Let's Talk About Saving the World

...Take this!

Enemies eliminated. Good work.

Understood. Please keep moving forward.

After the Incineration of Humanity, we can't ignore even a small Singularity.

I know you're busy, but destroying them when they're small is much more effective.

Yes, both Master and I agree.

This time, Amakusa is helping us, so we should be fine.

Please think nothing of it. A Servant that only speaks in irony would have been finished long ago.

Make full use of me.

Doctor, are we going the right way?

Of course. Once you're through that forest you'll find a cave.

Please calm down, Master. Easy does it.

Patience is important as well. I've been patient for 60 years, so I can be sure of it.

...60 years?

That's the right answer, Master. Hurrying won't lead to good results.

...Especially in this unknown forest. We should be cautious since we don't know what lives here.

？！

I've been meaning to ask. Amakusa, why do you use Black Keys?

They didn't exist in the place and time you were alive in, right?

？！

They're the Holy Church's Craft Essence. I don't know the details, but it's some kind of ranged weapon that uses Bible fragments.

There's no record of you belonging to the Holy Church, and that technology hadn't been imported into Japan at that time...

Oh, it's simple.

I incarnated during a certain Holy Grail War, then joined the Holy Church after.

Wha

You what!?

You incarnated...? There are records of some Servants have been incarnated through the power of the Grail, but...

But what I just described contradicts the records in this world. Perhaps what I went through was some occurrence brought forth by an impossible process.

Even so, this form is without a doubt my most useful form as a Servant.

Normally, I am a third-rate Servant who can't even become a Ruler.

The best I could possibly hope for is to be a Caster.

Hahahaha. No way. I'd die.

Mages from the Age of Gods are like... Well, if they are a motorcycle, modern mages like us would be regular bicycles.

Besides, I'm probably more of a simple spellcaster.

I don't treat magecraft as something mystical. To me, it's just useful.

...Well, it seems like there are other Servants who feel the same way.

Edison, huh...

... ...

I just got an epiphany where a "Shin Amakusa Shirou," conceptually improved with Rocket Arms, is revealed...

？！

But if you don't have the right to be summoned as a Ruler, how can you appear as a Ruler now?

Oh, it's simple.

Because, in the Holy Grail War where I was incarnated, my Master broke the rules.

Normally Rulers are an eighth class. Their role is to mediate the Holy Grail War; their Master is the Grail itself.

It is a Ruler's duty to remain neutral.

...But my Master ignored all that and tried to summon one directly. Master wanted to win the war, see.

A normal Ruler, summoned during a regular Holy Grail War, possesses Command Spells that affect all participating Servants.

...Spells so powerful they can even be used to order Servants to commit suicide.

As such, making a Ruler into a familiar would, in my Master's eyes, guarantee victory in the war.

...And so that's what my Master didwith me. My summoning as a Ruler was a violation of the rules. It shouldn't have happened.

...But because it did, I was able to be summoned as a Ruler from there on out. I suppose I gained that right.

Of course, unless it's an urgent matter such as restoring humanity, it's almost impossible to summon me...

I see.

...So you weren't summoned as a Ruler because you naturally had the right.

You were summoned as one because there was a precedence from some other time.

So then if that is the story, regardless to the particulars, it established a pathway to call you in this form again.

The second summoning was probably much easier.

I couldn't win the Holy Grail War I participated in, but through a series of coincidences I gained a physical body.

...Oh! It looks like this is not the time to be talking about the past.

Oops, I was so invested in the story I stopped paying attention!

Yeah... Incoming enemies! Watch out!

Doctor, you're a little late!

To be honest, I've never performed any miracles.

I-Is that so?

But legends unmistakably state that Amakusa Shirou performed miracles...

In that sense... Yes, I performed something magical.

But I did that subconsciously. My own body didn't realize what it was doing.

But faith is a strange thing. After I died and became a Heroic Spirit, I was able to perform miracles.

By miracles, I mean my original Noble Phantasms, "Right Hand - Evil Eater" and "Left Hand - Xanadu Matrix."

？！

Yes, you have the right idea.

Fou!?

Hehehe, I do feel a strange sympathy towards Sakata Kintoki and Fuuma Kotarou.

I invited Lu Bu too, but...

!!!!

I see. That's pretty golden!

Kintoki, what did Lu Bu say?

Well...

"Unfortunately, my Noble Phantasm's name is art, brought to life with strong will and passion. It cannot be changed."

Lame!

So I couldn't get Lu Bu to join. What a shame.

Hahaha. I see Chaldea's Servants are developing some relationships we don't know about.

Something tells me that's no laughing matter... But I suppose it's a good thing if it makes it easier to work together!

...Still, I'm surprised to learn that Amakusa Shirou was a spellcaster.

And by "spellcaster," I suppose you mean you never actually learned magecraft properly, correct?

Yes. It was one of those very rare natural occurrences.

I was born with the ability to use magecraft. However, no one around me could tell its true nature...

And so I was worshipped as a miracle.

Perhaps Mori Souiken kept the rumors from spreading too far.

At this point, there's no way to know the truth...

From what you're telling me about your magecraft and its uniqueness, the Mage's Association at the time wouldn't have let you be, no.

In any case, it was all in the pastwhen I was alive. For now, let's focus on saving this world.

？！

Yes. I will save everyone. No matter what atrocities they may have committed.

You really are a saint...

No, I'm not. Besides, I'm not recognized as one by the Church.

I try to be one. However, there are things I must let go of in order to reach that point.

...Hatred. As long as I have hatred in my heart, I will never be a saint.

Of course, some people, like Jeanne d'Arc, are basically born saints.

Jeanne doesn't seem to think of herself as a saint.

I hear people teasing her about that sometimes.

How she sees herself and how others see her are two different things.

No matter what she believes, I believe she is a saint.

...Of course, she probably wishes I didn't.

Come to think of it, are you related to Jeanne d'Arc somehow?

You're both Rulers, but you don't seem to get along too well.

Oh, that's...

...I'll keep that a secret. It has to do with both of our core beliefs.

...Fou!?

Wait! The Singularity in that cave is rapidly establishing itself!

It's fast... What is this!? Hurry! Something bad is happening!

...!

This is...!

A tainted Grail!? What's this doing here?

Be careful! The black mud coming out of it corrupts Servants!

...Hmm.

Calm down, please. We can just blow it away before it establishes itself.

Th-That's true, but...!

？！

With Noble Phantasms, of course. It will be a race against time, but...

I won't let you do it, Ruler...! This Grail is mine!

No! That's no human!

It's a remnant of a record, created by the Grail mud!

No, no. No, no, no. What would a Japanese monster be doing here?

It's probably the remnants of a record created by the Grail mud.

？！

...Not exactly a common occurrence, but anyway...! Just don't hold back against it!

Oh, it's possible it's someone I fought during the Holy Grail War. But I'm sorry, I don't remember that well.

But if he's here...

You... You want this too, don't you! If this Grail fully forms, it will be a powerful weapon!

One that surpasses the Fuyuki Grail!

...Master, let's destroy him. Talking to him is a waste of time.

Here we go!

Enemy defeated. Confirmed elimination.

Whoa, whoa! Hurry! The Pseudo-Grail's like a volcano about to explode!

As soon as it explodes, it will properly establish itself as a Holy Grail.

Activating Noble Phantasm. Please stand back.

...Something else came out of the mud!

They just keep coming...!

Hey pretty boy. Is this my first time meeting you? It is, right?

I'm a sewer rat, born from the mud. I got no business with a saint!

But... I see. I can see you've led a hard life.

That Heroic Spirit smell you're giving off is pretty damn close to my own!

And that exhaustion you just can't shake? Clear as day! That tired state of mind leaves you open to danger...

...but I guess we can't help it!

You chose to go through all that! Nobody will sympathize with you!

You're right. I have no intention of seeking sympathy. If anything, I am the one who sympathizes with others.

Seriously? Damn, you think just like our new recruit!

An iron will... No, more like the power to get things done, eh? I'm weak to that stuff. In the sense that it makes me want to puke.

So...? My being born means that someone here wants this Grail...

Who is it? Who's the tasteless human? You?

？！

I know, right!? I mean, didn't think it'd be you!

And it's not that delicious tender-looking Servant over there, either.

Tender-looking?

Which leaves... Hey now, saint.

Are you serious about joining our side? Only bad guys want the Grail. Everyone knows that.

Huh...? A-Amakusa?

Hahahaha. Hey, you're kidding me.

...Amakusa?

...Don't worry about me. I know how to deal with Grails.

I will take this Grail and make good use of it.

What... Are you insane!? That's highly corrupted matter!

Even the resistance power of a Ruler has its limits!

You'll be corrupted instantly!

Yes, I'm well aware of that.

But even if it means taking risks... I can't give up on saving the world.

So I'll try to do so every chance I get.

Wait a minute... You want to use the power of destruction to save the world? You might as well start the doomsday clock right now.

No human, good or evil, can handle the power to save the world.

Right, Master? Did my words move you?

Right???

Hey now! You may have a point, but still, that hurts!

？！

...That mud is right. However, not giving up in the face of adversity is exact what's necessary for salvation.

Master, please decide.

Will you let me take care of this incomplete Grail?

...I figured. Then I'm sorry, but...

I see. That leaves me no choice.

？！

In that case, let's have ourselves a good old-fashioned Holy Grail War. Winner takes all.

Hahahahaha! Man, you really are like our new recruit!

Especially the way you'll do whatever it takes!

But our black-caped recruit always puts so much effort into aesthetics.

You're colder, and more efficient. Which makes you impossible to persuade.

Master, you're gonna have to defeat him.

And when a Ruler gets out of hand, what you need is an Avenger to stop them!

Lucky you! You won the chance to try out a rare dark Servant!

I won't last the night anyway. Might as well die in style!

Let's go, Boss!

...It seems... I'm the one who lost this fight.

But the Grail...!

This is bad. I'm getting you all out of there now!

Without a way to destroy it, you have no choice but to evacuate...!

No, I will destroy it. Now that I've lost, this is my way of taking responsibility.

...My conversation with you was worthwhile, Aŋra Mainiiu. Farewell.

Yeah? If it helped you vent a bit, then I guess it was worth the risk.

I'll let you clean up after yourselves. I'm a slacker at heart, you know. Don't go knocking on my door too often!

Activating Noble Phantasm. Twin Arm - Big Crunch...!

...That was a close one.

Indeed. But unfortunately, I don't feel bad at all.

Now then... Fujimaru, you're his Master.

Since he's rebelled against you, it's up to you to decide on his punishment.

...

？！

Is that all?

(Sigh) I had a feeling you'd say something like that...

Master. To me, the Grail isno, the power the Grail brings is my greatest desire.

If the same thing happens again, I can say with almost certainty that I'll try once more for the Grail.

？！

It can't be...helped...?

...Um, if it happens again, what will you do, Master?

Will you stop me again?

？！

I see... We'll never see eye to eye on this matter.

？！

What did you say?

？！

As long as you're my Master, you'll stop me? As many times...as it takes?

Well, that's a problem. As a Servant, I cannot betray my Master.

...Very well. As long as you're my Master, I won't pursue my dream.

Even if we can't understand each other, we can fight together. Even if we must someday part, we can still hold hands.

If you will believe in me like that, I swear that I won't give in to my desire.

...Anyway, at least give me some form of punishment.

It wouldn't sit well with me otherwise.

？！

Thank you, Master.

I, Amakusa Shirou Tokisada, will give your room the best cleaning ever!