Chapter 265: Meltryllis's Debut
Even though he had only witnessed the past through his Mystic Eyes, the Buddha had understood everything related to Nameless through that very gaze, which was why he had spoken those words to Shirou.
The Buddha pressed his palms together, his body emitting a brilliant golden radiance as he departed. He had no intention of interfering in this matter; or rather, if he were to interfere, everything would lose its meaning. He could not grant mercy to the "White Man" in the same way he had for Twice.
He merely felt a sense of pity for the fate of that white-haired man, who had become an existence on the same level as his own true self.
Though he left after speaking only a single sentence, Shirou could feel the profound depth contained within the Buddha's gaze.
In legends, there is no shortage of great men who sacrificed one life to fulfill the world, heroes who turned the tide in times of despair, or saints and saviors of the end times. To redeem the world, they became symbols: the legendary Savior; the unique Buddha of original Buddhism, Shakyamuni; the Maitreya of Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism; the Messiah of Christianity; the Mithra of Zoroastrianism; the Saint of the Purple Tenuity in Taoism...
In that sense, perhaps that white-clothed man—who could create a new world even if the old one was destroyed and transfer everyone there to start a new life—could be considered one as well.
Shirou could feel his connection to that white-clothed man, yet it felt incredibly alien, as if he were seeing a future version of himself that had become a type he never imagined.
If it only required him alone to make all of humanity happy, it would indeed be the most ideal outcome—provided it didn't make those close to him sad.
However, the "White Emiya Shirou," as his own origin and future, seemed to have strayed from the path. Though he had gained the power to save everything, he had lost his heart as a human.
Perhaps in his heart, even "justice" and "hope" no longer mattered.
"Senpai? Senpai~! Senpai!!" The purple-haired girl leaned forward, bringing her pretty face right up to the boy's, calling out repeatedly.
"Uh, yeah!?" Shirou, pulled back from his thoughts by the girl's irritated voice, answered hurriedly.
"Were you even listening to what BB-chan was saying?" the girl asked, puffing out her cheeks in a huff.
"Yeah, I was listening. That girl is Hakuno, right? I know," Shirou recalled that respectable girl and nodded, hoping her life on the moon was happy and fulfilling.
As for whatever shameless things a certain girl was saying to make him embarrassed, he hadn't heard a word of it.
"Wait! Senpai! Don't ignore my confession!" the purple-haired girl shouted indignantly. Then she spread her hands and said, "Even though Mr. Twice has gone mad, BB-chan is still grateful to him. It's because of him that the opportunity for BB-chan's birth existed."
The purple-haired girl paused, then looked at the boy and said seriously: "Ahem, there's one thing that needs special clarification! Although Moon Cell is very old, BB-chan is super young! So young that Senpai could be my mother! No! Actually, age has nothing to do with love at all. In short, BB-chan is just the right age to be a perfect match for Senpai!" The purple-haired girl looked at him earnestly; because this was important, she repeated it three more times.
"I get it, I get it," Shirou agreed helplessly. She didn't need to remind him so desperately; he understood.
As an AI, this girl might be less than a year old in terms of actual time.
But for different life systems, being born with knowledge more profound than the oldest human elders and mastering all kinds of information meant that human age was meaningless to her.
In that regard, Shirou was the same. Having lived to nearly thirty in his past life and being a high schooler in this one, his combined age was likely already older than Kiritsugu's.
With the constant possession summonings and the recently rampaging Mystic Eyes, he had absorbed the memories of his counterparts from various worlds. It felt as though he had lived through a dozen different lives in a dream.
Ignored once again, the purple-haired girl began to emit a black aura, muttering under her breath: "As I thought... BB-chan should just do what I originally planned and imprison the Senpai who doesn't listen to others in this world forever."
"Alright, alright, don't be angry. Once this is resolved, I'll cook some delicious food for you as a reward," Shirou said with a smile, reaching out to pat the purple-haired girl's head.
"Wha... Eh!" The girl was startled by his action, but surprisingly, she didn't swat his hand away. She let him stroke her head. For a girl who had almost never experienced such a thing, the stimulation seemed quite high.
Despite her bold words, she was actually quite naive and innocent.
Blushing with a hint of annoyance, she allowed the boy to keep patting her head, grumbling, "Don't think you can buy BB-chan off with just that! BB-chan isn't the kind of woman who's easily satisfied..."
"Eh? You don't like home-cooked food?" Shirou looked puzzled at the girl who looked exactly like his junior. She currently possessed a physical body, just like Artoria and Jeanne. Because her personality was so erratic yet slightly pitiful, he had accidentally started treating her like Fuji-nee.
"No... it's not that I haven't eaten food on the moon, but this will be the first time in reality... Since... since Senpai put it that way, BB-chan accepts! Even if Senpai forgets, I will definitely force you to fulfill your promise."
"Oh, leave it to me!" Shirou agreed with a bright smile.
"Mhm! BB-chan will give her first time to Senpai!" the purple-haired girl replied, also flashing a brilliant smile.
"Why! Why does the conversation always turn into something like that!" Shirou's face changed as he shouted.
The girl stuck out her tongue playfully, then looked at the boy curiously and asked, "But speaking of which, does Senpai know why BB-chan came looking for you?"
"Yeah, these eyes saw quite a lot," Shirou said, pointing toward his eyes.
"I see. Unexpectedly, you're already in the terminal stages... I guess even hiding Senpai away wouldn't have worked. After all, Senpai and that 'White God' are actually the same person," the girl lowered her head, murmuring thoughtfully.
"BB?" Shirou asked, confused.
BB-chan grabbed the boy's collar with both hands and pulled him close to her face, warning him sternly: "Listen well, Senpai. You'd better use this power as little as possible! Your eyes are connected to that 'White God.' If he becomes aware of your existence, he will definitely absorb you."
"Eh? But both you and the master behind the Black Mud wanted me to make contact with the 'other me,' right?" Shirou said.
"No, BB-chan would rather Senpai hide away and live a long, peaceful life. BB-chan will protect everything about Senpai. But the Black Mud wishes for it, and perhaps that is the best way," the girl said, sounding a bit dejected.
"Ah, so that's how it is," Shirou nodded and walked over to a chair in the space to sit down.
"Because the White Shirou-senpai can save everything by himself, Chaldea and the Throne of Heroes were deemed unnecessary by default. They were banished to the end of the world along with the Counter Force—everyone is unemployed.
Furthermore, he captured the 'Beasts'—the manifestations of human evil—that appeared in the world. Like the Black Mud, which is like Tiamat's child, or the Demon Pillars that branched
off from the Demon King... no, it would be more accurate to say that all existences related to human evil probably hate Shirou-senpai the most."
"That's quite an exaggeration," Shirou said with a laugh.
"The Counter Force, whether it's Alaya on the human side or Gaia on the Earth's side... though they haven't reached the point of trying to eliminate him directly, they both feel the threat of the White Shirou-senpai.
So the Counter Force has begun taking measures, like transferring you to various worlds to make contact with the Black Mud Heroic Spirits—that was their doing.
Although the White Shirou-senpai's current behavior is like that of a savior of humanity, his power is like a time bomb. He keeps increasing the number of worlds and transferring humans who were supposed to be destroyed; eventually, a problem will arise. It's like the space of the universe; it seems to be expanding at a certain speed, so humans can't perceive its boundaries and feel it is infinite. But even the universe has an end called 'Heat Death.' When the worlds that can be created are no longer infinite, problems will emerge. When the unfortunate people can no longer be transferred, all worlds may be affected by the fluctuations. So one day, the White Shirou-senpai will be ended, and everything he has done will go to waste," the purple-haired girl said sadly.
"So, the only one who can stop him is me, since I am the same person," Shirou interjected.
"Yes... the White Senpai is already like a concept. If the Counter Force is the self-protection mechanism of the collective human consciousness, then the God-like Senpai is the highest manifestation of the human collective's desire for heroic salvation. Like a kingdom in another world invaded by a Demon King, drawing a magic circle in hopes of summoning a 'Hero' who will happily run off to defeat the Demon King for a bit of pocket money. When chaos descends, people hope for an omniscient and omnipotent leader who can guide even the mindless to victory. Like the white-haired, white-bearded 'Gandalf,' or an 'Elder' living in seclusion in the mountains with immortal arts unheard of by ordinary men. The White Shirou-senpai is likely something like that.
You could say he is a symbol representing the hope of humanity. As a concept, there is no way to eliminate him. The only one who can defeat Emiya Shirou is Emiya Shirou. But as the starting points, the Emiya Shirous of all worlds have been absorbed into his body.
Fortunately, you are still here, Senpai. It's truly great that you were insignificant enough to be forgotten! If we could hide and live out our lives secretly, BB-chan would be willing to stay by your side," the purple-haired girl said happily, clapping her hands.
"So I was forgotten..." Shirou repeated.
From the moment that man in the white world gained his authority, he gradually forgot everything of the past. He set aside all personal desires, developing more and more toward a selfless, detached state of a creator who treats all things as straw dogs.
But even so, he hoped those important to him could be happy.
He once held a yearning: if all wishes could be fulfilled, what would he want to do? For example, having a warm family, parents still alive, and a cute younger sister. For example, living in a world without war or misfortune, leading a peaceful life.
For example, enjoying a fulfilling school life and making friends who understand each other...
It seemed there were three such created worlds. Previously, at Chaldea, Mash found Shirou; "Gudako" found the Tohsaka there; and the remaining one must be Sakura.
Looking at it this way, perhaps that white-haired man can still be saved.
"I will go meet the 'White Me.' I want to talk to him..." Shirou said with determination.
BB-chan agreed with a smile: "Mhm! A Senpai who has made his resolution is definitely cool! Because you aren't backing down at all, even when facing a version of yourself that is like a god. However, if this continues, Senpai will eventually be swallowed up anyway. If that happens, you won't be able to find happiness. So let's go! To change the future! And to change your entire alternate world!"
At that moment, the room flickered with peach-colored light.
"Time's up!" BB-chan opened the channel again, transferring Shirou to the next space while hiding herself.
"Why are you hiding?" Shirou asked, looking at BB-chan in confusion.
"Senpai, please do your best on your own. There are two 'mes' in here; if I show up as well, it will be a mess," BB-chan said in a hushed voice from behind a window.
"Detecting a magical energy reaction at a new coordinate. Confirming target... is it... Shirou?"
"Shirou-senpai? But we haven't been able to contact him at all until now?"
At that moment, Da Vinci back at Chaldea discovered a familiar signal appearing on the machine and sent a message to the girl with the ponytail. In a space similar to the "battle royale" in the boy's memory, "Gudako" seemed to have been caught up in the fray.
Currently, inside a deep-sea exploration facility, Gudako—who had been sent here to resolve an anomaly—had become separated from the Servants who came with her. She had been attacked by Suzuka Gozen and was then rescued by a girl with long, slender, pointed feet. She had now come face-to-face with this girl named Lilith (Meltryllis).
Flowing long hair, straight-cut bangs, and a blue butterfly ribbon tied on her head. Her appearance was very similar to BB-chan's, though her frame was smaller and more delicate. From her knees down, her legs were sharp, needle-like blades.
She had now spontaneously become Gudako's Servant.
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