Fate/Zero: A Different Path

Chapter 5

1 year later

The moment I saw that vial in his hand, I know the end is about to near

My eyes followed my father's movement, gently shaking the small glass bottle in his hand. The liquid inside sloshed around slowly, but dangerously, gleaming a deadly red under the lamp's light

"Father..." I felt my mouth dried "What is that?"

"Oh, this?" As though snapping out of his thinking trance, Norikita raised the object up questioningly. I nodded, not trusting myself to speak "It's a substance I developed that can be used for anti-aging. Pretty neat, wouldn't you say?"

The description itself would not look out of place if he was a beauty product seller. But Norikita is a Magus, and the pit of dread in my stomach only expanded further

"And, what does it do and how did you create it?"

"As epected of my son, that's the first thing you ask huh?" The man sighed wistfully "This potion is made up of blood cells extracted from deceased Dead Apostles I bought on the market. After researching their core components, I had came to the conclusion that their cells can reverse time upon death so as to retain their functionality at optimal capacity"

I mutely nodded

"But that is not all" He raise a finger "They are much more compact than most human cells, allowing for complex biological maneuvers that should not be possible for the body of a normal Magus to handle. Their resistance to certain aspects of Magecraft that can harm their innate operation is incedible"

"Resistant to external change on a molecular level?" My eyes narrowed, widening just seconds later "But that would mean time Magecraft-"

"Spot on, Kiritsugu. Consuming this extract will help us become immortal. As long as we keep ourselves safe over the centuries we will be able to witness the end of time. Or if it failed, we would still have opportunities to gain further understanding of our Time Control"

"That is...it sounds unsafe, father" 

"Of course it is, Kiritsugu" Before my eyes, father started listing off the inherent danger and reasons why it's a bad idea to inject the blood cells of a goddamn vampire into their own veins

"Not only would you lost your sentience, your sense of intellect would be hampered by a constant bloodlust distinctive of the Apostle kind. In return for that supposed immortality I'm afraid all sense of rationality would be lost all too easily" Obviously "In recapitulation, with some workings I could develop a way to dampen to the effects to an acceptable degree. Once that happens we'll finally have enough time to continue on with our project of reaching the Root"

"So you wouldn't drink it right now, is my interpretation right?" I further inquired

"I would not be so shallow in judgement as to consume this, yes"

Suffice to say, the answer given is unsatisfying

I had my doubts. Father had chosen to listen to me either out of a necessity for opinion or merely a need to reinforce his own. However, one thing for certain is that whenever Norikita Emiya had set his sight on something, no amount of convincing would deter him that path he'd chosen

The facct is that this man before me, despite being a doting father, was one of the most wanted man in the Mage's association with a first-ranked Sealing Designation on him wasn't forgotten after all this time. There is no doubt the things he'd done in the past would be unconventional at best and downright horrifying at worst

Gritting my teeth, I have no choice but to stay silent

The result to this would show themselves soon