The Exorcism Tale of Hachiman

Thinking that the fox spirits all served Inari, Hachiman Hikigaya nodded.

"Then your identity isn't simple either..."

Upon hearing Hachiman Hikigaya's affirmative answer, Karna gave him a meaningful look.

Even if those divine servants did not belong to Hachiman Hikigaya, based on their attitude towards him alone, he had a rough idea of ​​Hachiman Hikigaya's identity.

"Brother, does Karna mean you are a god?"

Hearing Karna's words, Sakura looked up and asked curiously.

"how is this possible?"

Hachiman Hikigaya was both amused and exasperated, and then recounted his identity as a person from another world to Karna.

If any god had ended up like him, they would probably have cried themselves to death long ago.

He merely made a deal with an extremely weakened god, gaining one-seventh of the god's power in return...

Chapter 239 Saber's True Master

As the three returned safely to the inn, Kiritsugu Emiya was also brought to the inn's entrance by the Inari fox spirit.

When the two groups met, Kiritsugu Emiya looked at Hachiman Hikigaya with a look of surprise on his face.

Since he did not have specific information about the battle in the city center, he was unaware that the Inari God Fox was sent out by Hachiman Hikigaya.

Before this, he had always thought it was the Tohsaka family that was hunting him, but he never expected it to be Lancer's Master...

"Emiya Kiritsugu?"

As Kiritsugu Emiya observed Hachiman Hikigaya, Hachiman Hikigaya was also looking at the man before him, a man considered a disgrace by countless magicians.

Even now, despite being severely injured and captured, he maintained an indifferent expression, as if dying the next second wouldn't matter.

"It's me. May I ask why Lancer's Master has captured me here?"

Kiritsugu Emiya was not surprised that Hachiman Hikigaya would recognize him.

After all, in some respects, he is a household name in the magic world.

In contrast, Kiritsugu Emiya was quite curious about Hachiman Hikigaya—who suddenly appeared in Fuyuki City a year ago, obtained the qualification to participate in the Holy Grail War, and then suddenly disappeared, only to reappear a few days ago with the second daughter of the Tohsaka family.

Kiritsugu Emiya has always taken a very serious look at Hachiman Hikigaya, an opponent shrouded in mystery, since the beginning of the Holy Grail War.

Unfortunately, Hachiman Hikigaya was extremely vigilant, changing his base daily and maintaining a remarkably clean network of intelligence. Neither his own nor the Einzbern family's intelligence network could find traces of his past life...

"I am a participant in the Holy Grail War. You should know very well why I captured you, right?"

Hikigaya Hachiman found Kiritsugu Emiya's question somewhat amusing.

As an off-field assistant for the Einzbern family, doesn't the other party have any self-awareness?

"Well, I'm not one to kill innocent people indiscriminately. So I'll just have to make you wait until the Holy Grail War is over before I release you..."

Hachiman Hikigaya, who had always believed that Irisviel was Artoria's Master, was unaware that the man in front of him was the real one.

Considering that he had no conflict with Kiritsugu Emiya, and that the other party was already half-crippled.

Therefore, Hachiman Hikigaya did not intend to make things difficult for Kiritsugu Emiya; he only intended to imprison him until the end of the Holy Grail War and cease providing assistance to Irisviel.

However, just as Hachiman Hikigaya waved his hand to let the foxes take Kiritsugu Emiya away, Karna reached out and stopped him.

"What's wrong, Karna?"

This was the first time Karna had taken the initiative, and Hachiman Hikigaya looked at Karna, who suddenly reached out to stop him, with a mixture of surprise and confusion.

"He has a problem."

Karna spoke quite bluntly, his eyes fixed on Kiritsugu Emiya.

In his vision, everything was constructed entirely of magic.

Within the magical energy belonging to Kiritsugu Emiya, he could clearly see a thread extending into the distance...

"Saber's magic is provided by him; he is the true participant of the Einzbern family in this competition!"

"Oops....."

Upon hearing Karna's deduction, Kiritsugu Emiya's heart sank instantly.

Hachiman Hikigaya only let him go because he thought he posed no threat. Now that he knows he's Saber's Master, his fate is probably...

"Karna, are you sure?"

Looking at Kiritsugu Emiya, Hachiman Hikigaya frowned.

If Kiritsugu Emiya is indeed Saber's Master, then this is truly a difficult problem for him to face.

"Unless Saber appears before us now, I cannot be certain."

Karna shook his head.

He only saw a magical energy line connecting to Kiritsugu Emiya, but he didn't know exactly where it led.

"So, does that mean it's suspected?"

Hachiman Hikigaya pondered, his hands clasped in his hands.

In his mind, it was practically a done deal.

After all, he had spent some time with Irisviel before. Although Irisviel and Artoria got along very well, he didn't feel that it was a relationship between a Master and a Servant.

But what should he do with Kiritsugu Emiya?

If it were any other contestant, they might have been killed by Kiritsugu Emiya, thus eliminating Saber from the competition.

However, Hachiman Hikigaya had no intention of trying to steal the Holy Grail. If the Holy Grail hadn't inexplicably come to him and prevented him from returning to his own world, he would have already taken Sakura back.

"Killed?"

Raising his head, Hachiman Hikigaya asked Karna with a hint of uncertainty in his voice.

Although killing Kiritsugu Emiya might provoke hatred from Irisviel and the others, Hachiman Hikigaya, who was about to leave after the Holy Grail War, could completely ignore such a thing.

The adorable Irisviel and Artoria gave Hachiman Hikigaya a very good impression, which inexplicably made them hate him; it was purely for no reason.

"It all depends on your opinion, Master."

Karna passed the ball back to Hachiman Hikigaya without hesitation.

He certainly longed for a fair fight with Artoria, but if it were for the sake of Hachiman Hikigaya, eliminating Kiritsugu Emiya now and causing Artoria's elimination wouldn't be out of the question.

"That's it..."

Upon hearing Karna's words, Hachiman Hikigaya nodded, then looked at Kiritsugu Emiya again.

"and many more!"

Sensing that Hachiman Hikigaya's gaze was clearly filled with murderous intent, Kiritsugu Emiya raised an eyebrow and quickly spoke up.

He was not afraid of death, but it would be a great pity to die before he could fulfill his long-cherished wish!

"Is there anything else you want to say?"

Hachiman Hikigaya looked at Kiritsugu Emiya, who had suddenly spoken, and asked him curiously.

If his words fail to sway him, his decision will not change.

"I think we can join forces. With Saber around, your chances of obtaining the Holy Grail will be much higher!"

Taking a deep breath, Kiritsugu Emiya attempted to use the Holy Grail to draw Hachiman Hikigaya's attention.

"Join forces?"

When Hachiman Hikigaya initially believed Irisviel to be Saber's Master, he did indeed intend to join forces with her.

After all, Irisviel's character is trustworthy.

However, if Hachiman Hikigaya were to choose to join forces with Kiritsugu Emiya after discovering that Kiritsugu Emiya was Saber's true Master, he would be incredibly stupid!

Chapter 240 The Night of Battle

"I'm sorry, but I have no intention of joining forces with you..."

As he spoke, Hachiman Hikigaya waved his hand, signaling Inari the Fox to make his move.

Teaming up with a guy who likes to take sniper shots, Hachiman Hikigaya felt he hadn't lived enough yet.

While the Inari fox spirit is better at dealing with enemies like evil spirits, it is equally adept at quickly killing humans.

Several golden chains instantly appeared in the hands of several chibi priestesses, and then wrapped around Kiritsugu Emiya's neck and various parts of his body!

"I command you with a Command Spell, Saber, come to my side immediately!"

Noticing the chains around his neck tightening, Kiritsugu Emiya had no choice but to use one of the Command Seals he had just transplanted into his left hand to make Artoria abandon Irisviel and teleport to his side instantly.

"Master?"

While Artoria was on the run with Irisviel in her arms, she suddenly felt a blur before her eyes.

Then Irisviel in his arms vanished instantly, and she herself appeared beside Kiritsugu Emiya.

"Saber, get me out of here!"

"I understand!"

Although she was very surprised to see Hachiman Hikigaya, Artoria, who had long known this day would come, instantly swung her sword at the priestesses around Kiritsugu Emiya.

"when!"

The invisible longsword struck the golden chain, producing a metallic sound.

Immediately, a priestess was sent flying by the immense force transmitted through the sword.

Seeing their companion being knocked away, the remaining fox witches immediately hurled their chains at Artoria.

At the same time, the two people at the front transformed into white foxes again and rushed forward to block them.

"Karna!"

Hachiman Hikigaya naturally couldn't just stand by and watch the Inari God Fox be attacked by Artoria without doing anything.

No sooner had he finished speaking than Karna, who had been waiting nearby, stepped in front of Artoria with his spear, saving the two foxes from being cut in half.