"Why? Berserker is already dead, so why are the serial murders still continuing?" Tokiomi's angry roar came from the study of the Tohsaka residence. For the first time, Tokiomi, who thought he had everything in his grasp, felt that everything was spiraling out of control.
He had clearly witnessed Berserker dying under the combined assault of the three Servants through his familiars, so why were the serial murders, the serial family annihilations, still happening? And the frequency and number of cases were more than double what they were before. Was this a provocation? Damn it, who could it be?
Unless the person committing the serial murders was someone else entirely.
Could it be that guy? Tokiomi Tohsaka thought of the man who had snapped his staff in front of the Matou family's new residence that day.
That guy appeared at a bizarre time, and his Master was unknown. The matter with the Matou family might be connected to him as well.
No, wait... unless they were mentally unstable, severely lacking mana, or their Servant was naturally bloodthirsty—under normal circumstances, there was no need for a magus to target ordinary people.
Although Tokiomi hated Meruem deeply, at least he wasn't blinded by rage yet. Maintaining a clear mind at all times was a basic requirement for a magus.
Kirei Kotomine was his disciple, so he was the first to be ruled out.
Kayneth was injured at Einzbern and was under the surveillance of his most trusted disciple, Kirei Kotomine, so he couldn't be the mastermind behind this. Kiritsugu Emiya? No, although that man often committed acts shameful for a magus, he wasn't someone who would do something so insane.
Then the remaining suspects were the seemingly honest and loyal RIDER and the unaccounted-for CASTER. Could it be CASTER? No, without absolute proof, he couldn't jump to conclusions.
Yes, this was already several days after Berserker was killed by the combined efforts of Meruem, Artoria, and the Conqueror King. Yet the cruel serial murders continued daily without stopping. The Fuyuki City police were racking their brains over this but still had no leads, because the criminal left absolutely no clues behind.
"In other words, because of this, we still can't get the Command Spell?" This was the official reply the Conqueror King and Waver received from Risei Kotomine, the overseer of the Holy Grail War at the church.
The Conqueror King spread his hands to show it didn't matter. Since his Master Waver hadn't used a single Command Spell up to now, he acted indifferent. Who would like someone else having one more means to control them?
Because the serial family annihilation cases didn't disappear with Berserker's death, the overseer wasn't prepared to give Waver and his Servant the Command Spell they had been promised.
Although the Conqueror King didn't care, Waver was extremely dissatisfied. The overseer had publicly announced that whoever killed Berserker would get a Command Spell. Now Berserker was dead, but they were going back on their word? They never said the serial murder cases had to be solved to get the Command Spell back then.
Otherwise, who would be bored enough to keep chasing after Berserker's trail for no reason?
Waver felt bitter inside, but Waver didn't say it.
"Is this really okay? Tokiomi." Having finally coaxed the Waver-Conqueror King duo away, Risei Kotomine spoke to Tokiomi Tohsaka via magecraft. "It's just one Command Spell. Although precious, we still have quite a few left. And the church did promise them..."
"Say no more. My mind is made up." Tokiomi Tohsaka said deeply, with an absolute tone that brooked no argument.
At this point, Risei Kotomine said nothing more.
Fortunately, they were only facing the Conqueror King and Waver duo, who were relatively mild-mannered. If it were any other Master-Servant pair, they definitely wouldn't have let it go so easily.
"Find the criminal committing the serial family annihilations!" This was the latest order Tokiomi Tohsaka gave to Kirei Kotomine.
"Giving up on dealing with those magi to find some criminal instead? Kirei, what exactly is that guy Tokiomi thinking?" Lying in Kirei Kotomine's house as if it were his own, Goldie raised a glass of red wine and teased.
"I dare not say. My mentor must have his reasons for doing this." At this moment, although Kirei Kotomine's face remained expressionless, his tone still carried respect when speaking of his mentor Tokiomi Tohsaka. However, his tone remained flat and emotionless.
"Do you really think so? Is that truly what your heart believes? Kirei Kotomine?" Goldie looked at Kirei Kotomine with an intriguing smile, as if he had seen through Kirei's heart. Goldie, who had judged countless people, naturally had seen people like Kirei before. He knew how to guide the other party to slowly release their emotions.
Simply because doing so was very entertaining...
Who told you not to maintain awe and reverence for this king, Tokiomi.
"You've become a cripple. So, give me your Command Spells. I will take your place in this Holy Grail War." In an abandoned building, red-haired Sola wiped Kayneth's arm, where the Command Spells were imprinted, as she spoke.
Her tone was filled with unquestionable resolve.
"Sola, you don't know... that man is very dangerous..." Rationally and emotionally, Kayneth wouldn't hand over the Command Spells so easily, because... he knew that the man named Diarmuid was far less simple than imagined...
Not only because he saw memories belonging to the hero Diarmuid, but because he glimpsed a little into Diarmuid's heart.
But unfortunately, his fiancée had already given her entire heart to Diarmuid. Even when Kayneth was at his peak, she had shown clear inclinations, and now that Kayneth was like a cripple, it went without saying.
"I said... give it to me!" Snap, a crisp sound rang out as Sola broke Kayneth's finger.
Heh, vicious woman. It can't all be blamed on Diarmuid's Witch's Beauty Mark, because Sola herself had issues too...
Watching his fiancée rush out with an excited face, Kayneth felt indescribable grief and indignation.
Sola... you don't know that man is dangerous...
Did you not realize it? He has already judged that I can no longer participate in the Holy Grail War. So... everything you're doing is a result of his guidance.
If not, if he really is as he claims, then why does he dare not appear before me? To stop what you just did?
With his hearing as a Heroic Spirit, he should have long detected how you obtained the Command Spells, right?
Because his wish might not be to win the Holy Grail, nor is it merely what he claims on the surface—to fulfill the duty he couldn't in his past life, to serve a lord until the end.
Instead, he wants to see the lord he serves die before his eyes with his own eyes! To avenge his past life! That is Diarmuid's goal! That is Diarmuid's wish!
Otherwise, as the First Warrior of the Knights, why would he be so naive as to not understand how to judge the situation? Pursuing one-on-one duels? Someone like that would have died long ago on the road to becoming the First Warrior.
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