Fate/Zero: A Different Path

Chapter 33

Mana danced wildly across the destroyed battlefield under the mesmerizing moonlight. Within the ruined Ryuudou temple, two presence faced off one another. One in surprise, one in full deviltry

A wizard of parallel time, and a wizard of parallel words

"Zelretch. For what purpose did you come here?"

I calmly inquired. Yet deep down inside, the boiling anger and wariness at discovering him with that thing in hand is uncomparable. So much that it makes my hand clencehd and unclenched in irritation

Surely he did not want the Grail?

In the series he has never came off as being greedy. Playful is one thing, but to want to attain a higher purpose, a higher goal through sacrifice is not his style. Kischur is too carefree for such things, boundless by the dimensions that held those notions together

And then there are those years that I have known him, Zelretch never once shown interested in my goal, but right now. It is puzzling to say the least

The Wizard Marshal remained silent despite my inquiry. I could feel the old man's piercing gaze penetrating through my vision. Either that or a playful one. One never knew if he was serious or not without looking into his eyes-- perhaps it's both at the same time

Before long, I put Saber unto a corner and advanced toward him. Zelretch barely react as I grabbed him by the collar of his shirt

"Why are you here?" I asked again "No, before that, are you trying to get the Grail to yourself?"

"Perhaps I am, perhaps I am not" His voice was a distant sound to me. What I felt at that moment was not anxiety, or fear, but an incredible sense of irritation toward this man

"Give it to me"

My hand sailed past where the Grail has been. At the very last second, he had moved it out of my grasp

The Wizard Marshal stepped back, putting an invisible barrier between us. I stumbled and glared at him

"Why the hurry, Kiritsugu? I did not take you for a man who rush things like this"

"On the contrary, I always rush things when possible" I said, frowning "And right now, as you can see, I have a Black Key through my heart. I don't exactly have much choice but to accelerate the pace, Zelretch"

"Heh....and you are worried about that somehow?"

I took a deep breath and resisted the urge to punch him. This is normal Zelretch. Of course he would be this unconcerned with someone like me

"No. Not at all" I replied coolly "I am calm as you could see. However, the current situation had clearly dictate me as the winner, so following the conventional logic, that price belongs to me. Will you please pass it?"

"Well, since you ask nicely..." He threw me the object. I caught it midair, feeling the goblet's weighty gold pressing down on my palm-

"What a shame though. I thought I'd at least see you panic once in your life" Zelretch's complain was left out of my mind as I felt the violent Mana pathways coagulating inside it

There is no doubt. This is the real deal. Not a cursed artifact or McGuffin, but a genuine key that would give me direct access to the root of all creation

"I lose my cool more often than you thought. I just never show it outside" Replying calmly, I raised up the Grail "Nonetheless, I have finally achieved my goal. There's no use panicking over something that is set to happen"

"Hm, are you sure you want to use it, though?"

Something about his tone made me stop, the Grail left hanging midair