IBHJ 1276

Ayaka told Shirou everything about the relationship between Demonic Bodhisattva and Kiara.

She expected Shirou to be shocked, but after hearing the truth, he simply remarked, "It's similar to what Ritsuka mentioned."

"Ritsuka already told you?" she asked in surprise.

"She only shared some minor details. I had guessed the rest from the beginning."

As a transmigrator, he had known about Kiara Sessyoin's past all along—especially since he was the one who had rescued her from Demonic Bodhisattva. But speculating about something was different from confronting the cruel reality.

"I see..." she sighed, then looked at him earnestly. "Please, you must not tell Kiara about this."

"I think it's already too late," he said, pointing toward the doorway.

She turned and froze. Kiara, who should have been with Nightingale for her examination, was standing at the entrance, staring at Ayaka with blank eyes.

When she noticed Ayaka looking at her, Kiara suddenly turned and ran away.

"Wait—Kiara!" Ayaka called out, chasing after her frantically.

After they left, Laeticia entered from the other side.

"Why did you deliberately expose this, Eternal King?" she asked with concern.

"Kiara already sensed it back in the village. She just came here for confirmation."

"But even for confirmation, you could have..." She stopped mid-sentence as realization dawned. "You didn't want Ayaka caught in a dilemma, so you deliberately drew out her confession!"

He neither confirmed nor denied it. The answer needed no explanation.

"But this way, both Ayaka and Kiara will resent you."

He didn't respond to that. Instead, he said, "Get some rest, Miss Laeticia. Jeanne's combat abilities are impressive, but your body needs time to recover."

With that, he turned to leave.

"Wait, Eternal King!"

He stopped, turning around. It wasn't Laeticia who called him, but Jeanne.

"Is there something you need, Lady Jeanne?"

"It's about that Beast."

At the mention of this, his expression grew serious.

Just as Jeanne was about to continue, Skadi appeared in the doorway. "What about the Beast?" she asked.

Jeanne looked surprised. "Lady Skadi?"

Skadi didn't apologize for her abruptness. Instead, she fixed her gaze on Jeanne. "What were you going to say about the Beast, Lady Jeanne?"

Typically, Skadi maintained a goddess's rationality and composure in most matters. But when it came to this subject, she would abandon all pretense and transform into an avenger.

"I believe he might be an apostle of the Lord," Jeanne said hesitantly.

"An apostle of the Lord?" Skadi frowned. "While there are legends of Noah's flood, the Holy Spirit would never deliberately create an apostle to commit evil."

"And that Beast clearly expressed hatred toward the Holy Spirit," he added.

"That's true... but during our confrontation, I sensed the Lord's aura within him. And also..." Jeanne paused.

Shirou and Skadi exchanged glances. "And what else?" they asked.

"The Holy Grail," Jeanne said with a deep breath. "He carries the aura of the Holy Grail! Exactly the same as the Emperor—the unmistakable aura of the Holy Grail!"

"This must be some kind of illusion," Skadi said. "Part of the Holy Grail's power created the Eternal Empire, while another part created the Counter Force of the Eternal Kingdom."

"That's why I hesitated to mention it. Perhaps it is just an illusion," Jeanne sighed. "The Lord's mighty power has been corrupted! And I cannot purify that corruption on the Lord's behalf!"

With that, Jeanne left.

Skadi turned to him, noticing his thoughtful expression. "What's on your mind, Shirou?"

"I remember Kama once mentioned that this Beast was the first in the [Council], and he volunteered to enter the connection point of the [Eternal Empire]. But in the end, it led to the destruction of the [Council]..."

She nodded. "Kama did say that."

"The Eternal Empire was born at the moment the Eternal Kingdom was destroyed. And the Eternal Kingdom was destroyed by him..."

A shadow crossed his face, and she asked with concern, "What's troubling you?"

He looked up at her. "Skadi... whenever I try to think about the connections between the Eternal Kingdom, that Beast, and the Lord of Salvation, I find myself unconsciously avoiding it. Because when I consider how these things might be connected, I feel this overwhelming sense of oppression. As if someone is holding all our fate lines, watching us struggle for their amusement..."

"Don't overthink this, Shirou." She drew him into her arms. "You're not fighting this battle alone. And now it's the Emperor who controls everything."

"You're right," he nodded.

Indeed, now the Emperor controlled the [Present], and the Lord of Salvation couldn't cause trouble. But one thing still made Shirou deeply uneasy.

What if the reason the Lord of Salvation had been restraining himself was because the Emperor possessed the [Arrow of Akasha] that once sealed him?

But now, the Emperor's [Arrow of Akasha] had disappeared!

Could this be why that Beast had suddenly revealed himself and begun to act?

…

A man in a black robes approached a massive tree.

This was where Manaka had revealed her true form before being defeated by Ritsuka.

Though time had passed, Manaka's mud still remained here, along with the large tree Ritsuka had manifested and the Star Anchor embedded within it.

"This is the thinnest point on the planet's surface—a perfect place to nurture an embryo." He implanted the black nebula containing Demonic Bodhisattva into the giant tree.

Watching as the tree instantly became corrupted and darkened, his lips curled into a maniacal smile. "The seed has been planted. Now we simply wait for it to grow."

"Coo coo..."

The white doves in the forest, as if sensing a terrible presence, frantically flew away.

...

In the Imperial Palace.

Empire Incarnation-Brigid sat on the imperial throne, looking down at Agravain below. "The [eternity] was eaten?"

"Yes," Agravain confirmed.

Brigid's eyes flashed with divine light as she examined the causality in the river of time. Her expression hardened. "How bold! They've already extended their reach to that place?"

"Do you know who's responsible?" he asked.

"Just a collection of dead but undying ghosts from the past," Brigid said with a dismissive wave. "After I have completely synchronized with Pan-Human History, these ghosts will all disappear."

"But this method of devouring [eternity] is very similar to the poison of corruption. I suspect those barbarians might have returned," he said gravely.

"Barbarians? You mean those incarnations born from the negative force of the Holy Grail that referenced the gods and demons of Pan-Human History when the Holy Grail created this world? Weren't they all eliminated by that Emperor during his journey? Didn't he purge the negative aspects of the Holy Grail, thereby condensing its spirit and power to become the Holy Spirit and lead this world into an eternal state?"

"That's correct, which is why the poison made from the polluted souls of those barbarians can break [eternity]."

"But those negative incarnations of the Holy Grail were all eliminated by that Emperor long ago. The last barbarian, I believe, was..."

"Aife's sister, Scathach," Agravain said. "She was once our strongest companion in our journey, but during the final battle against the last barbarian, while protecting Aife, she was ambushed by Balor, who merged with her and turned her into a barbarian. Aife had no choice but to kill her with her own hands, burn her body, and forge her bones into her spear."

At this, Brigid suddenly realized something. Her blue eyes focused on him. "Are you suggesting there are still barbarians out there?"

He nodded. "According to my calculations, Your Majesty should have completed the synchronization with Pan-Human History three months ago, before that Eternal King became active. But in fact, it has not been fully completed yet. I believe external factors are interfering with Your Majesty's synchronization."