KyokaSuigetsu
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Chapter 39: A Sudden Assassination
🕑 Added 2025-05-07 10:27:14 +0000 UTCHearing Takashi Kuroda's teasing remark, Laeticia seemed to realize her situation, her face flushing slightly as she said, "I... I didnât bring enough money with me... so I didnât think too much about it. I was actually planning to see if I could find a part-time job here to make some extra cash."
"Miss Laeticia, are you here as a tourist or for something else? Why would you come all the way abroad just to work? Donât tell me..." Takashi Kuroda asked knowingly.
"IâIâm not an illegal immigrant! I have proper entry documents. Itâs just that I really didnât bring enough money..." Laeticia hurriedly explained, flustered.
"Alright, I wasnât doubting that. Iâm just worried about a young woman like you traveling aloneâitâs easy to run into danger, especially in an unfamiliar place. When it comes to basic necessities like food and shelter, you shouldnât just go for the cheapest option. The world may be better than during wartime, but there are still monsters lurking in the shadows. If you cut corners, you might end up paying in other ways. Take my adviceâstay at a proper hotel tonight. If youâre short on money, I can cover it for you," Takashi Kuroda said.
"Th-Thatâs too much! Youâve already paid for the meal. And the templeâs head priest didnât seem like a bad person, so I think itâll be fine," Laeticia quickly refused.
"Itâs no trouble. Like you said, you already owe me one favorâwhatâs one more? Even if the Ryuudou Templeâs priest isnât a problem, the temple itself is pretty far from the city, isolated and quiet. Walking around at night is risky, and commuting for work would be inconvenient too," Takashi Kuroda reasoned.
"Ah..." Laeticia hesitated.
"Tell you whatâsince weâre headed the same way anyway, why donât I take you to Ryuudou Temple first? With a local accompanying you, no one would dare cause trouble," Takashi Kuroda suggested, sensing her reluctance and deciding not to push further.
"Then... thank you, Mr. Shirou," Laeticia said gratefully.
Takashi Kuroda nodded and continued leading Laeticia toward Mount Enzou. His original intention in persuading her to leave Ryuudou Temple was to establish a magecraft barrier around the mountain, allowing Semiramis to construct the Hanging Gardens within. But if Laeticiaâwho was currently hosting Jeanneâstayed nearby, she would likely detect Semiramisâs activities.
And that wasnât the only problem. The thing gestating within the Greater Grail would probably be noticed by Jeanne as well, completely disrupting his plans.
But it seemed Laeticia had her own reasons for staying, whether it was wariness of him or something else.
Fine. If she still refuses to change her mind by the time we reach Mount Enzou, Iâll have to take drastic measures. Takashi Kuroda decided that if she remained stubborn, he would forcibly use the ley lines and the Grailâs corruptive power to taint Laeticia and eliminate the threat.
What he didnât know, however, was that he and Laeticia were already being secretly watched. A mysterious figure, concealing their presence, was silently stalking them.
Upon reaching Mount Enzou and approaching Ryuudou Temple, Takashi Kuroda couldnât help but think of a certain gatekeeping swordsman as he gazed at the long stone steps. Come to think of it, during the Fifth War, when the Servants fought so fiercely at the temple gates at night, how did none of the monks inside wake up? And later, when the Grailâs mud spilled out from behind the temple, how did they escape unscathed?
Well, if anyone asksâjust blame it on a gas explosion.
"Thank you for your help, Mr. Shirou." Since nothing unusual had happened on the way and he had indeed safely escorted her to the temple gates, Laeticiaâs guard had lowered somewhat. It seemed he really was just a kind-hearted person.
"You should go in and rest. I still need to head to the back of the mountain," Takashi Kuroda said.
"Eh? What are you going to do there so late?" Laeticia asked curiously.
"The back of Mount Enzou at night is a rare sightâfar from the city lights, you can see the entire sky filled with stars. Itâs a breathtaking view youâd never get in the city," Takashi Kuroda explained, pointing toward the mountainâs rear.
"Really? Can I come with you?" Laeticia asked excitedly.
"Youâre welcome to join me. But arenât you afraid I might kidnap you in the middle of nowhere?" Takashi Kuroda teased.
"Haha, Mr. Kuroda, you donât need to scare me. If you wanted to do something, youâve had plenty of chances already."
"What if the back of the mountain is close to my secret base?"
"Then I definitely want to see what your secret base looks like~" Laeticia laughed.
Takashi Kuroda nodded and led her toward the mountainâs rear. He activated his [Eyes of Corruption] and confirmed that Laeticiaâs trust in him had grownâher favorability had surpassed 40, shifting their relationship from Stranger to Friendly. That was why she was willing to follow him deeper into the mountain.
Too bad Iâm about to betray that trust.
Because Takashi Kuroda hadnât been lyingâthe back of the mountain was his secret base, and he did plan to use the corruptive power there to deal with Laeticia and the Jeanne within her.
I just hope none of the other Masters catch wind of this.
"System, spend points to buy EXP. Unlock all my skills."
[Ding! You have spent 1500 Villain Points to purchase 1500 EXP. Skills unlocked: [Mistâs Edge (Sword Technique) Lv.1], [Heartbreaker Lv.1], [Harrowed Path Lv.1].]
[Congratulations, Host! You have unlocked the full skill set of the Ruined King, Viego. Title acquired: [The Agony! The Ecstasy!] Effect: Whenever you recite Viegoâs iconic lines, the pain inflicted by your attacks is doubled.]
Pain multiplier, huh? Nice. Though spouting chuunibyou lines is kinda embarrassing...
"Wow!"
Laeticiaâs gasp snapped him back to reality. They had reached the cliffside at the mountainâs rear, where the starry sky stretched endlessly above them. Laeticia gazed up in awe at the vast, ink-blue expanse, the stars like scattered jewels quietly illuminating the night.
She even spun in place, her golden hair and braid swaying with the motion. Under the starlight, her figure shimmered with a silver glowâradiant and almost holy. Her sweet laughter made even Takashi Kuroda momentarily lose himself in the sight.
"Mr. Shirou, this place really is beautiful. Now I definitely donât want to leave Ryuudou Temple. Getting to see this every night? Hehe, Iâm not passing up such a wonderful thing," Laeticia said, standing at the cliffâs edge with her back to him, arms raised as if trying to touch the stars.
"Be careful. You might fall," Takashi Kuroda warned gently as he quietly closed the distance. Her innocent words only solidified his resolve.
Sorry about this.
He raised his hand, preparing to channel the corruptive energy from the ley lines beneath them.
BANG!
THUD!
A gunshot rang out, followed by the sound of a bullet tearing through flesh. Laeticia whirled around in shock just in time to see Takashi Kuroda stagger, a bloody hole in his chest.
"R-Run...!" he gasped before collapsing.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
More gunfire. Takashi Kurodaâs body jerked as bullets tore through him. Standing too close to the edge, he lost his balanceâ
âand plummeted off the cliff.
"MR. SHIROU!!!" Laeticia screamed, but it was too late. She couldnât reach him in time.
Thenâhurried footsteps.
She looked up to see a figure in a red hood charging toward her, face obscured. A primal sense of danger surged through her.
"Laeticia! Give me control!"
The voice of the saint residing within her rang in her mind.
"Please! Save Mr. Shirou!" Laeticia immediately relinquished control.
A golden light erupted from her body, forcing the hooded figure to halt. They watched warily as the girlâs form shimmered with divine radiance.
