Gilgamesh questioned Tia, but Tia's gaze stayed fixed on Angra Mainyu.
One of the Evils of Humanity that curse and kill humans? Why did Gilgamesh call Angra Mainyu that? Was Angra Mainyu really one of them?
"Ahh~~ blacksmith, why don't you answer the King of Heroes first?" Angra Mainyu suddenly said cheerfully, looking at Tia.
Tia froze, then turned toward Gilgamesh. In that instant, a chill ran down his whole body—Gilgamesh was angry at being ignored.
"The Tree of Emptiness is the foundation that allows pruned worlds to keep existing," Tia said quickly, giving only a short answer this time, unlike before.
"Pruned worlds?" Gilgamesh had been ready to punish him, but the moment he heard that, he frowned. "To let pruned worlds continue?" He repeated the words, then as if realizing something, his expression turned into a pleased smile. "Hahaha! So that's it! This world is a pruned world! No wonder I've always had that strange sense of déjà vu! It's because I already experienced it once in the real, unpruned world!"
"Pruned world?" Waver heard the term for the first time, but the words alone gave him some idea. Still, he couldn't understand why this world was one. "So this world was supposed to be cut off? Why! Tia, do you know more about this?"
This time Tia truly didn't know. He shook his head. "I grew up here too. I'll be cut off with it."
Alexander patted Waver's shoulder. "If Gilgamesh is right, then I must've lived it once already. I just wasn't sharp enough to feel the déjà vu he did. Either way, since I've come to this world, I'll fight for my Master!"
"The pruned world…" King Arthur lowered her head, feeling an odd sadness. It made her wonder—if she changed history, would her world also be denied and pruned away?
Lancelot had already achieved his wish—to fight alongside King Arthur once more, to be forgiven, or even to be executed by her hand. So he had little feeling about this "pruned world," though he pitied a world destined to be cut away.
"A world pruned away for changing history…" Lancelot muttered, then looked toward Tia.
"A pruned world?" Irisviel echoed. "So we were never allowed to exist in the first place."
Kiritsugu said nothing, only looking at Tia. "It's because of you, isn't it, Tia? That tree appeared the same year you did. It can't just be a coincidence."
"So the tree's existence kept this world—meant to be pruned—from ending for seven more years? Or maybe because the smith was born, someone planted it here, forcing the world to keep going for seven years?" Gilgamesh grinned, his interest growing. "You're becoming more fascinating by the moment. Your secrets are far more amusing than that Kotomine Kirei's!"
Tia had no answer. He could only lower his head in silence.
If Gilgamesh was right, was he really the key to this world? Why? Just because he had crossed over as Emiya Shirou?
Meanwhile, ever since he activated the Greater Grail ritual with the book, Tohsaka Tokiomi had quietly stepped aside. Nobody paid him attention—not even Gilgamesh. He wandered to the base of the Greater Grail's cavity, staring up at the pale branches growing out of it, lost in thought.
Then the underground chamber shook violently. The cavity of the Greater Grail began to expand again, and the white branches started to grow madly.
"Ah, looks like without my restraint, the tree's growing further," Angra Mainyu said. "But you were right—this world is destined to be pruned. Even with the tree, it won't last. The tree only delayed it. Ten years—at most ten years later, it will completely drain the Greater Grail's power, burst through it, and appear here."
"And then what happens?" Tokiomi suddenly spoke up.
"Hey! What are you doing over there? That's dangerous! Once the tree bursts out of the Grail, it'll take its place, turning into a tree-shaped Grail. Who knows what it'll do then? Maybe if you close that hole now, it'll help," Angra Mainyu called lazily, noticing Tokiomi, then answered his question offhand.
"Is there no way to close that hole?" Irisviel asked.
"You could try. You're an Einzbern homunculus, aren't you?" Angra Mainyu said casually.
"No!" Kiritsugu refused without even thinking.
Irisviel froze, turning to look at him.
"Iris, don't even consider it. You must not," Kiritsugu said firmly.
Tia, who had been brooding, suddenly found Kiritsugu's words odd.
For someone so rational, wouldn't he normally sacrifice Irisviel to close the hole? Why would he choose her instead? What was wrong with him?
Just then, Tokiomi crouched down, one hand pressing to the ground, the other holding the book he had brought from home. Glancing at it, he began to chant.
"I am Tohsaka Tokiomi! I am the manager of Fuyuki City's leylines! I command again! From this moment, the leylines of Fuyuki return to the Tohsaka family!"
"… … … chanting … … …"
After a series of words Tia couldn't understand, the great stone pillar began to shake violently—then collapsed with a thunderous crash.
Tohsaka Tokiomi instantly used magecraft to pull himself back at high speed. The next moment, the giant hole of the Greater Grail, which had been forced open by the white branches, began to shrink shut.
(End of The Chapter)
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