At least in that instant, Caster believed he had made the right choice.
"Professor, why! Why? The... the... the core? Why do I have to become something like that!"
"No, don't! I don't want this! I don't want this! Stop! Stop! Ah, ugh... Aaaaaaah!"
"Professor, why! Why, why, why! I respect you, Professor! I worship you! Why would you do this to me...!"
The boy's body was drawn into the colossal golem and dissolved into a muddy sludge amid his voiceless screams, while Caster only watched in silence.
During his lifetime, Avicebron had been weak and sickly, with a skin disease being his most severe affliction. It had shaped him into a misanthropic, pessimistic man.
Because he hated humans and looked down on humanity, he became obsessed with creating an ideal life form, a golem. In that sense, he was somewhat similar to his Master, Roché.
Avicebron's ultimate goal was to imitate God through that method, but his dream had been crushed along the way.
Someone like him, if it meant realizing his ideal, could naturally trample over any human being without hesitation.
All of this was for a sacred cause. There was no room for even the slightest doubt.
And yet...
Why did he feel so uncomfortable?
Since a moment ago, a heavy, persistent gloom had been pressing against his chest.
Was this... my "guilt"?
...
The attack unleashed by the "Black" Saber swallowed the colossal golem whole.
The astonishing light and heat created a sight like the birth of a planet, illuminating the pitch-black night sky as bright as day.
The Giant, which possessed a nearly godlike power of endless regeneration once activated, continuously collapsed within that light, crumbling into dust.
The "Black" Sorcerer's Noble Phantasm, "Golem Keter Malkuth".
It was an automatic personal Reality Marble that could keep rewriting the world for as long as it existed.
However, the dragon's breath Shirou unleashed was an Anti-World attack.
What it destroyed was not merely the Giant's body, its Spirit Core, or the feet that drew blessings from the earth, but the very concept of the "Garden of Eden" (world) possessed by the Giant itself.
The more perfectly Caster's golem embodied the image of the "Garden of Eden," the greater the damage it sustained.
The roar of the Great Dragon, born from the Inner Sea of the Planet and ultimately returning to the Inner Sea of the Planet, burned the Magus' ideal to nothing.
"......"
Caster watched as the creation he had poured his heart and soul into was burned away and obliterated.
What rose in his heart at that moment was not regret, but a feeling of relief.
The suffocating weight and frustration that had lingered there ever since he sacrificed his Master had vanished.
So that was it. In the end, he was only a mere mortal. Trying to imitate the works of God had been far too presumptuous.
The "Black" Saber was surely the judgment fate had sent down upon him.
"Ah, aaaah... Roché... I'm... sorry..."
Caster slowly closed his eyes, accepting the fact of his complete defeat.
But then.
Within that light, bright as the birth of a star, the figure of a child appeared.
"!?"
Caster's eyes flew open. "How... how is this possible? Roché!?"
The young Magus who should have been assimilated and absorbed at the cellular level by the Primordial Human (Adam Kadmon) now appeared completely unharmed.
The unconscious Roché was being carried in the arms of the "Black" Saber as he arrived beside Fiore.
"As promised, I took care of the golem."
"Huh? Wait...!?"
Fiore's eyes widened.
"It's fine even if I completely destroy that thing, right?"
Those were the words the "Black" Saber had said to her before setting out.
So... that was what he meant!?
The girl had thought Shirou simply needed to defeat the golem.
But he had realized something deeper.
Although Roché had already been absorbed, since "Golem Keter Malkuth" was a Reality Marble, there was still a chance he could be saved.
By rescuing Roché, who served as the core, from Caster's golem without killing him, Shirou had prevented Caster's Noble Phantasm from reaching completion.
"What an annoying brat, always causing trouble... Fiore! You and your clan had better keep him under control from now on!"
"Y-yes, I'm sorry for all the trouble... Thank you very much, Saber-san! Uncle Gordes and I will make sure to lecture him properly afterward!"
Fiore reached out and took Roché from Shirou. The boy slept peacefully, as though he had never been absorbed by the golem at all.
It had to be the result of Shirou desperately protecting him.
A miracle. There was no other way to describe it.
Faced with that unbelievable sight, everyone present was struck speechless.
Magi and Servants who had left their names in human history alike.
That included Jeanne d'Arc, the Ruler, who covered her mouth as tears fell from her eyes.
As expected of my Lord Savior. He had done what no one else could, saving a child everyone had believed was doomed to die.
In short, everyone was completely shaken.
Of course, the one most shaken of all was undoubtedly Caster.
"To think... such a thing could happen..."
As he gazed at the back of the swordsman, who had returned to the form of a red-haired youth, Avicebron was seized by an overwhelming sense of inferiority.
This had nothing to do with his strength as a Heroic Spirit. It was simply about how laughable he was as a human being.
What right does someone like me have to complain about the world's injustice and unfairness?
It is because people like me exist that the world is so ugly...
"Hm? You're still alive, Caster."
Supported by Frankenstein, Shirou came before the "Black" Caster and looked down at him with open contempt.
"What's with that look? If you have any last words, I can hear you out... Let me get a good look at your despair."
Avicebron did not know what to say.
Thank you for saving that child?
Thank you for making me come to my senses?
Even if he said those words aloud, they would never atone for his sins.
"Listen to me, Saber..."
Caster used every last ounce of strength to maintain his Spirit Origin, then spoke.
"The Master of the 'Red' Assassin... his True Name is Amakusa Shirou Tokisada.
Just like that French Holy Maiden over there... he is a Servant of the Ruler Class."
"Huh?" Shirou frowned.
"...How is that possible!" Jeanne shouted.
"It is... possible... Amakusa Shirou Tokisada is a Heroic Spirit who took part in the Third Holy Grail War.
Through some means... I believe he must have touched the Greater Grail. Because of that, he gained a body and has survived until now."
The Magi of Yggdmillennia all wore expressions of shock. Avicebron continued his explanation.
"He conspired with Assassin Semiramis and used poison to control the five Masters of the 'Red' faction.
Because their Masters' lives and Command Spells were involved, the Servants could not defy him...
Last night, Amakusa Shirou originally intended to seize the Greater Grail, but the 'Black' Saber interfered...
..."
As Jeanne listened to Caster's explanation, everything suddenly clicked into place.
Why she had been summoned into this world in such an irregular manner.
Why that unease had been with her ever since she set foot within Romania's borders.
Now, she felt as though she understood it all.
"What is the goal of the other Ruler... Amakusa Shirou?" Jeanne asked.
"'The salvation of all humanity'... That is what he said."
"Saving the world?"
Shirou's expression practically said, Oh, great. Now we're in trouble.
Jeanne's face tightened. "'The salvation of all humanity'. In what specific form?"
Avicebron shook his head.
He had not asked, nor had he been interested.
He had chosen betrayal only because cooperating with the "Red" faction offered him benefits. He had no intention of learning what Amakusa Shirou planned to do.
Only.
From that white-haired Father, Avicebron had sensed something similar to himself.
It was a calm madness, one that could sacrifice everything for an ideal without caring in the slightest, not even for its own life.
After revealing everything he knew about the inner workings of the "Red" faction, Caster dissolved into particles and vanished.
Without saying a single word of apology or atonement to the very end, he returned to the Throne of Heroes.
"What's with that? Looking like he had no regrets. How annoying."
Mordred grumbled as she kicked a pebble near her feet.
Still, getting to see Father in that form felt like a bit of a bonus.
"'The Salvation of All Mankind'... That sounds suspicious."
Jeanne stroked her chin, deep in thought.
She had a theory. It was very possible that the Counter Force had chosen her as Ruler and summoned her into the present world precisely because of Amakusa Shirou's existence.
Not because he had broken the rules, but because Jeanne was meant to stop his plan.
What exactly was the ideal Amakusa Shirou intended to realize with the Greater Grail...?
No, there was no point trying to puzzle it out here. She could ask him directly the next time they met.
Come to think of it, how had the boy from Yggdmillennia been saved?
His body should have been completely destroyed, yet he had been brought back unharmed.
Maybe it had something to do with the powers Artorius possessed after his "dragon transformation"?
Resurrection from the dead... or perhaps interference with causality?
Jeanne could not figure it out, so she gave up thinking about it.
...
After the battle ended, everyone returned to the Fortress of Millennia to rest.
Although they had defeated the invading Giant, the mood among the Yggdmillennia Magi clearly had not improved.
The betrayal and death of the "Black" Caster had made their already dangerous situation even worse.
The one silver lining in all that misfortune was that they had formed a friendly agreement with the "Black" Saber.
That Heroic Spirit's attitude was still extremely hard to predict, but as long as he remained alive, they should at least be able to keep themselves alive.
Incidentally, Shirou himself was currently being dragged along by Mordred and Frankenstein to continue his interrupted dinner in the banquet hall.
"Excuse me, 'Black' Saber."
Shirou turned around and found Frankenstein's Master, Caules.
"Master, are you here for dinner too?" the pink-haired girl asked curiously.
Caules shook his head, still inwardly marveling at how Berserker's speech was no different from an ordinary person's.
"Sorry, Berserker. I'd like to speak with Saber alone. Could you..."
Frankenstein nodded obediently and left.
"Is something the matter?" Shirou asked, watching the girl walk away.
"It's about my sister..."
Caules hesitated for a moment before saying, "Saber, do you know what my sister's wish is?"
Shirou shook his head.
"To 'heal her legs.'"
Caules said, "My sister wants to heal her legs. That's all."
Through her study of biomechanics and Spiritual Evocation Magecraft, Fiore had learned how to find substitutes for her useless legs.
Spiritual Evocation could perform tasks in place of her immobile legs, and she could even fly through the air on a broom.
But those were not her own legs. Her only wish for the Holy Grail was to walk again on her own two feet.
"Why are you telling me this?"
Shirou looked at him in confusion.
Caules hesitated again, then said, "Saber... you can do it, can't you? Heal my sister's legs. I saw it this afternoon... You used your Magecraft to heal a Homunculus that should have been unable to move anymore."
Fiore's immobile legs were closely tied to her Magic Circuits.
Her Magic Circuits were located in her legs, but they had mutated from birth, causing her legs to lose all function. At times, they even tormented her with unbearable pain.
There was, of course, a treatment, but it would require removing all the Magic Circuits from her body. That would be the same as forcing her to give up her life as a Magus.
That was something the Forvedge family could never accept.
Fiore was a Forvedge... no, she was a once-in-a-century genius of the Yggdmillennia clan.
So Fiore could only place her hopes in the miracle of the Holy Grail, preserving her Magic Circuits as they were while restoring function to her legs.
Caules had believed the same. Only the Holy Grail could heal his sister's legs.
But when he saw Shirou heal the Homunculus, he suddenly realized it.
This person might be able to heal his sister.
What Shirou used was not a healing technique, but Reinforcement Magecraft.
Because he had been born with the ability to analyze the structure of matter, he could perform such an unbelievable feat through Reinforcement Magecraft.
"Well..."
Shirou tilted his head and thought for a moment before saying, "I suppose it should be possible."
Caules' eyes lit up when he heard that. "In that case."
What answered him was the red-haired boy's cold gaze.
The instant those amber eyes fixed on him, Caules suddenly felt as if he could not breathe.
"I'm afraid I have to refuse."
Shirou spoke calmly.
"I saved Roché because I hate Caster, not because I'm some saint who makes it his mission to help others."
"If Fiore were in mortal danger right in front of me, I'd probably help her... But asking me to heal a Magus's legs for a selfish wish like that... I won't grant it."
"...!"
Caules pressed his lips together.
He understood very well just how extravagant his sister's wish was.
Fiore had already been granted the talent that most Magi in the world could only dream of, yet she still longed for the happiness of an ordinary person.
It could only be called greed.
Caules lowered his head in dejection. "I'm sorry. I said something strange... The fact that you're willing to help Yggdmillennia is already more than enough."
Shirou's expression softened. "Caules, if you truly want to help Fiore..."
"Hm? Are you talking about me?"
Fiore rolled up to them in her wheelchair with a bright smile.
"S-sister!?" Caules' face changed at once.
"What's wrong? Why are you suddenly so flustered?"
The girl looked at him curiously, then gave him a mischievous smile. "Caules, you weren't saying bad things about me to Saber-san, were you?"
"No... Of course not... Ugh! I'm leaving first!"
With that, Caules fled in a panic.
"What a strange child..."
Fiore watched him hurry away with an affectionate smile.
"By the way, Saber-san... could you come to my room after this?"
"Is the electric heater in your room broken?"
Fiore covered her mouth and laughed when she heard that.
"Saber-san, you really are funny. Hehe... Actually, I wanted to discuss our strategy from here on out with you. I was wondering if now would be convenient..."
As she spoke, the girl's voice grew softer and softer, and a faint blush rose to her cheeks.
This was the first time Fiore had ever invited a man other than her younger brother into her private room.
"Mm, I am free after this..."
"No, you have something else to do after this."
Suddenly, a slender arm looped around Shirou's.
Jeanne smiled brightly. "You already have plans with me tonight... don't you? Saber-san~"
"...Uh."
Overwhelmed by the Holy Maiden's pressure, Shirou hesitantly nodded.
"That's how it is, Fiore-san... Sorry, but I'll be borrowing Saber ♡"
"So that's how it is. He had a prior engagement with Ruler-san... Mm, I feel a little sorry for Saber-san."
Jeanne and Fiore stared at each other. Sparks seemed to shoot from their eyes, clashing violently in the air with a crackle like static electricity.
"Oh my, and what exactly is there to feel sorry about?"
Ruler smiled without warmth. "Look at how happy Saber-san is. He gets to go on a date with a beautiful older sister like me, someone gentle and considerate... Right?"
Shirou said, "Y-yes..."
Fiore covered her lips, her expression sharp with sarcasm. "Is that so? I can't see it at all~ Saber-san, please speak up if you feel troubled. After all, you are a kind gentleman... But some things need to be said clearly, or certain people might misunderstand your intentions and start pushing their luck."
The Holy Maiden known throughout history for her eloquence, and the young girl who had become the head of a Magus family.
The two of them refused to back down, trading barbs and veiled insults for quite some time before finally calling a truce.
Incidentally, Shirou, trapped between them, kept sending distress signals to Mordred. That tomboy, however, was watching from the side with obvious delight.
"Daddy's so popular~"
Frankenstein murmured as she licked her ice cream.