LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 35: Chapter 35: Kenneth’s Confusion
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Chihiro: "There's a saying , 'Meanness is the passport of mean people, and nobility is the epitaph of noble people.'"
Chihiro: "To see a distinguished member of the Twelve Lords of the Clock Tower hold onto such idealistic notions… it's disappointing, really."
Kenneth: "..."
Kenneth fell silent. He was a grown man, a noble, and a Clock Tower lord. How could he still be so naive?
He knew Emiya Kiritsugu's reputation as the notorious "Magus Killer," yet he still entertained the childish idea of a fair duel.
Looking at his own actions in the video, Kenneth began to feel a sense of shame. The version of himself on the screen, so confident and brash, looked like nothing more than a fool.
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[In the video, Kenneth finally cornered Emiya Kiritsugu after a long chase through the castle halls.]
["Let's see where you can run to now, rat," Kenneth sneered.]
[Kenneth scoffed, "You really think that little trick will work again, you despicable mongrel?"]
["That shot that injured me was nothing more than luck. I'll soon show you the true difference between us."]
[Kenneth, confident in his defenses, continued to taunt Emiya Kiritsugu, ignoring the gun pointed at him.]
[Unmoved, Kiritsugu raised his M950 and fired without hesitation.]
["Boil, my blood!" Kenneth shouted, transforming his mercury into a wall of spikes that blocked Kiritsugu's path.]
[Kiritsugu calmly holstered the M950 and drew his Thompson Contender, a single-shot pistol. He took aim and fired once more. Kenneth, seeing the familiar gun, quickly encased himself in his mercury barrier.]
["Fool! I already told you this won't work twice!" Kenneth mocked.]
[He failed to notice the faint smirk that crossed Kiritsugu's face as he pulled the trigger.]
["Ahhhh!" Kenneth's scream tore through the castle as he crumpled to the ground, clutching his shoulder in agony.]
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Kenneth: "What? It actually… hit me?"
Kenneth: "How could his bullet possibly penetrate my complete defense with the Moon Spirit Marrow?"
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[The mercury barrier collapsed, returning to its liquid form as Kenneth fell into a pool of his own blood, clutching his injury.]
[The scene shifts to show a man meticulously crafting bullets in a dimly lit workshop.]
["I'll grind your ribs into dust and mold them into these bullets. When they hit, they'll awaken your Origin inside the target's body," the man explained.]
["They're deadly against magi. When the target's magic circuits are triggered, they'll short-circuit and devour themselves."]
["The stronger the mage, the worse it gets. Once you're hit, you're as good as dead."]
["Here, kid—this is your Mystic Code, the 'Origin Bullet.'"]
["I made sixty-six of them for you. Use them wisely."]
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Waver: "Those bullets… they can destroy a magus's circuits entirely?"
Kenneth: "I… I was hit by that bullet? My magic circuits are… ruined?"
Emiya Kiritsugu: "Yes. The Origin Bullet breaks magic circuits beyond repair."
Kenneth: "Emiya Kiritsugu! You…!"
Kenneth, who had just been trying to calm himself, erupted in fury once again. For a magus, the magic circuits within their body were life itself. Without them, even if he survived the Holy Grail War, his life at the Clock Tower would be over.
He'd be cast aside as an invalid, nothing more than a shadow of his former self.
But what horrified Kenneth more was the method Kiritsugu had used to create the bullets. To carve out his own ribs and grind them into weapons… Kenneth found the very idea abhorrent, yet disturbingly brilliant.
Not only Kenneth, but the other magi watching like Tohsaka Tokiomi and Waver were appalled, reevaluating Emiya Kiritsugu as someone extremely dangerous.
"Kiritsugu…" Irisviel whispered, holding onto her husband's arm, her eyes glistening with tears. She could scarcely imagine the pain he'd endured to create such a weapon.
The Heroic Spirit, Kiritsugu's alter ego, watched silently, showing no reaction.
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[The scene returned to the present, with Kiritsugu advancing to finish off Kenneth. But suddenly, Diarmuid appeared, positioning himself between his Master and the enemy.]
[Kiritsugu fired another shot, which Diarmuid deflected effortlessly.]
["You know as well as I do that I can easily kill you, Saber's Master," Diarmuid said coldly, unwavering in his duty.]
["I will not let anyone harm my lord," he declared, his lance held firmly before him.]
[Kiritsugu paused, lowering his gun but keeping his gaze locked on Diarmuid.]
["Neither the King of Knights nor I wanted this fight to end this way," Diarmuid continued, hoisting Kenneth over his shoulder. "Remember, the reason you're still alive is due to the Knight King's sense of honor."]
[With that, Diarmuid turned and quickly retreated, taking the wounded Kenneth to safety.]
[The video ended here.]
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Kenneth: "Lancer! Why didn't you just kill Emiya Kiritsugu?"
Diarmuid: "Master, if the situation were as shown in the video, then my priority would have been to ensure your safety."
Kenneth: "Hmph…"
Though Kenneth was angry, he couldn't ignore the reality of his situation in the video. He was gravely injured—crippled, even. Avoiding Emiya Kiritsugu from now on seemed to be the wisest choice.
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[The first question concluded, and a second question was announced.]
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[This was a multiple-choice question, accompanied by a new video clip.]
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[The scene opened on Fuyuki Bridge, where Waver stood, his expression tense as he faced Iskandar.]
[Iskandar sat atop his warhorse, Bucephalus, gripping his "Sword of Cyprus" as he prepared to charge. On the opposite side stood Gilgamesh, his golden Gate of Babylon opening behind him as he prepared a storm of Noble Phantasms.]
[Undeterred by the rain of projectiles, Iskandar grinned, using his sword to knock away each weapon in his path as he charged forward.]
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The King of Conquerors: "Hahaha! It seems our clash was inevitable, King of Heroes."
Hero King: "Indeed, but don't delude yourself into thinking you can change the outcome."
The King of Conquerors: "Don't be so sure. Victory is not decided by words alone."
Hero King: "If you're truly prepared to die, then come! But don't forget, your end is already written."