"Are you… telling the truth…?"
Although one eye was blind and half of his facial muscles were necrotic, Matou Kariya's expression of surprise was still difficult to suppress.
After Takatsuki dealt with all the Crest Worms attempting to escape, he returned to the first floor. The battle between Durandal and Lancelot ultimately ended with Matou Kariya's defeat.
Lancelot had already endured Takatsuki's initial attack, continuously consuming Matou Kariya's magical energy for recovery, coupled with high-intensity combat, Matou Kariya quickly couldn't withstand the gnawing of the Crest Worms and collapsed.
Lancelot also entered spiritual form due to magical energy issues.
After he told Matou Kariya their intentions, he was extremely surprised.
But after the surprise, he became wary again, because he couldn't believe that someone would actually come to help him.
"We're not helping you. We just can't stand this kind of thing, and besides, we've just arrived in Fuyuki City and need a place to settle down and some funds."
After saying this, Matou Kariya suddenly realized. So their main purpose was to occupy a strategic location. The Matou Family, which had been entrenched in Fuyuki City for many years, although not as good as the Tohsaka's ley lines, was still a good place. Building a barrier using the ley lines here would also be a good choice.
"So that's how it is. I am willing to offer the Berserker contract, I only ask that you do not harm Sakura."
Matou Kariya, the eldest present, knelt on the ground. His reason for participating in the Holy Grail War was to rescue Sakura from Matou Zouken's clutches. Although he didn't personally rescue Sakura, now that Matou Zouken had been dealt with, his objective had been achieved.
And he himself didn't have long to live. He had originally wanted to use Berserker to retaliate against Tohsaka Tokiomi before he died, but now, he only hoped to exchange it for a chance for Sakura to live.
"We originally…"
Durandal had just opened her mouth when Takatsuki stopped her with a hand. Although their original plan was to save Sakura, and the rest was just incidental, why not try to gain something more if they could?
To do others a favor and expect them to be grateful on their own?
That was a thought only someone who hadn't been beaten by reality would have.
However, there was indeed nothing left to extract from Matou Kariya.
"I heard that there should be a Matou Tsuruno in the Matou Family, no?"
"Big Brother… he has no talent for magecraft, so during the Holy Grail War, Matou Zouken sent him out to live and manage the family's businesses. He has no talent for magecraft at all, so he won't participate in the Holy Grail War."
Although the two brothers chose different paths, Matou Kariya still wanted to protect his elder brother, who was also the nominal head of the Matou Family at the time.
It was as if heaven was punishing the Matou Family; their magical talent became worse with each generation. In Matou Kariya's generation, only Kariya had a bit of talent, but he chose to escape and run away from home.
And Matou Tsuruno, having no magical talent at all, was abandoned and sent to manage the ordinary family businesses.
"I know. We won't bother unrelated people, but we're new here, with no place to stay in Fuyuki and no funds. You understand what I mean, right?"
Matou Kariya had been fending for himself outside for the past few years, so he was quite knowledgeable about human relations.
"I understand. I will contact Big Brother. You can freely dispose of the Matou Family's properties in Fuyuki City."
Although it was just for some money, since the other party said so, Takatsuki didn't say much.
"Matou Kariya, you are sensible. I won't beat around the bush with you. Your purpose in participating in the Holy Grail War is to rescue Sakura from Matou Zouken's clutches, right?"
The half of Matou Kariya's face that could still move twitched, and then he seemed to understand something.
"Yes."
Although he didn't know how he was exposed, he was the fish on the chopping block, and Matou Kariya himself had no other choice.
"Then, Matou Kariya, I'll give you a chance. At this moment, you must be full of resentment, right? Resentment towards Tohsaka Tokiomi, who took Aoi and pushed Sakura into the Matou Family that you desperately wanted to avoid. Resentment towards that Old Bug who has always been oppressing you and your brother. Resentment towards your own powerlessness to save Sakura. To save her, you could only feed yourself to the bugs, turning yourself into this inhuman, ghost-like state. Even if you aren't killed in this Holy Grail War, you won't live for many more days. Am I wrong?"
"Hehe… I don't know how you know these things, but you're not wrong. What's the point of saying this now? I'm already a Waste."
There was no hysteria as imagined. Although Takatsuki wanted to stir Matou Kariya's emotions, he was still completely immature in this regard.
"Are you satisfied with this? After you die, will Sakura, whose body has been modified by the Old Bug, truly be able to return to her original life? Don't you want to take revenge on Tohsaka Tokiomi, the culprit who caused all of this? Someone once said that everyone lives to overcome unease and fear, to live in peace. To die like this, unable to personally achieve what you wanted to do, can that truly bring you peace, Kariya?"
The two familiar names caused Matou Kariya's only responsive pupil to shrink slightly: "So what? What more do you want from me! I also want to protect Aoi! Protect Sakura! Avenge that hypocritical Tokiomi! But… but I've lost everything!"
Perhaps it was self-abandonment, Matou Kariya spoke such words without any reservations. Fortunately, Sakura was confined upstairs due to the intruders and did not hear this conversation.
"Then come and follow me. I will bestow upon you eternal peace."
"..."
Facts proved that not everyone could win people's hearts by speaking Dio's lines like he did. At least, Takatsuki's imitation sounded very awkward.
Even Durandal didn't know when she had retreated to the wall.
However, compared to Dio, who constantly doubted his subordinates' loyalty, gave them empty promises, and even planted flesh buds in them, Takatsuki had substance.
"Medea!"
"Coming, coming. What do you need me to do?"
Medea, in her spirit form, had been by Durandal's side. Hearing Takatsuki's call, she immediately materialized.
Although she felt Takatsuki's posture and words were strange just now, Medea didn't think too much, only feeling that this might be how adults do things.
"Use your Noble Phantasm on him."
Takatsuki pointed at Matou Kariya, who was slumped against the wall, and said.
"Okay, leave it to me."
Matou Kariya, who had been speechless since Medea materialized, felt his brain, eroded by the Crest Worms, was almost unable to think.
What kind of combination was this?
A man suspected to be Saber, a woman who could fight Berserker, and a girl who was clearly Caster.
This combination… they had already won half of this Holy Grail War!
"Be good and don't move. You have many bugs inside you, and the treatment might be a bit painful."