Teach me Magecraft!

Why?

Why resist death?

Enduring daily pain, unable to bask in the sun, living inhumanly, a life worse than death.

Ending it all would bring release from suffering, yet the desire to cling to life, embracing all the agony, persists. Why?

I remember now.

Yes, at first, it was for a noble purpose.

To eradicate all evil, to seek a miracle.

"If humanity is beyond saving if evil cannot be cut off by human means…"

"If the utopia is a place humanity cannot reach…"

"Then seek something beyond humanity, a new form of human existence."

"Indeed, to eliminate all evil in the world, we dedicate our lives to this cause."

Grasping all things, understanding all truths, reaching an unprecedented realm. Surpassing the limitations of the flesh, reaching the infinite soul.

The species known as humanity is confined by predetermined boundaries, striving to escape the endless spiral. All hatred, all suffering, aimed at healing and erasure.

—I remember now.

Upon realizing the absence of paradise. If the world is void, if even the creation of the flesh is not permitted, then strive towards a place where it is allowed.

The goal was not to create a new world but to transform oneself, to turn human life into something new.

—For this.

For this, I sought the Holy Grail.

Seeking a miracle beyond human capacity.

Until it is achieved, there is no reason to vanish.

Thus, I must persist and keep on living.

"Indeed, that's it, Einzbern's envoy."

Zouken Matou whispered, his magic circuits completely destroyed, unable to retain even the last remnants of his soul, helplessly watching himself disintegrate like sand.

"So, you finally remembered."

Sakatsuki nodded slightly, his golden eyes shedding the previous disdain, turning solemn.

"I will inherit your lament, pursuing the Third Magic, the miracle of soul materialization—not for the salvation of all humanity, but to survive, to explore another possible future."

"Ah, I see…"

The voice faded, and with its disappearance, the massive swarm of insects came to a halt, completely obliterated in the flames.

The shadow that had loomed over Fuyuki City for two hundred years finally dissipated.

[006: Zouken Matou]

[Character Info: Formerly known as Makiri Zolgen...]

[Hidden Information: In his youth, Makiri Zolgen was a confidant of the 16th-century Renaissance physician and alchemist Paracelsus von Hohenheim. Although their research differed, Hohenheim regarded Makiri as a respectable idealist. At his peak, Makiri Zolgen possessed combat prowess on par with Servants, capable of defeating a single Servant under specific conditions.]

[Record Conditions (2/2)]:

[•Rescue Sakura Matou from Zouken Matou's clutches. (Completed)]

[•Completely kill Matou Zouken. (Completed)]

[Condition 1 Reward: Advanced guide to Imaginary Numbers Magecraft.]

[Condition 2 Reward: Water and Worm Magecraft Mastery.]

A torrent of magical knowledge poured into Sakatsuki's mind, momentarily halting his thoughts. When he recovered, Kariya's words were at their conclusion.

"Though taking down that old worm felt great, won't we be discovered by the Tohsaka family?"

After all, the Tohsaka residence isn't far from the Matou estate, especially since Sakatsuki blasted the place with an RPG. With such a commotion, if Tohsaka Tokiomi noticed, aside from the friction among magi, he might deem the Matou family unfit to raise Sakura and take her away—

Thinking of this, Kariya clenched his fists, feeling helpless once again.

"Rest assured, I've already concealed the Matou estate with magic. From the outside, it looks perfectly peaceful."

"More like sinister."

Kariya retorted, gazing at the small figure cradled in Sakatsuki's arms, his eyes brimming with tenderness.

"Come, let me hold her."

"Oh..."

Sakatsuki stretched the sound, deftly turning away, keeping the girl he had rescued out of Kariya's reach.

"Sakura is someone I worked hard to save. Why hand her over to you?"

"Hey, you can't say that!"

Kariya argued.

"Our Matou family had an agreement with the Tohsaka family; this child should be under my care!"

But Sakatsuki wasn't buying it.

"Do you know the reason Tokiomi allowed Sakura to come here was to inherit the Matou family's magic crest?"

As the Matou estate burned, with Kariya's expression frozen, Sakatsuki's expression turned mischievous.

"Now that I've destroyed the Matou family, with its magic crest obliterated, Kariya Matou, what reason do you have to convince Tohsaka Tokiomi to let his daughter stay here? Rush over and get struck down like a dog? Or kneel and beg for mercy from the man who took Aoi Tohsaka's happiness?"

Hearing this, Kariya's fists clenched, his nails digging into his palms, unnoticed.

Sakatsuki continued without pause.

"Don't delude yourself that Sakura will be happy after leaving. To maximize his daughter's potential, Tokiomi will send her to another family. And as for the magus families... you know exactly what that entails."

Kariya Matou fled because he feared everything related to magi.

"I-I won't let Tokiomi take Sakura away. I won't let her lose her happiness."

Kariya's eyes filled with blood.

"But you cannot protect Sakura. Even if you escape far away, you can't evade the Tohsaka family's reach, placing Sakura in constant fear."

Kariya Matou remained silent.

He wasn't stupid and understood why Sakatsuki was so harsh, but no matter what, he didn't want to let go again.

"I know, you want Sakura to stay with you, right?"

"Exactly…"

"No, there's another option!"

Kariya stepped forward, grasping Sakatsuki's arm, his gaze resolute.

"Hey, just so you know, I'm straight, so don't get any ideas!"

Sakatsuki, noticing Kariya's fervent gaze, took a step back instinctively.

"I already have someone I like!"

With a thud, Kariya knelt, prostrating himself before Sakatsuki in a perfect dogeza.

"Sensei, I want to learn magecraft!"

"…Oh, so that's it."

Sakatsuki relaxed, a normal expression returning to his face.

"I do have some use for the Matou family, otherwise I wouldn't have bothered with you for so long. But honestly, even if I teach you magic now, you're unlikely to defeat Tokiomi Tohsaka—understand?"

"Of course."

Kariya looked up, not caring about his humiliating posture.

For Sakura, he could abandon everything.

Seeing his expression, Sakatsuki finally understood Kariya's intention.

"…I see, you want to tie me to your cause."

After all, someone who could destroy the Matou family wouldn't fear the Tohsaka family's threats.

Under Kariya's anxious gaze, Sakatsuki pondered for a long while before revealing a mischievous smile.

"Though this deviates from my plans, but since you're so eager, I won't hesitate to seize your fate."