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Chapter - 7: One can only go forward, never backward.
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"Hmm... I wonder what people think about this War," said Otakemaru. "I'd like to know what selfish desires are driving these heroes from beyond the grave."
Manaka was taken aback by this sudden display of curiosity from her usually indifferent Servant. "Are you actually interested in something like that?" she asked, genuinely surprised.
"No, I'm not. I couldn't care less if a Servant wishes to destroy the world or something. It's just that I find myself oddly curious. From what I understand, Servants are summoned based on some artifact or object associated with them. I was merely wondering if any of them have intriguing wishes..." Otakemaru's tone held a rare note of intrigue.
Manaka chuckled softly. "Trying to gauge someone's desires can be quite a challenge. Humanity is inherently self-centered and driven by petty wishes. Throughout history, from kings to peasants, everyone has harbored at least one insignificant and self-serving desire deep within. It's the kind of thing they wish to have fulfilled, no matter how trivial."
"It's those very desires that gave birth to the Holy Grail itself. The Grail was formed to cater to the whims of these ordinary individuals, each harboring their own petty wishes. So, if the Grail mirrors the nature of humanity, why shouldn't it be just as self-centered and trivial?" Manaka's explanation elicited a rare, little smile from Otakemaru.
He smiled inwardly, understanding Manaka's perspective. The Holy Grail's enigmatic nature wasn't lost on him, and he certainly wasn't oblivious to the fact that it possessed a will of its own. However, he chose not to reveal the full extent of his knowledge to Manaka just yet.
But that doesn't concern him much, at least that he wasn't planning to devour what was inside. Moreover, his priority was to guide her, and to that end it would be essential to assess her understanding of humanity. So he continued the conversation.
"Oh? Are you suggesting that the Grail has a will of its own?" he inquired in his usual indifferent tone, raising an eyebrow slightly. Manaka responded with an affirming nod.
"Yes, that's right. The Grail does have its own will. After all, it's a creation born from the desires of people. I believe the Grail is just as selfish and petty as its creators. It exists solely to satisfy humanity's shallow desires, as it lacks any other purpose or capability. Even if humans themselves are unaware, the Grail possesses an understanding of their deepest longings; it knows what humanity truly craves," Manaka explained. Her words were thoughtful, yet there was a certain innocence to her perspective. It was evident that she held a deep fascination with the mysteries surrounding the Holy Grail War.
"That's what makes the Grail so intriguing," Manaka concurred with a nod. She took a moment to examine the command seals on his glove-covered arm, acknowledging the deep connection between them. He was intrigued by Manaka's revelation and her underlying desires.
"Hmm... A pretty profound sentiment you've shared, Little-Hime. Despite your unique nature, you possess a rather insightful understanding of humanity. It seems you're quite mature for your age in this era of relative peace," Otakemaru praised sincerely, a rare note of appreciation in his tone. Manaka's radiant smile in response to his praise was enough to let him know that his words had struck a chord.
"Indeed, my nature may be a bit twisted, and the Grail seemed to have acknowledged that by summoning you," Manaka confirmed, her smile growing even brighter. Otakemaru couldn't help but be intrigued by her complexity and the depth of her thoughts. He had an inkling that their partnership was bound to be eventful and filled with unexpected twists.
"Will you repeat it and change my name to Hime?" asked Manaka in a hopeful tone, and he chuckled.
"You are indeed quite mature for your age, Manaka-hime. Even in this peaceful era, you possess a deep understanding of humanity. Just as one would expect from a princess," Otakemaru responded with an amused tone.
Manaka's joy at being addressed as a princess resonated in her thoughts. She always enjoyed hearing that title from her Servant.
"No, Otakemaru. May I ask, what is your wish?" inquired Manaka, her curiosity piqued. Her motivation wasn't necessarily genuine concern but rather a sense of curiosity, a desire to uncover more about the enigmatic being that was her Servant.
"My wish, you say... Well, to be honest, I don't possess one," replied Otakemaru with a contemplative look in his astral form. His gaze turned distant as he spoke.
Indeed, the concept of wishes had changed drastically for him. He harbored no desire to rewrite his past or create a new timeline. He had learned that one couldn't undo the choices they had made, no matter how much they wished for it. He had no intention of repeating past mistakes or trying to atone for them through the Holy Grail War.
His thoughts carried with them a sense of resignation, accepting that he could not change the past but could only keep walking forward.
Otakemaru's astral form honed in on the school as a sense of foreboding seeped into his senses. Manaka's actions at the school gate caught his attention, and he continued to observe closely.
"Little Monster... This school..."
"Yes... There's a boundary field encompassing this school. It implies that one of the Masters is likely a student here," Manaka's thoughts echoed to her Servant as they both directed their attention towards the school.
"Moreover, it's constructed to absorb human souls. The one responsible, the Servant, appears to have crossed a line, involving innocent lives... Could it be Caster?"
"No... Caster and the Assassin have taken residence at Ryuudou Temple..." Otakemaru replied evenly, his tone devoid of emotion.
"Then it may well be Rider..." Manaka deduced, her mind piecing together the puzzle. Her reasoning flowed with the clarity of a seasoned strategist. 'Archer, Lancer, and Saber are unlikely culprits due to their affinity with traditional weaponry. Berserker's madness is evident, ruling them out. That leaves Caster and Rider as the prime suspects. Caster is stationed at the Ryuudou Temple, hence Rider seems the more likely candidate."
"Your deduction is astute, Little Hime," Otakemaru acknowledged, impressed by Manaka's logical analysis of the situation. His focus remained sharp on the unfolding mystery.
Otakemaru's understanding of the intricacies of magi culture was limited, as the world of mages was vastly different from the realm of Onmyoudou arts he was familiar with. However, his fortunate partnership with Manaka, a skilled magus, provided him with valuable information.
"So I'll investigate the school tonight. We may need to adopt a more assertive approach from now on, Little Master..." Otakemaru conveyed his intentions to Manaka.
"Alright then! Hmm... Given the dwindling Matou bloodline, it points to the Tohsaka heiress as the second contender for the ownership of this town..." Manaka pondered aloud, her thoughts weaving through the intricacies of the Holy Grail War.
"Is the Matou bloodline truly waning?' Otakemaru inquired. "In that case, I'll have to pay them a visit as well."
"Why?" Manaka's voice carried a hint of confusion.
"Death and dying are not the same, Little Hime. Dying implies a continued existence, however brief. In this scenario... They might be the Master of Rider. When you intend to eliminate someone, ensure they are truly eradicated without leaving any room for potential recovery..." Otakemaru's words carried the weight of his vast experience, gained from countless battles against formidable Phantasmal Species, each boasting unique abilities entrenched in their mythologies.
Having crossed paths with entities such as the Mountain Serpent and even Abe-no-Seimei, Otakemaru's wariness towards the termination of beings of high status was evident.
He emphasized the importance of ensuring the total eradication of adversaries, a lesson learned from his encounters with beings capable of extraordinary immortality.
They will start their move tonight, maybe they will not fight. But now they will openly explore...
There is no longer any reason to hide. After all he was the strongest from the beginning of his existence there was no one who could defeat him or at least that was what he thought from the depths of his soul.
Aware that six other Servants had also been summoned, Otakemaru had already interacted with some of them, even testing the waters of combat against Lancer. The encounters had left him eager for more, a chance to witness the clashes between other Servant pairs and gauge their abilities.
The prospect of an upcoming battle tonight couldn't help but evoke a large, unsettling smile on Otakemaru's face. His monstrous nature seemed to relish the chaos and conflict, a testament to his ancient and fearsome origins. It was a smile that hinted at the excitement he felt, as if a primal urge within him was being awakened once again.
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