominal father, he doesn't feel that he needs any so-called fatherly love at all...

But at this moment, Matou Kariya felt a strong will as immovable as a mountain and indestructible from the young man in front of him, as if even the collapse of the world would not shake him in the slightest.

His gaze seemed to have magical power, which miraculously calmed Matou Kariya's originally collapsed heart, and even his tears stopped involuntarily.

"Have you decided what you want to do now?"

80 Tokiomi, you died well!

doing what?

This question left Matou Kariya deeply confused.

Now that the silver-haired boy was here, Sakura was obviously safe.

Then, there would be no reason for me to stay here.

In this case, what should I do next becomes an obvious question?

Continue on a journey that is called traveling but is actually wandering?

Or will he continue to stay by their side under the pretext of protecting Aoi's happiness?

In addition to these two options that naturally appeared, Matou Kariya also heard another voice appear in his heart.