Fate: Question And Answer System of Traversing Heroic Spirits

Everyone ignored the bickering between Gilgamesh and Ishtar and quickly made their choices.

[The time for answering the questions ended, and the video resumed.]

[The light outside the pure white window began to fade, giving way to a creeping darkness. Emiya Kiritsugu stood by, watching it all with a bitter expression.]

["We can no longer find walnut sprouts."]

[Kiritsugu whispered softly, holding 'Illya' in his arms.]

["It's fine."]

['Illya' smiled warmly and said, "As long as Illya can stay with Papa and Mama, that's enough."]

["Thank you."]

[Kiritsugu murmured, his voice trembling slightly. "Daddy loves Illya very much too. That much, I swear is true."]

["Goodbye."]

[Before the gentle words could even sink in, Kiritsugu raised his gun and shot 'Illya' in the head without hesitation.]

["Illya!"]

[The moment this happened, 'Irisviel,' who had been lying on the bed, screamed and rushed forward to hold 'Illya's' lifeless body in her arms. Tears streamed down her face as she glared at Kiritsugu in anguish.]

["Why? Why would you take Illya away from us?!"]

["Bang!"]

[Without a word, Kiritsugu grabbed 'Irisviel' by the neck, pinning her with merciless strength. Her struggling voice turned sharp, filled with hatred.]

["Why did you reject the Holy Grail? Why would you reject us?"]

['Irisviel' gnashed her teeth, her voice breaking as her tears fell like rain.]

["Compared to 6 billion people, the lives of two are insignificant. Isn't that what you told me just moments ago?"]

[Kiritsugu's hands trembled, his grip tightening as tears streamed down his own face.]

["I will save the world… no matter what."]

["Crack."]

[The sound of 'Irisviel's' neck snapping echoed eerily in the now-silent room.]

Kayneth: "Hiss… Emiya Kiritsugu, your ruthlessness knows no bounds."

Sola-ui: "You're a terrifying man."

Waver: "Even though I know they're fake, you… acted so decisively."

Iskandar: "What's so shocking about it? War is the same. If you hesitate, you lose everything."

The First Emperor: "Agreed. The inability to make a decision only leads to disaster."

Emiya Kiritsugu: "..."

Irisviel: "Kiritsugu, don't worry. What you did was the right choice."

Tohsaka Tokiomi: "So, Emiya Kiritsugu… you've chosen to reject the Holy Grail?"

Kotomine Risei: "Even knowing there's something wrong with the Grail, you refused it without hesitation. Admirable, though tragic."

Artoria: "Perhaps now it's over…"

Gilgamesh: "Over? Ha! You think it's that simple? Just wait. This foul thing won't let him go that easily."

["Curse you. Curse you, Emiya Kiritsugu!"]

[As the surrounding world dissolved into shadows, the 'Irisviel' before him transformed into a grotesque black figure. Its glowing eyes brimmed with hatred as it stared at Kiritsugu.]

["I curse you! You will die in pain and regret!"]

[The ominous roar of the black figure echoed as the video shifted back to reality.]

Iskandar: "That thing… that's the evil of this world, isn't it?"

Kayneth: "It seems to possess its own consciousness. This is truly Angra Mainyu, this isn't some ordinary magical phenomenon."

Tohsaka Tokiomi: "Impossible! How could such a being exist within the Holy Grail?"

Tokiomi's disbelief stemmed from the long history of the Tohsaka family's involvement in the Holy Grail War. Alongside the Einzberns and Matou families, their ancestors had co-created the ritual.

Tohsaka Tokiomi: "The first three Holy Grail Wars had no such issues. Where did this 'Angra Mainyu' come from?"

Irisviel, equally confused, shared his sentiments. Her family had no record of such an entity being part of the Holy Grail.

["Well…"]

[In the basement, Kotomine Kirei slowly opened his eyes. Kiritsugu, who had awoken earlier, stood behind him, a gun aimed squarely at his head.]

[Kotomine Kirei: "What a dull ending. Why did you reject it?" ]

["You saw it too, didn't you?"]

[Kiritsugu frowned, his voice low.]

[Kotomine Kirei: "You've sacrificed everything to reach this point. You've paid an enormous price for your wish, so why throw it all away now?" ]

[His tone was mocking yet tinged with genuine confusion.]

["It's so incomprehensible… it's absurd."]

[Kiritsugu: "Because what it demands in sacrifice is far heavier than what it can provide in return." ]

[Kiritsugu's voice was calm but firm.]

["That thing is no universal wish-granting device."]

["Then give it to me!"]

[Kirei's expression twisted as he erupted in desperation.]

["Even if it's useless to you, it has value to me!"]

[Kirei's voice cracked as he confessed.]

["If it can be born, then the emptiness in my heart might finally be filled!"]

"Hah…"

Kirei's present self let out a bitter laugh, watching the video alongside the others.

Kirei's reaction mirrored his own from years ago—lost, confused, and desperate to find meaning. But now, with hindsight, he understood how foolish his plea had been. Chihiro's words rang clear in his mind: Gilgamesh's 'answers' were nothing but poisoned indulgence.

He was never going to resolve his inner turmoil. He'd only been toying with damnation itself.

["He wanted to live… to be born."]

[In the video, Kirei rambled like a madman, his voice unhinged.]

["Please, don't kill him! This is…"]

["Bang!"]

[Kiritsugu fired, silencing Kirei with a single shot to the head.]

[Kiritsugu: "You're the one who's truly incomprehensible." ]

[As Kirei's body collapsed lifelessly, the scene shifted to the stage above.]

[Artoria, wounded and weary, finally arrived, but her expression was devoid of triumph.]

["Iri…"]

[Her voice was soft, pained, as she looked at the grotesque form of the Holy Grail. No joy stirred within her at its sight only an overwhelming sense of sorrow.]

[For in this single night, she had lost everything she wanted to protect.]

["You're late, Saber."]

[The familiar, condescending voice rang out as Gilgamesh appeared on the stage, unscathed and exuding his usual arrogance.]

["It's truly impolite to make me wait this long. You've kept me occupied with a familiar mad dog for far too long."]

Tohsaka Rin: "This guy is seriously the worst. He's been here the whole time but didn't lift a finger to help his Master."

Waver: "Wait. But if Kirei is dead, then how is Gilgamesh still here?"

Gilgamesh: "Hmph. Such things have no bearing on me."

Chihiro: "As a Servant with Independent Action, Gilgamesh can exist in the world without a Master for some time. It's part of his nature as an Archer-class Servant."

Gilgamesh: "You're well-informed, mongrel."

Waver: "No wonder he treats his Master like trash. He doesn't even need one."

["Archer!"]

[Artoria's tone was sharp, her frustration bubbling to the surface as she glared at Gilgamesh. The last thing she wanted to see now was his smug face.]

["Why the scowl? You look like a mongrel begging for scraps."]

[Artoria ignored his taunts, surging forward in a desperate charge.]

[But before she could even reach him, she was struck down. A weapon from Gilgamesh's *Gate of Babylon* pierced her leg, forcing her to collapse to the ground.]

["Even covered in resentment, you remain so radiant."]

[Gilgamesh smirked, raising his hand as if addressing a prize.]

["Surrender, Saber. Lay down your sword."]

["Why cling to something as pointless as this so-called miracle, the Holy Grail?"]

[What followed was an unbearably long exchange, dripping with arrogance on Gilgamesh's part.]

Tohsaka Rin: "Is this… a proposal? It's so weird."

Waver: "This isn't a proposal, it's coercion. Forced marriage, if anything."

Chihiro: "No, this is worse. This is outright forcing someone into submission, like treating her as a prize rather than a person."

Artoria: "Gilgamesh, you…!"

The fury in Artoria's voice was palpable. Watching the events of the video, her patience finally snapped. She had always addressed him with the respect due to a Heroic Spirit, referring to him as Gilgamesh or Archer. But now, enraged by his vulgar actions and arrogance, she dropped all formality.

Artoria: "You disgusting golden fool!"

Her uncharacteristic outburst stunned the others momentarily, but one voice soon joined in support.

Lancelot: "Gilgamesh, how dare you humiliate my king in such a way!"

Lancelot: "This is an affront to the honor of the Knights of the Round Table! Consider this a declaration of war! You'll answer to us!"

Gilgamesh: "Hah! A mongrel knight dares to speak before me?"

Gilgamesh: "You, a mad dog, presume to make threats in my presence? You have no place to speak."

Lancelot: "I am no longer under the madness of Berserker. I see clearly now. And mark my words, this insult will not go unanswered."

Artoria: "Gilgamesh, I will remember this. I won't forget your arrogance or your twisted behavior. Next time, I won't let this go unanswered!"

Gilgamesh: "Humph. If you wish to challenge me, then come, King of Knights. But remember, you face the King of Heroes. Be prepared to kneel before me."

Ishtar: "Hahaha, Gilgamesh, you really outdid yourself this time. I always wondered if you even cared about women."

Gilgamesh: "Hmph. My interests or lack thereof are no concern of yours, useless goddess."

Ishtar: "Oh, don't pretend you're above it all. This entire spectacle just confirms what I've suspected: you're incapable of forming genuine connections. No wonder you drove away everyone who mattered to you."

Gilgamesh: "You dare lecture me?"

Chihiro: "Gilgamesh, tell me… what would Enkidu think if they saw this?"

Chihiro: "You don't want Enkidu to see this, do you? Can you imagine their reaction if they joined the group and heard about how you tried to force Artoria into being your queen?"

Gilgamesh: "You insolent fool! If you dare bring this up to Enkidu, I will see to it that you're obliterated beyond salvation!"

For the first time, a trace of guilt crept into the Hero King's tone as he spoke. The mere thought of Enkidu knowing about this seemed to unnerve him.

Chihiro: "Oh? But it's already in the video, isn't it? When Enkidu joins, they'll see it for themselves. Maybe I should give them a little summary ahead of time, though. Wouldn't want them to miss anything."

Gilgamesh: "Silence! Say another word, and I'll scatter your existence to the winds!"

***

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