Multiverse Adventure – My Journey Begins in Danmachi 121
by TINY FAN FICTIONMultiverse Adventure – My Journey Begins in Danmachi 121
Edited by: Tiny Fan Fiction
Chapter 121 Crossroads
On the outskirts of Fuyuki City, Kotomine Kirei navigated through the dense jungle with the agility of a wild cat.
Although it was the depths of winter, the dense foliage still layered the sky, almost completely sealing it off, while the ground was covered in a thick accumulation of decaying leaves and withered wood that had built up over the years.
The entire forest was shrouded in a gloomy, oppressive atmosphere, with an eerie darkness that seemed to suffocate all in its grasp.
This only served to accentuate Kotomine Kirei’s black robe and solemn expression, making him appear like a harbinger of death, a grim reaper.
Occasionally, a faint ray of light filtering through the leaves would illuminate the distorted curve of his lips, sending a chill down one’s spine.
Tohsaka Tokiomi had briefly mentioned to Kotomine Kirei that the Einzbern family had a residence in Fuyuki City, considering the significant financial and human resources the Tohsaka household had invested in quelling the incident at the time.
However, since Emiya Kiritsugu was representing the Einzbern family in this tournament, Tohsaka Tokiomi had unilaterally decided to abandon his surveillance of the area.
If not for Gilgamesh and Kotomine Kirei bringing it up, he might not have realized that the place had been reactivated.
As Kotomine Kirei ran through the forest, his thoughts began to wander slightly.
If Emiya Kiritsugu’s daughter, that little girl, had been brought here by Gilgamesh’s own volition,
then Emiya Kiritsugu’s wife had indeed come to Fuyuki City of her own accord.
Yet, she hadn’t participated as a Master, nor even as a supporter.
In that case, what was the purpose of this individual, this woman, coming here?
Contrary to his rough, rock-like exterior, Kotomine Kirei’s thoughts were surprisingly intricate, like the workings of a complex clockwork.
Moreover, due to his indifference to most things, he was exceptionally perceptive to anything that might be related to the answers he sought, much like a skilled hunter tracking its prey.
This was similar to a person with color blindness, who, after filtering out the distractions of vibrant colors, becomes extremely sensitive to the subtleties of movement and texture.
Now, Kotomine Kirei could keenly sense that the woman from the Einzbern family shared some similarities with Emiya Kiritsugu.
Not driven by wealth or power, but by some other reason… in any case, it was certainly something that piqued Kotomine Kirei’s interest, a mystery waiting to be unraveled.
Was it that thing people called love, a sentiment as elusive as a whispered promise?
A frail and sickly face with eyes that radiated a profound and gentle warmth flashed across Kotomine Kirei’s mind, causing his thoughts to pause for a few seconds.
In any case, this might be the reason why Gilgamesh, the arrogant and ancient king, had explicitly instructed him not to harm the Einzbern mother and daughter.
If he were to kill them, Gilgamesh would likely fly into a rage, wouldn’t he?
At the mere thought of such a scene, Kotomine Kirei’s solemn expression couldn’t help but distort slightly, like a Berserker’s madness.
However, for the sake of greater pleasure, he had to suppress this idea.
Kotomine Kirei had never feared death in the past, and now that he had grasped the great mystery of life, he was even more indifferent to being alive, like a Servant who had transcended human emotions.
But, he couldn’t die without a purpose; he had to experience the greatest pleasure in the world before dying, like a Master who had achieved the Holy Grail.
Ah, this is what it means to live life to the fullest, to indulge in pleasure until the end, and to devote oneself to the great cause of pleasure, just like a heroic spirit from the Throne of Heroes.
Well, let’s just consider it an appetizer before the main course, a foreplay to the real battle.
Having made up his mind, Kotomine Kirei charged forward without hesitation, breaking through the Barrier set up outside Einzbern Castle with his enhanced Magecraft, like a Caster who had mastered the arts of magic.
And then, with his excellent eyesight enhanced by his Magecraft, he accurately caught sight of the white snow princess gazing at him from the majestic, exotic castle’s watchtower, her beauty shining like a Noble Phantasm.
9伍零⒈八0玖0㈨
Silver hair, crimson pupils, and a beauty so exquisite it seemed almost inhuman, like a perfected homunculus.
He confirmed that she was indeed the pillar of support for Emiya Kiritsugu, the artificial human of the Einzbern Family, a being created through alchemy and magic.
On the windy watchtower’s edge, Irisviel watched the black reaper approaching, her pink lips set in determination, like a warrior ready for battle.
“Have the traps been set, Maiya?” she asked, her voice firm and commanding.
“All done, but since the enemy is approaching so quickly, I only set up the outer layer of Offensive Arts; I’ll use my own Arts to make up for the lack of traps,” Maiya replied, her voice steady and calm, like a skilled magus.
In the forest below the castle, Hisau Maiya gripped her submachine gun, hiding behind a tree as much as possible, and listened intently to the approaching sounds, her senses heightened like a skilled assassin.
“If I fail, milady, please escape quickly,” Maiya said, her voice laced with concern.
“No, we can’t escape; if we can’t defeat him here in our own headquarters, where can we run to? And Ilyasviel is also here; if we leave, he’ll definitely chase us. We have to defend our position and take him down!” Irisviel replied, her voice firm and resolute, like a queen defending her kingdom.
Moreover, Irisviel had a bit of a personal motive, a desire to protect her family and her home, like a heroic spirit driven by a noble cause.
The image of Emiya Kiritsugu embracing and crying with their mother and daughter the day before still lingered in Irisviel’s mind, a painful reminder of her duty and responsibility, like a curse that could not be lifted.
She had no idea what was happening, but one thing was certain: Emiya Kiritsugu and Kotomine Kirei had a brief encounter yesterday.
For Emiya Kiritsugu, who had a naive heart that was on the verge of being crushed by his own sins, Kotomine Kirei was a dangerous individual who could strike at his weak points.
Absolutely, this man must not be allowed to come into contact with Emiya Kiritsugu!
A determined glint flashed in Irisviel’s eyes as she steeled herself.
Listening to Irisviel, who was usually innocent and romantic, analyze the situation calmly in a time of crisis, Hisau Maiya couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy.
People who live together for a long time tend to become more similar in every aspect.
For example, a Familia that often eats together and has similar sleep schedules will naturally have similar physical health, and even the female elves’ menstrual cycles will synchronize over time.
Apart from physical aspects, a person’s personality will also become more similar.
Having known Emiya Kiritsugu for nearly ten years and fighting alongside him, she had only learned to mimic his surface-level traits.
On the other hand, despite Irisviel’s innocent and romantic facade, she was the one who could truly get close to Emiya Kiritsugu on a spiritual level.
“Then let’s work together, milady!”
Kotomine Kirei, now in a state of combat readiness, keenly sensed the trap and effortlessly avoided it.
Even without Assassin, as a veteran Agent of the Church who had battled Xenos around the world for over a decade, he wouldn’t be caught off guard by such petty tricks.
But after circling around from the adjacent area and entering the jungle, when he saw a woman moving with swift and stable movements, firing her gun in a sweeping motion, Kotomine Kirei realized that the outer traps were intentionally set up to lead him here.
A woman capable of devising such tactics was quite impressive.
Indeed, the people and things surrounding Emiya Kiritsugu always seemed to excite him.
Facing the hail of bullets, Kotomine Kirei remained unperturbed, holding 3 Black Keys in each hand and using them to deflect the shots aimed at his vital points.
The bullets that struck his other body parts were easily blocked by his specially enhanced ceremonial robes.
After the Second Great War, due to changes in combat distances, smaller-caliber, lower-charge firearms like assault rifles and submachine guns became more prevalent.
A small-caliber handgun, not even capable of killing a cow or a pig, which is why Kotomine Kirei dared to take it head-on.
If it were a high-caliber rifle bullet, Kotomine Kirei would have had to dodge and weave, just like last night.
And so, Kotomine Kirei approached Hisau Maiya step by step, asking, “Are you Emiya Kiritsugu’s collaborator, or just a mercenary hired for the job? Or perhaps, you’re the one who sniped at me last night?”
Hisau Maiya remained silent, only continuing to fire in silence.
Once her bullets ran out, she drew her dagger and charged forward, ready for close combat.
This move caused Kotomine Kirei to furrow his brow; if his opponent was this naive, it would be somewhat disappointing.
“I don’t want to kill you, but if you don’t answer my questions, I’ll have no choice but to treat you as a Xenos Execution target!”
Until he got his answers, Kotomine Kirei had no intention of taking the life of this woman he somewhat admired.
However, if she continued to be obstinate, he wouldn’t go easy on her either.
After all, Gilgamesh had only told him not to kill the Einzbern girls.
Moreover, Kotomine Kirei’s interest in this woman was far surpassed by that of the snowy Princess.
Watching Hisau Maiya charge at him with her dagger, Kotomine Kirei’s expression turned stern, and he assumed the Bajiquan Opening Move, preparing to deliver a crushing blow that could easily pierce granite.
But just as he took a step forward, over a dozen silver threads suddenly emerged from the ground, binding his legs like snakes, restricting his movement.
“Alchemy?”
This signature Einzbern skill allowed Kotomine Kirei to react quickly, attempting to break free with his legs.
To outsiders, Alchemy seemed impressive, but to a true Martial Arts Expert like himself, it was akin to a simple kick – only useful for bullying the weak.
Because Alchemy required time to take effect, even if only for a brief moment, it could be fatal in close combat.
Just like now – although the silver threads had bound him, Kotomine Kirei’s enhanced body allowed him to attempt to break free.
But Hisau Maiya had already closed in, stabbing at his throat with her dagger.
Despite his conditioned reflexes allowing him to dodge by twisting his waist and bending backward with inhuman flexibility, avoiding the attack, his attempt to break free was halted.
In less than a second, Alchemy was already formed, binding him tightly.
Meanwhile, Hisau Maiya’s supplementary attack, Offensive Arts, also arrived.
Sigh, He overestimated himself.
Recalling the battles since entering this forest, Kotomine Kirei couldn’t help but blame himself.
After deciphering the mysteries of enjoyment, he started to get cocky, thinking he could handle things with just the two women.
This is it, 2 consecutive attacks.
If he had fought with this mindset against those Xenos, he would be buried 3 meters under the ground by now.
After the pain, Kotomine Kirei decided to make a change, to unleash his true abilities in battle.
So, Kotomine Kirei faced the equally immobile Hisau Maiya, only her neck muscles tensed, and forcefully endured the blow.
The alloy blade, sharp as a hair, pierced Kotomine Kirei’s neck, slashing through flesh and blood, but Hisau Maiya instantly sensed something was wrong.
However, as she tried to withdraw, Kotomine Kirei had already drawn the Black Keys concealed in his sleeve and injected Mana into it.
As a church-made weapon specifically designed to exorcise demons, the Black Keys only existed in the form of a hilt, the blade woven from Mana.
While it possessed immense Destructive Power against Spirits, its Physical Attack capability was relatively weak.
Even so, the elongated blade still pierced through Hisau Maiya’s unprepared abdomen.
Then, Kotomine Kirei used all his strength to deliver a headbutt to Hisau Maiya’s head.
This was his final Offensive Arts, because more silver threads, resembling silk, were already tightly wrapping him.
Sharp and durable threads tore through the reinforced Robe, piercing deep into his flesh.
Under this immense Strength, Kotomine Kirei couldn’t even bend his Body, only lying on the ground like a chrysalis.
Kotomine Kirei squeezed his eyes shut, channeling Mana to strengthen his flesh to the highest level, barely managing to withstand it.
With no other options, Kotomine Kirei stopped struggling.
If the opponent intended to continue the stalemate with Alchemy, they could hold him off for a while, perhaps even delaying until Kotomine Kirei’s Body reached its limit and was broken, but the maid lying on the ground, with her abdomen pierced, would likely die before him.
Come on, make your choice…
When Kotomine Kirei heard the rustling footsteps on the leaves, he knew he had guessed it right.
The rumors are true; the Einzbern homunculus is indeed not adept at combat.
*
At the base of Enzou Mountain, Emiya Kiritsugu gripped his throbbing pinky finger, his face a mask of stupor.
Long ago, Emiya Kiritsugu and Hisau Maiya each embedded a strand of the other’s hair, enchanted, beneath the skin of their pinkies.
Should either of them fall into a life-threatening state, the hair they entrusted to the other would burn as a warning.
It was a failsafe set in the worst-case scenario where even a radio or a Servant could not convey information, a signal that comes too late.
Hisau Maiya on the brink of death… then Irisviel and Ilyasviel…
The image of mother and daughter lying in a pool of blood flashed before his eyes, prompting Kiritsugu to instinctively reach for a Command Spell to order Gilgamesh to protect Irisviel.
But in the next moment, he froze in place.
Because he looked at the fresh, red mark on his hand and remembered that this was his last Command Spell.
Once he used this final Command Spell, he would completely lose control over Gilgamesh, a Servant who made no secret of his malice and could betray him at any moment.
Emiya Kiritsugu had not only lost the Holy Grail War, but also his faith, and the lives of Shirley, his father, Natalia, and countless others.
Why?
Why did this moment come so suddenly?
Emiya Kiritsugu was like a driver barreling towards a cliff, knowing that moment would come sooner or later, yet still yearning for a delay in time.
Even though reaching the end of the Holy Grail War meant Irisviel’s death, this time he was faced with a choice before that tragic future could even arrive.
Irisviel, or the Holy Grail War?
One person, or 6 billion?
My beloved wife, or 6 billion strangers?
Yet, perhaps numbed by that darkness and despair, Emiya Kiritsugu now found the pain in his heart almost trivial.
A golden glow gathered before him, a pair of crimson eyes looked down with unmasked malice and appreciation, like an artist admiring his work.
“Oh my, Kiritsugu, it seems you require assistance.”
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