"Mmff… let… go…"
As the door opened, a figure bound with rope appeared—Matou Kariya.
The already melancholic, frail man looked worse for wear, not only tied up but gagged with a foul cloth from the bathroom, tears streaming from the stench.
After two days in the dark room, Kariya finally saw light.
"Useless fool, whining already? Can't handle two days?"
Zouken, leaning on his cane, entered, yanking the gag out.
Before he could berate further, he swung his cane, knocking Kariya and the chair to the floor.
"Aaah!!!"
A piercing scream replaced curses as Kariya, clutching his stomach, writhed in pain, clearly Zouken's punching bag.
"Hiss, brutal…"
Roy winced, sympathizing with Kariya's plight.
Kariya's sacrifice for their plan was steep, and Zouken's ruthlessness was unexpected. Roy decided to treat him better.
Perhaps bring him to the Clock Tower as a butler to care for Sakura, resolving his worries. But now, Roy could only let Kariya endure.
"Worthless thing, calmed down? Years away, and you return planning to burn the house down with gasoline? You nearly filial-pietied me to death!!"
Beating Kariya didn't sate Zouken's rage.
A runaway descendant returns, feigning loyalty, only to plot arson to force compliance—who wouldn't be furious?
If not for Kariya being one of his last bloodlines and still useful, Zouken would've skinned him.
"You old bastard… trying to kill me?"
Kariya lifted his head, retorting.
"If I could, I'd flay you."
Zouken glared coldly.
"But your wretched life is still useful. Keep living for now…"
"So this is your heir, Elder Matou?"
"Matou Kariya, quite the sorry sight."
Roy approached, inspecting the battered Kariya, his once-handsome face now bruised, and smiled faintly.
"…"
Inwardly raging—"You're the sorry sight!"—he caught Roy's meaningful glance, nodded subtly, and fell silent.
"Heh, my useless descendant shames me, Lord Crowley. Kariya's been a failure since childhood, dabbling in some dark… Dark Souls nonsense instead of magecraft."
"Chasing daydreams, clinging to foolish fantasies, refusing the family's legacy. Even the woman he loved for years was taken by that goateed Tohsaka brat. After fleeing for years, he sneaks back for another's woman, disgracing me."
Zouken snorted, listing Kariya's failures and tragic love life.
"Oh? Kariya's life is quite… colorful."
Roy's eyes narrowed, smirking at Kariya, whose face reddened under Zouken's mockery.
"Aaagh!! You damned old worm! When did you read my diary?! No wonder it kept disappearing at school!"
Before Kariya could retort, Zouken's barrage of dark history left him flushed, losing all will to argue under Roy's amused gaze, wailing like a child exposed at a family gathering.
"Tch, quite a tale, Kariya. Such a rich love life."
"With that resentment, Necromancy studies could make you prime material for summoning something remarkable."
Roy patted his shoulder, chuckling.
"Are you mocking or pitying me… you two jerks."
"Hmph, a loser's grudge? Beyond stray wraiths, I doubt he'd summon anything worthwhile."
Zouken snorted, slashing his cane through the air like a blade, cutting Kariya's ropes.
Freed, Kariya leapt up, pointing at Zouken. "You old worm! Where's Sakura?! Don't you dare touch her!"
"Useless fool, you're beyond saving."
Seeing Kariya fixated on another's child, Zouken gave up entirely.
Waving dismissively, he said, "Her adoption plan's canceled. She's not with me. Ask Lord Crowley—he's her new guardian."
Roy smiled, winking at Kariya.
Mentioning Sakura irked Zouken—his perfect plan, stolen by Roy.
But it was fine. Committed to this gamble, Sakura was irrelevant.
Keeping her might draw Tokiomi's attention. If Roy wanted her, so be it.
Sakura was for the next war, but this one would end his five-century obsession.
He'd considered using her as a hostage against Tokiomi, but Roy refused.
"Alright…"
Kariya visibly relaxed.
"Hmph, don't celebrate yet. Without her, you're still needed. Stay here."
Splashing cold water on Kariya's relief, Zouken shooed him like a fly, telling him to wait, then led Roy to the basement workshop.
To prevent Kariya's escape, he left worm familiars to watch him.
Minutes later, the mansion was quiet, leaving Kariya staring at the worms.
As the two left, Kariya sighed, unclenching his hand to reveal a crumpled old photo.
Rubbing it, feeling its warmth and texture, his resolve hardened.
Wiping blood from his lip, he glared toward the basement.
"Just wait, old worm… you'll regret this."
Clenching his fists, Kariya muttered, his eyes blazing with newfound determination.
"And you, Tokiomi Tohsaka… this time, I'll shatter your delusional fantasies myself!"
***
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