Chapter 35

【The first question has ended; we will now begin the second question.】

【This is a multiple-choice question. Please watch the following video carefully and answer based on the question.】

【At midnight, two figures, one large and one small, sit by the courtyard, watching the bright full moon in the sky.】

【Everyone recognizes the larger one; it is none other than Kiritsugu Emiya.】

【And the smaller one is a red-haired boy.】

【The name of the boy is thoughtfully provided on the side: Shirou Emiya.】

【"Hey, hey, Old Man?"】

【Shirou Emiya speaks up as he watches Kiritsugu Emiya, who hasn't moved for a long while.】

【"Hm?"】

【Kiritsugu Emiya doesn't move his body, only responding softly.】

【Shirou Emiya: "If you want to sleep, go sleep in the bed, Old Man!"】

【Kiritsugu Emiya: "No, it's fine, I'm fine."】

Kayneth: "Kiritsugu Emiya, so you actually have a son, you bastard."

Waver: "Professor Kayneth, that's a bit..."

Kiritsugu Emiya: "..."

He is very confused right now, because he has absolutely no idea where this son in the video came from.

Could it be that in the future, he and Irisviel have another son?

If that's the case, does it mean he won this Holy Grail War?

【"When I was young, I once longed to become an ally of justice."】

【After a long silence, Kiritsugu Emiya speaks slowly.】

【"What does that mean?"】

【Shirou Emiya asks with some curiosity: "You said 'once'—does that mean you've given up now?"】

【"Yes, unfortunately, I have given up."】

【Kiritsugu Emiya says with self-mockery: "Heroes have a shelf life. Once you grow into an adult, you can no longer be a hero. I wish I had realized that sooner."】

【"Is that so? Then it can't be helped."】

【Shirou Emiya says, seemingly understanding but not quite.】

【"Yeah, it really can't be helped."】

【Kiritsugu Emiya looks up and sighs: "... It really is a beautiful moon."】

King of Heroes: "Ha, an ally of justice? That makes me laugh to death."

Kayneth: "To think that the so-called Mage Killer actually possesses such a ridiculous ideal."

Artoria: "Kiritsugu, you..."

Even the King of Knights is somewhat incredulous.

That Kiritsugu Emiya, who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals, would actually have such a dream.

Mapo Priest: "..."

Kirei Kotomine is also somewhat unable to believe it.

The man he regarded as a 'soulmate' holds a dream that is so naive and simple.

Because Kirei Kotomine has lacked emotions since childhood, he was born without knowing what happiness is.

To put it bluntly, he is a 'three-no' poker-faced person.

After growing up, Kirei Kotomine would study everything he came into contact with wholeheartedly, because he was searching.

He wanted to find that so-called sense of happiness, but he could never obtain the fluctuation called 'pleasure.'

Even the suicide of his wife, Claudia, could not cause any fluctuation in him.

But Kirei Kotomine did not give up just like that.

He abandoned his daughter, Karen, traveled the world changing jobs, and constantly pursued the meaning of his life.

Until later, when he noticed this person, Kiritsugu Emiya.

In his eyes, Kiritsugu Emiya risked his life to carry out various assassination missions, where the rewards and risks were completely disproportionate; what was driving him to continue like this?

A goal—only a firm life goal could make him fight on regardless of his life.

Just like that, Kirei Kotomine determined that Kiritsugu Emiya must be someone who could make him understand the meaning of life, so he kept wanting to make contact with him, but never had the opportunity.

In the original work, Gilgamesh took the first step, causing Kirei Kotomine to awaken to the philosophy of 'human nature is inherently evil,' prompting this guy to become a pervert like Gilles de Rais, taking pleasure in watching others suffer.

So later, when Kirei Kotomine learned that Kiritsugu Emiya held the dream of becoming an 'ally of justice,' he felt 'betrayed' and hated him intensely.

And because of their differing philosophies, Kiritsugu Emiya also detested Kirei Kotomine.

These two became completely opposing types of people.

However, now, Kirei Kotomine has not yet fallen into the so-called 'pleasure of evil,' so upon discovering that Kiritsugu Emiya actually finds happiness in goodness, he only feels more confused.

At this moment, Kirei Kotomine is at Tokiomi Tohsaka's home, together with Tokiomi Tohsaka and Gilgamesh.

Lost in thought, Kirei Kotomine does not notice that although Gilgamesh is constantly mocking Kiritsugu Emiya in the group, his gaze has been fixed on him, and his eyes are flashing with a malicious light.

Clearly, he has already begun to harbor that intention.

Extra Feng Xi: "Hey, hey, are you guys done yet? Is there something wrong with wanting to be an ally of justice?"

Watching Kayneth and Gilgamesh endlessly mocking Kiritsugu Emiya in the group, Extra Feng Xi, a model youth, can no longer stand it and starts lashing out directly.

He truly cannot understand the mindset of these two guys; in their eyes, is wanting to be an ally of justice really that ridiculous?

In Extra Feng Xi's impression, every child has had such an ideal.

Although everyone is worn down by reality after growing up, what's wrong with keeping a shred of childhood innocence?

Men are boys until they die.

Extra Feng Xi: "Gilgamesh, Kayneth, is a person's dream of wanting to be a righteous hero really that ridiculous in your eyes?"

Extra Feng Xi: "Or is it that your dreams are actually to become villains despised by everyone, which is why you think this dream is so ridiculous?"