The video had ended.
But Miyu couldn't help watching it again.
Especially the moment when Shirou, battered and covered in wounds, tenaciously defeated the overwhelmingly powerful Angelica.
Despite his bloodied face, he still wore a bright smile as he said, "Miyu, I won. I've finally created a happy future for you!"
It could be said that he truly fulfilled his promise.
Sacrificing everything, burning through his future, and fighting bloody battles time and again just to build a happy life for her.
"Too bad… there's no me in that future of yours."
After she disappeared, the boy lowered his head in unbearable sorrow.
That scene was etched deeply into Miyu's mind.
It was like a blade stabbing into her chest, so painful she couldn't breathe.
"This is just too heartbreaking!"
Illya rewatched the video and couldn't help but have her eyes redden again.
Clearly, he was just a seventeen-year-old boy, but he showed the care of an old father.
He worried about Miyu heading to a new world without him at her side, whether she'd be safe.
What he didn't say out loud was probably—
"Miyu, you'll grow up happy and healthy… but the one who watches over you as you grow… won't be me."
He gave up everything for his sister, created a happy future—
Yet he couldn't even hold her hand to enjoy that happiness together.
Truly cruel.
Miyu wiped away her tears and clenched her small fists. "I once wished for him to become my brother. This time, I will definitely find him!"
Back then, as a child of god, she used all her power to make a wish—to become family with him.
That wish cost her most of her powers and led the Ainsworth family to use her as a "Holy Grail vessel," needing the Grail War to replenish her magical energy.
And this bond created by the Holy Grail—even the Sword of Rupture couldn't cut it.
One day, she would find him.
And if she could hold his hand again—
She would never let go.
"Hmm, Shirou seems to be in Fuyuki City. Just don't know where exactly." Illya nodded.
After watching Vow Beneath the Snow, she couldn't help but feel envious of the bond between the two, a bond so strong even the Sword of Rupture couldn't sever it.
That man, for Miyu, dared to oppose the entire world. He gave up becoming a Hero of Justice just to save his sister.
The only fortunate thing is—
A little sister is still a little sister. I'll generously give you that position.
Illya silently made a decision: "When I marry him in the future, I'll have you be my maid of honor!"
From Artoria trying to knight him using the Round Table, to his arrival in Fuyuki City—
Not to mention both Unlimited Blade Works and Vow Beneath the Snow took place in Fuyuki.
Eliminating all other possibilities, the truth could only be—
He's in Fuyuki City!
He might even be someone they know!
So…
Could it really be that ordinary high school student, "Sanjiro"?
His daily life is just way too normal and unremarkable, showing no signs of any special power.
No, actually—
He does have a special skill—his cooking is EX-level, absurdly strong!
So good that even she couldn't help but shamelessly show up to mooch food!
"So… should I bring Miyu along and go mooch food together?"
Illya found herself hesitating.
If it really is him, would her dear bestie try to compete with her for him?
After all, Miyu is just his adopted sister…
At the same time—
The Ainsworth Family.
On a giant screen, the fourth Alaya video was playing—
"Why am I in this video?"
Julian adjusted his black-rimmed glasses, his eyes full of contemplation.
As the heir to a relatively average magus family, he never imagined that he'd appear in such a video.
And as Shirou's enemy, no less!
On the screen—
Shirou said admiringly, "For decades, the Sakatsuki family made the same wish—to see their child grow up healthy and happy."
That single line left the furious Julian, who had been condemning Shirou as the 'Evil of Humanity,' completely stunned on-screen.
And the real Julian watching the video felt like his brain exploded with pain.
Countless memories surged through his mind.
In that timeline—
Julian, who also aspired to be a Hero of Justice, was driven into despair after the Fourth Holy Grail War, when his father and sister were both killed.
Julian, in that despair, began being overtaken by the ancestor of the Ainsworth family—Darius Ainsworth.
In other words, at that time, he was slowly being consumed by his own ancestor.
Bit by bit, he was turning into Darius.
Under that influence—
He changed from someone willing to sacrifice himself to save others—
To someone willing to sacrifice anyone to save the world—a true "saintly hypocrite".
Yes, that's right—a saintly hypocrite.
You want to save the world but make others pay the price instead of yourself—what else could that be called?
And then—
He was lucky enough to meet someone who was willing to sacrifice himself but refused to sacrifice anyone else—Shirou.
"We really are alike."
Julian watched the boy on the screen and spoke with heartfelt emotion.
He was the version of Shirou who walked down a different path.
And Shirou was the version of himself who stuck to the original path.
Under the influence of Darius, Julian had abandoned his original ideals.
But Shirou… he never strayed from them. He clung to them to the very end, even at the cost of his life.
At that moment—those two people from two different paths—mirrored each other.
In the video, Shirou said the same thing, seeing Julian as a version of himself who took another road.
"This is my last bit of magical energy. Take it, Shirou."
Julian watched the video, where the briefly awakened version of himself passed everything on to the boy.
Allowing this man to choose to fight the entire world for his sister—walking a path no one could foresee.
And at the end of the video—
Shirou didn't hesitate to sacrifice himself and made a contract with Alaya, all to bring hope to the world.
Worthy of the name "Steel-Willed Savior." Worthy of the path he chose.
"I'm not your equal…"
Julian adjusted his glasses again. In his mind, the face of his close friend in reality suddenly surfaced.
That ordinary high school boy without a single magical circuit—Sanjiro.
And yet, he had become Julian's best friend without him even realizing it.
Maybe—
It's because that boy always helps others without expecting anything in return.
Are you… also a Hero of Justice?
At that moment—
A tall figure walked in from outside — a girl with an imposing presence and a strikingly large aura.
Her long golden hair swayed slightly as her blue eyes locked onto the screen. "You're watching this video too?"
"Angelica, have you seen it?" Julian replied calmly.
"Call me Big Sis!"
Angelica reached out and knocked him on the head.
In this peaceful world, the Ainsworth family was one of great harmony — a loving father, filial children, and a respectful bond between sister and brother.
There was no need to fight, no need to save the world — nothing to worry about.
She gazed at the video dispassionately.
"In that timeline, you were corrupted by our ancestor, Darius, and I was just a puppet. There's nothing interesting about it."
"But why does it seem like you were staring at him the whole time in the end? Were you... captivated?" Julian adjusted his glasses and looked at her suspiciously.
"Just a powerful guy — hardly anything special." Angelica shot him a cold glance.
"Yeah, I figured. Otherwise, people would start calling you 'Mrs. Savior.'" Julian nodded thoughtfully.
The version of his sister in the video was merely a puppet he had created using [Substitution Magic] after her death.
The real Angelica — the one standing before him — was the genuine article.
Julian was actually a bit excited to see how his real-life best friend, Sanjiro, would react when he met his sister.
One was his comrade in the video; the other in real life. It felt like there was some mysterious connection between the two.
He really couldn't wait to see what would happen.
"Mrs. Savior? Give me a break. I don't need that title!" Angelica frowned slightly.
Thanks to the overpowered [Substitution Magic], she wasn't much different from being truly alive.
After the video played, she had also regained many of the memories that had been hidden away.
That image of Shirou fusing with thousands of swords, standing against the Sword of Rupture — it was unforgettable.
Fuyuki City.
Matou Kariya, now just an ordinary office worker, stared dumbfounded at the video.
"Why am I in Vow Beneath the Snow? And why do I show up as some tragic character?"
He could hardly believe his eyes.
The mysterious uploader had been revealing videos about the bonds and battles between Nameless and various powerful Heroic Spirits.
And him? He was just an ordinary guy with no talent whatsoever.
Though born into a family of mages, he had completely severed ties with the magical world.
He now lived in the northeast residential area of Fuyuki City, unmarried, and worked for a chain department store.
Every day, he returned home before 8 PM.
He didn't smoke, only drank in moderation, and always went to bed before 1 AM, making sure to get a full 8 hours of sleep.
To improve sleep quality, he'd heat a glass of milk and do 20 minutes of light stretching before bed — and he always slept soundly until morning.
He never carried stress into the next day.
Doctors and friends all said he was in great health.
Though he had cut ties with his family, he deeply cherished the adopted girl, Sakura, treating her like his own daughter since she was little.
But in the video, he apparently died early on.
"Me, a normal guy, participating in the Holy Grail War?"
The more Matou Kariya watched, the more unbelievable it seemed.
It was just too strange.
He had no magical aptitude and had completely severed ties with that world.
How could he possibly get involved in something as brutal and bloody as the Holy Grail War?
Especially the Fourth War — the origin of the entire story — which ended in the great Fuyuki fire that claimed countless lives.
"What role did I even play in that disaster?"
The more he thought about it, the more confused he became.
In the video—
Even after becoming a puppet, he still screamed in rage:
"I'll take Sakura back no matter what!"
What had really happened in between?
The Matou family was supposed to be just another happy, ordinary family, living peacefully in Fuyuki.
Surely nothing bad could happen... right?
Just then, the phone rang.
Kariya picked it up, a smile naturally appearing on his face. "Sakura? What a surprise — calling me out of the blue?"
"Uncle Kariya... did you, um, see the video?"
On the other end, the girl's voice was a little hesitant.
"Ahem... I did. I was totally confused too," Kariya replied helplessly.
Now he understood why she'd called.
As someone featured in the video, of course she'd be worried about him.
Her voice was gentle. "It's okay, that was just something that happened in another timeline. It has nothing to do with us. You don't need to worry."
"Sakura, you're such a good kid."
Kariya sighed emotionally.
Despite all the hardship she went through in the video, the first thing she thought of was checking on him.
She really was his precious little angel.
After the call ended, Kariya decided to head home early today — and pick up a few gifts for the kid along the way.
At the department store, everyone gave him weird looks.
Clearly, after seeing his alternate self in the video, they were struggling to see him as just a regular guy.
"Sigh... is my peaceful, ordinary life about to end like this?"
Kariya sighed deeply. Now he sort of understood why Nameless didn't want to show up publicly.
Damn you, Alaya!
Had to go and expose everything! Had to stir it all up!
As he passed the fish stall in the market, he spotted a tall man with blue hair staring blankly at his phone.
The guy had stopped working and was sitting off to the side, watching the video.
Murmuring as he watched, "Ah, I died!"
Great. Another one of those gaming addicts losing it.
...
Fuyuki Grand Hotel.
In the top-floor presidential suite—
Artoria looked at the young man who fearlessly burned everything and sacrificed himself, and sighed softly. "You chose to sacrifice yourself again."
Back in the Battle of Camlann, he had done the same — stepping in without hesitation to stop her and Mordred from killing each other.
And now, he chose to sacrifice himself again, signing a contract with Alaya to bring hope to that world.
"Nameless… I will find you and keep you by my side, always watching over you."
Artoria's holy blue eyes were filled with determination.
This man had already sacrificed too much for humanity and the world.
He had brought light and hope to countless people, yet had never once thought about his own happiness.
A Heroic Spirit that people both loved and resented.
She had given him the title Knight of Holy Light, so he could stand openly beneath the sun, basking in everyone's admiration and respect.
Not hide in the shadows, giving everything and being remembered by no one.
If even such a hero couldn't be honored, then what meaning did being King Arthur hold for her?
All she wanted was for everyone to be saved —
Including Nameless himself.
Just asking him to silently give and give — that wasn't fair.
If he would accept it, she was even willing to give up the title King of Knights to him. In her eyes, he was the most perfect knight — truly worthy beyond compare.
That was what a real knight was.
He didn't follow any chivalric code — yet embodied the very essence of a knight better than anyone else.
Just then, the door to the room was suddenly flung open with force.
Artoria frowned slightly.
For someone to barge uninvited into the room of a sovereign ruler—this was nothing short of a severe diplomatic incident.
However—
The moment she saw who it was, she instantly understood everything.
Silver-gray hair fluttered in the air, and golden eyes glared coldly at her. "Artoria, you've watched the video, haven't you?"
The intruder was none other than the Emperor of France, the Dark Saint—Jeanne d'Arc.
A witch known for her brazen and unrestrained behavior.
"Oh? And what do you want to say?" Artoria stared at her expressionlessly. "Forcing your way into my room without notice—is this what the so-called most etiquette-savvy French are like?"
Heroic Spirits stood at the pinnacle of humanity.
Each possessed the combat prowess of an army, so their actions were naturally unrestrained.
But to openly provoke Artoria, king of the Knights of the Round Table—if word got out, it would leave countless people stunned.
"True, there was no bond. In his most desperate moment, he couldn't summon you. And yet you turned your back on him, aiding his enemies."
Jeanne's golden eyes were full of scorn as she stared at her. "This is the so-called Perfect King? What a joke."
—It had to be said.
When watching the video earlier, hearing the boy's desperate plea, holding a blank card, begging for any Heroic Spirit to assist him—
Unfortunately, no one came.
Not a single Heroic Spirit responded.
With no Holy Relic, no contract, all his calls were in vain.
That seemed perfectly reasonable.
He was just a fledgling at the beginning of everything, with no bonds formed with any Heroic Spirits.
Let alone summoning one to help.
And yet, when Jeanne saw that Ainsworth family's leader effortlessly summon the power of King Arthur, she couldn't sit still and made a point to come over and mock her.
"Oh, that was just a puppet stealing my power," Artoria replied calmly.
In that parallel world shown in the video—
Julian created Class Cards, forcibly establishing contracts with Heroic Spirits and drawing on their powers.
Turning magi into incarnations of Heroic Spirits.
Such summoning required no consent—basically like a thief in the night.
Even Jeanne, let alone Artoria herself, felt furious watching someone steal her powers to fight Shirou. She'd have loved to kill him on the spot.
How could she ever strike the man she love?
If it ever came to that, she'd rather strike herself!
Hmm… In the Perfect King video's side story, didn't she survive at the end holding the Holy Lance?
Artoria furrowed her brows, suddenly recalling this detail.
What exactly happened after her death in the Battle of Camlann?
Could that be the reason… he never came to see her?
"'After this battle, we'll go home'… The biggest lie on the battlefield, isn't it?"
Jeanne, seeing her opponent unmoved, pressed on with a powerful glare in her golden eyes. "Someday, I'll give him the grandest coronation. He will be the absolute protagonist!"
"Oh? You think you can find him?" Artoria cast her a sideways glance.
A clueless bumpkin without even a single lead… and she dares talk about finding Nameless?
"...You bastard! I'll definitely find him before you do!"
The Dark Saint looked at her with sheer disdain.
This whole trip to Fuyuki City had clearly been to tail Artoria in hopes of getting lucky.
But they came up with absolutely nothing.
Where on earth is that guy?
…
The video had ended, and yet countless viewers still refused to look away.
Watching it over and over again.
It had to be said—Vow Beneath the Snow featured an Shirou so heroic it left people breathless.
Meanwhile, Merlin had the look of someone who'd seen a ghost,
"You... You summoned yourself!?"
Others relied on the aid of powerful Heroic Spirits.
But this guy—he actually summoned alternate versions of himself from across different timelines to grant him strength.
"Because… praying to gods is no substitute for relying on oneself."
Sanjiro replied with a faint sigh.
Of course, he'd wanted to summon a whole crew of Heroic Spirits—but back then, there truly was no one to help him.
Then, he turned off his phone and slipped it back into his pocket.
A magical glow shimmered in his eyes.
Sanjiro looked at the Flower Magus standing not far away,
"Now then, you who delights in toying with humans… are you ready to taste the waters of the Spring of Drowned Girl?"