Nao Tomori felt her scalp tingle as if it were about to explode.
He can see through my invisibility?!
This wasn't a question.
The withered, corpse-like old man, ugly and terrifying, was smiling directly at her—at her face.
She didn't have time to think about why her ability had failed.
Driven by the primal human fear of insects and swarms, as well as the instinct to survive, Nao Tomori burst into a sprint, running for her life with unprecedented speed.
Matou Zouken didn't chase her.
He simply stood there, watching Nao Tomori flee with a smile, as if everything was under his control.
Nao Tomori couldn't see what was happening behind her.
All she could hear was the sound of crawling insects growing louder and louder.
Her arms swung wildly as she ran with all her might toward the exit.
She burst through the door,
Ignoring the umbrella, and dashed into the rain.
She ran toward the outskirts of the Matou estate.
Thud!
Nao Tomori suddenly felt like she had collided with someone.
In this stormy weather,
In the middle of the emote mountains,
Who could possibly be here?
It had to be an accomplice of that worm-obsessed old man!
Instinctively, Nao Tomori grabbed the person's arm, intending to throw them over her shoulder.
She grabbed the arm,
Set up the motion for the throw,
But.
The person was like a mountain—no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't budge them.
Time seemed to freeze.
"You...?"
It was a young man's voice, tinged with confusion.
That confusion
Gave Nao Tomori, who had been on the brink of despair, a glimmer of hope.
She looked up and saw a boy about her age, incredibly handsome, holding an umbrella and looking at her with an expression that seemed to say, What are you doing?
Kaito Sora was speechless.
He had just been about to start his killing spree
When Nao Tomori suddenly came running out of the house.
Not only had she collided with him at full speed,
But she had also grabbed his arm without a word, trying to throw him over her shoulder. If it weren't for his superior physical strength, those moves might have seriously injured him.
"There's a terrifying old man in there," Nao Tomori explained frantically, trying to pull Kaito Sora away.
"He's the culprit behind the series of missing girls' cases."
"He keeps a bunch of insects and throws the missing people into them..."
But just like with the shoulder throw, Nao Tomori found that no matter how hard she pulled, Kaito Sora didn't budge.
What's wrong with this guy?!
"You can't escape," Kaito Sora said calmly.
"Even if I can't, I have to try!"
Nao Tomori had no intention of becoming insect food. She stopped worrying about Kaito Sora, who didn't seem like a good person, and ran desperately into the rain.
But then,
The rain in the air seemed to come alive,
Forming into ropes
That bound her tightly.
"This gentleman is right,"
"You can't escape."
Nao Tomori's body was forcibly turned toward the Matou mansion.
She saw Matou Zouken standing at the entrance,
Leaning on his cane.
Nao Tomori struggled with all her might,
But the rain ropes held her firmly in place.
Realizing she couldn't escape,
Nao Tomori turned her gaze toward the dark, abyss-like entrance of the Matou mansion.
Images of her fate flashed through her mind—
Being thrown into the sea of insects, just like the other missing people...
Her face turned deathly pale, rainwater mixing with tears streaming down her cheeks. Her voice trembled with fear.
"I've already reported you to the relevant authorities."
"If I go missing, they'll definitely investigate you!"
"Let me go, and I'll give you the camera. We can pretend none of this ever happened."
No matter what she said, there was no response.
Nao Tomori couldn't help but look up, only to see that Matou Zouken wasn't even looking at her.
"May I ask why you've come to the Matou estate so late at night?"
Hearing the caution in Matou Zouken's tone,
Nao Tomori's eyes flickered with a glimmer of hope as she looked at Kaito Sora.
This guy...
Is he really that powerful?
"What's the matter?"
Kaito Sora chuckled lightly. "You sent your dog to bite me earlier, and now you're pretending not to know who I am?"
"So, you're the esteemed guest of the Tohsaka family."
Matou Zouken's eyes showed a hint of realization, but inwardly, he was both shocked and wary.
Medusa's strength, while not top-tier,
Was still formidable among Servants. The order he had given wasn't to kill but to test and gather information.
Now, Medusa hadn't returned.
Clearly, she had been severely injured and fled to who-knows-where.
Yet, this Servant from the Tohsaka family stood before him, completely unharmed.
"Rider hasn't returned," Matou Zouken admitted.
"But since we've lost, the Matou family voluntarily withdraws from this Holy Grail War."
As he spoke, Matou Zouken bowed slightly,
His demeanor humble and submissive.
Nao Tomori wanted to accuse the old man of his crimes, but she wisely kept her mouth shut, silently watching Kaito Sora.
Rainwater streamed down her face.
Her eyes were fixed on Kaito Sora's reflection.
What will he do?
"Withdraw?"
Kaito Sora let out a light laugh, his tone dripping with disdain.
"You think this is some kind of game?"
"Where you can join or leave as you please?"
Matou Zouken's smile darkened, and his voice grew colder.
"Sir,"
"Our participation in this war is ultimately to obtain the Holy Grail and fulfill our wishes."
"We have no past grievances, and today's events don't constitute a feud. This old man simply wishes to live out his remaining years in peace."
"Would you spare me?"
"Besides, this is my territory. To be frank, this mansion and the mountain beneath our feet are my magic workshop."
"Killing me here won't be an easy task."
Magicians weren't completely powerless against Servants.
At the very least,
Within their own魔术工坊, even top-tier magicians could hold their own against first-rate Servants, delaying them or even causing them trouble.
"If Rider returns, or if other Servants are drawn here, it might not be your teeth that get broken, but your life."
"Haha, don't worry, don't worry. It's fine."
Kaito Sora laughed and shook his head.
Under Matou Zouken's wary and suspicious gaze, he flashed a grin.
"Because,"
"You're just too weak."
Matou Zouken froze.
Then, he snapped back to reality.
Looking at Kaito Sora, who was laughing as if he had just heard a hilarious joke,
Matou Zouken was furious.
His hands tightened around his cane, and his withered face twisted with anger.
For hundreds of years,
He had clung to life, and this was the first time someone had shown him such utter contempt. If it had been a powerful figure from the Mage's Association, the Holy Church, or even a True Ancestor, he might have understood.
But this was just a Servant who had already returned to the earth!
"Very well."
The sound of countless insects crawling echoed from all directions.
Matou Zouken's voice was hoarse and icy as he glared at Kaito Sora.
"Since you have a death wish,"
"This old man will teach you what it means to know..."
"Your place!"
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