Chapter 457
The goddess, who was once the King of Knights, asked the question.
"Shirou, will you become my king?"
"I refuse."
Shirou gritted his teeth and let out a groan.
He couldn't refute Artoria, but he absolutely couldn't accept her ideas either.
"I don't want to, I won't accept it... This kind of thing is meaningless."
The Lion King, unable to understand, asked, "This is clearly a plan that could bring happiness to everyone, so why refuse it?"
"Isn't that kind of thing... obvious?"
"If it's not explained clearly, I won't understand."
"Because Artoria is an idiot! That's why she can't understand!!!"
Shirou roared hysterically.
Lady Avalon covered her mouth, but the Lion King remained unmoved.
Her human emotions had probably been completely worn away by the long years and the erosion of the Holy Lance.
"I see, I understand... Perhaps in your eyes, my actions are a betrayal of you."
We can never truly understand each other, Shirou— "
"Ah, you can just think that way. Anyway, Artoria is an incurable idiot."
"... Your Majesty."
Lady Avalon gave the Lion King a look, and he nodded.
While Shirou was talking to the Lion King, the Flower Magus had already retrieved the tenth and nineteenth "Principle Blood Ring," and two small cubes were floating in her palm.
The Lion King declared, "Then the time is about right; it's time to take my leave."
"Are you trying to run away, Artoria?!"
Twin blades burning with hellfire appeared in Shirou's palm.
I just came to say hello today. See you again in the near future!
The Holy Lance Goddess met the boy's gaze with her dazzling yellow-green eyes.
Shirou attempts to control the Lion King's actions using the "Mystic Eyes of Enchantment".
Unfortunately, the laws of this world are under her control, and the power of the Mystic Eyes cannot be activated at all.
"The next time we meet, we'll be enemies, Shirou."
"Etc!"
Shirou leaped up and rushed to the goddess.
As soon as he got close, he was frozen in place by the Lion King's raised hand, along with the space itself.
"Since you don't intend to travel with me, there's no need to chase after me. Let's stop here."
"Artoria!"
The Lion King stared intently at Shirou, paused for a moment for some reason, and then spoke.
"Are you planning to stop me from destroying Human Order? I'll give you that chance later, if you can defeat me."
Shirou shook his head and spoke slowly and deliberately.
"Human Order, whatever happens, happens; and I don't intend to defeat you anyway—"
Artoria, I will save you.
"Ah..."
Oh, so that's how it is.
The goddess suddenly realized.
Shirou would refuse, get angry, and say it was a "meaningless" reason.
"This is clearly a plan that could make everyone happy, so why reject it?"
"Isn't that kind of thing... obvious?"
The Lion King believed his wish was perfect: everyone would be redeemed, and a perfect history would be born from this.
But Shirou doesn't think so, because--
Only Artoria Pendragon was not redeemed.
Therefore, he could not accept it.
Therefore, he refused to admit it.
This time--
The savior (Shirou) does not fight to protect Human Order.
He fought to protect the young girl Artoria Pendragon.
I hate it when hard work goes unrewarded.
The words, spoken 1,500 years ago, echoed in the goddess's mind.
"This is so meaningless and unrewarding."
"Although I know this is childish idealism, I still want to believe that the harder people work, the happier they will be."
"Saber, you must be happy."
"That really has Shirou's style, hehe."
The Lion King smiled faintly once more, then placed his slender fingers on the boy's chest.
A soft yet intense white light engulfed him.
Thank you for being so considerate of me.
The goddess gently stroked the boy's cheek and said softly.
In an instant, Shirou lost consciousness.
When he came to his senses, he found himself lying in the snow, while the goddess and the Female Magus had vanished.
What just happened?
Ciel's voice rang out, indicating that time had resumed its flow.
"Shirou! Are you alright!?"
"Oh, I'm fine, but the 'Principle Blood Ring' was stolen. I'm sorry."
"Why are you still thinking about this now? Let me help you with your treatment!"
"Oh, it's okay, I'm really fine, I just feel a little weak."
Shirou stood up with Ciel's help.
Looking in the direction where Artoria and Lady Avalon disappeared, he could no longer sense anything, not even a trace of magic remained.
Shirou even wondered if he was dreaming.
But unfortunately, it wasn't a dream after all...
Shirou looked at the strand of golden hair that had fallen into his palm and murmured to himself.
"The Lion King, Artoria."
The Child of Einnashe has been completely eliminated, and the Mage's Eye Collection Train could have resumed operation long ago.
"It seems to be over."
Yvette removed her blindfold with her fingers and gazed into the thick fog in the distance.
When they returned to the train, a vote was being held inside the carriages on whether to abandon those still left in the Snowfield and allow the train to continue its journey away from the danger zone.
As a result, it was only through the forceful suppression of the carriages by Rin Tohsaka, Luvia, Olga Marie, Leinys, and Yvette that the train was prevented from departing immediately.
The girl also learned from the Acting Manager that Shirou was engaged in a battle with Zu.
In any case, it was a war that they could no longer intervene in.
I'm afraid even the Lord of the Clock Tower is powerless to do anything about it.
They could only stay in the warm carriage, silently praying and quietly waiting for it all to end.
Will Shirou be able to come back alive?
Anxiety spread among the girls.
Even the optimistic Edelfelt turned pale upon learning of his beloved's perilous situation.
"It'll be fine, if it's that guy."
Rin Tohsaka had been silent, suddenly spoke.
The girls looked at her in surprise and found that Rin Tohsaka's expression was calm and resolute.
That was a look of unwavering certainty that Shirou would survive.
"Yes, you're right, Shirou will be alright."
Luvia also expressed her pride.
Seeing their attitude, Olga Marie nervously placed her hand on her chest.
If he can come back...
The girl thought to herself, if even such a miracle could happen, then she certainly could too...
Soon, several Shadow appeared in the distant mist.
The Magecraft was on edge at the sight of two unfamiliar women dressed in Nun's uniforms and the presence of church Nun.
The other was a blonde aristocratic woman dressed in a flamboyant manner.
"The former manager...!?" a Magecraft exclaimed in surprise.
As for the last one...
"Shirou!!"
The girls rolled down the car windows and waved happily.
--
Volume 6: 299 The Legend of Shirou's Clock Tower, with added content...
Forty million.
Forty-five million.
"Fifty million."
Fifty-five million.
Sixty million.
Astronomical figures in US dollars echoed one after another in the carriage nicknamed "The Mystic Eyes".
After a series of setbacks, the auction finally took place on the afternoon of the last day.
Almost all the guests, including Shirou and Rin Tohsaka, as well as the two Nun who boarded the train on the last day, were invited to gather together.
Luvia.
Olga Marie.
Yvette.
Leinys.
Lord Ulysses.