"One more thing, Senpai. According to the records of the Fuyuki City Holy Grail War in parallel timelines observed by Chaldea..."
Mash paused slightly, pursing her lips. She glanced at Lia, Irisviel, and the others before continuing:
"The Holy Grails in most parallel Fuyuki Holy Grail Wars have been corrupted."
!!!
As soon as she finished, the pupils of everyone in the Saber group constricted. They looked at Mash in disbelief, their eyes seemingly saying, 'You're joking, right?'
"..."
Fujimaru Ritsuka frowned, pinching her chin.
Because of Mash's words, she recalled the first singularity and the experiences in Fuyuki City.
There seemed to be many Shadow Servants surrounded by malice and corruption, and finally, she had seen a vast amount of black mud in the Great Cavern.
As a human, she was exceptionally sensitive to that black mud; it was filled with the aura of malice and curses toward humanity.
Recalling this, Fujimaru Ritsuka looked up solemnly at the Saber group and nodded heavily:
"Mash is right. We've been through a singularity involving Fuyuki, and in the end, we indeed saw endless malice toward humanity."
"..."
Kiritsugu's gaze was conflicted. He bit his lip and looked directly at Fujimaru Ritsuka, asking with hope in his eyes:
"How can you prove that what you're saying is true?"
"..."
Fujimaru Ritsuka shook her head in silence.
She couldn't prove it. If they could go to the site... Hmm? The site?
"Right! We can go to that Great Cavern. Once you're there, you should understand!"
Fujimaru Ritsuka's eyes brightened slightly as she looked up at Kiritsugu.
Saying more was not as good as seeing it with one's own eyes; only by seeing it could they believe what she said.
As for explaining with Chaldea's summoning system? Even an amateur like Fujimaru Ritsuka knew that there might be many ways to exploit bugs to summon Servants in this Holy Grail War, so it was truly hard to explain using that.
After thinking for a moment, Irisviel walked to Kiritsugu's side and took his hand.
Kiritsugu looked at Irisviel with slight confusion, and the latter nodded to him.
"Why don't we go to Ryudou Temple and take a look? If it's true, then this evidence could also be the catalyst to unite all the Masters..."
Irisviel turned to look at Fujimaru Ritsuka, an inexplicable look flashing deep in her eyes.
There was hope, and there was also a struggle.
As an inevitable sacrifice and the vessel for the Grail's manifestation, her death as an offering at the end of the Holy Grail War was certain.
But deep in her heart, she seemed to want to grasp some kind of hope, to live, to watch Illya grow up...
Yet, due to her family's long-cherished wish and Kiritsugu's desire, she was unable to make her own choice.
These two thoughts made Irisviel feel conflicted.
But now, because of the words from the Chaldea group, she had some thoughts of her own: to live...
If possible, she hoped what Fujimaru Ritsuka said was true, so that this Holy Grail War could be terminated due to the anomaly...
And then...
She could discuss with Kiritsugu about bringing Illya out, and from then on, the three of them could live a simple, peaceful life.
Otherwise, Illya would surely be used by the Einzberns as the next Lesser Holy Grail, which Irisviel could not accept.
Regardless of the meticulous thoughts Irisviel had at this moment, Lia's expression did not look very good.
"If the Holy Grail is corrupted, will the wish-granting ability still be there...?"
Lia lowered her head and clenched her fists, asking slowly.
She slowly raised her head. At this moment, she had lost the composure and confidence of the Knight King, her eyes filled with expectation.
She hoped the other party would say, 'Even if the Holy Grail is corrupted, you can still make a wish.'
But Lia's gaze quickly dimmed because the Lion King shook her head, shattering all her hopes.
"Even if a corrupted Holy Grail can grant wishes, it does so in an extremely distorted way..."
The Lion King, cradling that pair of massive 'human hearts', looked at Kiritsugu with a calm expression. After drawing out her tone slightly, she added:
"For example, if you want eternal world peace without war, the Holy Grail might fulfill that wish through extinction. That is how a distorted wish-granting machine operates."
Clang—!
Invisible Air dissipated, and the Holy Sword in Lia's hand revealed its original form as it fell to the ground.
"How... can this be..."
Lia grit her teeth and collapsed onto the ground. At this moment, she had lost all her will to fight, her back looking as thin and lonely as a solitary young girl.
Irisviel looked over with concern, but she couldn't think of any words to comfort her.
Seeing this, the Lion King frowned slightly, looking very dissatisfied with her current self's state.
The Lion King walked over, looking down at Lia, and grabbed her by the collar to pull her up.
Seeing her dim gaze, the Lion King forced Lia's head straight to meet her own eyes.
"Even if a new King were truly chosen, that King could not have done better than you in that collapsing era."
The Lion King spoke each word deliberately, her powerful tone striking directly at the truth in the other's heart:
"What you've always wanted was never another King, but a world that doesn't need a King to sacrifice themselves."
"..."
Lia's eyes flickered slightly. She pursed her lips and didn't argue, instead slightly averting her gaze.
The Lion King hugged her directly, gently pressing Lia's head against her chest.
"You don't have to be a King all the time. You can be Artoria—a person who feels pain, gets tired, and has regrets...
Allowing yourself to fail is the greatest mercy you can show yourself."
The gentle words lingered in her ears, making Lia's body tremble slightly. She did not resist this tenderness but gradually sank into it.
Although Fujimaru Ritsuka on the side felt some sympathy, seeing the Lion King envelop Lia's head with her 'human hearts', why did it feel so ironic...
So strange, let me look again...
"Your mission is not to correct the past, but to live on with that history."
The Lion King held Lia tightly with a gentle expression, continuing to speak softly in her ear:
"Let people remember: there was once a King who burned herself out for her people... that's enough..."
"...I"
"You don't need to argue with what I say, because I am also you. I am Artoria. Only one's self knows oneself best."
"..."
"..."
Feeling the warmth and moisture on her chest, the Lion King smiled slightly and reached out to stroke Lia's head.
The once-peerless Knight King was finally venting her emotions like a young girl.
Perhaps because she still couldn't let go of the burden of being a King, she didn't cry out loud, but grit her teeth and wept silently.
Before long, Lia's trembling shoulders gradually steadied. She then left the Lion King's embrace, looking at the other's wet clothes with an apologetic gaze.
Lia's eyes were red, but seeing the slight curve of her lips, it was clear that her mood was better than ever.
"That's enough... Finally..."
The Lion King gave Lia a soft smile, then her expression turned serious again as she patted the other's shoulder:
"You are not a failed King; you are a King failed by the era."
"Your sacrifice was not in vain; it has ensured that the story of Britain will be remembered forever."
"You don't need to do it all over again. You only need to forgive yourself..."
After saying these words and seeing the other's gaze gradually become firm, the Lion King finally nodded in satisfaction.
Rumble—
At that moment, the roar of thunder came from outside Einzbern Castle, followed by a gruff voice shouting from outside—
"Is anyone there!!?"
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