Nervous!
Unprecedented excitement filled him; even his breathing felt labored.
Waver looked up at the massive dragon head, all sorts of thoughts flashing through his mind.
'I can grant a wish...'
'Any wish at all!'
His hands trembled uncontrollably. He even ignored Lelouch, Kariya, and the others watching him from nearby.
Become the strongest Magus?
Become the "King" of this world?
Possess inexhaustible "wealth"?
wishes that stood at the pinnacle of desire instantly filled his brain, yet he hesitated, unable to make up his mind.
'No... perhaps make myself more mature?'
'Have a sturdy physique?'
'That's too lacking in vision and scope!!'
'Waver Velvet! Stay awake!'
He shook his head violently, acting as if he were mentally unstable, baffling the onlookers.
"..."
Lelouch watched him but didn't speak. Based on his understanding of this Master, the wish Waver wanted to realize probably wouldn't be as "selfish" as he seemed to fear.
Although Waver sometimes talked big and acted willfully, that was usually just him venting "angry words" in the moment.
If really given the chance to soar into the sky, he would instead hesitate.
"Sigh..."
After a long time, Waver finally let out a sigh.
Then, with an embarrassed expression, he looked up at Shenron.
'As expected... just as Rider said.'
'I'm still too naive after all.'
'However, those grand, distant wishes don't suit me.'
Thinking of the wish he was about to voice, Waver's mood was quite complex.
Having experienced so many encounters during this time, it would be a lie to say he didn't feel anything.
After thinking it over, he ultimately chose a wish that had nothing to do with "himself."
"Please..."
"Resurrect the people who were swept up in the Dragon Ball War!"
Pursing his lips, he used all his strength to shout those words.
His wish was instantly heard by many.
...
"Hey, hey, hey! Rider's Master looks frail, but I didn't expect him to be such a kind-hearted guy."
Watching from the sky where he had been observing the battle, Jonouchi crossed his arms and exclaimed in surprise.
"That's really great!"
Kyoko Sakura was also jubilant. During her previous rampage, she had indeed involved quite a few innocent people.
If all those people could come back to life, she wouldn't have to carry such a heavy burden of guilt.
"Previous repentance was indeed useful!"
Hearing the cheers of the two beside him, Kenshin also breathed a sigh of relief.
They had fought this war so fiercely; putting aside the previous encirclement, just taking Archer's final assault into account, the Noble Phantasm's activation had caused significant disasters.
If people could be revived, it would bring great peace of mind.
He engraved Waver's face in his heart, knowing that "kindness" still existed in the future.
...
"Is that your choice? Rider's Master."
"In that case, I truly didn't misjudge you."
Saber stood on the street, holding a boy she had just rescued from a building. Hearing Waver's wish, she whispered praise.
"Big sister, thank you!"
"Hurry back. Your parents will be worried."
"Yes!"
Watching the red-haired boy run off and wave back, Saber didn't mind the address.
But in the next moment, she sensed a familiar presence.
"This is... Irisviel!"
...
"Am I... really alive?"
Still wearing her nun's habit, Irisviel sat paralyzed on the ground, daring not to believe her current situation.
"Madam!"
The familiar voice rang out from opposite her, filling her with surprise.
"This is...?"
Maiya Hisau looked at the surrounding environment; undoubtedly, she remembered the situation from that time.
"It was the victory of the war being decided..."
"Rider's Master wished to resurrect the people affected by the Dragon Ball War."
"He really is a kind person..."
Recovering her senses, Irisviel explained with a lingering smile of fear mixed with relief.
"..."
Maiya was speechless. She could hardly imagine that the dead could be so miraculously revived.
"Hm?"
"Madam?! What's wrong?!"
But suddenly seeing Irisviel's panicked expression, she asked anxiously.
"I..."
"I've become a real human..."
Irisviel's answer left Maiya stunned.
...
"Great!!"
"Sola!!"
"Kayneth..."
Losing his usual demeanor, Kayneth hugged the still-bewildered Sola, his heart aching.
"We... seem to have been saved by that incompetent student you mentioned."
His memory stopped at the moment he was shot by Kiritsugu Emiya, but now he understood the reason for his revival.
"Let's go. We're going back!"
"I don't want to stay in this countryside place for another second!"
"Uh... huh?"
Seeing Kayneth pulling her hand regardless of appearance, Sola finally understood.
Only after losing it do you know the value of life.
Not just her, but Kayneth's everything as well...
After dying and reviving, he realized how beautiful the world truly was.
"There's no need to rush like that..."
"The war is over anyway."
"No! Can't stay! Now! Immediately! Go back!"
"You... really..."
"What Holy Grail War, what Dragon Ball War! Boring!! I, Kayneth, will never participate again!!"
...
"Even if you point that gun with no bullets at me, it has no meaning."
Kirei Kotomine sat calmly on the pier, looking at the wary man in front of him, and chuckled softly.
"Or rather, to think that you, who have killed unknown numbers of people, are also qualified to be resurrected?"
"!"
Mocked by Kirei, Kiritsugu Emiya remained silent.
"However, this isn't something you or I can decide."
"Hard-won second life..."
"Be grateful to His Majesty's Master."
"The preciousness of life... I have fully experienced it now."
Standing up and looking at himself, almost devoid of proper clothing, Kirei had gained a new understanding.
Seeking pleasure was indeed a delightful thing, but paying for it with one's life seemed unworthy.
Only after death could one realize the weight of life...
Splash!
Watching the other party dive directly from the pier into the sea and swim away, Kiritsugu released his grip on the gun, letting it fall to the ground.
A man like him... he never expected to have a second life.
"Cough, cough..."
"Is this a punishment for me?"
"Not wanting to let me die easily..."
...
"Is that the wish you spent half the day thinking about?"
"Truly comical."
"Sorry to disappoint you! I'm just such an immature and naive guy!"
Responding willfully to Lelouch's words, Waver crossed his arms and retorted petulantly.
"Indeed, very childish..."
"But if the world lacked guys like you, it would be finished."
Hearing the familiar lecture tone again, Waver turned to look at him.
"You... still take things too much for granted."
"Have you considered that the bad guys will also come back to life?"
Lelouch's follow-up words instantly extinguished Waver's fire.
In the heat of the moment, he had just said it without considering those who logically "deserved to die."
"So, don't be so impulsive when doing things. Think before you act."
"But you have the right to be willful right now. No one can blame you for anything."
"After all..."
"At this moment, you are ultimately the victor!"