Skadi, returning to infinity

“You are so strict with yourself that you look like a king who is devoted to the country, rather than a person.”

"You have become a symbol, a symbol of the nation's will."

"But precisely because of this, you lose your humanity in their eyes."

"So even if you are right, and everything you do is for the country, they will still fear you, be afraid of you, and reject you."

"When these emotions accumulate and begin to spread..."

"The ensuing betrayal is all too normal."

"You believe you did nothing wrong."

"You believe that this is the only way to lead the country to glory."

Yes, you think that's right...

"But human desires are endless and diverse."

“Artoria, you are simply fulfilling your duty as the [King], and therefore you have given up everything.”

"Not everyone can get what they want from what you do."

"Whether it's money, love, status, or anything else..."

"No one can, and it is impossible, satisfy the needs of different people."

"In that situation, nipping the problem in the bud and establishing one's supreme authority is the only way to continue."

"But you didn't do that. You thought they would understand you because they had followed you for a very long time and should accept you."

"It turns out that people's hearts change over time."

"You may not have changed, but they are completely different from what they used to be."

"And you haven't realized this, or you're unwilling to face it."

"That's why you failed."

"If it were me, I would absolutely not allow such a thing to happen. Even if they call me a tyrant, I would still establish my authority..."

Whether the things Skadi mentioned were things that Artoria had experienced is not important.

She was simply using this as an opportunity to put forward her own viewpoint, which was very contradictory to Artoria's.

What should a true king do?

Now she has spoken her mind and thrown the question back to Artoria.

"Your Majesty, shouldn't you be doing things that ordinary people wouldn't do?"

"A king should abandon his personal desires, his personal dreams, and even his personal life."

"From the moment I ascended to that position, I did these things solely as a [King]."

"This is the true king."

"Am I wrong?"

Artoria was puzzled; why would she say she was wrong?

From all perspectives, her actions were probably the most correct, weren't they?

After all, since Skadi admires and approves of her so much, doesn't that mean she's right?

"No, no, no, Artoria, what you said is correct in a sense."

"Because this is the kind of king a country and its people need."

"However, you still overlooked one thing."

“Even if this country needs a king like you, and the people think that a king like you is perfect, it doesn’t mean that others will approve of you.”

"The stronger and more capable you are, the more people will envy, hate, and fear you."

"Furthermore, they abandoned their personal lives and their emotions."

"While this may make you seem very great, it will also lead you to be abandoned by everyone."

"Because you are perfect, and the people around you are not."

"They crave companionship, have their own emotions and desires, and their own wants and loves."

"When you can't give to them, can't satisfy them, or even ignore them."

"As time goes by, they will become fickle and want to find someone who can satisfy them..."

King Arthur.

"Your mistake does not lie in your management of the country."

"It's not that you don't understand people's hearts."

"The human heart is very complex and can never be satisfied."

Even if you build the country better, what is destined to happen will still happen.

"Because you have never seen the true desires of the people around you and your nation."

"You simply give, create, and receive according to your own ideas, your own knowledge, and your own perceptions."

Yes, it is necessary.

"But is this really the right thing to do?"

Skadi first acknowledged the significance of Artoria's title of "Queen," and then analyzed the reasons for her failure.

This approach avoids causing confusion or hostility towards Artoria by denying her actions, thus allowing the conversation to continue.

go with.

After acknowledging Artoria's worth, Skadi further analyzed what made her good and bad in being the "Queen."

She was not blamed, but neither was she absolved of responsibility.

After all, for the current Artoria, she has not yet moved on from the past.

This requires gradual guidance; taking drastic measures from the outset is not a good approach.

After speaking, Skadi ignored the silent Artoria and looked at Irisviel with curiosity in her eyes.

It seemed there was some secret they wanted to uncover about this beautiful young woman...

PS: Update 6/10

Chapter 63: She's not a bad person, but she's not a good person either.

"Mrs. Irisviel, may I ask you something?"

The conversation shifted from Artoria to herself, and Irisviel's eyes widened slightly with curiosity.

"What is it?"

Irisviel didn't know what Skadi wanted to know, but she wasn't a woman without guile.

Because of her status and the fact that she had been married to Kiritsugu Emiya for many years, she knew how to hide some of her thoughts.

"Don't worry, madam, I won't pry into your secrets."

Skadi made the first reassurance, which put Irisviel at ease.

"I just want to know, Madam, what are your thoughts on this Holy Grail War?"

After seeing that Irisviel had relaxed her guard a bit, Skadi asked the first question.

"Hmm? I don't have any particular thoughts. Everything is up to my husband. He wants to complete the Holy Grail War, so I'll help him."

They made no mention of the Einzbern family's dream of achieving the Third Law, nor did they mention that they were the vessel for the Holy Grail, until the Grail was completed.

She will die then

She just sat there and said the most superficial thing.

"What if your husband doesn't win the Holy Grail War?"

Skadi asked another question.

"No, I believe that with Artoria's help and Kiritsugu's abilities, we can definitely win the Holy Grail War."

Irisviel shook her head; she had no doubt about Kiritsugu Emiya's abilities.

"I see..."

"Then I'll ask another question."

"If an unexpected situation arises in this Holy Grail War, and this situation leads to your defeat, what will you think?"

Skadi's question silenced Irisviel.

Even though she didn't ask much about it, she was well aware that there were many problems with this Holy Grail War.

For example, those two guys who came to their husbands asking for a partnership.

She didn't know the specifics, but she could tell that her husband really wanted to cooperate with them.

Those two people were strange; she didn't think it was a good thing for Kiritsugu Emiya to cooperate with them.

but......

"Do you know the backgrounds of those magicians who have recently joined the Holy Grail War?"

Artoria seems to have recovered from Skadi's answer to her.

She looked up at Skadi, her expression extremely serious.

"I know they are all powerful, but they are all crazy."

“I have heard of the lady’s husband, Kiritsugu Emiya, and I know some of the things he has done.”

"But to be honest, compared to those people, Kiritsugu Emiya is a great philanthropist." (p6ny)

"Moreover, the things that Kiritsugu Emiya did were all well-intentioned, but he used any means necessary in the process."