IBHJ 1132

Kama shook her head and sighed.

"Ahem, let's get back to why we're here." Shirou turned to Merlin. "I got word from Hope that there's a way to get this Crown off my head." He tapped the Crown.

"Hope can do that, yes." Merlin nodded.

"He's here?" Kama's eyes widened.

"He is. Follow me." Merlin started walking.

"Hope... no one has seen him except the Chairman," Abigail said, bouncing on her toes.

"Just wait till you see him," Merlin said with a smile.

He led them to a temple.

This was Ambrosius's temple - it used to house the Holy Grail with the Holy Spirit's blood until Mordred took it away.

"Did Ambrosius tell you about the Emperor and the Empire?" Merlin asked as they walked.

"Yes." Shirou nodded, then gave Merlin a curious look. "But why are you in this place?"

Merlin smiled. "After what happened at the Nordic connection point, I couldn't stop thinking about the world reset you mentioned. So I came to Tír na nÓg."

"To ask Ambrosius?"

"Yes. A world reset was more than I could wrap my head around, so I needed answers from him." Merlin paused. "He's the one who helped me find Zelretch back then."

Shirou looked at Merlin and shook his head. Of course Merlin would know all the right people.

"After I came to Tír na nÓg, I found out about the Eternal Empire. I've been watching them from here ever since."

"Why didn't you tell Chaldea?"

"Ambrosius warned me not to trust them."

Shirou stopped walking and stared at Merlin.

Merlin glanced at Ambrosius, who was showing off to Mordred and going on about how perfect Dwynwen looked. "Sure, Ambrosius doesn't care much about humans or the planet. But Lady Tethys made him - he's part of nature itself. He just sees things differently than we do."

Merlin took a breath. "And from Tír na nÓg, you can see something dark growing inside Chaldea. People call it Beast VII. But before it could manifest, the Emperor destroy the Council, broke into our world, and started synchronizing the worlds together."

Just as Merlin finished speaking, they arrived at the temple steps. They walked inside, and someone was already there, waiting for them.

The figure stood before them wearing white armor emblazoned with a Holy Grail design on the right chest.

Looking at the distinctive pattern, there could be no mistake about what they were seeing...

"Imperial Armor!"

"An Apostle!?"

Kama and Goetia both tensed at once, their eyes narrowing with recognition. Without hesitation, Goetia lunged forward, his fist adorned with ten rings blazing through the air like a meteor toward the Apostle.

"Stop, Goetia!" Merlin hurriedly shouted, but his warning came too late.

Just as Goetia's strike was about to connect, four steel wings the color of silver moonlight erupted from the armor's back. They swept forward smoothly, crossing to form an impenetrable shield before the Apostle.

"BOOM—!"

The impact of Goetia's fist against the wing-shield filled the temple with a thunderous crash. Raw power rippled outward, scorching the surrounding air and sending cracks racing across the ground in an ever-widening spider web pattern. The Apostle slid back a few steps under the tremendous force but remained standing, the Imperial Armor successfully absorbing the blow.

Goetia's face tightened with frustration. As he shifted his weight to press his attack, Merlin threw out an arm to block his path.

"What are you doing, Merlin?" Goetia's eyes narrowed.

"This Apostle is not our enemy. This is Hope."

"Hope?" Goetia frowned, staring at the armored figure.

"Your strike was impressive, Lord Goetia." The Apostle's steel wings folded back as he removed his helmet.

Shirou and Mordred froze at the sight of his face.

"It's an honor to meet you, Eternal King of Pan-Human History, King Mordred." His gentle smile was achingly familiar. "I am Bedivere, an Apostle of the Eternal Empire."

Bedivere's eyes softened as he added, "And yes, I'm also Hope - the one who's been helping the Council with various tasks."

"Hope..."

Mordred's hands curled into fists.

…

In the Imperial Capital, a strategist stood alone in the empty hall, cold winds spinning around him in circles. He hadn't moved for hours, waiting for someone who might never come back.

"It's been so long... and still you haven't returned, Sir Bedivere," he said quietly.

He let out a deep sigh, his face turning cold as the air around him grew even colder. Getting up, he walked through the palace halls toward the throne room.

He knelt before the empty throne. "Your Majesty," he said into the silence, “we've found Hope's location. Please give us your orders."

But there was nothing on the throne except an unworn golden crown. No one answered him—the room was completely empty, just like the rest of the palace.

"Please grant me permission, Your Majesty!" the strategist called out again.

Though no voice answered, metallic footsteps echoed from behind the throne. A dark mechanical figure emerged from the shadows. The strategist understood this as the Emperor's approval.

Rising to his feet, his eyes glinting coldly, the strategist knew what had to be done. It was time to deal with Hope—the only weakness in the Emperor's Hand. But first, he would need to release the combat specialists from their seals.

"Anyone who threatens the empire's eternal reign must be destroyed," he said quietly.

…

"That should do it," Bedivere said as he carefully removed the crowns from Shirou's and Abigail's heads.

As soon as the crown was lifted, Shirou flexed his fingers, feeling the familiar warmth of his twenty-seven magic circuits flowing through him again. His sealed abilities rushed back, and a small smile crossed his face.

Abigail's reaction was far more energetic. "I feel alive again!" she exclaimed, practically bouncing with joy. Like a bird freed from its cage, she beamed with newfound freedom before throwing her arms around Shirou in a tight hug. "This is amazing, big brother!"

"Oh..." Shirou tensed in surprise at Abigail's embrace—it had been ages since anyone had hugged him like this. But seeing her genuine happiness, he stayed quiet and let her have the moment.

The scene didn't go unnoticed. Mordred's forehead creased with irritation, while Merlin stood off to the side, dramatically chewing on a handkerchief that had appeared from nowhere. "Why does Shirou always steal them away?" he muttered between bites, practically steaming with envy. This wasn't surprising, since beneath Merlin's flashy exterior lay the heart of a father figure. First, his beloved Artoria, whom he'd raised like a daughter, had been drawn to Shirou. Now it was happening again with Abby.

Mordred watched Abigail clinging to Shirou with narrowed eyes before storming over. She grabbed the back of Abigail's collar and grumbled, "Haven't you hugged him enough, you Outer God's puppet?"

Abigail twisted around, glaring at her. "How many times do I have to tell you—don't call me puppet! Just disappear!"

Before Mordred could react, a portal opened beneath her feet. With a startled "Whoa!" she plunged through it and disappeared.

Abigail smiled with satisfaction. During her powerless days, she'd been forced to play the good child just to survive in medieval times. But now, with her abilities restored, she wasn't about to let Mordred push her around. Hugging Shirou wasn't just about affection—it was the perfect way to get under Mordred's skin!

While she would have loved to teach Mordred a proper lesson about respect, she held back since Mordred was Shirou's daughter. The portal was meant to be just a gentle warning against future harassment.

Caught up in her moment of triumph, Abigail didn't notice Mordred's quick reflexes. As she fell through the portal, Mordred's hand shot out and seized Abigail's leg.

"You're coming with me!"

"Eh?"

Before Abigail could process what was happening, Mordred yanked her away from Shirou and pulled her into the portal. They both tumbled out nearby, landing in an ungraceful heap.