Chapter 113. The Black Tower Shoots Straight Into the Sky, The Decisive Battle!
[At the dining table, everyone was enjoying a max level feast, even the homunculus was squinting blissfully.]
[Suddenly.]
["Can that arm still move?"]
[Raku took a sip of miso soup, calmly asking, seemingly with a hint of indifference.]
["It can't." Yukinoshita Yukino quietly gave her answer.]
["Just as I thought…"]
[Raku Sou sighed, "After all, this is a Servant's body. For a mere human to bear it is nothing but a foolish dream. Fortunately, the two of you are one and the same. Otherwise, trying to save your life would truly be too difficult."]
["Listen closely."]
["This arm—just using it once will activate Archer's magic circuit."]
["At that point, unable to withstand the excessive mana, your body will begin to collapse from the inside."]
["Then this cloth is…"]
[Yukinoshita Yukino asked doubtfully, her hand touching the blood-colored bandage , Shroud of Saint Corpse, wrapped around her left arm.]
["A seal."]
[Raku Sou gave the answer.]
["I see… thank you, Sou."]
[The girl was a little melancholy. Though her life was preserved, she had lost her arm.]
[The reattached arm was unusable—wouldn't that mean her combat strength would drop drastically?]
[In the coming catastrophic battle, would she be able to contribute at all?]
["Don't overthink it."]
[Raku Sou softly said, his eyes flashing, already seeing through the confusion in her heart.]
[Immediately after, his expression became much gentler. He smiled brightly and gently patted Yukino's head, recounting the tragic ending of Archer.]
[From weakness and helplessness, step by step growing stronger.]
[She killed him, and killed Kaguya as well.]
[Alone, she walked the path of justice, but justice is a human concept, not something that exists naturally—taken to its extreme, it will inevitably become distorted.]
["Now, what else can I even do?"]
[Yukino was lost, cold.]
[Whether she wanted to become an "Ally of justice", or to protect Raku Sou, power was something she could not lack.]
[Kaguya along with Black Saber, and Gilgamesh—were all enemies that must be defeated.]
[However… fighting in her current state would be nothing but courting death.]
[She feared death, but could still die—only that she must never die in vain!]
["I have a way."]
[Raku Sou stepped forward, leaned close to the girl's ear, and whispered something without making a sound.]
[Yukino's ears instantly turned red, she shot up immediately, her aura like a proud plum blossom standing tall amidst the snow.]
["You want to refuse?"]
["Or do you hate me?"]
[Raku Sou calmly looked at her. Yukinoshita Yukino said nothing, her face blushing as she gazed at him for a long while.]
[This method was indeed feasible. The two sharing mana—given Raku Sou's mana capacity, it was even possible for her to simultaneously open Unlimited Blade Works and use Projection Noble Phantasm to execute a Broken Phantasm…]
[However, wasn't this method a bit too…]
...
"Hehe, mana transfer, right?"
"Just kissing those little lips, and you're this embarrassed?"
Reality—many people made teasing remarks.
The feelings between you two, doing that is totally normal.
[The two went into the bedroom under the curious gazes of the twin maids.]
[Then… those who understand, will understand.]
?!
Seeing the Celestial Curtain suddenly blacked out, everyone widened their eyes, now realizing things weren't so simple.
So it wasn't that kind of mana transfer?
You've got such good content and you're not showing the brothers?
"I'm almost old enough already, what's the big deal with letting me see a bit?!"
Satou Kazuma was bursting with jealousy, his eyes turning bright red from envy.
...
[After a long while, Raku Sou stepped out of the room holding his waist, baring his teeth.]
[As expected of a Pseudo-Servant's body, really damn strong…]
["Yukino, make yam stew with lamb, will you."]
[He looked at the slightly embarrassed girl, his teeth chattering.]
["Umu…"]
[Yukino lowered her head and went out to tell the twin maids to buy some ingredients.]
[Raku Sou took a deep breath. After helping Yukino enhance her combat power, he began to think of how to avoid the ending of Archer's worldline.]
[Jewel Magecraft…?]
[Martial arts…?]
[Mystic Eyes of Death Perception…?]
[None of it seemed to work.]
[Suddenly.]
["Jewel Sword!"]
[Raku Sou's eyes lit up, recalling the blueprint passed down by his ancestors.]
[It was a Mystic Code owned by the Jewel Magician, the pinnacle of Mystic Codes created through Second Magic with limitations—capable of sharing and utilizing mana from the infinite mana source of parallel worlds.]
[If he could obtain that, perhaps there was hope of avoiding mutual destruction with Kaguya.]
[He had previously tried using the blueprint to recreate the Jewel Sword.]
[But the result was less than ideal.]
[But now he had Yukino.]
[With her miraculous-level Projection Magecraft, she might be able to reproduce the Jewel Sword.]
...
In reality, everyone murmured and discussed.
"Jewel Sword, what kind of divine treasure is that?!"
"No idea."
"Being able to borrow mana from an infinite source of parallel worlds, that already sounds…"
"Pretty much an infinite mana pool?"
"Reference Black Saber—infinite mana cannon, beat even Berserker."
"That mysterious Jewel Magician really was covered in treasures."
"So… no one talking about Raku Sou got wrung dry by Yukino huh?"
"LMAO, why is this pervy dude caring about that? Isn't the divine weapon more exciting?"
"I just want ecchi content!"
"If Yukino can Projection the Jewel Sword, then the chance of victory skyrockets, doesn't it?"
...
["It failed."]
The Celestial Curtain rang out with a somewhat gloomy tone.
In that moment, all the chatter instantly ceased, everyone stared in astonishment.
["…Trying to imagine it based only on the blueprint in my head—of course, it's still very difficult."]
[Raku Sou pressed his thumb to his chin, deep in thought. "After all, even within the inheritance of the Shinomiya bloodline, that thing is a secret treasure among secret treasures. But to fight Kaguya, without it, it's absolutely hopeless."]
["I'm sorry." Beside him, Yukinoshita Yukino looked a bit apologetic.]
["No… it's alright. There's another way."]
[Raku Sou smiled gently, softly brushing Yukino's cheek. "Using the memories of the Einzbern, combined with the rotating memory within this land's leyline, we'll use that to Projection the Jewel Sword."]
["With your talent, Yukino, as long as you see the Jewel Sword with your own eyes—you'll definitely be able to replicate it."]
["Huh?"]
[Yukino tilted her head in confusion.]
...
[A while later, guided by Raku Sou, Yukino and the pink-haired Einzbern homunculus arrived at an ancient underground chamber, flickering candle sconces around them, mysterious magic circles etched into the ground.]
[From a dust-covered box, Raku Sou drew a mercury sword wrapped in red cloth and handed it over.]
["This was crafted based on a simulation of the Jewel Sword—it can help you Projection it."]
["Umu."]
[Yukino nodded. She calmly accepted it.]
[Raku Sou had already explained the procedure to her—she just had to empty her thoughts and follow the process.]
["Yukinoshita-sama, preparing to begin."]
[The pink-haired maid solemnly placed a hand on Yukino's shoulder.]
[As Yukino closed her eyes, mana from the void gradually gathered in her consciousness.]
[Her vision slowly faded into blackness.]
...
A grand BGM echoed with a sense of ancient solemnity.
Waves lapped against the shore, golden sand shimmered under the sun's light, drawing all into its scene.
Ancient memories, a bygone era—three silhouettes of magi… finally appeared before everyone's eyes.
It was five hundred years ago.
A tragic story worthy of being recorded in the annals of history.
They were the ancestors of the Matou, Einzbern, and Shinomiya families—two men and one woman—who, in pursuit of a shared grand ideal, had gone through countless hardships, and under the witness of the Jewel Magician — Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg — together created the Holy Grail upon an altar in an underground chamber.
The image of the Jewel Magician appeared for the first time before the eyes of people from various nations.
They saw an old man with silver hair standing tall, wearing a reddish-brown cloak, his expression calm and composed.
Many people suddenly felt a deep sense of admiration.
This figure perfectly matched the image of a wise, stern sage from one's imagination.
...
[Yukinoshita Yukino also looked at him seriously—more precisely, at the sword in his inner robe.]
[——『Jewel Sword』!]
["I believe in your ideal. To reach the Root… Shinomiya, Einzbern, Makiri—your three families shall open the path together!"]
[The Jewel Magician gazed at the three, his expression serene. "Tell me what you are able to offer."]
["The Shinomiya family will provide the leyline used to establish the Holy Grail."]
[A young man with hair long like a waterfall stepped forward, eyes resolute, carrying the passionate aura of a martial artist.]
["The Makiri family will provide the Command Seals, to bind the Servants as sacrificial offerings."]
[A young man with bluish-green hair, like seaweed, stepped forward. His voice was soft yet rang with clarity, containing a force not to be underestimated.]
[That persistence and determination seemed no less than Yukino's—who longed to become an ally of justice.]
...
"Servants are sacrifices…"
In Beika Town, Inspector Megure furrowed his brows, contemplating this horrifying revelation.
In other words… the Holy Grail was, in truth, a deception aimed at the Throne of Heroes—it issued a false promise to lure Heroic Spirits, then used their souls, or something equivalent, as the energy to realize wishes—wasn't it?
...
["The Einzbern family will provide the magic circle used to access the Third Magic."]
[Like a saint, the woman with pure snow-white hair stepped forward.]
["Good… then I, Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg, shall be witness and preside over this ritual."]
[The Jewel Magician's expression grew a bit more solemn. He stood at the front of the altar, his gaze sharper than a hawk's.]
[Immediately after, the white-haired woman stepped toward a deep, gloomy stone altar and calmly lay down. At the same moment came a rumbling sound—as if a crane were slowly lowering something—and a massive stone pillar suddenly dropped straight down.]
[Upon seeing the giant object fall, the white-haired woman smiled—as if her long-cherished wish had finally been fulfilled.]
[This was the ending a true sacrifice ought to have.]
["BOOM!"]
[Amidst the sorrow of the seaweed-haired youth, a crisp, crushing sound rang out.]
[On the stone altar, fresh blood spurted out, flowing and merging into the magic circle beneath the ground.]
[Countless brilliant orange lights rose within the magic diagrams—trembling, magnificent!]
[The Jewel Magician, calm as ever, drew a sword whose blade was studded with countless multifaceted gemstones—beautiful like a rainbow—and gently tapped it against the mysterious stone pillar.]
["Hoo…"]
[At that moment, Yukino's pupils shrank violently, her breathing instinctively turned rapid.]
[The origin of 'the sword'—sealed by the Saint Shroud, its awakening long delayed—was beginning to stir.]
[She had seen it…]
[That sword.]
Swoosh!
Radiant white light suddenly spread across the Celestial Curtain.
...
[The next day, Raku Sou quietly retrieved the Jewel Sword and stored it in the bag behind his back.]
[In the kitchen, Yukinoshita Yukino wore an apron like a housewife, gently smiling as she brought out a bowl of steaming restorative soup.]
[The atmosphere suddenly became cheerful and peaceful.]
[Perhaps it was because they now held a secret weapon against Kaguya.]
[Even if it was just a poor-quality replica created through a reluctant Projection.]
[It could only borrow strength from herself in a parallel world, not from the great mana source of all parallel worlds…]
[But… that was enough!]
[After that.]
[As if making up for regrets of childhood, two figures dashed wildly across the ruins of the city.]
[Riding a spinning wooden horse in the park, drifting on the great river, swimming in a meteor crater spouting underground water...]
[Until dusk fell, the two sat on a toppled building, quietly watching the sunset.]
[Suddenly.]
["RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE…!!"]
[The air trembled across dozens of kilometers, and the ground collapsed.]
[The mountains surrounding Fuyuki slowly sank at first, forming an abyssal gorge.]
[A terrifying aura spread out, carrying a gloomy, icy stench.]
[Before they could react, a towering pagoda—seemingly composed of countless dark branches—slowly rose up, as if it gathered every murderous thought, evil intent, and desire in pan-human history… dense darkness engulfed everything.]
[As though its very existence was meant to expose the crimes humanity has committed since ancient times.]
[Black as obsidian, unfeeling as blood, surging like a tide toward the moon.]
[And then, it pierced the heavens…!]
[The cloud layer was torn open, forming a colossal hole stretching for dozens of kilometers!]
[As if half the sky had been ripped apart, countless brilliant starlights rained down, illuminating all of Fuyuki City in dazzling light, quaking with extreme intensity.]
["That is..."]
[Raku Sou's gaze grew heavy.]
[Looking toward the center of the tower—a pure white, perfectly round orb.]
[It was the true form of the Fuyuki Greater Grail!]
[As expected…]
[Kaguya.]
[Your true goal was never the Holy Grail.]
[That much was obvious—someone with your intellect couldn't possibly be unaware that the Holy Grail has its limits.]
[If that's the case, then no wonder that arrogant king would side with Kaguya.]
[To that lonely, prideful king…]
[All of this was nothing more than a trial bestowed upon humanity.]
[To him, humanity today was too filthy—so he tyrannically and arbitrarily prepared to burn away this entire era and all primate species…]
[Let it burn…]
[Burn it all...!!]
[Only those reborn from the flames are worthy to stand upon the earth again.]
[How arrogant!]
[How insane!]
[No wonder, in mythology, Gilgamesh was betrayed by his own people.]
[It wasn't that he didn't understand the hearts of men, but that he arrogantly imposed his ideals upon them—those who would not be reborn in fire should just die.]
[Clearly, he lost.]
[And the people lost too, hence Uruk's destruction.]
["Yukino, let's go—tonight, it all ends."]
[Raku Sou decisively picked up Yukino in his arms and leapt down from the skyscraper.]
[Unaware of the resolute glint in Yukino's eyes.]
[At night.]
[Inside a house, Raku Sou, Yukino, and Medusa discussed strategy.]
[There had once been many people… now only they remained.]
[Raku Sou's eyes briefly showed a trace of emotion, then he quickly became serious again. He turned to the girl beside him, "Yukino, Saber isn't a good match for you. She counters you too hard. So you'll deal with the golden king."]
["The king's weakness is his arrogance. Though it's an honor to me be acknowledged by such a king, now is clearly not the time—face him and exploit that arrogance."]
["Remember—do not let him draw that sword."]
["Understood."]
[Yukino nodded, listening intently to Raku Sou's instructions.]
["Saber will be Medusa's opponent."]
[Raku Sou turned to look at Medusa's flawless face. "Can you do it, Medusa?"]
[Medusa wore her blindfold—no one could see her expression. Only the faint curl of her lips could be seen: "Saber is so powerful… but if master says so…"]
["I believe in you, Medusa," Raku Sou said seriously.]
[Moments later, Medusa didn't say anything, but the smile on her face was dazzlingly beautiful.]
[Among the enemy's Servants, without a doubt, the most difficult to deal with wasn't the golden king—it was saber.]
[That Hero King was too arrogant, preferring to increase pressure gradually.]
[In contrast, Saber represented absolute violence.]
[Destroying all with overwhelming might!]
...
[Late at night, all was still.]
[Yukino suddenly opened her eyes. She silently got up, not waking anyone, and headed toward that black tower.]
[She was the one who started it.]
[Then she would also be the one to end it!]