"...Father."
The man standing before him was none other than Norikata Emiya.
Kiritsugu froze.
Before he could even process what he was seeing—
Bang!
A gunshot echoed through the air.
He hadn't pulled the trigger.
Yet Norikata clutched his chest, a bullet through his heart, before collapsing lifelessly to the ground.
Kiritsugu slowly turned around.
At some point, Natalia Kaminski had appeared behind him.
"...Natalia."
He stared blankly at her stern expression.
Then, against his own will, he fired again.
No matter how desperately he resisted...
This was something he had already done.
He had no choice but to relive it.
The scene shifted once more.
He was back aboard the drifting motorboat.
The thick fog had disappeared.
The storm clouds had dispersed.
For the first time, Kiritsugu found himself alone in a world bathed in brilliant sunlight.
"Kiritsugu Emiya... you are the true Angra Mainyu."
"You are the one most worthy of bearing All the World's Evil."
The voice—still speaking in Kiritsugu's own tone—lingered beside his ears like an inescapable curse.
Even beneath the radiant sunlight...
It refused to leave him.
"Now..."
"One final question."
"Three people remain."
"Will you save two..."
"...or only one?"
The world changed again.
Kiritsugu now stood inside the storage building of the traditional Japanese house he had purchased.
The magic circle Leon and Artoria had inscribed at Irisviel's request was still fresh upon the floor.
Standing beside him were Maiya Hisau, Irisviel von Einzbern—
And the little girl cradled in Irisviel's arms.
"...Illya?!"
Kiritsugu's mind went blank.
His eyes widened in disbelief.
"Impossible!"
"How could anything happen to you?!"
"Ahad could never make such a mistake!"
The instant he saw his daughter, all reason deserted him.
He wanted to demand answers—
But he no longer knew whom he should be questioning.
"You're right."
"But if you make the wrong choice..."
"...this will be her future."
The unseen narrator calmly answered him.
"So..."
"Choose."
"Will you save one..."
"...or save two?"
As the words fell, a Nepalese military knife appeared in Kiritsugu's hand.
Its razor-sharp blade gleamed with cold silver light.
Yet the emptiness within Kiritsugu's heart was colder still.
"..."
The light had long since vanished from his eyes.
Silently, he walked over to Maiya.
One swift motion.
The knife flashed.
He slit her throat with flawless precision.
Without a sound, Maiya collapsed to her knees before him.
Her head drooped lifelessly.
Yet the faintest trace of a smile still lingered upon her lips.
The world shifted once again.
This time—
He stood inside Irisviel's enormous bedroom at Einzbern Castle.
Dressed in a white nightgown, Irisviel leaned comfortably against the headboard, telling a bedtime story to Illyasviel, who was struggling to stay awake.
"Kiritsugu!"
"You're finally home!"
The drowsiness instantly vanished from Illya's eyes.
She threw back the blankets and leapt toward him like a fledgling returning to its nest.
Kiritsugu caught her tiny body in his arms.
Yet his expression remained as empty as his heart.
There was no joy.
No relief.
No happiness at their reunion.
Even as Illya affectionately rubbed her cheek against his...
Even as her warmth felt utterly real...
He knew the truth.
Everything before him...
Was an illusion.
"So?"
Irisviel smiled gently from the bedside.
"Now do you understand?"
"This is how the Holy Grail will grant your wish."
"All you need to do..."
"...is make your wish."
"After you and Saber eliminate that troublesome 'false god.'"
"The world will become exactly as you desire."
"Perfect peace."
"And afterward..."
"Even if the method differs from what you imagined..."
"You need only make another wish."
"Wish for your lover to be restored."
"Wish to have your daughter returned to you."
"Everything in the world..."
"...will unfold exactly as you desire."
The room gradually darkened.
Irisviel looked at him expectantly.
"..."
Kiritsugu remained silent.
Slowly, he turned toward the window.
The sunlight was gone.
The falling snow had vanished as well.
Beyond the glass...
Only darkness remained.
Endless darkness.
Then—
A bitter smile, more painful than tears, spread across his face.
Holding Illya gently in his arms, he spoke with immeasurable tenderness and regret.
"Illya..."
"...we won't be able to go see Kotomi anymore."
Illya simply shook her head with a bright smile.
"It's okay."
"I don't mind."
"As long as I can stay together with you and Mommy..."
"...I'm happy."
Her innocent answer eased his heart—
Only slightly.
Because he knew what he was about to do.
Still smiling...
Tears streamed down his face.
"Thank you."
"Daddy loves you too."
"And that..."
"I swear..."
"...is the only thing that's absolutely true."
Kiritsugu pulled Illya into a tight embrace.
As though he never wanted to let go.
His hand gently stroked her soft silver hair.
His eyes overflowed with reluctance.
With grief.
As for pain...
He had long since grown accustomed to it.
"Hehe..."
Feeling utterly content, Illya cupped her father's face in both hands.
Then—
The cold, black muzzle of the Thompson Contender came to rest beneath her chin.
"Hm?"
She blinked in confusion.
She didn't understand.
"Goodbye, Illya."
With tears filling his eyes, Kiritsugu spoke with heartbreaking gentleness.
Bang!
Warm blood splashed across his face.
Illya's small body slipped limply from his arms and fell to the floor.
"Illya!"
"Illya!!"
"ILLYA!!"
Irisviel cried out in anguish.
As though she had truly lost her daughter, she scrambled from the bed and threw herself beside Illya's body.
Kiritsugu calmly reloaded the Thompson Contender.
Without the slightest hesitation—
He raised the pistol once more.
Its muzzle settled upon Irisviel's head as she knelt there, clutching Illya's lifeless body and weeping.
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