272 Farewell

Kiritsugu leaned against a tree, a half-burned cigarette in his hand.

His lifeless eyes stared at the sparsely lit Fuyuki in the distance. His once upright spine, resembling a pine tree, now seemed bent, as if aging several decades in an instant.

The hope he had pursued for over twenty years had shattered. At this moment, his heart held only endless confusion.

Where should the road to the future lead?

Continue as before?

He looked down at his hands, but could he, by himself, save many lives?

Or was the path of a hero of justice doomed to fail?

If that were the case, what meaning did his past twenty-nine years of life hold?

"What a nonsense."

As if penetrating Kiritsugu's mind, a newcomer ruthlessly criticized.

"Your past life is nothing but a pile of crap."

Arkhan reached out, grabbing Kiritsugu by the collar, and pulling him up without mercy.

"In the end, what makes you think you can save everyone? Who do you think you are, Emiya Kiritsugu?"

Arkhan questioned Kiritsugu with a cold tone.

"Because... that's my... reason for existing..." Kiritsugu replied hesitantly.

"Hmph, a reason for existing? If that's the case, let me ask you." Arkhan pointed to the sky. "When that thing appeared just now, why didn't you come forward and stop it by yourself?"

"..." Kiritsugu opened his mouth but couldn't utter a word.

"Because you know damn well you can't do it." Arkhan's pitch-black pupils stared directly at Kiritsugu's eyes. "So remember this, Emiya Kiritsugu, you're just an ordinary, insignificant, powerless mortal. You have no right to decide life and death because you don't have that capability; it's a responsibility you can't bear."

"That's why I wanted... to rely on miracles..." Kiritsugu retorted as he turned his head away.

"Then let me ask you, was it the so-called miracle you spoke of that repelled that thing just now?" Arkhan's eyes narrowed slightly. "No, it was us, the power called humanity! Because you couldn't do it, so we came. What you can't accomplish, you leave to others who can; what one person can't do, you leave to a group of people. There's no such thing as a hero in this world because everyone can be a hero. Do you still not understand this simple truth?"

—There's no such thing as a hero in this world because everyone can be a hero.

Arkhan's words pierced through Kiritsugu's bewildered heart like a sword. It wasn't until this moment that he finally woke up to reality.

The so-called hero didn't refer to an individual but a belief!

Yet, he was foolishly thinking of sullying that belief with something as casual as miracles. What a naive fool he was!

"This world has over six billion people, and even now, there are many out there trying to save this seemingly hopeless world in their own ways... Everyone's power is limited, so..." Arkhan gently released Kiritsugu. "You just need to protect those who need your protection."

"But the ones who need my protection have already..." Kiritsugu tightly covered his face, tears flowing continuously through his fingers.

"It's not over yet, just as I said..." Arkhan extended his hand toward Kiritsugu. "Leave what you can't do to others."

===

Inside a civic center, Maiya, who was standing guard on the second floor, suddenly noticed an inexplicable distortion in the audience seats on the first floor. She immediately adjusted her gun, her expression revealing obvious seriousness.

This phenomenon was undoubtedly the work of Servant.

Due to the magnetic field disturbance caused by the earlier appearance of Cthylla, she had completely lost contact with Kiritsugu. As a result, she had no idea about the ongoing battle on the other side.

The only thing she could be sure of was that this was definitely not Saber's doing.

With a slight distortion in space, a middle-aged man in a black windbreaker and a young man adorned in silver armor materialized together.

"Kiritsugu, Lancer?" Maiya was momentarily stunned.

How did these two end up together?

Could it be that Lancer kidnapped Kiritsugu, intending to exchange him for his wife?

After a moment of contemplation, Maiya shook her head. With Lancer's strength, there was no need for such unnecessary and troublesome actions.

"Put your gun down, Maiya." Kiritsugu looked at his assistant from above. "The Holy Grail War is over."

"Over...?" Maiya hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly put her gun away.

Kiritsugu, accompanied by Arkhan, walked towards the interior of the civic center. Within the intricate magic circle, a snow-elf-like noblewoman lay there, her breath extremely feeble while her face covered in a heartbreaking paleness.

Arkhan approached, using his fingers to trace two runic symbols in the void, lightly merging them into Irisviel's body. Before long, her breathing gradually became steady, and the paleness on her face faded away.

"Alright, I've sealed the Holy Grail's functions within Irisviel, and the remaining rune is also embedded in her. Just transfer it to your daughter later."

Arkhan clapped his hands, turned, and walked away.

"This time, don't make the same mistake again, Emiya Kiritsugu."

Kiritsugu watched Arkhan's retreating figure until he heard a soft whimper. He quickly turned his head and saw Irisviel gradually opening her bewildered eyes.

"Kiritsugu... What happened?"

"It's alright, Iri..." Kiritsugu tightly embraced his beloved. "From now on, I will never abandon you again..."

Not far away, Maiya watched this scene and shook her head. After a while, she chuckled softly, turned, and then vanished into the shadows.

She knew that from now on, she was no longer needed.

Arkhan, who had just left the civic center, suddenly felt a familiar aura. He subconsciously turned around, seeing a red scarf disappearing around the corner.

Thoughtfully stroking his chin, he chuckled lightly, hands behind his head, and leisurely walked towards the street.

===

Although, the residents of Fuyuki fell into a deep sleep that night and were unaware of what had happened due to the bounded field prepared in advance by Arkhan and Kayneth, the Ryuudou Temple was completely destroyed.

It was estimated that when people arrived the next morning to worship, they would be completely stupefied by the unrecognizable ruins of the temple.

However, the aftermath had little to do with Arkhan. He believed that the esteemed Lord El-Melloi could surely handle such matters skillfully.

After spending a day strolling the streets with Sakura, he brought the sleeping girl back to the hotel and decided to keep 'Cosmic Juggernaut' within her. {T/N: In case anyone is wondering, it's not the real one, just the noble phantasm/imitation version.}

After careful consideration, he thought that this Noble Phantasm was more suitable for Sakura. After all, her imaginary element had similarities with Cosmic Juggernaut, making it easier for her to control it.

Moreover, in terms of survival capabilities, among all the Noble Phantasms he possessed, Cosmic Juggernaut was undoubtedly one of the best.

Leaving behind a farewell note, Arkhan left the hotel and arrived in a forest on the outskirts of Fuyuki.

"You finally made it, Lancer." Iskandar grinned from the top of his chariot.

Glancing at Iskandar and Artoria, covered in black armor beside him, Arkhan raised an eyebrow.

"Are you planning on a two-on-one?"

"If you think I can't handle this responsibility." Artoria lifted her black sword, pointing it toward Arkhan from a distance. "I'll prove to you whether I have the strength to bear this responsibility or not by defeating you and winning."

"Nah, I'd win."

Arkhan responded casually as a black spear soon manifested in his hand, and a powerful aura instantly swept out from his body like a raging storm.

"It doesn't matter if it's one or two... Just bring it on!"

===

Volume 4, completed.