Shirou, who returned from the Fairy Kingdom

Just as Shirou was about to press for further questions—

"No...no...that's not me...it's not me...waaaah...!"

Avanger suddenly unleashed unimaginable power, forcefully shoving Shirou away before clutching his head.

Because Shirou had activated "Six Times Speed ​​Control" earlier, his body had reached its limit, but fortunately, Lady Avalon caught him from behind.

"Are you alright, Master?"

"Oh, I'm fine."

After thanking Ms. Avalon, Shirou looked at Avanger again.

"...Bavashi, who belongs to all the villagers...the tragic and pitiful Bavashi...the vampire Bavashi..."

“I am the Fairy Knight… the Fairy Knight… Tristan…”

"I'm sorry... Mother... I messed up again... Please forgive me... I'm sorry..."

Mother?

Shirou frowned slightly: "Big sister Avalon, you keep an eye on her... I'll go check on the situation over there."

In short, let's put aside the red-haired girl who is suspected to be Bavanshi for now and deal with the Holy Grail that has already appeared.

Trace on.

He silently recited the incantation, and the "Blade of Chaos" appeared in the boy's hand.

"No, we can't destroy the Greater Grail."

Just as Shirou was about to smash the Holy Grail, a voice came from behind.

The black-clad Artoria walked up to Shirou.

As expected of a true red dragon, she had fully recovered from her severe injuries in just one minute.

Shirou frowned and asked, "Why do you say that?"

Black Saber looked up at the golden cup in the night sky and explained:

"That thing wasn't 'floating' in mid-air; it simply 'existed' there—"

It was a "gate" that connected to the main body (the Greater Grail) hidden deep beneath Mount Enzo on the west side of Fukayama-cho.

Over the past sixty years, the Greater Grail has continuously absorbed the immense magical power from the earth's ley lines, and now, having received the souls of five Heroic Spirits, its interior is filled with an enormous vortex of magical power.

And among them was something Avanger brought from another world… “a curse that had accumulated for over ten thousand years.”

"!!"

Shirou turned to look at the red-haired girl, and Black Saber continued.

"If the 'door' is destroyed now, the black sludge inside will pour out through the forcibly opened hole."

Until the hole is completely closed, you'll have no way to stop the black mud from overflowing from the other end.

After hearing her words, Shirou fell silent.

The Holy Grail cannot be destroyed directly... Should I believe Black Saber's words?

Until a minute ago, she was still obsessed with obtaining the "corrupted Holy Grail," but now she has jumped out to help Shirou.

Shirou and Black Saber exchanged glances, then Shirou smiled and said, "This information... you obtained it after you were contaminated by the substance inside, didn't you?"

“Ah,” Black Saber affirmed expressionlessly, “that’s right.”

"I understand."

Shirou nodded, choosing to believe her: "Then what should I do, Saber... Miss?"

Unlike Shirou's favorite Artoria, Black Saber gives off a cold and aloof feeling, so he still carefully added honorifics in the end.

What will happen if we leave it unattended?

"Even if left unattended, the things inside will hatch on the seventh night and burn the ground to ashes."

Black Saber said calmly, "But Shirou, you didn't kill me just now...it seems like the right choice."

If my soul were to return to the Greater Grail, the matter inside probably wouldn't even last tonight.

Since the Holy Grail's demise is unstoppable, we should take this opportunity to escape...

As long as I leave this city, the Greater Grail's contamination will at least not threaten me—

Black Saber saw Shirou smile at her.

Seeing his expression, Black Saber immediately understood everything: Shirou would never abandon the people and run away.

"Saber, go and escape with Irisviel. I'll stay here and deal with the Holy Grail."

"Handle? How do you plan to handle it?"

The black-clad swordsman frowned slightly. No matter how capable Shirou was, that thing was beyond his ability to handle.

Shirou replied, "I will use my 'Fairy Domain' to contain the black substance inside the Greater Grail."

Didn't you just say that the Greater Grail has only collected the souls of five Servants so far... so it might succeed.

Black Saber looked displeased and said, "...This is too reckless, Shirou."

The black sludge from the Holy Grail will erode your magic circuits and affect your mind; the worst outcome—"

Shirou smiled faintly: "The worst outcome would be that I would become a dark visual kei character like Saber."

Yeah, that feels pretty good too, it looks really cool.

While the serious yet adorable Artoria is wonderful, I've recently started to understand the appeal of the cool and domineering Artoria.

"...Shirou!"

Black Saber frowned unhappily, but the boy's mind was made up.

"I told you, from the very beginning, we joined the war to prevent the Holy Grail from doing bad things."

Black Saber still hesitated: "That's true, but—"

"...There is no need to do that kind of thing."

Shirou and Black Saber turned around and saw Avanger leisurely approaching.

It seems she has recovered from the confusion she experienced after regaining her memories.

"...Stop there, don't come any closer."

Black Saber stood guard between her and Shirou, looking wary.

Shirou was somewhat pleased that Black Saber was on his side, but he still thought it best to remind her.

“It’s alright now, Saber.”

The boy noticed that Avanger's hostility had disappeared.

Although she didn't know why, she seemed to have lost the will to continue fighting.

"Huh? What happened to you?"

The red-haired fairy girl looked up and down at the black Saber blocking her way.

"He was my servant just a moment ago, and now he's fawning over that brat?"

No matter who it is, you can spread your legs without hesitation... You slut! Hahaha, that's hilarious!

Avanger clutched his stomach and burst into laughter.

Black Saber's forehead veins twitched: "…………"

A burst of scorching magic erupted from her body, and a heat wave swept through the entire Ryudou Temple. Shirou quickly grabbed Saber's wrist.

"Are you awake now, Avanger?"

Shirou asked.

Although there are many questions I want to ask, now is clearly not the time to discuss those topics.

The red-haired girl glanced at him: "Huh? Are you an idiot? I've been perfectly lucid the whole time."

Shirou: "…………"

Although the hostility has disappeared, his mouth is still as foul as ever.

With such a terrible personality, is she really my Bavanshi?

“Avanger, would you be willing to help us?” Ms. Avalon asked.

"Humph."

The red-haired fairy remained noncommittal, crossing her arms over her chest: "There is actually a way to render the Holy Grail harmless, you know?"

Shirou quickly asked, "How do I do it?"

Avanger stared at the Greater Grail, rolled his eyes, and said, "You know very well... as long as you kill me, all the problems will be solved."

Avanger, through his access to the Holy Grail, replaced Irisviel as the "key."

Therefore, as soon as she disappears, the manifestation of the Holy Grail will be forcibly terminated.

While this isn't a fundamental solution, it can at least delay the filling of the Holy Grail for several more years, perhaps even a decade.

Over the course of these ten years, Shirou's abilities as a magician have grown continuously, and he has had ample opportunities to dismantle the Greater Grail.

Shirou, of course, realized this method, but...

"I can't stand this awful place for even a second longer. I'm going back now."

The red-haired fairy swung her hand dismissively.

“Hey, Avanger…”

Shirou stopped halfway through his speech, and before they knew it, Avanger was already standing below the Holy Grail with his back to them.

At that moment, his intuition gave him a very ominous premonition.

The red-haired fairy, turning around, said in a nonchalant tone:

“Those are things I brought, so I’ll take them away myself. You can just stand by and watch.”

As she spoke, she raised her beautiful, jade-like arm, and then—

"Wait a moment!"

Ignoring Shirou's shouts, the girl plunged her hand into her own chest, ripping out her pounding heart.

"Hahaha, as expected of me, like a ruby...so beautiful?"

The fairy girl laughed with ecstasy, blood splattered all over her delicate face and gorgeous dress.

After clutching her heart and spinning around a few times, she collapsed, powerless—before that, Shirou rushed up and caught her.

"Bhavanshi!"

Shirou has confirmed it; she is Bawanshi.

No matter how bad her personality became, no matter how sharp her tongue became, she still retained the last shred of kindness in her heart.

Realizing she had committed a heinous act, she resolutely chose to end this cause and effect with her own life.

—She is the child that Shirou knows.

Shirou was filled with regret: Why hadn't he discovered this fact sooner?

He looked down and found that the girl's feet had disappeared.

Avanger is disappearing little by little.

With her spiritual core shattered, she could no longer maintain her physical body.

"Cheer up, Bavanshi!"

"You're so noisy... Can't you be quiet at a time like this...?"

Lying in Shirou's arms, the red-haired girl weakly opened her eyes, revealing a mocking smile:

"Stop calling me that so affectionately... Do I even know you...?"

"You brat, I'm asking you... why do you possess the black holy sword?"

"That was a gift from someone important to me."