Fate: As a ninja, I just want to eat free food from Type-Moon

The girl was wearing a pink yukata, and raindrops hit her clothes, outlining a graceful curve.

Her face was strikingly beautiful at first glance, yet upon a second look, it carried a handsome quality—a neutral beauty. Even though she was still young, it was clear that she would grow into a great beauty in the future.

But despite her beauty, when faced with such a bloody and gruesome scene, she didn't scream or run away like an ordinary woman. Instead, she stood quietly, allowing the blood to spatter onto her, her gaze empty as she stared at the headless corpse, as if savoring it all.

"I don't know how many times this has happened—a corpse appearing in front of me again. Was this done by Zhi Gan?"

The girl, named Ryougi Shiki, was both enjoying the scene and confused. "Ori" was another personality within her.

Ryougi Shiki had a deep desire to kill, to feel what it was like to drive a knife into another person. Recently, this desire had grown stronger, stemming from the murderous impulse within her.

But desire was just that—a desire. Humans are creatures that can control their urges. Ryougi Shiki herself didn't actually want to kill anyone, and she was certain she had never killed. Yet the corpses that kept appearing made her wonder if it was her other self who was responsible.

Ryougi Ori was another personality within her, one with murderous impulses. It wouldn't be surprising if Ryougi Ori one day took a life. However, Ryougi Ori was only a secondary personality and didn't control the body. Without Ryougi Shiki's permission, Ryougi Ori couldn't use her body to kill.

But then, who was the murderer?

If it wasn't Ryougi Ori, who could it be?

Could it be that the recent murderer in Guanbuzi City was actually her?

Ryougi Shiki fell into deep self-doubt, wondering if Ryougi Ori had somehow taken control of her body and killed someone without her knowing.

Snap—

The sound of hard-soled shoes echoed sharply on the stone path in the dense bamboo forest.

When Ryougi Shiki turned around, she saw a mysterious figure, about 1.4 meters tall, cloaked in a yellow raincoat.

The mysterious figure walked forward slowly, unconcerned with the blood flowing down the stone steps, pooling at his feet. When he was close enough, he looked up and observed the scene.

From her vantage point, Ryougi Shiki could now see his face.

He had a childlike, cute yet handsome face. His features were delicate, surpassing even those of a star. Wet long hair clung to the sides of his face, giving him an otherworldly, ethereal look.

The boy's eyes were amber brown, clear and pure, inspiring trust. Yet oddly, his eyes held a sense of weariness, a world-weariness that seemed far beyond his years, like an old monk who had seen all the world had to offer.

"Did you kill that person?" he asked calmly, breaking the silence in the bamboo forest.

"Who are you?"

Ryougi Shiki's hand instinctively reached for the dagger hidden in her sleeve. It was strange, unsettling, for a boy to remain so calm after seeing such a brutal scene.

"On January 23, a couple was killed by the recently emerged murderer. According to the police investigating the case, the two victims put up a fierce resistance before dying, and the murderer's arm was scratched."

As the boy spoke, his gaze shifted to Ryougi Shiki's wide sleeves, spotting what appeared to be a bandage on her fair, smooth arm.

Ryougi Shiki subconsciously pulled back her arm from the boy's scrutiny. She had, indeed, been injured recently.

"The murderer didn't know that the dead couple had left behind a child, a twelve-year-old boy. That child was me."

A chill crept up her spine as Ryougi Shiki looked at the boy. His gaze felt like that of a predator.

Ryougi Shiki quickly drew a short knife from her sleeve, the cold blade aimed at the boy. "Are you here to kill me?"

The boy didn't answer but pulled out a peculiar-looking weapon from somewhere behind him. He swung it gracefully, the sharp blade glinting with a deadly light.

Bad luck!

Ryougi Shiki cursed internally and spoke harshly, "Don't think I'll hesitate just because you're a kid. It's not too late for you to leave."

But in response to her words, the boy lunged forward.

He moved with startling speed, like a ghost in the rainy night. In mere moments, he crossed a dozen steps, reaching Ryougi Shiki.

Ryougi Shiki was shocked by his speed. Seeing the strange weapon coming at her, she gritted her teeth and stabbed at the boy's shoulder without hesitation.

Yet her attack was in vain. The boy, moving like a seasoned warrior, easily dodged her strike as if he had foreseen it.

The next moment, the sharp kunai was pressed against Ryougi Shiki's chin—the outcome was decided!

Feeling the cold blade at her chin, Ryougi Shiki couldn't believe she'd lost to a child so easily. Her strong-willed personality felt a deep, unprecedented humiliation.

Though she wanted to fight him again, in this life-or-death moment, she knew that if she didn't say something, she'd die in vain.

"I didn't kill that person!" she declared stubbornly.

Ryougi Shiki knew her words lacked credibility; even she herself doubted whether she had done it. She was preparing to defend herself, but the boy's next words surprised her.

"I know you didn't kill him."

The boy put his weapon away, sparing her.

???

Ryougi Shiki looked at the boy, stunned. Was that it? The person in front of him might very well be a murderer!

"How can you be so sure I'm not the killer?" she asked, touching her chin where the kunai had been pressed.

"Because you don't have murderous intent."

"Murderous intent?"

"Yes. When someone truly wants to kill, their aura changes. If you were the killer, you would've attacked me with the intent to end my life, but you didn't. And judging by your stiff movements, it's clear you've never killed anyone before."

The boy's amber eyes reflected Ryougi Shiki's figure as though he could see right through her.

"Isn't it a bit presumptive to judge someone's guilt based solely on the presence or absence of murderous intent?" Although she felt uneasy at being read so easily, Ryougi Shiki was curious about his reasoning.

"True, something as intangible as murderous intent isn't proof. To truly prove your innocence, you need solid evidence."

The boy walked past Ryougi Shiki to the headless corpse, his expression unchanging. He began examining the body as though he was accustomed to such sights.

"The dead can also speak. They hold the proof of whether you've taken a life."

"By the way, let's introduce ourselves. My name is Tono Kanade. And yours?"

"Ryougi Shiki."