The Infinite Journey of a Certain Flame

Seeing this, Kiana rushed to Kiritsugu without saying a word and punched him, then snatched the gun and questioned him:

"Are you insane, Kiritsugu! Why are you killing these innocent civilians?!"

After Kiritsugu landed on his buttocks, he raised his head somewhat dazedly and mumbled:

"This is to save more people."

This Ruler is so fair! (F/Z): Chapter Twenty-Six: The Most Fundamental Law—You gain some, you lose some.

To save more people?

What kind of reason is that!

Kiana couldn't understand Kiritsugu's explanation at all.

Looking around, the people on the cruise ship were ashen-faced and blank-minded, as if they were under the control of magic.

Although their reaction was no different from that of those controlled by magic, Kiana felt that these people were, in principle, real people.

They were all defenseless people, how could they bring themselves to kill these people?

Kiana wasn't sure how to view Kiritsugu's behavior, but she felt it was wrong.

Do you think this behavior is just?

Kiana questioned him in this way.

She threw the gun away, glanced at the corpses pierced by bullets, and a hint of pity flashed across her face.

While it's unclear why they ended up in this place, it's certain that indiscriminate killing of innocent people is inappropriate no matter where it is.

Unfortunately...

After a moment of silence, Kiritsugu suddenly stood up.

"And what do you even know about justice?!"

Kiritsugu's voice rang out coldly.

He walked toward the corpses and placed his right hand on their heads.

"How can you possibly understand what's going on with these people? What right do you have to judge whether this is right or wrong!" Kiritsugu's words were laced with sarcasm: "These people may live because of you, but many more will die because of your mercy!"

Upon hearing these words, Kiana felt a strange sense of panic.

She remembered what Kiritsugu had said to her that time.

Can you understand why I did this?

At that time, Kiana thought that Kiritsugu was mocking her for not being strong enough.

In retrospect, it seems that Kiritsugu was not mocking her ignorance.

After Kiritsugu finished speaking, Kiana noticed that the aura emanating from these people gradually disappeared.

"What exactly do you mean by what you're saying?" Kiana murmured, her face full of confusion.

She wasn't quite sure why Kiritsugu could say such a thing.

But she felt that such a cold and self-centered man was unlikely to suddenly spout nonsense.

"There is another ship opposite this one. The fuel and food on board are only enough for one ship to reach its destination. If we don't eliminate one side, everyone on the other side will die."

Kiritsugu slowly rose and uttered these words.

Upon hearing this, Kiana instinctively wanted to retort, "What nonsense are you talking about?" However, she suddenly realized that this world might not be the real world.

Or is it a fantasy world?

"So in your opinion, a small number of people are entitled to pay the price? They shouldn't even have the right to choose?" Kiana hesitated for a moment before questioning.

"This is the best way to save the majority."

Kiritsugu coldly replied that this was always how he solved these problems.

Kiana didn't know what to say.

If what Kiritsugu said is true, then she has no choice but to do it, no matter how unwilling she is, because her fate is no longer in her own hands.

She had to do as Kiritsugu said, otherwise all her sacrifices would be in vain.

But Kiana didn't want to do it.

She didn't believe she could save so many people, nor did she agree with Kiritsugu's viewpoint.

“If what you say is true, then why do you still kill so many people? You are killing, not redeeming.”

Kiana didn't understand.

Kiritsugu's behavior is hard to imagine.

Kiana felt that his killing of so many people, whether to redeem the dead or to save more lives, was foolish.

"Then why don't you just go kill the others? Wouldn't that be simpler?"

Kiritsugu countered with a question.

"We can find a better way."

Kiana said coldly.

Kiritsugu looked at Kiana and sneered, "Naive. What if we fail? What if everyone dies? Is this your so-called justice?"

After saying that, Kiritsugu walked forward and continued to another cabin.

“Isn’t this the obvious thing to do? These people aren’t your enemies, so why are you killing them!” Kiana shouted.

“Your way of thinking is too different from ours. If you don’t understand, then leave.” Kiritsugu ignored Kiana and walked straight towards the captain’s room.

Kiana watched Kiritsugu's indifferent back as her anger continued to rise.

She had been trying to change all of this, but she never imagined that she would end up like this.

Kiana was unwilling to give up. She chased after him, stretching out her slender arm to block Kiritsugu's path.

"Why are you so stubborn? Kiritsugu, I thought you were a rational person, but I never expected you to be so rational. Haven't you thought about the few people you sacrificed?"

Kiana questioned her sharply.

She was in a terrible internal struggle, unable to believe what she was seeing.

She couldn't understand why this man could be so heartless and indifferent.

Perhaps in his own eyes, he was a great hero who saved everyone.

But if the right to decide life and death is not restrained in the slightest, it will eventually become a kind of wanton cruelty.

“Because if we don’t kill them, even more people will die,” Kiritsugu said coldly.

"Why?! Tell me why!" Kiana roared.

"Because none of them deserve to be redeemed by your kindness."

"Your kindness is killing them! Your kindness is causing all innocent people to die! You don't deserve anyone's kindness!"

“I don’t need kindness, I just need to kill them, that’s enough.”

Kiritsugu remained unmoved and said coldly.

Seeing this, Kiana became furious.

She suddenly delivered a swift chop to Kiritsugu's neck, instantly knocking the man to the ground and rendering him unconscious.

"This is utterly incomprehensible. How could a perfectly normal man suddenly become so insane?"

Kiana stared at Kiritsugu, who was foaming at the mouth, and covered her forehead in exasperation, muttering to herself.

However...

He's right.

The sudden male voice immediately made her think of the system.

However, after a brief examination, Kiana immediately dismissed this possibility.

Because the system's voice sounds more like a frequency variation of one's own voice.

But this strange sound... sounds like a frequency variation of Kiritsugu's voice?

"who are you?"

Who I am is not important.

The mysterious voice did not respond to Kiana's question, but continued slowly:

He's right.

"Oh? What do you mean? You think this behavior is right? Then it seems we have nothing more to say to each other."

Kiana sneered, then crossed her arms and said arrogantly.

Regardless of what this mysterious voice actually is, she is certain that it is the cause of Kiritsugu's madness.

The area is surrounded by the sea for dozens of miles, and apart from the unarmed civilians, you are the strangest person in the world.

If it's not you, then who is it?

"Do you think I'm wrong? Then I'll show you what the consequences of your actions will be."

"What?" Kiana was completely confused.

"Let me see the consequences?" What does this sentence mean?

The next second, Kiana understood what the other person meant.

As the surrounding scenery rapidly changed, the merchant ship burst into flames, and the air was filled with the smell of burnt meat.

The deck was covered with the corpses of countless civilians, regardless of age or gender.

The flames engulfed their bodies, and all Kiana could do was stare blankly.

There is no other way.

"It failed..."

Kiritsugu's voice came from the side.