Tokyo Singularity (24) Had enough of the tricks? ...
Like a pebble thrown into a calm sea, ripples spread and magical energy vibrated. Shuten-dōji swung his sword to the end, and the empty scene began to blur. The next second, the glass-like barrier shattered layer by layer, revealing an ancient building.
A voice that didn't belong to anyone present came from under the eaves.
"That's great! Yes, that's wonderful!!"
Gojo Satoru and Natsume instantly became alert, their hands gathering their magical power, ready to unleash it.
Moonlight shone on the tall, ancient building, casting long, slanted shadows. At the end of the shadows, a man suddenly appeared, standing between the light and shadow, his face indistinct.
"As expected of you." He looked up at the bright moon hanging high in the sky, "You always manage to find this humble monk who does evil." After saying that, he stepped out of the shadows and looked straight at Ritsuka.
"It's you!" Xia Youjie exclaimed.
Although he could no longer remember the man who appeared outside the Zen temple with Master Xiayou, he recognized him at a glance when the man reappeared before him.
That man possessed a strong sense of malice and an incongruous aura, like... yes, like a Servant brought by Fujimaru Ritsuka.
"I think I smell the stench of some demonic beast." Shuten-dōji blocked the man's view, her eyes coldly fixed on him. "Trying to get close to the boss? What a pipe dream."
Fujimaru Ritsuka patted her concerned servant reassuringly, facing him directly without flinching, "You still intend to talk to me like this?" Her resolute eyes were even clearer under the moonlight.
"Hmm? This humble monk does not understand what you mean."
"Stop pretending." Fujimaru Ritsuka said, word by word, "Haven't you had enough of your tricks yet—Ashiya Doman."
Xia Youjie: "?!!"
Xia Youjie's pupils dilated in shock. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to prove that the name he had just heard was just a hallucination. Gojo Satoru, standing beside him, wasn't in much better shape, his mouth agape as he struggled to look up.
What is the meaning of "fulfilling the Dao"?
Ashiya Michimi? !
They naturally knew that Servants were all shadows of people from the past and future—in short, the real deal. So, the being before them, called Ashiya Dōman, couldn't he be…!
"Oh my, oh my, oh my." Ashiya Dōman ignored the shock of those who were not involved, and just stared at Ritsuka and laughed. "Since it is your order, how could this humble monk disobey?"
As soon as he finished speaking, like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon, his tall figure gradually emerged from his ordinary face.
The tall hat pressed down on her long, black and white hair, and her obsidian-like pupils, which contracted uncontrollably with excitement, were unfathomable and unconsciously attracted the attention of others.
The black and red hunting robes were luxurious and solemn, adding a touch of majesty to her extremely beautiful face.
"How is it? Are you satisfied?" Ashiya Dōman murmured like a lover, emphasizing the last two words so that anyone could hear them: "Master."
It's as if they're emphasizing something.
Xia Youjie had been silent more often than he had imagined today. He couldn't believe he was having such a dream—hearing an enemy call him Ritsuka Master.
Moreover, Fujimaru Ritsuka did not refute this.
"Ritsuka!" Gojo Satoru hurriedly grabbed the orange-haired girl's wrist from behind. "What did he...what did he call you?!"
“I will explain in detail after this is over,” Fujimaru Ritsuka said calmly. “He does belong to Chaldea, and he is probably the culprit behind all this.”
"...Hehe, yes. It was indeed this humble monk who orchestrated all of this!" Ashiya Dōman raised his hand and snapped his fingers crisply. Passing through the villa, a barrier in the backyard shattered, revealing something all too familiar to the Chaldea members.
"Ritsuka!" came the Chaldea communicator. "We've detected...!"
There's no need to say anything more. Even across communication and time, Little Da Vinci and his companions could clearly see everything happening in front of them and the towering tree standing in the backyard.
—Imaginary Tree.
The crimson sky reflected the moon, turning it into an ominous blood moon. The flowing crimson hue coiled around the trunk of the Imaginary Tree like ribbons.
No one spoke. While the Chaldea members were rapidly devising solutions, the two Death Knights, seeing the Imaginary Tree for the first time, had temporarily forgotten language.
Their hands trembled slightly. The sorcerers, who had only ever seen hideous cursed spirits, were so shocked by the grandeur and breathtaking beauty of the Imaginary Tree before them that they lost their ability to speak.
How could something so spectacular as to seem unreal exist!
"Ritsuka, this Imaginary Tree cannot be allowed to live!" After a long silence, an anxious message from Chaldea broke the stillness. Little Leonardo da Vinci spoke rapidly, "The values of this singularity are approaching those of the Heian period, and the possibility of it developing into a Lostbelt is greatly increasing!"
Fujimaru Ritsuka: "!!!"
"Oberon, let's go first—"
“Impossible. Except for the front yard where we are now, the whole place is covered by some kind of magic.” Oberon dismissed Fujimaru Ritsuka’s idea.
"To cut down the Imaginary Tree, not only must we suppress the magician who performed the spell, we must at least get as close as possible to the Imaginary Tree and break through that section of the spell at close range."
"Well, what a coincidence, isn't the person suspected of using the spell right here?" Ritsuka, along with Jeanne d'Arc Alter and Shuten-dōji, all looked towards Ashiya Dōman. But Ashiya Dōman merely raised an eyebrow, very honestly shrugging his shoulders in denial.
It wasn't him?
Fujimaru Ritsuka then remembered that the Avengers, who wielded the Holy Grail, were Servants created by the Holy Grail and also used magic. And the place closest to the Imaginary Tree… she gazed into the distance with a grave expression; that must be where the Avengers were.
Ashiya Doman observed the different yet uniformly solemn expressions on everyone's faces. "Although the Imaginary Tree is still as fragile as Ritsuka is now, once it fully matures, the fate of humanity in this world will come to an end."
"What's the purpose?" Fujimaru Ritsuka suddenly asked.
"Hmm...destroy humanity?"
Fujimaru Ritsuka's face darkened with anger at his perfunctory words, and she suddenly revealed a sinister smile. "I'm asking you, what is your purpose in coming all the way from Chaldea to this place?"
She pointed out incisively: "Who released you, gave you the Holy Grail, and then sent you here?"
"Hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm!" Ashiya Dōman seemed to sense Ritsuka's anger and quietly took a half step back. "Although I would like to answer Master's question, I cannot reveal anything until everything is over."
As expected.
From the explosion at Chaldea and the spontaneous initiation of the spirit transfer to the sudden appearance of a singularity in another world, these events were not something Ashiya Doman could have accomplished alone.
Just as Fujimaru Ritsuka was about to say something, Ashiya Doman suddenly changed the subject, a hint of amusement in his smile, "But letting Master leave empty-handed is not a good habit for a Servant. This humble monk does have something to tell you."
The crimson glow of the blood moon spilled over Ashiya Doman's body, making his alluring and seductive face resemble a monster inviting innocent people to hell.
"In my calculations, only two riders were originally intended to accompany you to the singularity."
Fujimaru Ritsuka: "..."
She was almost laughing in anger. Was that what he wanted to say? Trying to sow discord at a time like this? She knew he wouldn't be so kind.
However, the extra Servant must be Oberon. Despite this speculation, Ritsuka didn't turn to look at the Fairy King behind her. She trusted him, and even believed that Ashiya Dōman harbored no ill intentions towards her or Chaldea.
But being kept in the dark felt really bad, and she suddenly felt an itch to touch herself.
"Are you done talking? Move aside." Ritsuka and Jeanne Alter exchanged a glance. "I don't have time to talk to you today."
"...Hmm? What's with the 'hmm hmm hmm hmm'?! Why are you suddenly getting serious?!"
“I’m here today to retrieve the Holy Grail, so,” Fujimaru Ritsuka directed the three Servants to their positions, smoothed a strand of hair, and said with a serious expression, “Ashiya Doman, get out of the way, or I’ll beat you to a pulp!”
Gojo Satoru's mouth formed an "O" shape; it was the first time he had ever seen Fujimaru Ritsuka so lively.
Yes, lively.
When she was with them, Ritsuka was always taking care of them without realizing it, and she was very composed in both her actions and words. But after meeting Ashiya Doman, she became more unrestrained, laughing and joking without any restraint.
They are from the same world... It's so unfair.
"Hey! Is the fight about to start?"
"If you don't say anything, I'll take that as a yes!"
"Don't come any closer! I haven't finished speaking! Please give me another chance!!"
After a near-one-sided, overwhelming brawl, Fujimaru Ritsuka casually clapped her hands, brushing the dust off her hands. She glanced up at the silently standing Ashiya Doman, then prepared to open the villa's door.
"etc."
Fujimaru Ritsuka turned around in confusion.
Gojo Satoru and Natsume, who were about to walk forward, watched him nervously, worried that he was about to cause trouble again. Oberon, however, seemed to know what was going to happen next, and chuckled without interrupting.
The crimson moonlight poured down like a waterfall of blood, dyeing the courtyard an eerie red. Ashiya Dōman, with his back to the moonlight, slowly walked up to Fujimaru Ritsuka, stepping on his shadow.
This spirit origin is the result of forming a bond with the girl in front of him, and the thought of this overwhelms him with an uncontrollable excitement.
Fujimaru Ritsuka, his Master, has a pair of eyes that shine so brightly that even the moonlight makes way for her. Her willingness to give her all for others can instantly capture his gaze.
How, how—
Ashiya Dōman placed his hand on his right chest, took a half step back with his left foot, and bent down to kneel on one knee.
"Ritsuka, Master—my master."
Xia Youjie, who was watching from the sidelines: "?!?"
No, what's going on? He looked at Gojo Satoru in a daze, only to find that he had actually... raised his phone!
This title is too advanced for a person with common sense, but it's just right for a girl from the inner chambers with no eyes to see. The white-haired cat winked and winked enthusiastically, conveying some message to Xia Youjie.
Xia Youjie rubbed his face hard. Is this the time to do this?
Meanwhile, Ashiya Dōman continued speaking:
"For you, this humble monk will do anything without hesitation." He looked up into the eyes of the Master he served, which shone brighter than the stars. "Slaughter, ravage, plunder, I will do all kinds of evil to pave the way for you."
He lowered his head and silently prayed, "May I stay by your side...until the end of hell."
"Please give the order."
The persistent words echoed in the air, even the wind seemed to pause, filtering out the noise and leaving only the rapid beating of the heart.
Fujimaru Ritsuka paused, then finally sighed softly, "Doman, open this door."
A note from the author:
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