Chapter 97: Excalibur

"One of you may fall, but thousands upon thousands more will rise because of it. Don't underestimate yourselves. Humanity advances through struggles like this. Struggle is the source of human progress. The defeat you believe in is merely what you believe. Justice resides in the hearts of the people."

Amakusa Shirou held out his hands.

He wanted to touch the two before him.

But he could not.

So even his failure had not been meaningless?

He closed his eyes, tears streaming down his cheeks.

How laughable.

He had been defeated.

Chapter 97: Excalibur

Green mountains, clear waters, and flowers in full bloom.

A beautiful world comparable to paradise.

Yet aside from Sieg and Shirou, there was no one else.

"So this is the inside of the Greater Holy Grail?"

Sieg frowned. Though the air here was incomparably fresh, it made her heart race with fear.

No matter how beautiful it was, a world empty beyond measure was meaningless.

A figure suddenly appeared.

Shirou recognized that appearance. She was an Einzbern family homunculus identical to Irisviel.

Or rather, the template for those homunculi—the Winter Saintess.

"The Winter Saintess?"

"Correct. Master and Servant who have reached this place and achieved final victory, make your wishes. Still, how surprising. Even one of my kin possesses selfish desires."

The Winter Saintess seemed to be pondering something. Then, seeing Sieg's restless appearance, she suddenly laughed.

"What are you laughing at? Why can't homunculi have selfish desires?" Sieg retorted.

"Normally, that is how it is. Homunculi do not possess emotions or act according to the desires of their hearts."

Shirou smiled.

"That only shows how narrow your experience is. I've met far more homunculi than you have. They can fall in love, get married, and have children. Old maid, you probably don't understand love. That's why