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IBHJ Chapter 658
🕑 Added 2024-01-07 02:54:37 +0000 UTCAfter putting the Tower of Light away, Shirou prepared to sit back down. But as he turned, he noticed a book on the ground.
"What's this...?"
He picked it up and looked it over. The book was already tattered and ink-splattered, with only one legible line left:
"...the day of destruction has arrived..."
What was this - chuunibyou?
Shirou remembered this was where Kiara had been standing.
So this cringey book was left by her? Didn't seem like something she'd have.
Come to think of it, how much time had passed in Chaldea since they left Romania?
He hoped it wasn't another decade like last time.
Shirou sighed to himself.
But that probably wasn't the case now, since Kiara still looked so young.
There were obscured parts in the book, barely legible amidst the thick ink. But he still recognized several distinct words at first glance - "...must never forget...True Name..."
Shirou: "?"
Could it be - a cliché plot about forgetting memories and name, then some end of the world happening, before remembering one's name and saving the world?
If so...well, he could see why she would want to destroy this.
Because...that plot was really horrible, stereotypical, and chuuni as hell.
Shirou sighed. Still, he kept the book safely. As bad as it was, Kiara had left this behind. He could return it if they met again.
...
Hinako's group fled from the disaster, barely escaping with their lives.
When they had set out, they were complacent and arrogant. But now they all looked like coal miners, with blackened faces and filthy clothes.
"Didn't I warn you not to provoke Berserker?" Salter said, her fair face now as dirty as the others.
Inwardly though, she was absolutely livid.
Livid that Hinako ignored her advice. Normally she might not have shown her anger, but as an Alter her emotions were amplified, somewhat beyond control.
"Hey, you went too!" Hinako shot back. "What happened to your advice?"
"Why do you think? I wanted to see if we could assassinate Berserker!" Salter said. "Did you really think you could confront him head-on? Impossible, unless you bring a Grand Servant. Don't try single combat with Berserker again - it's suicidal! You've seen now just how powerful he is."
Hinako didn't reply. But she nodded slightly, conceding the point.
Shirou was clearly no ordinary Heroic Spirit.
To match him, she'd have to cast off her restraints and unseal her true form first.
Frankly, being forced to flee wildly from Shirou frustrated and stifled her.
Because she hadn't used full power, how could she accept this?
But with others present, she held back, not daring to reveal her real might.
"Come on you two, stop arguing," Kiara said. She took some wet wipes from her pocket to clean her face, restoring her fair complexion. Then she passed two pack of wipes to Salter and Hinako too.
She always made sure to have grooming items on hand.
For now, Hinako and Salter mutually ignored each other. Not to let things go, of course, but because both were extremely irritable. They knew if they entertained the other party, a physical fight might break out next.
Sandwiched between them, Kiara felt awfully cold from the icy air both sides emitted.
Wuu...
Why must I suffer like this!
However, Kiara had confirmed one thing.
The guardian protecting this connection point was Mr. Assassin - the one she met in Romania.
But he was no longer an ally. Instead...
An enemy!
Thinking this, Kiara felt a little sad.
Unlike Beast III, she loved the world innocently, like a child.
So she didn't want to fight with friends, especially one who helped her so much.
But with Mr. Assassin confirmed as the guardian, on returning Kiara would inform her teacher Mordred, as well as senpais Mash and Gray.
They would definitely be very happy to see Mr. Assassin again.
Ehehehe...
Such were Kiara's thoughts.
Hinako completely abandoned all notions of subjugating this connection point, prepared to send these greenhorns back to Chaldea first.
She didn't care about human lives, of course. But securing her living space required some cost still, right?
Only, returning to their industrial park base, something seemed amiss.
The sleeping Ayako and the other newbies were gone, with only bloodstains left on the ground.
Not good!
Hinako's eyes abruptly shrunk.
"Finally back?"
A composed voice rang out.
They whipped around to see Archer James Moriarty standing on a nearby platform, eyeing Kiara's group with interest.
"Archer..." Salter gripped her black sword, ready to attack.
"Now now, don't be so violent, Saber." Moriarty smiled, gesturing beside him.
Salter peered over. Her eyes contracted abruptly.
There were the bound Ayako and the others, clearly being used as hostages.
"You're taking hostages?" Salter pointed her sword sharply.
Moriarty first nodded, then smilingly shook his head.
Salter frowned, puzzled by his intentions.
Kiara glanced at the blood on the floor, gnashing her teeth as she glowered at Moriarty. "Who did you harm?"
"Harm? No no, a gentleman wouldn't casually harm the innocent. Alhough I may be a villain, I have dignity. Look closer - that blood is from Rider and Assassin."
Salter traced the blood back to its source. In that moment, her eyebrows involuntarily rose.
There were the fading bodies of Medusa and Hassan.
Salter lifted her hand slightly, pointing at the corpses. "Was that your doing?"
Moriarty nodded. "Rider was powerful, but simple-minded. I drained her mana first, then stabbed her from behind. As for Assassin...he was too weak to bother with."
"Could it be, Archer, you've also broken free of the Black Grail's control?" Salter questioned.
"For that thing to control me, an anti-hero? That would be odd indeed. It exists to corrupt noble Heroic Spirits, turning them evil so it can manipulate them. But I'm a villain to begin with, how could it possibly control me?" Moriarty gave elegant chuckles, as though mocking the Black Grail and sneering at its owner.
"Then what about ambushing Chaldea with Lancer and Rider? That ruthless attacks didn't seem like playing around!" Salter retorted.
"Of course it wasn't playing around," Moriarty smiled. "That was a test of your qualities."
"A test?" Salter's brows furrowed.
"Yes. To be my Master, one would have to be powerful, with wisdom to match!" Moriarty gazed at Hinako. "Only you, with the strength to kill Lancer with one blow and the insight to see through my plans at a glance, are qualified. Had you pursued us then, I would have joined the others to kill you all! But with a single look, you saw through my schemes, demonstrating astonishing wisdom. Thus, I acknowledge you as my Master - the Master of James Moriarty!"
Moriarty descended the tall platform, striding elegantly to stand before Hinako. Then he knelt, extending a white-gloved hand. "Esteemed and sagacious madam, I, James Moriarty, offer you my intellect, sparing no effort to further your cause. Please, be at ease. Although I am a villain, I remain a nobleman who honors his word."
Moriarty was enraptured by Hinako.
Her might rivaled a lion's, her schemes a military adviser's, her elegance a nobleman's... Only with such a Master could he acknowledge her, becoming her Servant.
Indeed, Moriarty had never actually been controlled by the Black Grail. Sensing the one summoned by it was Eternal King, he chose to hide himself and pretend to submit due to that overwhelming pressure.
Previously, his order for Medusa to use the [Blood Fort Andromeda] was partly an ambush, and partly to drain her mana.
It turned out Hinako didn't take the bait. This showed her composure, calmness, and wisdom in seeing through his ploy.
She was simply the perfect candidate to be his Master.
So he backstabbed Medusa and Hassan, now pledging loyalty to Hinako instead.
Would he be accepted?
Wasn't that a given?
As the James Moriarty sharing the same stage name as Holmes, relying solely on that formidable intellect, what Master wouldn't want him?
"Now then, my Master. Let us form a contract..."
James Moriarty revealed an elegant smile, lifting his head expectantly.
He should be seeing Hinako's delighted expression now right?
Yet unfortunately, what he saw was a fist rapidly swelling in his vision.
"Wai- Wait a moment—!"
Before he could finish, a muffled thump rang out as blood sprayed everywhere.
His head rolled away like a ball, while his elegant body stiffly collapsed.
"One servant is enough for me," Hinako looked indifferently at Moriarty's dissipating corpse.
She then turned to Kiara. Her previously pristine uniform was drenched in blood. Her fists, face, glasses - all were covered in red, frightening Kiara until she shivered all over.
"You, newbie, you still got wet tissues?"
"I-I do, I do! Wah...P-Please don't hit me Hinako senpai!" Kiara hurriedly presented a fresh pack of wet tissues in both hands, fearing Hinako might beat her.
Hinako opened the pack and first wiped the blood off her cheeks, then her fists.
Salter glanced at Moriarty's corpse, turning to Hinako with a furrowed brow. "You shouldn't have killed Archer. He already pledged loyalty to you."
"He's too weak. Couldn't even take one punch from me - useless." Hinako muttered.
"That was James Moriarty!" Salter emphasized.
"Like I care!" Hinako retorted.
Salter looked at her somewhat speechlessly.
Could this girl's body be reacting faster than her brain? Or worse...was she a musclehead?
Hinako glanced at Kiara. "Go free them. We're returning to Chaldea."
"Ah...Yes!" Kiara hurried over to untie Ayako and the others.
After returning to Chaldea... she had to report everything that happened here to teacher Mordred and the others as soon as possible!
Comments
Othniel Nazareth
Yeah.
JeanMartin Freites
Well at least most of the servants are taken care of.
