Chapter 526
Shirou heard his mother's voice in his mind.
Could it be... that Mother is using echolocation to locate Shirou?
Like Merlin, Shirou had entered the imaginary coordinates where Goddess Tiamat resided, making it easier to find them in reverse.
But why exactly...?
According to the King of Magecraft, Goddess Tiamat is now governed by two opposing consciousnesses.
One is the instinct to love humanity (Love of Humanity), and the other is the instinct to seek revenge against humanity (Evil of Humanity).
These two ideas contradict each other, which is why Goddess Tiamat is in a state of self-sealing.
If Shirou was endowed with the highest-ranking protective skill, it would be his mother's instinct to love humanity.
So now, the search for Shirou's whereabouts is driven by another instinct.
Does the mother perceive Shirou's existence as a threat to her?
Suddenly, Kingu sensed an aura approaching.
"... careful!"
He suddenly stood up, rushed over and shoved Siduri and Shirou aside, and then...
"Sizzle."
Kingu felt a wave of dizziness, and his consciousness began to fade from his extremities.
"Enkidu!"
"Hey, Kingu!"
The green-haired youth looked down and saw that a jet-black tentacle, as black as obsidian, had pierced through his chest from behind.
"Chi chi chi chi chi chi chi chi chi chi chi chi chi!!"
The winged Lahmu laughed as it pulled its tentacles out of the Kingu.
The object coiled around the tentacle was a golden vessel.
That is the Greater Grail of the Seventh Singularity, which has been contained by Kingu as its heart (heart) until now.
"You... no longer... need... this... we'll recycle it..."
Kingu clutched his chest, his eyes wide. "You... you can actually talk!"
The previous battle with Shirou, plus the attack from Lahmu—
Having lost his heart (the Holy Grail), Kingu can no longer use magic and cannot even perform the most basic self-regeneration.
"Mother... gave us... orders."
Lahmu flew into the air carrying the Holy Grail.
"As... a new... human being, go and learn."
As... the... form of human existence, as... the... definition of human beings.
It's more like... human... something, that's... the... conclusion...
Acting like a human... is wonderful! Killing... humans... is so... fun!
"Don't joke around."
Shirou endured the constant calls of the Goddess of Creation echoing in his mind, stood up, and retrieved his bow from the void.
Lahmu ignored the boy and focused his attention on Kingu.
"Chirp chirp chirp! Poor thing! So pitiful! Kingu is so pitiful!"
"... What did you say?"
Kingu increasingly weak, barely able to lift his head.
Lahmu responded excitedly with his big mouth.
"It's no use! Kingu is useless now!"
Without the Holy Grail, and unable to hear a voice from... my mother!
Chirp chirp chirp, chirp chirp chirp, how pathetic and laughable!
Pathetic... Ha... Ridiculous! Hilarious... Ridiculous! So ridiculous... Kingu!
Until death... he never realized... that only he... was old-fashioned!
"!"
Shirou's arrow tore through the air and pierced Lahmu's body.
Was it because of Goddess Tiamat's interference that the attack wasn't fatal...?
Immediately afterwards, Lahmu swallowed the Golden Cup, and his severely damaged body rapidly regenerated in an instant.
"What's going on? There's a sudden Holy Grail reaction here... Hey, what's that!?"
Mash, Ishtar, and the others who were escorting the citizens away arrived.
Shirou shouted, "Ishtar! Go after that Lahmu! We absolutely cannot let it get close to the Persia Gulf!"
"Understood! I won't let you escape! Coatl, cover me!"
The Sun Goddess and the Venus Goddess fought off the approaching Lahmu, and the group riding pterosaurs chased after Lahmu, who was carrying the Holy Grail, and left the airspace of Eridu.
"I was caught off guard by my mother's voice just now, but everything's fine now."
Using the Six Roots Purification Mantra he had learned from Tomoe Gozen, Shirou temporarily shut out the Goddess Tiamat hymn in his mind.
He looked toward the Persia Gulf and gave instructions to Siduri.
"Siduri, you stay here and take care of the injured Kingu..."
I've already informed Ana telepathically that she's on her way and will take you back to Uruk.
At this point, Shirou gave Kingu a meaningful look.
I thought he would be very resistant, but to my surprise, he remained quietly silent.
Judging from his expression, the situation doesn't seem too good...
It's already incredibly incredible that someone who gained life through the Holy Grail could survive after having the Holy Grail taken away.
"Shirou, please be careful." Siduri supported Kingu's body, which was already unable to move.
"Um."
Shirou nodded and stretched his limbs.
It's been a long time... let's use "Touko Flight" once again.
Just as he was preparing to fly to the Persia Gulf--
"Wait, this is too much, Enkidu!"
"... Shirou," Kingu gripped the boy's wrist with difficulty.
Shirou raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong? You're going too? Sorry, your current condition isn't suitable."
"..."
Kingu's eyes were very firm.
Shirou sighed and said, "You probably don't have much time left to live..."
"Shirou!"
Although Siduri knew perfectly well that what the boy said was true, his words were simply too cruel.
Shirou continued, "In that case, don't force yourself. In your last moments... go back to Uruk and see that guy one last time."
Upon hearing Shirou's words, Kingu recalled the face of the man he had only met once before, yet had dreamt of countless times.
Kingu bit his lip and shook his head, dispelling the golden figure.
"There's no need... to see that guy again, besides, I don't have the face to see him now."
Siduri sobbed, "Please don't say that, Enkidu... Didn't you just rescue people and protect me and Shirou?"
Kingu stared intently at Shirou's face as he spoke.
Shirou, I still can't like you... but...
I admit it, you and I are both our mothers' most beloved children.
Shirou snorted, "Isn't that obvious? You've become just like Gil, always talking nonsense."
"I don't know... what is right."
Kingu gripped Shirou's wrist tightly.
"I don't know how to meet my mother's expectations... I've lost all sense of reason."
But you're different, Shirou... I don't see any confusion in you...
I think I understand now why my mother sees you as the biggest threat...
If it were you... you definitely could...
So, let's fulfill my mother's expectations, including my share.
Siduri suddenly had a bad feeling and her eyes widened. "Enkidu... what are you talking about...?"
Wait, your body... how could this be?!
Kingu's body crumbled and began to peel away like a clod of earth.
Even though his heart was taken away and he suffered a fatal injury, he was still barely surviving until just now...
This is because Kingu found what he wanted to do.
Ignoring his crumbling body, the green-haired youth quietly spoke:
"This is my wish, and also the wish of the machine called Enkidu."
Shirou, you'll be in charge.
"I, the strongest weapon created by the gods, am entrusted to you."
After saying this with a smile, the green-haired doll's body shattered completely.
The clay figurine that had stood firmly on the ground turned into golden ashes, enveloping the boy in front of it.
Shirou:"..."
"Given your current physical condition, you probably don't meet the requirements for any Grand. What exactly do you need to do to achieve that...?"
Hmm? Judging from your expression, Shirou... you already have your answer?
"Yes, thanks to someone, I understand now..."
The strongest Heroic Spirit doesn't need to be the strongest themselves, just possess the strongest Noble Phantasm, right?
"You rascal... you wouldn't be thinking of...!"
Originally, we didn't intend to achieve it in this way.
Shirou let the ash formed from the Kingu adhere to his skin and sighed softly.
I originally wanted to fight alongside Kingu...
Let's all laugh and enjoy Gil's envious and jealous expression...
But--
The boy held the last drifting clod of mud tightly in his palm.
"I accept your resolve... Let's fight together, Kingu."
The group that traveled to the Persia Gulf ultimately failed to prevent the Holy Grail from being delivered to Goddess Tiamat.