C445

Scathach left Camelot ahead of everyone else, so she's a bit out of the loop on recent events. But she's caught enough hints in the king's speeches to piece things together. For now, she has to act as if she's completely unaware, as though she's heard and seen nothing.

Gray stared at the building, a worried look on her face. "Why haven't His Majesty and Her Highness come out yet? It's been an hour."

"Yeah, what's taking them so long?" Arcueid chimed in, equally puzzled. She moved toward the gate, but Scathach blocked her path.

"Why are you stopping me?"

Caught between a rock and a hard place, she responded, "The King told me to keep watch here, please don't make this harder for me."

"But they've been in there forever. What if something's gone wrong? I'm getting worried."

She closed her eyes for a moment before saying, "Trust me, the King can handle himself."

Just then, Gray blurted out, "Um..."

"What is it, Gray?" Arcueid turned to her, concern etched on her face.

"My magical energy... my magical energy was absorbed by Her Highness!" Gray exclaimed.

Arcueid's eyes widened. "Wait, what? What does that even mean?"

Gray took a deep breath and began to explain, "I have a magical energy connection with Her Highness. The magical energy she uses for her activities is supplied by me. However, just now, she absorbed a huge amount of magical energy from me."

Arcueid raised an eyebrow, "Is that going to harm you?"

Gray shook her head and said, "No. I have the heart and factor of the Red Dragon. I can generate magical energy simply by breathing. However, just now, Her Highness began absorbing magical energy from me through our connection. She must have encountered an enemy and could be in the midst of a battle!"

Worry was written all over her face.

"Did you hear that, Scathach?" Arcueid turned to her, urgency in her voice. "Let me in, now! I'm really worried about them!"

"No," Scathach firmly shook her head. Seeing the determined look on her friend's face, she felt a tinge of worry that she might just barge in. Quickly, she added, "Don't worry, the Eternal King is here. Everything is under control."

As she opened her mouth to protest, Scathach cut in, asking, "Don't you trust me, Arcueid?"

"Well..."

Caught off guard, she paused for a second before nodding. "Trust... Yes, I trust you."

...

Inside the room.

Shirou stood up and rubbed his slightly numb palms.

Artoria was sprawled on the ground, looking completely worn out. Her face was flushed and moist, her breaths coming in quick gasps, and her clothes were a mess.

The white skirt was spread apart, the black stockings were pulled down to her knees, revealing her smooth thighs and butt, like a violated and destroyed lily.

He secured Caliburn back at his waist and turned to her, declaring, "You have one minute to pull yourself together."

She gritted her teeth, used her hand to brace against the wall, and shakily stood up. She tugged her black stockings back into place and smoothed out her white skirt.

Still leaning against the wall, her eyes tinged with moisture, she murmured, "I'm... I'm ready, my King..."

"One minute and three seconds, you took an extra three seconds," He said with a stern expression.

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry... my King..." she lowered her head and apologized.

He projected a towel and tossed it to her, saying, "Wipe your face, all wet like that, how unbecoming."

She caught the towel and pressed it against her face, wiping away the moisture. She almost wished she could hide under it and let the tears flow.

The King's punishment had finally arrived.

And she felt as if she'd lost everything.

Was this the fate of a shameless woman like her?

Maybe she was better off never having emotions to begin with.

If her emotions were sealed, she would be nothing more than a humanoid non-human existence. However, at the very least, she wouldn't have ended up like this.

However, what she didn't know was that while she covered her face with the towel, wanting to cry her heart out...

Shirou's icy demeanor melted away.

He covered his own face, his heart a swirling mess of pain and confusion.

The consequences of events from over fifteen hundred years ago.

Morgan, Artoria, Agravain... they all had their share of the blame.

But the biggest mistake of all,

was his own.

...

Shirou started down the stairs, with Artoria trailing close behind, keeping in step with him.

"Your Highness!"

Gray's voice rang out. She quickly moved to Artoria's side to offer her support.

Artoria looked grateful as she said, "Thank you, Gray..."

"What happened? Why do you seem hurt?" Gray's voice was tinged with worry.

She shook her head, reassuring her, "It's nothing, really. Don't worry about it."

Scathach's eyes met Shirou's.

He gave her a nod, then shifted his piercing gaze toward Arcueid.

Arcueid felt a shiver run down her spine. "Shi... Shirou, what's going on? Your look is a little... scary."

His expression remained calm as he said, "Arcueid, I..."

But before he could complete his thought, a distant voice cut him off. "Onii-chan!"

Everyone swiveled their heads to see Illya, Chloe, and Gil making a beeline for them from far away.

"Oh, it's Illya and the others!" Arcueid's face lit up with a smile.

He caught sight of Illya and the others as they closed in. He turned his eyes back to Arcueid, choosing to keep his words to himself for now.

Gray supported Artoria, but whether it was an illusion or not, she sensed a certain distance between the Eternal King and Her Highness...

Artoria's eyes dimmed for a moment. Looking at Gray, she murmured, "Thank you for your help, Gray."

"Ah? Oh... it's... it's my pleasure, Your Highness," Gray stammered in response.

"You don't have to call me 'Your Highness.' Just 'Artoria' will do."

"Artoria, Artoria!" Attila shouted, a wild grin spreading across her face as she gazed at the seemingly delicate king of knights. Clutching her Sword of Mars, her eyes gleamed with an unmistakable thirst for destruction.

Artoria: "…"

Chloe dashed toward Shirou, her eyes lighting up and arms spread wide for a hug. But just as she got within a few steps, she skidded to a stop, her body stiffening. She gave him a puzzled look and stammered, "Um, Onii-chan, what's up with this aura you're giving off?"

Chloe was at a loss. She'd wanted to hug him, but the closer she got, the more she felt like her hands and feet were stuck in mud or something.

Gil burst into laughter, pointing at him. "You're glowing like a human lightbulb, Eternal King!"

Shirou: "…"

"However," Gil's eyes shifted to Artoria. For a moment, he appeared taken aback, but then he grinned. "Looks like we walked in at an awkward moment, huh?"

"Not at all," Shirou responded. "The timing's fine."

Gil's smile grew wider. "So, how's it feel? You haven't turned on your Clairvoyance, so I can't get a read on your emotions."

"I'm good," He said flatly.

Gil chuckled. "If you're 'good,' why keep her here? Why not set her free? You've taken away her glory, yet she stays. Is this you being cold-hearted or soft? Either way," Gil adjusted his collar with a smirk, "it's pretty clear you're getting weaker."

Shirou gave him a cold look.

"No matter how many icy glares you shoot my way, it changes nothing. You, who only hurt yourself, are simply a weakling. If my older self could see you now, he'd probably laugh so hard he'd lose a tooth," Gil mused. "Life is never a constant high or an endless low. Things pass; even a fate that's gone off the rails can be set right again."

Shirou looked at him coldly.

Gil smiled and held out his hand. "So, just this once, okay? This time, I'll be your listener."

Shirou: "…"

He paused, letting three long seconds tick by. Finally, he broke the silence, "I've figured out how to win. It's time we use the Class Card to bring you back to full strength."

Gil raised an eyebrow. "Is that stubborn streak something you picked up from me?" He then glanced at Chloe, chuckling, "Seems it's time for me to become whole again."

Chloe instinctively touched her chest at the mention of Gilgamesh's Class Card.

Illya stared at him, her eyes wide with disbelief. Is Shirou-niisan really thinking about using Chloe's Class Card?

Shirou met Illya's gaze, his voice firm, "Illya, hand me the Class Card."

There was a weight to his voice that made it hard to refuse.

"Yes!" she quickly passed him a Class Card.

It was Caster-Medea.

He grabbed the card and wiped Medea's data, replacing it with his own. This was something he couldn't normally do, but in his current state, he had the ability.

Simply put, he was forcing his own data into the card, shoving out Medea's existing record.

After making another Caster-Eternal King card, he tossed it over to Chloe. "Let's find Angelica and use this to swap out the Gilgamesh Class Card you have."

Gil eyed the card and let out a chuckle. "That card looks even weaker than mine."

Ignoring Gil's taunt, Shirou turned and began to walk away, Scathach at his side.

Chloe and Illya trailed behind him, the new Class Card in hand.