A Villain's Journey Begins in the Type-Moon World

Suddenly, a gust of black wind swept in. Ritsuka shielded her eyes with one hand to avoid being blinded by the wind. Through the space above her arm, she could vaguely see a familiar figure gathering in the black wind on the stone chair.

"...Mr. Wang Chong?"

After the black winds had gathered, Ritsuka lowered her hand, and sure enough, the person standing in front of her was Wang Chong, whom she had been longing to see.

“Mr. Wang Chong! Finally… finally I can see you.” Ritsuka got up and immediately went to the stone chair to face Wang Chong.

"You...really want to see me?" Wang Chong, just like his senior, maintained a very polite smile as he looked at Ritsuka.

"Yes... I already know what happened to you. I am sorry for what happened to you... but I cannot stand by and watch you destroy Rome and the world."

Ritsuka took a deep breath and stated her determination:

“I will do everything in my power to stop you, but I hope you can give humanity another chance and give Chaldea another chance to prove itself.”

"Hmm, it seems this is the decision you've made, is that right?" Wang Chong said slowly.

"Yes... Ugh!" As soon as Ritsuka agreed, she felt an immense pressure pressing down on her, making it almost difficult to breathe.

"How laughable... Why do you think you can give humanity a chance? Even I can't protect the servants around me from suffering... You're just a pawn chosen by humanity, and you're making decisions for them? Don't make me laugh..."

Wang Chong stood up from his seat, his icy expression making Ritsuka feel as if she had fallen into an ice cave.

"Maybe you're just another pawn in its game... Hey, Ritsuka, let me ask you, can you guarantee that you said those words from your own will, and not because you were manipulated or influenced by it, or to absolve it of its guilt?"

"You... what do you mean by this?" Ritsuka struggled to lift her head and asked. (The last part, "梅呢梅在想想空你林在在没呢," is a nonsensical string of characters and doesn't translate directly. It's likely a result of OCR errors.)

"Look, even Stheno, a goddess, can have her memories easily altered by it, and you, an ordinary magician, who knows if that mysterious will has already subtly changed your mind..."

"The Ritsuka I knew not long ago was still quite naive, but in just two days, she was able to so 'righteously' fight against people she used to know in order to save the world. To be able to have such a resolve so quickly... is this really a resolve that you came up with yourself?"

Wang Chong walked up to Ritsuka, bent down slightly, and asked in a deep voice.

"This...this is of course my realization! I also...painfully struggled for a long time before making this decision! But...but..."

Ritsuka answered excitedly at first, but after carefully recalling Wang Chong's words, she became somewhat afraid, afraid that her decision was indeed influenced by the mysterious Alaya consciousness.

"But you don't know how to judge it either, right? Then let me ask a simple question."

Wang Chong slowly said, "If my reason for destroying the world is to avenge Stheno's injustice and for revenge, then Ritsuka, what is your reason for saving humanity and the world?"

"Reasons... what kind of question is that? Saving all humanity, saving the world, isn't that what we should be doing?"

Ritsuka asked, puzzled.

"Hahahaha... What should be done? This is your answer... Ritsuka, Ritsuka, are you really that great? Even if you said it was just for the seemingly selfish reason of living for yourself, I could accept you."

However, upon hearing Ritsuka's answer, Wang Chong merely shook his head and laughed heartily. Then, his expression suddenly changed, and he said:

"Saving the world is a matter of course," is the kind of answer that only people whose lives have been predetermined would give, because they have an unspeakable sense of sacred mission towards the macrocosm.

"Without desires or wants, willing to give everything for the grandest goal... that's what's called a born saint. But Ritsuka, ask yourself honestly, are you really such a saint without desires or wants?"

"Most people are ordinary and self-interested. There's nothing wrong with that. Take the concept of defending a country, for example. Some people do it to ensure they have a full meal to survive, some to protect their loved ones, and some for fame and fortune, and so on..."

"No matter what their motives are, they always start with self-interest and only gradually extend to the most noble spirit. It's like building a house: you have a foundation, and then you build the tower. And those foundations are often people's most simple and unpretentious desires and aspirations."

"From protecting loved ones to finally understanding that defending the country is defending one's loved ones, this is a process of building a skyscraper, a process of gradual awakening. The same is true for such a grand wish as saving the world."

"But without that foundation, you stood directly at the end, answering the question that you wanted to save the world... Ritsuka, there have been many saints like this throughout history, but it will never be you, nor should it be you."

"Now... I'll ask you again, are you clear about your own reasons? If you can't answer, what does that mean? Do I need to say more?"

After Wang Chong patiently finished speaking, he transformed back into a wisp of black smoke and returned to his seat, where he quietly awaited Ritsuka's answer.

"Reason...reason...?"

Ritsuka muttered to herself, cold sweat beginning to cover her forehead. Could it be that all her previous thoughts, her sudden, unwavering resolve, were ultimately just castles in the air, a result of some unseen force influencing her?

Otherwise... why can't I find a reason? What was the original driving force behind my unreasonable sense of responsibility, my determination to save the world...? Why can't I find it now?

Wang Chong wasn't surprised to see Ritsuka's bewildered expression. Having witnessed the entire 1.0 storyline, he knew perfectly well that Ritsuka was not the so-called saint.

During the final showdown with Goetia, Goetia questioned Ritsuka about what motivated her to save the world, fight against him, and risk everything. Ritsuka's answer was simple: she simply wanted to live.

It was for this simple and unassuming reason that Ritsuka finally understood her true self after experiencing seven singularities. And it was precisely this simple reason that allowed Ritsuka to grit her teeth, struggle, and persevere.

That's why Wang Chong could see better than anyone else that Ritsuka was now deeply influenced by Alaya. Now, in this place shrouded in black mist, which blocked the detection of Alaya's consciousness, Wang Chong successfully disrupted that influence with words.

Although it disturbed Ritsuka's mind and completely destroyed his will and determination, it was also the best opportunity for Ritsuka to truly rebuild his resolve and understand his true self.

Wang Chong then spoke, "Ritsuka, it's alright even if you can't answer. Do you remember what Euryale said on my behalf? I've prepared three tests for you here..."

"Huh?" Upon hearing Wang Chong's words, Ritsuka snapped out of her daze and couldn't help but look at him.

"These three tests are the best touchstones. Saints who are simply trying to save the world will never be able to pass them. If you can pass them, you will naturally earn my respect, and I am willing to give Chaldea a chance to challenge us."

Wang Chong spoke slowly.

"What if...we fail?" Ritsuka couldn't help but ask.

"Failure? Then it proves I wasn't wrong... The Ritsuka I knew is also dead. What's in front of me now is just a loyal dog of Alaya."

Wang Chong said with a cold smile:

"Of course, I won't take your life immediately out of consideration for the past, but you have also lost the opportunity and qualification to speak with me as an equal."

“…I understand.” Ritsuka sighed first, then patted her face as if to encourage herself, and said, “I’m ready.”

"Alright—so, the first challenge..."

With a wave of his hand, Wang Chong completely enveloped Ritsuka's body with black mist once again, and with Ritsuka's scream, she was teleported to a new location by Wang Chong.

"Although the test was designed based on someone else's idea, the principle is pretty much the same. We just need to adjust the details."

After Wang Chong transferred the black mist, he also transformed into a wisp of black mist and entered the place specially set up for Ritsuka.

……

"Ugh... Where am I? Huh? How come I'm in Rome?"

When Ritsuka opened her eyes, she found herself outside the city of Rome. At the same time, the sky was once again shrouded in black fog, and the entire surrounding environment became dark again.

"Doctor? Doctor?!" Ritsuka immediately wanted to contact Dr. Roman to see if she had returned and arrived at the next day. But Dr. Roman remained silent for a long time.

"Ritsuka, do you see the gate of this capital city?"

However, it was Wang Chong's voice that came from the sky:

"Once you enter the gates of this capital city, you'll be out of this predicament and your life will be spared."

"But the corresponding price is that you failed the test!"

"I...I will not give up!" Ritsuka raised her head and shouted to the sky.

"Alright, then I'll wait and see how long you can last!" After saying this, Wang Chong fell silent.

Ritsuka glanced at the gate behind her, then at the desolate wilderness in front of her. She seemed to have a vague idea of ​​what her trial would be.

Chapter 138: Three Tests

Because visibility was somewhat poor, Ritsuka carefully made her way into the wilderness. Everything around her was eerily quiet.

"Where...will the test be?" Ritsuka looked around. This place was in the middle of nowhere, and she didn't see any living creatures.

"Roar...roar..."

Suddenly, Ritsuka heard several low growls behind her. Sensing something was wrong, Ritsuka turned around to check, but only saw a dark shadow flash by, without being able to see what it was at all.

But after Ritsuka turned around, another sound came from behind her. Ritsuka immediately looked back again, but only a blur remained, making Ritsuka feel strangely uneasy.

"Roar……"

"Lighting magic!"

When the sound rang out again, Ritsuka finally managed to use an illumination spell, shining it directly in the direction of the sound. Only then did Ritsuka truly see clearly that the dark figure was actually an incredibly fast bipedal dragon!

Because Ritsuka used an illumination spell, she not only revealed the wyvern but also made it fully aware of her presence. The wyvern roared and flew towards Ritsuka.

At the same time, dragon roars echoed from many places around, seemingly drawn by Ritsuka's illumination magic.

"not good!"

Ritsuka immediately extinguished her illumination magic, trying to dodge the dragon's attack, but it was too late.

"Waaah!"

With a sharp ripping sound, Ritsuka felt a throbbing sensation on her back, followed by a burning pain. There was no doubt that she had been scratched.

The pain and the darkness around her made her instinctively want to call out to Mash, but only then did she realize that she had entered into this trial. There was no support from the doctor, Mash, or the Shadow Servants; she had to rely on herself.

But he was just an ordinary Master, whose magical abilities were not even as good as those of Rin and the other children. How could he possibly be a match for these two-legged dragons?

"Roar!"

Before Ritsuka could even think, more dragon roars erupted, accompanied by the sound of air being torn apart. Ritsuka sensed a life-threatening crisis and immediately began to dodge. For some reason, Ritsuka instinctively started running towards the "gate" of the Roman capital.

"Stab--stab--"

"Roar!!"

While being chased by those wyverns, Ritsuka's shoulders were scratched. If she hadn't dodged in time with her extraordinary intuition and experience, she probably wouldn't have just been scratched, but her arms would have been dislocated by the wyverns.

"We're almost there... Just need to get out of this gate..."

In a daze, Ritsuka felt that the door in front of her was getting closer and closer. If she could just run out, she could "survive." If she could survive, there would still be a chance to save her...

"Ouch!"

Suddenly, Ritsuka felt herself step on something, her foot slipped, and she fell head over heels. But by sheer luck, she managed to dodge a dragon's attack.

"What happened? What knocked me down... A sword? Who dropped this weapon here?" Ritsuka propped herself up and then noticed the culprit that had just caused her to slip—a seemingly ordinary iron sword.

However, just as Ritsuka picked up the sword, before she could observe it carefully, she heard a whooshing sound. In a moment of panic, Ritsuka did a lazy roll, rolling on the ground several times in a row, before she managed to dodge the attack.

"Ouch...it hurts so much." But Ritsuka still had wounds on her body, and this rolling caused sand and gravel to mix into her flesh and wounds, so you can imagine how painful it was.

By this time, Ritsuka was not far from the gate, and if he tried a little harder, he could successfully run out.

"Hahaha, without your servants, you can't do anything. You'd better run away and save your life. It doesn't matter if you fail this so-called test. After all, you still have the responsibility of saving the world on your shoulders. You can't die here."

A somewhat mocking tone rang out again from the sky, and even the previously closed doors in the city opened automatically, as if begging for pity for the other party's hardship and granting them a greater chance of escape.

After hearing Wang Chong's words, Ritsuka stared blankly at the door for a moment, then gritted her teeth and stood up. However, this time she didn't choose to run towards the door. Instead, she turned her back to the door that was so close, and faced the fear hidden in the darkness.

"What am I doing... If I just run away like this... wouldn't that mean utter failure?"

The regret echoed in her mind. Was she running away subconsciously out of fear, or was she being manipulated into running away for some other reason? Ritsuka couldn't make a clear judgment.

But right now, all she wants to do is stay here and pass the test... Perhaps it's because she really hopes to have a chance to successfully adjust Wang Chong, or perhaps she wants to prove that she can pull Wang Chong and the others back on track through her own willpower.

But right now, all she wants to do is stay here and pass the test... Perhaps it's because she really hopes to have a chance to successfully adjust Wang Chong, or perhaps she wants to prove that she can pull Wang Chong and the others back on track through her own willpower.

"Huh...huh..."

Ritsuka regulated her breathing, her hands gripping the iron sword she had just picked up. Her magical abilities were now insufficient to harm those dragons; all she could rely on were her sharp weapon and her constantly strengthened body.

It's important to know that Ritsuka's body had been baptized by the black mist, making it far superior to that of ordinary people. Otherwise, she wouldn't have only suffered minor cuts and lacerations after being attacked by the dragon.

"Think carefully back to the sword techniques that Instructor Mordred taught me to deal with monsters and aliens... Think carefully back to..." Ritsuka comforted herself, overcoming her fear and waiting for the dragons to arrive.

"Roar--"

Just then, a roar rang out, and the force of the wind swept through Ritsuka's hair. She knew that the flying dragon was pouncing again.

"You only get one chance... Aim for the wyvern's weak point... Now!"

When Ritsuka saw the wyvern raise its claws and appear in front of her, her eyes narrowed, and she immediately leaped up and stabbed at the wyvern's abdomen.

"Roar--!!!"

A sharp roar rang out, followed by the sound of something falling and rolling on the ground. Ritsuka was thrown back by the momentum of the flying dragon's impact, rolling several times on the ground with it.

"Cough cough cough..."

Ritsuka struggled to her feet from the dead dragon. She had just successfully exploited the dragon's weakness, using the momentum of its attack to pierce its body with her iron sword.

"Hiss... Ha... It... It can do it!"

As Ritsuka watched the dragon she had killed with her own hands, her hands trembled, but she still clenched her fists with excitement and pride. Then she pulled the sword out of the dragon's body and aimed it at the dragons that roared from time to time in the dim environment.

"Huh—!"

Several bipedal dragons attacked in succession. Ritsuka dodged desperately while swinging her longsword, trying to strike their bodies or wings. With each strike, another dragon let out a mournful howl and fell to the ground.

Perhaps it was because of the experience Ritsuka gained from constantly slaying flying dragons that her sword-wielding became more and more skillful. She went from dodging and retaliating to gradually starting to defend and counterattack, and eventually even daring to take the initiative to kill flying dragons.

"11...12!"