LIGHTNOVELWORLD 10
“Arrr——!!!!”
Being blocked by the Count, the already irritable Berserker naturally couldn’t tolerate it. With an angry roar, he was about to charge towards the Count.
“Kuhahahaha——! Are you already enraged? Black Knight bearing countless grudges and curses! I indeed sense your anger and sorrow, but compared to a vengeful ghost like me, this is far from enough! Let me see what you’re capable of!!”
“Berserker, stop!”
“Caster, come back.”
Seeing the two at daggers drawn, Kariya Matou, kneeling on the ground, hurriedly raised his hand and shouted at the black knight, while Xia Yuan called back the Count who wanted to fight, preventing the situation from escalating further.
“Arrrrr——”
The Berserker responded but obeyed the order, silently returning to the darkness.
“Hmph, you’re lucky to have escaped so quickly.” The Count snorted coldly, standing back up next to Xia Yuan, continuing to guard the surroundings.
“Ugh——”
Accompanied by the turmoil inside his body, the crest worms inside Kariya Matou began to riot under Xia Yuan’s guidance, and finally started to be vomited out of Kariya Matou’s mouth in large quantities.
Seeing Kariya Matou lying on the ground, spitting out clusters of white crest worms, Xia Yuan could barely tolerate it at first, but it became so disgusting that it almost triggered his trypophobia!
After vomiting for who knows how long, except for those worms occupying major organs, most of the crest worms planted in Kariya Matou’s body were finally guided out by Xia Yuan.
Although not completely finished, this nearly year-long transformation had already turned Kariya Matou’s body into something neither human nor ghost. Now the crest worms and his life were tied together.
Even though Xia Yuan had obtained Kariya Matou’s magic crest and gained control over the crest worms in his body, there was no way to solve the crest worm problem while keeping him alive.
It’s like, killing a person is easy, but saving a person is as difficult as ascending to heaven.
However, he had helped Kariya Matou clean out part of the crest worms to the maximum extent possible, which greatly reduced the burden on his body.
At least if Kariya Matou withdrew now, he should be able to live for another twenty years, but if he insisted on fighting, it was uncertain whether he could even survive the Fourth Holy Grail War.
He had done all he could, and now it was up to them to make their own choices.
“I’ve cleared out most of the worms in your body. If you want to live, just quietly withdraw from the Holy Grail War, then find a quiet city to live in and spend the rest of your life.”
“You…”
“Don’t rush, let me finish.” Looking at Kariya Matou lying on the ground barely alive, Xia Yuan continued.
“You might think I’m hypocritical, believing that I killed Zouken Matou for your family’s magic crest but refuse to accept your gratitude. If so, you can think that way. Although I’m not a good person, I can’t send someone who’s already at death’s door to the battlefield for me. Your body doesn’t allow you to act recklessly anymore.”
“Are you… pitying me?” Kariya Matou revealed a surprised look.
“This isn’t pity, it’s respect. It’s respect for your choice.”
“Whether you choose to leave now or continue to participate in the Holy Grail War, it’s your own decision. I hope you don’t make a choice you’ll regret.”
“Is that so… Respect, huh? It’s been a long time since I’ve heard that word…”
Turning to his side and lying comfortably on the floor, a rare relaxed expression appeared on Kariya Matou’s face.
“Does someone like me still deserve respect… But, this feeling isn’t bad at all…”
“However, I…”
After being in a daze for a while, Kariya Matou came back to his senses and wanted to say something more, but found that Xia Yuan, who was in front of him just now, had already left.
Where did he go?
“Berserker, when did they leave?”
Berserker: “Arrrr——”
“…”
Kariya Matou: “Forget it, let’s pretend I didn’t ask.”
……
……
A few days later.
“The Holy Grail War, huh——”
Walking on the streets of Fuyuki City, several light blue butterflies also finished their reconnaissance of the nearby area and slowly landed back on Xia Yuan’s hand.
Lightly touching the butterflies with his fingertips, receiving the feedback from the reconnaissance familiars in his mind, Xia Yuan shook his head slightly.
“Not here either…”
Xia Yuan had been a bit anxious these past few days.
The reason was simple: the Holy Grail War was about to begin, and Kiritsugu Emiya and Kayneth might have already arrived in Fuyuki and summoned their Servants, but he was stuck at the most crucial step.
If he didn’t quickly eliminate Ryuunosuke Uryuu, he would definitely be in big trouble when the Holy Grail War started.
Now the Church considered him the seventh Master, and his Servant would be regarded as Caster when the time came, but if Ryuunosuke Uryuu also appeared, it would lead to a situation of two Casters, creating a scenario of true and false Casters.
However, he was in the open, while Ryuunosuke Uryuu was hidden in the shadows. At that time, when Bluebeard unleashed his sea demons to kill indiscriminately, the other Masters wouldn’t think there was a Caster hidden in the shadows, but would instinctively push all the blame onto him and the Count.
Even if they managed to expose Bluebeard at that time, his own identity would also be revealed, and they would find themselves in a truly passive situation.
So this Ryuunosuke Uryuu, along with Bluebeard, must be eliminated before the Holy Grail War begins!
But that guy, worthy of being a serial killer who had committed 37 random murders across Japan, was truly skilled at concealment. Combined with the fact that Xia Yuan hadn’t created many reconnaissance familiars, it wasn’t easy to find him in Fuyuki City in the shortest time possible.
However, magic wasn’t the only thing he possessed.
The Count had been out investigating for so long, he should have some information by now.
……
……
Soon after, Xia Yuan walked into a café, found a quiet spot, casually ordered two coffees to send the waiter away, then took out a phone from his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper.
After a moment, the table in front of him shook slightly, and the Count’s figure slowly appeared on the chair placed in front of him.
Seeing the Count who had returned, Xia Yuan nodded to him and asked, “Did you find his whereabouts?”
“Of course, it was a piece of cake for me. A mere despicable murderer, how could he escape my vengeful pursuit from hell! Kuhahaha——”
“Okay, okay, I know you’re the best, but there are still many people around, can you please keep your voice down?”
This sudden burst of laughter startled Xia Yuan, and he also felt strange gazes from around. Xia Yuan hurriedly called for the Count to stop.
Looking at the waiter who kept glancing this way, he suspected that if the Count didn’t look so fierce, the waiter would have probably come over to stop them already.
“Hmph, Master, you’re as boring as ever.”
Saying this, the Count handed Xia Yuan the address of the residential area he had investigated.
“His real name is Ryuunosuke Uryuu, has orange hair, likes horror and gory movies, his favorite animal is the leopard, he’s not registered in Fuyuki City and is an outsider. Based on the information you provided, Master, I infiltrated the Fuyuki City police station, checked the recent surveillance of Fuyuki City, and can roughly confirm that he’s hiding in a residence near this area.”
“You can’t cover the entire Fuyuki City with your familiars, but if we narrow it down to this area, there shouldn’t be a problem, right, Master?”
“Of course, I’ll send familiars over there shortly.”
Hearing this, Xia Yuan smiled and stood up, nodding to the Count.
“Let’s go, Count. We’re going to have a nice chat with our killer friend.”
“As you wish, my Master. I’m already looking forward to the killer’s panicked expression when the truth is revealed, hahaha.”
Accompanied by laughter, the two quickly left the place.
Chapter 12: The End of the Road for the Killer
Ryuunosuke Uryuu was feeling a bit anxious.
Because his art was too advanced and perfect, it made him incompatible with ordinary people.
In the cinema, a large screen was playing his favorite violent B-movie. Originally immersed in the art of killing, he felt annoyed hearing the shouting voices around him.
“Ah… that scene just now was really scary!”
“Yeah, the scene with flesh and blood flying everywhere was too disgusting. We really shouldn’t have come to watch this kind of movie out of curiosity. Does anyone really like such scary movies?”
Hearing the words of the people around him, Ryuunosuke felt irritated. He complained quietly while coldly staring at the backs of several couples leaving midway.
“These movies with blood and limbs flying everywhere are actually among the few precious works of art in this world, but why doesn’t anyone understand? It’s really troublesome…”
After complaining for a while, Ryuunosuke memorized the faces of the loudest people in front, feeling an irrepressible urge.
He wanted to take out his knife and stab their necks hard, to peel off their skin, personally remove their internal organs, and use their blood to create the most beautiful artwork on the clean floor.
Such thoughts filled his mind, but Ryuunosuke Uryuu still suppressed them, shaking his head vigorously to control his impulses.
Such brutal killing can’t be considered good art…
True art should only begin when everything is fully prepared. He didn’t know their backgrounds and interpersonal relationships, and acting rashly would destroy the beauty of the art. Such impulsive killing could only be considered second-rate. Only killings that have been meticulously planned, with every detail polished, can be considered the “Coolest!!” art!
Although Ryuunosuke Uryuu was a wandering killer who acted on whims, how could a murderer who had committed over thirty cases across Japan without being caught act purely on impulse? He must have his own logic.
Each killing had to go through preliminary stakeouts and refinement, carefully prepared by himself, arranging the most suitable way for them to die, and then fully immersing himself in the joy of killing them.
Dismembering them in front of their eyes, using their miserable cries to compose the best artistic melody, this was the art that Ryuunosuke Uryuu pursued.
Tonight was also a crucial night, he had already chosen his target for this time.
After staking out for several days, he could finally write another chapter of art.
Touching the human skin grimoire in his pocket, Ryuunosuke Uryuu’s breathing became a bit rapid.
“This time it should succeed, right? After trying so many times, that interesting demon gentleman should respond to me, right? Counting this time, it’s already the third time. Even a demon with the worst personality should feel my sincere heart and that desire for art after accepting so many sacrifices, right?”
Thinking again of that kind-hearted neighbor sister who warmly welcomed him, Ryuunosuke Uryuu couldn’t help but reveal a smile.
She’s truly a rare angel, thank you for your kindness.
“As a repayment for this kindness, I will make you the most beautiful work of art in my hands.”
The smile on his lips never stopped, his fingers repeatedly drawing in the air, the outline of the summoning circle from the grimoire, thinking about which body part’s blood paint to use to create this artwork.
Meanwhile——
Several light blue butterflies flew out from the cinema’s ventilation, returning to Xia Yuan’s hand.
Xia Yuan, who had released familiars in this area, received the feedback information, and couldn’t help but smile.
“Found him.”
……
……
“Ahhh…”
“What on earth is this?!”
Returning to his long-abandoned rental apartment, Ryuunosuke Uryuu smiled as he rang the neighbor’s doorbell.
He knew that the big sister lived alone, he just needed to catch her off guard and give her neck a quick slash to easily finish the job.
He had done this operation more than a dozen times and was already very skilled. Now he couldn’t wait to turn this kind-hearted big sister into art and offer her to that interesting demon gentleman.
Ryuunosuke Uryuu, following his plan, prepared to knock on the door in front of him, his left hand still gripping a very sharp small knife, ready to act according to plan.
“Eh?”
Just as he was about to knock, he heard a “click!” sound coming from the door.
The door opened from the inside, and he could see the scene of the room’s entrance from outside.
“Not locked?”
Seeing the wide-open door of the room, Ryuunosuke Uryuu felt a bit confused. After observing the scene inside the room from outside for a while, he suddenly had an ominous feeling and began to hesitate whether he should go in or not.
“Aren’t you going to come in and take a look?”
As he was pondering, a sudden male voice in his ear startled him. Without a second thought, he quickly pulled out his small knife and stabbed fiercely towards the source of the sound behind him.
With one stab, the voice immediately disappeared. Ryuunosuke Uryuu turned around abruptly, breaking out in a cold sweat.
He saw several light blue butterflies scatter in front of him, then fall behind him, slowly forming the shape of a young man, the effect looking particularly fancy.