"Give her to me!"
The cloaked figure spoke once more.
Like a ferocious beast, the black-robed silhouette lunged at Zouken Matou.
At that moment, dozens of worms the size of adult human heads burst from Zouken's body, swarming toward the cloaked figure.
These insects were capable of piercing and devouring an ordinary person in the blink of an eye.
But the black-cloaked figure suddenly erupted with a powerful surge of magical energy. From the slender arm wrapped in black bandages, a jet-black longsword appeared, its hilt etched with golden patterns.
The figure was small—shockingly so. The sight of such a large sword wielded by such a small figure was jarringly out of proportion.
The surge of magical energy cracked the ground beneath their feet, a testament to the immense power the cloaked figure unleashed.
The black sword slashed through the air with ruthless precision. In an instant, all the incoming insects were shredded and annihilated.
"What kind of monster are you?!"
Zouken Matou was visibly shaken by the immense magical pressure radiating from the cloaked figure.
This was no human. A human couldn't possibly release such a terrifying magical wavelength. It had to be some kind of creature—something monstrous.
Why had this creature come for Sakura?
What was it about Sakura that had drawn its attention?
"Disgusting bug. And you call me a monster?"
A raspy voice growled like a wild beast.
The black sword suddenly flew from the figure's hand, tearing through the air at tremendous speed, aiming straight for Zouken.
In that instant, the dark blade's golden etchings lit up, radiating a blinding brilliance. A terrifying pulse of magical energy exploded outward.
Zouken couldn't dodge. He was impaled effortlessly and pinned to the ground by the black sword.
But in the next second, his body dissolved into a swarm of insects. They scattered, only to be disintegrated by the overwhelming magical energy still radiating from the sword.
Without Shirou Emiya's magical energy sustaining it, the black sword dissolved into shimmering motes of light.
This didn't surprise Shirou. He had already guessed that the Zouken Matou they encountered was merely a puppet.
Though Zouken's combat power was limited, his ability to survive was absurd. Shirou still had no idea where the real body was.
Sakura couldn't withstand the intensity of the magical clash and had already lost consciousness.
The black-robed figure darted toward her, scooped her into their arms, and leapt into the misty night—vanishing without a trace.
"…Made it in time. Thank goodness."
Looking at Sakura's peacefully sleeping face, Shirou Emiya finally felt a weight lift from his heart.
At last… he had saved her.
---
In a villa owned by the Yorifis family—
As the cloaked figure appeared, Noka was already waiting.
"My lord, it seems you successfully snatched the child of the Tohsaka family from Zouken Matou's hands."
Noka bowed respectfully, performing a noble's salute.
"Remain in Fuyuki and observe this Holy Grail War without attracting attention. Report everything that happens—directly to me."
The previously raspy voice was gone. In its place was the still-young voice of Shirou Emiya.
"Yes, my lord."
Noka bowed his head.
That his lord would take interest in the Holy Grail War did not surprise him.
In fact, it would be strange if someone like his lord wasn't interested in the Grail.
He only wondered—how did his lord intend to participate in this war? And in what role?
---
Shirou carried Sakura into his room.
Just then, her eyelids twitched. She slowly opened her eyes—and the first thing she saw was a black cat mask staring back at her. Startled, she screamed and, with strength she didn't know she had, pushed Shirou away.
Seeing Sakura's frightened, tearful expression, Shirou removed the cloak, unwrapped the black bandages on his hands, and took off the mask.
He looked about seven years old, about the same age as six-year-old Sakura. His red hair and still-soft features gave him a gentle appearance.
"W-Who are you?!"
Though seeing his face eased some of her fear, she still pointed at him, her voice trembling.
"Don't be afraid. I'm not a bad person. You can call me…"
Shirou paused, considering what name or title would be most appropriate.
Technically, they shouldn't have met yet—not like this.
In the original timeline, they would meet during the Fifth Holy Grail War, as students at the same school. Back then, Sakura had called him "senpai."
"…You can call me Senpai."
"Senpai?"
Sakura tilted her head, unfamiliar with the term. Then she suddenly pointed at him again and cried out:
"No! You're a bad guy!"
Maybe, in her eyes, Shirou was no different from Zouken Matou—just another person who had taken her away from her family.
"I'm not a bad guy," Shirou replied gently, shaking his head.
Maybe it was because he looked like a child too—just like her—that Sakura gathered some courage. Still teary-eyed, she puffed up her cheeks and shouted in a babyish but defiant tone:
"You are a bad guy! I wanna go home!"
Her nature had always been timid, but now she was trying her hardest to sound fierce—just so she could go home.
Shirou fell silent.
All this time, he had been trying to change the tragedies he knew were coming. And he'd worked so, so hard to do it.
He had mastered vast amounts of magecraft in a short span of time, learned to control his internal magic circuits, and trained himself with relentless discipline.
He'd sacrificed nearly every waking moment—sleeping and eating only when necessary—just to become stronger.
And his talent had far exceeded expectations. He had gone from a powerless child to someone truly capable.
He had rushed this growth, obsessed over it, because he knew: if he wanted to save Sakura, he had to become strong—strong enough to surpass someone like Zouken Matou.
If he hadn't stepped in, if he had let the Fourth Holy Grail War proceed undisturbed, he would've had more time. He could've taken things slow.
But none of that mattered.
Sakura might come to resent him. She might hate him for taking her from her family. For cutting her off from the life she once knew.
But that was fine.
Even if no one understood him—even if no one acknowledged what he'd done—as long as he believed this was what had to be done, he would carry it through without hesitation.
He wouldn't be a "hero of justice" this time.
This time, he would be everyone's ally.
PS: Access advance chapters at
https://www.patreon.com/c/NanamiTL