Fate: I Will Eventually Become the Hero of Justice II

Chapter 295

As he sensed someone approaching from behind, the man swiftly spun around, aiming his handgun at Shirou. The dark barrel emitted a menacing aura.

"It's you." However, upon recognizing Shirou, the man paused, his grip on the handgun relaxing.

"Have you sensed something off about this place too, Kiritsugu?" Shirou raised an eyebrow and asked.

The man before him was none other than Emiya Kiritsugu, a former magus killer turned writer.

Kiritsugu nodded, not saying much.

Despite having given up being a Magus Killer for many years, he had always been a person of few words, keeping his emotions to himself. He had a reserved and serious personality, possibly channeling all his feelings and affection into his writings.

But Shirou found it a bit peculiar. Thanks to his ability as the Eternal King, he could sense that something was amiss. How did Kiritsugu also notice that something was wrong?

He posed the question to Kiritsugu.

"Earlier this afternoon, there was an unusual incident here. A massive tree mysteriously shattered into pieces. It made me concerned that a Dead Apostle or a rogue magus might be causing trouble in the city, so I decided to investigate under the cover of night."

"I see. But it seems like your skills have declined. In the past, you wouldn't have come here so openly,"

Kiritsugu shook his head and responded, "I've been observing from a distance with a sniper rifle for nine hours, and there haven't been any other disruptions. That's why I decided to come here."

"Did you discover anything?"

"Unfortunately, no. There are no signs of magical rituals or abnormal fluctuations in magical energy. It's as if there's nothing at all. What about you? The fact that you're here suggests that you've also noticed something, right?"

"Indeed, there's one over here, and another one in the high school division of Homurahara Academy. Two anomalies."

"Anomalies... huh? If it's a magus or a Dead Apostle, what could be their motive? Are they after the Holy Grail again?" Kiritsugu furrowed his brow. "But the Holy Grail's been sealed, and its Crystal has been taken away. Nine years ago, that Dead Apostle Ancestor, the Night of Walachia, drained the last bit of value from the Holy Grail. It's a worthless piece now. In theory, it shouldn't be a target anymore."

Out of nowhere, two tipsy office workers stumbled towards them, their arms around each other, engaged in a slurred conversation.

In an instant...

Shirou narrowed his eyes and swiftly grabbed the back of Kiritsugu's collar, giving him a forceful tug.

Then, he clenched his fist, causing a surge of black mud to rise and form a protective wall in front of the drunken duo.

"Boom—"

A sharp wave of sword-like energy sliced through the ground, aiming directly at Kiritsugu's previous position and threatening to strike the drunk men. But the wall of black mud stood firm, blocking the attack.

"What is happening?" Kiritsugu's grip on the gun handle tightened.

Three cracks split the ground, and strangely enough, the previously untouched black wall now bore multiple intersecting sword marks, as if they had always been there.

The once vibrant trees surrounding them inexplicably withered, their lush foliage replaced by lifeless, dry wood.

It all felt like some twisted prank being played on them.