'Fortunately, I told Kiritsugu who the visitor is...' Hisau Maiya thought to herself. Since she had already made a mistake, regret was useless. She needed to focus on how to face the situation!
"Oh? You know me? This is our first meeting!" As expected, Kotomine Kirei was momentarily surprised that Hisau Maiya recognized him, but he remained composed even as she aimed her pistol at him!
Dressed in a black cassock, Kotomine Kirei glanced at the items in Hisau Maiya's bag on the ground and remarked leisurely, "A magus who uses such tools? As expected, he shouldn't even be considered a magus in the first place!"
Hisau Maiya was shocked. She knew Kotomine Kirei was referring to Emiya Kiritsugu, but she hadn't expected him to understand Kiritsugu so well!
"...Very well, miss! I have only one question for you!"
"Where is Emiya Kiritsugu?!"
Bang—
The response was a gunshot! Facing Kotomine Kirei's question, Hisau Maiya fired decisively!
However, Kotomine Kirei easily dodged the close-range shot.
!!—
Hisau Maiya suddenly sensed something shooting toward her. With quick reflexes, she immediately rolled aside, but a sharp pain shot through her hand, and the pistol she was holding clattered to the ground. A deep gash on her hand bled profusely. Only then did Hisau Maiya see that Kotomine Kirei was using the weapon of an Executor—the Black Key!
Fortunately, she had reacted swiftly and was only grazed by the Black Key; otherwise, her hand would have been pinned to the ground!
Simultaneously, Hisau Maiya turned and fled toward the nearby forest without a second thought. Kotomine Kirei seemed unhurried, following at a leisurely pace while occasionally throwing another Black Key. Even as she zigzagged through the woods, Hisau Maiya was struck several times by the Black Keys. The pain itself was manageable, but the blood loss and high-intensity movement placed a tremendous strain on her body!
Before long, Hisau Maiya felt her strength waning, and Kotomine Kirei was closing in step by step!
"You're quite skilled! Remarkably agile!" Kotomine Kirei took two steps forward. "Tell me! Where is Emiya Kiritsugu?"
Seeing Hisau Maiya remain silent, Kotomine Kirei felt no anger. His sole desire now was to capture her. Whether Emiya Kiritsugu would attempt a rescue or not, he would find a way to make her talk!
If not for that, he would have killed her outright earlier!
However, something interrupted his thoughts.
"Smoke bomb?!" Kotomine Kirei exclaimed in surprise as an object shot out from the dense forest nearby. He hadn't anticipated that Emiya Kiritsugu was actually close by!
Indeed, while Hisau Maiya was setting up the preparations, Emiya Kiritsugu had been stationed not far away. The thick tree cover had concealed him from Kotomine Kirei's notice!
However, "Since you've revealed yourself!" Kotomine Kirei ignored the smoke and the tear gas mixed within, charging straight toward the source of the earlier projectile!
But when he reached the spot, what awaited him was an explosion! Explosives had been planted there!
Fortunately, he reacted quickly, and the blast did not injure him. At the same time, countless smoke bombs erupted all around him. For a moment, Kotomine Kirei could see nothing but smoke!
After waiting silently for a while, the smoke dissipated. Hisau Maiya was gone, and there was no trace of Emiya Kiritsugu.
Kotomine Kirei did not order Assassin to pursue. While chasing Hisau Maiya, he had instructed Assassin to stand by as a precaution.
This was a dense forest—Assassin would already be too late. Moreover, since Emiya Kiritsugu had the audacity to stage a rescue, he would have prepared for every contingency. Even if Assassin gave chase, he would likely return empty-handed...
"But, Emiya Kiritsugu has indeed investigated me as well!" Kotomine Kirei was not disheartened; instead, he felt a flicker of excitement he had never experienced before. "...It seems we may truly be alike! Can you answer my question?" Kotomine Kirei retrieved the Black Keys, feeling deeply satisfied!
After standing quietly in the woods for a moment, Kotomine Kirei prepared to leave. After all, the closest person nearby was Ryougi Raku. Kotomine Kirei also sensed that this individual was troublesome and had no desire to confront him at present!
"Hmm? Assassin?" Kotomine Kirei frowned and addressed the air beside him.
"Yes! I have important information to report regarding Caster..." Assassin replied respectfully.
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Setting aside Kotomine Kirei, Ryougi Raku had been sensing the powers of anti-magic and curses within the house. The television nearby was broadcasting the latest murder case, and the killer had grown even more brutal and audacious...
"It seems Caster is making his move?"
"Sir, are you referring to Caster? Could these acts be Caster's doing?" Lancer asked Ryougi Raku curiously.
"Mhm."
"If that is truly Caster's work, such behavior is unforgivable!" Upon hearing the answer, Lancer gazed at the report with anger.
"...Don't worry, Lancer. But regardless, he's hiding very well. We can only wait for him to reveal himself." Ryougi Raku sighed inwardly. This knight...
"...Caster's actions will inevitably provoke public outrage. Magi inherently conceal themselves among the masses. Exposing mysteries so blatantly and slaughtering ordinary people in this manner will surely draw the wrath of both the Mage's Association and the Holy Church. Just wait, Lancer! The Holy Church will unite everyone to deal with him!"
"Yes, my lord!" After hearing Ryougi Raku's words, Lancer reflected and agreed it was likely true. Though furious, he was not one with an overzealous sense of justice. All he could do was strive to eliminate Caster if they crossed paths!
Checking the time, he saw it was already afternoon. Analyzing the twin spears was a gradual process—not something that could be completed quickly by mere meditation. "Come, Lancer, accompany me for a while."
With that, Ryougi Raku opened the door and stepped outside...
It was daytime, and under normal circumstances, the Holy Grail War would be inactive. Ryougi Raku paid no mind to this so-called war. Rather than scheming and calculating, it was better to find a place to relax, enjoy a meal, and live comfortably...
If the other Masters knew of his leisurely attitude, they would surely be baffled!
Walking along the path leading to the city, Ryougi Raku pondered how to pass the time.
Suddenly, the disturbance in the dense forest beside the road caught Ryougi Raku's attention...
"Lord Ryougi!" Lancer said in a low voice.
"Mhm! I see. It looks like there was a significant explosion there. There are also signs of a struggle nearby..."
Ryougi Raku narrowed his eyes as he assessed the situation.
"Sir, be careful!" Lancer materialized, standing beside Ryougi Raku and focusing his senses to detect any enemies.
"It seems two parties clashed, but this is the only route I must take to leave. Were they both preparing to deal with me, only to encounter and attack each other? Or was one stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind?" Ryougi Raku calmly analyzed the situation. Though he remained vigilant, he found nothing to fear. To some extent, when one possesses an immortal body, death holds little terror...
After carefully inspecting the road, Ryougi Raku quickly discovered traces that had not yet been concealed...
"Haha, it seems the fight broke out midway through their preparations!" Ryougi Raku laughed, flames igniting in his hand.
"Come, Lancer! Let's see what gifts they've prepared for us!"
With a cold sneer, he swung his hand, hurling the flame in his palm!
Carrying extraordinary heat and unstoppable momentum, the flame smashed into the ground and began to spread across the land! Under this intense heat, something suddenly ignited!
Boom—!!
A deafening explosion erupted, smoke billowed, and debris flew as if the earth itself had been torn apart! Along with the pungent odor, a strangely colored mist also appeared!
Ryougi Raku and Lancer leaped back several times as the explosion sounded, escaping the blast radius...
"What a generous gift!" Ryougi Raku said grimly, staring at the massive crater before him.
"...There's even poison gas! Hmph, quite the elaborate setup!"
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(TL : More Chapters @)[1]
[1] https://www.patreon.com/c/Gooberilla