Tribute to the Demon King

Memory has begun to blur.The icy blizzard completely submerged Kiritsugu's consciousness.

The hem of his black windbreaker had been frozen, white frost stains covered his skirt, and his eyebrows and hair were frost-white.

It looks like a stiff moving puppet.

——If you go any further, you will die.

Kiritsugu was very clear, aware of this.

No reason is required.It's just a feeling.

The heartbeat is slow, the blood is cold, and the muscles are stiff.If you continue to move forward, you will only step into death.

The remaining rationality desperately urged Kiritsugu to turn around... But, it couldn't.

I've gone so far, there's no turning back.

——If you look back from here, no matter whether you can be saved or not, all the previous efforts will be in vain.

After suffering so much, and paying so much price... in the end, all he got in return was scars all over his body.

So stupid.Absolutely not.

Laughing at himself, Kiritsugu stared at the black spot that gradually became clear in the distance, and stepped into the storm.

Behind what he couldn't see, the dead gray sky turned into a shocking bright red like blood, and the boundless snow field turned into rolling black soil.

Trek toward an ideal that may never be reached, or turn around and face despair.

Therefore, Kiritsugu finally chose——

Click.

The sound of the wood breaking and collapsing awakened Kiritsugu from his deep dream.

Opening his eyes with difficulty, Kiritsugu got up from the ground while supporting the table.The dizziness from excessive blood loss made Kiritsugu's movements sluggish, and in the process of getting up, he almost swept the things on the table to the ground.

The orange-red firelight soaked through the ceiling, and the wooden boards, which had become fragile in the fire, collapsed under their own weight, and burning sparks fell from above.

With the light of the fire, Kiritsugu stepped in the basement of Fuyuki Church, and found Irisviel who was bound in a magic circle with her eyes closed and frowning in pain.

"Ellie!"

Without hesitation, Kiritsugu drew the dagger from his waist and cut off the rope on Ari's body.

However, Irisviel who broke free from the bondage still did not respond to Kiritsugu.Her pale face, the dripping sweat on her forehead, and the rapid heaving of her chest gave Kiritsugu a bad premonition.

Kiritsugu wanted to put his hand on Ari's forehead just now, but he suddenly felt that he had never seen this scene before.The inexplicable sense of déjà vu made Kiritsugu blur for a moment.

If you think about it carefully, the first encounter between Kiritsugu and Irisviel seems to be like this.

Accepting the employment, he was taken by the patriarch to the deepest part of the workshop of the Einzbern house, in front of Irisviel who was sleeping in the amniotic tank.

"...Is it the Holy Grail?"

At that time, Kiritsugu was surprised and asked the old magician beside him.

As the container of the holy grail, it is only a few years old, so why give it such a beautiful appearance?

He felt very incredible about it.

But at that moment, she who was asleep suddenly opened her eyes.Kiritsugu still cannot forget the crimson eyes that looked at him through the amniotic fluid floating in front of him.

It was almost exactly the same as that time... Irisviel slowly opened her eyes, staring blankly at Kiritsugu, and it took a long time before she refocused.

"Ah—Kiritsugu—"

Irisviel reached out her hand, wanting to caress Kiritsugu's cheek.

But such a simple movement seems to consume a lot of physical strength for the current Irisviel——her icy fingers spasmed slightly, illustrating this fact.

Subconsciously, Kiritsugu grabbed her cold hand and placed it next to his cheek to warm it.

"I... am not dreaming. You really... came to save me—"

"……yes."

Kiritsugu felt the touch of the back of Irisviel's hand, and suddenly felt a blur in front of his eyes, tears wanted to stay.

In front of this woman, crying is allowed.

But... no.

To give Ellie confidence, the confidence that I will be able to obtain the Holy Grail... I can't show weakness in front of her.

But Irisviel's clear and innocent eyes seemed to see Kiritsugu's inner self through Kiritsugu's appearance, and she gently stroked Kiritsugu's cheek as if she were stroking a child.

"I... am very happy now..."

The android's wandering gaze, her pale cheeks and convulsed fingers made Kiritsugu's heart skip a beat, and he gently hugged Irisviel from the magic circle.The slender body in the arms was abnormally hot, and he immediately understood that Irisviel's condition was at stake.

"Don't be sad, Kiritsugu. To be able to fall in love with you, marry you... have a husband, and have a daughter... Over the past few years, you have given me everything I want, and I don't have any regrets anymore. In this world Everything in life, all the happiness I have already..."

Irisviel's whisper made the tears in Emiya Kiritsugu's eyes finally unbearable, welling up in his eyes.

"I'm sorry...I'm sorry, Irisviel..."

Realizing that with the departure of the heroic spirit, her functions as a human being began to collapse synchronously, he hugged Irisviel tightly: "I'm sorry... There are still many, many promises that have not been fulfilled..."