Zongman: Beginning with the Killer Queen

In the distant Einzbern Castle, Irisviel was in a hurry to sign a new contract with Saber.

The death of the Master is equivalent to the disappearance of the contract. Fortunately, Saber is beside him. Otherwise, if he could not find a suitable Master, he would leave the stage early without a fight, which would be too ridiculous.

After re-signing the contract, looking at the bright red Command Seal that suddenly appeared on the back of her hand, Irisviel murmured as if she hadn't realized it yet.

"Kiritsugu?"

"Master?"

Saber looked at Irisviel worriedly, feeling a little sad in her heart. According to the knowledge given by the Holy Grail, if the Master dies and the Command Seals are not taken away by others, they will be reissued to the right person.

Although he didn't know why the other party didn't use the command spell to call him, but as a knight, Saber couldn't feel bad if he couldn't save the Master's life.

After a few seconds, Irisviel recovered her emotions and began to speak calmly.

"Emiya Kiritsugu lost his status as Master today and officially died. I, Irisviel, will take over as Master of Einzbern and continue to participate in the Fourth Holy Grail War."

No matter what, for Illya's sake, she must go to Fuyuki City and win this war. Thinking of Illya's abnormal words calling her father before, a flash of determination to accept reality flashed in Illya's eyes.

Seeing Irisviel's expression, Saber saluted Irisviel again.

"Yes, Master."

——

After simply explaining to the store manager, Roland, who officially resigned, received a salary that was significantly higher than before, and left the convenience store with some reluctance.

"I didn't expect that the first person who fell in love with me in Fuyuki City was the place where I worked. What is this?"

Roland laughed at himself, recalling Qi Ling he had just seen.

Although according to the degree of change in the plot, it was already guessed that Qi Ling who escaped this time would be a very dangerous character, but he did not expect that it would be the soul of the Holy Lord.

That is the incarnation of black energy, one of the eight ancient demons, even if only the soul is left, it is not easy for him to fight now.

But it is different after being made into a Qiling. Even the Holy Master will not have self-awareness, and can only be reduced to an instinctive force.

The prerequisite for the Key of All Souls to create a spirit does not necessarily require a dead thing, but it is easier to make a spirit if it is dead.

Until now, Roland has not understood what the requirements and criteria for the Key of All Souls to create a Qiling are. A person with deep obsession like Emiya Kiritsugu has not turned into a Qiling?

With the precedent of Yoshikage Kira, Roland naturally knew that the Key to All Souls would not care about the state of the soul. What he ingested was more like the existence of that power itself.

Then why didn't Yusheng Ryunosuke and Emiya Kiritsugu succeed? What are they missing compared to Yoshikage Kira?

And, do I really have to pay that price to contract with the Holy Lord?

Roland's smile gradually faded away. He never thought that he was so great. Although he didn't like people who had a clear goal and gave everything for it, he could understand the consciousness that had to be paid.

What do those people think when faced with such a thing?

Roland didn't struggle with it for too long. His mobility has always been excellent. Since he doesn't know, why don't he just ask?

"It's really strange that you came late, did you encounter something?"

Jiantong Zouyan stood at the door of the old house, looked at Roland approaching, with a strange color in his eyes, and said in a teasing tone.

During the exchange of information and contacts in the past few days, he found that Roland is a person with a great sense of time, and he will never be late easily.

"Ah, it's nothing. I ran into the master of the Einzbern family on the road and killed him, wasting a little time."

Roland answered Matou Zouken's question casually, with his arms crossed, his face still full of confusion.

But Matou Zouken couldn't restrain his shock.

He has always been wary of Roland who came to him on his own initiative. This is not because he found any evidence, but because he is suspicious by nature.

But because my purpose this time is very pure, it doesn't matter to Matou Zouken whether or not the other party is planning any conspiracy behind the scenes.

Regardless of whether Roland really allyed with him or not, as long as he participated in the Holy Grail War, he would have to face off against other masters, it was nothing more than efficiency.

But killing a Master right now is too efficient, right?

"Einzbern? Is that the hired mercenary?"

"That's right, but the Command Seal was taken back by the Holy Grail, so it should probably be given to Einzbern."

"That kind of thing doesn't matter at all. Even if the contract is continued with artificial humans, it's not arrogant. Einzbern's level in actual combat is really not outstanding."

"Well," Roland replied absent-mindedly. After pondering for a while, he still asked the question in his heart.

"Matou Zouken, if the path to the sky is in front of you, but this path may distort your important things, will you still step into it?"

"Of course." Although he was puzzled about the meaning of Roland's words, Matou Zouken's attitude was a little friendly after seeing Roland's record.

"You are still too young. When you experience more things, you will understand that there is no need to hesitate at all."

"Human beings live by chasing certain things. Ideals, obsessions, and in the end, their own personalities may gradually change into the appearance of what they are chasing. Can you say that such a posture is distorted?"

Matou Zouyan originally wanted to explain to Roland, but as the words deepened, his own voice seemed to freeze, and it was so low that it was chilling.

He looked at his withered hands, which were disgustingly old, and quietly clenched his fists.

Longevity is his obsession.

No matter what price he pays, or how twisted his posture becomes, he will continue on this road and never regret it, because he has already paid too much.

Hey, what is the reason why the old man wants to pursue immortality?

After thinking for a while, Matou Zouken didn't come up with an answer, so he raised his head and looked at the thoughtful Roland.

"Socrates once said that the virtue of human beings is to shape the soul into a better posture. Everyone's pursuit is because of their own goodness. Roland, what are you pursuing?"

"It is eternal peace of mind."

Roland replied without hesitation.

He has always been very clear about this point. In order to maintain a peaceful life, he must overcome fear and anxiety and make himself feel at ease.

"Are you at ease? Then what you want to pursue is really profound," said Matou Zouken with an unpleasant laugh.

"The so-called peace of mind will also change when the vision is different. Ordinary people only need to get married, have children, and gain friends. When you have a prominent position, you will want to pursue wealth and power. When you have ideals , will seek the root, like a magician, or love and peace, as society advocates."

There was a sense of regret in Matou Zouken's tone of voice.

"Such desires may seem small, but they are actually extremely grand. Generally speaking, all human beings are pursuing these things. Human abilities are limited. This old man advises you to set your goals a little smaller, so that you may still be able to live comfortably for a while. paralyze yourself."

Listening to Matou Zouken's bitter words, Roland's eyes flickered, his eyes were as bright as stars, and a smile of unknown meaning appeared on his face, as if awakened.

"It's great, I'm gradually understanding everything."

He seemed to be confessing, but also sighing, Roland's tone was leisurely with a kind of passionate excitement.

"Human abilities do have limits."

"I did learn one thing from my short life. The more humans play tricks, the more they will be destroyed by unexpected situations, unless they become existences beyond humans..."

Scenes of these days flashed in his mind, Father Mapo, a perverted killer, a magician killer, or the damn Black Holy Grail.

Everyone broke into it unconsciously, destroying his peaceful life, which contributed to the current situation. In order to erase all anxiety, what is the price he has to pay?

Matou Zouken, who couldn't keep up with Roland's brain circuit at all, looked at this scene beyond his comprehension, and felt a rare feeling of fear towards the young man in front of him.

"what do you want to say in the end?"

Roland said softly with a cheerful smile that had never been shown before.

"——I am no longer a human being!"