Magical Gift – Seal Designation Enforcer

  The image dispyed on the card depicted a striking figure—"Bazett Fraga McRemitz," one of the notable characters withiype-Moon universe, often referred to affeately as Master of the Multi-Reverse Punch.

  Though Bazett typically presented herself with a strong and mase demeanor, the sheer potential she embodied as a character could not be uimated.

  The abilities of this equipment were simple yet devastatingly effective: it enhahe power of the user's fists and kicks, allowing each strike to deliver the maximum possible damage. Simply put, every attaded would be a critical hit.

  For Chihiro, who had honed his hand-to-hand bat skills over years of training, this equipment ractically tailor-made.

  It seemed like today was turning out to be a very lucky day.

  , Chihiro opehe final golden treasure chest.

  Magical Gift – Vengeance from the Underworld

  This gift's effects were equally incredible. When equipped, it grahe Heroic Spirit an ignore invincible state for a limited duration and boosted the damage output of their Noble Phantasms by 15%.

  Chihiro was truly fortuwo powerful items in one day.

  After basking in his excitement for a while, fatigue finally caught up with him. He decided to rest and y down to take a short nap.

  About an hour ter, Chihiro awoke, feeling refreshed. He headed downstairs to discuss their course of a with Zhang Jiao and the others.

  Zhang Jiao was the first to speak. "So, I suppose our pns will have to ge once again."

  "Yes," Chihiro replied seriously. "I initially po focus on other fas, but now that we know Matou Zouken is still alive, he 't be allowed to linger any lohat man is a threat to everyone."

  "An evil creature like him will only bring disaster the longer he's left unchecked," Zhang Jiao agreed, his expression darkening. "But the problem is, where could he be hiding now? After the setback he suffered st time, he'll likely burrow even deeper into the shadows."

  "The only lead we have is that Zouken must have tact with Matou Kariya," Chihiro mused.

  The situation made sense now. Last night, Matou Kariya had suddenly allied himself with Emiya Kiritsugu, expressing a desire tet Chihiro's group. At the time, the decision had felt puzzling, but with Matou Zoukeering the picture, everything became clear.

  It had to be Zouken's orders.

  sidering Kariya's retionship with the old worm, it was almost certain that Zouken was maniputing him. But how exactly was he trolling Kariya?

  Chihiro pondered for a while but couldn't identify the leverage Zouken had over him.

  "Maybe we're thinking about this from the wrong angle," Zhang Jiao suggested. "Why don't we sider it from Zouken's perspective instead?"

  "You're right," Chihiro houghtfully.

  By putting himself in Zouken's shoes, thinking like a maniputive schemer—the answer began to take shape. If Zouken wao trol Matou Kariya, what would he use as leverage?

  The only people who could emotionally sway Kariya enough for him to ply were the Tohsaka mother and daughters.

  But simple threats likely wouldn't be enough. Zouken was the type to aot merely threaten.

  Yet, Chihiro had seeohsaka family members yesterday, and they had appeared unharmed. Was it possible Zouken had done something i?

  Rin was likely safe, given that she was stantly apanied by Ishtar. Attempting anything uhe watchful eye of a goddess would be nearly impossible.

  Sakura, however, might be a different story. Chihiro had seen her yesterday, but if something subtle had been doo her, it ossible that Zhang Jiao had missed it.

  Then there was Aoi Tohsaka.

  Thinking back, Chihiro realized he hadn't seen Aoi Tohsaka at all yesterday—not sihe raid oou estate. Among the Tohsaka family members, she was the most likely target.

  But what method could Zouken have used to manipute her without aig?

  Chihiro began analyzing Zouken's known abilities, quickly narrowing it down to one possibility.

  In Fate/stay night: Heaven's Feel, Zouken had used a mosquito-like magical familiar to repce a person's heart. This allowed him to trol their body without them realizing it. Zouken had used this teique on Kuzuki Soichiro, and when Medea discovered the parasite, her attempts to remove it only caused the familiar to self-destruct.

  If Zouken had used a simir teique on Aoi, it would expihing.

  Without wasting another moment, Chihiro decided to firm his suspis immediately. Speed was critical—if he guessed wrong, at least they could eliminate one possibility.

  ---

  At the Tohsaka estate, Tokiomi looked at Chihiro with surprise. "Why have you e so suddenly?"

  "Please stay calm," Chihiro said. "I o che Aoi."

  Tokiomi frowned. "Aoi? She's been in her room and hasn't e out much tely. Why do you ask?"

  Chihiro carefully expined his theory.

  "What?!"

  Rin almost jumped from her seat, her face pale with worry.

  Tokiomi ched his fists tightly. "Are you certain?"

  "This is just a hypothesis," Chihiro admitted. "That's why I o verify it."

  "How do you pn to do that?" Tokiomi asked, his voice trembling.

  "I'll have Zhang Jiao iigate," Chihiro replied. "As a Caster, he's most suited to this kind of task."

  Relutly, Tokiomi agreed and pointed out where Aoi was staying. Zhang Jiao immediately shifted into spirit form to observe discreetly, with Hassan of the Hundred Faces apanying him for backup.

  Meanwhile, Tokiomi sat silently, his face buried in his hands. Time seemed to crawl as he waited, his mind a storm of emotions.

  "If this is true…" Tokiomi whispered bitterly. "If this is true, then I've failed my family pletely."

  He felt like the worst kind of husband and father. He had almost sacrificed his daughter Sakura once, and now his wife Aoi might have been targeted under his very roof.

  Mier, Zhang Jiao returned, nodding grimly to Chihiro.

  Chihiro's worst fears had been firmed.

  Zhang Jiao had detected a faint traagical energy emanating from Aoi's heart. As an ordinary person, Aoi shouldn't have had any magic within her body, meaning something fn was impnted inside.

  Tokiomi colpsed onto the sofa, his spirit crushed.

  "I'm a plete failure," he muttered, staring bnkly into space.

  "Chihiro, what should we do now?" Rin asked, her voice trembling. Beside her, Sakura g to her sister, equally frightened.

  Chihiro turo Zhang Jiao, but the Caster shook his head helplessly.

  "I'm not well-versed in this kind of parasitic magic," Zhang Jiao admitted.

  Chihiro cursed silently. If only someone specialized in exorcism magic was here. His own expertise wasn't enough, and he didn't know anyone skilled in this particur field.

  Suddenly, Rin spoke up, her voice cutting through the tension. "Wait—what about the system store?"

  Everyouro look at her, realizing she might have found a solution.

  Dispyed on the system panel otion beled:

  [External Force Expelling Potion: Removes all fies from the user's body, including curses, toxins, parasites, and magical effects. No side effects guaranteed.]

  Tokiomi's eyes lit up. "This is exactly what we need!"

  Looking at the price again, it was 50 Saint Quartz.

  It really wasn't cheap.

  After participating in the question-and-answer sessions these past few days, Tokiomi had saved nearly 40 Saint Quartz.

  "Father, do you think this will be enough?"

  Rin and Sakura also offered up their own Saint Quartz.

  With this, it was more than enough.

  The Tohsaka father and daughters suddenly found themselves back to having almost nothing.

  But to them, ensuring Aoi's safety was worth every bit of it.

  Their rese would now be directed entirely at the old bug, Matou Zouken.

  ***

  Support me on patreon to read 55+ advanced chapters: patreon./Blownleaves.