[Not a bad performance… Shogun.]
Ei teased her between thoughts.
'Thank you for the praise.'
The Shogun replied.
[Where did you learn all that? Was it from Yae?]
Ei narrowed her eyes slightly, suspicious. Why did that fox always take advantage of her meditations in the Plane of Euthymia to teach her daughter such frivolous things?!
'Partly, perhaps… but most of it was simply my own ideas.'
The Shogun shook her head gently, explaining.
[Is that so… Still, next time, don't learn such things from Yae.]
'Why not?'
[I'm afraid she'll lead you astray.]
Ei's answer was immediate. She had worked so hard to instill proper discipline in the Shogun—she would not have it spoiled by that fox.
'I think… it's not so bad. Besides, don't you always want me to understand human ways?'
The Shogun answered, a little sheepishly.
[Sigh… silver-tongued.]
Ei exhaled, half-complaining in fondness. Hearing it, the Shogun allowed herself a small smile.
...
Meanwhile, Fiore stared, dazed, at the Shogun's full puppet form. It was the first time she had seen such a beautiful doll-like body. She thought the woman's allure had somehow grown even stronger.
"Shogun… are you alright? This form is…"
Of course, she would ask about her appearance. The Shogun sighed lightly.
"Do not concern yourself. This is my true form. Does it disturb you?"
She lowered her gaze to her mechanical body, concerned the girl might find it unsettling. At once, violet particles gathered about her. In a ripple of light, she reverted to her kimono-adorned form.
"N-no, not at all… it's… beautiful."
Fiore quickly shook her head, anxious not to be misunderstood. To her, seeing the Shogun's true self was a joy—a rare stroke of fortune.
"I see… then I accept your kindness."
She could tell the girl's words were sincere, not flattery. The Shogun did not care for empty compliments. But such honest admiration from this earnest young woman… she responded gently.
Still, being told her true body was "beautiful"… it was strangely embarrassing, as though someone had praised her bare skin directly.
"Let us go. We are very close to the goal."
Recalling Musou Isshin, she took Engulfing Lightning in hand and instructed her companions. Fiore and Caules nodded at once, falling obediently in step behind her. Deep in the hall lay a shadowed passage, surely leading to the heart of the fortress where the Greater Grail was kept.
Rumble rumble!!
The ground trembled suddenly. Cracks spread along the walls, fragments breaking loose. It was not the sky that shook, but the entire Aerial Garden.
With Assassin's death, her Noble Phantasm began to collapse. The massive fortress was breaking apart, pieces of stone plummeting away. But full destruction would take time. For now, this was the critical peak.
At the passage's end, a blinding light enveloped them. When their vision cleared, they stood in an immense, dim expanse.
A horizonless night stretched around them. Beneath their feet lay ancient stone tiles, suspended above a bottomless abyss. The tiles were not continuous, but broken, leaving yawning gaps that threatened to swallow the unwary. Below was endless darkness. For one afraid of heights, it would have been a nightmare. Around them stood shattered stone pillars, like the remains of some ancient battlefield.
At the far end rose a stone staircase, and upon its summit—the Greater Grail, stolen by the Red Faction. A colossal stone sphere, from whose cracked core emerged a golden female statue, its upper body with arms outstretched, as though to embrace the world.
"The Greater Grail…"
Fiore whispered solemnly. At last, they had arrived.
"Strange… why is no one here? Where are the others? Archer and the rest?"
Caules looked around warily. Not a soul was in sight.
Tap… tap…
From the far passage came footsteps. They turned instinctively—
Jeanne stood there.
"You have come as well?"
Jeanne first showed caution, but upon recognizing them, she relaxed and walked over.
"Miss Jeanne, where is Chiron?"
Fiore asked.
"Archer… has retired. He was defeated by Red's Rider."
Jeanne lowered her eyes slightly, her tone tinged with regret.
"!" ×2
The siblings were both startled.
"Then… what about Red's Rider?"
"She also retired, perishing together with Red's Archer. That woman had already lost her reason. If left unchecked, she would have caused disaster sooner or later. So Rider used his Noble Phantasm to fight her. In the end…"
It should have been Jeanne's battle, but Achilles had told her to go on ahead.
'Leave missy to me. As for Amakusa, leave him to you. His wish is a vile one. If humanity is to survive, do not let him succeed. Oh, and tell your Saber—about that kick—I'll return it next time we meet!'
That was what he had entrusted to her. Though a Red Servant, his reason still held sway.
"Then the only Servants left for Black are the Shogun and…? Rider?"
They had almost forgotten about him. Where had he gone?
"He… has also retired."
Jeanne shook her head again with regret.
"Eh?" ×2
Fiore and Caules froze. How had that man retired?
"The reason seems to be that his mana connection with his Master was severed. After suffering grave wounds without mana supply, he was forced to retire. By the time I arrived, he had already been burned alive by flames."
Jeanne's words carried complexity.
"In other words—"
Fiore seemed to understand.
"Yes… Sieg is gone."
Jeanne answered.
"..."
The Shogun said nothing. She would not reveal that it was Kapatcir who had accidentally killed him, nor that she herself had ordered the Thunderbird to destroy his corpse. That absurd truth would remain buried in darkness.
(And besides—she had long wished for his death.)
"By the way… Miss Jeanne, you don't seem that sad?"
Caules asked. Hadn't she always been protective of that homunculus?
"Sigh… I am Ruler. Though I once said he was innocent, that was in the past. From the moment he became Rider's Master, he was no longer uninvolved. For a Master to die in the Holy Grail War is entirely natural. I will not grieve for it. Moreover, I know what I must do. Now… the Grail matters more than anything. Please understand."
Jeanne pressed her hand to her chest as she spoke. At last, perhaps, the saintly maiden had uttered a fair and reasonable truth.
At that moment—
Clap clap!
Sudden applause rang in their ears. Red's Caster—Shakespeare—appeared before them, stroking his small beard with interest as his eyes fixed solely upon the Shogun. Yes, he looked at no one else. His gaze was meant only for her.
The Shogun noticed his naked stare, narrowing her eyes in irritation as she met his gaze. Her hand instinctively raised Engulfing Lightning before her, shielding Fiore and Caules behind her.
Crackle…
Arcs of lightning wrapped around her body, radiating dense Electro energy.
"If you dare take another step forward, do not blame me for showing no mercy."
Her cold, sharp voice was both warning and declaration of their difference in strength. It was advice not to court death.
"Wait, wait… hold on!"
As expected, Shakespeare flinched and took a step back, quickly waving his hands.
"A misunderstanding, a misunderstanding… I came not to fight you today."
The Shogun narrowed her eyes.
"Then what is your intent? Do you mean to hand the Grail to us?"
It was half-mocking, but to her surprise, he nodded.
"Heh~! You've guessed it. I truly wish to give it to you."
Seeing her suspicion linger, Shakespeare sighed, rubbing his head.
"To be frank, I am but a writer. Writers care little for killing. What I seek are results, journeys, the desires of the heart, and the ideals of mankind! Not the vulgar clash of swords!"
He spread his arms as he spoke his nonsensical lines, then bowed before her.
"My name is William Shakespeare, a humble yet first-rate writer. Saber… no—child of destiny, I have long wished to meet you."
He straightened, studying her carefully, then nodded in satisfaction.
"As expected of the one chosen by fate. Perhaps only you can offer me the tragedy I so deeply crave!"
"Tragedy?"
The Shogun murmured in confusion.
"Indeed~! Today, I shall allow you passage to the Greater Grail. But in return, may we strike a bargain?"
"…Speak."
The Shogun replied without hesitation. She wanted to see what tricks he intended.
"Straightforward! It is simple: slay Amakusa Shirou Tokisada, prevent his plan, and let this story collapse into tragedy. That ending will suffice!"
He opened his book, scribbling something upon its pages.
"That would be Red's tragedy."
The Shogun reminded him.
"Of course! One's own tragedy is the finest essence, is it not? No, rather… hehe… Amakusa's plan was a tragedy from the very start. It is more interesting than anything I could write~!"
Tap… tap…
He stepped closer, lowering his voice, enunciating each word.
"So… at this very moment, I want you, Saber… to wield this 'pen' for me."
To him, watching the enemy fall into tragedy was not enough. Experiencing his own side's tragedy—that was how he could write something truly alive.
"Otherwise…"
The Shogun's lips curled into a cold smile as she opened her eyes to meet his.
"…Otherwise, do not blame me for stopping you here. Even I have the power to fight you!"
Shakespeare changed tone abruptly, raising his book to float in the air, its pages fluttering as his mind moved them.
"Heh, very well… but battling you is meaningless. I accept your terms."
The Shogun had no desire to follow his absurd logic, nor to understand it. The Grail was what mattered most, and time was running out. Since his proposal aided her, she would agree.
"Good… please, then~! Amakusa has yet to make his wish. You still have a chance."
He bowed deeply, extending a hand in a gesture of invitation.
"Fiore."
"Yes…"
"Come with me."
"Mm…"
The Shogun ignored him further, taking her Master and striding toward the staircase that led to the Greater Grail. This was the path they had agreed upon by contract.
"Sister…"
"I'll be fine, Caules. Don't worry."
Fiore turned back to reassure her brother.
"Saber… under no circumstances allow Amakusa Shirou Tokisada's plan to succeed. His wish is too vast, too twisted. He must be stopped."
Jeanne did not follow them in, instead entrusting the task to her. It was a gesture of trust.
The Shogun gave a nod, then led Fiore into the blinding golden light of the gate before them.
...
Just a little more… just a little more!
Ahead lay the end, the conclusion of everything.
Amakusa Shirou Tokisada gazed upon the otherworldly scene, vibrant as a fairy tale, his heart pounding with excitement and yearning. Each step he took brought him closer to the ideal he had long pursued.
To save all humanity. To save the world. To save every life.
[Amakusa, I have a question for you.]
In his memory, Red's Rider—Achilles—had once stood before him and asked.
'Ah, please go on.'
He had not minded then, patiently allowing him to speak. Perhaps he had already known what the next words would be.
[...Why do you want to save mankind?]
As expected. The question was asked, his tone grave, devoid of jest, so unlike his usual self.
'Because… I swore it.'
Amakusa answered.
[Regardless of race or nation?]
Another question, sharp and probing, as if seeking to choke his words.
'Of course.'
He dismissed the weight of it, answering simply.
[...]
Achilles fell silent for a moment, then asked again.
[When did you first have such a thought?]
There it was. The question he dreaded most, now asked aloud. Yet it did not hinder him from answering. The past was already past.
'Before my death, when the shogunate executed us.'
Click!
His words stirred Achilles, who raised his spear-blade to his forehead.
[Don't lie!!]
Amakusa had foreseen this reaction. Who would believe such words?
'It is no lie.'
[Then tell me, Amakusa Shirou Tokisada! Do you not hate those who slaughtered your people?!]
'…'
This time, he fell silent. Memories long buried surfaced, dark and bitter. He wavered.
'I… once hated them.'
His voice sank, the usual gentleness fading, replaced by severity.
'Gods, men… I hated them all.'
'Not because I was slain. I hated humanity for constructing such a history and accepting it. I hated the system where the strong advance by consuming the weak.'
He laid bare his heart.
[Such hatred does not disappear! Where is it now?!]
'I cast it away, Rider!!'
He shouted, his composure breaking, as if the last of his defenses had been shattered.
Drawing a deep breath, he steadied himself and spoke again.
'To save mankind, I abandoned hatred for those who kill!'
'I will save everyone in this world!'
'I must! I must!!'
[...]
Achilles passed by him in silence, not looking back.
'Does my answer satisfy you?'
[...]
The man merely waved his hand, vanishing into the sunset.
Yes. That was his answer. The reason of Amakusa Shirou Tokisada. He would realize it. He must!
Now was the moment his dream would come true!
Vmmm~!
Before him appeared a holy white light, pure as an angel. The light slowly took form, becoming a silver-haired, red-eyed woman in a flowing white robe. Her features were exquisite, though her expression was nearly void. She approached him, bowed gently, then raised her gaze to meet his.
"Was it you who called me?"
Her ethereal voice held a trace of warmth, at odds with her cold expression.
"..."
Amakusa could not contain his excitement.
"Ah… indeed it was!"