Chapter 166: The Clouds Dissipate

The Emiya household has a very large courtyard. Just the land alone could be mortgaged to the bank for a considerable sum of money.

Li Mo stepped out of the house and took a moment to survey the entire property. The traces of last night's battle with Lancer were still visible. Fortunately, Fujimura Taiga hadn't come over. Otherwise, how would Emiya Shirou explain this situation to the "Tiger of Fuyuki"?

That Tiger of Fuyuki is no ordinary person.

After all, she's a comedic character who thrives on sheer luck...

"Miss Matou, is there something you need? And Mr. Matou as well."

Li Mo looked at Matou Sakura and Matou Shinji, who had followed him out. The latter's reluctant expression made it clear that he hadn't come out willingly but had been forced to. By whom? It didn't take much thought to figure out it was Matou Sakura.

After losing Matou Zouken, had Matou Sakura started to assert dominance over Matou Shinji? Well, Shinji was always a bully who relied on others' fear. If Sakura stood her ground, he would naturally be at a disadvantage.

—Moreover, if a conflict arose between the siblings, most people would side with Sakura.

Having figured this out, Li Mo no longer dwelled on the issue and instead waited for Sakura's response.

"Thank you for the help you've given me."

"No need for thanks. I have my own goals, whether it's destroying the Matou family or providing treatment," Li Mo replied.

"Li-kun, I hope there won't be any conflict between us."

"You're a smart girl, but you should know that it's not up to me. It depends on Miss Tohsaka and Mr. Emiya. Haven't I made my stance clear enough?"

Matou Sakura asked, "Was dismantling the 'Greater Grail' your initial goal?"

"My initial goal? I'm not sure. I joined the Holy Grail War for the sake of joining it. At the time, I was more interested in Caster than the war itself. If I was lucky, they might possess knowledge from the past.

For example, with Medea-san, I could learn divine-era magecraft from her. Even if that magecraft isn't applicable in the current era, her high-level thinking alone would be immensely helpful.

As for dismantling the 'Greater Grail,' that was a goal I came up with later."

Matou Sakura nodded. Last night, when she had asked, he hadn't given a clear answer. So, this goal was indeed something he had thought of last night.

"Don't worry, my goal is indeed this. As for the purpose of forming an alliance, I don't intend to eliminate potential enemies. Otherwise, I wouldn't be standing here. When it's not necessary, I don't like thinking in extremes.

Why waste time on that when I could be learning instead? Knowledge is wonderful. The reason for dismantling the 'Greater Grail' lies in this as well. Compared to a so-called omnipotent wish-granting device, I believe more in the steady accumulation of knowledge. Dismantling the 'Greater Grail' itself is a form of learning."

The foundation of the 'Greater Grail' is the Third Magic, "Heaven's Feel." Later, it became an omnipotent wish-granting device.

This transformation is inherently fascinating. Even though the 'Greater Grail' as a wish-granting device is now corrupted and non-functional, its essence as the Third Magic remains unchanged. In the game, Illya demonstrated the inheritance of the Third Magic.

During the process of dismantling the 'Greater Grail,' one would inevitably come into contact with the Third Magic.

This experience itself is precious. As for the magicians' obsession with "reaching the Root," what does that have to do with him? Li Mo has no interest in such things.

Most modern magicians are obsessed with reaching the Root for the sake of reaching it, having long forgotten the original purpose of their ancestors. Blindly following family traditions is understandable, given the influence of family education and environment. But let's be honest, magicians aren't exactly normal people.

Matou Sakura said, "I understand. Secondly, about the Magic Crest, why did you do that?"

"That Magic Crest was something I seized. It's of no use to me. The path I'm on is different from that of modern magicians."

Modern magicians developed solidified mysteries like the "Magic Crest" due to the dwindling presence of "mystery." But for Li Mo, mystery is readily available. In the world of *Demon Slayer*, for example, there are elements of hell and spirits, and the breathing techniques themselves invoke phenomena that prove the existence of mystery. Then there's Teyvat, where gods and higher powers exist. Even in the main world, mystery is present.

He doesn't need something as fixed as a Magic Crest.

The only one who might understand him is Miyamoto Musashi, who drifts between worlds irregularly.

"Is there anything else you'd like to ask? I'm in a good mood today and can answer your questions," Li Mo said.

Matou Sakura shook her head. "No, there's nothing else."

"Really? You brought Matou Shinji out... I think I understand. Your heart is no longer with the Matou family, is it?"

Then why did you accept the Magic Crest? Have you started to compete with Tohsaka Rin? Let me think, when you were cooking in the kitchen earlier, did Koyanskaya come to help? Did she say something then?

Li Mo glanced at Koyanskaya, who was standing nearby. She made a V-sign with her fingers, looking particularly lively.

"Matou Shinji... when you held the Book of False Attendant, could you use magecraft?"

"H-how did you know?"

Matou Shinji was terrified of this mysterious magician. Not only did he possess the ability to split rocks with his bare hands, but the calm, deliberate way he spoke was also unnerving. And now, he knew that this man had destroyed the Matou family?

Fearful as he was, Shinji felt that this man was different from his grandfather. At the very least, he gave off the impression of someone who followed rules.

"It seems like it's just a blockage in your Magic Circuits, not a lack of talent. Matou Shinji, I'll give you a path. Be a good older brother, and when Matou Sakura allows it, I can guide you onto the path of magecraft."

"Are you serious?" Matou Shinji asked in surprise.

"Why would I lie to you?" Li Mo replied. "Besides, I don't have Magic Circuits either."

...

...

The foreign magician named Li Mo left.

The atmosphere in the Emiya household lightened considerably. Especially for Matou Shinji, the pressure he had felt completely disappeared.

"Sakura, what's this about the Matou family being destroyed?"

He had been put to sleep by magecraft last night, and even though he had a "deep conversation" with Li Mo this morning, he hadn't learned about this news.

"It's exactly as it sounds, Brother. The Matou family's old estate has been destroyed, and Grandfather is dead."

"Oh, Grandfather is dead...?" Matou Shinji finally processed the information.

Under Li Mo's pressure, he hadn't been able to think clearly. But now, he could fully comprehend it.

Matou Zouken was dead...

Should he be happy or sad?

He should be sad, right? After all, that was his grandfather.

But why did he feel like laughing?

Tears and laughter burst out of Matou Shinji simultaneously. The dark cloud that had loomed over his entire life, the shadow that had hung over the Matou family for generations, had finally dissipated...