Kanjuro's desire, like the deepest abyss, completely swallowed and defiled the Saint of Winter's "purity" that had been maintained for hundreds of years. This was not a physical union of flesh and blood, but a more fundamental invasion and pollution on the level of existence. The Holy Grail, as a vessel carrying the Evil of this World and wishes, had its core injected with Kanjuro's pure and extreme "Human Evil"—which was the trampling of rules, the disregard for life, and the desire to mock and destroy all beauty and order.
When Kanjuro, satisfied, left the pure white figure that had lost all its radiance and was curled up like a broken doll in the afterglow of the Holy Grail's light pillar, an anomaly occurred.
The Holy Grail in the sky, which had originally been just a hole churning with black mud, suddenly turned pitch black! That was not darkness, but the color of "Nothingness," more despairing than darkness, seemingly capable of absorbing all light! The Holy Grail, thoroughly polluted by Kanjuro's will, no longer merely leaked the Evil of this World; it began frantically pouring out a new, even more terrifying "Toxin"—a curse fused with Kanjuro's dark will, carrying malice toward "Existence" itself!
"Boom—!!!"
A pitch-black "light" pillar erupted from the center of the Holy Grail, instantly staining the Fuyuki City sky black like spilled ink, and then transformed into viscous, seemingly living black raindrops, pouring down!
This black rain was not a simple physical phenomenon. When it fell on ruined buildings, they rapidly disintegrated and dissolved as if corroded by strong acid, leaving no ruins behind; when it fell on the ground, the earth lost its vitality, turning into lifeless, barren scorched earth; when it fell on the few surviving creatures—whether human, animal, or even plant—whose lives were spared by the previous battle's aftermath, their life forms were forcibly twisted, their bodies collapsed, and their souls were stained black and torn apart in extreme agony and madness, eventually becoming part of the black rain, serving as nourishment to spread the curse!
Fuyuki City, this scarred city, welcomed its true end at this moment. It was no longer physical destruction, but "erasure" and "pollution" on the level of existence. Crying, screaming, praying... all sounds were absorbed by the all-consuming black rain curtain, leaving behind only a chilling, silent hell where even sound seemed to have been murdered... Under the porch of that simple Mansion with a courtyard, Shirou Emiya tightly held the already cold body of his adoptive father, Emiya Kiritsugu, watching helplessly as the black rain eroded everything around them. On Kiritsugu's face, there still remained a trace of hope for his adopted son and deep regret for his own path before death. He had dreamed of becoming a partner of justice and eradicating all evil in the world, yet at the end of his life, he personally witnessed (though only briefly) the birth of an ultimate evil far beyond his imagination—one capable of defiling even the Root Incarnation—and ultimately died under the calamity triggered by this evil. This was undoubtedly the cruelest irony and conclusion to his life's belief.
Black raindrops penetrated the broken roof, falling onto Kiritsugu's ashen face and Shirou's arm, bringing bone-chilling coldness and corrosive agony. Shirou gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with tears, fear, and a determination, still not fully understood by himself, that was budding in despair... Kanjuro stood in the Void, coldly looking down upon Fuyuki City, which was being completely swallowed by his "evil" and sinking into deathly silence. His face was devoid of emotion, as if he had merely completed a trivial task.
Jeanne d'Arc silently came up behind him, her Holy Banner still tightly held, but the fabric was stained not with Holy Light, but with darkness synchronized with this world. Her gaze toward Kanjuro was complex and difficult to discern, containing devotion, shock, and perhaps a faint, buried stirring that she herself had not yet noticed.
Illya trotted over, carefully taking hold of a corner of Kanjuro's black robe. Her slightly bulging abdomen emitted strange Magical Energy fluctuations, proof of her distorted coexistence with her "Mother," Irisviel. Her crimson eyes gazed at Kanjuro, filled with complete dependence, as if the hellish scene below had nothing to do with her.
Morgan le Fay and Guinevere (the Queen) also quietly appeared, standing to Kanjuro's left and right. Morgan's eyes held unconcealed fanaticism and possessiveness, while Guinevere lowered her gaze and nestled submissively, as if Kanjuro was her entire world.
Kanjuro did not turn his head, merely saying faintly, "It is time to go."
He raised his hand, and a profound Dark Portal unfolded before him. Behind the door lay an unknown Domain belonging to him.
He stepped forward first, followed closely by Jeanne d'Arc, Illya, Morgan, and Guinevere, their figures disappearing into the portal one by one.
In the final moment before the portal closed, Kanjuro's gaze seemed unintentionally to sweep over the dead scorched earth below, over Kiritsugu and Shirou embracing beneath the Mansion's porch, and finally, settled upon the pitch-black Holy Grail in the sky that was still pouring down black rain.
Inside the Holy Grail, the pure white figure—Justeaze, the Saint of Winter—remained curled up. She had lost all radiance and dignity, like a doll discarded after being broken, eternally imprisoned within the core of this polluted Holy Grail. Her consciousness might have shattered, or perhaps she was sinking into endless humiliation and darkness, only waiting for the next Holy Grail War to begin, whenever that might be, to perhaps briefly contact the outside world again, albeit in a defiled state. At that time, she would no longer be a pure channel, but a more dangerous Source of Curses bearing Kanjuro's brand.
The Dark Portal completely closed, and Kanjuro and his group vanished, leaving behind the dead silent Fuyuki City that had been utterly "ended"... Far away, in the depths of the Hall of Heroes, transcending time and space.
Artoria Pendragon sat quietly on her Throne, as if she had been there since time immemorial. She slowly opened her emerald eyes. There was no surprise, no anger, only a profound calmness, as if she had seen through countless destinies.
She knew.
Without any information transfer, as a Servant deeply entangled with Kanjuro (Merlin) in causality, the moment the "The Moment of All Running Dry" unfolded and the Holy Grail was completely polluted, she instantly perceived the outcome.
Merlin... was still Merlin. Playing with Destiny, trampling on people's hearts, dragging all beauty and order into the darkness and Chaos he favored. Once again, he had become the final victor through absolute power and despicable means.
Fragments of the past surfaced uncontrollably in her mind. The gentle Mentor who wiped away her tears in the rain and taught her swordsmanship; the guide who cast a complex gaze from behind the scenes of her Coronation; the demon who personally wove beautiful dreams in the Cave of Silence only to cruelly tear them apart; and finally, the incomprehensible existence who, though he could have killed her, chose instead to follow her and watch her depart.
The sinful Merlin. The contradictory Merlin. The first and final Tribulation of her life.
Artoria sighed softly. The sigh echoed gently between the Thrones, eventually dissipating into Nothingness. She closed her eyes again, burying all her thoughts and emotions deep beneath the resolute shell of the king of knights.
He won.
And she would continue to guard the silence of this Hall of Heroes, as well as the Obsession within her heart—an Obsession that had endured a thousand tribulations but ultimately failed to be completely severed. The ruins and deathly silence of Fuyuki City were left far behind.
The sunlight in Chiba Prefecture filtered through the Zenjou Family courtyard's Green Bamboo, casting dappled shadows on the porch. The air was filled with the fresh scent of early summer vegetation and a disorienting tranquility.
"Uncle Kanjuro!"
Two clear children's voices rang out almost simultaneously, filled with undisguised joy.
Tohsaka Rin and Sakura Matou, like two light butterflies, rushed up to Kanjuro just as he stepped through the door, hugging his arms on either side. Their upturned faces were beaming with pure trust and delight, completely unaware that the man they called "Uncle" was the Biological Father who had given them life.
The cold lines belonging to the "Dark Magician" on Kanjuro's face instantly softened. He squatted down, dotingly rubbed the two girls' hair, and his gaze was gentle."
I'm back, Rin, Sakura. Have you been good and listened to Mother Aoi?" He naturally used the twisted appellation, perfectly isolating the bloody past from this warmth.
"We've been very good!" Rin puffed out her small chest, a hint of pride in her voice.
Sakura nodded vigorously, adding softly, "We missed Uncle very much."
At this, Kanjuro stepped aside, presenting Illya who was standing quietly behind him. "Come, meet Illya. She is... the daughter of an Old Acquaintance of Uncle's, and she will be living with us temporarily."
Illya was wearing a delicate Western-style Dress, with Silver Hair and Crimson Eyes, looking as exquisite as a doll.
She politely bowed and greeted Rin and Sakura, wearing an age-appropriate, slightly shy smile. However, when her clear crimson eyes swept over Rin and Sakura, and especially when she saw Tohsaka Aoi approaching with Tea and Snacks nearby, gazing at Kanjuro with an expression so tender it seemed to drip with water and full of attachment, a subtle understanding flashed in her eyes.
She subconsciously lightly touched her abdomen, which was not yet obvious but held a subtle swelling sensation. A vague guess formed in her mind—these two "Sisters" likely shared "Uncle Kanjuro's" Bloodline, just like herself. They simply seemed to be unaware of it.
Tohsaka Aoi placed the Tea and Snacks on the Low Table under the porch, her posture elegant and gentle.
Her gaze toward Kanjuro was a mix of maternal care and a deeper, complex and secretive admiration of a woman for a man. "You must be tired. Please rest for a while."
"Illya's room is ready." Her voice was soft, as if it could soothe all wounds and isolate blood and sin outside this Japanese-style Courtyard.
Kanjuro returned her smile, a smile sufficient to make any uninformed person believe this was a harmonious Family.
Jeanne d'Arc stood silently in the nearby shadows, like a silent Guardian Spirit, her purple eyes calmly observing this seemingly flawless scene of "happiness," without any expression.
Thus, the Chief Culprit, whose hands were stained with countless blood and who had just single-handedly orchestrated the end of Fuyuki City, safely settled into the Zenjou Mansion with his various forms of "Family," as if he were merely a traveler returning from a long journey.
The next day, Kanjuro even changed into an ordinary school uniform, picked up his backpack, and walked to school like any normal high school student.
Sunlight spilled over him, outlining the silhouette of a refreshing youth. No one could imagine what kind of dark soul was hidden beneath this skin.
At night, when Rin and Sakura had already fallen asleep, and Illya had settled into her own room, only a dim desk lamp was lit in the study of the zenjou residence.
Kanjuro lazily leaned back in his chair, with Jeanne standing beside him like his most loyal adjutant.
"Summarize this 'game,' Jeanne." Kanjuro's voice carried a hint of post-event laziness, as if commenting on a drama unrelated to him.
Jeanne looked straight ahead, her voice clear and calm, as if delivering a battle report: "On the strategic level, victory. Successfully seized control of the Holy Grail, corrupted its core, eliminated major competitors (referring to other masters and Servants), and achieved some expected objectives (such as dealing with Irisviel, Matou Zouken, etc.). On the tactical level, there was excessive resource investment (referring to the excessive attention paid to Artoria and the'soft-heartedness' at the final moment), as well as failure to fully anticipate the direct intervention of the Root's Will (through the Saint of Winter), causing a brief disruption in the plan."
Kanjuro chuckled lightly, neither affirming nor denying: "Disruption? The final outcome remained unchanged. Artoria... she is my most perfect creation. Giving her a little extra 'attention' is worth it. As for the Root..." A trace of mockery flashed in his eyes, "Its so-called 'Purification' was no match for the power I displayed. In the end, it could only choose to 'Compromise.'"
He paused, gently tapping his fingertips on the desk.
"Emiya Kiritsugu's 'Justice' drowned in despair, Matou Zouken's 'Immortality' decayed in desire, the king of heroes' 'Pride' crushed by reality... The so-called Holy Grail War is merely an amplifier of human nature and obsession. And I am just the one who pressed the switch and watched them self-destruct."
"Then, what about the next 'game'?" Jeanne asked, turning her gaze to him.
Kanjuro looked out the window at the tranquil night. The peace of Chiba Prefecture and the deathly silence of Fuyuki City seemed like two different worlds.
"The game has only just begun. Here, 'daily life' itself is the most interesting stage. Rin and Sakura's innocence, Illya's secrets, Aoi's gentleness... and this seemingly peaceful society."
The corner of his mouth curled into a cold arc. "Maintaining this 'happiness' and watching how it might deviate in various ways in the future—whether they will love me more as their father or gradually drift away, who knows?"
Jeanne fell silent for a moment, then nodded slightly. "Understood. I will continue to fulfill my duty and witness your path."
The study fell silent again, with only the calm breathing of the two under the lamp. Outside the window was Chiba Prefecture, with its myriad lights—a carefully chosen new "Playground" for Kanjuro.
The Smoke of the Holy Grail War had already dissipated, but a deeper, less noticeable Shadow was quietly blending into this seemingly ordinary, happy daily life.
And Kanjuro, this eternal high school student's life, continued.
One day later,
Kanjuro returned to Sobu High School in Chiba Prefecture.
He discovered that his deskmate, Hiratsuka Shizuka, was always secretly following him.
dark bible Main Story, Oregairu, Fate/Stay Night
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