Walking in the Question and Answer System of Heroic Spirits

"Judging from the fact that Sister Ilumia's body wasn't nearby, she may not have died in the fight, but in any case, she failed to prevent the Skeleton King from contacting the villagers. The rest of the truth is as I said before. Gray's mother committed suicide just before becoming the Skeleton King's body, and the Skeleton King was affected by her death, that's all."

"She probably arrived before the villagers, hid you nearby, then carried out the plan and put on that mask. Although I don't know if the mask belonged to the Skeleton King or was a disguise she had made beforehand."

"Before taking action, your mother probably discussed something with Belsac, which enabled him to successfully take you away from where you were hidden."

"That being said, judging from the situation, Belsac probably didn't know the details at the time. All she revealed was 'help me rescue Grey.'"

"Mom, why did you do that..."

Grey lowered her head and cried, feeling a sharp, throbbing pain in her chest.

[Second Generation: "...Because she loves you, Grey."]

The woman said, "Poor child, her freedom was bought with her mother's life."

Shiki Jieli: "She bore all the pain herself."

Kotomine Shiro: "This is motherly love, the greatest love."

Artoria: "..."

Kotomine Risei: "May her soul rest in peace."

[Grey: "Even though it's only me who has to understand Mom's reasons..."]

[Second King: "Your mother must not let you discover the plan. Because if you do, the villagers will immediately notice something amiss through your attitude, and depending on the situation, they might even try to take you away. That's why your mother pretends to be the most fervent worshipper of you in the village. She must be the most fanatical believer, so fanatical that even the old woman who is the village chief hasn't suspected a thing. Otherwise, the ceremonial garment that separates the spirit and soul from the body wouldn't be entrusted to her. So, we absolutely must know the reason. Otherwise, we'll miss something important. The same applies to you, Tsbia."]

[Tsbia: "Oh, you mean I have that reason too?"]

[Second Generation: "Of course."]

[Tsbia: "So, what's the rationale behind that?"]

[Venerable II: "There's only one answer, isn't there? The contract with Atlas."]

"The Atlas Academy left behind seven contracts, and the Atlas Academy must assist in any contracts based on these contracts. The only reason you're taking this roundabout and inefficient approach is to avoid contradicting these contracts. If the contracts have a purpose, then it's the complete opposite of this roundabout approach. Just achieve it in the shortest distance and at the fastest speed."

"If you simply wanted to expel us, the Atlas Institute could easily do so. But you didn't, which means you don't want to be our enemy, yet you're in a situation where you can't simply offer assistance..."

"Therefore, through endless calculations, you manipulate us with minimal contact and dialogue, guiding our actions to happen to align with your objectives."

[Video paused.]

[Question: What exactly were Tsbia's reasons for doing all this?]

Weber: "Are we finally getting to the point? But this is not a good question to answer."

Kenneth: "We've already given you all the clues we needed to. You should have guessed what will happen in the future in the video. The truth is about to be revealed."

Rin Tohsaka: "Is it because of the contract with Atlas? After all, that thing has been mentioned repeatedly."

Kotomine Shiro: "No, didn't the Second Prince just say that it's the exact opposite? Tsbia chose this roundabout way because he couldn't do something due to the contract."

Rebellious Knight: "Does this mean I have to guess whether the contract will work before I can figure out the answer?"

Lion Jie Li: "Looks like I have to give up on this question; I don't have enough brain cells."

Kenneth: "Hmm... why did Tsbiafe go to so much trouble to have the future Weber solve the mystery from back then...?"

This question really stumped everyone in the group, and no one came to a conclusion for a long time.

"Hey kid, do you have any ideas?"

The Emperor asked Feng Xi.

Feng Xi laughed and said, "Didn't I say before that we should think boldly?"

"In the previous second round, the final scene was like a glitch. So, can we boldly speculate that the rational response that shaped that space itself had a problem?"

The Emperor asked curiously, "Huh? Could those fog weapons, which are said to be able to destroy the world, have problems?"

The First Emperor snorted coldly, "Hmph, why not? After all, nothing in this world is perfect."

Jin Shanshan laughed and said, "Ha. This is interesting. If that weapon really malfunctions, it will be a real mess."

Feng Xi: "Time is almost up, so I'll answer this question."

Feng Xi: "The reason is that the rational response malfunctioned, and Tsbia was unable to intervene due to the contract, so he could only drag the Second Prince and his group into the mess."

[Ding! Congratulations to Feng Xi for answering this question correctly. You have received 3 Holy Crystals.]

Kenneth: "What! A malfunction!"

Weber: "I see. The noise in the space earlier did indeed resemble a television malfunction."

Rin Tohsaka: "It's a bit of hindsight to say that now."

Weber: "After all, who would have thought that it, being a top creation of the Atlas Institute, would malfunction?"

Kiritsugu Emiya: "Anything man-made will always have some problems; there is no such thing as a perfect creation."

[Question time is over, video continues.]

[Zsbia: "Hmm, this can hardly be called deduction. Adding more speculation to speculation isn't a good strategy; it's a drop in quality for a script, isn't it?"]

[Second Generation: "Unfortunately, I'm not a detective. However, this time I have some circumstantial evidence."]

[Tsbia: "Circumstantial evidence?"]

[Second Generation: "Didn't I tell you? Whose grave is that? The answer is already decided. Just think about when that space swept through the noise at the stage of whose death was certain, and the answer will be obvious."]

"That's the tomb of the Skeleton King, the tomb of Gray's mother, the tomb of the Phylogenetic Reaction."

"Ah, of course, the Law of Reason cannot cause death. A tool is just a tool; it has no life. Although there are religious customs related to animism in various places, such as tools preserved for a hundred years turning into monsters, and burning such tools to avoid this, etc., that's different from what I'm talking about now. Because what recreates the Skeleton King is the Law of Reason, isn't it?"

"Even though Gray's mother merged with the Skeleton King, that didn't change anything. And the Skeleton King's death brought a different message to the rational system than usual."

"In short, the Law Reaction, which shouldn't have died, received the message of 'death.' Because it was a tool, the Law Reaction shouldn't have died. The fact that it died despite not being able to create that contradiction placed an unbearable burden on the weapon."

"From a human perspective, it uses its almost limitless computing power to investigate contradictions, while even that computing power is gradually dying out. What awaits in the end?"

"That's right, what happens when the logic fails?"

[Grey: "So, the reason everyone disappeared when we returned to the village..."]

[Second King: "Assuming they were affected by a malfunction in the rational response is a reasonable explanation."]

"So that's why you're watching over this village all by yourself. No, perhaps you're protecting the world all by yourself."

Kenneth: "The problem actually caused a malfunction because of a conflict over the issue of death!"

Kenneth: "No, should we be thankful? A weapon powerful enough to destroy humanity malfunctioned, yet the damage was limited to just one village. That's what we call lucky, isn't it?"

Tokiomi Tohsaka: "Actually, the Dean of the Atlas Institute should be able to resolve this matter, but he is unable to intervene due to the contract."

Tokiomi Tohsaka: "Should I say that the person who used the Atlas Contract foresaw this situation?"

Kenneth: "Hartleley..."

[Second Generation: "Well? Since I've investigated this far, admitting my deduction shouldn't be considered a breach of contract, right?"]

[Tsbia chuckled softly, "Very well, Your Excellency El-Melloi II, you are truly amusing."]

"As you predicted, the Atlas Institute has lent out the Law Response according to the contract. Until the contract expires, until King Arthur's resurrection, or until the objective becomes impossible, we can monitor it, but we cannot interfere, even in the event of a malfunction."

[Grey: "Why did you do that? Monitoring the reactions of the laws isn't part of the contract, is it?"]

[Zsbia: "Your teacher said that, didn't he? Because it's the Atlas Academy's duty."]

"We have taken on the responsibility of sustaining humanity, enabling it to travel as far and wide as possible. For millennia, the alchemists of this institute have dedicated themselves to this goal."

"Given the current situation, we should only intervene when we can determine that the contract is impossible. Until then, let me think... about half of Wells will likely face the same calamity."

"My purpose in surveillance is to accurately witness when that moment arrives."

[Second Generation: "You mean, we should disrupt the natural order?"]

[Tsbia: "No, I didn't say that, nor did I have the right to say it in the contract. I was merely confirming a self-evident fact in response to your speculation, Your Majesty."]

"Even if Wells were to disappear, I wouldn't care. Neither human restraint nor the planet's restraint will be effective against a situation of that magnitude."

[At this moment, Tsbia suddenly stopped speaking, looked up, and saw a crack appear in the ceiling with a 'snap'.]

[It wasn't static, but it was a homogeneous sound. But why was that sound echoing in this space?]

[Tsbia: "I'm very sorry, but I must warn you. The Rational Reactor, which is also currently malfunctioning, appears to be interfering, attempting to invade from the other side."]

Chapter 261 - How foolish, how boring, how...

[Grey: "Coming from the other end?"]

[Tsbia: "This is an ambiguous area; the rational response has yet to take any active action. However, now that it has become her, it seems more attached to you than I expected. Is this also an effect of the object of assimilation?"]

"By the way, if you feel that the annoying scriptwriter is manipulating you, then go back. You've solved the puzzle, and I'll open the door and send you home. If needed, I'll also reveal the knowledge you desire, as I said before. I can buy you time to prevent you from being affected by its malfunction, and the damage won't spread to London, where the clock tower is located."

[Second Generation: "What about the other method?"]

[Tsbia: "What do you mean?"]

[Second King: "Does this mean that mentioning that part would violate the contract? I've considered that possibility. If that method is feasible, you would explicitly guide us to intervene in the rational response rather than designing it as a coincidence. But conversely, since you haven't denied my question, it means it's not impossible, right?"]

"Grey, in the second round, I said this was your case. So, I'd like to leave the selection to you."

[Grey: "Yes."]

[The Second Lord: "I apologize for making such a boast, but now, driven by selfish motives, I want to get involved in the resolution of this case. As a magician and the ruler of the El-Melloi faction, this is clearly wrong, but I can't stop myself from getting involved in this matter."]

[Grey: "Why did you want to participate?"]