Fate: Question And Answer System of Traversing Heroic Spirits

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining an "Unknown Class Card"!]

As Chihiro opened one of the treasure chests, it disintegrated into a shimmer of light, leaving behind a blank card in his hand.

"A Class Card?" Chihiro raised an eyebrow in surprise.

Class Cards were unique to the magical world and allowed the user to embody the power of Heroic Spirits from the Throne of Heroes, using their own body as a vessel to manifest the spirit's abilities. However, this particular card was entirely white; both the class and the identity fields were left blank.

In other words, Chihiro could use this card to gain the abilities of any Heroic Spirit, provided they consented to the summoning.

"But this won't help me right now," he muttered. "Where am I supposed to find a Heroic Spirit willing to cooperate at a time like this?"

The current situation didn't favor using the card. The participants in the group chat weren't exactly on familiar terms, so he doubted anyone would volunteer to help him out.

Chihiro turned to his second treasure chest, hoping for a better outcome.

---

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining the "Noble Phantasm - Endless Coin Pouch"!]

The item he had obtained was a magical coin pouch that could produce any form of currency, gold coins, paper bills, and more—of any country.

It was essentially a mystical bag that could endlessly generate money.

"Sure, it means I won't ever have to worry about money, but what good is this when facing an enemy like Matou Zouken?"

With a resigned sigh, he thought, "Well, at least I'm wealthier than Gilgamesh now. Not that it matters…"

Shaking off the thought, Chihiro reminded himself that throwing money wouldn't solve this problem. He needed to rely on his own abilities.

---

At that moment, a car slowly pulled up to the front gate of the Matou estate.

The driver exited and opened the rear door, allowing a gaunt, skeletal old man to emerge Matou Zouken himself, the infamous ancient magus.

Trailing behind him was a small girl with purple hair, trembling as she hesitantly stepped out of the car.

It was unmistakably Sakura, the one known as "Tragic Sakura" in the chat. After seeing her fate unfold through the Q&A, her fear had only intensified. She kept glancing around anxiously, hoping that Tohsaka Tokiomi or Matou Kariya would come to rescue her. But as she stood at the gate, there was still no sign of anyone coming to her aid.

"I can't go in there," she thought, panic rising in her chest. "If I do…"

Suddenly, in a moment of sheer terror, Sakura broke into a run.

---

"Stop her!"

Zouken's voice was as cold and venomous as his appearance, his bony finger pointing toward the fleeing child.

The old magus had sensed something off during the ride. The little girl had seemed unusually frightened of him. "Did she figure something out?"

The driver immediately gave chase, closing the distance rapidly. In her frantic state, Sakura stumbled and fell, scraping her knees and stirring up a cloud of dust.

"Please… someone… help me…" Her voice quivered as she watched the driver extend his hand toward her, despair filling her small, terrified eyes.

---

"A grown man chasing down a little girl? How disgraceful."

A calm voice cut through the tension, drawing both Sakura and the driver's attention.

Sakura looked up to see a young man standing in front of her, blocking the driver's path.

"Who the hell are you? Get lost, kid!" The driver's arrogance was palpable as he swung a fist at Chihiro.

Chihiro merely smirked, parrying the blow with a fluid motion that deflected the punch harmlessly aside. Grabbing the driver's arm, he pulled the man off balance, sending him stumbling forward.

Taking advantage of the driver's momentum, Chihiro brought his elbow crashing into the man's nose.

"Ugh!" The driver's world spun as pain shot through his face, blood spurting from his nostrils. Before he could recover, Chihiro delivered a quick strike to the temple, knocking him unconscious.

---

"That was… Aikido?"

Matou Zouken's eyes narrowed as he observed Chihiro's movements. His years of experience allowed him to recognize the martial art instantly.

Indeed, Chihiro had used Aikido, a skill he had honed during his training in the mystical arts. It was second nature to him.

"Young man, I suggest you mind your own business," Zouken's voice oozed with menace, his eyes glinting with malevolence. "Otherwise, you might find yourself in serious trouble."

A lesser person might have faltered under that gaze, but Chihiro, who knew exactly what Zouken was, remained unfazed.

"Sorry, but I don't take kindly to those who prey on children," Chihiro replied, his tone unwavering as he helped Sakura to her feet and dusted her off. "You should get to safety," he whispered to her. "Go hide somewhere nearby."

Sakura nodded gratefully. "Thank you, big brother," she said in a small voice before darting off to find cover.

---

"You'll regret interfering," Zouken hissed.

The old magus raised one hand, and a dark swarm of insects poured out from his sleeve. Though the rules of the Mage's Association mandated keeping magic secret, there were no bystanders near the Matou estate. Zouken had no qualms about using his familiars here.

"Go!"

The swarm surged toward Chihiro, but he was already reaching into his robes for a paper ofuda.

"By the sacred rites, I summon the kami of fire. Let your divine flames purify all evil. Cleanse this place of impurity!"

"Kagutsuchi's Flame!"

The ofuda burst into flame upon activation, forming a fiery barrier that consumed the approaching insects in an instant.

Sakura, taking advantage of the distraction, quickly hid at a nearby street corner, peeking out to watch the unfolding confrontation.

---

"Onmyodo… So, you're an onmyōji," Zouken remarked, his voice a mix of curiosity and scorn. "I've heard stories about your kind, but this is my first time seeing one in action."

"Call it what you want," Chihiro shot back, his gaze locked onto the old magus. He remained on high alert; against an opponent like Zouken, there was no room for complacency.

Suddenly, Chihiro's eyes darted to the ground, where he sensed a disturbance. Without hesitation, he leaped backward, throwing another ofuda to the earth.

---

"By the divine power of the three great deities: Amaterasu, Tsukuyomi, and Susanoo, banish all foulness from this land. Reveal the hidden and expel all abominations. Obey my command!"

"Earth-Cleansing Barrier!"

The ground quivered and cracked, forcing a mass of wriggling insects out from beneath the soil.

As expected, dealing with an ancient parasite like Zouken required constant vigilance.