“How…
how could this be…”
Tohsaka Tokiomi, sprawled on the ground, filled with despair and dejection, and with a very sore face, was dealt a tremendous blow.
It was a complete negation by another version of himself, and while unable to argue back, he was also thoroughly thrashed, being rubbed into the ground by the other party.
It was a heavy impact of failed ideals, ambition, persistence, will, and strength, making him feel as if he had aged ten years and become utterly despondent.
This was completely different from being defeated by others.
For a proud traditional Magus like Tohsaka Tokiomi, nothing was more painful than being completely negated and defeated by ‘himself,’ especially when that’self’ had taken a path completely different from his own, a path he despised and disdained.
The sense of utter failure and uselessness was even more intense.
Seeing Tohsaka Tokiomi in such a state, Lynch really wanted to create a famous scene, directly pouncing and sprawling in front of Tohsaka Tokiomi, grinning sinisterly and saying something like, ‘I just wanted to see you like this,’ which would undoubtedly become a new famous scene.
However, that would break his persona.
If he wasn’t careful, the duration of the character card would reset to zero, and the fun with Tohsaka Tokiomi couldn’t end just like this.
He could still use it later, so there was no need to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.
Anyway, the main quest was to participate in the Fourth Holy Grail War and collect enough fun points.
With a year still remaining until the Fourth Holy Grail War, Lynch had plenty of time and opportunities to repeatedly find fun with Tohsaka Tokiomi.
As for now, Lynch was ready to leave, as an hour and a half had already passed since he used the character card.
There wasn’t much he could do with the remaining time, so there was no need to dwell on it.
It was at this moment that Iron Man Tokiomi’s previously released nanobots flew back, directly ‘melting’ into his body.
Tohsaka Tokiomi also noticed it, and even though it wasn’t the first time he had seen it, he was still incredibly shocked.
His already shattered worldview continued to crack further.
After all, it was simply too sci-fi, almost to the point of being magical, and it was hard to believe that Iron Man Tokiomi had developed such a high-tech item just over a decade from the current era.
In fact, this was indeed very unscientific and unmagical, because it was purely ‘the power of I think therefore I am’.
The amusement system’s implementation of character card effects was inherently illogical; as long as the requirements were met, no matter how absurd the setting, it could be materialized, which is the legendary ‘power of I think therefore I am’ — if I think it’s possible, then it can become reality.
Of course, Lynch was too lazy to delve into these principles, nor would he explain them to Tohsaka Tokiomi.
Donning the Iron Man Tokiomi persona, after retracting the nanobots, he first digested the information within them, then narrowed his eyes, a cold glint flashing in his expression.
“Ha, as expected, Matou Zouken, no matter which world he’s from, is just a sour old bitch.”
These words made the emo Tohsaka Tokiomi pause, and he looked at Iron Man Tokiomi in confusion.
Iron Man Tokiomi saw this, clicked his tongue, and said, “Alright, get up and see for yourself.”
As he spoke, Iron Man Tokiomi commanded his artificial intelligence, Jarvis, to play the detected footage.
Instantly, Jarvis’s polite AI voice rang out: “Yes, sir.”
Following his words, some nanobots emerged from Iron Man Tokiomi, then combined in mid-air to form a miniature projection matrix, and then a very sci-fi holographic projection appeared.
That was the footage detected, a scene composed of the results captured by the nanobots.
Initially, the exterior of the Matou Residence was shown, and then, without any interference, it entered the interior of the Matou Residence.
This made Tohsaka Tokiomi show a hint of surprise.
Iron Man Tokiomi, familiar with Tohsaka Tokiomi, naturally knew what he was surprised about, so he said, “Nanotechnology created by combining some magecraft techniques, you idiot.
This is something you traditional Magus, who are pedantic and inflexible, can’t handle.
Your proud magical barriers are as defenseless as if they weren’t there against this technology.”
He was scolded again.
Tohsaka Tokiomi’s already poor complexion darkened further, but he couldn’t refute it because he had just been crushed and was still questioning his life.
Soon, Tohsaka Tokiomi’s face grew even darker, his pupils even began to tremble, followed by immense fear.
Because the nanobots that entered the Matou Residence had captured images of the insects hidden throughout the Matou Residence, especially upon entering the Matou Residence’s basement and seeing that dark, damp, and terrifying insect nest — the dense, frantically wriggling swarm of Crest Worms in the nest was too shocking even for a traditional Magus like Tohsaka Tokiomi.
“What…
what is this?
Why are there so many insects?”
Tohsaka Tokiomi’s body trembled slightly, and he felt cold all over.
He could tell at a glance that these insects were products of insect magecraft, and this type of magecraft, even within the inhumane magic system, was undoubtedly an evil path.
Iron Man Tokiomi pouted and said, “The information you know is outdated.
The Matou Family has long gone astray, and the magic system they once upheld has long been replaced.”
“Also, the head of the Matou Family has never changed since its establishment.
It has always been the same person, just changing names in different eras.”
Tohsaka Tokiomi suddenly looked at Iron Man Tokiomi: “H-how is that possible?
If the head of the Matou Family hasn’t changed, then…
then Matou Zouken…
Matou Zouken must have lived for over two hundred years?”
Iron Man Tokiomi: “More accurately, over five hundred years.
That guy has survived until now by continuously occupying the bodies of his descendants.
It’s also for this reason that his family’s magical bloodline has gradually died out.
So, that guy desperately needs an excellent magical vessel as a backup body for his future.”
“Although not his direct bloodline, that old man possesses the technique to forcibly modify a person’s body using insect magecraft.”
At this point, he looked at Tohsaka Tokiomi with a contemptuous and disgusted gaze, “So, you idiot, now you know how foolish your act of sending Sakura to the Matou Family was!”
“…” Tohsaka Tokiomi fell silent, pursing his lips, clenching his fists, his body trembling slightly, his eyes filled with a mixture of anger, terror, and lingering fear.
Although he disdained the evil paths within various magecraft systems, Tohsaka Tokiomi was also well aware of how insane the magical paths labeled as evil were, even within the already inhumane magic system.
If Iron Man Tokiomi’s words were true, then Tohsaka Sakura, if sent to the Matou Family, would undoubtedly suffer a terrible fate, because the process of body modification would surely be horrifying and painful, and 100% would involve those insects entering Tohsaka Sakura’s body.
The thought of his young daughter enduring the scene of being twisted and modified by various insects entering her body almost caused Tohsaka Tokiomi’s string of rationality to snap, prompting him to rush directly to the Matou Family and confront Matou Zouken.
Yes, this was Tohsaka Tokiomi’s true emotional reaction.
As one of the rare Magus who valued family affection, he did have moments where he lost his rationality.
However, it was also because of this that Tohsaka Tokiomi was extremely fearful, feeling fortunate that he hadn’t sent his second daughter to the Matou Family, otherwise he would surely regret it for the rest of his life.
Even if he found out then, although he would fight with all his might to reclaim Sakura, he would not be able to change the fact that Sakura had endured inhuman torment.
Therefore, the current Tohsaka Tokiomi was even feeling grateful towards Iron Man Tokiomi.
Then, in this situation, suddenly, Iron Man Tokiomi’s body began to dematerialize, emitting specks of white light, as if he was about to disappear.
This scene made Tohsaka Tokiomi pause, and Iron Man Tokiomi, after a slight start, was not surprised.
Tohsaka Tokiomi: “What’s happening to you?”
Iron Man Tokiomi said calmly, “Didn’t I say I’m from a parallel world?
Actually, this is a spirit particle transfer experiment for parallel world travel.
Now that the time is up, I naturally have to go back.”
Hearing this, Tohsaka Tokiomi opened his mouth, then finally bowed his head: “Regardless, thank you.”
Iron Man Tokiomi clicked his tongue: “If you weren’t me from this world, I really wouldn’t bother wasting words with you.
Forget it, just for Sakura’s sake, if you really don’t have the confidence to protect that child, then send her to the Edelfelt Family.”
Tohsaka Tokiomi paused, then fell into thought: “The Edelfelt Family?
Right, that family’s magecraft inheritance is twin magecraft, but currently there’s only one child.
If Sakura were sent there, she would definitely receive very good care.”
“Moreover, this family and the Tohsaka Family are distant relatives, already having a blood connection, so it really is the best place for her…”
Then, before Tohsaka Tokiomi could say anything more, Iron Man Tokiomi completely disappeared, leaving Tohsaka Tokiomi, with many questions in his mind and a very sore face, standing dumbfounded.
And in a place Tohsaka Tokiomi didn’t know about, in a view only Lynch could see, a new prompt appeared.
Ding ~ Achievement obtained, famous scene created, rewarding 500 fun points.
What remained was an image with Tohsaka Tokiomi on the left, deep in thought, and Tohsaka Sakura on the right, playing outside with her sister and mother.
The image’s description was: ‘A changed future, Tohsaka Sakura sent to the Edelfelt Family’.