Shinji Matou At Your Service

Chapter 181: Souren Araya(Bonus)

Souren Araya, the mastermind behind the events in the "Kara no Kyoukai" series, is the central figure present in every chapter except for the "Future Gospel" chapter.

Because of the intervention of Shinji, the destinies of Fujino Asagami and Kirie Fujou, as well as unfamiliar figures such as Lio Shirazumi, Cornelius Aruba, and Enjou Tomoe, were all manipulated by this individual.

Souren Araya was born over 200 years ago. After experiencing an era of rapid technological advancement and extreme turmoil, he came to understand the fact that it is impossible to save everyone. As a result, he began collecting and recording death, aiming to open a path to the "Root," but each attempt failed.

In this instance, he sets his sights on Shiki Ryougi, intending to reach the "Root" by obtaining her body, which has a natural connection to it. Fujino, Kirie, and others were chosen by Souren to serve as sacrifices, stimulating Shiki Ryougi's awakening and making her aware of her nature.

Fujino is fortunate enough to be taken away by Shinji before becoming Souren's pawn, finding refuge under Touko's guidance. However, the same cannot be said for Kirie. Souren has targeted her since early on, and after her family's death, he has been covering the exorbitant medical expenses required to sustain her life.

To change Kirie's fate as a sacrifice, Shinji knows that one day he will have to confront Souren. However, he didn't expect this confrontation to come sooner than anticipated.

Shinji's left-hand trembles, and a glimmering silver light slips out of his sleeve—a silver slingshot.

"Are you the magus who gave Kirie the 'Dual Existence'?"

"I merely fulfilled her wish and brought forth her inherent qualities."

Souren Araya's voice is as heavy and gloomy as his expression.

"Don't you have any desires?" Shinji, enduring the oppressive gaze that extends ten meters away, tightens the wrist strap of his "Divine Gunblade."

"Similar existences attract and repel each other. That's all I desire. And you? What do you seek, young magus?"

Shinji shrugs his shoulders in response to Souren's melancholic face, and the air in the corridor, which had solidified almost like a solid, inexplicably relaxes.

"For now, no. If I had to say, it would be self-satisfaction."

Every time a time traveler, especially one familiar with the world, has thoughts similar to Shinji's—

To save someone who was supposed to die.

To change someone's tragic fate.

To give someone a different life.

However, few people stop to consider—

Does that person need to be saved?

Who defines the tragedy of fate?

Is a different life what that person truly desires?

Realizing this, one would find that while these actions are driven by good intentions, they also contain elements of self-satisfaction.

Therefore, Shinji never sees himself as a savior. He is just a self-centered, selfish human being.

"Self-satisfaction?" Souren, who is unaware of Shinji's unique nature, doesn't understand his thoughts.

"Yeah. I want to see Kirie Fujou regain her health. I want to see her look down on the scenery according to her own will. I hope Kirie Fujou can live happily." Shinji's attitude is resolute.

"What meaning lies behind these wishes?"

"There is none. It's just a sense of joy. I would feel joyful seeing Kirie Fujou like that."

"No value, no meaning, I cannot comprehend." The distress on Souren's face grows heavier. "Just like how I cannot comprehend your origin."

The last sentence truly piques Shinji's curiosity. "Oh? What is my origin then?"

Every person has an origin, and among the known individuals who are still alive, the only one who can accurately determine someone's origin is Souren Araya standing before him. Not only does he possess the ability to discern the origin of humanity, but he also wields the technique of "Origin Awakening."

"If you want to know, then try to awaken your Origin." Souren's voice bypassed Shinji's ears and imprinted directly into his heart as if it were a powerful suggestive spell.

"I refuse." Shinji remained unmoved. "While awakening my Origin would make me aware of my true nature and grant me immense power that comes with it, at the same time, I cannot resist the impulses brought forth by the 'Origin'—living according to some predetermined formula. That would be too dull."

Using the theory of reincarnation to explain, the Origin is the source of the cycle of rebirth, the predetermined cause that remains unchanged regardless of how many times one goes through the cycle. Once the Origin awakens, the original person is devoured by the "Origin." This is because the personality generated by ordinary humans within a lifespan of less than a hundred years cannot cover the core meaning already existing from the chaos of creation, and thus, they are inevitably dominated by the directionality originating from everything, the "Root."

Although the person who awakens their Origin gains accumulated past lives and becomes a collective entity that exists across countless generations, obtaining immense power through accumulation, the weight of being dominated by directionality outweighs the benefits.

Therefore, Shinji has never considered awakening his Origin.

Souren was not surprised by Shinji's choice. "Your understanding of the 'Origin' comes from Aozaki, right? So, you're her disciple?"

Aozaki is Souren's name for Touko. The two of them were classmates in London for some time. From his words, it is evident that he has some grasp of Touko's movements and has done some investigation before meeting Shinji.

"Whether I am or not doesn't matter. What matters is that I hope you won't interfere in Kirie's life. And you also don't want me to disrupt your plans, right?"

"Indeed."

Shinji grinned, and Souren Araya lowered his eyelids.

The corridor transformed into another realm, split into two worlds—one above, one below—one flowing and changing, the other oppressive and still.

"I won't back down." Shinji's right hand grasped a rune bullet, placing it in the pocket of his "Divine Gunblade."

"Neither will I." Souren Araya took a step forward, with each step increasing the pressure.

"Since the contradiction is irreconcilable, there's nothing more to discuss. We can only adhere to the greatest truth throughout history—"

The strings of Shinji's slingshot tightened, each rubber tube twisted into the strings carrying astonishing power.

Three circular patterns extended beneath Souren Araya's feet, three slender rings overlapping each other, resembling the depiction of planetary orbits. They appeared between the ground and the air.

"—Might makes right, the one with the bigger fist has the final say!"

As the words settled, Shinji released his right hand. The "rune bullet," propelled by the bowstring, tore through the air with a piercing scream, striking Souren Araya's chest with a speed comparable to a bullet, carrying a naked intent to kill.

Before that, Souren Araya uttered a phrase.

"Fugu!"

The piercing sound of breaking wind ceased, and the silver bullet was fixed in mid-air. Immediately after, Souren Araya spoke for the second time.

"Kongou!"

His large palm clenched tightly.