"We'll talk about it when you get back."
Shirou hesitated but finally didn't say anything further.
"Okay, Master, I'll be there soon!" Diarmuid replied decisively.
After a while, Diarmuid returned to the hotel suite.
"Actually, the scene you just saw was my doing."
"What...?" Diarmuid was so shocked for a moment that he couldn't even speak. After a few seconds, he suddenly came to his senses and asked with some excitement, "Master, do you mean to say that you were responsible for Caster's death?"
Hearing this question, Shirou nodded.
"That's right, but it's good that you know about it. Don't spread the word."
"I understand, Master." Diarmuid nodded.
After Diarmuid de-materialized, Shirou looked at the moonlight outside the window and exhaled lightly. He then continued to lie down on the sofa with exhaustion, falling into a deep sleep.
...
Even though he didn't have a clear consciousness, Shirou was still sure that it wasn't a dream. The table was filled with a variety of delicacies and rows of candlesticks that shone brightly. At the banquet in Teamhair, the nobles of Erin gathered. This was the final part of the feast. These people, who usually advocated force, did their best to make suave gestures today. Only tonight, they indulged in the elegant scent of flowers.
Yes, this was a banquet for delicate flowers. Grania, the daughter of King Cormac mac Airt of Ireland, was to be engaged tonight. The other party was Fionn mac Cumhaill, a great hero with supreme wisdom and in charge of the healing waters. He was the only one worthy to lead the Fianna, the unparalleled knights. His fame rivaled that of a king. It was a wonderful marriage.
The old hero Fionn was flanked by his son, the poet Oisín, and his grandson, the hero Oscar, along with the brave warriors of the Fianna. There was Goll mac Morna, Caílte mac Rónáin, Conan of the Grey Lashes, and Diarmuid Ua Duibhne—the "Glorious Face"—who was given the highest honor. Each of them was a valiant knight who loved Fionn and swore loyalty to him.
Great heroes looked up to the leader and served him with swords, spears, and their lives. This was the honor of the knights, whose glorious vocation was praised by the bards. Looking forward to this path, carrying out this belief, even if they were to die on that sacred battlefield one day, they would never waver.
Such thoughts remained until he met her on the night of that fated feast.
"In exchange for my love and your holy vows, dear one, please stop this ridiculous marriage and take me away... to the end of the sky, the other side of the world!"
The girl who spoke to him with teary eyes lit the flame of his love. It was the fire of purgatory that would consume his body... the hero already understood it at that time. But he couldn't resist. A vow as heavy as a trial and the path of loyalty pursued to this day... which was the right path? No matter how many times he asked himself, he couldn't find the answer. Therefore, what made him make a decision on the spot must not have been honor.
The hero took the princess by the hand and gave up a bright future together. And just like that, the sad love story of Celtic myth was staged.
...
The dream soon ended. Then, as Shirou realized he was in a dream and was about to wake up, a light source appeared. While Shirou's consciousness was still wandering, he came to an endless wasteland. White clouds in the sky were constantly changing as if time was passing quickly, and the orange sun illuminated the obscured clouds. In the endless wasteland that was originally empty, handfuls of treasures appeared.
"Durandal", "Dainsleif", "Houtengeki", "Vajra"... in addition to these, there were also two treasures Shirou was very familiar with: Gae Dearg and Gae Buidhe. Shirou did not feel tired in this space; on the contrary, he felt extremely comfortable, like a fetus in a mother's womb.
"I see. As long as it is a Noble Phantasm I have seen, it can be traced by me..."
Those treasures were all revealed by Archer during the battle on Warehouse Street. These weapons, without exception, were all copied by Shirou into Unlimited Blade Works.
"It's still too little... All of these Noble Phantasms are one rank lower than the prototype. If I truly want to fight, unless they are within my Reality Marble, they will not be able to compete with Gilgamesh at all..."
Naturally, Shirou didn't expect to win against Gilgamesh with Lancer's strength alone, so he could only think of countermeasures and try to strengthen himself.
"Since I haven't woken up yet, why don't I try to trace those treasures I am familiar with?"
After all, he was someone who had watched the anime and was quite familiar with certain weapons. Of course, things like the Sword of Rupture, Ea, or Excalibur were planet-forged swords that could not be duplicated.
"Trace... on! Kanshou and Bakuya!"
Blue magic power intertwined, and two short swords, one black and one white, appeared in Shirou's hand like the poles of yin and yang.
Kanshou and Bakuya
Noble Phantasm Rank: C-
Type: Anti-Unit Noble Phantasm
Based on the famous swords of Chinese legend, these are the yin and yang twin swords. Black is the yang sword, Kanshou, and white is the yin sword, Bakuya. They are a favorite projection for close-quarters combat. While powerful as blades, they also provide magical protection. If equipped together, magic and physical resistance increase, and the rank of the weapons rises. As "married" swords, there is a bond so strong that even if one is lost, it returns to the owner.
The blades are engraved with an exorcism motto: "Their reach is flawless. Their spirit reaches Taishan. Their spirit crosses the Yellow River. For the name of the heaven, the two heroes are destined to say goodbye."
"And then... Reinforce!"
The two short swords were reinforced by Shirou's magic power. The length of the blades changed into two long blades with jagged, rough shapes that looked extremely intimidating.
Kanshou and Bakuya Overedge
Noble Phantasm Rank: B+
Type: Anti-Unit Noble Phantasm
The rank increase says it all, but it costs too much mana to maintain in actual battle. After projecting a few more treasures, Shirou, whose magic power was exhausted again, stuck the two long blades into the ground and slowly lay down, quietly watching the clouds in the sky.