Chapter 47: Shirou Drinks the Divine Wine
"What kind of joke is this, Soma!?"
An unexpected figure stepped forward in response to Soma's actions.
Hestia, eyes wide, stared at the god of wine before her as if she couldn't comprehend what he had done. She shouted, "Don't you have any feelings for your own familia? To us gods, our familia are like family, aren't they!?"
"Familia? Family?" Soma showed no change in expression at her words, as though hearing something from another world. "I don't know what misunderstanding you're under, Hestia, but there has never been such warmth in this familia."
"What…"
"The relationship between me and those people has always been one of mutual exploitation. They want divine wine from me, and I want them to earn money for me so I can gather the ingredients to brew more wine," Soma said coldly. "Isn't that what the relationship between gods and their familia boils down to? In the end, it's all about mutual benefit."
"…"
Hestia was rendered speechless by Soma's icy words.
Because from every practical angle, what he said was correct. The initial purpose of a god forming a familia was simply to obtain a convenient labor force.
From the first day the gods descended to the lower world, this truth had been etched into the history of Orario and had never once changed.
In a sense, gods like Hestia who treated their familia as real family were rare — anomalies among gods.
Still, even though she knew this truth, even though she had been aware of this cruel reality from the start, Hestia's heart refused to accept it.
No matter how flawed the origin of the familia system might be, she would not go along with it blindly.
She wanted to build the relationship between god and familia in her own way — one based on love and mutual support.
So she clenched her teeth and refused to back down, declaring firmly to Soma, "You're wrong! Gods and familia are not supposed to be in such a cold, transactional relationship!"
"I never thought you could be this stubborn, Hestia."
Soma apparently knew Hestia.
In fact, nearly all gods had known each other long before, back in the heavens.
Soma had rarely seen Hestia so insistent. Normally, she was like him — someone who went with the flow. But now, she was exerting herself entirely to prove something to him.
So he asked her, "Then how do you think gods and familia should relate? Like parents and children? One-sided giving? If that's the case, then humans are truly blessed — they don't have to give anything and can receive everything, just sitting around waiting for the gods' blessings."
"That's also not right…" Hestia's voice began to falter, but she pushed forward, "We should be real family with the children — helping each other, supporting each other, laughing together, moving forward together… Even if we encounter painful things, as long as we believe in each other, we can make it to the end. I know that sounds naïve, but I believe that's the way it should be — not one-sided giving, but mutual help on equal footing."
"Mutual help… on equal footing…"
At those words, Soma's eyes, hidden beneath his hair, flickered faintly as though recalling something.
But it was only a brief moment. He quickly returned to his calm demeanor and asked coldly, "Do you really think such a thing is possible?"
"Of course it is!"
"Really? Then what do you call this?"
Soma fetched a wine bottle from his room and hurled it to the floor.
In an instant, every member of Soma's familia present began to breathe heavily. Like rabid dogs, they lunged desperately at the broken bottle, completely ignoring their surroundings in a mad scramble to get the divine wine.
Even though the bottle was shattered, they licked the floor for the spilled wine. Some even began fighting one another for more.
"—Hsssh."
Even Ais, usually calm and composed, wore a shocked expression at the primal, savage scene before her. She felt helpless witnessing such raw, exposed human nature.
But the one who exasperated her the most was her own goddess, Loki. If Ais hadn't held her back with all her strength, Loki would likely have joined the adventurers, licking the floor like a mad dog.
The only two Soma familia members unaffected by the wine's presence were Zanis and Lili.
But even they were breathing so heavily their rationality was barely intact. They fought with all their willpower not to succumb.
Had they taken even one sip of the divine wine, they would likely have fallen into the same madness.
"Do you see it now?" Soma showed the entire crowd. "There is no equality between gods and humans. The weak humans are easily influenced, consumed by their baser instincts, and driven to make ugly choices. Do you really believe you can form harmonious bonds with such beasts?"
"I…"
Hestia was speechless in the face of Soma's denial.
Though she wanted to refute him, everything she could say seemed powerless against the force of the divine wine.
In the end, she could only acknowledge the base, despicable essence of human nature.
"Seems like you finally understand me." Soma looked calmly at Hestia, as though he had foreseen this outcome from the start. "Go back. Don't interfere with my brewing again. Or… did you and Loki come here to beg for divine wine? If you promise not to interrupt me anymore, I could give you each a couple of bottles."
"Really?!"
Loki's eyes lit up at those words.
Her shamelessness was well known. Everyone present worried she might seriously make a deal with Soma, desperate for even one sip of the divine wine.
And if even a god like Loki — leader of one of the most powerful familia in Orario — fell under the spell of the wine, then no one could stop it from spreading.
Even if Zanis were to die, it wouldn't change a thing. The divine wine would continue devouring Orario, causing more tragedies.
"Heh…"
As the source of everything, Soma showed a faint smile. It ridiculed everyone's futile resistance — though, perhaps, it carried another emotion as well.
Just as Soma turned to return to his room and everything seemed lost, Shirou finally couldn't bear to watch anymore.
He stepped in front of Soma, so quickly no one noticed.
"You are?"
"My name is Emiya Shirou. I'm a member of Hestia's familia."
He introduced himself respectfully to the god and, ignoring Soma's blank "who are you" expression, slowly asked, "Can you let me take one sip of the divine wine?"
"What?" Soma frowned at the unexpected request. "Divine wine isn't something I give to outsiders. If you want it, join my familia and earn it through work."
"No, I don't want to drink divine wine," Shirou clarified. "I want to take a sip to prove to you that a relationship between gods and humans like family — based on equality — is possible."
"What did you say?"
"You denied Hestia just now because you don't believe humans can be trusted, right? Then I'll prove to you that some things can't be changed — not even by divine wine."
"…"
Soma was silent for a moment, then said, "You won't get the chance. Divine wine is not for anyone outside Soma familia."
With that, he turned away, not even sparing Shirou another glance.
But Shirou showed no disappointment. He said calmly, "So you're admitting Hestia was right? That you're afraid to let one of her familia challenge your wine? That you're scared I might prove her right?"
Soma's steps halted.
He turned and stared at Shirou with silent pressure.
"Are you provoking me?"
"I am," Shirou said flatly. "Because I can't sit by and watch someone insult my goddess. If you've ever felt something similar, then accept my challenge."
"Emiya Shirou… Heh, I'll remember you." Soma gave him a cold look. "Let's see what price you'll pay for your arrogance. You'll become a slave to divine wine, just like the others."
Soma went back into his room — to fetch the wine.
In the meantime, Bell and the others rushed over, their faces anxious. Clearly, they were worried Shirou wouldn't be able to resist the divine wine.
Even Loki, usually playful and carefree, was solemn as she looked at Shirou and said, "Think this through, kid. That's Soma's divine wine. One sip and you'll lose yourself completely."
"That might happen," Shirou nodded.
"Then why?"
"Because it's the only way to destroy the divine wine." Shirou looked silently at Loki. "And I'm willing to take that risk."
"…Don't die, kid."
Loki gave him a deep look, then fell silent.
Soon after, Soma returned, holding a bowl filled with a clear-yet-cloudy liquid.
"This is a special concentrated divine wine. Just one drop will ruin you worse than any of them. Once you drink it, you'll never escape it."
He looked at Shirou challengingly. "Even now, you still want to do this?"
Shirou said nothing.
He took a deep breath, steeled himself, accepted the bowl from the god, and drank.
!!!
Instantly, the world before Shirou changed.
What was this feeling?
It was like he had become the ruler of the world.
Flying freely in the sky.
No fatigue, no limits. His spirit soared.
Happiness. Bliss. Joy. Pure ecstasy...
That feeling consumed him.
He could think of nothing else.
He laughed, euphoric.
It felt like true freedom.
But just like falling after soaring too high—
As time passed, the happiness began to fade, and only loneliness and emptiness remained.
No… no… not like this…
I want that happiness again!
Even just a sip!
The line between heaven and hell blurred. His mind faded.
If it had been anyone else, they would have succumbed — lost forever in addiction to divine wine.
But in that madness, Shirou saw something familiar.
He saw the Emiya residence — tatami mats, familiar rooms.
He saw his father, Kiritsugu, and his sister, Miyu.
They sat at a table, with a warm meal, chatting casually as a family.
For some reason, just seeing that made Shirou want to cry.
Even if he couldn't shed tears anymore, the feeling welled up inside him.
And he understood — this was the true power of divine wine. Despite being corrupted now, it was originally made to bring about something beautiful.
Gradually, his mind cleared.
The wine's power vanished. Though the sensation lingered in his body, it no longer had control over him.
…
In reality, the moment Shirou drank the wine, his expression twisted with euphoria. He looked no different from the rest of Soma familia.
Hestia, Loki, and the others were worried — but helpless.
"So in the end, you're just the same," Soma said without emotion, as if he had expected this result all along.
But just as he turned to leave, a hand grabbed his arm.
"…Divine wine's pretty good."
Shirou had already regained full clarity. He stared directly at Soma — with a will so powerful that even a god trembled at its intensity.