Chapter 517

Shirou asked in surprise, "This is... for me?"

"No, that's not true."

Ritsuka Fujimaru rolled her eyes and recounted to Shirou what had happened the previous afternoon.

She and Mash encountered an old woman in front of the Chaldea Embassy.

This old woman was also one of those whose souls were taken by Ereshkigal. Her family had originally planned to give up, but Ana insisted on preserving her body.

The old woman in the Underworld heard her voice and felt a desire to live a little longer, which is why she did not disappear.

When she woke up again, Ana was lying by her bedside.

That was the first time the old woman saw Ana's face; she never imagined that such beauty could be hidden beneath the hood.

It's such a waste to keep such a beautiful face covered by a black cloth all the time.

So the old woman wove floral decorations overnight, wanting to express her gratitude to her.

"The old lady at the flower shop..."

"Do you know Mr. Shirou as well?"

Ritsuka blinked. "That's great, please help me pass this on to Ana -chan."

"Why me?" Shirou asked, puzzled.

Ritsuka said matter-of-factly, "The child would be happier if Mr. Shirou sent it over."

"But..."

"Um?"

"Never mind, it's nothing... I understand, I'll give the flower decorations to Ana."

"Then I'll leave it to you, Mr. Shirou 'Goddess Special Attack'!"

Ritsuka Fujimaru laughed heartily and patted him on the back.

"By the way, Ritsuka... I've wanted to ask you this for a long time, are we somewhere...?"

Before Shirou could finish speaking, the girl ran away.

"I'm going to find Mash! I'm leaving Ana's matter to you, okay? If you make her cry, you'll be in big trouble!"

Ritsuka Fujimaru ran towards her junior without looking back.

"Ana is currently stargazing from the city wall. Let's hurry over there!"

Merlin, you rascal... mind your own business.

Shirou slapped away the hand that was on his shoulder from behind and pulled Fou into his arms.

Shirou found Ana on the castle wall, where the night wind was blowing.

Good evening, Ana, aren't you going to bed?

The girl turned around and lowered her guard when she saw Fou taking Fou for a Shirou.

"... I couldn't sleep, so I'm resting here. What about Shirou? Is it alright if you don't go to sleep?"

Shirou walked over to her and said, "I can't sleep either."

Ana was taken aback. "That's surprising... Shirou can't sleep either? I thought he never would."

"Insomnia is not a sign of weakness... By the way, what kind of image do I have in Ana's eyes? Is the evaluation too high?"

"Servant a half-baked Servant like me, a true hero worthy of people's reliance..."

The girl's tone was not exaggerated at all; she was simply stating her thoughts objectively.

"I 'Instinct myself a highly efficient Heroic Spirit, someone who can be of use."

So this relaxed attitude isn't good... but even Shirou can't sleep before the final battle, so hearing you say that makes me feel relieved."

Ana smiled shyly.

After that, they talked about the six months they had spent in Uruk.

When talking about the people and things in Uruk, the girl's eyes revealed a gentle look, though not obviously.

Shirou stroked the fur of the cub in his arms and asked, "Ana, do you still hate humans?"

"Hate."

The girl answered without hesitation, the gentleness in her jewel-like eyes completely vanishing.

Humans are very intelligent creatures; they don't fixate on a single method and are always looking for "more possibilities."

You are the kind of beings who choose to exist in a "better" way... therefore, human cities are always changing.

"But what happens to those things that are no longer 'better' when new things emerge? It's better if they are simply forgotten."

Humans, however, tend to reject them as "bad things," simply because keeping them would hinder the profitability of new things.

She gently bit her lip. "That's how that old woman was..."

In a sunless room, tending to withered flowers... I initially helped her only because of work.

But she was so happy and talked to me so much.

Even though she could no longer see, she remained so calm, refusing to utter a word of loneliness.

She treated me like a granddaughter, inviting me to eat butter cake with her, saying, "It's so delicious..."... Actually, she couldn't taste it anymore.

Because it's really delicious.

"If that's true, I'll be happy, but I didn't get to say goodbye to the old woman..."

What's wrong, Shirou? Why are you reaching into your pocket...? What's that?"

"This is for you."

Shirou handed the flower ornament that Ritsuka had given him to Ana.

"This is... for me?"

Shirou nodded. "The old lady at the flower shop wants it delivered to you."

She said this would definitely suit you, and that you would grow up to be the most beautiful woman in Uruk.

"..."

Ana's shoulders trembled.

"... That's impossible, I won't let him grow up like this..."

I hate humans, but... this is so heartwarming.

Uruk, that city, was once my dream.

Shirou, you're asking me why I think so highly of you, right?

Because you are the first human to treat me gently.

I wanted to be treated gently by humans, and I also wanted to treat others gently... That was a dream I had a long time ago.

But... now that I'm older, I can't remember anything.

The girl gently pushed the flower ornament back. "... Thank you, but I can't accept it."

Because that old woman's grandson was killed by Magical Beast on the Northern Wall..."

"Are you trying to say that you killed the old woman's grandson?"

"!"

Ana stared in astonishment, her eyes wide. "Shirou, you...!"

Shirou didn't say anything, he simply placed Fou back on the ground, then opened his left hand—

A purple scythe appeared in his hand, gleaming with an eerie, demonic luster under the moonlight.

That's the weapon Ana has used in all the battles so far, called the "Harpe."

In Greek Mythology, it was forged by Hephaestus, the god of fire, and used by the hero Perseus to behead the Gorgon.

In the Holy Grail War in another world, Shirou Projection and used it.

If Ana, Servant, would possess this weapon, then there's only one possibility—

"Ana, your true identity..."

Shirou's gaze was sharp as he looked down at the girl, who was sweating profusely, and asked.

Is it Perseus?

"Fu! Fuu!! (Stop making such silly jokes! Be serious!)"

"S-Sorry, I was just trying to lighten the mood..."

Shirou's hand was bitten by Fou, and he begged for mercy in pain.

Ana lowered her head. "Shirou, you noticed it from the very beginning?"

"Yes, I noticed your real name from the very beginning."

Then, from your obsession with the Goddess of Demonic Beasts... I also vaguely sensed her true name."

Ana said thoughtfully, "I see. Shirou, you clearly noticed it..."

Even though I was so suspicious, they didn't ask me anything. How kind of them.

"Because Ana is very reliable."

After Shirou said that, the girl shook her head violently.

"That's not true. I'm an unreliable goddess... that's why such a tragedy happened."

My sisters died because of me, even the old woman's grandson... I only bring disaster to everyone.

"It wasn't Ana's fault, nor was it a disaster Ana brought."

"Shirou...?"

"Please don't think that way... Ana didn't do anything wrong, I can vouch for that."

"..."

A long silence.

The girl was a little unconvinced, but she didn't say anything.

"Thank you, Shirou... I'll accept these words as words of comfort."

Shirou said happily, "Then why don't you accept the flower decorations too?"

They were ignored.

Ana donned the black hood, and her eyes were no longer filled with hesitation.

"I came here to fight the Gorgon, but through this journey, I think my reason for fighting has changed."

Before, it was for myself; now it's for the people of Uruk.

This is the bare minimum of atonement I can offer.

"You're planning to take Gorgon down with you, aren't you?"

"..."

"I won't allow that to happen. Ana should come back with us to be welcomed by the citizens."

Shirou stopped hiding his intentions and stated it directly.

"Just think of it as a request I received from the old lady at the florist—to protect Ana as she grows up."

"Whatever you want."

Ana gave Shirou one last cold look, then turned and left.

If a man you admire says that, it would be a lie to say you're not happy at all.

The girl hid her small warmth beneath her cold robe and returned to the darkness.