Anime: Fight Sukuna at the beginning?.

Chapter 374: The One Accompanied by the Evil Spirit

"I swear here that I am the one who spreads all the evil in the world.

“But you should blind your eyes with chaos and serve my body.

"You are the one imprisoned in the cage of madness, and I am the one holding its chains."

Francesca's chant, which was different from the normal [Heroic Spirit Summoning], resounded throughout this somewhat gloomy and closed space.

The blood of thirty-seven children collected over several days and the [Summoning Circle] drawn with their internal organs gradually melted away.

The energy of the [Summoning Array] was replenished, filling the entire space with a blood-blinding light.

He observed that the [Summoning Circle] responded to his chant.

After further verifying the novel idea about the [Holy Grail System] that had been in his mind since he got the 'intelligence'.

Francesca held her breath and deliberately slowed down her speech.

He chanted the following prayer word for word like a child babbling.

Until the liquid in the glass bottle is almost boiling, almost knocking off the cork that is restraining it.

Only then did she reluctantly pull out the cork of the glass bottle containing the black liquid.

The chaotic pool of black mud, which exuded unprecedented malice and a burning sensation, was poured into the [Summoning Array].

It was like piling the last pile of dirt on the coffin, officially completing the farewell to the body.

He uttered the final summons.

"Put one piece of silver and one piece of iron.
"Close (fill it up), close (fill it up), open (overflow it), open (fall it down).

“There are five wounds that have healed.

"You are the Seventh Heaven who is entangled in the three great word spirits.

"Here comes the Wheel of Restraint, Guardian of the Scales."

As soon as the words fell, the "black mud" that had just rushed out of the bottle and touched the [Summoning Formation] was boiling.

It quickly cooled down and turned into a vague human shape.

Then, several invisible hands holding knives, axes and chisels suddenly appeared in the air.

It is like performing a detailed carving of the original stone through 3D printing.

After several minutes, this pool of black mud finally "hatched" out a handsome young man who gave people a good impression.
-
However, although the boy's hair exuded an unprecedented bright luster and was trimmed very neatly.

He also has an attractive appearance that can be called a beautiful boy.

But his eyes looked somewhat sick and gloomy.

And the next moment, in the dim space where the summoning circle was located.

As the young man lowered his head, the field turned into a vast flower field in an instant.

The young heroic spirit was at the center of the flower field, without seeing Francesca's face.

He bowed respectfully and exaggeratedly to the girl who no longer had the strength to walk.

Then, like Francesca, he opened his arms and shouted loudly.

"Haha! You actually summoned me here, Master, you really are a freak!
"Very good! Although I don't know what you expect me to do.

"But I won't let you regret it! I will let you enjoy it."

The boy hadn't finished speaking yet.

Francesca, who was already slumped on the ground, uttered the second half of the other party's sentence as if she had predicted it.

“Enjoy the joyful dream and ascend to heaven.

“Finally, a ride through a searing and mind-blowing nightmare that leads to hell!

“…Right.”

Francesca said the affirmative sentence and chuckled without waiting for the boy to respond.
-
In contrast, the lines that should have been spoken by me.

But someone else spoke it out first and returned it intact to the heroic spirit.

He tilted his head in confusion and spoke in a questioning tone.

"Hmm? Oh my? Huh? Huh?
"Master, could it be you?"

Francesca did not respond immediately.

Instead, he waved his hand and cast an [Illusion] to slightly shrink the flower field that the young Servant had summoned through the [Illusion].

Only then did he say the second half of the sentence.

"When you finish speaking, all the flowers in that flower field will turn into the arms of human children!"

The boy's pupils dilated slightly and he said in surprise.

"Hmm? Hmm? Could it be that you've summoned me before?

"The fact that you summoned me scared me, but the point is that you actually wanted to summon me a second time.

"He's simply a freak..."

But before the boy could finish speaking, he realized a shocking fact.

“It’s a lie, right?
"I summoned 'me', or I created 'me', that's not right!

"Is there something wrong with the Holy Grail War? An abnormal Heroic Spirit has infiltrated, and you're using this to activate an Illegal Summoning?"

Francesca responded by snapping her fingers.

“Although it’s not completely correct, it’s pretty close.

"I took advantage of the 'gap' in that archer-like Caster.

“It’s also a bit of hard work, like Santa Claus delivering presents.

"I was beaten several times before I got this 'mud' called 'The Evil of This World' from someone else, and then I created this 'evil spirit' like you.

Hearing the girl's reply, the boy burst into laughter.

"I can only say it's worthy of me!"

The flowers in the field responded to his laughter, transforming into children's arms growing from the ground.

As if to congratulate the two of them, the palms of the arms next to them clashed together, making a popping sound of applause.

Then, the two of them stretched out their hands in unison and interlaced their fingers.

They all spoke the same words with different tones but exactly the same meaning.

"Then! The contract is established!"
-
The young man spread his arms and recited his name in the flower field.

“My name is [François Pleurati]!
"The real Caster from the Holy Grail War."

When the boy showed an innocent smile, he continued to say the words to conclude the agreement.

"My Lord François...

“Alas, since it’s now in a girl’s body… then it must be our Lord Francesca Prelati.

"I promise to be your loyal servant and lead you to the Holy Grail!"

The girl also swore an oath.

“I swear too.

"So that you may obtain the Holy Grail in due glory, I will stake my soul to win the Holy Grail War honorably!"

Then, the moment when the boy and girl's smile turned cunning.

The two spoke the following words almost at the same time.

"Of course that's a lie!"

The young man expressed the desires of the two people as if reciting a ballad.

“I want to appreciate the tragic scene of the glorious man falling into depravity.

“I want to appreciate the disappointment of those who pursue their dreams but fail to achieve them.”

The girl also raised her head and began to recite.

"I want to watch the heroes of the epic fight each other like wild beasts.

"I will allow the heroic spirits within this Holy Grail to eliminate all distractions and compose a battle worthy of being called the 'Century'."

The two of them expressed their current goals in unison.

"Then let this be a fight that gives the winner information and exposes the existence of the mastermind behind this.

"Let the 'feast' that will continue what we seek through the Holy Grail War begin!"

The two burst out laughing.
-
After a while, the girl slightly stopped smiling and tried to activate the [Illusion] with a wave of her hand.

Looking at the scene where the injuries on her body recovered immediately, she said with satisfaction.

"As I expected, you are me and I am you.

"Although you are not a normal Heroic Spirit, but merely a 'person with similar experiences' who was given the name [François], an unnamed evil spirit 'created'."

"But in this somewhat special [Holy Grail War], which was transformed by someone unknown, there is this powerful connection between 'me' and me.

"I can also use your [Noble Phantasm] of 'Deceiving the World' like a Heroic Spirit." The smile on the boy's face became even more arrogant.

He spoke the second half of the sentence while feeling his somewhat 'incomplete' body.

"Well then, let me become stronger first."

The girl summoned a screen with a wave of her hand and pointed at the red archer on the screen.

“Then I’ll leave it to you, little brother François.

"Kill this 'fake' being infected by the 'black mud' and reclaim Caster's job.

"That should allow me to continue to grow stronger."

Watching the red archer touch a workshop on the screen.

The young man frowned slightly, and disappeared from the workshop with a move of his body.

He left behind a few words of disgust.

"That's disgusting, don't talk to me like that."

The girl smiled slightly as she watched 'herself' walking away.

Then, he uttered the word "regret" in a rather vicious way.

"Oh, did you forget to tell me something?

"It seems there's a Saber who can resist 'my' [Illusion]."

Thinking of this, the girl shook her head again.

“However, he went to Jill’s abandoned workshop.

"Where can you find someone else who can resist a barrier like [Illusion]?"
-
On the second night of the Holy Grail War, in a sewer.

An abandoned workshop of Caster Gilles de Rais.

The red archer standing in front of Emiya Kiritsugu opened his eyes wide.

After looking into the darkness for a moment, he expressionlessly turned off his Eagle Eyes, which enhanced his vision and made the night seem nothing.

He shook his head regretfully at Emiya Kiritsugu who was carrying a thermal imaging device behind him.

When the flashlight was turned on, the densely packed sewer was illuminated.

The bodies of children were piled up like a termite nest.

The corpses of children were observed, which had no intelligence value and were simply a 'spectacle' for evil fun.

After seeing the similar distorted expressions of despair on the corpses' faces.

Kiritsugu Emiya calmly picked up the intercom and started communicating with his wife outside.

'Protected' his innocent wife.

"There are no enemies in this workshop. You and Saber should remain on guard at the entrance and do not enter.

"I'll just do some cleanup work and get some intelligence."

Having said this, Emiya Kiritsugu stood up and took a few steps back, glancing at the red archer beside him.

The red archer understood and projected two [Gan Jiang Moye] swords.

He threw it with ease, performing a [Spell Reversal] with well-controlled explosive force.

The pile of corpses was destroyed, creating a deep pit like a cemetery.

Finally, two shovels were projected and one was handed to Emiya Kiritsugu.

The two of them were silent, wasting quite a while as if they were doing useless work.

The scattered pieces of meat in the corners were shoveled into the deep pit that served as a cemetery.

Finally, all the bloody things were buried with soil.

Neither of them spoke.

After doing all this, Emiya Kiritsugu did not leave immediately.

Instead, he lit a cigarette.

He leaned against the slippery sewer wall, puffing out a cigarette, as if he was recalling something.
-
And looking at Emiya Kiritsugu's melancholy look.

The red archer, who originally had great endurance, seemed tired and squatted down against the wall, which was rare.

He touched the slightly darkened area on his waist without leaving any trace.

After observing that this area has a tendency to gradually expand and searching for relevant memories in the mind.

A trace of worry that couldn't be told to others flashed in the red archer's eyes.

Judging from the invitation and the changes in my body, something unexpected and bad must have happened.

[If this continues, not only will the 'mission' not make any progress.]

【Judging from the speed at which the [Evil of This World] that appeared ahead of time is spreading, I don't have much time left.】

[I'm afraid I won't be able to hold on until the day my [wish] comes true.]

Thinking of this, the red archer subconsciously clenched his fists.

He looked at Emiya Kiritsugu who was lost in thought.

He turned around quietly, took a few steps, and turned a corner to avoid Emiya Kiritsugu's sight.

He came to an unknown corner and pounded the wall as if to vent his anger.

Just when his first punch was only a few millimeters away from the wall.

He regained his composure.

[It’s okay, this is just a small difficulty for me right now.]

[First, go find that Saber (Fang Yi), as long as...]

After quickly convincing himself, the red archer skillfully projected the [Holy Shroud].

Like putting on a raincoat, he wrapped himself tightly in this slightly white piece of clothing for the first time in a long time.

It also covers up the dark spots.

Finally, he returned to Emiya Kiritsugu's side as if nothing had happened.
-
And looking at the red archer in front of him wearing the [Holy Shroud].

Emiya Kiritsugu, who was smoking, seemed to have noticed something and instantly put out the cigarette in his hand.

A rare and somewhat unnecessary inquiry was made.

"Is there something happening to you that I'm not aware of?

"I haven't seen you for a few minutes and you've changed your clothes."

The red archer smiled and replied nonchalantly as usual.

“No, Master, you’re overthinking it, I’m just making some battle preparations.

“On my body.

"Nothing happened."

The next moment, the red archer's face changed suddenly.

He waved his hands and projected [Gan Jiang Moye], then held it in his hands and shouted at Emiya Kiritsugu.

"Master, get out of the way!"

When Emiya Kiritsugu heard the red archer utter a syllable, he switched to combat mode.

The world in his eyes also turned into a slow-motion video at 0.5 times the speed.

By using [Magic] [Inherent Time Control] [2x Speed] which puts a huge strain on the body.

He also saw the [Sea Demons] that were faintly emitting [Mental Pollution] and extending their tentacles to attack him.

While Emiya Kiritsugu was dodging, he also felt a bit confused.

[Enemy? How did they get in?]

Why isn't Saber, who is guarding the only entrance, here?

But before he could begin to think about how the enemy would invade.

A red archer was chanting "I am bone" and preparing to open the [Inherent Barrier].

But as if he sensed some strange existence, he opened his eyes wide and looked at [François] who suddenly appeared in front of him.
-
Looking at the red archer who seemed to be aware of something, a cruel smile appeared at the corner of the boy's mouth.

"Did you notice anything?

"But it's too late! You're already in my [Genjutsu]!"

"It's over, become a part of me!"

But the next moment, everyone's ears were filled with a weak male voice and the roar of the white female 'evil spirit' beside him.

"Finally made it. Looks like I arrived just in time."

It was the 'first appearance' of [Otsutsukotsu Yuta] and his [Jushiki Rika] who was like a [Shikigami].

(End of this chapter)