Chapter 123

The same scene played again, but this time, it was Shinji who took on the role of the young man, while Angra Mainyu became a spectator, watching with curiosity and surprise as Shinji experienced the torments he had just endured himself.

However, there was a difference.

Unlike Angra Mainyu, this time, the young man did not excessively struggle or scream. Instead, he accepted the villagers' torments as if he had resigned himself to fate.

Even as the villagers completed their ritual, the young man's spirit remained unbroken. He looked at them with a mocking glint in his surviving left eye, his mouth even curling into a sneer.

This was unbelievable because Angra Mainyu knew that when Shinji took on the role of the young man, the only change was his personal will. The pain and hatred directed at him were the same.

Seeing the young man's mocking expression, the villagers sensed something was off but didn't think much of it. They continued to vent their dissatisfaction and hatred towards him as planned.

Everything proceeded as if according to a script, with villagers indiscriminately expressing their anger and resentment towards the young man.

Until…

One month later, a villager was found to have committed suicide at home.

At first, the other villagers didn't pay much attention, burying the villager and continuing their ritual against the young man.

But a week later, another villager committed suicide.

This time, the villagers still didn't take it seriously, continuing to focus their hatred on the young man. However, as suicides occurred more frequently, from every few days to multiple times a day, the villagers began to worry.

With the number of villagers dwindling, the village elder seemed to realize something and approached the young man on a sunny afternoon.

Seeing the mocking glint in the young man's remaining left eye, the elder seemed to understand and gouged out the young man's left eye.

However, just as the elder was about to leave, the young man, who had never spoken before, finally spoke.

"Hey, demon…"

The dry, rasping voice from his parched throat sounded like a demon's whisper, shattering the elder's moral and ethical beliefs!

That day, the elder went home and committed suicide.

From that day on, villagers continued to kill themselves, turning the once isolated mountain village into a true ghost town.

Not a single living soul remained.

In the years that followed, some people moved into the village, but they too met the same fate... suicide.

...

Staring at Shinji, Angra Mainyu was silent for a long time before he couldn't help but mutter, "Are you... a demon?"

"Hmm? Are you mistaken? Didn't the demons realize they were demons and commit suicide? What did I do?"

Angra Mainyu didn't reply. After all, the truth was that the demons who tormented the young man saw their true selves reflected in his unwavering eye. Their righteous reasons and moral grounds couldn't alter the reality shown by the mirror.

The first person realized this and killed himself, followed by the second, then the third...

Even though the elder destroyed the physical mirror, another, indestructible mirror remained.

Feeling increasingly disturbed by Shinji's twisted nature, Angra Mainyu retreated a few meters, squatting on the ground and drawing circles once more.

"Sadist! Pervert! Demon!"

Watching Angra Mainyu muttering curses, Shinji chuckled again.

"Don't you know how to curse? Why don't you give it a try?"

Angra Mainyu had a retort he wanted to say but didn't: Your body isn't even here; how am I supposed to curse you? I would if I could!

"By the way, does the personality you're using retain its original consciousness, or is it too far gone?"

"Why?" Angra Mainyu eyed Shinji, "That consciousness vanished when it first encountered me."

"Well, that's too bad. I was hoping my friend could experience some rare motherly love..."

With that, Shinji turned and walked away, waving without looking back.

Angra Mainyu watched his retreating figure, pondering what had been different when Shinji took on the role of the young man.

Why did the villagers feel justified when tormenting him, but were thrown into chaos and ultimately defeated when facing Shinji?

Was it just personal will?

When Shinji took on the role, he didn't passively accept the hatred and accusations. Instead, he rejected them outright.

In simple terms: You say I'm guilty, so I am? Nonsense! I refuse to accept it! Say it a hundred or a thousand times, I still won't accept it! No matter how many people say it, every day for a hundred years, I won't accept it!

This indomitable will gradually broke the villagers...

"A remarkable guy, really. I could never do it... No, I'll never get the chance to try."

Angra Mainyu sighed softly, no longer paying attention to Shinji's retreating figure.

Of course, Angra Mainyu didn't know that while Shinji was in the young man's role, there were a few accusations he almost accepted, sneaking past his defenses.

For example, accusations of running a prostitution ring…

...

"Finally found it…"

Entering a radiant space, Shinji murmured softly upon seeing Justeaze, clad in celestial attire, an image he had seen in paintings.

Justeaze, whose personality had long since been erased, operated like a program. She opened her eyes as Shinji entered.

This was the core of the Holy Grail.

"Descendant of the Makiri who once sought the same enemy, why do you deny the Holy Grail?"

Justeaze asked in a monotone voice devoid of emotion.

Shinji wasn't surprised she knew this. He smiled indifferently and didn't answer.

"Why do you, a descendant of the Makiri who understands humanity's sole path to salvation, deny the Holy Grail?"

"Deny?" Shinji chuckled, "No, I never denied the materialization of the soul as a means to save humanity. However, I have some doubts about it being the only way. Besides, I'm just an ordinary man in his thirties. I've never studied how to save all of humanity."

Resting his chin in his hand, Shinji pondered for a moment, "In any case, the materialization of the soul might save humanity, but I don't care about such things. Despite bearing the Makiri name and knowing their true wish, it means nothing to me. I'm regarded as a disgrace to my ancestors."

"Then why deny the Holy Grail?"

Justeaze asked for the third time.

"What's left but one answer?" Shinji said, as if it were obvious, "It's for personal reasons. Why else would I be here?"

Justeaze's program seemed to short-circuit momentarily, her entire form freezing. Shinji, unfazed, moved to take action.

The moment Shinji touched Justeaze, her celestial attire vanished. Without any personality left, Justeaze showed no reaction, even when laid down.

Looking at Justeaze's flawless, sculpted form, Shinji felt no wicked thoughts. She was merely an end program. Even if he tried something, she wouldn't make a sound.

"It'd be nice if you had a personality…" Shinji sighed, then fully concentrated on dismantling the final program.

"First, separate these added components (Command Seal system), then…"

Meanwhile, in the outside world where Shinji's real body was, the energy and mana collected by him and Medea started gradually dismantling the Holy Grail system from its foundation.

...

The Fuyuki City, Kotomine Church, had turned into ruins.

The battle between Lancer and Rider in the square had reached its climax. Both used everything at their disposal, except their ultimate moves!

Throughout, Rider gave Lancer no chance to unleash Gáe Bolg. Whenever she entered his range, she quickly retreated!

Similarly, Lancer had no good opportunity to use his Noble Phantasm. The same applied to Rider, who couldn't find a chance to use her Bellerophon except for her Mystic Eyes.

Above the church ruins, in mid-air, Gilgamesh sat on his Vimana, leaning his face on his hand with a mocking smile as he watched Bazett, Rin, and Red Archer covered in dust below.

Red Archer had just blocked dozens of B-ranked Noble Phantasms and an A-ranked one. Bazett's timely counterattack with her Fragarach almost injured him, bringing Gilgamesh a rare sense of battle enjoyment.

Rin clenched her fists, muttering, "This is so unfair! Doesn't he have any limits on his Noble Phantasms? I've never heard of such a Servant!"

Furrowing her brows, Bazett glanced at Kotomine, who watched the battle with amusement, "We should deal with his Master first…"

"But we don't have a chance to get to that bastard…" Rin said helplessly, then looked at Archer, "Archer, can you hold him off alone?"

"I can try, but I have a feeling he's different from us, a Servant with a physical body… He's not controlled by his Master."

"What should we do then?" Rin asked.

"Even if he's not controlled, Lancer is. If we deal with his Master, Rider can join us against Goldie. With her Mystic Eyes, the odds in a two-on-one situation are much better."

"Got it. Be careful, we'll handle Kotomine."

With that, Rin and Bazett broke away from the fight, charging towards Kotomine.

However, both Rin and Bazett noticed something and glanced at their Command Seals.

Seeing the seals flash and then disappear, they were stunned.

Rin stammered in shock, "Wha... what's happening?! The Command Seals..."