Multiverse: Starting With Killer Queen

In the distant Einzbern Castle, Irisviel was busy signing a new contract with Saber.

The death of the Master means the disappearance of the contract. Fortunately, Saber is right next to her, otherwise it would be too ridiculous if she had to retire early without even fighting because she couldn't find a suitable Master.

After re-signing the contract, Irisviel murmured as if she had not yet reacted as she looked at the bright red Command Seal that suddenly appeared on the back of her hand.

"Kiritsugu?"

"Master?"

Saber looked at Irisviel with worry, and there was some sadness in her heart. According to the knowledge given by the Holy Grail, if the Master died and the Command Seals were not taken away by others, they would be redistributed to the right person.

Although she didn't know why the other party didn't use the Command Spell to call her, as a knight, Saber would never feel good for not being able to save her Master's life.

After a few seconds, Irisviel regained her composure and began to speak calmly.

"Emiya Kiritsugu lost his Master status today and officially died. I, Irisviel, will take over as the Master of Einzbern and continue to participate in the Fourth Holy Grail War."

No matter what, for Illya, she must go to Fuyuki City and win the war. Thinking of Illya's unusual words calling for her father before, a determination to accept reality flashed in Irisviel's eyes.

Looking at Irisviel's expression, Saber saluted Irisviel again.

"Yes, Master."

——

After briefly explaining everything to the store manager, Roland, who had officially resigned, collected his salary which was significantly higher than before, and left the convenience store somewhat reluctantly.

"I didn't expect that the first place I developed feelings for in Fuyuki City would be at work. What is this?"

Roland smiled self-deprecatingly, thinking back to the Spirit Contract he had just seen.

Although based on the extent of the plot changes, I had guessed that the escaped soul would be a very dangerous character, I didn't expect it to be the soul of the Shendu.

He was the incarnation of black energy and one of the eight ancient demons. Even if only his soul was left, he could not easily fight against him now.

But it is different after being made into a contracted spirit. Even if it is a holy lord, there will be no self-awareness and it can only be reduced to an instinctive force.

The prerequisite for the Key of All Spirits to create a contract spirit is not necessarily that the object must be dead, but it is easier to make a contract spirit if it is dead.

Until now, Roland still didn't understand the requirements and standards for the Key of All Spirits to create a Contracted Spirit. How could a person with such a strong obsession as Emiya Kiritsugu not become a Contracted Spirit?

With the precedent of Kira Yoshikage, Roland naturally knew that the Key of All Spirits would not care about the state of the soul. What he absorbed was more like the existence of the power itself.

Why did Uryuu Ryuunosuke and Emiya Kiritsugu fail? Compared with Kira Yoshikage, what did they lack?

And, do I really have to pay that price to contract the Holy Lord?

Roland's smile gradually faded. He never thought that he was so great. Although he didn't like people who had a clear goal and gave everything for it, he could understand the awareness that it took.

What do those people think when faced with such a thing?

Roland didn't dwell on it for too long. He was always very proactive. Since he didn't know, why not just go and ask?

"You're late. That's really strange. Did anything happen?"

Matou Zouken stood at the door of the old house, looking at Roland who was approaching, his eyes filled with a strange color, and he spoke in a teasing tone.

During the exchange of intelligence and information over the past few days, he discovered that Roland was a person with a strong sense of time and would never be late easily.

"Ah, nothing. I met the Master of the Einzbern family on the way and killed him. It wasted some time."

Roland answered Zouken Matou's question casually, his arms folded across his chest, confusion still on his face.

But Matou Zouken couldn't suppress his shock.

He had always been wary of Roland who came to him on his own initiative. It was not because he had found any evidence, but because he was naturally suspicious.

But because his purpose this time was very pure, it didn't matter to him whether the other party was secretly plotting anything.

Regardless of whether Roland sincerely allies with him or not, as long as he participates in the Holy Grail War, he will inevitably have to fight against other Masters. It is just a matter of efficiency.

But isn't it too efficient to kill a Master right now?

"From Einzbern? Is that the hired mercenary?"

"Yes, but the Command Seals were taken back by the Holy Grail. I guess they should be given to Einzbern."

"That kind of thing is totally irrelevant. Even if the contract is extended by using androids, it doesn't matter. I'm not being arrogant. Einzbern's level in actual combat is really not outstanding."

"Hmm," Roland replied absentmindedly. After pondering for a while, he finally asked the question in his mind.

"Matou Zouken, if a path to greatness is right before your eyes, but this path may distort something very important to you, will you still take it?"

"Of course I will." Although he was confused about the meaning of Roland's words, after seeing Roland's battle record, Matou Zouken's attitude became a little friendlier.

"You are still too young. When you experience more, you will understand that there is no need to hesitate."

"Humans live by chasing after something, ideals, obsessions. In the end, their personalities may gradually change into the appearance of the things they are chasing. Can you call this attitude twisted?"

Zouken Matou originally wanted to comfort Roland, but as his words went deeper, his own voice seemed to freeze, and it became so low and chilling.

He looked at his withered hands, which were so old and disgusting, and quietly clenched his fists.

Immortality is his obsession.

No matter what the price is or how twisted the posture becomes, he will continue on this path and will never regret it, because he has already paid too much.

Hey, why do I pursue immortality?

After thinking for a while, Matou Zouken couldn't come up with an answer, so he raised his head and looked at Roland who was thinking.

"Socrates once said that human virtue is to shape the soul into a better posture. Everyone's pursuit is due to their own goodness. Roland, what are you pursuing?"

"It's eternal peace of mind."

Roland answered without hesitation.

He has always been very clear about this. In order to maintain a peaceful life, he must overcome his fear and anxiety and make himself feel at ease.

"Are you at ease? Then what you are pursuing is really profound," said Zouken Matou with an unpleasant laugh.

"The so-called peace of mind will change depending on your perspective. Ordinary people only need to get married, have children, and make friends. When you have a prominent position, you will want to pursue wealth and power. When you have ideals, you will pursue the root like a magician, or pursue love and peace as the society advocates."

There was a hint of regret in Matou Zouken's tone.

"Such wishes may seem insignificant, but they are actually very grand. Generally speaking, all of humanity is pursuing these things. Human abilities are limited. I advise you to set a smaller goal. This way, you may be able to numb yourself in a moment of comfort."

Listening to Matou Zouken's sharp words, Roland's eyes flickered, as bright as stars, and an ambiguous smile appeared on his face, as if he had been enlightened.

"It's great, I'm starting to understand everything."

He sounded like he was confessing or sighing. Roland's tone was leisurely but also carried a kind of passionate excitement.

"Human abilities do have limits."

"I have learned one thing from my short life. The more humans scheme, the more they will be destroyed by unexpected circumstances, unless they become beings that transcend humans..."

The scenes of these days flashed through his mind, Father Mapo, the perverted murderer, the magician killer, and the damn Black Holy Grail.

Everyone had unconsciously barged in, disrupted his peaceful life, and contributed to the current situation. What was the price he had to pay to erase all the uneasiness?

Matou Zouken, who was completely unable to follow Roland's train of thought, looked at this scene that was beyond his comprehension, and actually felt a rare sense of fear towards the young man in front of him.

"What do you want to say?"

Roland said softly, showing a smile that was so bright and cheerful that it made people feel uneasy.

"——I'm not a human being anymore!"