I, Ritsuka, Siscon Grand Hero

She now had a few trump cards in hand, which could be divided into two groups:

Alcides, with 'Twelve Trials', 'Twelve Glories', 'Hundred-Beast Slayer', and 'Heavenly Wind Usurper'.

Emiya Shirou, with 'Projection Magic', 'Broken Phantasm', and 'Inherent Domain'.

The remaining enemy's abilities were unknown. It was possible that the person who attacked her with many weapons from the shadows on the day Miyu was captured, meaning many Noble Phantasms, was a prerequisite.

After all, the King of Heroes sounded like a rather wealthy individual.

'Twelve Trials' could provide a high margin for error; even if the opponent was stronger, she would have eleven extra chances to fight.

As for 'Hundred-Beast Slayer', it was simply very useful.

And 'Twelve Glories' offered diversity. Even though many of the summoned beasts within it were not particularly impressive and the overall threat to powerful Servants was insufficient, some individual Noble Phantasms were still terrifying.

For instance, the exaggerated Noble Phantasm related to the Golden Apple from the Eleventh Trial...

Two of them, 'Projection Magic' and 'Heavenly Wind Usurper', were actually quite peculiar. With these two in hand, regardless of the opponent's type, she could come up with a solution.

If all else failed, she could pull them into her 'Inherent Domain'. With a suppression of Noble Phantasm numbers plus 'Heavenly Wind Usurper', she could forcibly take the opponent's Noble Phantasms and use them as projectiles.

There was just one point of uncertainty: could Noble Phantasms plundered by 'Heavenly Wind Usurper' be used with 'Broken Phantasm'?

Ritsuka began to study them carefully.

"Ouch, my butt hurts."

At dusk, Kishiya, who had woken up, was sent to the Anorectal Hospital by Ritsuka after having his stomach pumped.

Even a non-human body couldn't withstand such torment, and Kishiya's screams were quite terrifying.

Propped up on the hospital bed, the handsome old man kept groaning.

"Kishiya, you're saying you threw the person who poisoned you into a parallel world?"

Ritsuka's head was full of questions.

First, regarding Kirei Kotomine, after Ritsuka asked about Father Mape's whereabouts, Kishiya said that the scoundrel had been thrown into another world on impulse.

Secondly, Kishiya's strength shocked Ritsuka.

The ability to manipulate parallel worlds was truly unimaginable, exceeding the upper limit of her understanding.

"That guy... he's a demon..."

The moment he remembered the Mapo Water that was handed to him, which looked perfectly fine, while he was enjoying himself, Kishiya gritted his teeth.

Damn it! Idiot!

"Parallel world, what an exaggerated term... parallel world..."

Pouring Kishiya a glass of water, Ritsuka suddenly froze. She had an idea.

If she possessed the Holy Grail and won this Holy Grail War, she could make a wish to save Miyu, but she hadn't thought carefully about how to use it yet.

But what if she chose to use the Holy Grail's power to send Miyu out of this doomed world?

Restarting this world might not succeed, but if it was just about sending one person away, could this wish be granted? After all, the Holy Grail seemed to only grant one wish.

"Right, Kishiya, can I ask you for a favor..."

"You want me to send your sister out of this world?" Kishiya, who was resting on the bed, suddenly opened his eyes. "No, after sending away that demon, my magic is temporarily unusable. Are you planning to save the Holy Grail's power to revive Matou Sakura?"

Ritsuka fell silent.

She suddenly felt like grabbing Kirei Kotomine by the collar and giving him a good punch.

What was this scoundrel doing, turning someone who could substitute a wish into someone groaning on a hospital bed in the proctology department!

But it was all her own fault. If she hadn't gotten involved, Sakura might not have been killed. She could have given up the Holy Grail War from the start and left Fuyuki City...

"Kishiya, do you know where Miyu is?"

"...I do know that. Are you truly prepared... to stand against all humanity in this world?"

Miyu was the only possibility for the continuation of humanity.

Saving Miyu meant choosing between one person and everyone else. Kishiya stared at the silent Ritsuka.

"There's no choice. Even if Kiritsugu were here, I'd punch him to save Miyu."

"You've really decided then, alright... Your final destination is on the mountainside of Mt. Enzou."

Having learned her target location, Ritsuka got up from her chair and walked towards the door.

After stepping outside, Ritsuka turned and bowed to Kishiya, "Thank you, Kishiya."

Quickly leaving the hospital and rushing at full speed towards Mt. Enzou, which she had just bombarded not long ago, Ritsuka couldn't sense it this time.

Kishiya, letting out a slight sigh, sat up from the hospital bed, grimaced as he rubbed his butt, and then vanished from his spot.

As if he had never appeared in this world...

Arriving at the mountainside of Mt. Enzou on foot, the scene of the remote strike from not long ago remained unchanged.

After searching for a while, Ritsuka entered a narrow cave. A peculiar magical energy emanated from within, and upon slight perception, it even lessened her pain, albeit only a little.

"Hoo~ I've reached the critical point sooner than expected."

Clenching her right hand, her pale fingers, bearing a few scars, pressed tightly together.

The battles had accelerated the pace of change, and her very being was undergoing a drastic transformation. The tearing pain within her body had, paradoxically, eased.

All signs indicated that she might only need one more battle, or perhaps just a day, before she would be utterly annihilated, body and soul.

"Good, I made it in time..."

The Crystal Dice lit up. In the pitch-black cave, other light sources provided illumination, so the appearance of the Crystal Dice didn't make the scene feel abrupt.

She took out a stack of seven Class Cards and tucked them into her chest.

Wearing a somewhat worn outer coat and the scarf that belonged to Sakura, the cold scarf was now warming up again.

There was some accumulated water in the narrow cave, and Ritsuka walked steadily, paying no mind to stepping in the puddles and soiling her pants.

The only thing she worried about now was that one thing.

Stomp, stomp, stomp—

Footsteps were incredibly distinct in the silent cave. A figure appeared, blocking Ritsuka's path.

Their eyes met, and Ritsuka's beautiful eyes grew cold. "It's been a while, Julian."

Those familiar dark circles and suppressed gaze made Ritsuka momentarily feel as if she had returned to the scene not long ago, confronting this Student Council President back at school.

This guy, not too long ago, could have been considered her friend, right?

"I don't have time right now. We'll settle our score when the opportunity arises... Give Miyu back to me."

Although she desperately wanted to eliminate the person who had killed Kiritsugu with her own hands, she had no time.

The head of the Enzō family undoubtedly possessed something far more powerful than most of the cards that had appeared in this Holy Grail War. She didn't have much confidence in a fight right now.

Julian surely had stronger means he hadn't yet used.

If she burned herself out in a battle, everything would be in vain...

"You've already made your decision? To betray the entire world for the sake of those ridiculous personal emotions?!"

Julian's expression was filled with loathing as he glared at Ritsuka.

In a sense, he too had his own selfish desires, but those desires were premised on saving all of humanity.

Of course, Ritsuka knew none of this. If she had, she would have certainly countered him directly.

Your sister is your sister, but is my sister not my sister?

Something along those lines.

Julian let out a cold laugh. "Truly the worst kind of evil!"

"..."

It is evil. Ritsuka had known this for a long time. If she followed the justice that Kiritsugu pursued, her choice was undoubtedly true evil.

A comparison of the many versus the few, without any emotion, choosing the side with the greater number.

"There was a man who, like you, pursued a miracle that could save all of humanity, and in the end, he obtained that miracle."

"In choices between the all and the few, he always chose the larger side."

The image of Kiritsugu Emiya, her adoptive father, flashed before her eyes, and Ritsuka let out a helpless, wry smile.

When Kiritsugu handed over the choice to her, that man had finally let go of his obsession. Unfortunately, she had failed Kiritsugu's trust and made the wrong decision, leading to Miyu's capture.

Julian's eyes widened as Ritsuka walked past him—

"That man, in the end, entrusted me with taking good care of Miyu!"

She wanted to save both the all and the few, but if she could only choose one, she wouldn't abandon the few for the sake of the all.

Because she was now her only family!

Stepping over the blocking Julian, Ritsuka, with her back to him, was not attacked.

Perhaps he was confident of victory, or perhaps he disdained a sneak attack.

After all, even if she won the Holy Grail War, it would be meaningless. As long as Miyu was still in this world, he would have countless opportunities to seize this miracle that could grant 'any' wish.

The Holy Grail War could be held countless times, but Ritsuka couldn't afford to lose even once...

Idiot, how could I possibly leave Miyu in this world?

Thinking this, the girl with the reddish-orange hair walked towards the interior of Mt. Enzou at the end of the hollow. A massive circular magic circle was situated in the center.

Some strands of hair on her forehead had already turned nearly white. Her body was wracked with a pain that could drive a person mad, and Ritsuka felt her nerves were already weakening. A surge of immense fatigue threatened to consume her.

Her body swayed uncontrollably. Ritsuka looked at the girl lying on the platform and slowly exhaled.

Her fair, slender fingers traced her cheek, casually wiping away the bloodstains with an air of indifference.

Her only wish was for her sister to be at peace.

A beautiful girl lay on something resembling an altar, sleeping peacefully.

As Ritsuka gradually approached, the sound of their footsteps echoing in the cave awakened the girl, much like Sleeping Beauty.

Miyu opened her amber eyes and instinctively reached out a hand towards Ritsuka—

"…Big Sis?"

Ritsuka smiled with relief.

All their efforts had not been in vain. As long as they could protect the girl before them, Ritsuka wouldn't hesitate to exhaust their life and drain their strength. This was the only thing they could do now.

Protecting their little sister was a promise Ritsuka had made to Kiritsugu.

"Miyu, I'm back."

Saying the words they used to greet Miyu every time they came home, Ritsuka smiled sweetly and took Miyu's small hand.

Her palm was delicate and so fair it felt unreal. Miyu was indeed naturally beautiful.

The world, which needed to sacrifice a girl of this age to avert a certain doom and thus be saved, was truly broken.

As Ritsuka held Miyu's hand, Miyu didn't look happy. Instead, she seemed a little dejected.

Perhaps Julian, that bastard, had said something to Miyu before, like that she was merely a tool raised by the Emiya family with a purpose, a wish-granting machine…

Tears began to well up in the little girl's eyes.

"Why did you come back? Even though I'm just a tool taken in by Big Sis and Mr. Kiritsugu, a Divine Child who can grant wishes, I'm… "

"That's not true."

Finally unable to hold on any longer, Ritsuka sat down on the ground. To keep Miyu from worrying, they still wore a gentle smile.

Looking utterly exhausted, Ritsuka reached out and stroked Miyu's head. Their foreheads touched lightly as Ritsuka tried to share their emotions with Miyu.