Chapter 9: Araya Souren!
Hōseki Okina glanced at the three of them, and smiled.
He spoke spoke: "Rin kid, the Einzbern family has a request. They hope you can inherit their family and become the head of their household."
"This is no problem." Rizel nodded in agreement, thinking it was exactly what he wanted.
After all, he had been interested in Irisviel for a long time. He couldn't waste such an opportunity just to let Emiya Kiritsugu, that fool, have her.
Rizel thought to himself: Hmm, Emiya Kiritsugu, to make it up to you, I'll reward you by letting you have a swordfight showdown with Kotomine Kirei later.
Moreover, the Einzbern family's artificial techniques were still impressive, and with a Grand Magus by his side, being the head of the family could work well, especially sharing the responsibility with Touko.
"Ah, right, that old man from the Einzbern family also wants you to marry that Holy Grail container." Hōseki Okina said, squinting and smiling as he spoke to the three.
Upon hearing this, Ryougi Shiki and Touko both turned their heads, looking at Rizel with resentment.
Both pairs of hands immediately twisted Rizel's back.
However, Rizel didn't feel any pain, as his current defense was so strong that even a planet crashing into him wouldn't break it.
Still, Rizel pretended to be in pain, continuously pleading for forgiveness from the two women.
Although the two women already knew such a situation would arise, after all, Rizel's appearance and charm were such that even someone like Origin Shiki would have a hard time resisting.
And after spending so much time together, they knew that while Rizel treated his women well, he had a bit of a wandering heart, which made them want to express their dissatisfaction.
Hōseki Okina watched the scene, thinking to himself, Kid, I can't control you, but these two women will always manage to surprise you. He chuckled proudly.
While Rizel was comforting the two women, he noticed the smug expression on Hōseki Okina's face.
Damn, that old man is scheming against me!!
Damn it. Always playing with a little smartness.
"Fine, I'll go to Einzbern in two days. Let's go." Rizel stood up and left with the two women.
As they walked down the hallway, Touko glared at Rizel and said deeply, "So in two days, you're going to Germany to get married?"
Ryougi Shiki, though seemingly uninterested, still perked her ears to listen.
Rizel thought for a moment and then seriously said, "I won't, at least not without you two. I'll have the wedding with both of you."
Rizel certainly wouldn't act so quickly; after all, he was thinking about eventually gathering all his concubines in one place.
Touko, upon hearing Rizel's answer, looked somewhat resigned and said in a dry tone, "Do you think this is still the old society where you can openly have a harem like that?"
But there was nothing she could do. Leaving? That was impossible, after all, she couldn't bring herself to leave.
Rizel noticed Touko's helpless expression and felt a little guilty inside.
He spread his arms wide and directly pulled both Ryougi Shiki and Touko by their hips into an embrace. "Sorry, I know I'm fickle, but I won't abandon you two. You are the most important people in my life," Rizel said with sincerity.
Ryougi Shiki suddenly changed her aura, and Origin Shiki emerged!
Origin Shiki gently stroked Rizel's face and smiled, saying, "It's okay, as long as you have me in your heart, that's enough."
Good. Hearing this, Rizel felt deeply moved. After all, who wouldn't like a wife like this?
Touko, upon hearing this, couldn't help but acknowledge, "Well done, Origin Shiki's tactic of retreating to advance is really brilliant."
As they passed by Clock Tower, the students saw Rizel with a woman in each arm, and their eyes were filled with admiration. The men were envious that Rizel could enjoy such a blessed life with a harem.
The female students expressed their envy that Ryougi Shiki and Touko were able to be embraced like that by Rizel. They couldn't help but wish they could take their place.
Although Rizel's reputation spread throughout the entire Clock Tower, among the women, Rizel was still adored by many. After all, his charm was no joke.
As the three of them walked together, they encountered a strange man.
The man wore all black, his forehead deeply wrinkled, and a string of Buddhist prayer beads hung around his neck. Without his black hair, one might mistake him for a monk.
The man glanced at the intimate way Rizel was holding Touko, and a sinking feeling gripped his chest, as if a green hat had been placed upon him.
He was Araya Souren, a monk who had transitioned into a mage, and had studied magic under Aozaki Touko's master. He was also in love with Touko.
Now, seeing Touko so close to another man, how could he not feel jealousy?
"Touko, who is he?" Araya Souren demanded angrily.
Touko had actually known for a while that Araya Souren had feelings for her, but she didn't like him. She had never confronted him about it, but now seemed like the perfect time to make him give up hope.
Touko immediately kissed Rizel on the lips, saying, "His name is Rizel. He's my boyfriend."
Seeing and hearing this, Araya Souren felt as though his chest was about to explode. He had only been away from Clock Tower for half a year, and now this young man had suddenly appeared and taken what he had hoped for?
The onlookers around them exchanged looks of sympathy for Araya Souren. From the situation, it was clear that he had admired the "goddess" only to find her taken by someone else. However, it seemed that Araya Souren had no idea who Rizel was.
The crowd didn't dare to remind him, but silently felt that this man was done for.
Rizel looked at the fuming Araya Souren with curiosity and turned to Touko.
"Who is he?"
"He's Araya Souren, my senior brother," Touko replied.
Rizel thought for a moment, and the name Araya Souren sounded familiar.
Suddenly, he remembered. It seemed that there was indeed someone by that name in this world.
He had once been a monk, countless times wanting to save people who were about to die due to various reasons, only to fail each time. He realized that some things could never be saved, and in the end, he abandoned his faith and transitioned into a mage.
Afterward, he began collecting deaths and searching for the Swirl of the Root, seeking the "Original Form of the Soul" to reach the root of existence.
He believed that "humanity should not be saved, but should be brought to an end."
That was the sole path of salvation.
From someone who once wanted to save the world to one who sought its destruction.
It was no wonder he had feelings for Aozaki Touko, given this man's hostility.
Araya Souren glared at Rizel with malice, the corner of his eye noticing Origin Shiki by Rizel's side.
For a moment, he froze in shock. What had he just seen? He had always pursued the root of existence, and now, today, he encountered it.
His eyes filled with passion, as if he wanted to devour Origin Shiki.
Origin Shiki noticed the look in Araya Souren's eyes and revealed a trace of disgust. She knew exactly what he was after, having connected with the root herself.
Rizel, observing Araya Souren's behavior, noticed his gaze on Origin Shiki and furrowed his brows.
He recalled something vaguely. This man was behind various events, such as the ones involving Ryougi Shiki's physical connection to the root, the situation with Fujou Kirie, Asagami Fujino, and Shirazumi Lio—he was the mastermind behind these scenes.
In an instant, Rizel understood why Araya Souren was looking at Origin Shiki that way.
Rizel's anger flared. Of course, he understood what Araya Souren wanted to do with Ryougi Shiki's physical connection to the root.
Rizel himself had entered and exited the root many times, and entering it felt like coming home.
The first time he entered the root, Rizel was a little worried, since the root would assimilate all consciousness into one complete whole. He feared that the root might take over his mind.
But when the root tried to assimilate him, the Doomsday gene activated, granting him immunity and individuality in response to this assimilation.
Since then, Rizel could freely enter and exit the root without issue.
But this guy, thinking of accessing the root through Ryougi Shiki's physical connection, was something Rizel couldn't tolerate.
Rizel's gaze grew sharp as he coldly asked, "Have you prepared yourself for death?"