The Exorcism Tale of Hachiman

"Okay, I'll go with you..."

Seeing that Karna's mind was made up, Artoria had no choice but to follow him into madness.

After all, if Karna hadn't taken on a significant portion of the Noble Phantasm's power, she would have already failed and been eliminated.

"So, thank you very much."

Karna did not refuse Artoria's offer to accompany him, although he didn't think Artoria could possibly charge with him to Gilgamesh's side...

"Well....."

Hikigaya Hachiman was dealing with the agile Kotomine Kirei. After the first two attacks confirmed that he was no match for him head-on, the opponent kept moving nimbly, trying to wear down his stamina and wait for him to make a mistake and reveal an opening.

Knowing this, but troubled by his opponent always slipping away like an eel at crucial moments, Hachiman Hikigaya could only maintain a high-frequency battle mode, trying to seize upon his opponent's mistakes.

But suddenly, more than half of the magic power in his body evaporated again!

Meanwhile, Kirei Kotomine, who was also moving, frowned.

Has something new happened to Karna and his group?

With his magical power instantly reduced by more than half, and considering that this might happen again later, Hachiman Hikigaya decided to use his trump card directly!

The immense power of the Inari spirit instantly surged from his body, and the light emanating from it in the very moment he appeared caused Kirei Kotomine to temporarily lose his sight.

"not good!"

Kirei Kotomine, whose magical energy was also suddenly drained, felt a flash of white light before his eyes and then could see nothing. He quickly retreated, and at the same time, three of the nine remaining Command Seals on his arm instantly disappeared.

One was used to repair his body, restore his eyesight, and replenish his lost magic power, while the other two formed a thick magic shield in front of him to meet any attacks that Hachiman Hikigaya might launch at that moment.

The roaring sound in my ears proved that Kirei Kotomine's decision was correct.

After transforming back into his masked form, Hachiman Hikigaya unleashed his divine power without hesitation, striking Kirei Kotomine.

But this seemingly sure-fire strike was once again blocked by Kirei Kotomine.

Not only that, seeing Kirei Kotomine retreating towards the house, Hachiman Hikigaya instantly chased after him, wanting to stop him from escaping into the room where Sakura and Irisviel were hiding.

"What is there in the house that he cares about?"

Upon noticing the unconscious anxiety on Hachiman Hikigaya's face as he worried about Sakura's safety, Kirei Kotomine instantly guessed what kind of 'tool' could threaten Hachiman Hikigaya behind him.

Recalling the little girl who was always by Hachiman Hikigaya's side but hadn't shown up today, Kirei Kotomine's face revealed a hint of understanding.

After hurling a few black keys to barely slow down Hachiman Hikigaya, Kirei Kotomine turned and rushed into the house.

Upon entering the dimly lit room, Kirei Kotomine was greeted by what appeared to be a rather messy space.

Without any hesitation, Kirei Kotomine rushed to the next room after finding no sign of his target in the room in front of him.

But suddenly, a huge sense of crisis came from behind.

Without the slightest hesitation, Kirei Kotomine rolled to the side to dodge the spiritual stream attacking from behind.

Feeling the violent magical energy brush past his back, Kirei Kotomine didn't look back, but instead rammed directly into the fragile wall in front of him.

The walls of the partitioned space, made of paper and wood, shattered with a crash.

Only then did Kirei Kotomine turn around and glance at Hachiman Hikigaya, who stood behind him like a golden light bulb, resembling Gilgamesh.

It has become stronger...

Instantly realizing that Hachiman Hikigaya's strength had increased significantly due to his transformation, and understanding that he was no match for him, Kirei Kotomine began to look around the room he had just entered, continuing his search for Sakura's whereabouts.

Soon, a noticeable drag mark on the floor caught his attention.

"Did you just pass by?"

The marks on the ground were very fresh, and Kirei Kotomine immediately realized that Sakura had just passed through this room, and that she seemed to be dragging something much larger than herself.

Kirei Kotomine wasn't interested in what Sakura was carrying with her. After determining the direction Sakura had gone, he immediately gave chase.

Midway through, Hachiman Hikigaya's attack came again. Realizing that his opponent was now faster than him, Kirei Kotomine continued to use a Command Seal to empower his body.

Under Hachiman Hikigaya's helpless and resentful gaze, Kirei Kotomine, who had been less than half a meter away from him, once again distanced himself...

"We only have five Command Seals left. If we don't capture the target before they run out, this mission will be a complete failure..."

Kirei Kotomine followed the path Sakura had taken, all the while mentally assessing the situation on the battlefield.

Since the beginning, Gilgamesh has been consuming his magic power at an increasingly rapid pace.

Although Gilgamesh didn't say anything, it's likely that dealing with both Karna and Artoria simultaneously was quite strenuous for him.

If things collapse on my end too....

Kirei Kotomine felt a sense of unease as he realized that Gilgamesh's side had not gained the expected advantage.

But seeing the sliver of light shining through the doorway, he instantly suppressed the feeling.

According to the intelligence gathered during the investigation, if he captures the little girl, Hachiman Hikigaya will definitely be hesitant to act against her!

Thinking of this, Kirei Kotomine brutally slashed through the paper door in front of him with the black key and rushed out.

"gone back?"

Rushing out of the paper door, Kirei Kotomine was surprised to find himself back in the courtyard where he had started.

"She's taking a detour!"

Kirei Kotomine, who instantly understood Sakura's plan, began to look around the courtyard. However, apart from the woman lying in the courtyard with her back to him, seemingly unconscious, he did not see Sakura.

"Where did you go?"

Kirei Kotomine, who is very confident in his tracking skills, is certain that he has not lost track of his target.

However, there's no sign of Sakura in the open courtyard...

"Is it there?"

Kirei Kotomine turned his gaze to Irisviel on the ground.

If it were a small child, hiding in the woman's arms on the ground, using the narrow space in their line of sight, they certainly wouldn't be seen by her...

Kirei Kotomine put away the extra black keys in his hand, leaving only one, and walked towards Irisviel.

However, upon circling to the other side of Irisviel, Kirei Kotomine discovered that Irisviel's arms were empty; his target was not there...

"........."

Kirei Kotomine's expression turned somewhat grim after failing to capture his desired target.

Especially when Irisviel, whom he thought was unconscious, suddenly opened her eyes, her eyes revealing clarity, and looked at him with a mocking expression, a surge of anger rose in his previously calm heart!

Chapter 258 The Final Battle (Part )

"Where's the kid?"

With anger in his voice, Kirei Kotomine grabbed Irisviel by the neck and questioned her.

Didn't you notice it when you passed by?

Irisviel's gaze toward Kirei Kotomine was filled with mockery.

"Just now?"

Upon hearing Irisviel's words, Kirei Kotomine was taken aback. Thinking back carefully, he did indeed sense a strange magical fluctuation when he passed by a certain room.

However, because he was in a hurry to catch Sakura and Hachiman Hikigaya was chasing after him, he didn't stop to check and quickly passed by...

"why?"

Kirei Kotomine couldn't understand why Irisviel wanted that child, even going so far as to use herself as bait to attract his attention.

Even though Hachiman Hikigaya played a significant role in the Einzbern family's defeat, why would Irisviel help her enemy?

"While Kiritsugu's death was partly their fault, aren't you the real culprit, Master of Assassins!"

Looking at the man before her, devoid of any emotion and resembling a killing machine, Irisviel's eyes were instantly filled with hatred.

A magician who would still participate in the Holy Grail War after the other six Masters have already revealed their identities, and who previously even considered using despicable methods like kidnapping children...

Who else could Kirei Kotomine be but the Master of Assassins?!

"This one..."

Kirei Kotomine nodded knowingly, understanding that Irisviel had chosen to help Hachiman Hikigaya on behalf of the deceased Kiritsugu Emiya.

Then the black key in her hand was plunged directly into Irisviel's abdomen.

"Well!"

Suddenly pierced by a sharp weapon, Irisviel's body trembled slightly from the sudden, intense pain.

Kirei Kotomine completely ignored Irisviel's screams, immediately pulled out the black key that was inserted into Irisviel's body, and then thrust it into the area where her kidneys were located.

After confirming that Irisviel would soon die from excessive blood loss, Kirei Kotomine nodded in satisfaction. He then waved his black key and quickly headed towards the only exit—the mountain gate.

"Irisviel?"

Not long after Kirei Kotomine left, Hachiman Hikigaya and Sakura, who had been delayed by meeting Sakura along the way, also arrived in the courtyard.

Looking at the white-haired noblewoman lying in a pool of blood, Sakura, who had been spared from disaster because of her protection, had a glistening tear in her eye.

"Brother, can you save her?"

Sakura tugged at Hachiman Hikigaya's sleeve and made her request.

Although Irisviel's current injuries mean that ordinary healing magic is useless, there might still be a chance if it were Hachiman Hikigaya!

"Well... I'll give it a try."

Lacking confidence in his ability to heal, he glanced at the empty mountain gate, then knelt down in front of Irisviel, placing his hands on the several piercing wounds on her lower abdomen, and channeled his Inari divine power in an attempt to heal them.

"Please don't worry about me."

Perhaps due to the power of the Inari deity, Irisviel, who had been lying on the ground seemingly on the verge of death, opened her eyes again after Hachiman Hikigaya began to treat her.

Seeing Sakura looking at her with concern beside Hachiman Hikigaya, a relieved smile appeared on her face. She then turned to Hachiman Hikigaya, who was treating her, and shook her head. "I can heal this kind of injury myself."

After saying this, seemingly afraid that the two would not believe her, Irisviel took the initiative to remove her already torn outer garment, revealing her flat stomach.

Sure enough, just as she said, the several huge holes in her lower abdomen caused by the black key piercing her healed rapidly under the watchful eyes of the three people, without leaving a single scar!

"this is?"