Zongman, the journey begins from the wrong place

Finally, as if the bones were pulled out, Emiya Kiritsugu's straight waist trembled and slowly bent down.

“…E-King of Heroes, please, please save Irisviel and the others.”

It was as if something important that had been integrated into his flesh and blood was being forcibly torn away from his body. Every word Emiya Kiritsugu spoke trembled, and his choked and hoarse voice revealed extreme pain.

He finally fell to his knees and bowed his head to Gilgamesh.

"It doesn't matter if you kill me, please, save them..."

Looking at Emiya Kiritsugu like this, the smile on Gilgamesh's face slowly faded, and his slightly narrowed eyes seemed to flicker with something, something he missed, something he sighed for...

"Use the Command Seals, Kiritsugu."

It was as if he was suddenly burned by a branding iron. Emiya Kiritsugu looked at the back of his hand with tear-blurred eyes, looking at the blood-red Command Seals, as if he was seeing his past life blurred by blood.

Charlie's eyes, her father's eyes, Natalie's eyes...

The eyes of boys, the eyes of girls, the eyes of children, the eyes of the elderly...

Those were the eyes of the people he had saved and the people he had killed, thousands and thousands, countless eyes, as if all the six billion eyes in the world were staring at him at this moment, asking him to make a decision.

In countless moments in the past, Emiya Kiritsugu had been forced to bow his head by this invisible yet mountain-like force.

But at this moment, he suddenly felt that these gazes were so light and insignificant.

Compared to that darkness, even the will of six billion people is too fragile...

“…With the Command Spell.”

*

"Woman, as a android, you're supposed to be emotionless, yet you took the initiative to attack me. Why? Have you fallen in love with Emiya Kiritsugu? Is this the android's setting? Or is it your choice?"

Kotomine Kirei tried his best to make his voice calm and steady, just like when he acted as a priest in the past, making people feel at ease and trustworthy.

If he were to grab a white-haired beauty by the neck, pin her down, and pierce all her joints with a long sword-like weapon,

"I have no ill intentions. As long as you tell me the answer, I will ensure your survival."

Glaring at Kotomine Kirei with hatred, Irisviel coughed up a mouthful of blood, staining her delicate silver hair with a few red plum-like streaks.

Then she stopped talking, closed her eyes, and made a calm expression as if she was ready to die.

This immediately infuriated Kotomine Kirei, causing him to let out a sad sigh from his throat that sounded like a pained groan.

"Tell me! What's the answer? What gives that empty man meaning?!"

Artificial human and passionate emotions are two completely unrelated words, but in the woman in front of him, they are harmoniously unified at this moment.

If we could find the reason why her inner emotions were so rich, perhaps the answer that Kotomine Kirei was looking for would be more comprehensive.

If we could add Emiya Kiritsugu to the list, that man, like him, who acted without any benefit or reason in the first half of his life and whose heart was extremely empty.

There must be some special reason why these people have become as determined as they are now.

Kotomine Kirei was determined to find that reason.

This distorted and ugly appearance, completely different from her previous calm and composure, made Irisviel open her eyes.

She stared at Kotomine Kirei, raised her swan-like, snow-white neck, and spoke in a complex tone that was filled with pity, pleasure, and disgust.

"Ha, ahem, so this is your true face?"

wrong.

All wrong.

She was wrong, and so was Emiya Kiritsugu.

Although Kotomine Kirei and Emiya Kiritsugu look similar, they are two completely different, even completely opposite men.

"In that case, I'll tell you, but you probably won't believe it."

With a hint of revengeful curse pleasure, Irisviel showed a beautiful bloody smile.

"The reason why Emiya Kiritsugu persists, never gives up, and never loses his mind is world peace!"

Irisviel had already figured out that she was probably going to die here.

Because Kiritsugu Emiya only has one Command Seal in his hand, he will never give up the Holy Grail War.

Even so, Irisviel didn't harbor any resentment at all.

In the next second, a golden light wave flashed continuously in the void, accompanied by a strong wind, and the figure of Gilgamesh condensed.

Its light illuminated the darkness, illuminating two equally dull faces.

Kotomine Kirei was stunned because he had never expected to get such an answer. For a moment, his mind was filled with strong and complex emotions.

Ridiculous, angry, sad, lonely.

He was in disbelief at this answer and even wanted to angrily accuse Irisviel of deceiving him.

But it was precisely because Kotomine Kirei knew that this answer might be correct that he felt angry.

This also means that Kotomine Kirei actually has no one like him in this world.

No one can understand his loneliness.

Irisviel's daze was because she understood the meaning behind Gilgamesh's sudden appearance in a second.

Kiritsugu, gave up?

Abandoned the Holy Grail War?

Gave up his long-cherished ideal?

Abandoned his justice?

"Gil?"

Gilgamesh was pleased with Irisviel's reaction and smiled maliciously.

"Irisviel, your mission and your life are complete."

Then, he stopped looking at the others and looked at Kotomine Kirei.

"Well done, Kirei. Now sign a new contract with me."

Coming back to his senses, Kotomine Kirei walked towards Gilgamesh and, under Irisviel's incredulous, bloodshot, and insanely angry gaze, extended his hand.

"No! You! You can't! Jill! Don't!"

"It is hereby established..."

After the contract was renewed, Gilgamesh nodded in satisfaction.

"Although it's not very mature, it's not boring either. I believe we will get along very happily in the future. Now, let's find a new base."

Without waiting for Kotomine Kirei's response, Gilgamesh transformed into a spirit and walked towards the church first.

Feeling Irisviel's sad and dull gaze behind him, Kotomine Kirei stared blankly at Gilgamesh's departing back, revealing a twisted smile that no one knew about and that had a special meaning.

"As you wish, Hero King."

After Kotomine Kirei left, Irisviel was stunned for more than three minutes before she came to her senses and hurriedly treated the dying Hisau Maiya.

The Einzbern family's healing technique is actually alchemy in nature. It seems to be healing, but in fact it is directly refining the damaged flesh to make up for it.

Therefore, this type of treatment consumes more energy, not to mention that Irisviel is now injured all over her body and must heal her joints first.

Fortunately, the Einzbern family had added a large number of magic circuits when creating the androids, which gave Irisviel an unusually large amount of magic power.

After completing the treatment for Hisau Maiya, Irisviel didn't stand up, but just sat there blankly, staring at the sky in confusion.

As an android of the Einzbern family, Irisviel had long since accepted her fate of dying in the Holy Grail War.

But if I can help Kiritsugu realize his ideal on this basis, that would be great.

Because that means that she was not forced to die, but voluntarily sacrificed her life for her lover.

But now, everything seems to be over.

However, Irisviel had always planned her short life with the goal of her own death. Now that she suddenly found that she didn't have to die, she became extremely confused.

Until, accompanied by the rustling sound of leaves, a decadent and confused figure appeared in front.

"Ai, Ai Li..."

After confirming that Hisau Maiya was safe and sound, Emiya Kiritsugu immediately shrank back and lowered his head when he met Irisviel's gaze again.

He looked nothing like the magician killer whose hands were stained with countless blood in the past. He looked like a child who had done something wrong, full of confusion, self-blame and guilt.

This aroused Irisviel's maternal instinct, and she stepped forward and held her in her arms.

"It's okay! Kiritsugu! Let's leave Fuyuki City together! Let's find a new place to live! Together with Illya and Maiya, the four of us!"

It was not until this moment that the gloom weighing on Emiya Kiritsugu's heart dissipated. He hugged his wife tightly in his arms and cried bitterly.

He always keeps his word. Emiya Kiritsugu has not forgotten that he still has many enemies in Fuyuki City.

For example, Lord El-Melloi, whose magic circuits were destroyed by him and whose wife was killed, still has a Saber in his hand.

Except for Caster, even the worst servant can beat up humans in close combat.

Therefore, Kiritsugu Emiya packed his things overnight, took the mother and daughter, and carried the still unconscious Hisau Maiya on his back, preparing to hide in the next big city.

However, the car was stopped while driving on the road.

Looking at the burly man in a red robe riding a horse standing not far ahead, and the lady in a black suit riding a motorcycle behind him, Emiya Kiritsugu remained silent, and finally lit a cigarette silently.

Now that things have come to this, I should just smoke a cigarette and calm down.

"Kiritsugu?! What should we do?"

"Um, Mom? Dad?"

Surrounded by two servants, Irisviel, who had been calm and composed just now, couldn't help but reveal her true nature. She looked around in panic and immediately woke up Illya who was sleeping soundly in her arms.

After all, facing a crisis when one is determined to live and facing danger when one is yearning for a happy and beautiful life are two completely different mentalities.

After comforting Irisviel and calming down, Emiya Kiritsugu felt that there might be a chance for a turnaround.

If these two servants want to kill you, just chop them with your sword and cut them in half, along with the car.

And in the final analysis, killing myself is not the same as killing Ai Li and Illya.

No matter how Emiya Kiritsugu evaluated these servants with different personalities, he had to admit that they were all great heroes who were praised for thousands of years and had high spirits.

These people will not disguise themselves. Even if they kill someone, they will do it with dignity.

Even Gilgamesh, a guy with a bad character, didn't harm Ellie and her daughter. King Arthur and the King of Conquerors, who seem to be more righteous, shouldn't do that either, right?

Having made up his mind, Kiritsugu Emiya said something and got out of the car. Then, before Irisviel could get out, he quickly locked the door.

Although he had already made up his mind, when Emiya Kiritsugu met King Arthur's green eyes that were as sharp as a knife, he couldn't help but shudder.

Even when he faced brown bears and tigers before, he had never felt so terrified.

This is a servant. Although they all have two eyes and one nose, as soon as you get close, you will understand that there is an essential difference in life between the two sides.

Even if the other person looks like just a pretty girl.

Although he was called a killer with blood on his hands, compared with the other party, the number of people he had killed was not even worth mentioning.

However, I have only killed less than a few hundred of them, so they are just rats.

The other side killed people everywhere, massacred cities and destroyed countries, so they were heroes.

Emiya Kiritsugu said nothing, and neither did Altria.

Although she hated the middle-aged man standing in front of her, and always felt that he was emitting an aura directed against her, she didn't know what to say when he really stood in front of her.

To avenge Kenneth and Sora?

What happens on the battlefield is a life-and-death struggle, there's no question of whether it's despicable or not, and Artoria has often become an ally of the enemy.

After all, relations between countries are based on interests. If they were to fight to the death due to hatred, they would have perished long ago.

If the opponent was still a Master, Artoria would have chopped him down without hesitation, but now it seemed that the opponent had lost the Command Seals and was ready to withdraw from the Holy Grail War.