Amidst the intertwining red and white, a shape that was neither perfectly round nor perfectly square was covered in a chaos between clear and viscous.
Oil, a semi-viscous liquid the color of fresh blood, mixed with granular impurities, covered the entire universe.
The crimson flesh was powerless to resist, painfully cut, until only shattered pieces remained, piling up into a silent wail.
Scattered dots of green, as if transplanted from another dimension, adorned the prison of the abyss, sending shivers down one's spine.
Bizarre, decadent, and loathsome, like an elder's revelry, intoxicated by the sweetness of decay, it was indescribably difficult to evaluate.
"strawberry mapo tofu, please enjoy," Ba Laoban said.
Ba Laoban took two plates of strawberry mapo tofu from the tray and, ignoring Chen Yu's resentful gaze, placed them on the dining table.
Looking at the strawberry mapo tofu, which exuded a bizarre and chaotic aura, Chen Yu swallowed hard, having no desire to eat it.
"I'll dig in first!"
Watching Nyarlathotep, with a magnificent aura of devouring mountains and seas, spooning mouthful after mouthful of the lethal amount of chili sauce into her mouth, Chen Yu subtly pushed his plate of strawberry mapo tofu closer to Nyarlathotep.
It seemed perfectly normal for an Evil God to enjoy Evil God cuisine.
Just as Chen Yu quietly watched Nyarlathotep finish her portion and begin to sample his own strawberry mapo tofu, an unexpected yet reasonable person appeared.
A man with short brown hair, a crucifix on his chest, wearing a dark blue trench coat, and dull eyes, walked into the Chinese restaurant.
Kirei Kotomine?
This was the second time he had been seen in this restaurant.
Seeing him twice in two visits, could it be that he came to this restaurant every day?
Without the concealment of the Confundo, Kirei Kotomine, upon entering the shop, naturally saw Chen Yu and Nyarlathotep.
"I never would have thought, Caster. For a Servant to eat strawberry mapo tofu, it's truly an evil heresy!"
Upon seeing the food on Nyarlathotep's plate, Kirei Kotomine frowned, his usually calm voice rising slightly in pitch.
Nyarlathotep chewed and mumbled, "None of your business, you annoying fellow."
He had expected Kirei Kotomine to continue his reprimand, but to his surprise, the man sat down properly across from them: "This should be our first official meeting, Caster, and your Master."
"No, it should be the second time," Chen Yu corrected, explaining that during their first meeting, he had used a Confundo, so it was normal for Kirei Kotomine to have no recollection.
"Oh? Is that so... It seems my perception is still not accurate enough. Ba Laoban, one extra spicy mapo tofu, please, thank you."
Kirei Kotomine crossed his hands, resting his arms on the table, and watched Nyarlathotep eat with a scrutinizing gaze.
If someone were to silently stare at you with empty, cold eyes while you ate, surely no one would have the appetite to continue.
Nyarlathotep was no different; under Kirei Kotomine's emotionless gaze, she slowly stopped eating.
She frowned slightly, as if asking if the other party was looking for trouble, or if a fight was in order.
"Don't pay too much attention to me, Caster. Just consider me an ordinary diner; after all, I am no longer a Master, and there is no reason for us to fight."
Perhaps sensing Nyarlathotep's question, Kirei Kotomine extended the back of his hand for her to examine, hoping to dispel her doubts.
With all three Command Spells used, the Command Spells on the back of his hand were like washed-off tattoos, leaving only faint outlines.
"Now that Assassin has truly been eliminated by you, according to the rules of the Holy Grail War, I have withdrawn from this Holy Grail War; there is no reason for us to kill each other now."
Unlike his previous feigned withdrawal, Kirei Kotomine, having lost all his Command Spells and Assassin, was truly prepared to withdraw from the Holy Grail War.
Even if Kirei Kotomine could find a new Servant and form a contract with him, he would be unable to make the Servant follow his arrangements.
It was better to withdraw decisively and protect himself.
And because of this, Kirei Kotomine became idle at this time.
But idleness was not tranquility; the emptiness of the soul was the pain of the soul.
Therefore, an idle Kirei Kotomine subconsciously chose to come here, to stimulate his empty heart with extreme spiciness before leaving.
Looking at Kirei Kotomine, whose eyes were still dull, Chen Yu could feel the dryness beneath his soul even without Legilimency.
Like a lost person without a goal, that sense of emptiness was indescribable.
So... Gilgamesh hadn't taught Kirei Kotomine what pleasure was yet?
Then perhaps he should take over.
Thinking of this, Chen Yu signaled Nyarlathotep to continue eating, while he turned to Kirei Kotomine and asked, "Since you've withdrawn, may I ask? What was your wish for participating in the Holy Grail War?"
Kirei Kotomine shook his head: "I have no wish to entrust to the Holy Grail. It sounds ridiculous; they say those who participate in the Holy Grail War are chosen by the Holy Grail, but even though Assassin has already withdrawn, I still don't know why I was chosen by the Holy Grail..."
However, as he spoke, Kirei Kotomine paused, a figure similar to him flashing through his mind.
Seeing Kirei Kotomine pause, Chen Yu keenly sensed that there was a hidden secret within.
He pressed on, "If you truly had no wish, then your face wouldn't look so disappointed."
"Is it that obvious...?"
Kirei Kotomine subconsciously touched his face, a hint of melancholy in his heart as he realized he no longer had the qualifications to contend with the other party.
"I'm just... interested in someone..."
"Who?"
"Kiritsugu Emiya!"
"Why?"
"Because I feel he is a man similar to me, and I am very curious as to why he participated in the Holy Grail War... I originally thought I could confront him in this battle, but I didn't expect to withdraw so hastily... Hmm, Ba Laoban, just put it here, thank you."
The mapo tofu brought by Ba Laoban interrupted Kirei Kotomine's words; compared to discussing Kiritsugu Emiya, with whom he could no longer contend, the plate of mapo tofu in front of him gave him a greater sense of "pleasure."
Watching Kirei Kotomine eagerly and heartily savoring the new mapo tofu, an mischievous idea arose in Chen Yu's mind.
"Do you know, Father Kirei, I actually know what Kiritsugu Emiya's wish is..."
Looking at Kirei Kotomine, who was still wolfing down his food but whose movements had slowed, Chen Yu's lips curved into a smile.
"Mr. Emiya, he wants to become a Hero of Justice, he wants to save the world, to create a happy world where people don't fight each other."
"What!!! Cough... cough... cough... cough! Water, water, water!"
The protagonist who bombed planes with many passengers in public, causing multiple indiscriminate terrorist attacks, and you're telling me his wish is to become a Hero of Justice and save the world?
What kind of Hero of Justice is that? The terrorist kind!!!
Even Kirei Kotomine, whose heart was empty and who knew not what beauty was, was choked by Chen Yu's statement.
And to create a happy world where people don't fight each other, this was simply a fantastic tale.
If it were just individuals, neighbors, and communities living in happiness and harmony, Kirei Kotomine could imagine it.
But once the scope expanded, cities and cities, regions and regions, countries and countries... humans of different races, religions, and languages living on an Earth without conflict... How was that possible? It was simply a fool's delusion!
After all, humans are creatures that learn, grow, and compete.
Unless the whole world was broken, such an outrageous wish would be completely unrealistic!
Would such a person... make such an unrealistic wish?
Kirei Kotomine coughed and coughed, then fell silent.
What a boring wish.
What an uninteresting wish.