You call this a projection?

”Ah, just like that, it’s over?”

Watching D’Arby, who had been unable to respond for a long time—or rather, who in his heart believed he had both already won and already lost—Shirou saw him fail to withstand the mental pressure once again. In his state of mental collapse, he was automatically judged the loser.

However, this peculiar method of victory was something only Shirou Emiya, with the memories of his past life and an understanding of D’Arby’s personality, could have orchestrated.

Avdol, who had recently witnessed how D’Arby had almost pulled out Polnareff’s soul without anyone noticing, was still looking at the unconscious D’Arby with a dazed expression. He asked blankly, ”How did Emiya win?”

Did Shirou Emiya do anything? No. Shirou Emiya simply extended his hand and prepared to bet on DIO’s soul. And as a result, he just... won?

For a moment, Avdol didn’t know if it was because D’Arby’s psychological resilience was poor, or if the mental shadow DIO cast over D’Arby was simply too exaggerated—though having encountered DIO himself once, Avdol also felt that DIO was terrifying...

While Avdol was dazed and confused, Polnareff was also quite stunned. However, after feeling that [Osiris], which had been tightly gripping his soul just moments ago, was now truly gone, he confirmed that Shirou had won.

He quickly stepped forward to D’Arby, grabbed his collar, and demanded, ”Hey, stop playing dumb!

You’ve already lost! If you know what’s good for you, hurry up and tell us the information on J. Geil’s location!

Wake up! You bastard, wake up!!”

Indeed, Polnareff was now shaking D’Arby’s body violently. According to the previous wager between Shirou and D’Arby, the defeated D’Arby was now supposed to fulfill the reward of the contract.

But...

”Hee hee hee~~ Everyone come and play, let’s play Mahjong together~~ Backgammon is also very interesting, and dice too~~ Of course, in the end, I’ll definitely be the winner~~”

No matter how Polnareff shook D’Arby to force the information out of him, the words coming from D’Arby’s mouth remained irrelevant, nonsensical ramblings, as if he had lost his mind.

”Alright, Polnareff.” Shirou patted Polnareff on the shoulder. ”Looking at D’Arby’s state, he’s probably in no condition to reveal J. Geil’s location anymore.

And Polnareff, do you think J. Geil is a good man, or someone who keeps his promises?

Judging by D’Arby’s earlier words, J. Geil—or rather, his Stand—is nearby watching us. Having seen D’Arby lose with his own eyes, he could leave his original position at any moment.

By the time we actually wake D’Arby up and get that location info, J. Geil will likely have long since vanished.”

Keeping promises? When did DIO and his Stand-using subordinates ever have such a thing?

Even those controlled by the vampire flesh buds found it difficult to maintain their original sense of justice under that brainwashing. Even someone like Kakyoin, under the influence of a flesh bud, would use the lives of innocent people. Let alone others.

”Damn it! Must I just watch helplessly as that bastard J. Geil escapes my hands again!?” Polnareff said angrily. He was unwilling to accept this. Not just for himself, but for Shirou Emiya as well. He hadn’t forgotten how Shirou had staked his own soul to win that location information for him.

”Who said J. Geil could escape from our hands?” Shirou asked.

”Eh? ...Ah!?” Polnareff turned his head to look at Shirou blankly. That wasn’t what Shirou had said earlier.

”I stopped you, Polnareff, simply because I didn’t want you to waste your energy beforehand.” Shirou said enigmatically, ”After all, if you failed to stab J. Geil a few extra times because you wasted your strength here, would you be satisfied?”

”How could I ever be satisfied!” Polnareff answered without a second thought. But... could they still find J. Geil’s location?

”Mr. Joestar, I’ll have to rely on you next.” Without immediately resolving the doubt in Polnareff’s heart, Shirou simply turned to look at Joseph and pointed to the projected [Osiris].

”The rule is the same as before.

I will stake my soul on a game of Rock-Paper-Scissors, and by throwing only [Paper], I will bet for the soul of DIO—who is related to you, Mr. Joestar!”

With that, Shirou began the wager and extended his hand in the [Paper] gesture toward Joseph.

”...I see, so it can work like that! Emiya, you’re a genius!” It clicked. Recalling Shirou’s match with D’Arby, Joseph began to understand everything.

He quickly laughed and responded to the wager, ”Sure thing, I’ll have a bet with you, Emiya! Using DIO’s soul!”

-

-

-

”He lost just like that?”

”That D’Arby guy really is a fool.”

Hidden in the surrounding corners, other Stand users under DIO were also silently watching the match. They didn’t feel the slightest bit of pity for D’Arby’s failure. They only felt a sense of regret that even though Shirou Emiya had won, Jotaro Kujo and Noriaki Kakyoin had not relaxed their guard at all, still using various Stands to observe their surroundings.

If Jotaro and the others had let their guard down even a little, these hidden enemies would have definitely taken the opportunity to rush out and attempt an ambush. But for now, they preferred to leave the role of ”cannon fodder” to someone else.

Many of them were mercenary Stand users who were only enemies with Jotaro’s group for the sake of the astronomical reward offered by DIO. They shrank back into the shadows, waiting for other ”comrades” to make the first move.

But before they could see how things would play out, Shirou Emiya pulled another big stunt!

[Osiris], which should have belonged to D’Arby, actually appeared behind Shirou Emiya—it seemed to have become Shirou’s Stand!? Could it be that D’Arby had lost even his Stand to Shirou?

Of course, that wasn’t the most important part.

The important part was that Shirou and his group actually intended to continue that unfinished wager and keep betting on DIO’s soul!?

Read ahead (100 chapters) by supporting me on buymeacoffee com/varietl or ko-fi edwriting