IBHJ Chapter 831

Romani's hand gripped Gilgamesh's arm, afraid that he might run away. The situation was clear as day. There were only three people there. If Gilgamesh left... Romani turned his head and glanced at the smiling Queen of Sheba.

'Help me, please! I don't want to end up as a dried-up corpse!' Romani's face said it all as his grip on Gilgamesh's arm became even tighter, as if he were clinging to a lifeline rather than just an arm.

"Watch it, or I'll make your life a living hell at work!" Gilgamesh warned, "Get your hands off me!"

"No matter what you say, I'm not letting go!" Isn't it obvious? Making things difficult at work is nothing compared to the sheer terror of being left alone with her.

...

Some people were taken aback by Shirou's sudden presence, surprised by his unexpected return, while others were genuinely happy to see him back. However, Shirou himself looked up with complex emotions on his face. His eyes landed on the fading curtain of light, watching as it slowly dissipated into nothingness.

The connection point that had once bound them together had disappeared completely. Its presence could no longer be felt. The mysterious Black Ring that had once linked their fates so closely had been severed and destroyed. As he stared at the empty space where it had been, a profound sense of loss washed over him. He realized with a heavy heart that perhaps this was the last time he would ever see Skadi.

...

Standing on a rock by the shore, gazing into the distance, all one could see was the endless expanse of the sea and sky blending together, making it impossible to tell where the water ended and the sky began.

"Are you sure about this, Skadi?" Scathach asked.

"Hmm." Skadi glanced over, her eyes settling on Scathach. She nodded, and then her lips curled up slightly as she asked suspiciously, "I find it odd. Why didn't you go with Shirou?"

"If I left, my body would be forced out to the Outside of the World, and I could only manifest as a Servant."

"What's so bad about being a Servant?"

"I'm just not used to not having my own body. So for now, I'll be crashing at your place for a bit." Scathach said, "You're not going to try and kick me out to the Outside of the World, are you?"

As the current ruler of this connection point, with Skadi's current divinity, she could easily force Scathach out or even send her straight back to the Pan-Human History. That's why Scathach asked this question.

"Hmm, I'll have to think long and hard about whether to do that. Or maybe, you could beg me?"

"That's asking too much. How about I just poke you with my spear instead?"

As they bantered, the two looked at each other and smiled.

"This is really bizarre,"

"It's like talking to a mirror."

"To be honest, I've actually tried having a conversation with myself in the mirror before."

"What!" Scathach's eyes widened as she looked at her. "You've done that too?"

"Isn't it obvious? After all, when someone is alone, if they don't do some silly things, they might even start questioning their own existence." Skadi said.

Scathach nodded. It made sense psychologically. Since she was always alone, she never realized that her greatest fear was loneliness. She didn't notice this, but Shirou did. Those exhausting and embarrassing moments in Camelot were some of the happiest times of her life.

She smiled, "Me too. My biggest fear is also being alone. Being left in a pitch black world, no matter who you call out to, there's only your own echo. Gradually, even your own heart will get lost. The one who saved me from that fate was that kid. 'Shisho, shisho.' That kid always loved calling me that. But time passed so quickly, and before I knew it, that kid had grown up and didn't need my protection anymore. He could even protect me instead."

Hearing this, Skadi had a gentle smile as she gazed at the distant blue sea where the sky and water met. The endless sea, the lively and beautiful dance of the waves. Time flows away like these waves and never returns. Even if there are new waves, they are not the same as the previous ones.

On the vast sea, pure white snow drifted gently like delicate feathers on the flowing water. As the red sun slowly sank towards the horizon, it painted the sky and sea in a breathtaking fiery red. From afar, the sunset seemed to spill over the earth, and under its warm caress, the sand glistened, even more dazzling and beautiful.

On the shore, several blurry figures could be seen. Some chased each other playfully, while others whispered secrets or lay sprawled on the sand. Colorful shells were scattered across the golden beach, lying there peacefully.

Skadi slipped off her shoes, revealing her fair, long legs, and jumped down from the rock. She walked slowly, relishing the feeling of the soft, fluffy sand beneath her feet, like stepping on a cozy quilt.

Suddenly, a group of children who had been playing tag gleefully approached Skadi, holding out colorful shells they had collected.

"These are for you, Lady Skadi," the boys said, presenting their treasures to her. The girls giggled as they decorated Skadi with the shells before skipping away, their laughter floating across the beach.

Skadi stood there, gazing out at the sea. The rippling surface was as gentle as silk, undulating with mesmerizing ripples. From where she stood, the misty waves seemed to stretch out endlessly, as far as the eye could see.

The seawater surged to her feet, its gentle whispers carried by the breeze. As the setting sun slowly descended, it seemed to melt into the horizon, becoming one with the sea. The breathtaking rays of the sunset danced across the vast ocean surface, like a crimson painting brought to life by celestial maidens, transforming the seascape into an enchanting masterpiece.

Scathach gazed at the goddess facing the sea breeze and, after a moment of contemplative silence, asked, "Why do you insist on staying here instead of going to Pan-Human History? Even if you leave, this connection point can still function on its own, right?"

"I stayed because I didn't want to hurt him," Skadi replied, her voice tinged with a hint of sadness. "Our story has already ended, and he has new tales to learn and experience with people he cherishes. As long as I am not with him, as long as he can forget our memories, he will be able to find happiness. Chasing the past will only hinder him from seeing the future. I just want to see him smile, not see him get hurt. Otherwise, I..." The goddess's beautiful eyes turned to meet Scathach's gaze.

Scathach sighed, "Ortlinde, the one who understood you the most, has already left with her two sisters. There is no one you know at this connection point, no one you are familiar with. You have no one here. Living here is no different from being Outside of the World. Isn't loneliness what you fear the most?"

Loneliness was indeed Skadi's greatest fear. Her mind drifted to the memories of that fateful day. In the ruins of the Fuyuki City factory, the workers lay lifeless, victims of Sixth Seat's sudden attack. Even she was defeated by him, her life extinguished.

That child...

That man...

Her Master, the man who had been shot several times by Sixth Seat, should have succumbed to his wounds long ago. Yet, he clung to his last breath and crawled to her side.

"L-Live... You have to... live on," he gasped, inserting the Grail into her body, reviving her as he faced his inevitable end. No matter what she did, saving his life was impossible.

After taking those bullets, death was certain. With his last breaths, the man lay on her lap, his face filled with sadness and tears.

"Why are you crying, Shirou?"

"I'm... afraid," he whispered, his voice growing faint. "When I'm gone... you'll be alone. Who will... stay by your side... and make you happy then? I know... you're afraid... of being lonely. That's why... I don't want... you to end up... alone."

Tears fell from Skadi's eyes, and she smiled through them, "Silly Shirou, are you worried about this? It's nothing to me because you'll always live in my heart."

"I... actually, I..."

He reached out to touch her face, and she grabbed his hand, pressing it against her cheek. She felt the warmth rapidly fading from his skin. He struggled to speak, but before he could finish, his eyes glazed over, staring blankly into the distance. His hand went limp in hers as he took his last breath.

She closed her eyes, overwhelmed with pain. "So this feeling... This desperate desire to stay together, to never part, is love. But why did I only realize it now?"

And then, Saver appeared, purifying everything and reshaping Pan-Human History. She couldn't resist Saver's great light; she too would be purified. Even if the Origin Wheels and its Authority could preserve her existence, Scathach's soul and memories would vanish. She couldn't allow this, couldn't permit it. With blood and tears, she left her own words in the notebook he had cherished so much: "I can't forget myself! I can't forget him! I won't!"

But in the end, she still forgot.