Chapter 23: So-Called Tragic Wish
Thud—
Thud—
The heavy footsteps, the clanking of armor echoed through the dark halls of the Einzbern castle.
A solemn figure emerged from the shadows—a young girl in shining silver-blue armor, a rare sight as she seldom kept her armor on.
The atmosphere was tense.
Kiritsugu Emiya leaned against the doorframe of the conference room, a cigarette hanging loosely from his lips. He had refrained from smoking for nearly nine years, all for Irisviel, who disliked the smell.
But now, he had taken it up again.
The sliver of light coming through the door seemed warm, yet so far away.
Kiritsugu glanced at Saber, who had just returned, and then lowered his head once more. His slumped figure seemed defeated, and the questions pressing against Saber's heart halted in her chest.
Their eyes met—his dull, gray gaze and her vibrant emeralds—each suppressing their own turmoil.
Saber pushed open the door to the conference room, and with a bang, shut it behind her.
The door clicked shut, severing the last bit of light. Now, in complete darkness, the only faint glow came from the burning tip of Kiritsugu's cigarette. He sighed deeply before walking away.
Maiya Hisau watched his retreating figure, contemplating whether to follow him but ultimately deciding against it. The man Kiritsugu had once been—a ruthless agent of death—was now long gone. She could no longer see the remorseless killer he had once been.
To destroy the Grail was just another mission for her. But for the Einzbern couple, it meant extinguishing the only flicker of hope they had left.
...
Inside the conference room, Saber found only Irisviel sitting alone at the long, empty table. Kurumi had already left, stating that Sakura needed plenty of rest.
Compared to Kiritsugu, Irisviel felt much more like Saber's true Master.
That porcelain-perfect face, beautiful to the point of seeming doll-like, with ruby eyes that resembled those of the Holy Maiden of Winter, Justeaze Lizrich von Einzbern.
What kind of cold, obsessive family had created someone as gentle as Irisviel? Saber could only blame it on the cold-hearted man who stood beside her.
"You seem quite affected by Berserker," Irisviel said, gently taking hold of Saber's sword hand. But the moment the words left her lips, she realized what she had said. According to legend, the relationship between Lancelot and King Arthur had been one fraught with tension and crisis.
"Saber, I—"
However, Saber's expression was unexpectedly dazed. "Has Sir Lancelot been hating me all this time?"
"How could the Knight of the Lake have become Berserker?!"
...
Saber seemed to be speaking to herself as she turned to Irisviel. "Iris... do I really not understand the human heart?"
Irisviel hesitated, unsure of how to answer, but when she looked into Saber's clear eyes, she smiled gently. "No, Saber is a very kind girl."
"A... kind girl..." Saber repeated softly.
...
——
"Artoria, know that the one who pulls this sword from the stone shall be crowned the King of Britain. But before you draw it, carefully consider the weight of this burden. Once drawn, you shall cease to be human."
"I understand. I seek this sword for that very reason."
A king's oath must never be broken. I have a mission that I must fulfill, a vow that I cannot betray. From the moment I drew the sword, this vow became eternal, never to be changed.
...
Merlin's words felt as though they were spoken only moments ago, the oath still ringing in her ears.
The conference room was engulfed in a long silence.
Saber stood wearily and turned to leave. "Iris, rest well."
Outside, Kiritsugu's shadow had long since vanished, sparing them an awkward encounter.
But to Irisviel, the sight of Saber's back—clad in her regal blue dress and silver armor—resembled not the sturdy figure of a king but a young girl standing at the edge of a precipice.
"The King of Britain..." Irisviel whispered softly.
——
The night was silent, and the skies over Fuyuki City were bleak and cold.
Though it was only the second night of the Holy Grail War, already many dark truths had been revealed, leaving every participant full of doubt.
There was the team of Avenger and Saber, both under the Einzbern banner.
The Assassin and Archer factions, who, despite being under the watch of the Church, were clearly colluding with one another.
Then there was the insane killer Caster and his Master.
Rider's team, fighting to prove themselves worthy of the Grail.
And the magus Lancer, a lord from the Clock Tower, with his own ambitions.
Finally, there was the team of Berserker—driven by nothing but a burning desire for revenge against both the Tohsaka family and Saber.
The war had only just begun.
——
In her dreams, Saber found herself once again in that strange vision.
Golden sunlight illuminated everything, filling the world with warmth.
The waves sparkled as they lapped gently against the shore, as if they were scattered fragments of gold.
A young boy, brimming with energy, stood with a woman who exuded strength and warmth. They gazed out over the sea, the scene calm and serene.
Saber soon realized that this was the dream of her Master, Kiritsugu Emiya.
"Tell me, Kiritsugu, what kind of man do you want to become?"
In the blinding sunlight, the woman's voice asked the question.
Her smile, her warmth—he would never forget it.
This world is so beautiful, he thought. I wish time could stop right here, in this moment of happiness.
Kiritsugu found himself making a promise, one that came from the depths of his heart.
This feeling... I will never forget it.
"I want to be... a champion of justice."
...
Saber remained silent, puzzled by her cold and distant Master. What kind of tragedy had transformed him into such a calculating machine?
Let me see for myself.
...
Even if you can't grasp it with your hands, even if it's out of reach—
Perhaps some things will remain in your heart forever.
——
Perhaps Kurumi would have been the better Servant for him. After all, they were both such pitiful creatures, chasing after impossible ideals that would shatter like illusions the moment they were within reach.
Saber said nothing as she dispelled the Wind King's Barrier, revealing the radiant Excalibur, glowing like gold in the dim light.
But who here wasn't a pitiful soul?
Every Servant called forth by the Grail had a past, steeped in black and red.
"I will fight for your victory."
...For Irisviel.
Not for you, Kiritsugu Emiya.
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