IBHJ 1268

Everyone stared at the battlefield, their expressions a mix of shock and disbelief.

It was a massacre. A complete and utter massacre.

After awakening, Shirou had totally overwhelmed the three Grand Heroic Spirits!

"There won't be a second round," someone said with a sigh. "It's already over."

And it was true. From the moment Shirou awakened, the outcome had been decided.

Shirou looked down at the three Grand Servants lying on the ground, barely clinging to life. He slowly raised his hand, preparing to deliver the final Moon Fall attack. But before he could strike, a figure rushed forward, placing herself between Shirou and the fallen Servants. She spread her arms wide, like a mother hen protecting her chicks.

"Please stop, brother!" Ritsuka cried, tears streaming down her face. "I won't let you hurt them anymore!"

"Ritsuka..." Shirou's hand froze in mid-air.

It happened—the thing no one had expected.

Kirschtaria stared at Ritsuka with a bewildered expression. "I can't believe she's still trying to protect King Hassan and the others, even after learning the truth."

"No, this was bound to happen," came a response.

Surprised, Kirschtaria turned toward Zeus—the Machine God supposedly incapable of understanding human emotions.

"Even I, who am not human, can sense her compassionate nature," Zeus said, meeting Kirschtaria's gaze. "Can't you feel it too?"

"Zeus, are you saying that you..."

"Yes, I told her," Zeus confirmed with a nod. "Not to stop anyone, but to help everyone understand what truly lies in their hearts. Especially you, Kirschtaria. You're part of this group, yet you constantly try to take control because deep down, you don't trust other humans, and you never took Ritsuka seriously. You've only ever believed in yourself and your grand plans. But now, Kirschtaria, my dear child of humanity, you can finally see why you—who always wanted to lead—have ended up following her instead. Now you can see exactly what you've been missing all along."

Kirschtaria stood there in surprise at Zeus's words. He frowned and turned away, his eyes settling on Ritsuka's figure.

Orion and the other two Grand Servants looked at Ritsuka standing protectively in front of them. They exchanged meaningful glances before all rising to their feet. Each placed a hand on her shoulders.

"Step aside, Ritsuka," they said.

Ritsuka turned to face them, her eyes brimming with tears.

Orion hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Ritsuka, we aren't your friends or your family. From the very beginning, we appeared in your life with one purpose—to kill you. We are your enemies."

This was for the best.

By stating everything plainly, by making this emotional girl hate them and despise them...

This way, it would all come to an end.

There would be no pain.

And they would finally be released from their internal struggle—torn between their duty as Grand Servants and their emotional reluctance to say goodbye.

However—

"I already know everything," Ritsuka said, her lips trembling. "I've known everything from the start. From the very first time Grandfather appeared before me, I knew! I knew Krista was here to watch me. And all of you—you were sent to kill me!"

Kirschtaria froze in shock. She had known all along?

Orion and the others looked equally stunned.

"But what difference does that make?" she continued. "Krista still helped me. You all still took care of me. Everyone still worried about me... I might be foolish, I might be naive.. But I can still feel in my heart! So please, let's just stop here. Let's end the fighting. Can't we just pretend none of this ever happened?" Her voice broke as she cried out, "I can't bear to lose everyone! I don't want... to lose anyone anymore!"

Shirou's breath caught in his throat as a sharp pain gripped his heart.

He finally understood what was wrong with Ritsuka—the real reason she had been chosen by the Beast.

That wound in her heart.

A childhood wound that had never healed.

"So please, can we just end it here?" Ritsuka looked at King Hassan and Orion, her eyes filled with desperate hope. "Okay?"

King Hassan had become the taciturn grandfather figure, Romulus the enthusiastic uncle, and Orion the clever, funny older brother. Their journey together had already left its mark on her heart. She couldn't bear to lose Shirou and Sakura, but she also couldn't stand the thought of losing King Hassan, Romulus, and Orion.

She couldn't handle losing anyone anymore!

She couldn't bring herself to make new friends anymore!

So why was she being forced to endure this heartbreak all over again?

No one said a word.

Even Shirou, usually so quick with words, couldn't bring himself to speak.

He was supposed to be the brother who protected Ritsuka, but instead... he had allowed his sister to experience the most devastating loss when she was just a child.

As a father, he had failed. And as a brother, he had also failed.

Everyone fell silent until, surprisingly, the usually quiet King Hassan was the first to speak.

"Ritsuka..." He looked at her, and for the first time, those eyes that normally radiated death held genuine warmth. "You called me grandfather. You were the first person who wasn't afraid of me, who wanted to be close to me. I couldn't stop you from approaching me. It was you who helped me remember what it feels like to be human." He paused. "Looking back, the evening bell had already tolled for you, but I chose to ignore it. I truly wanted to ignore it forever... But a young bird must eventually leave the nest to fly in wider skies. You need to be strong now. I believe with all my heart that you'll become someone extraordinary. The evening bell has tolled for me now, and I must answer it. I must accept my fate."

King Hassan stepped out from behind Ritsuka.

"Well, who would have thought Hassan was the most sentimental of us all? I completely misjudged him," Romulus laughed as he too stepped forward. He gave Ritsuka's shoulder a reassuring pat. "Remember, Rome wasn't built in a day. But taking that first step is what matters the most! Since you have the spirit of Rome within you, you must shine brightly! Good luck, Ritsuka!"

Ritsuka lowered her head.

"Well, they've already said all the nice stuff," Orion sighed. "Not sure what's left for me to say. But I'll tell you this—even though Artemis was the most outstanding woman I've ever known, I believe you'll become someone even more outstanding, Ritsuka. So, keep moving forward! Oh, and some advice: if you ever fall in love, stay away from smooth-talkers like me. Most of us are just as bad as I am!" He laughed, patted her shoulder, and stepped away.

Ritsuka's head dropped even lower.

No one could see her face.

"Let's begin, Eternal King," Orion said, his voice now serious.

Shirou nodded. Seeing that Ritsuka still hadn't looked up or spoken, he called out to her. "Ritsuka—"

She finally raised her head to look at him.

Shirou paused for a moment before speaking. "Use your Command Spells."

She stared at him in surprise, biting down hard on her lip. Then she nodded and lifted her hand.

On her fair skin were three Command Spells. She had never used a single one.

Even though Chaldea's Command Spells would regenerate each day, she had always been afraid to use them.

She feared that once she used those Command Spells, her companions, her family, the people who had shared laughter and conversations with her... would disappear.

She would be alone again.

But now, she had no choice.

She had to use them.

Was she doing this to honor their wishes, or was she deciding to take her first step?

She wasn't sure.

All she knew was that in her heart—

This pain felt so familiar.

This terrible, crushing pain that she knew all too well.

She had always feared this feeling, this suffocating agony, which is why she'd stopped wanting to make friends.

Because she was terrified of losing them.

But now, she had to sever these bonds with her own hands.