Chapter 5: Chihiro Vs. Old Bug

"Boy, your techniques are quite interesting."

Matou Zouken's voice dripped with disdain as he watched Chihiro's spell disrupt his swarm's attack.

Chihiro landed lightly atop a stone wall, his expression calm. "Sorry to disappoint, but this is just basic onmyōdō."

It was true. The talismans Chihiro used were common ones, the kind an experienced practitioner could craft anywhere in Japan. If one sought truly advanced techniques, they would look to the higher-level arts practiced at places like Mount Hiei or Kurama-dera.

Mount Koya, where Chihiro had trained, was known more for spiritual training and traditional martial arts like Aikido. The talismans Chihiro used had one major flaw: the incantations were too long.

He had practiced tirelessly to chant them quickly and precisely. Now that he had access to the system, he made a mental note to look for ways to acquire shorter and more powerful spells in the future.

"But how long do you think you can keep this up?"

Zouken's smile was cold and condescending. He could tell that while the young man had some skills in onmyōdō, his magical power was limited. At best, he could hold his ground momentarily, but that would change soon enough.

As Zouken spoke, a faint buzzing sound, like that of a mosquito, reached Chihiro's ears. Reacting instantly, he leaped away.

"Crafty old worm."

Zouken had used his words to distract him, allowing his insects to close in for a surprise attack. Though Chihiro had detected the trick in time, the ancient magus had counted on basic human psychology, people often assume that an opponent won't use the same tactic twice in a row.

Unfortunately for him, Chihiro knew Zouken's methods far too well.

---

"From the northeastern winds I summon a gust, swirling from the path of the Eight Trigrams. Let all impurities be swept away! Obey my command!"

"Wind Summoning!"

The ofuda vanished, and a fierce gust erupted, scattering the swarm of insects away from Chihiro.

---

"By the divine order of heaven and earth, the Master of Restraints has come. Bind this evil! Obey my command!"

"Binding Spell!"

This time, Chihiro took the offensive. The ofuda shimmered with golden light, forming a magical barrier that locked around Zouken.

"You think you can restrain me with this?"

Zouken sneered as another wave of insects poured out from his sleeves, breaking the spell.

"Tch, insect familiars are really a pain," Chihiro muttered.

Seeing the overwhelming number of insects breaking free, Chihiro knew he had to retreat. His current abilities weren't enough to deal a killing blow to Zouken. He quickly unleashed another fire spell to create a barrier, then turned and fled.

---

"Hmm? Where's Sakura?"

Chihiro reached the nearby intersection where Sakura had been hiding, only to find her missing.

"Zouken was with me the whole time, so it couldn't have been him… Was it someone else from the Matou family?"

---

"Matou Zouken!!!"

A furious voice rang out, and Chihiro turned to see Tohsaka Tokiomi arriving on the scene, his face twisted with rage. He swiftly pulled a jewel from his robe and hurled it toward Zouken.

The gem burst with explosive magical power, jewel magecraft, the signature magic passed down through the Tohsaka lineage.

"Tohsaka Tokiomi, you—!"

Zouken's words were cut off as the blast hit him directly, sending him flying.

Seeing Tohsaka intervene, Chihiro let out a small breath of relief. For now, he didn't need to worry about the old magus.

"But where is Sakura?"

Chihiro opened the group chat, hoping to find some clues about Sakura's whereabouts. However, the chat was in complete disarray.

---

Since the initial Q&A session, the participants had grown more familiar with the chat system, leading to an unexpected development: a twisted camaraderie had formed between Ryuunosuke Uryuu, known as "The Showman," and the notorious Gilles de Rais, "Bluebeard."

The two's deranged conversation quickly incited outrage among several other members, including Artoria, Waver, and Diarmuid, who were disgusted by their twisted remarks.

However, their attempts to admonish the two fell on deaf ears, as Uryuu and Gilles continued their unsettling banter. Adding to the chaos, Gilgamesh stoked the flames with his usual arrogance, further derailing any attempts to restore order.

"The chat's no help… I'll have to do this on my own."

---

Determined, Chihiro searched the area until he found a strand of Sakura's hair.

"By the will of the kami, reveal to me the path. Let the wandering soul be found. Obey my command!"

"Seeking Spell!"

He wrapped the strand of hair in an ofuda and folded it into a paper crane. Chanting the spell, he released it into the air, and the paper crane took flight, leading him in a specific direction.

"Not toward the Matou estate…"

Seeing the crane heading farther away, Chihiro activated his magical speed, a swift footwork technique he had refined through rigorous training, and followed the paper crane.

---

Back at the Matou estate, Tohsaka Tokiomi continued his heated confrontation with Zouken.

Meanwhile, Chihiro followed the paper crane along winding paths and finally arrived at an obscure, remote building.

"I never would have found this place without the crane guiding me."

The entrance to the basement was hidden in such a way that only someone familiar with the area would know of its existence.

---

"Let all clouds be swept away, and reveal the truth beneath. Strike down the wicked with divine thunder. Obey my command!"

"Invisibility Spell!"

Chihiro pulled out another ofuda, chanted the spell, and placed it on his chest, vanishing from sight.

---

He carefully opened the door and crept down into the basement. When he reached the inner chamber, Chihiro pressed his ear to the door, listening to the voices within.

"Master, I can't wait to meet you."

"Don't worry, I have prepared the sacrifice."

The voice was filled with a twisted excitement. Peeking through a crack in the door, Chihiro spotted a young man speaking fervently to the system screen.

"Ryuunosuke Uryuu…" Chihiro recognized the man immediately.

"What a coincidence. I didn't expect to run into you here."

It seemed Ryuunosuke had been the one who kidnapped Sakura. But why was he so close to the Matou estate?

"No matter. I'll subdue him first and get answers later."

With that thought, Chihiro pushed open the door and stepped inside.