Roland was lying on a bench outside the church, the blue sky, as if it had just been washed, reflected in his pupils.
The sunlight that filtered through the gaps in the surrounding leaves fell on his face in a fragmented state, but it only gave him a gentle feeling.
"Fuyuki City, what a beautiful city."
Just like before, he sighed, and suddenly, another deep voice took over his words.
"It's okay to rest a little longer if you want."
Kotomine Kirei was still wearing the priest robe that looked very serious, but he walked to Roland's side naturally.
"The ceremony has only just begun. There is still a lot of time before it is officially concluded and even implemented. You don't have to leave in such a hurry."
"The ritual has already been confirmed to be this world."
Roland stretched out his hand to block the sunlight from his eyes and spoke in a lukewarm manner.
"Yes, it is in this world that your resurrection and the evolution of your substitute are inextricably linked to it. When you ascend to heaven in the future, it will also be here."
Kotomine Kirei said seriously: "If it is just to supplement the secret language, there are many places in this world that are worth staying and experiencing."
"Well, that's true."
Roland grunted and agreed with this.
"However, I am not planning to leave to supplement the secret language. At least, this is not my main purpose. Instead, I am planning to leave to solve some problems that I have."
"Question?"
Kotomine Kirei was somewhat puzzled. Roland's power had completely surpassed the limits of his imagination. If the man in front of him wanted to destroy the world, this world would turn into purgatory in a very short time. But how could such a great man think that there was something wrong with him?
"Kirei, do you think that most of the time, the body obeys the mind, or the body controls the mind?"
Roland frowned and sighed.
"Before the innate nature is awakened, the instincts of the body, those electrical signals, hormones, and the acquired environment have shaped who we are today. When the soul is awakened, we must be careful to treat this balance."
Although he had gotten rid of the influence of the Shendu, that body had completely disrupted the balance that he could still maintain, forcing Roland to use the flesh created by human evil to strengthen the dark side and maintain balance whenever it was not necessary.
He realized a long time ago that wisdom and soul are two different things.
Even a creature as powerful as the Shendu would be transformed from a wise demon wizard into a monster only slightly better than a wild beast when faced with endless years of wasting time in hell.
Roland's situation is more delicate. His soul has been sublimated and his body has changed. If it weren't for the human evils that offset each other, his situation would be much more troublesome now. He wouldn't have the time to leisurely enjoy the scenery here.
Although Roland didn't want to complain about this, it was a common saying in the world that if you didn't get any benefits, you would complain about the price you paid. In fact, he had always been quite open-minded in this regard.
No matter what kind of changes Spirit Contract brought to him, even if he is now completely different from the day he first crossed over, as long as his roots are still evolved from the original ones, he will not have any grudges.
As long as he doesn't really become a murderer hiding in a small town, or a big devil who just wants to rule the world.
However, for the eternal journey to heaven, he still cannot stop moving forward.
Perhaps there will still be new contracted spirits in the future, and the changes they bring may not be many, but the influence will still exist. With the example of guys like Matou Zouken, Roland does not want to become a twisted person like that in the future.
In order to avoid this situation, and to prevent being trapped and sealed away like the Shendu, wasting his wisdom and patience, spiritual evolution must be put on the agenda as early as possible.
"Before the full picture of your ritual is revealed, I have to leave for a while and try to recover as much as possible."
Roland concluded calmly that the Spirit of the Shendu was missing a lot of things compared to the peak period of the Fire Demon. Not to mention the most critical Thousand Wisdoms, even the divine power of the talismans had only been unlocked for two, and the rest were still confined by the shell. It could only rely on the current dragon talisman to slowly recover.
Breaking their seals and allowing these divine powers to be released and restored is also an urgent matter.
Moreover, it was not until recently when he recovered his body and was given the evil power of mankind by the Black Qi Mother that Roland was surprised to discover something: his fire magic energy was steadily growing in his current state of unity of soul and body.
This only meant one thing, Roland's anger as the source of the Fire Demon was also in a weak state, but it was not as obvious as the talisman.
Because of the contrast brought about by Hell's function of reducing wisdom, many people overlook the fact that Hell weakens not only the wisdom of demons, but also their power.
The best proof of this is that the performance of the eight demons after their seal was lifted is not as good as the residual demonic energy left behind when they were sealed. In their heyday, their power performance level was far more than that.
When Roland thought of this, he fell silent.
While enjoying the benefits of rising to the top overnight, one also has to face the troubles that this class has to face.
The Dragon Talisman completed by the third method alone cannot quickly meet Roland's needs. Even when the outside of the world was connected and the magic power was almost endless, it could not do this. After all, the power of talismans and magic energy is not that simple.
A large amount of magic power can add icing on the cake, but it cannot provide timely help. To complement them, what is needed is a purer and gentler power.
"Where can I get something like this..."
There was a hint of inquiry in Roland's eyes, but he still couldn't find the corresponding thoughts.
Although, he has no right to choose.
"I think fate will give you the answer. Believe in gravity. Everything in this world will help you reach heaven."
Kotomine Kirei's eyes remained calm. In many ways, his level of trust in Roland even surpassed Roland himself.
"If that's the case, then that's good. However, being too greedy is not a good idea. In the worst case, we can still complete the secret code. From this point of view, I have no right to complain here."
Roland looked at the matter-of-fact look on Kotomine Kirei's face and couldn't help but laugh.
"Moreover, the process of supplementing the secret language is itself a kind of spiritual growth."
"Do you still need to grow?"
Since the beginning of this conversation, Kotomine Kirei made a rare sound of surprise.
But Roland was silent for a moment, his voice as steady as ever.
"Of course I need it. The spiritual realm and strength I possess now are so great that it's a compliment to describe them as a child wielding a sledgehammer. Kirei, if I reduce my physical fitness to the same level as yours, without using any extra strength and simply comparing skills, who do you think will win?"
"this..."
After thinking carefully for a while, Kotomine Kirei began to hesitate.
But Roland had no intention of hiding it and gave a direct answer.
"You will win. You are an excellent agent and a tough killing machine. This experience and skill comes from your accumulation and growth over the past few decades. Although I can kill you with just a flick of my finger, I still have some shortcomings in the use of strength."
In the ordinary world, a person who can use eight out of ten of his strength is a rare master. Roland knows that he is very strong and has repeatedly gained the upper hand in battles with many ancient heroes, but this does not mean that he has surpassed them in all aspects.
Great strength does not mean everything. Even the invincible power of the fourth bomb and the six beasts are not truly unsurpassable.
Light cannon is the most efficient way to output fire magic energy, but this does not mean that magic energy can only be used to fire light cannons.
Kira Yoshikage and the Shendu qualified Roland to join the battle, but these two contracted spirits had some major flaws in combat.
Kira Yoshikage was officially chosen because of his personality, as he is not good at fighting. As for the Shendu, he is not as good at using talismans as Xiaoyu, and was knocked down by Jackie Chan in a fight. Although this was due to the blessing of righteousness, considering that Jackie Chan with the Ox Talisman could not match the power of the Shendu's original body, and was kicked over by Jackie Chan without the talisman, this defeat was very funny.
Roland knew very well that in order to become a truly strong person, he must first recognize his own weaknesses.
In order not to be like someone who was thrown into the universe and stopped thinking because he was blinded by power and became arrogant, Roland wanted to keep moving forward. In addition to maintaining his anchor point, he also began to recognize himself.
His starting point was definitely not high, but the Key of All Spirits gave him the opportunity.
In this case, there is only one way before him.
Complete yourself with others.
Those various contract spirits will only make Roland see the road ahead more clearly and move forward more determinedly.
The more influences he accepted, the more divine Roland became, and this was the path he chose.
To transform from a scum who only wants to seize the family property into a villain savior who transcends fate requires an unforgettable defeat and a century-long period of reflection.
Roland, who has more possibilities, naturally has to stand in the footsteps of his predecessors, turn every bit of strength from the past into food, completely integrate it into his own spirit, and achieve true growth.
"It seems that you have made up your mind to leave. No wonder you have arranged everything in the past few days."
"Rin, Sakura, Illya, and Kallen are all pretty much playing together. Irisviel and Aoi are both reliable mothers, so there's nothing to worry about. Besides, there's also Caster helping to manage Fuyuki City."
Roland stretched and stood up from his chair, followed by Kotomine Kirei, who suddenly said:
"What about Caster? The reason why that witch stayed in this era is just because of you, whether it's the supply of magic power or..."
"That doesn't matter. She already knows and has accepted it."
Roland said confidently: "Parting is only a moment, she will take good care of Fuyuki during this time."
He slowly raised his hand, looked at the silver ring that changed his destiny, and smiled: "After all, I have made a contract with her that is more eternal than the Holy Grail."
Seeing that the matter seemed to be a foregone conclusion, Kotomine Kirei looked at Roland's pure, faint, yet dazzling smile, his eyes lit up, and he nodded silently.
He seemed to gradually understand the key to Roland's ceremony to heaven, so he gave a guarantee.
"When you return next time, I will show you the way to the gates of heaven."
"I believe you, Kirei."
Roland suddenly said, "Let's not talk about this anymore. You've completely left Karen to me recently and have been focusing on the construction of the orphanage. It seems that the adopted child is indeed to your liking. Your father said that you gave the child your surname."
"Because Shirou has this talent. Although it is different from Caren's released nothingness, his imperfections are just like me back then, struggling with concepts and self. So, I want to give him guidance. Moreover, his imperfections will attract more help for the road to heaven. If possible, I hope he can inherit my mantle in the future."
"Kotomine Shirou?"
Roland chewed on the name and felt a little emotional.
"Then I'll just wait and see."
——
"Kotomine Shirou..."
Since waking up, Shinji Matou has been unable to experience any fun.
There was no trace of his past memories, and he had no impression of those guys who claimed to be his relatives. Even his former obsession with the path of magic had been diluted. All that remained in him were the remnants of something called talent.
Even the name Matou Shinji is just a name used by others to identify himself.
According to his own tests, the abilities he had studied had been enhanced to an astonishing degree, and his vision of the world had also been greatly improved.
Everything around her was so boring and shallow. Only the man who called himself Roland could make her feel afraid.
Otherwise, even the magicians whose fighting power is far superior to that of the young child are just equals in the eyes of Matou Shinji, and he will definitely surpass them in the future. This is not his self-confidence, but a future inferred based on the existing conditions.
The magic circuits of this body have all become unobstructed, and its aptitude is excellent even if judged by a very strict standard.
According to his step-by-step study of magic out of boredom every day, he would probably be able to obtain the honorary title of three primary colors after he reaches adulthood.
But what's the point of this?
Shinji Matou couldn't understand why this fundamental gap made it impossible for him to get along with his family and the people in his daily school. Fortunately, he followed Roland's suggestion and came to this boarding facility that combined a church school and an orphanage.
To be honest, this is indeed a lot better. As long as you take the initiative to show a distant attitude, these children who have experienced difficulties will take the initiative to stay away from them. If there are really some who are blind, all you have to do is show your strength.
Originally, Shinji Matou should have lived a boring life in his own way as planned, but all this was broken by the red-haired child in front of him.
Although he is the adopted son of a priest who is in charge of managing the facilities, he always acts like a goody-goody, passionately devoting himself to his ideals, always facing everything with kindness, and with an incomprehensible stubbornness.
It's like wasting so much time today on useless high jump.
Shinji Matou has been watching for the entire afternoon.
Watching Kotomine Shirou repeat the same mistakes again and again, failing continuously, but still trying again and again.
This meaningless behavior was even more boring than myself, and what was even more incredible was that I actually watched it for several hours.
Finally, after Kotomine Shirou failed again, he spoke.
"Your actions are completely meaningless. If you don't change your strength and posture, such an attempt is just a matter of luck."
"Huh?"
A look of surprise appeared on Kotomine Shirou's face, but it was quickly replaced by surprise.
"Shinji, this is the first time you've taken the initiative to talk to me."
"I just can't bear to watch it anymore," Matou Shinji raised his hand, letting the tingling sensation of the magic circuit running rise inside his body.
"Domination."
This basic magic that could only be used to manipulate small animals, with the help of the secret teachings of the Matou family given by Roland, he was able to easily manipulate humans, which is difficult even for adult magicians.
Under his control, Kotomine Shirou's body began to adjust his breathing and strength, and he jumped down and jumped over the pole that he had fallen on countless times.
"You are so awesome! Shinji," Although his body was easily taken away by others, Kotomine Shirou did not feel offended. Instead, he excitedly rushed over and held Matou Shinji's hand.
"Come join me. With you here, the search for the road to heaven will be very smooth!"
"Heaven?"
"Yes," Kotomine Shirou nodded, "Kirei said that he and I are both imperfect people in the same way, and we cannot obtain the happiness that belongs to ordinary people through the eternal world. What we can do is to have a good consciousness, find the door to heaven, and finally wait for that god-like man to ascend to heaven and bring eternal happiness to the whole world."
"Heaven... This kind of thing is unnecessary no matter how you think about it logically... The world is chaotic. Some people are enjoying happiness, while others have to endure suffering. It is natural for those who are born with disabilities to suffer more."
"You are right... But wouldn't it be wonderful to have a world where everyone can be happy? I also firmly believe in what Kirei believes in."
Kotomine Shirou stared at Matou Shinji: "Just like you approached me on your own initiative today, can it be explained by logic? Obviously, you would never contact other people before."
Just because you are so stupid...
Shinji Matou was about to explain when he frowned, because the act of explaining itself had deviated from his original intention. He, who couldn't even understand family affection, was moved by a child of the same age in front of him. This was totally unlike him.
What was it about Kotomine Shirou that attracted him?
Matou Shinji pondered over it, using his brain to its full potential, but he could not come up with a corresponding answer. He just watched Shirou's useless efforts, driven by the resentment in his heart.
"Even if you know that this ideal is unrealistic, are you willing to devote yourself to it?"
He looked at Kotomine Shirou and asked.
Kotomine Shirou had a smile on his face that was as bright as the sun. "If we can make more people realize this during this process, wouldn't we be one step closer to a happy world? Encounter itself is part of gravity."
He happily looked at everything around him: "What kind of person will I meet next, how much will my life deviate from the plan, whether I can reach the heavenly ending, these unknowns, these realizations, every moment makes me excited, and only by devoting myself to this matter can I smile."
Kotomine Shirou held his chin up and thought for a while: "I'm afraid this is what my father meant by pleasure, Shinji, you are always so rigid, you have to pursue something that makes you happy, then you will get better."
"Pleasure…"
Matou Shinji repeated the word and immediately understood the source of his heartfelt emotion.
There was no mistake. He got pleasure from observing Kotomine Shirou, so he made the change.
This unknown deeply washed over Shinji Matou's soul. In this boring reality, he finally had a second person who could stir him up. And, unlike Roland who made him feel scared, what he could find in Kotomine Shirou was an excitement he had never experienced before.
"I'll join in."
Matou Shinji abandoned his rationality and looked at Kotomine Shirou seriously.
"I will go to witness the so-called paradise and what kind of unknown things will happen to you who are chasing it, but I cannot guarantee that this ideal will have an ending."
"So what does it matter? The ending has already been determined. It's just a matter of whether we can achieve it in our generation."
Kotomine Shirou showed a bright smile that chilled people's hearts.
"After all - people will go to heaven eventually.