[FMMISM] Chapter 41: Sowing the Seed of Suspicion

Ignoring Maiya's question, Ragna stood straight, turned his back to her, and scanned the entire port area.

Kiritsugu already holstered his sniper rifle, seemingly abandoning his plan to snipe Kayneth.

Was it because he discovered Kirei's Servant lurking in the shadows, someone they had assumed dead?

If the other Servants remain unchanged as in the original work, Rider Iskandar and Archer Gilgamesh should make their appearances one after another soon.

Without the disruptive presence of Berserker Lancelot, how would tonight's battle unfold?

Considering that Tokiomi was a cautious Master, regardless of how intense tonight's conflict escalated, he would likely demand his Servant, Gilgamesh, to retreat.

"Tch... How dull..."

Despite his remark, Ragna had no intention of exposing himself too early tonight. Turning with disinterest, he looked again at the woman beneath Zealot's foot.

"Miss Maiya, let's make a deal."

"...A deal?" Maiya's eyes flickered with skepticism.

"Yes, if you agree to my terms. After this Fourth Holy Grail War ends, I will grant freedom to your son and let him live a normal life."

"I'm not interested in your proposal. I would never betray Kiritsugu. Just kill me." Maiya said calmly, clearly wouldn't relent.

Maiya had kept Kiritsugu in the dark about her situation partly because Ragna's mention of her son had genuinely piqued her interest.

However, she also intended to play along to buy time.

She realized that this mysterious boy possessed a powerful ability to scout at night, so resisting would likely lead to her death.

If that happened, this boy would certainly go after Kiritsugu next, so it was better to stall until Kiritsugu withdrew. While quietly opening a recorder in her pocket, she must buy as much time as possible.

Allowing herself to be killed was the final step in this plan to delay. With her own death, she hoped to secure Kiritsugu's chance at survival.

"Well, well, what an outstanding loyalty." Ragna remarked with a faint smile. "As you said, compared to a son you haven't seen in over a decade, a man who is by your side day and night is naturally more important, huh."

His sarcastic remarks did not affect Maiya, who remained steadfastly resolute.

"Kill me." Maiya repeated, her expression unchanged.

However, Ragna had expected this outcome.

"Don't be so hasty, Miss Maiya. I'm not asking you to betray Emiya Kiritsugu."

"...You're not?" Maiya raised her head, looking at him with a cautious gaze.

"That's right." Ragna nodded calmly.

"My term to you is simple—forget everything that happened tonight, whether it's meeting with me or knowing that your son still lives somewhere on this Earth. Do not mention any of it to anyone. If you can do this, after the Holy Grail War ends, I will ensure your son gains his freedom."

"That's it?" Maiya's expression turned incredulous. 

"That's it." Ragna nodded. "It's quite simple, isn't it? Something like this can't really be considered a betrayal to him, no?"

In truth, if one were to think about it seriously, hiding tonight's events from Kiritsugu would undoubtedly be a form of betrayal. However, humans were creatures who always sought opportunities after all.

On this point, even someone as different and cold as Maiya was no exception.

"I agree..." Maiya said, then fell silent for ten seconds before biting her lip and continuing her words. "I won't mention tonight's events to anyone."

"Wise choice." Ragna nodded happily while applauding, then glanced at Zealot. "Alright, let her go."

"But, Master... this woman has already—Ugh!"

As Zealot wanted to disagree, Ragna gave her a displeased look, causing her to quickly step back, distancing herself from Maiya.

Zealot trembled all over, kneeling on the ground, fingers clasped together, muttering quietly to herself.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry... Please forgive me, Master."

'Heh, how cute of you...' Ragna thought amusedly and suppressed the urge to pat Zealot on the head.

In the next moment, he approached Maiya.

From his pocket, he pulled out a scroll of parchment and tossed it into the air.

It was a magical parchment.

Like a jellyfish, it floated slowly through the void before gently landing in front of Maiya.

"?!"

Upon seeing the strange patterns and text arranged on this parchment, Maiya had seen it countless times from Kiritsugu.

It was none other than a 'Self-Geis Scroll', used to establish absolute, non-violable agreements in the cutthroat mage society and was one of the most ruthlessly impartial contract spells.

In the original Fate/Zero, Kiritsugu used it to deceive Kayneth into voluntarily withdrawing from the Holy Grail War.

It was a curse that directly bound the Magic Crest of the target, forcibly using the functions of the target's Magic Crest upon themselves to enforce the contract. It was a power unable to be erased by any method in theory—an extremely dangerous form of magecraft.

Of course, this magecraft was naturally obtained by Ragna after devouring Zouken.

Zouken had an even more powerful exclusive contract magecraft, but Ragna felt this one was sufficient, knowing Maiya had always been Kiritsugu's accomplice in using such tricks against their enemies.

Ironically, Maiya now had no choice but to sign the same contract with her enemy—a bitter irony to consider.

On the other side, Maiya's face turned pale with a suspicion that conveyed something like, 'There's definitely an ulterior motive in this.'

Unfortunately, she had no room for choice right now.

Agreeing meant no loss, while refusal meant certain death, only adding trouble for Kiritsugu.

Moreover, this way, her son could live an ordinary life.

With great irony and a glimmer of hope, Maiya bit her thumb and let her blood drip onto the parchment.

===

"Master... I don't understand."

Zealot, with her forehead pressed against the cold container, asked Ragna with a hesitant tone.

"Why release her so easily when we could have proposed more advantageous terms? Like ordering her to kill the enemy—"

"Zealot, you really don't understand human nature." Ragna approached her, lifting her chin with a grasp.

"Master, I'm sorry, I'm ignorant. Can you enlighten me?"

"Well, no big deal. This is also one of your values as a toy."

At his words, Zealot's eyes brightened.

"Th-Thank you for your praise!"

'Bruh, I wasn't praising you.' Ragna rolled his eyes, then continued. "You must understand that not everyone is as straightforward and honest as you are. Treating them like I did just now is enough."

He knew that the seed of suspicion, which cracks trust, had been sown. At this point, he just needed to wait and see what would happen next.

Watching Maiya disappear into the night, Ragna squinted his eyes.

"Oh, by the way, Zealot."

"Yes, Master?" Zealot raised her head.

"I don't feel like walking anymore. Carry me back."