Type-Moon: Shinji Matou Also Wants to Be the Protagonist

"Change base?"

"They're dreaming. The Einzbern barrier is indeed troublesome, but it's not foolproof."

He walked to the window. His temporary residence was a rented Western-style villa, and outside the window was the typical residential area of ​​Fuyuki City.

In the distance, the lights of the new capital can be faintly seen, while deeper in the mountains and forests, the silver-white castle is hidden in the darkness.

"Lancer."

Kenneth called out in a low voice.

The sound of spiritual particles condensing echoed in the room, and the black-haired knight knelt on one knee.

The moment the knight appeared, Sora's eyes lit up.

Ignoring her fiancé standing right beside her, she fixed her gaze directly on the knight.

"master."

Dirumdo's voice was deep and respectful.

"Get ready. I'm going to show Kiritsugu Emiya what the price will be for humiliating me, Kenneth El-Melloi Archibald."

Kenneth's lips curled into a twisted smile.

That was the confidence of a genius magician, and the ferocity of an enraged beast.

That night, at Eindzbern Castle.

The silvery-white castle gleamed coldly in the moonlight, like a sleeping ice and snow tomb.

Kiritsugu Emiya stood atop the highest tower of the castle, a cigarette, its filter already burned down, between his fingers.

He didn't smoke, but let the night wind scatter the ash, his gaze piercing through the thick darkness, looking towards the direction of Fuyuki City.

"Kiritsugu."

Light footsteps sounded behind her, and Irisviel came to Kiritsugu Emiya's side.

"So you really were here."

"Alice, why did you come out? It's chilly outside."

Kiritsugu Emiya turned his head, stubbed out his cigarette butt on the railing, and said softly.

"It's alright. I just came from the freezing cold of Germany. Compared to that, the temperature here is quite comfortable."

Irisviel gently took Kiritsugu's arm, while extending her other hand over the railing to feel the cool night breeze.

"Someone is investigating us; the family's protective barrier has detected the probing spell."

Kenneth El-Melloi Archibald.

Kiritsugu's voice was as flat as if he were stating the weather.

"The hotel bombing didn't deter him; now he's eyeing this place."

Hearing Kiritsugu's words, a trace of worry crept onto Irisviel's brow, and she asked with concern:

"Should we relocate? The castle's defenses are strong, but if a monarch-level magician launches a reckless attack..."

"No."

Kiritsugu turned his head and looked at the dark forest in front of him, a faint, elusive light flashing in his lifeless eyes.

“I’ll wait for him to come.”

Irisviel paused for a moment, then gave a knowing smile.

She knew this man too well; Kiritsugu Emiya never passively waited for danger to strike.

The "wait" he mentioned was always just another way of saying a trap.

"Hmm~"

Irisviel's body suddenly stiffened, and she let out a cry of pain.

This is the castle barrier linked to her magic circuits, warning her.

"Someone's coming!"

Upon hearing Irisviel's words, Kiritsugu Emiya's eyes suddenly sharpened, and he decisively issued the battle order.

"Notify Saber to prepare for battle."

Only when looking at Irisviel does a hint of softness appear in her cold, hard gaze.

"Alice, you and Mami should evacuate in opposite directions first."

Chapter 27: Magician VS Magician Killer

Kenneth stood before the main gate of Eindzbern Castle, the moonlight casting a long, distorted shadow of him.

He changed into a brand new suit, the dark blue velvet fabric embroidered with the crest of the Archibald family, the golden tassels swaying gently in the night breeze.

This is an outfit he only wears on formal occasions, as if he is about to face not a revenge, but a grand performance.

"Lancer, prepare to break the barrier."

"Yes, Master."

Diarmuid's Red Rose of Destruction drew a graceful arc as the tip of the spear touched the outer barrier of the castle.

The intricate runes lit up one after another like a lit fuse, only to quickly dim again.

Kenneth smiled mockingly as he watched the barrier crumble rapidly.

This is the rat hole where Kiritsugu Emiya, that rat, hides; it's so fragile.

Kenneth sneered and stepped into the castle courtyard.

At the same time, he waved to the knight behind him, giving him an order:

"Go, retrieve Saber's head for your lord."

"Yes, Master."

Upon hearing his Master's words, Diarmuid's eyes blazed with fierce fighting spirit.

After responding to his lord's command with an excited tone, Diarmuid charged towards the location of the clear battle aura he sensed without hesitation.

After Diarmuid left, Kenneth continued to stroll leisurely through the castle courtyard.

His steps were calm and elegant, as if he were not invading enemy lines, but patrolling his own territory.

The Moon Spirit Essence circulated around his body, the silver liquid metal stretching and deforming like a living thing, ready to deal with any surprise attack at any time.

"Kiritsugu Emiya, I know you're here."

Kenneth's voice echoed in the empty courtyard, carrying his characteristic arrogance and certainty.

"Come out and face me like a man, or are you just going to hide in the shadows and snipe me?"

His response was a gunshot.

Kenneth's pupils contracted sharply, and Moon Spirit Essence Liquid instantly condensed into a shield in front of him.

The moment the bullet hits the liquid metal, its kinetic energy is dispersed and absorbed, and the deformed bullet falls helplessly to the ground.

"really……"

Kenneth's voice trembled with anger, yet also carried a twisted sense of pleasure.

"As expected, all they know is to resort to such despicable tactics!"

He turned around abruptly, and the Moon Spirit Essence Liquid transformed into countless tiny silver needles, shooting out towards the direction from which the gunshot originated.

The bushes were torn apart, and the tree trunks were riddled with holes, but the place was now deserted.

Kenneth wasn't surprised that Kiritsugu Emiya was so easily dealt with.

Then he wouldn't have earned the title of "Magician Killer."

"Hide, hide, tremble in the shadows like a mouse."

His voice echoed in the courtyard, and the Moon Spirit Essence Liquid recombines into a defensive form, flowing slowly around him.

"But you can't escape; this castle is your grave."

But after taking only a couple of steps, a small fire suddenly broke out inside the castle, followed by the roar of gunfire.

At the same time, a barely perceptible click of a mechanism came from the decorative bushes lining both sides of the road.

A continuous stream of matte crossbow bolts burst forth from the bushes on both sides.

First, draw attention with gunfire; then, the silent crossbow bolts fired from behind are the deadly attack.

For a typical magician, this would probably be the point where they're out of options.

But even as Kenneth walked, he didn't change his pace, and the Moon Spirit Essence Liquid's automatic defense intercepted all the close-range attacks.

"Autonlatoporlunl quaerere (Automatic target acquisition)"

Kenneth uttered the command for the Moon Spirit Essence Liquid to automatically target enemies.

The flowing mercury instantly split into several small clumps, transforming into dense, fine mercury threads that spread out in all directions.

While he made sarcastic remarks, Kenneth was extremely cautious in his actions.

Even the most arrogant person would have to grow up a bit after being outmaneuvered by two people in one day and almost losing their life.

"Got you!"

Thanks to the powerful properties of the Moon Spirit Essence Liquid, Kenneth quickly locked onto the human's aura.

"Scalp"

The special attack command instantly destroyed the thick wall, splitting the figure behind it in two.

But when Kenneth realized what he had hit, he felt a chill run down his spine.

With white hair, red eyes, and dressed as a maid, it was just an artificial human from the Einzbern family.

"boom!"

Just as the portion of Moon Spirit Essence he had transformed into for his slash had not yet retracted, a missile exploded behind him.

High temperatures, shrapnel, shockwaves—attacks of all kinds were intercepted and neutralized by the Moon Spirit Essence Liquid. However, due to its lack of mass, some attacks still managed to penetrate the Moon Spirit Essence Liquid's protection.

Several new wounds have appeared on my body, which had just recovered with the help of the magic potion.

Most importantly, his elegant demeanor was ruined, and he looked quite disheveled.

"Emiya Kiritsugu... let's see how many homunculus you brought as bait."

Gritting his teeth, Kenneth withdrew the Moon Spirit Essence Liquid and used it entirely for defense and enemy detection.

The attack, however, was carried out by him personally.

Kenneth, as the monarch of the Clock Tower Mineral Department and an instructor in the Spirit Conjuring Department, is not just a pilot who can only use magical artifacts.

As is widely known, Kenneth is a genius who is proficient in many fields.

He also possesses considerable skill in ordinary elemental magic.

With a wave of his hand, Kenneth unleashed a transparent wind blade, leaving deep grooves in the wall.

His rival, Kiritsugu Emiya, was equally formidable.

He transformed the entire castle into a fortress, full of traps.

Because they mostly use non-magical mechanisms, firearms, landmines, and even individual rocket launchers.

He himself, relying on his familiarity with the terrain, could launch surprise attacks from unexpected angles.

Because of the interference from the Einzbern family's android maids, Kenneth didn't have a good solution for the time being.

However, Kenneth was not worried at all. According to intelligence, the Einzbern family did not send many homunculi to participate in the Holy Grail War.

Kenneth just needs to kill all the living creatures in the castle.

In an instant, the sound of air being torn apart, the roar of bombs exploding, and the gunfire of various weapons echoed throughout the entire castle.

While everyone was engrossed in the fierce battle, unable to extricate themselves...

A group of foreigners, dressed in dark armor and with darker skin, appeared outside Einzbern Castle.

The soldiers moved swiftly, making almost no sound as they traversed the stone-paved road. They maintained precise formations and instinctively slipped into the shadows or concealed their movements, clearly demonstrating their high level of training.