Fate: Hero of Justice Takeover

Seeing the furious Rin, Kariya was thoroughly startled.

"Rin, why are you here...?"

Was this one of Sakatsuki's tricks?

"I'm the one asking you, Uncle Kariya!"

The twin-tailed girl placed her hands on her hips, her angry expression strikingly similar to her mother's.

"Why are you participating in the Holy Grail War? You know Dad has already decided to pursue the Holy Grail, right?"

"If you're also participating, doesn't that mean... one of you will inevitably get hurt?"

Her anger wasn't solely out of concern for her father. It stemmed from the realization that people close to her would end up killing each other, a thought that filled her with panic, which she now vented through her accusations.

Familiar with Rin's personality, Kariya understood this. He didn't get angry but instead smiled bitterly and shook his head.

"You're still too young to understand the complexities, Rin."

"Then tell me! I'm not a child anymore. I'm a magus too!"

"A magus..."

Kariya's heart ached slightly. He lowered his gaze, trying to come up with a way to brush her off, but suddenly felt a tug on his sleeve.

Looking down, he saw Sakura, with her purple hair and eyes, clutching his sleeve and whispering.

"Uncle, maybe you should tell her."

"But you..."

"It's okay."

The girl shook her head, smiling genuinely.

"It's all in the past, Uncle."

Yes, the dark, filthy past was behind them. Everything was moving toward a brighter future.

Though Sakura had been communicating with Rin through her familiar, she had never mentioned the past horrors. Partly because she didn't want to worry her sister, and partly because she feared her biological father, Tokiomi, would forcibly take her back from the Matou family if he found out.

But now, it was time.

After a moment of silence, Kariya finally stopped avoiding Rin's piercing gaze and spoke solemnly.

"Rin, I want to stop your father, Tokiomi Tohsaka. Not out of some grand sense of justice, nor purely out of personal vendetta—my goal is to make him realize that magecraft isn't everything. There are more important things he should be protecting."

"You know, don't you? A year ago, he gave Sakura to the Matou family, to inherit our Magic Crest."

Hearing this, Rin guiltily averted her eyes, quickly glancing at Sakura, but she didn't back down.

"Well, wasn't that something both families agreed to? Besides, you must be happy to have Sakura as your child, right, Uncle...?"

"Yes, I'm happy! I'm thrilled that Sakura came to the Matou family!"

Kariya suddenly raised his voice, startling Rin.

But Kariya was no longer concerned about Rin. Even though so much time had passed, the emotions that surged within him whenever he thought about this were still overwhelming.

"But that's me now, understand? Me, after that old man died, after I started a new life, Rin!"

"Tokiomi, that damned man... He had no idea what the Matou family was really like. Did he think the Matou family was still an ally? Still, practising proper water magecraft? Still proud to be magus?"

"No, no, not at all! A year ago, the Matou family was nothing but a desperate patriarch clinging to life, a filthy worm, and a house reeking of decay! It was hell, a hell so rotten I didn't even dare to return!"

"Do you know, Rin? A year ago, your dear father handed Sakura over to Zouken Matou, to that old worm who's lived far too long, and threw her into that hellish pit of worms!"

"If it weren't for Sakatsuki's help, your sister would no longer exist. Even if she were alive, she'd be nothing but a walking corpse... Tokiomi nearly killed his own daughter!"

Despite his efforts to remain calm, Kariya's words came out like a roar. Rin had never seen her uncle so distraught. As a child, she stood frozen, caught between her admiration for her father and the conflict brought on by Kariya's revelations.

How could this be...?

The man she had always seen as the greatest, most outstanding, and kindest adult she knew, her flawless father, whom she deeply admired, had done something so irredeemable...?

Sakura had fallen into such a fate...?

No, it couldn't be. It must be a lie... Her father just didn't know, that's all. Yes, he simply didn't know the truth about the Matou family!

It wasn't his fault!

Lost in confusion, Rin didn't realize she was muttering her thoughts aloud, her words defending Tokiomi reaching Kariya and Sakura's ears.

Kariya's expression shifted from anger to disbelief, finally settling into a cold, resolute look.

"Sakura, it's getting late. Go to bed."

"O-Okay, Uncle Kariya..."

Sakura stammered, glancing worriedly at him and her sister before obediently heading to her room.

Now, only Kariya and Rin remained in the dimly lit living room.

Staring at the dispirited Rin, a flicker of tenderness passed through Kariya's eyes before he raised his hand, tracing magical circuits in the air.

Ah... I see now. I finally understand, Rin.

"Uncle Kariya, you..."

Sensing the magical energy, Rin tried to pull herself together, but seeing the symbol Kariya was drawing, a wave of drowsiness overwhelmed her, causing her to sway and collapse.

Kariya stepped forward, gently catching her. With his free hand, he continued to draw another rune in the air.

It was a rune of memory supression, meant to seal memories.

"Sleep, Rin, and forget all of this..."

Kariya murmured softly.

At least until the Holy Grail War is over, forget what happened tonight.

Because I—must kill Tokiomi and seize the Holy Grail.

"Berserker."

The black knight appeared behind Kariya, picking up the sleeping Rin before vanishing.

Kariya stood up, the dim light casting shadows on his face, highlighting his tightly pressed lips and eyes filled with determination.

Tokiomi, as long as you exist, you will lead Rin down the wrong path, distorting her sense of good and evil, ultimately turning her into a cold-blooded magus like you.

You once told me that everything you did was for the sake of your beloved daughters. Even if Sakura and Rin were to kill each other for the sake of magecraft, you would only rejoice... Hah, how laughable, how utterly laughable!

Was it truly for your daughters, or for the path of magecraft you wished them to follow?

Your philosophy of education has become warped, Tokiomi. That's why I must stop you. I will stop you!

As he made this resolution, Kariya gazed at the distant stars, his tense expression gradually relaxing.

By now, Aoi must have noticed Rin's disappearance and be rushing over, right?

Aoi Tohsaka, the woman I still deeply love...

If I succeed, rejoice. But if I fail, don't weep for me.

This is all my own doing, the struggle of a despicable man seeking a second chance... even if what I gain may be poison.

As for Sakatsuki...

Kariya was no longer uncertain. He recalled the young man's farewell earlier that day and couldn't help but smile wryly.

"So you had already foreseen this possibility... You're truly terrifyingly clever, you little rascal."

He turned and headed toward his bedroom.

"Fine, at least for tonight, I won't interfere. Survive the other Servants' attacks, Sakatsuki."

"If you end up at a disadvantage, don't blame me for taking advantage of the situation."

As the last light in the room faded, the shadows hidden in the corners trembled slightly, as if something had departed.

***

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