"Why are you so surprised?"
Hearing the astonishment in Tohsaka Rin's voice, Su Mo asked in return.
"I just feel like something on the level of the Holy Grail War would be useless to you. Even if you had a wish you wanted to make, if you can't do it yourself, the Holy Grail can't do it either, right?"
Scratching her head, Rin voiced her thoughts. "Even something like reaching the Root would be meaningless to you!"
If Su Mo were to participate in the Holy Grail War, the outcome would be a foregone conclusion. With his strength, he could easily end the war in ten minutes, with most of that time spent just finding and traveling to his opponents.
As for the rewards of the Holy Grail War, whether it was the wish-granting opportunity that others might flock to, or the Root that magi pursued, neither should mean much to Su Mo.
During her magical education from the Tohsaka family, Rin had heard her father say that the modern magi's fervent pursuit of the Root was something that magi from the Age of Gods, and the gods themselves, would scoff at.
This was because the Authorities of gods were innately connected to the Root, and magi from the Age of Gods could indirectly connect to it through those Authorities. They had no need to pursue it.
If that was the case, what reason did Su Mo have to participate in the Holy Grail War?
"Regarding the wish, your thinking is more or less correct."
Faced with Rin's question, Su Mo casually explained.
The so-called sixty years of magical energy accumulated by the Great Holy Grail through Fuyuki's ley lines was only considered infinite by human standards. For a Godslayer, it was nothing special. A Godslayer's magical energy reserves generally surpassed those of a ley line.
Su Mo's magical energy capacity was greater than that of an ordinary Godslayer, so it naturally surpassed the Great Holy Grail's as well. The Grail's wish truly held little meaning for him.
"But, regarding the purpose of the Holy Grail War, it seems Tohsaka Tokiomi hasn't explained much to you."
The so-called wish-granting machine was merely bait to attract Servants and outsiders.
"The true purpose of the Holy Grail War, the chance to obtain the Third Magic, Heaven's Feel, is the most precious reward. Its importance even surpasses that of the gods."
The perpetual motion machine of infinite magical energy was secondary; that was merely the most superficial application of the Third Magic. The materialization of the soul was the true core of this principle.
Whether it was the manifestation of Servants or the existence of Divine Spirits, both were inextricably linked to the theory of soul materialization. If he could completely master this principle, Su Mo's strength might leap forward by more than two tiers.
"Not to mention, while the power level of magecraft may have upper and lower limits, there is no such hierarchy between pieces of information."
"Even a spell accumulated by a mere ordinary magus might contain a spark of precious inspiration."
"For example, like this!"
As his words fell, Su Mo drew out a book on insect magecraft he had read and activated an improved version of the spell.
SKREEEEE—
A massive swarm of insects flew out from every corner of the Matou residence. As if receiving a command from some higher being, they all soared into the sky, blanketing the entire estate like a dark cloud.
"Eek!"
Seeing the millions of insects converging from all directions, Tohsaka Rin's skin crawled. Sakura also wore an uneasy expression, taking a step back to hide behind Su Mo.
The cacophonous noise soon fell completely silent. The massive number of insects, which even Matou Zouken himself couldn't control, all broke free from the earth at Su Mo's command, then fell into the courtyard at the same time, forming pristine white cocoons.
Half a minute later, these piles of white cocoons began to tremble continuously, finally being torn open by the creatures inside.
"Whoa! Are these... butterflies?"
Rin's jaw dropped. The once hideous and grotesque insects, after their re-incubation, had transformed into dazzlingly beautiful butterflies.
A massive swarm of them began to fly around the Matou residence, like a beautiful, flowing ribbon.
Seeing this incredibly magnificent scene, even Sakura let go of her fear.
"Even such a disgusting insect magecraft can be remade so beautifully?"
Rin was once again in awe of Su Mo's talent. As expected of Lord Su Mo, he could turn anything into a work of art.
"Strictly speaking, butterflies also belong to the insect class. This isn't a transformation, but an extension."
Su Mo shook his head and reached out a hand to stop Rin, who was about to try and catch one.
"Besides, don't be fooled by their splendid appearance. They are still the same vermin that grew up gnawing on human flesh. They have no value in living!"
As Su Mo spoke, the wings of a single crimson butterfly suddenly ignited. It was a wisp of scarlet flame.
The flame quickly grew, joining with the flying butterfly to form a scarlet fiery tornado.
The massive fire tornado engulfed the entire Matou estate, putting the insect nest, the buildings, the courtyard, and indeed all life within range to the torch.
The sacred flames purified everything, including Matou Zouken, who was still suffering the torment of a million insects eating his heart.
In the forest outside the borders of Fuyuki City, the violently struggling core bug, along with the straw doll, was incinerated by the scarlet flames, leaving nothing but ash.
The magus Matou Zouken, or Makiri Zolgen, officially ended his dark and twisted life, without even a soul left behind.
---||---
At Mount Enzou, in the location of the Great Holy Grail's magic circle beneath Ryuudou Temple, Rin Tohsaka gazed at the grand flames gradually disappearing over the Matou estate and suddenly slapped her head as if remembering something.
"Oh no! I should have hidden it with a bounded field! Now the whole city has seen it! How are we going to explain this?!"
Faced with this unnecessary worry, Su Mo shook his head.
"Don't worry, the citizens of Fuyuki are used to it. We'll just say it was a gas pipe explosion."
"..."
Hearing this excuse, which had been repeated countless times, Rin was speechless.
Sakura, on the other hand, curiously examined the contents of this underground space. After a moment's hesitation, she boldly asked, "Lord Su Mo, are you going to summon a Servant inside the Great Holy Grail?"
"That's right."
Su Mo nodded, revealing the three stigmata on the back of his hand. This wasn't a qualification granted to him by the Grail; the Grail itself wasn't qualified to break through his magical defenses.
This was one of the three pre-determined slots that the Three Founding Families held in every Holy Grail War. Now, along with the Matou family's magical inheritance, it had fallen into Su Mo's hands.
Since he had obtained the Servant summoning ritual, it was only natural to conduct an experiment himself before optimizing it for his system.
"An ordinary Servant would be of little meaning to me. I hope to summon a type with special powers."
With that thought, Su Mo recited the incantation for summoning a Servant.
"I announce—"
"I am one who shall achieve all good in the world."
"I am one who shall spread all evil in the world."
"..."
As a brilliant flash of light subsided, a somewhat petite figure appeared before Su Mo.