The Great Hollow beneath Mount Ryudo.
Zouken Matou brought Kiritsugu Emiya to stand before the main body of the greater grail of Fuyuki, looking at this massive magic circle with a radius of 50 meters embedded in the basin-shaped rock.
"Hehehe, Kiritsugu Emiya, how about it? Now that you have seen the true face of the Holy Grail and the purpose of its creation, do you agree to cooperate with me?"
Kiritsugu Emiya frowned, pondering everything Zouken Matou had told him. 'Heaven's Feel, the Third Magic, the sacrifice of the Winter Saintess, opening a void to the outside of the world through Servants, a wish-granting machine.'
After thinking for a moment, and looking at the main body of the Holy Grail before him, Kiritsugu Emiya nodded.
"I agree."
Zouken Matou looked at the dim Holy Grail before him, recalling the past when he, Nagato Tohsaka, and Justeaze Lizrich von Einzbern built the ritual known as Heaven's Feel in Fuyuki City 200 years ago. 'Why did I do this? Forget it, I've long since forgotten. As long as I obtain the Holy Grail and complete the Third Magic, everything else is irrelevant.'
"Very well, Kiritsugu Emiya. Let's go meet our other companion."
Then, the two left the Great Hollow and walked onto the ruins formed by the hanging gardens of babylon. After avoiding some magic traps left behind by Rin, Zouken Matou and Kiritsugu Emiya arrived at the room sealing Angra Mainyu and the magic of the Holy Grail.
Zouken Matou looked admiringly at the Formula set up by Rin.
"Hehehe, that little girl is truly a genius. Not only did she use this Formula to create illusions to deceive ordinary people, but she also extracted this malice and dispersed it to the outside world, so that even if those ordinary people broke through the illusions, they would be scared away by this malice. It's a pity such a good vessel was born into the Tohsaka Family instead of my Matou Family."
Kiritsugu Emiya ignored the muttering Zouken Matou, who was examining the Formula left by Rin, and instead surveyed the entire hall. In the center, a massive magic circle with a diameter of 30 meters was emitting a soft blue light, making it impossible to see what was inside. In the empty hall, the surrounding walls were filled with various Formulas. Although Kiritsugu Emiya, as a Magus Killer, could not understand them at all, the magical power emanating from them made him not dare to underestimate them.
Soon, Zouken Matou, while examining these Formulas and talking to himself, led Kiritsugu Emiya around numerous defensive Formulas to the side of the sealing circle in the center of the hall.
"Hehehe, Angra Mainyu, won't you show yourself upon seeing an ally?"
Following Zouken Matou's query, a black palm print appeared on the inside of the sealing circle, then a blue light flashed where the handprint appeared, accompanied by a howl, and the handprint disappeared.
Then, Angra Mainyu's venomous voice came from the sealing circle.
"Zouken Matou, you actually dare to come see me."
"Hehehe, Angra Mainyu, it was I who helped you break free from the shackles of the Holy Grail's main body last night and let you out, hehehe. Aren't we allies?"
"Zouken... no, Makiri Zolgen, if we are allies, why didn't you come to help me last night?"
"Hehehe, Angra Mainyu, when I let you out, I told you to hand over the soul fragments of the Winter Saintess to me, but you were the one who refused, hehehe. What role could a mere Magus like me play in last night's battle, hehehe."
"Makiri Zolgen, then let me out now."
"Hehehehe, a seal of this level from the Age of Gods is not something a Magus of my level can solve. Moreover, my body is reaching its limit. However, we have a new partner now. As long as he can provide me with qualified Magi, I might be able to recover and wear down this seal over time, hehehe."
Kiritsugu Emiya heard the topic shift to him and looked calmly at Zouken Matou and the seal before him.
"I have no problem with that, as long as you can eventually hand the Holy Grail over to me."
"Of course, Kiritsugu Emiya. Didn't I say? What I need is the Third Magic to achieve immortality, and what Angra Mainyu needs is revenge. The Holy Grail can be left entirely for you to save the world, hehehehe."
"Then I have no problem."
Zouken Matou tapped his cane on the ground and said, looking at the sealing circle before him.
"Angra Mainyu, hehehe, what about you?"
"Makiri Zolgen, remember, if you are deceiving me, the first person I will take revenge on when I get out is you!"
At noon at the Matou Residence, Tsuruno Matou returned to the ancestral home with a maid and his son, looking travel-worn.
Tsuruno Matou looked at Shinji Matou, who was being supported by the maid, and scolded him unhappily.
"Shinji, you've been complaining the whole way. I already took you to the hospital for a check-up. There's clearly nothing wrong with you. Stop pretending."
Shinji Matou, supported by the maid, clutched his heart and replied tremblingly.
"Dad, my heart really hurts. It's real, Dad."
"Hmph, forget it. Take Shinji back to his room to rest. I'm going to find that guy Kariya. The old man is dead now, and I can't let that guy Kariya snatch the property."
"Don't worry, big brother. I don't want anything in this house. It's all yours and Shinji's. I'm preparing to leave this city now. Rest assured, I really will never return this time."
Tsuruno Matou turned his head and looked at Kariya Matou, who was carrying luggage behind him, feeling awkward and at a loss.
"Kariya, um, that's not what I meant. I was... right, look at how small Shinji is. And I'm not like you, without any skills. I was just worried about Shinji's future."
Kariya Matou looked at his hypocritical older brother and shook his head, saying indifferently.
"Don't worry, big brother. I really won't come back. You also know that it was that old man who called me back this time. Now that he is dead, just pretend I never existed in this family."
Tsuruno Matou, seeing Kariya Matou speak this way, finally felt relieved. He looked at his younger brother and said hypocritically.
"Since you've made your decision, Kariya, I won't stop you. But if you need any help in the future, remember to contact me. After all, I'm still your big brother."
Kariya Matou didn't look at his hypocritical big brother again. Instead, he walked over to the maid and patted Shinji Matou's head, saying.
"Shinji, Uncle is leaving. Take good care of yourself in the future. At the same time, remember these words Uncle is giving you: remember, never come into contact with magic, absolutely never."
Shinji Matou looked at this stranger, clutched his heart, and nodded perfunctorily.
Kariya Matou took one last look at the place where he grew up, then turned and left with his luggage without looking back. Now, Kariya Matou was like a gust of wind, free from all shackles. Ever since he met Rin and Sakura at the Matou Residence that day, Kariya Matou had understood that he and they were not people of the same world. Now, the naive version of himself had disappeared, and it was time to go find his own happiness.
Tsuruno Matou stood in the garden and watched Kariya Matou leave, then walked happily into Zouken Matou's room, intending to retrieve property deeds and other assets for transfer. At that moment, Shinji Matou stood behind Tsuruno Matou with blood on his face and a gloomy expression.
Tsuruno Matou turned around, saw the blood-stained Shinji Matou, and collapsed to the ground in fear. Shinji looked at the pathetic mess on the ground before him, and the voice that came from Shinji's mouth was none other than Zouken Matou's.
"Hehehe, Tsuruno, what are you trying to do?"
...As this peaceful day passed in Fuyuki City, the Holy Grail War and its aftermath would slowly fade from the city's memory over time. Fuyuki City would remain as peaceful as ever!
-------------------------------
Hope you enjoy this fanfiction if you do and would like to read the next 30 chapters in advance, pls do check out my Patreon.
patreon.com/TLScarlet
Also don't forget to give me a Power Stone if you do like this fiction. Your support really motivates me to continue doing my best in translating, Thanks!!