Chapter 219: Consider the Big Picture?
"...!?"
Although Emiya Shirou had not finished his sentence, it was obvious that Tohsaka Rin had understood his meaning. She froze instantly.
"So, if we want to return, the only way is for you, Rin—as the apprentice of the Jeweled Zeltrech—to transform into a Magical Girl and use the second magic (Kaleidoscope) with the [Kaleidoscope Staff] to take us back."
As the light slowly returned to Tohsaka Rin's eyes, Emiya Shirou uttered this follow-up.
In other words, he wanted Tohsaka Rin to transform into a Magical Girl.
Unlike Miyu Edelfelt, who lacked common sense and had never realized what a shameful thing it was to transform into a Magical Girl in front of others, when Tohsaka Rin had initially seen Miyu transform using the Ruby staff right in front of them, her reaction—aside from marveling at Miyu's courage—was undoubtedly one of relief that the person transforming was not her.
If only she hadn't been so willing to lend the [Kaleidoscope Staff] to Miyu for self-defense when Emiya Shirou asked. If she had known she would be the one expected to transform... she would rather have died!
But now... she should have been firmer back then. She should have insisted on the second method—having Emiya Shirou project a [Gem Sword] for her to comprehend the second magic—rather than choosing this "fastest-acting" first method!
Now it was too late. Having arrived in a parallel world, they didn't even have the chance to go back on their word.
Leaving behind Tohsaka Rin, who had plunged into a state of gray despair upon hearing this news, Emiya Shirou realized she probably needed some time for mental preparation. He took this opportunity to walk over to Saber.
"Have you made your decision, Saber?"
"...!? Eh?"
Although the situation was not great for Darius—who had been waiting for the "Death" displaced within the [Pandora's Box] to emerge along with the box being opened, only to be eliminated before he could do anything—for many people in this parallel world, including Julian, who could not bear to see Pandora die but knew that continuing to live would be a form of torture for her, they had all received the ending they desired.
Saber, still immersed in the joyful atmosphere, fascinated by the fact that such a tragic ending had been rewritten, was stunned for a moment before returning to her senses. "Is there something else?"
As she spoke, Saber solemnly raised her holy sword, looking around with vigilance, especially toward the spot where the [Pandora's Box] Cursed Spirit had vanished, thinking the enemy might be making a comeback.
"No, no, that's not it..." Emiya Shirou hurried to soothe Saber's emotions, not quite sure how to phrase it.
"Uh, it wouldn't be accurate to say there's nothing...
Alright, this is indeed still a matter regarding you, Saber.
Your wish is to return to the past and save Britain, correct?"
Emiya Shirou, struggling for the right words, finally chose to speak plainly: "Through the knowledge granted by the Holy Grail, you should know the biggest historical difference between this parallel world and our own.
It is likely that in this parallel world, [Pandora's Box] was not opened by Pandora as agreed...
Of course, I am not saying that your wish to save Britain might brew a major incident like this [Pandora's Box], but... uh... well."
If he didn't have the memories of his past life, Emiya Shirou could have said that with certainty. But with those memories, he knew that the fall of Britain in the Type-Moon world wasn't just a symbol of Saber's homeland being occupied by the Anglo-Saxon invaders, nor was it just about the invaders' attitude toward the natives... It was also because the decline of mystery was an inevitable trend in the development of human history.
If he were to truly let Saber continue her rule over Britain, continuing the reign of this remnant of the Age of Gods, it was hard to say what would happen to the trajectory of human history.
"Shirou, what exactly are you trying to say?" Saber asked, her brows furrowed.
While she called it an inquiry, Saber had actually realized that her wish was problematic. But she couldn't admit it.
Whether it was selfish or willful, Saber wanted to save Britain. That was her responsibility as a King.
Saber was as stubborn as the Emiya Shirou of the original work—perhaps even so similar in character that Emiya Shirou would likely have summoned her even without [Avalon]. Only after experiencing everything in the Fate route, finding resonance with Emiya Shirou in both heart and body, did she struggle and finally choose Emiya Shirou over the Holy Grail when Kotomine Kirei presented the option, realizing her true feelings for the first time.
Even then, Saber only chose to destroy the Greater Grail upon learning it was corrupted. Without the mutual love and the difficult choice from the Fate route—and with the corruption of the Greater Grail already cleaned up by Emiya Shirou's [Pseudo-Atum] Stand ability—Saber, having finally grasped this straw of hope, simply did not want to give it up.
"If you truly wish to return to the past to save Britain, Saber, it is best to make that wish while in this parallel world."
Emiya Shirou continued: "Although the problem of [Pandora's Box] has been solved, the erosion it brought to this world over the past millennium has had an impact on the Counter Force that cannot be simply erased.
The world's self-correcting force needs time to slowly recover. This is one of the few times you can make that wish without having too many concerns, and without worrying about the Counter Force secretly interfering."
"...Hmm, ah!?" Saber, who had been maintaining a solemn expression, suddenly found herself unable to keep her composure at this moment.
What was Emiya Shirou going to say to her? Was he going to persuade her to give up the wish? Or persuade her to consider the big picture?
Saber had considered many possibilities. But the one thing she never expected was that Emiya Shirou would still support her wish at a time like this, and even point out a path for her to bypass the interference of the Counter Force.
Was he worried that her wish wouldn't succeed!?
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