Era of Heroic Spirits: I Was Exposed by Alaya

In the cave.

After speaking, Shirou stepped past his once-close friend.

"If a parent's wish for their child's health and happiness is a sin, then I gladly embrace that sin!"

These words clearly signified that he was abandoning his ideal of being a "Hero of Justice" to reach the future he desired.

Behind him.

Julian stood frozen, his previously cold and hostile expression suddenly replaced by bewilderment and disbelief.

He made no move to stop Shirou, merely sighing softly and saying, "Expecting humans to remain rational is truly a luxury!"

"Only machines can remain rational forever. Besides, someone once said the same thing to you—and that person died pursuing his ideals."

Shirou paused slightly, refuting without turning back.

That man had also sought to use Miyu to fulfill his wish of saving the world.

The past and the present were eerily similar.

How could the two be so alike?

"I could have stopped you completely, but that might have destroyed humanity's last glimmer of hope."

Julian's expression grew increasingly wistful. "Generation after generation of the Ainsworth family has spent a thousand years preparing for this ideal, and it must continue into an even longer future. Expecting eternal rationality is indeed too much to ask."

"So, I give up stopping you—and choose another future for humanity."

Hum—

An immense surge of magical energy gathered around him.

In the entire Ainsworth family, only he could truly create or destroy [Class Cards]—the Phantasm Summoning cards that borrowed the power of Heroic Spirits.

By using this card to summon, one can bestow the power of the corresponding heroic spirit upon the user, transforming into a spiritual form that transcends ordinary humans.

Shirou came to a complete stop, turning to face him. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

After the previous Holy Grail War had been shattered, the Phantasm Summoning Card had long since lost its effect, and the vast future he had borrowed had all slipped away from him.

In other words, when facing the King of Heroes, he would have to rely entirely on himself.

Now, this dear friend of his seemed intent on restoring the Phantasm Summoning Card for him once more—at the cost of sacrificing his own origin!

"Hahaha, please remember me, and all the members of the Ainsworth family. We won't live to see the day when the truth is proven, but if humanity endures for generations to come, everyone will shed their tears before our tombstones!"

Julian burst into laughter, pouring boundless magical energy into the card before him. "This planet called Earth shall be my eternal monument!"

As a member of the Ainsworth family, this was the only magecraft he knew.

"You damnable human evil, take my last bit of magical energy and reach for the future you so desperately pursue!"

Brilliant magical light erupted from Julian's body.

An immense surge of mana converged onto the Phantasm Summoning Card.

The card fluttered gently before his former dear friend.

Julian, who had intended to sacrifice everything for humanity, saw in this man the infinite possibilities of humanity's future.

This man seemed to embody the future itself!

It was incomprehensible.

As if, so long as he existed, there was still hope for humanity.

A nameless heroic spirit who did not exist in human history, yet brought hope to mankind!

And so, Julian decided to stake everything he had.

To seize the future!

"Ju—li—an—!"

Shirou reached out and grabbed the Phantasm Summon Card, giving him one last deep look before turning away without hesitation. "Then, as you wish!"

Countless spectators found their emotions in turmoil—

-[As expected of Emiya the Hero, even his enemies are moved by him! This must be EX-rank Charisma, right?]

-[Sigh, Julian is so much like that man—truly alike, both seeking humanity's future in their own ways!]

-[The man who chose to protect the world is dead, the man who chose to preserve the species has given up, and now only Emiya the Hero remains—the one who chose to pray for the happiness of a single person!]

-[Emiya the Hero, charge forward!]

...

In the room.

Illya, who had been watching the video, gave her best friend a strange look. "Shirou has sacrificed so much for you!"

He had wanted to be a hero of justice, yet for the sake of saving Miyu, he abandoned the entire world!

"How could I have forgotten?"

Miyu's small face twisted in anguish.

It was he who had brought her this future, allowing her to live this life.

Why did I forget everything?

"Keep watching. You'll probably remember more once you finish," Illya murmured, pressing her soft pink lips together.

Back then, after watching Unlimited Blade Works, it had also made her recall so much.

She had even talked to Miyu about Shirou's story.

The two little lolis had secretly discussed what love was and how to charm a guy.

But now.

Illya suddenly realized—why was her best friend the protagonist in the new video Vow in the Snow, while she was just a silver-haired bystander who didn't even appear?

I thought of you as a sister, but you're trying to steal my man?

Damn it!

The only consolation was that the other girl wished to become his sister, not his lover.

Oh, my dear best friend, that's the wish you'll regret the most in the end!

The video continued.

Shirou traversed the cave and arrived at a vast underground hollow.

Here, there stood an enormous magical altar.

Countless runes shimmered with blue magical light, illuminating the entire cavern.

And at the center of the altar, the sacrificial offering was none other than—

Miyu!

The little loli lay quietly on the altar, dressed in a black gown.

Hearing footsteps, she turned her head in disbelief. "B-Brother…?"

This was the Ainsworth family's meticulously crafted magical workshop.

To enter, one would have to defeat all the puppet-like Heroic Spirits.

How could an ordinary boy like him have made it here? What terrifying price had he paid?

"Sorry, I'm late."

Shirou approached her and knelt like a guardian knight, taking her small hand in his.

Guilt weighed heavily on his heart.

All misfortune in this world stems from one's own lack of strength.

If only he had been stronger, Miyu wouldn't have suffered like this!

"Brother… I'm just a heartless tool. Why did you come to save me?"

As she spoke, a mist formed in Miyu's eyes.

The once emotionless Child of God had long since fallen to the mortal world, becoming an ordinary little girl.

"It's simple. As your brother, isn't protecting you the most natural thing?"

Despite the blood and grime on his face, Shirou gave her a bright, sunny smile.

Since childhood, he had lost everything.

But this time, he wouldn't lose his sister!

He pulled out a stack of cards, letting them float in the air.

These were the Class Cards he had obtained from the corpses of the Holy Grail War participants he had defeated.

Seven summoning cards circled and danced around Miyu.

"B-Brother…"

Miyu stared at the cards, and the emptiness in her eyes instantly gave way to light.

Tears streamed uncontrollably down her face.

He had truly given up everything for her—even the Class Cards, his only means of power, just to construct the Holy Grail's awakening!

"I might be wrong, but this time… I want to be selfish—in my name, I make this wish to the Holy Grail!"

Gently wiping away her tears, Shirou smiled with infinite tenderness.

"I wish for Miyu to go to a world where she won't be hurt, a world of happiness."

"In that world, she'll have friends to laugh with, a loving and gentle family, and a peaceful, warm life where she can grow up healthy and joyful."

"Please, Holy Grail, grant me this wish!"

The audience buzzed with discussion—

-[Damn, this really hits hard in the feels! Emiya the Great and the 400-year wish of the Sakatsuki family share the same goal—just wanting children to grow up healthy and happy!]

-[Sigh, he could have used the Holy Grail to obtain anything he desired, yet he didn't waver at all!]

-[Emiya the Great even sacrificed his own Class Cards—clearly a mortal standing against heroic spirits!]

-[Will of steel, forsaking ideals, losing everything, exhausting the future, fighting for his sister, single-handedly dominating the Holy Grail War—a brother complex so strong it rivals gods and demons: Emiya the Great!]

***

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