The Gods See Everything
Shirou frowned and said, "What's the point of this war? What are the witch and Charlemagne trying to do? Are the Servant of the dead still so obsessed with their fallen dynasty?"
"You've got it wrong, Shirou. Although many places in this world are dreams that have been modified by stories, behind the dreams, Charlemagne is indeed a living, breathing person born and raised in that world. It's just that that world has deviated from history and is about to perish."
Charlemagne understood this, so he prepared to make the necessary changes to the world, and with the same goal in mind, he brought the witch with him,"Scheherazade said.
"What?" Shirou exclaimed in surprise.
"What the witch desires is true peace. As long as the white god doesn't continue to interfere in the various worlds and weaken the influence of the Counter Force, she can find loopholes herself, bypass the Counter Force and the Throne of Heroes, and live in a world without mystery, achieving eternal peace. She's incredibly cunning."
"Charlemagne's desire to change his world, world peace, and human happiness is important, but these must be based on the premise that everyone believes in Christianity. If the doctrines of Christ are not upheld, then what is the point of everyone living in peace and prosperity?"
Charlemagne probably thought this way: to wash the world clean with blood and war, all to transform this world from a doomed project into a Lostbelt world unified by Christians. Charlemagne also seemed to hope to find a backup plan, to reorganize Human Order. But none of this mattered to the witch."
"These things are unimportant to me. Artoria and Jeanne d'Arc are imprisoned and asleep with the enemy. Knowing this, I must get them back to normal as soon as possible. Since they are not in this world, I must go see them. How do I get out of here?" Shirou asked the woman.
"Then all you need to do is go outside this dream world and wake them up from their dream," Scheherazade said.
"I understand! Thank you for telling me all this," Shirou said.
"Now I will open a passage for you, but this is a gate of judgment set up by the witch. Only those who truly believe themselves to be righteous can leave, and only one person can be judged at a time," Scheherazade said.
"So, if Sita and I are going out, only one of us can stay here?" Shirou asked.
"Well, although I wish I could let you out, unfortunately, I am not justice, so once I go in, I can't come out either," Scheherazade said.
"Looks like I'm not exactly a righteous person either," Shirou said with a wry smile.
"No, it all depends on what you think. At least you have that potential," Scheherazade said, gazing at the boy.
"Do you have a solution?" Shirou looked up at Scheherazade and asked.
"Yes, just find your childlike heart!" Scheherazade said, raising her wand, which emitted a dazzling light that enveloped Shirou.
As soon as he finished speaking, Shirou's body shrank even further, and his clothes, which were originally the size of a middle school student, became very loose.
"What! No way! You've shrunk again? What do you want?" Shirou looked at his shrunken hands. He had turned back into an elementary school student, no longer needing a skirt. He shouted angrily at Scheherazade, but his clear, boyish voice had completely lost its manly aura.
"This time, why don't you go over and try it?" Scheherazade stepped back from the doorway and suggested to Shirou.
"Now?" Shirou asked, puzzled.
"Or, how about I turn you back into a baby and then lure you out with food?" Scheherazade suggested when she saw Shirou hesitate.
"No! No need!" Shirou jumped up and said.
"Sita, let's go out together!" Shirou said, waking the red-haired girl lying on the stone bed.
But now that he's a primary school student, if he were back in his original world, he'd probably only be able to uphold justice in the sandy area of the community park. Like stopping the oldest Human History, Gian, who's always been a primary school student, or defeating little devils like Tohsaka.
"Then let's go out." Shirou Sita's hand on his shoulder, shifting the girl's weight onto him.
"Hmm," Sita replied.
Scheherazade raised his wand and opened the passage.
Young Shirou mustered his courage and, with Sita, walked toward the door.
The iron cage, which was forbidden to the unjust, was now impenetrable to Shirou. This time, Shirou walked straight through the iron gate, which vanished the instant he touched it. Without any hindrance, Shirou stepped out of the cage.
"The key to unraveling this is Charlemagne himself. If you want to awaken these two girls, you must find him alone and defeat him."
"Is that so? Do you think it's a good thing for someone like the King of Heroes, who is so self-centered, to live in this world? If a warmonger like Iskandar, King of Conquerors, or a fanatic like Charlemagne here, were to be reborn, do you think humanity would become better or worse?" Scheherazade looked at Shirou and continued to ask.
"Is that so? Then please go to the main hall and defeat Charlemagne. I will be waiting for you to change your mind."
Scheherazade, who knew from the beginning that she would be used and then abandoned by the Dense Forest Witch, chose to side with Shirou because of her strong will to survive. However, what she does next depends on Shirou. She will continue to watch Shirou as a storyteller and an observer until he changes his mind and completes the test.
With Scheherazade's help, Shirou settled Sita and then headed toward the palace in the center of the city.
The journey was smooth and unobstructed, and there was no one to greet him, as if they were welcoming him upon his arrival.
Inside the magnificent palace, Shirou once again saw this tall, middle-aged man, clad in golden armor, with white hair and a curly beard. He was the man who inherited the traditions of the Roman Empire and laid the foundation for the Middle Ages in Europe. The French called him Charlemagne, the Germans called him Carl the Great Emperor, and the Germans, half of the Germany, and the French all recognized him as their emperor.
In reality, he may not be that powerful, but in this story's world, which blends reality and fiction, he is virtually invincible.
Charlemagne, as the Western Roman Emperor recognized by the Pope, was like a chosen king in Christianity. He possessed the ability to assimilate those around him, turning them into his subordinates who would willingly serve him.
His greatest achievement was expanding his territory and actively spreading Christianity doctrines. He used whatever means necessary, not only in the lands he owned, but also in neighboring countries, to convert them to Christianity.
The condition for activating this skill is that the target mission has some degree of recognition of Charlemagne. As long as this condition is met, and there is enough magic power, even Servant would find it difficult to refuse, unless they possess a skill that resists mental interference.
Charlemagne, as a Christianity saint, was very kind and benevolent to the people within the Christianity sphere of influence, while also displaying the decisiveness and ruthlessness that warriors admire towards opposing pagans. His achievements in both civil and military affairs, as well as his contributions to religion, make it difficult for anyone not to have even the slightest bit of respect for him.
Charlemagne spoke first, saying, "Shirou Emiya, I am willing to grant you the greatest rights, the prizes you can win, whether in this world or the world I live in."
I hope you can stay here forever. Even if I disappear one day, as long as you are here, the Lord's love for my people will continue forever.
"Sorry, I never intended to follow you into religion or anything like that. Your so-called happiness is actually built on the atrocities of others' sacrifices!" Shirou said coldly, knowing that his only master, Xuanzang, was scarred and wounded because of Charlemagne.
"Everything I have done is without error, and everything I possess will benefit all my people. I can confidently say that I am the emperor, second only to God in love, whether in the past, present, or future!" Charlemagne declared with righteous indignation.
"Stop talking about gods and all that! Isn't it better to leave the future of humanity to future generations themselves?! Give me back my comrades!!!" Shirou shouted, deciding to hold nothing back any longer. He channeled his magic power throughout his body and charged forward swiftly!
"How reckless! Well then, I'll render you unable to walk." Charlemagne drew his holy sword, Joyeuse, with its golden hilt, its blood-red blade aimed at Shirou. He was confident that if Shirou got close enough, he could easily subdue this brat.
To contend with the Sword of Pleasure, one of the three great swords of Europe, he must wield a holy sword of equal caliber.
At that moment, Shirou Projection his most familiar holy sword, its golden blade colliding with the blood-red blade, then violently bouncing away, sparks flying. Shirou, whose Projection holy sword was a level below Shirou's, and Charlemagne, whose swordsmanship was slightly inferior, each had their own advantages, and the two fought fiercely, evenly matched.
At that moment, in the outside world, the enormous machine connecting the sleeping Artoria and Jeanne d'Arc emitted two beams of light.
"It's done! Hahaha! Now this world belongs solely to me and my people." The palace behind Charlemagne trembled. Through this aerial castle, he activated his Heavenly Voice Assimilation.
"We have to stop him!" Shirou made up his mind at that moment!
At that moment, a dazzling white light flashed in his eyes, and the long white line of light that had been severed by the witch, representing the connection between the white gods, was reconnected.
Shirou regained control of the gods' power.
"Ooooooo!!! Ex-calibur!!!" Shirou activated his Magic Eye, and the Excalibur King of Knights his hand received its maximum boost. The Star Sword unleashed its full power. He clenched his fists together, raised it high, gritted his teeth, and used all his strength to unleash a dazzling golden light.
Charlemagne is undoubtedly a top-tier Servant in terms of both strength and honor, and his faith in God is also supreme. However, Shirou's power also comes from the power of a true god.
Powered by the three Holy Grails, the aerial fortress shifted its form, transforming into a gigantic robot, which was then cleaved in two by the descending Holy Light.
"Aaaah!" Charlemagne, seated atop the fortress, let out a mournful cry, sighing regretfully amidst the golden light, "My long-cherished wish can only end here..."
The towering Emperor was engulfed by the radiance in the next moment, and the huge robot's severed end emitted wildly flying arcs of electricity before exploding with a deafening roar.
Chapter 327 The Gods See All
The white light of the gods completely suppressed the golden light representing the Emperor's faith. The heavy fortress giant split in two, smashing the ground to pieces and sinking deep into it.
Ancient Lord often regarded Heaven as their father and Earth as their mother, believing that all the gods and Buddhas lived in the heavens. They considered it an honor to stand in the highest place than others, like the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, where high platforms were built on mountains for sacrifices and vows.
Charlemagne, as the hegemon of Western Europe, naturally also possessed such an aerial castle that reached the heavens, at least in the world of fantasy. This fortress also served as a personification of his life's achievements, becoming a giant robot that went on to conquer the world for him.
If it weren't for Shirou's appearance, with the magic power continuously transmitted by Artoria and Jeanne d'Arc, this giant castle would have crushed all the pagan kingdoms in this world, causing all of humanity to convert to Christianity and embrace God.
If he accomplishes all of this, then in the faith of all Christians, he will indeed become an unprecedented saint, even deified, and worshipped as a god in Christianity, like the Virgin Mary. At the very least, he will be the first person after Christ.
Rather than granting Charlemagne's fanatical and twisted wish, Shirou made a choice. Having figured everything out, he took the initiative to connect with the white god. This time, it was no longer a destiny predetermined before birth, but rather his own choice to face the white god.
With his mind clear Shirou unleashed unprecedented power, completely shattering the newly completed Castle Giant Noble Phantasm and annihilating Charlemagne in the dream world, who hadn't yet been able to properly utilize this enormous weapon.
The moment the boy re-established contact with the white god, on a snow-covered mountain in a distant world, the white god, who stood high above gazing into the distance, suddenly opened his eyes wide. He sensed an existence he had previously ignored.
Previously, people might not have paid attention to a birthmark on the sole of their foot, having become accustomed to it. However, if the birthmark reappears after disappearing, that's a different story.
Perhaps the white deity, subconsciously, did not want to disturb the yearning for beauty, so it automatically ignored the boy's existence.
But in that instant, everything changed.
The three worlds of Earth, isolated from all other worlds, Chaldea, where time had been stopped, are reactivated at this moment.
In two other worlds, the girl with black twin tails and the little girl with long straight hair sensed something. Although they were very far apart, they both looked up at the sky.
Once a human, once a Heroic Spirit, once Emiya with Servant, Shirou Emiya, under the influence of his subconscious, protected those important to him and fulfilled his deepest longing for happiness.
These things were forgotten by the deified white god in the vast daily flow of information, thus the three worlds, along with Chaldea, were isolated from most of the universe ruled by the god. Although time had stopped and communication with other worlds was severed, people lived their lives peacefully as a result.
Although Chaldea and Shirou's world were targeted by the Black Mud monsters and the Counter Force, which were hostile to the white gods, and many troubles arose, Nakayama managed to handle them all, and everyone protected the peace of this world.
But these difficulties are nothing compared to the colossal Creator God.
However, from this moment on, these worlds are within the sight of the white god, who has now fully become a god, with divinity now dominating the majority of his body compared to his humanity. Now that this white god knows about Shirou and Chaldea, what choice will he make?
Amidst the shattered remains and the chaotic state of the palace, a woman with brown skin appeared.
"Congratulations, Shirou, you defeated Charlemagne of the dream world. As expected of the god who created all things and could raise so many Human Evil, your power is truly terrifying. Even the top-tier Servant are no match for you." Scheherazade said as she walked in from outside the door.
"This is not my own power, and it's not over yet. I have to go to that world, defeat his true form, and rescue Artoria and Jeanne d'Arc!" Shirou looked at his palm and understood for the first time just how extraordinary his power truly was.
At the same time, I realized once again just how slim the chances were of fighting against that god.
He currently possesses only the same powers as a divine avatar, while the true form of a god has countless avatars.
"No, there's no need. You've already won," Scheherazade said.
"What's going on?" Shirou asked, puzzled.
"Because he is no longer able to fight anyone in the real world, even a child could kill him." Scheherazade spread out one hand and conjured an image. In a magnificent bedroom in a palace exactly the same as this one, a large bed was placed under a silk curtain, and on it lay a thin, haggard old man with white hair.
Judging from his outline, he was surprisingly similar to the middle-aged, robust emperor he had fought before, except that he was skin and bones, with sunken eyes, looking pitiful and as if his end was imminent.
"He is... Charlemagne?" Shirou asked in surprise.
Scheherazade nodded and said, "Yes, more than two years ago, the Dense Forest Witch disguised herself as a beautiful Germanic woman and approached him as a concubine, thus gaining the opportunity to cooperate. But even she didn't expect Charlemagne to age so quickly, which is why this dream world was merged so hastily. However, now that Charlemagne has been defeated by you, his plan to merge reality and the dream world to gain a new life is no longer possible."
"We don't need to worry about the witch for now. Although she's very clingy and will definitely show up unexpectedly again, at least we don't have to worry about her in this world. Otherwise, I wouldn't be swaggering here to meet you, Shirou," Scheherazade said with a shrug.
"What's going on?" Shirou asked, puzzled.
"That cold-blooded woman immediately decided to abandon this poor emperor once he was no longer of any use. Originally, this world was intended to be left until the end. After all, someone as powerful as Charlemagne could, with proper manipulation, perhaps summon all twelve paladins from here using their remains."
Charlemagne sensed the witch's ulterior motives, but the old man seemed genuinely fond of her appearance and wanted to keep her as a specimen. He dispatched hundreds of church priests, including a disciple of Tobin, the Grand Mage second only to Merlin, and Grand Mage of bishop rank.
"So that witch is being chased and is now fleeing this world in a sorry state. She deserves it," Scheherazade said with a sneer.
"I see. Well, this matter is temporarily settled then," Shirou said with a sigh of relief.
"That's right, Shirou. You just need to go to the real world over there, and you'll be able to save your companions immediately," Scheherazade said.
In the real world, Charlemagne's body had aged to the point that he could no longer properly use his magic. Therefore, even with the Holy Grail, he still had to rely on the magic of Artoria and Jeanne d'Arc to transfer it to the dream world.
In the 8th century, Charlemagne, already 71 years old, had less than a year left to live. For Emperor, this was an exceptionally long life. Compared to other Tang Dynasty emperors of the same era, only Emperor Gaozu of Tang of Tang, Li Yuan, lived to 70, Wu Zetian to 82, and Emperor Xuanzong, Li Longji, to 78. These three can be compared to him.
However, the backwardness of the times, the years of hard work and war severely depleted his body, damaging his original functions, which he could not replenish. Charlemagne eventually became weak, his hands and feet were no longer nimble, he needed two people to help him walk, and he spent most of his time in bed and on a chair.
Birth, aging, illness, and death are laws that humanity has been subject to since its emergence. As people age, all aspects of the body's abilities decline. The only way to alleviate these symptoms is to wait until future generations of medicine become more advanced and rely on healthcare measures to maintain a certain level of vitality in the elderly.
The current Queen of Britain, Elizabeth II, who ascended the throne at less than 30 years old, is now 92 years old. She still attends various events and appears in public every year. The reason she can do this is entirely thanks to the modern medical team that maintains her health.
However, because of this, her eldest son, Prince Charles, who is the heir to the throne, is already seventy years old this year.
"Shirou Emiya, you're finally here! You really have become so much younger." The elderly man lying on the bed opened his eyes, looked at Shirou, and said with envy in his eyes.
Charlemagne, like a man about to fall off a cliff grasping at a last straw, pleaded, "Why won't you stay? Even if I offered to adopt you and give you all the lands of my kingdom, wouldn't that be enough?"
"This is not my world. I have family and companions waiting for me to return." Shirou shook his head.
Charlemagne said dejectedly, "Humanity knows its own future; this is truly not a good thing. Knowing full well there will be a bad ending, yet being powerless to change it. My son, my grandson, are not worthy of my trust... and I can find no one more suitable. The Frankish Kingdom is destined to decline."
"..." Shirou looked at the aging Charlemagne and suddenly remembered Kiritsugu sitting on the veranda that night. However, although the old man had three successors, none of them were qualified successors.
Historically, after Charlemagne's death, the throne passed to Louis the Pious, but his grandson implemented a feudal system. The empire Charlemagne had painstakingly built was divided into three parts. These three countries were the precursors to later France, Italy, and Germany. After that, Western Europe was never unified again. Charlemagne's life's efforts and achievements can be said to have flowed away and could never be recovered.
Even later, the brilliant Napoleon emerged. Although he achieved the submission of Western European countries and was only one step away from gradually incorporating them into his territory, his eagerness to conquer Eastern Europe and unify Europe led to setbacks. In the end, his army collapsed, ending his short-lived dynasty.
And so it was with Hitler, who was ambitious and utterly wicked.
In modern times, with nationalism and patriotism deeply rooted in people's hearts, even if alliances are formed, people still dislike each other all day long, making unification even more impossible.
'If Kiritsugu saw me like this, what would he think?' Shirou couldn't help but wonder, feeling a mix of emotions.
"Scheherazade, can't you help him?" Shirou asked the brown-skinned woman.
Scheherazade shook his head and said, "Unfortunately, if we weren't in a dream world, my Magecraft wouldn't be enough to make a human young again. Besides, Charlemagne's life is already over, and physical changes alone can't alter anything."
"Enough. I've lived a wonderful life, I'm remembered in history, I've outlived my enemies, I don't need your sympathy. The key is here, and your companion is in the secret room behind the fireplace. Go." Charlemagne raised his trembling hand and pointed to the opposite side of the bed.
"Thank you." Shirou picked up the cross-shaped key, thanked the old man, and then walked towards the fireplace.
Lao Tzu stared wide-eyed as the boy entered the secret chamber, his outstretched fingers seeming to grasp the boy's retreating figure, but ultimately he couldn't close his hand, and finally lowered it...
"It's just that it couldn't be passed down, it's really a pity, such a real pity..."