"A Spirit Contract Fragment huh!…"
Roland weighed the Spirit fragment that had been removed from his hand. It was as beautiful as a gemstone, yet marred by a visible chip. He silently pondered the clues provided by the Key of All Spirits.
(This spirit was created using inferior materials, resulting in a defective product. Please exercise caution when signing the contract.)
The only condition required for the Key of All Spirits to form a Spirit Contract was whether the target met the basic criteria. In all other respects, it was remarkably lenient. Whether the subject was alive or dead, or whether their soul had already been annihilated, none of it affected the formation of the Spirit Contract itself.
Roland had once vaguely suspected that what the Key of All Souls extracted was not merely ability or status, but rather a being's existence and value along the timeline itself.
So what, exactly, did it mean to use inferior materials?
"In that timeline, the most valuable part of the character had already been taken by the figures of the original work, leaving behind only the remnants that could still be called the character. Then, the passing Key of All Spirits plucked what little remained and, even with inferior materials, conveniently forged them into Spirit Contract Fragments?"
Unlike traditional mobile games where one must collect multiple fragments to synthesize a complete Spirit, the Spirit Fragment in Roland's hand existed in its most complete state from the very beginning. The term "fragment" was merely a descriptive label.
Thus, it was more accurate to call this thing an incomplete spirit rather than a fragment of a spirit. It still possessed a rating, but because it was incomplete, it could not be considered a true spirit.
This incompleteness manifested as deficiencies in abilities and even influence. Whether the remaining abilities were beneficial or harmful was itself a reflection of the spirit's residual value. What a flawed spirit could offer depended entirely on what useful elements remained within those remnants.
In the judgment of the Key of All Spirits, the value of such fragments was extremely low. From a purely cost-based perspective, Roland had suffered a loss by extracting nothing more than such miscellaneous remains from a complete Spirit Contract.
But when he considered future developments, Roland felt only that he had been favored.
He steadied himself and examined the description of the Spirit Pact fragment.
—Spirit Fragment [Enrico Pucci] (Uncontracted)
Characteristic: When you are in distress, you will subconsciously count prime numbers until you calm down.
Influence: Under the influence of Enrico Pucci, you will regard your chosen cause as supreme justice. Regardless of your actions, you will firmly believe that you are saving others. When encountering someone who can be preached to, you will be unable to resist spreading your gospel and will eagerly seek to gain new believers.
Granting Abilities:
The Gates of Heaven: You have witnessed and participated in a supreme ceremony. There is always the possibility of making appropriate modifications and interpretations to that ceremony in pursuit of true happiness.
Embers of the Soul: Originally a key capable of touching the realm itself. It has now vanished, leaving behind only extinguished embers.
Unknown: [Damaged]
Requirements for Use: A devout priest capable of controlling his own desires, who regards God's laws as absolute.
Digestion Requirements: While maintaining devotion to the divine, you must possess an object to whom you are willing to give everything. This person must occupy a higher place in your heart than the divine, and the laws that guide you must be more sublime than anything else within you.
[T/N: Even The 'Key of all Spirits' has acknowledged the No.1 Super fanboy Kirei]
"…Could this be from the Eyes of Heaven timeline?"
Roland carefully examined the listed abilities, the corner of his mouth twitching.
The most valuable aspects of this spirit, its Stand and its Destiny, had already vanished, leaving behind nothing but pure knowledge. The consequences of this loss were equally severe. It was no wonder the Key of All Spirits judged it to be a worthless, incomplete item.
Based on the description, Father Pucci's Stand before his death should have been C-Moon. From that perspective, calling this a blue-level spirit was not inaccurate.
Unfortunately, even if it were complete, Roland would not have been able to form a proper contract with it.
Blue-level spirits already imposed specific requirements on their contractors, such as bloodline or race. Pucci's spirit was particularly demanding even among them.
There were three separate requirements regarding personality, state of mind, and profession. The digestion conditions were even more peculiar. One had to possess such a will while maintaining piety. Such individuals were exceedingly rare throughout the universe.
"One of the essential factors… a trustworthy friend? So that's what it means…"
Roland chuckled softly, glanced in the direction of the church, and vanished before the cleanup crew arrived.
——
In the early morning, the doors of the deserted church slowly creaked open, allowing the cold morning breeze to flow inside.
Kotomine Risei held down the hem of his robe and turned his gaze toward the silent figure beneath the chapel.
Kirei Kotomine was conducting the day's prayer.
Although his faith in Roland surpassed all else, Kirei had never abandoned his identity or piety as a believer.
Hearing the door open, he instinctively turned to look at Kotomine Risei, whose face bore a sorrowful expression.
"Father? Has the cleanup been completed?"
While it wasn't unusual for his father to appear at the church at this hour, last night's explosion at the Tohsaka residence, the most prestigious family in Fuyuki City, was bound to cause widespread panic.
As the current overseer of the Holy Church, Kotomine Risei was already entangled in numerous affairs.
"Not yet. For now, we'll use a gas explosion as an excuse, and then subtly guide those who witnessed the incident. Combined with an official announcement, it should calm things down."
As he spoke, Kotomine Risei felt a dull ache forming at his temples.
The Matou family had suffered a sudden disaster just days earlier, followed so closely by the Tohsaka family. If anything else occurred, the situation would become unmanageable. Fortunately, neither incident resulted in civilian casualties, otherwise, it would have been far more difficult to suppress.
"Let's not dwell on this, Kirei. I've been waiting for you."
Kotomine Risei looked at the child who resembled him so closely, and the sternness in his eyes softened.
"I already know about Tokiomi's situation. Though it is deeply tragic, there was nothing that could be done."
The Tohsaka family's relationship with the Church stretched back many years. Despite the age gap, Kotomine Risei and Tohsaka Tokiomi had been close friends, close enough that Risei had even helped him cheat for the sake of the Church.
Unexpectedly, just as one Servant exited the stage, his old friend met a tragic end.
At the mention of this, Kirei Kotomine covered his face, his voice trembling.
"It's my fault. To avoid exposing the alliance, Sensei ordered me to remain in the workshop while he went to fight alone. I never imagined that Matou Kariya was prepared to die. He deliberately let Berserker withdraw first, and then used unknown means to perish together with Sensei."
Kotomine Risei sighed and gently comforted him.
"It's not your fault. You did everything you could. Your Servant is only an Assassin, you've already done more than enough. I believe Tokiomi would have found peace in that."
"The fact that this happened can only mean that God was not on the side of the Tohsaka family."
At these words, Kotomine Risei's expression lost its usual serenity and became solemn and dignified.
"Speaking of which, Kirei, have you formed a contract with Archer?"
"Yes. Although my teacher is dead, the Tohsaka camp has not yet fallen. I have no personal wish to be fulfilled, but at the very least, I must ensure that my teacher's efforts are not wasted. Others do not yet know of his death. As long as Archer continues to fight, regardless of whether we obtain the Holy Grail, the Tohsaka family's reputation will remain intact."
"Kirei…"
Kotomine Risei looked at his son with gratitude and no longer hesitated.
"I understand your resolve, but you must also understand a father's concerns. How many Command Seals do you have left?"
Kirei Kotomine extended his hand, revealing his intact Command Seals.
"…Not enough."
Kotomine Risei merely shook his head and calmly rolled up his sleeve, revealing an arm densely covered in red markings.
"These are the Command Seals left behind by previous Masters. Supplying Archer's mana on your own would be far too burdensome for you."
Kotomine Risei had concealed this extremely well. He had never told Kirei that the Overseer himself was the greatest cheater of the Holy Grail War—using the Church's authority as his shield.
The value of Command Seals as pure magical crystals was self-evident. Such a quantity was enough to shatter the balance of the war. Even Saber could be reduced to a puppet under such control.
If used extravagantly as a raw mana source, then with this number of Command Seals, even direct combat with a Servant would not be out of the question.
If Kotomine Risei's previous actions, allying his son with Tokiomi Tohsaka or using Overseer privileges to assist the Tohsaka camp could be considered loopholes, then the unauthorized transfer of Command Seals was undeniably an abuse of authority.
Had Tokiomi Tohsaka not died and unsettled his heart, Kotomine Risei would never have gone this far.
But now, he no longer cared.
"No need to worry. Exposed or not, you will be the successor of the Fuyuki Church after this Holy Grail War. I'm already exhausted. Kirei, please forgive my selfishness."
His voice was gentle. Though father and son were rarely affectionate due to their shared faith, Kotomine Risei's love was genuine.
"I know you still feel troubled and confused. Neither your wife's death nor Karen's circumstances were your fault. No matter what you become, I will always love you."
Kotomine Risei reached out. The Command Seal on his hand glowed crimson as the transfer completed. The old man then waved weakly.
"I'll go rest now, Kirei. I'll leave everything else to you."
"Thank you, Father."
Kirei Kotomine bowed deeply, concealing the barely restrained smile upon his face.
After Kotomine Risei disappeared, a curious voice echoed through the church.
Are you satisfied?
"Of course not, Lord Roland."
Kirei Kotomine turned to see Roland reclining casually against the back of a pew, his expression bored.
Aren't you curious why I don't deal with my own father?
"It's because he spoils you too much," Roland replied indifferently. "Even if you truly attacked him, he'd feel shock and pain, but never resentment. He has already fixed your image in his heart."
"Even if you commit a grave mistake, he would only blame himself for failing as a father. For someone who seeks pleasure through pain, that outcome is utterly hopeless."
Roland smiled playfully.
"Besides, how could that compare to the pleasure of betraying one's mentor?"
"So let's live together peacefully, like an ordinary father and son."
Kirei Kotomine rolled up his sleeve, raised his Command Seal toward Roland, and prepared to initiate the transfer. Roland vanished like a ghost and seized his wrist.
"There's no need. You'll need those more than I do to wring new pleasure from that troublesome King of Heroes."
Through forceful acquisitions, Roland already possessed nine Command Seals. He had little need for more.
"But… Lord Roland, there's so little I can do for you…"
Kirei understood his limits. His role as an agent was formidable in the underworld, but insignificant compared to Roland. Even so, Roland had accepted him without hesitation, and Kirei felt compelled to repay him somehow.
"Kirei, there's something I want to ask you one more time."
Roland smiled gently.
"Do you believe in destiny?"
Under Kirei's gaze, Roland slowly opened his hand. A flawed gemstone manifested and began to spin on its own, eventually pointing directly toward Kirei.
"I want to give this to you. If you refuse, I won't force you. But isn't the meeting of people also governed by destiny?"
"I don't know what kind of person you think I am, but I consider you a trustworthy friend. If you truly wish to step into my world, then take it. But once you do regardless of success or failure you will never return to an ordinary fate."
Kirei Kotomine trembled as he knelt, his pupils blazing. Under Roland's gaze, he answered not with words, but with action.
"Wherever you go, I will follow you to the very end."
The moment his fingertips touched the cracked gem, it dissolved, turning into a stream of light that flowed directly into his body.
In the next instant, sleepless darkness and budding happiness arrived simultaneously, stealing Kirei Kotomine's consciousness.
When he awoke, Roland was gone.
Kirei was not surprised.
He gazed upon the world with the clarity of a newborn, all emptiness and confusion erased leaving only fervor.
"Lord Roland, once I master this power, I will surely amplify yours."
His voice carried solemn reverence and unshakable resolve.
"All shall ultimately go to heaven."