54 Justice Ultimately Triumphs Over Evil
The Heroic Spirit's spirit origin from another world gradually dissipated, returning to the Throne, within a vast white void.
The boy, naked and in spirit form, saw Gorgon, who was in the same state.
Although she still bore obvious beast-like traits, she was no longer covered in the previous black, sticky sludge.
Instead, she now bore a splendid golden-purple color. Beneath golden wings, she wore a white dress. The woman who had regained her sanity still seemed to retain a trace of the goddess's holiness.
"Thank you, boy from another world," Gorgon said with a gentle smile.
"I didn't do anything for you to thank me for," Shirou shook his head.
"No, whether it was killing that state of Perseus or freeing me from being controlled, all of that is worth my thanks. If fate allows, we shall meet again.
As a monster, I cannot give you the blessing of a goddess, but as a token of gratitude, let me tell you something," the purple-pink-haired monster goddess said.
"Your eyes hold potential beyond even my mystic eyes. Perhaps this will bring about a miracle. Maybe the future you pursue lies right there. Use them well."
After saying this, the remnants of the former goddess monster Gorgon dissolved into glowing light and returned to the Throne.
Before Shirou's eyes, a white light covered everything; his spirit origin and physical body separated and returned to their respective places.
"Senpai… senpai, it's great, you're finally awake!" When the boy's consciousness returned to his body, he lightly furrowed his brows.
He heard a joyful voice by his ear. His head tingled slightly, but the back of his head felt warm and soft, strangely comfortable.
"Mash?" Shirou opened his eyes and saw the pink-haired girl's pretty face, a pair of large eyes shining with deep concern.
"Senpai, you finally woke up! Does your body feel uncomfortable anywhere? That was really reckless!" Mash brushed aside half of her bangs and lowered her head to carefully check the boy's condition.
Previously, Shirou suddenly unleashed an incredibly powerful Noble Phantasm never seen before.
Then his spirit gear began to dissipate and return to Chaldea, and he lost consciousness and collapsed, which had truly scared her.
Fortunately, Da Vinci detected that Shirou was only exhausted from expending all his magical energy and had simply fallen asleep.
So after retrieving the Holy Grail, Mash had been taking care of Shirou like this.
Shirou felt moved by the junior's care but laughed when he saw the surroundings and helplessly said, "No, I'm fine. By the way, Mash, thanks for taking care of me like this, but giving me a lap pillow right out in the street—isn't that a little embarrassing?"
At this moment, Shirou was lying in the corner of the street wall receiving Mash's lap pillow service. Because the sun was blocked by the wall, it didn't feel hot. Considering the need to avoid heat, bringing him here was commendable.
However, the girl completely forgot common sense: this was near the gymnasium, on the pedestrian walkway beside a road. Since the battle had ended and without interference from the world's consciousness, this place was now busy with people coming and going.
Passersby all turned their eyes toward this young couple publicly displaying a lap pillow on the street.
The elderly people watching shook their heads repeatedly, sighing, "The world really is going downhill."
At that moment, a mother and child pair with an elementary school kid passed by. The child pointed at Shirou and Mash and shouted,
"Mom, look! There's a pair of dumb lovers here!"
"Don't look that way, kids! You'll catch it! Let's go, hurry up," the woman dragged the child away quickly.
"Ugh… Shirou-senpai, hurry up and get up!" Mash shouted, blushing.
"Ah, sorry, I forgot to get up because it felt so comfortable," Shirou sat up and said.
"Hey! Shirou, Mash, are you guys okay?" Yui waved her hand as she ran over.
Asuna and Yukinoshita followed behind; it seemed their battle had also ended.
"We're fine. Did you guys handle your side?" Shirou waved back in response.
"Of course! Suzuka Gozen and I are super strong," Yuiibin said proudly.
At that moment, Shirou's phone vibrated violently. Since it was the real world, Da Vinci, unable to use holograms conveniently, sent a video call.
"This is bad! After Perseus disappeared, tens of thousands of beasts in the beast's nest have gone out of control.
Many are crossing over through the passages into this world and are now rampaging in the interdimensional space."
"How could this happen? We already defeated Perseus, right?" Mash frowned and asked.
"Apparently, these beasts aren't just simple summons.
Their sustaining magic power is still quite abundant. Shirou, your world is probably in chaos too. The beasts that were under Perseus's control and focused in the Tokyo metropolitan area might have already spread all over the world."
"I understand. Luckily, the Alliance countries now have mutual visa exemptions. Asia, Africa, South America are all freely accessible. I'll go back now to pack my things and handle the foreign monsters myself," Shirou nodded.
Hearing the boy's words, several girls looked over nervously at once.
"Eh? Shirou, what about school?" Yuiibin shouted in surprise.
"I'll take a leave of absence from school for now. As for money, I've saved quite a bit from scholarships and part-time jobs over the years. Travel expenses are almost enough; I'll figure out food and lodging later," Shirou said.
"That's too rash. Let's carefully discuss the strategy first, Shirou," Asuna said.
"This is too chaotic. Don't shoulder everything alone. We'll solve this together," Yukinoshita said, looking at him.
"Shirou-Senpai! I'll come with you too!" Mash raised her hand.
"Well… I also…" Yui couldn't raise her hand. Though she wanted to follow, thinking of her family's faces, her voice faltered.
"Wait! Wait! I didn't say you had to deal with this right now! Listen to me first!" Da Vinci shouted.
The youths all looked over simultaneously, with expressions saying, 'Then why didn't you say that sooner!'
'You all just got excited on your own, didn't you! Outrageous!' Da Vinci suppressed her anger and continued explaining.
"Ahem Because last time Perseus broke the world's barrier, this world's rules have changed. Chaldea's FGO system has been acknowledged.
The supply of magic and connection to the Throne of Heroes have become much smoother.
According to data collected by Chaldea, the compatibility between humans here and Heroic Spirits has improved by at least 30%, and the number of humans capable of possession summoning has increased a lot.
Therefore, with the protection of the interdimensional space, ordinary beasts don't pose much threat to humans. Even if someone is caught inside the interdimensional space, little Da can instantly go there to support them."*
"Is that so… that's great," Yuiibin patted her chest and sighed with relief.
"The worse news is that, as far as I can confirm, aside from Perseus, at least six other corrupted, blackened Heroic Spirits exist. Perseus has already fixed the coordinates of this world and could come here at any time, so we must be vigilant," Da Vinci said seriously, staring at Shirou.
"I understand," Shirou also felt the pressure. He hadn't expected there to be six more Heroic Spirits like Perseus. He truly must proceed cautiously.
Da Vinci nodded and then looked apologetically at the pink-haired girl: "Mash, although Chaldea is no longer under attack and has stabilized, the cause of the key world's mutation remains unknown. It seems you will have to stay in this world for a while longer."
She had miraculously been given a second life but hoped she could live happily. Unexpectedly, after saving humanity, more problems kept arising.
Mash shook her head, placed her hand on her chest, and smiled resolutely and sincerely.
"No, of course, I want to go pick up Gudako-senpai and Fou quickly, but now priority is solving the problems here. If senpai was here, she would make the same choice. Da Vinci, please leave this to me."
Waiting might be something that must be experienced, just like Da Vinci had taken on the role of Chaldea's commander, waiting for the doctor to return.
Gudako-senpai in another world was definitely working hard, so Mash must be strong too, waiting for the problems in this world to be solved.
Then, with pride, she would go meet Gudako-senpai.
At that time, she would definitely bring along Shirou-senpai, who summoned by possession. The red-haired Shirou-senpai really looks like her; it will surely be interesting.