Facing Roland's declaration, Matou Zouken felt a chill.
He carefully recalled his words. He didn't say anything special. How did this guy realize that he was not a human being?
Is this guy broken?
Considering Roland's fighting power, he might blow up the Matou family after he went crazy, which is contrary to Matou Zouken's style of fading from other people's sight and hiding in the background to plan.
Thinking of this, he pretended to cough a few times, allowing the black-haired girl hiding behind the door to come out.
"Your magic channel is ready," Matou Zouken said in a deep voice, "Although you are still very young as a magician, it is enough as a magic source. Caster is a job that can collect magic by itself. The magic provided by the Master is only to maintain their existence."
As if he was afraid that Roland would be dissatisfied, Matou Zouken described Matou Sakura's advantages in brief words.
But Roland didn't pay any attention to these. He first glanced at the girl's hair color, and then his eyes unconsciously paused on the girl's hands for a while.
"This child is called Matou Sakura, and she was adopted by the Tohsaka family. She hasn't been implanted with my bugs yet, so you can rest assured. You can use her as you wish in the future. If she is still alive after the Holy Grail War, you can give her to me to use as a waste."
When Matou Zouken noticed where Roland was looking, he let out a laugh filled with malice and pleasure.
Now, the punishment for Matou Kariya has been achieved. After fighting to the death, when that guy finds out that his biggest goal has been handed over to others, it must be very interesting to see his hypocritical posture of justice shattered.
"Oh, and here's your holy relic. It's the best caster I own." Matou Zouken handed a small box to Roland and continued, "If the war begins, I hope you won't forget your promise and will kill Danic first."
"The class chosen by the Matou family this time is Berserker. If it goes well, you can also provide a little help."
"I see. It's almost eleven o'clock. I need to go back and rest."
Roland nodded, and without any extra response, he left the gate of the Matou family. Matou Sakura, who had been instructed long ago, followed Roland obediently. Although she had been transferred again, her expression did not change much. She did not look like a six or seven-year-old girl.
Looking like a soulless puppet, Roland subconsciously slowed down his pace, and Matou Sakura also consciously slowed down, always keeping a distance from Roland.
However, it is hard to imagine that this girl who looks very quiet and as cute as a doll has no fear of walking with strangers.
Was it because she had seen deeper levels of terror? Roland glanced at Matou Sakura's eyes. Unlike the simple numbness caused by being accustomed to terror, Matou Sakura's eyes were filled with a dead color. She had not entered the worm cave, and in the absence of physical pain, was the mental damage more serious?
But Roland had no intention of treating Sakura Matou, so he took the initiative to speak in a tone that was not at all enthusiastic.
"Your name is Matou Sakura, right? I'm Roland."
Matou Sakura raised her head slightly and stared at Roland's back, her eyes still expressionless.
Roland didn't care about the little girl's silence and continued.
"First of all, you need to understand that your grandfather has already given you to me. You need to know your position. I will need your presence for a period of time. I will not ask you to do anything beyond my ability, but you must not cause trouble for me either."
"Finally," Roland turned his head and looked at Matou Sakura, "Although I don't think you would have such delusions, it's better to make it clear in advance. I will not let you leave, whether you return to the Matou family or the Tohsaka family."
Logically speaking, Roland should have said something magnanimous to give Sakura Matou psychological comfort, but he was unwilling to do so.
He risked his life to trade for this magical channel in the Holy Grail War.
This was Roland's real contribution. He was not the initiator of Matou Sakura's tragic experience. Why should he feel guilty towards Matou Sakura?
"Well, I understand your situation. Sometimes I do have some sympathy. As an adult, maybe I should say something right, like promise you freedom after the Holy Grail War."
"But I don't want it."
Roland stared at Matou Sakura calmly, "I will never give something that belongs to me to anyone else unless I am willing."
Since childhood, perhaps because of his family experience, Roland has always attached great importance to his own things. The same is true when playing games. He hoards a lot of meaningless things that he can't use at all, and is unwilling to throw them away.
"——Perhaps, I still haven't become a proper adult."
Roland laughed at himself and looked at Matou Sakura, "You must be prepared for this, Miss Matou Sakura."
Maybe it was because Roland's words were too off-topic, but Matou Sakura was stunned for a moment. Then, she gave Roland a pleasing smile.
"Yes, Roland-sama, as long as you need me, I will never leave your side."
"Ah..." Perhaps because the answer was too mature, Roland tilted his head helplessly and looked at the little girl.
Compared to the distance of several meters before, Sakura Matou is now following him like a little tail. Does this mean their relationship is closer?
What's going on? Both Kirei and Uryuu Ryuunosuke are like this. They have suddenly become much closer. I didn't say any profound truths. I just expressed my true feelings.
Roland turned his head in confusion, stopped thinking about this question, and continued walking forward.
After a while, he finally returned to his residence and waited for a while, then sat obediently on the sofa with Sakura Matou.
"After that, we will start summoning heroic spirits. Your grandfather has told you what to do, right?"
After receiving a positive response, Roland nodded and said, "Before that, please wait for me for a while."
After getting the answer, he no longer planned to wait. Today, he would hold the shortcut to eternal peace of mind in his hands!
——The Key of All Spirits, give me the Spirit of the Contracted Shendu.
After giving the order in his mind, Roland's face suddenly turned sickly pale, and the Key of All Spirits in his hand once again emitted silver light, slowly flowing into his body.
Suddenly, his senses were infinitely magnified, as if his soul was entering deep space, his vision began to become blurred, his mind was in a trance, and every blink of an eye was accompanied by a feeling of fatigue and sleepiness.
"It was a mistake. It's different from the time with Kira Yoshikage. He is indeed a red spirit contract..."
Eventually, Roland lost consciousness, his body swayed twice, and he fell on top of Sakura Matou.
"Roland-sama?"
Sakura Matou let out a small cry of surprise and was about to reach out to help Roland, but then stopped.
Because, even though he hadn't woken up yet, Roland's eyelids were still slightly open. At this close distance, Matou Sakura could clearly see that his eyes were different from the dark and deep ones before.
——Now Roland's entire eye sockets were replaced by scarlet light.
There was no visible dividing line between the white of the eye and the pupil. Instead, there was a flashing red, dark, chaotic light that flickered like breathing, and looked like a flickering flame.