"This is the thirteenth one tonight. Adding the twelve from yesterday, that makes twenty-five in this warehouse."
"We're getting closer and closer to the target set by Caster…"
Ryuunosuke muttered to himself, almost proudly, like someone counting a precious collection.
He led Rin and the boy into a dimly lit underground warehouse.
As soon as they descended, the smell was unbearable.
Inside, dozens of children were scattered across the dirt and concrete floor like discarded trash.
Some were trembling, others remained completely motionless.
Some didn't even react to the arrival of new "companions."
They were like broken dolls left behind.
"There are more and more police around. Let's take advantage of the situation and go search a few more areas."
Ryuunosuke murmured thoughtfully… like someone planning a new shopping route.
As the sound of his footsteps faded, his figure disappeared into the darkness of the warehouse.
Ten seconds later—
Rin's eyes began to regain their light.
"Ow…"
Her body collapsed carelessly onto the ground, scraping her palms against the rough surface. The slight pain was enough to help her mind break free from the control.
As she got up, her green pupils dilated to the limit when she finally saw what was around her.
"It's so dark…"
Rin pulled a gem from her pocket. It glowed faintly, with just enough magic not to draw attention.
She began to walk slowly.
Each step as careful as she could manage.
The sound of her breathing felt far too loud in the oppressive silence.
She illuminated each child around her.
Some were covered in dried tears, while others showed no expression at all.
Since she had heard the kidnapper say that the children from yesterday were also here, Rin felt her chest tighten.
"Kotone… you have to be here…"
She kept searching until she suddenly stopped.
"Kotone!"
She ran toward a small figure lying face down.
She turned the body over.
"..."
"As expected, Kotone is here too…"
Rin frowned, trying to stay composed, but her hands trembled visibly.
She knelt beside her friend and attempted the same method again… but this time, much more carefully.
She was afraid of hurting someone who already seemed so… fragile.
A magical needle began to form at her fingertips, but then she felt a chill run up her spine.
Rin slowly raised her head and saw the orange-haired young man standing there, watching her.
How long had he been there?
How much had he seen?
"Oh my… so you do know a few magic tricks."
His smile widened.
"Good thing I kept an eye on you."
"I… I… I…"
Rin's body began to tremble violently.
Fear crushed her concentration.
The magic in her fingers dissipated like smoke.
Without thinking, she turned and ran.
"Ah!!!"
But her feet couldn't keep up with her urgency.
She tripped and fell hard onto the ground.
When she looked back, she saw it—
Something sticking out from a half-open cabinet.
A leg.
Panicking, Rin instinctively recoiled, and whatever was hidden inside spilled out.
They were human body parts, grotesquely piled together like mismatched pieces of a macabre puzzle.
The stench of decay hit her all at once.
"Blerrgh!!!"
Rin immediately vomited, her entire body convulsing as tears streamed down her face.
Her eyes, filled with pure terror, slowly lifted and met Ryuunosuke's.
He was approaching her slowly, smiling.
"Don't come any closer!"
Her voice cracked, desperate.
"Oh, look at this!"
He spread his arms, as if presenting a piece of art.
"We're getting ready to throw a party… but we don't have enough people."
His eyes shone with excitement.
"So we need a great mediator like you to help us."
As he spoke, he kept advancing.
And Rin could only retreat further and further.
She ran, he chased—but she couldn't escape.
Her footsteps echoed through the warehouse like a desperate, uneven drum, her small feet slipping on the dirty, uneven floor. The heavy air seemed to cling to her lungs, turning every breath into a struggle.
Before long, she stopped—no, she was cornered.
Her back hit the cold, damp wall, the impact making her vision waver for a moment. There was nowhere left to go.
Ryuunosuke approached with slow, carefree steps… like a hunter who already knew his prey had no escape. Then he grabbed Rin by the hair.
"AH—!!"
Pain exploded across her scalp as her head was yanked back brutally, exposing her face to that twisted expression.
"If Caster knew I captured a mage, he'd be thrilled, hahaha!"
Ryuunosuke laughed with pure, childlike joy… completely detached from reality. His eyes sparkled like those of a child who had found a new toy.
"Let me go!!"
Rin struggled with everything she had, but it was useless.
Her small, fragile body stood no chance against an adult's brute strength.
"That won't work!"
Without effort, he maintained control.
With his left hand, he pulled her hair, forcing her to stay still. With his right, adorned with the purple bracelet and marked with Command Seals, he grabbed Rin's face tightly, his fingers digging into her cheeks.
Rin's eyes were involuntarily drawn to the glow emanating from the bracelet.
Her body froze, and her expression began to fade… replaced by a growing emptiness.
This is…
So this bracelet is what enchanted Kotone and the other children!
The thought echoed like a scream in her mind.
And with it came anger and determination.
Rin's gaze hardened instantly.
Without warning, she shouted and grabbed the bracelet on Ryuunosuke's wrist with both hands.
"Huh? What are you doing?"
He tilted his head, curious, as if watching an animal do something unexpected.
Rin didn't answer.
Everything she had left was poured into that single act.
She channeled all her energy into the bracelet—
And the purple bracelet shattered.
CRACK—
The explosion sent Ryuunosuke flying backward, his body crashing violently against the ground.
The moment the bracelet broke, a purple mist began to detach from the bodies of the children scattered throughout the warehouse.
Soon after, one by one, they began to wake up.
Some crying.
Some screaming.
Others simply looking around, completely lost.
"Kotone!"
Rin ran, ignoring the throbbing pain in her head, and found her friend among them.
"Kotone!"
"Rin? Where are we?"
The girl's voice trembled—confused, innocent… completely unaware of the hell she had been in.
Rin didn't answer. She grabbed Kotone's hand tightly.
"There's no time to explain! Let's run!"
Her voice came out loud and firm… even though her body was on the verge of collapse.
The children, still in shock, began crying louder, but Rin's tone was enough to make them move.
She guided them out of that place.
"Damn it! My back!"
Ryuunosuke tried to stand immediately.
But after taking just two steps, his body froze.
He grabbed his lower back, his face twisting slightly as he leaned against the wall.
His breathing came out uneven—but then he began to laugh.
"This is the second time! How dare you!!!"
BANG!!!
He punched the wall with all his strength.
The skin on his knuckles split open, blood dripping down, but he didn't even notice—or didn't care.
His eyes were completely consumed by madness.
Suddenly, he raised his right hand.
He looked at the three Command Seals, intact, glowing a vivid red against his skin.
"Since there are three… it shouldn't be a problem to use one here, right?" he muttered to himself.
Like a child deciding to break a toy just to see what would happen.
"By my Command Spell… I order you to come at once, Caster!!!"
No normal person would use such a precious resource as a Command Seal so carelessly in the Holy Grail War.
But Ryuunosuke was not a normal person.
---
(End of Chapter)