Why fight the Holy Grail War? Let's play cards!

Chapter 15: So, he became the person he hated

A golden-red light swirled around his fingertips, and as the cards were drawn out, a violent airflow swept across the entire venue.

"I activate the fake card among fake cards [Bitter Choice]!" Jiang You decisively activated his skill. This card [Bitter Choice] is usually not found in the deck no matter how you look through it, but it is destined to be the first position in the search. Such a powerful card should naturally be used if possible.

"This card can only be activated after sending three cards from your deck to the Graveyard. I've chosen [Cloak of Heaven]*2 and [Saint Jeanne d'Arc]! Come on, Matou Zouken, choose your death!" Jiang You admitted that he displayed [Saint Jeanne d'Arc] just for show; it would have been even better if he could summon it. Otherwise, he would have just used three [Cloak of Heaven] cards, and it would have made no difference what he chose.

"Saint Joan of Arc?" Matou Zouken hadn't expected Jiang You to have such a Servant in his deck. Considering Joan's reputation, he naturally wouldn't choose to add [Saint Joan of Arc] to Jiang You's hand. The Einzbern family's ceremonial attire seemed less important in comparison. "I'm choosing [Clothes of Heaven]. The only Caster associated with Joan of Arc is Bluebeard, right? Your appearance and Noble Phantasm don't match at all. Who are you?"

"Jiang You, that's what's written on the Heroic Spirit panel. As for the skin, I'd like to know too. Also, you old bug, you're such an eyesore! I'm activating the Quick-Play Spell Card [Origin Bullet] from my hand! [Matou Zouken], get down there!!"

The bullet with the concept of cutting and connecting pierced through Zouken Matou's heart. Zouken Matou was unable to activate the effect of Daipo and had to leave the field.

"It's useless. I can still return to the field next turn!" Matou Zouken looked at the [Marking Bug] on the field and felt somewhat relieved. It could at least block two attack frequencies. He just didn't know which Servant card Jiang You would give him.

"You don't think you'll have another turn, do you? Activate the effect of [City of Snow] and add [Illyasviel von Einzbern] to your hand again." Jiang You took the second basic card of Illya in his hand. "I won't repeat the effect. I Special Summon [Illyasviel von Einzbern]."

"I didn't expect to be back on stage so soon. Well done, Caster." Illya noticed the scene was exactly the same as before she left. "Same old situation, right?"

"If I hadn't run out of cards, I wouldn't have kept using you." Jiang You looked at Illya with resentment. He only had two cards that could truly be considered terminal, and Jeanne d'Arc was still in the graveyard. "I Normal Summon [Cloak of Heaven], 2 + 4 = 6. Hope, still in its infancy, is like a spark. One day, it will spread its wings and soar into the sky! Come, [Illyasviel von Einzbern [Cloak of Heaven]]!"

[Illyasviel von Einzbern [Cloak of Heaven]] Attack 2500 → 3000

Looking at the Servant Cards in the graveyard, Jiang You suddenly burst into laughter. "I suddenly thought of an interesting idea. Activate the effect of [Illyasviel von Einzbern [Cloak of Heaven]] to Special Summon [Machiri Zorgon] from the graveyard! Come on, Matou Zouken, meet your former self!"

【Machiri Zolgen】Attack Power 1800

A man with pale skin, melancholic face and blue seaweed hair appeared in the battle area. He was wearing a slim black suit and his straight body made him look unusually tall.

"What kind of magic is this?"

"Good evening, Machir Zorgen, welcome to 200 years later. This is Fuyuki, and we are currently engaged in the Fourth Holy Grail War." Jiang You gave Machir Zorgen a brief introduction to the current situation.

"The fourth time? Does that mean the Heaven's Grail ritual hasn't been completed in all this time?" Machiri Zorgen shook his head in disappointment. In his timeline, he was still collaborating with the Einzberns and the Tōsakas to complete the Heaven's Grail, but he didn't expect this to suddenly be a spoiler. "Then the person next to me is the descendant of the Winter Saint, right? What a resemblance... A duel? What an interesting Noble Phantasm. Servant, who is your opponent?"

Jiang You had been waiting for this moment. He pointed at the old bug across from him and said, "It's Matou Zouken, Makiri Zoruken-san."

"Then isn't he the founder of the Matou family?" Illya looked at the blue-haired seaweed-headed man beside her in surprise, and couldn't connect him with the old bug at all.

"Me?" Machiri Zolgen felt Zouken Matou's magic, and it was indeed very similar to his own, even matching every little detail. He then looked at his own card's effect. "Used as 'Matou'? It seems so. What on earth has happened to this disgustingly corrupt magic?"

"Why don't you ask yourself? Ask him about your own long-cherished wish." Jiang You made a "please" gesture and gave the stage to the same person with a time difference of 200 years.

"My old self?" Matou Zouken kept smiling. "What a young body! I miss it so much."

"What happened in these 200 years? I shouldn't be able to live past 200 years. How did you do this?" Machili Zolgen felt his heart beating faster and he had a premonition that he would hear some unacceptable answers.

"What happened? I've forgotten a lot of things, they're just unimportant. As for your lifespan? Wouldn't it be better to just capture ordinary people and use them as a breeding ground for insects?" Matou Zouken chuckled, as if it were a trivial matter. He figured since they were all the same, their thoughts would probably be similar, so he kindly reminded them, "It's about time you did the same. The feeling of aging isn't pleasant."

"You... do you know what you're doing?" Machili Zolgen looked at Zouken Matou in disbelief and pressed, "Have you completely forgotten me, our dedication, our long-cherished wish?"

"Because I haven't forgotten, I've been doing it all the time, haven't I?" Matou Zouken uttered those words, "Eternal life!"

"It's to eradicate all the evil in this world!"

Machiri Zolgen shouted, fully understanding the difference between Zouken Matou's magic and his own. It was all a transformation designed to perpetuate life. Now, he wasn't so much a magus as a swarm of insects, a swarm of obsessions called Zouken Matou. All his lifelong efforts and pursuits had vanished, leaving only this name and the magic that perpetuated his sin.

"That's why I wanted to eradicate the evil in human nature... but I didn't expect to end up like this." Machiri Zolgen looked a little lost. "Servant, can I ask a favor of you?"

"Send me to hell, Matou Zouken. I don't want to see my soul decay any longer. Let this mistake end here!"

[Machiri Zorgen Favorability Reward [Machiri Zorgen]*1 has been sent via email, please claim it promptly]

"Leave it to me!" Jiang You nodded, resolute in his belief in continuing the storyline. "Well, it's time to end it!"

Chapter 16 Someone is stealing my home across time and space

"When this card is Special Summoned by activating the effect of [Machiri Zolgen], select an opponent's Level 2 or lower non-master Servant and gain control of it."

As the developer of the Command Spells, Machiril Zolgen's control over familiars has reached an astonishing level, and the [Marking Bug] was transferred to Jiang You's field.

"Sakura, I'm sorry, you need to bear with it for a while." Jiang You comforted her in advance because he was afraid that Sakura Matou would recall the bad past.

Seeing Matou Sakura nod slightly without him even noticing, Jiang You knew his favorability rating was stable. "Entering the battle phase, [Marking Bug] attacks [Matou Sakura]! Sakura, I need you, come to my side."

As the engraved worm was destroyed, scarlet lines exploded on Sakura Matou's body, and Sakura Matou came to Jiang You's battle area.

"This Matou Zouken isn't from your timeline, so feel free to vent your hatred here. [Matou Sakura] launches a direct attack on Matou Zouken!"

Because someone made the decision for her, Matou Sakura followed her heart, and the continuous sound of the bowstring sent several arrows into Matou Zouken's head.

Matou Zouken inkstone LP1500→LP300

"Finally, Machiri Zorgen, I leave it to you. Put an end to a future you didn't expect! [Machiri Zorgen] launches a direct attack on Matou Zouken!"

"No matter how much you refuse to admit it, I am still your future self. You will eventually become like this." Seeing his past self rejecting him like this, Matou Zouken grinned, "I was naive sometimes too."

"Matou Zouken, if I become you, I might as well end my life here." A firefly-shaped familiar condensed in the air. Upon closer inspection, the tiny sparks were each a Gandr. "Farewell, future me. This body, devoid of ideals, has no need to exist!"

Dense Gandr attacked Zouken Matou. In the explosion of magic power, the dying Zouken Matou seemed to see a white figure.

Who was it? Matou Zouken felt very familiar, but he couldn't remember who it was.

Matou Zouken LP300→LP0!

The battle was over, and Matou Zouken could no longer maintain his form. His body, composed of magical energy, was gradually crumbling. "This pain, this pain of decay, is truly unpleasant."

It seems that a lot of magic materials will be needed to resurrect him, Matou Zouken thought so, but he found that his consciousness was locked in this body.

"How...how is this possible?" Almost all of Matou Zouken's energy was now focused on preserving his life. He considered himself number one in this era when it came to survival skills, yet now dozens of his magecraft methods had completely failed. He was vaguely aware that his soul was anchored here. "No, no, Caster, I submit to you. I can dedicate hundreds of years of the Matou family's wealth to you. You want Sakura, don't you? You can take her now. Please, stop using your Noble Phantasm."

"Stupid! Even if I kill you, you're still mine!" Jiang You didn't even think about it and directly took out the corresponding answer from the DNA.

"Please, I don't want to do it yet..." The big black hand pulled Zouken Matou's soul into the deep darkness.

After a few breaths, the arm holding a soul crystal was handed to Jiang You.

Jiang You picked up the crystal and tossed it around, making sure it wasn't an illusion. This thing was much heavier and larger than the previous one. "It seems it does fall, and the size might be related to the amount of magic power?"

Seeing the system prompt that the Soul Crystal (Large) can be decomposed into three Soul Crystals (with a note that the total amount of the decomposition effect remains unchanged), Jiang You decisively dismantled the three parts.

"Is this the materialization of the soul?" The disappearing Machiri Zorgen immediately recognized it. He turned to look at Illya and smiled with a hint of loneliness. "No wonder the Einzbern family summoned this Servant. Descendant of the Winter Saint. Congratulations, you are one step closer to fulfilling your long-cherished wish."

As Machiri Zolgen disappeared, Illya came back to her senses. "Ca... Caster, what is that in your hand?"

"How come you're just like your mother?" Jiang You put the crystal away. "I'm not in a hurry to increase your favorability right now. I think your Einzbern cards are pretty much the same, too easy to duplicate. I'm going to give them to someone else. I'm not sure if you'll drop 'Hercules' for me, so you'll be in the back."

"Give...give? You want to give this thing away?! Do you know the value of this thing?"

"Your reaction now is exactly the same as your husband's. Now we can be sure that he didn't bring her the wrong child."

Sakura Matou was still wondering why she didn't disappear with Machili Zorgen when she saw Jiang You walking towards her.

"Take this and let me see what you will drop."

Looking at the crystal in Jiang You's hand, Matou Sakura tilted her head. Although she was the nominal heir of the Matou family, she had little interest in magic. She could sense the breathtaking magical power within the crystal, but she didn't fully understand its value. She only knew that it was indeed a very important thing for a magician.

"Give it to me?" Matou Sakura said to Jiang You for the first time, her tone flat and without much ups and downs. After seeing Matou Zouken's timid side under Jiang You's command, she felt a crack open in the gloomy sky within her heart, and a small ray of dawn descended from it.

Sakura Matou felt a little unreal.

After seeing Jiang You nod to her, Matou Sakura did not hesitate and took the crystal.

Then, under Jiang You's expectant eyes, the air was quiet for a few seconds.

Matou Sakura: "?"

"It seems only characters in the current storyline can increase favorability and drop cards through items." Jiang You disappointedly canceled Matou Sakura's summons. After all, Matou Sakura wouldn't be able to maintain her status after the duel space disappeared, and seeing Matou Sakura swallow one of his rewards would raise his blood pressure. "Konami, can they design games? Is it really that difficult to disable gifting if there's no reward?"

"What are you doing!"

Seeing Jiang You casually giving away soul crystals and ignoring her, Illya, who was so angry that she was about to explode, roared and pounced on Jiang You.

Jiang You casually canceled Illya's summons.

When the time comes, write a letter of complaint and ask Konami to return the items. If the design is unreasonable, we must severely criticize the official.

The player's anger came and went quickly, and Jiang You quickly adjusted his mentality.

It's time to bring Sakura out at this point in time. Jiang You began to look for Sakura Matou.

In 2014, inside the Emiya residence.

Sakura Matou looked at the crystal in her hand, and a slight light appeared in her lifeless pupils.

Chapter 17 Please forgive me... Emiya-senpai

[From Emiya-senpai]

When Emiya Shirou saw the letter on his desk, he realized Matou Sakura had already left overnight. In it, Matou Sakura repeatedly apologized for leaving without saying goodbye, saying she had urgent matters and would be away for a while. She repeatedly urged him to stay home during the last month of the year. Then came a long list of mundane instructions, asking how long the milk in the refrigerator would expire and whether to take out the trash on time. Her words rambled like a worried old woman.

"But Sakura has always been very careful. She wouldn't make such a sudden decision to go out overnight, right?" Emiya Shirou felt a little strange, but since Sakura said so, he didn't say much.

"I hope everything goes well for Sakura. Oh, no, I forgot to prepare breakfast for Sister Ohga." Shirou Emiya rushed into the kitchen in a hurry. Let's hope he won't be late.

Let’s go back to 6 hours ago.

Matou Sakura looked at the Soul Crystal in her hand. The mere contact between her skin and the materialized magic began to nourish her magic circuits. She carefully attempted to connect with it, and instantly, a vast amount of magic filled her magic circuits. This peaceful magic began to heal the stubborn ailments within her body, and the circuits transformed by the Marking Bug gradually returned to their original state.

Sakura Matou didn't know whether it was good or bad, but the warm touch made her unwilling to let go. When she came to her senses, the soul crystal had already merged into her magic circuit. Her magic circuit with water attribute characteristics disappeared, and was replaced by a characteristic that she was not good at.

"This is bad." Sakura Matou felt very bad. According to that Caster, Zouken Matou was not dead at this moment. Zouken Matou would not allow her magic circuit to change into properties that were not suitable for the Matou family. In addition, this soul crystal was enough to drive all magicians crazy. If Zouken Matou discovered it, her end would definitely not be good.

The fear of Kirizoken has long been engraved in Sakura Matou's heart. In the past eleven years, Sakura Matou has never had the thought of resistance and has always accepted everything.

But now, after experiencing what it was like to be a Servant Card and have Caster command those arrows to shoot, the seeds of resistance have been planted and are now breaking through the ground.

A three-petal cherry blossom-shaped Command Seal appeared on her hand.

"Holy Grail War... Servants..." Matou Sakura muttered softly. A determined look gradually emerged in her usually dull eyes. "Then, defeat Grandpa one more time!"

The fear of years of oppression is indeed difficult to overcome, but Sakura Matou has made up her mind. She plans to avoid the sight of the Matou family during this time and summon her own servant.

"I'm sorry, Shirou-senpai. My grandfather asked me to come here to monitor you. But your gentleness warms me so deeply that I can't bear to see you get hurt. Please forgive me for leaving without saying goodbye." Bowing deeply to the sleeping Shirou, Matou Sakura took gentle steps, picked up her necessities, and left the Emiya residence.

The holy relic, you already have it, right?

[Matou Sakura's favorability reward has been distributed. Please check it.]

Jiang You, who was about to check the effect of [Justisia Lizleich von Einzbern], suddenly found that his email was flashing wildly.

【Matou Sakura】*2

【Book of the False Minister】*3

【Marking Bug】*3

【Imaginary Number Magic】*1

【The Founding Three Great Families】*1

Medusa Rider*1

【Sakura Dream】*1

[Matou Sakura·Black Holy Grail]*1

[Soul Crystal] *1

When Jiang You clicked on it, more than ten cards popped out, which was a great harvest.

"What the hell, is the favorability reward delayed so long?" Jiang You knew at a glance that this small half of the deck was a reward from Matou Sakura. He couldn't help but sigh that the drop rate was too high.

There were too many cards to read at once, so Jiang You decided to advance the plot first.

After all, the gray-haired adult male in front of him looked like he was about to die.

"Ugh... Ugh!" Matou Kariya vomited in pain, and the black blood mixed with several dying crested worms scattered on the ground. The crested worms in his body became agitated because of the death of Matou Zouken, and the supply of magic power became abnormally disordered.

Matou Kariya forced himself to look at Jiang You. When Matou Zouken died, a guy who looked like a Servant appeared in the Matou family. The answer was self-evident: "Matou Zouken is dead. Was it you who did it?"

Jiang You had no reason to lie to him, so he nodded.

"Hahahahaha, old man, you've finally met your end." Matou Kariya was inordinately delighted by the death of the Matou clan's patriarch. He'd become this way entirely thanks to Matou Zouken, the price he paid for rescuing Matou Sakura. He'd originally hoped to win the Holy Grail in exchange for Matou Zouken freeing Sakura, and had prepared for a life-or-death battle. He hadn't expected his wish to be granted so easily.

It’s just that the circuit that Matou Zouken forcibly constructed in his body is gradually collapsing.

[Matou Kariya's favorability rewards: [Matou Kariya]*2, [Lancelot [Berserker]]*1, [Awakened Will]*1 have been sent via email. Please claim them promptly.]

The excessive emotional fluctuations caused Matou Kariya to vomit blood again, and his breath dropped a little again.

"No, don't die. Even if you are going to die, have a dark duel with me, right?" Giving away a few cards for free increased Jiang You's favorability towards Matou Kariya, but it was very limited.