The earth slowly stirred, a glimmer of dawn breaking the night's silence, a fervent heart beating to greet…
In short, with the victor decided, the nightmarish ordeal finally ended. The sky cleared, and a crimson sunrise rose over Fuyuki City.
Everything had come to a close.
Facing Roy, with Scáthach at his side and his overwhelming power, Kirei Kotomine and Kiritsugu Emiya dared not voice any objections.
With the King of Heroes and the King of Knights already gone, these two, stripped of their Servants, had lost their qualifications as Masters.
Initially, they'd schemed to seize the Grail while Roy and Scáthach were occupied or defeated by Gilgamesh—a brazen, almost suicidal move. Now, even if Roy had Scáthach kill them, they wouldn't be surprised.
Objections? They wouldn't dare.
Kiritsugu, who'd lost his wife and partner, initially resigned himself to dying at Roy's hands to reunite with his family. But recalling Irisviel's dying wish for Illya's happiness, and Kirei's advice to seek redemption before atoning for past sins, he cooled his head. Fearing the Einzberns' inhumane treatment might turn Illya into a Lesser Grail like her mother, he chose to live.
Sometimes, living required greater resolve than death. Kirei had no objections either; he lacked the burning desire for the Grail other Masters had.
Roy's plan to use the Grail to repair the war's damage was something Kirei approved of. If he'd won the Grail, he'd likely make the same wish.
As for sending his professor's soul to the Root…
Roy kindly explained that only with seven Servants' souls and the Grail's current mana could the true path to the Root be opened.
Kirei glanced at Scáthach, sharpening her spear like a butcher eyeing prey, and Roy, smirking as if ready to vaporize them with his staff. The power gap was insurmountable; that wish was unrealistic.
They could see Roy's inquiry was mere formality. He wasn't seeking their input—he was informing them.
With their silent nods, Roy raised the Grail atop Fuyuki's gymnasium, channeling its mana to commune with its will.
—What is your wish?
"Undo the harm this war caused the world. Revive all the kind people who died. To clarify, 'good' doesn't mean saintly—just innocent people, not vile evildoers."
Roy added, cautious not to leave loopholes.
He didn't want to accidentally revive scourges like Ryuunosuke Uryuu or Matou Zouken, leaving threats to the world.
—Are you sure, child? With my current mana, I could fulfill any wish in this world.
"Can you send me home?"
—No.
"That's 'any wish'?" —
I said any wish in this world. Beyond it is outside my power.
"Fine. Without sacrificing Scáthach, can you… send me to the Root?"
—Yes. Others' souls need a sacrifice, but not you. Outsider, Outer God, visitor from another world—your soul and status can easily reach the Root. Two beings there are curious about you. Want to meet them?
"No."
Roy shook his head, refusing. "I was just asking. Reaching the Root holds no appeal for me. That's a mage's pursuit, not mine. I do what I want."
Besides…
He could guess who awaited at the Root without being told.
Shiki Ryougi and Manaka Sajyou?
Their stance toward him was unclear, but as an Outsider, per Zelretch's warning, he knew his standing with Alaya.
A thorn in their side, enough to summon a Grand Servant.
He had no desire to prance to the Root and meet Shiki or Manaka. If he couldn't return, he'd be doomed.
—Then what's your true wish?
"I'm human, a mage. I can create miracles with my hands, but reversing life and death requires your power. Help me."
"Fix the mess this war caused. And, to stress again, Justeaze, don't revive Matou Zouken—or Marisbury Zolgen—out of sentiment. He should stay dead; it's his best funeral."
—You… Fine, I won't disturb his rest. After this wish, I, Nagato Tohsaka, and Marisbury Zolgen, the Grail's original founders, will vanish from this world.
"Good. No tricks."
—But this wish is massive. It'll consume nearly all the mana Zelretch drew from parallel worlds. Is that okay?
Roy nodded. "It's fine. Use it all. Reversing life and death is a true miracle."
—No regrets?
He shook his head. "Nothing to regret. You couldn't grant my wish anyway. I gained much in this war. The mana was Zelretch's to begin with; returning it to fix the world is fair."
—You're a kind deity.
"Deity? I'm not. Call me Roy or Outsider, not Outer God. Please, Justeaze."
With his final words, Roy raised the Grail, channeling Zelretch's mana—rivaling centuries of Fuyuki's leylines—to reverse life and death.
—Ding!!
As the wish was made, the Grail in Roy's hands shone brilliantly.
Then—
A torrent of mana erupted, a white curtain enveloping the city instantly.
The boundary of life and death reversed in that moment.
"What's this?"
Watching the descending white curtain, time seemed to rewind—ruined buildings restored, the dead revived.
Kiritsugu and Kirei rubbed their eyes, awed.
Was this the Grail's true power?
It achieved the miracle of reversing life and death.
Below, Scáthach, arms crossed, smiled at Roy making his wish, the earth bathed in white light.
"Is this the Grail's miracle? Truly, you're the rightful victor, Master."
The vast mana dissipated rapidly. The wish to reverse life and death reached the realm of True Magic, depleting even centuries of mana.
The world healed swiftly, the kind revived, destruction's traces fading.
The shattered boundary of mystery and science was restored.
From now on, mystery would remain mystery, science would remain science.
…
"The right choice, herald of death's knell, Outsider astray in this world. Your fate hasn't reached its end; your bell hasn't tolled."
Not far from Roy—mere meters from everyone—blue flames rose, illuminating a skeletal mask. An aged voice murmured in the dark.
A black greatsword pierced the ground, leaving a deep mark. Watching Roy's wish and choice, he nodded, his white skull mask showing faint satisfaction.
Yet, despite his proximity and towering presence, no one noticed him—not even Scáthach. No one sensed someone standing there, observing everything from start to finish.
"Hm?"
Hearing something, Scáthach's sharp instincts turned her toward the darkness, adopting a combat stance. An ominous feeling had stirred since earlier, as if something lurked, watching.
But despite searching with Runes, she found only air, surprising her.
After repeated failures, she dismissed it as paranoia, perhaps from the tension after fighting Gilgamesh.
Unnoticed, the blue flames and white skull vanished into shadow, departing the era.
Silently awaiting the next moment to act.
…
…
Soon after, by Fuyuki's streets.
"It's over…"
Kirei walked thoughtfully along the restored streets.
Seeing the city whole again, his expression and gaze grew complex.
He touched his chest.
He could feel something beating within, as if he'd truly come alive again.
After all this, Kirei could independently ponder the answers to his past confusions.
What is redemption?
What is the true self?
What is living?
He'd found them all, feeling better than ever.
Thinking this, Kirei clenched his fists, planning his next steps.
First, to the TV station to check if civilians remembered the events, to soothe and resolve any issues.
Then to the hospital to confess his shame to his father and vow atonement.
Finally, to his professor's home to see if he'd revived. If so, Kirei would kneel, accept any punishment. If Tokiomi hadn't revived, he'd care for his daughter and wife, telling Rin the truth when she grew up, then face his end calmly.
Anything else…
Right, Karen.
He'd reunite with his daughter, long apart. Once clueless about fatherhood, he now understood.
Rin might kill him someday, but before then, he'd fulfill his neglected fatherly duties, give Karen a childhood, tell her the truth, and let her take his place in the Eighth Sacrament—a father-daughter legacy.
His once aimless life now had a clear purpose and meaning.
Smiling, Kirei quickened his pace.
Oh, and the Origin Bullet in his body needed removal at the hospital. Carrying it so long was taking a toll.
But as Kirei planned his future—
"Pfft!!" A sharp pain struck his abdomen. Looking down, a silver dagger pierced through from behind, its cold sting and agony widening his eyes.
"Surprised, Kirei?"
A familiar man's voice came from behind.
Turning, Kirei saw Tokiomi Tohsaka's cold face.
Having betrayed his mentor, Kirei now reaped his karma.
Unlike when he stabbed Tokiomi, Kirei felt little pain, anger, struggle, or hatred.
Seeing that familiar face, he wore a relieved expression.
Facing Tokiomi's vengeful questions, blood spilled from Kirei's mouth, yet he smiled calmly.
"I'm sorry, professor Tokiomi. For the past… I'm truly sorry. But seeing you alive… is wonderful…"
Without resistance, he let his body slump, lying quietly in Fuyuki's alley, closing his eyes.
Feeling life fade, Kirei reviewed his existence.
Confusion, pain, depravity, joy, awakening, redemption, release…
What a tumultuous life.
But this was fine. He'd atoned and could finally rest.
Finding redemption in his final moments was enough.
"…"
Watching Kirei bleed out, Tokiomi's expression grew complex, his hands trembling.
Gritting his teeth, he wanted to finish Kirei, repaying his deeds.
But recalling Kirei's words to Kiritsugu in the gymnasium, his resolve, and his own rescue by Kariya Matou, Tokiomi wavered. He couldn't strike.
"It's over…"
"We're even, Kirei."
Tossing the bloodied dagger aside, Tokiomi left his final words to the dying man, turning away coldly, ignoring Kirei's last breath.
After all this, Kirei wasn't the only one changed. Tokiomi had gained insight and made his choice.
Having faced death and betrayal, his desire for the Grail and the Root had waned. Seeing Kirei's transformation, repentance, and relief stirred old mentor-student bonds.
"It's all over."
Tokiomi understood much, thinking of his beautiful wife, two lovely daughters, and…
Kariya Matou's annoying face.
Damn you, who asked you to save me? Don't think I'll approve of you!
You could beat or kill me, and I wouldn't care—my life's yours. But…
Hmph, dreaming of Aoi? You're far off!
This time, he wouldn't neglect his family or forget his promises. Only he could give Aoi happiness!
"The Grail's in better hands, fulfilling its purpose. I've no regrets… Ancestors, bear witness…"
Tokiomi shook his head, pulling out a family photo in his watch, smiling. "Looking at it, my lifelong wish… isn't so urgent."
He was relieved entrusting Sakura to the remarkable Crowley head. At least in choosing her adoptive family, he hadn't erred.
Dawn had broken…
After wandering so long, it was time to go home.
He missed his wife's tea… He'd savor it and sleep well.
Smiling, free of confusion, Tokiomi walked toward the sunrise, homeward.
In the alley he left—
Soon after…
"Hey! Hold on, mister! I've called an ambulance; I'm taking you to the hospital."
Kirei, bleeding out, opened his bleary eyes at a red-haired youth's urgent call.
"…I'm… not dead?" he murmured.
"Not yet! Hang in there! You've lost a lot of blood, but I'll get you to the hospital."
"…Who… are you?"
In his haze, he saw a youth's concerned face.
"I'm Shirou Fujimaru, a student passing by. I saw you bleeding and came to help. Don't talk too much; save your strength."
The youth, Shirou Fujimaru, cautioned.
Kirei didn't mind. He doubted the boy's frail frame could carry him to the hospital.
"Why… save me?"
"Ha? Does saving need a reason? You needed help. What kind of question is that? If someone needs aid, you help."
"Haha… Right… Saving doesn't need a reason…"
Hearing the boy, Kirei smiled contentedly, understanding fully. Closing his eyes, leaning on the boy's back, he heard ambulance sirens before passing out.
That day, he grasped his life's meaning and…
Met a true hero of justice.
It was wonderful…
…
…
At the end of the Age of Gods.
By the Mesopotamian plateau's riverbank.
A golden-haired man emerged from the river after bathing.
His crimson eyes fell on a shed snakeskin on the shore.
"Hahaha!!"
Laughing heartily, he dressed and set off for Uruk without lingering.
"What an interesting kid. A memorable encounter for this king. Don't die too soon, mongrel, or your soul becomes my treasure."
"We'll meet again soon."
***
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