Bab 252: Chapter 252
I… made Emiya Shirou cry?
Watching Shirou, biting his lip and struggling to get up despite his severe injuries, tears streaming down his face, Red Archer was at a loss for words.
During their dozens of exchanges (or rather, tortures), Red Archer had gradually imparted the despair he faced after becoming a champion of justice. However…
Not only did Shirou not show any doubt or regret towards his ideals, but he also cried because of Red Archer's pure sense of justice!
What's going on?
Could it be because my acting is too good?
For Shirou, after seeing Red Archer's experiences, he felt a deep respect for this champion of justice who had realized his ideals!
After all, despite losing so much, despite enduring pain and suffering, Red Archer still clung to his unwavering sense of justice!
And so, Shirou wept.
No doubt about it! This is me!
This is the me who has realized my ideals!
"Why are you crying?"
Red Archer couldn't help but ask.
"I don't know…" Shirou wiped his tears and struggled to stand up. "Maybe it's just my feelings. Seeing the me who realized my ideals, who lost so much, who endured pain and suffering, yet still upheld justice… and now I have to defeat such a self."
Hearing this, Red Archer felt a flicker of joy in his heart. His efforts and plans hadn't been in vain. This fool finally seemed to be stepping onto the opposite side of justice!
"Is that so? It seems you have indeed betrayed the ideals of justice. Then, now you should die! There's no reason for that ugly form that betrayed its ideals to continue living!"
"No…"
Shirou stood shakily, summoning Kanshou and Bakuya in his hands once again. He lifted his head to stare intently at Red Archer and said seriously, "I haven't betrayed my ideals. I… intend to surpass that immature sense of justice!"
Red Archer: Meow meow meow???
Red Archer was visibly stunned for a moment but then loudly retorted, "Don't talk nonsense! How long are you going to remain naive? What do you mean by surpassing justice? The champion of justice you want to become is standing right in front of you! This is the form and result of Emiya Shirou becoming a champion of justice!"
"No, it's not."
Shirou shook his head, his gaze incredibly serious. He then charged towards Red Archer, shouting, "What you've forgotten! And the very beginning of our justice! Watch closely! Ah——!!"
At the same time, in a special space, Shinji, who had been quietly observing the battle, appropriately played a background music—"Last Stardust"!
The pouring rain, unending, paints the end of a dream...
Although finding it a bit noisy, Rin ultimately didn't complain, feeling that this unknown song was quite fitting. She continued to focus on the screen.
Shirou's memories began to resurface, and Red Archer, who had just taken a hit from Shirou, was pulled into Shirou's memories!
——That night, filled with fire and corpses.
"Do you see? That's what you've forgotten! That initial wish to overthrow this hell!"
Pointing to the distant memory of his younger self walking through the fire with tears, Shirou loudly lectured Red Archer. Shinji couldn't help but laugh.
"Well, well~ Who would've thought that a one-in-a-billion chance was grasped by this big brother…"
Gilgamesh murmured softly, then glanced at Shinji, who seemed unsurprised, with a knowing smile.
"By the way, big brother, did you foresee this too?"
"No, I just considered it a possibility—that Emiya Shirou might persist in both justice and the conflicting wish for everyone's happiness."
"Huh?" Rin raised her eyebrows in confusion.
"In short, Emiya chose a path more difficult than becoming his ideal self, a path where he neither abandons being a champion of justice nor gives up on the wish for everyone to be happy."
After listening to Shinji's explanation, Rin expressed her doubts: "Aren't these two mutually exclusive? Didn't Heroic Spirit Emiya change his ways and sacrifice some to save many because he couldn't achieve both?"
Shinji shrugged and replied casually, "Yes, but Emiya hasn't experienced that despair, so he doesn't agree with that approach. Even after seeing Archer's experiences, he doesn't fully accept that method.
The idea that 'there might be another way for everyone to be happy' is an unshakeable answer for Emiya Shirou at this stage.
Because he hasn't experienced it firsthand, no matter how much Archer pressures him, he won't give up that naive notion. Of course, that's only for now."
At this point, Rin remembered Shinji's words from the previous morning about some people never admitting their ideas are wrong unless they experience it themselves.
"Indeed, it's naive. But this heavily reinforced naivety seems not just influenced by what he's seen in this world…"
Looking at Shirou on the screen, Gilgamesh remarked, then glanced at Shinji again, continuing, "It should also be due to you, big brother, perhaps some previous suggestions you made to him…"
"Don't be silly. How could I do that to a friend? At most, I just acknowledged that wish for everyone's happiness."
Shinji then recalled a past conversation with Shirou:
"You're the type who wants everyone around you to be happy, right?"
"Uh, I guess so."
"Yeah, that's good."
Although Shinji didn't entirely agree with such a saint-like wish, he did acknowledge its innocence.
At least, for Shinji, it's not something one could criticize if they haven't had such thoughts themselves.
"Looks like it's almost time for me to step in. Better get ready…"
Shinji stood up, stretching his neck and waist, his untroubled expression annoying Rin.
"Hey, are you really okay? That Darius doesn't seem easy to deal with."
"Relax, there aren't many people in this world I can't ambush to death."
Hearing Shinji's calm words, Rin fell silent for a long time.
"But why ambush? Why not fight honorably like Emiya? Ambushes aren't exactly honorable!"
"Because it's efficient, convenient, effective, and useful!"
As an experienced strategist, Shinji summed up the benefits of ambushes concisely, giving a thumbs up.
"But ambushes don't sound like something a good person would do!"
"As long as I win, I don't care about the rest."
...
Returning from the memory, Red Archer, now furious, stabbed Shirou in the abdomen and kicked him away!
His anger wasn't just from being pulled into Shirou's memory and lectured, but also from Shirou's incredibly naive thoughts!
After this round, Red Archer realized that Shirou wouldn't give up his naive ideals of both justice and wishing for everyone's happiness.
"Idiot——! That's impossible! To be a champion of justice, you must first acknowledge you can't save everyone! You must sacrifice a few to save many!"
Red Archer shouted, his mind unable to comprehend how Emiya Shirou could be even more naive than he was back then.
Holding his abdomen, Shirou struggled to lift his head, gritting his teeth as he spoke.
"I know that! But I won't give up the hope that everyone can be saved! No matter what, I won't give up! It doesn't matter if it's naive; I won't abandon this wish! Especially since someone acknowledged this beautiful wish!"
"Huh? Who could be foolish enough to acknowledge such a naive wish? The only one who would is you! A champion of justice and such a wish are contradictory! Holding onto such ideals will only bring regret and pain in the future!"
"You're talking about yourself, aren't you?"
Hearing Shirou's words, Red Archer was momentarily stunned, then realized—
——He had exposed himself!
Catching the slight change in Red Archer's expression, Shirou, thanks to Avalon, stood up once more.
"Stop pretending, Archer. You're like me. You speak of being a champion of justice, but deep down, you still hope for everyone's happiness! But for me, it's not just a hope; it's a belief to uphold justice!"
"I told you, it's impossible! Didn't you hear?!"
Red Archer roared, finally losing his patience. He threw Kanshou and Bakuya with force towards Shirou!
Clang! Bang!
In a one-on-one exchange, Shirou's eyelids fluttered, breathing heavily, his magical energy almost depleted, barely enough for one more projection.
Red Archer continued to curse: "Like now, this world is on the brink of destruction. The only way to save it is to sacrifice that girl, yet you hesitate! Claiming you haven't deviated from justice! Disgusting! Die, you disgusting fool!"
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
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