What does this black muddy water taste like?
Perhaps everyone's answer would be different. For Kotomine Kirei, there was no existence that could satisfy his empty heart more than this black muddy water. This black muddy water would fill the void in his soul. This was far more satisfying than the pleasure brought by Happy Otaku Water. Of course, this young priest had probably never experienced the taste of Happy Otaku Water.
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Irisviel, based on the data in her memory, led the group towards the entrance beneath Ryuudou Temple. Because Irisviel was, after all, only a homunculus, the data she had access to was not too detailed. She could only fumble along as best she could according to the information she knew.
After all, if the entrance to the underground cavern were so easily discovered, Fuyuki City would have long since developed a tourism project for the underground cavern as a summer retreat. That place was, after all, the location of the Greater Grail, and also the sleeping place of the Winter Saint. On this latter point alone, the old insect would absolutely not allow ordinary people to enter the underground cavern. For a man, the white moonlight and cinnabar mole in his heart are always a soft spot that others cannot touch.
Perhaps in the old insect's thoughts, it would be best if this underground cavern were never discovered by anyone. In the present era, the old insect might have already forgotten the original reason why he didn't want people to come here. After all, in the long passage of time, the old insect had long since become unrecognizable. Even if Hohenheim were to come to this era, he would not be able to connect the old insect with the person in his memory who had lofty aspirations and a noble soul. It could be said that in these years, the old insect had completely become another person. But now, there was no need to say these things. After all, the old insect had already made his exit a day or two ago.
The entrance to the original underground space might not have been so easy to find. But with the massive leakage of magical energy, the cave in the mountain was like a hole in a punctured bag. The gas in the bag was constantly erupting outwards. A magus would naturally have a certain perception of such a situation. It might not be that accurate, but with a little investigation, they could smoothly find the location of the entrance.
"What evil magical energy. Even I, who has not studied holy-type magic, can perceive it so clearly. Is the Holy Grail really an omnipotent machine that can grant all wishes?"
Kenneth looked at the entrance to the underground space and frowned. Such evil magical energy... no matter how you looked at it, it didn't quite fit with "granting all wishes." This Holy Grail War must be hiding too many things from them, the contestants. Otherwise, he shouldn't have underestimated the magi of this distant East. As long as they were human, as long as they had desires, anyone could become a black-hearted fellow.
Irisviel was still flipping through the files she had obtained. Suddenly, her gaze fell upon the Third Holy Grail War. There, there was a name and a class that had been erased.
At this very moment, Kiritsugu was in the Einzbern castle located in the forest of this small seaside city, hoping to find the data left over from 60 years ago in this castle.
Irisviel looked at the files in her hand and slightly clenched her fist. Because she couldn't determine the name and class of the summoned Heroic Spirit, it was still unclear whether this Heroic Spirit had a direct connection with the current abnormality of the Holy Grail. In the end, she still had to go underground to see the situation. "Everyone, get ready. Let's go down."
Merlin frowned, then raised his palm. He quickly chanted something, adding a defense of swirling flower petals to everyone. Since everyone was a comrade now, he also had to show some of his ability. Although he liked to slack off, this matter could possibly affect the safety of this world. He had to be serious.
The descent into the underground passage was not narrow. In fact, it grew wider and wider as they went. That evil power also became more and more apparent. Balin directly took out the holy spear in his hand, using the holy light it brought to disperse the surrounding evil intent. They passed through a cavern like a group of stalactites, walked across a small stone bridge, and finally arrived at the location of the Greater Grail.
The cavern under the stone bridge was completely filled with black sludge. That black sludge was still constantly boiling. From time to time, bubbles would burst like boiling water. That appearance was not much different from a wailing human face. Even the sound of the bubbles bursting was like a human's howl. At this moment, it was as if the group had stepped into Hell. Whether it was the Hell of the East or the Hell of the West, such a scene should be common to both.
Merlin looked at this black tide and frowned. But since this black muddy water had not taken the initiative to attack them, there was no need to use illusion to clear it for now. What's more, clearing such a large area would be a test of their magical energy consumption.
Irisviel looked at this black magical energy and covered her mouth. If such magical energy was really gushing out from the Holy Grail, then the Holy Grail was definitely in trouble. In the initial vision of the three founding families, what should have been stored in the Holy Grail was the purest magical energy. Something must have happened in the Third Holy Grail War!
The group continued forward. On a high platform, a young priest slowly turned around. He had a strange smile on his face. He spread his hands to the group. "Welcome to the womb that gestates All the World's Evils. I have been waiting for you for a long time."
Almost at the first moment, all the Masters recognized the identity of the person before them. "Kotomine Kirei?!"
Kenneth narrowed his eyes. According to the data he had, the young priest before him should be the old priest's son. "Since you have appeared here, and even told us you have been waiting for a long time, this means that Kotomine Risei... your father... was killed by your own hands, wasn't he?"
The smile on Kirei's face did not change. He just slowly lowered his hands, then shook his head with some helplessness. "How can you use a word like 'killed'? Filled with joy, emotion, and sorrow, I had my father, who disagreed with me, return to the Lord's embrace. After all, such a kind father, you surely would not want to see such a scene, right? This was my mercy to my father."
Merlin's eyes widened slightly. How should he put it? In his long life, he had never seen a person like the priest before him. How should he put it? Humans were truly a subtle existence, to be able to give birth to such an existence whose faith in the Lord had not the slightest deviation, yet was filled with inner malice.