Fate/Magus Path

129 Serpent of Akasha?

At the moment Shiki Tohno confessed his crime, it was as though the world had collapsed for Akiha Tohno, who had always placed unwavering faith in her brother.

The sheer weight of shock and pressure caused her to fall back onto her chair, unable to maintain her composure.

Witnessing this, the two maids nearby rushed forward to support their lady, but it was already too late.

"Be careful."

A warm voice reached her ears. A sudden, inexplicable gust of wind arose within the spacious reception room. It was reminiscent of the breeze that had lifted Shiki back in the park. This mysterious current gently caught Akiha's frail body, preventing her from hitting the ground.

"Akiha!"

"Miss Akiha!"

Seeing that his sister was unharmed, Shiki Tohno wasted no time. He leaped to her side, pulling her into his arms, while the two maids arrived to assist.

Roy, observing this scene, remained silent, resting his chin on one hand as he carefully chose his words.

"Do not be too agitated, Miss Akiha. Your brother understands the weight of his sins better than anyone."

"Rest assured, I will not wrong him, but I also will not allow his transgressions to be overlooked. The mistakes one makes must be borne by oneself."

"...Yes, it's all my fault. Please, do not harm Akiha or anyone else. If punishment is necessary, I ask that it fall solely on me."

"Master Shiki!"

Facing Roy, whose power seemed boundless, and Arcueid, who had left a lasting impression on him, Shiki Tohno broke his silence. Gently passing Akiha to Kohaku's care, he stood tall, meeting Roy's gaze with unwavering resolve.

In this moment, he was prepared to face death.

Impressed, Roy's lips curved into a faint smile. The boy's resolve and sense of responsibility were qualities he admired... a fitting main character for this peculiar world.

Lowering his gaze slightly, Roy's tone turned playful. "So, you're saying you'll shoulder everything yourself?"

"That's correct. Since it was my wrongdoing, I must be the one to atone for it."

"And how will you atone? With your life?"

Roy's eyes narrowed, his voice cold and sinister.

Shiki swallowed hard. Though fear gripped him, the thought of protecting his family held him firm.

"...Fine. Please, spare Akiha. I'm willing to atone with my life."

"No, Brother! Don't do it!" Akiha cried, trying desperately to intervene.

Even Arcueid, who had harbored resentment toward Shiki, couldn't help but view him in a new light.

Despite being overwhelmed by fear, he still made such a choice. That was the intriguing nature of humanity.

But Roy had no intention of claiming Shiki's life.

Although he was intrigued by the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, their incompatibility with his fighting style rendered them of little value. Moreover, exploiting Arcueid's pain for his gain was something Roy would never consider.

With his goal nearly achieved, Roy decided to end the standoff.

"Relax. I already said I wouldn't take your life. You acted not out of malice, but circumstance. If I had deemed you truly irredeemable, you would not have survived our first meeting."