Super God: If I punch you, you will die

This is utterly unreasonable, utterly illogical. These are clearly heroic spirits who achieved great feats in their lifetime; isn't this completely illogical?

Lin Yan asked Ruler a question, and she immediately looked worried and said softly:

“I’m afraid ‘Red’ Archer has never seen such ‘evil’ before.”

"Never. Have you ever seen it?"

"Hell exists in all sorts of forms. Atalanta may have seen villages slaughtered by demonic beings, or she may have witnessed the tyranny of a foolish and tyrannical king."

But that hell was completely different from anything she had ever seen before; it was fatally different. In that Whitechapel, there was no justice. No matter how hard she searched, she could not find a trace of justice.

But there is no evil. Neither the queen, the doctor, the police officer, the criminal, the prostitute, nor the orphan are embodiments of evil, nor representatives of justice. It's just that the air is too heavy. That overly heavy gray sky seems to be crushing them all.

Of course, Jack the Ripper should be an evil being. But the catalyst for his existence was the children who were cruelly abandoned. It was simply their small wish to "return to their resting place."

"So, that's why you apologized?"

"Yes, please remember that, Lin Yanjun."

Ruler turned around. The dim streetlights illuminated her ethereal smile.

"The positions of justice and evil are very complex and can be interchanged in all sorts of circumstances. At least for me, 'Red' Archer is a definite 'evil' being."

"You... are evil?"

“Yes. Just as ‘Red’ Archer said, I think so myself. I am not a saint at all.”

"I am not a saint," Ruler said.

That was a denial of herself, a disguise for those who admired her. Lin Yan stared at the girl in surprise. Ruler looked away.

“Well then, let’s go back first, Lin Yanjun. If we dawdle any longer, your Servant might fly into a rage again.”

After saying this as if to cover up her embarrassment, Ruler turned and walked away. Lin Yan obediently followed behind her. Gazing at her retreating figure, Lin Yan was reminded of the evil hell created by ordinary humans.

He was convinced that he would recall that scene more than once in the future, and that each time he did, his heart would waver, and he might even become unwilling to believe in the existence of humans.

Even for a single human being, there might be a side that he likes. However, that might just be a tiny bit of goodness that can only be swept away by overwhelming malice.

Lin Yan pondered humanity and the world composed of humans.

Will I be able to draw a conclusion about this someday in the future?

Humans are inherently good / Humans are inherently evil.

Or perhaps it's neither of these two scenarios, and we must define humanity using new, unknown concepts? Lin Yan didn't know. For artificial life forms that had only recently been created, this topic was far too heavy.

The chaos caused by the emotions that have arisen, the chaos caused by the abnormal situation, and the inability to see one's own path forward.

My mind was in complete chaos; the only things I could trust were my Servant and the Ruler's smiles.

"I am not a saint at all."

Her confession just now was a very important matter, something that absolutely could not be forgotten. Lin Yan thought to himself. However, he didn't understand the meaning of those words.

Despite being recognized as a saint by everyone, she mocked herself as an evil being and even said that she was not a saint at all. Lin Yan really couldn't understand the reason behind this.

If I keep pressing her, will she tell me?

"No, that won't do."

Lin Yan immediately abandoned the idea. It wouldn't work to ask others for everything and easily get all the answers. He had to think for himself and actively try to understand things.

Even if it's a question that may never be answered, even if the answer will disappear into the darkness, I must never give up on the search for that answer. After arriving at the Noble Phantasm "Garden of Vanity" where the Greater Grail is housed, "Red" Archer calmly reported to his Master, Shirou, about his defeat of "Black" Assassin.

"If I could, I would have liked to have 'Black' Assassin continue to harass them from the rear."

Sitting leisurely on the throne, the "Red" Assassin snorted as if he were bored and said:

"It doesn't really matter. No matter what, they will undoubtedly be chasing us. Since we're going to have to fight a full-scale battle sooner or later, it's troublesome to let such minor characters make trouble in the shadows."

"That makes sense then. Ah, Archer. Do you already know who 'Black' Assassin is?"

"Red" Archer replied casually and listlessly:

"That's something that's already been attacked; it's completely irrelevant."

"Hmm, I see. You're right."

It was a slightly surprised look. However, "Red" Archer simply wore an expression of annoyance and ignored him. There were more important things to do now. She had already focused all her attention on the object of her hatred.

"I'm tired. This report ends here."

After saying that, she left the Royal Chamber. Shirou, as the Master, looked puzzled, as if she had seen something strange.

"What's wrong, Master?"

"No, I'm just a little concerned about what 'Red' Archer looks like."

"I don't think it's any different from usual."

"Red" Archer is generally quite indifferent. While she wouldn't be completely apathetic, she probably wouldn't even flinch if she saw someone die right before her eyes.

Perhaps it's because she has survived to this day by following incredibly harsh natural laws that she holds an extremely detached and objective view of life and death, including her own.

Therefore, no matter who the target of the attack is, the fact that the other party is dead will not change, so it is of course an insignificant matter to her.

If you think about it that way, her attitude is indeed no different from usual. However, Shirou couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that arose within her.

Then he noticed. She had just said, "I'm tired." How could a hero like Atalanta be tired just from a reconnaissance mission?

0309 Hunter [Please Subscribe]

Before turning around, Shirou saw the profile of "Red" Archer.

Beneath her beautiful face, which had attracted countless men to propose to her, lay an undisguised hatred and anger directed at a certain person.

"Get out of the way, Caster."

Archer glanced at Caster with apparent displeasure. Caster, as always, wore a deep, murky smile and said:

"'The good ones of day bow their heads and sleep, while the embodiment of night stirs in search of prey.' Are you trapped by the night, hunter with proud steeds?"

Archer grabbed Caster by the collar impatiently and shoved him hard against the wall.

"I'm exhausted. Extremely exhausted, so just shut up, clown."

However, the clown still refused to shut up.

"How could someone like you possibly get tired from just one reconnaissance mission! So you're not actually feeling tired, you're just feeling scared, right? Like that little kid who can't sleep after hearing the story of the ghost city!"

"Shut up!"

Archer's gaze held a fierce killing intent. "If you utter another word of jest, I'll kill you." She had made this intention clear in her eyes. Despite this, Caster maintained a smile and asked her:

"What did you see? What did you realize? How foolish. Whatever you saw was nothing but the remnants of the past. We are the spirits of the past, and spirits that harbor resentment and hatred for the past can only become vengeful ghosts."

The clown, who should have known nothing, uttered words that pierced the archer's heart with unparalleled precision.

"You guy."

Suddenly, Caster's body lost all strength. In the blink of an eye, the man she was holding turned into an ordinary wooden doll.

Rather than attributing this to magic used by Caster, the author, it's more accurate to say it's some kind of supernatural feat achieved through his immense fame and mysterious past.

"We must live in the future so that we can immerse ourselves in the unknown world. Archer, you must also long to see a world where all children can receive love!"

Caster had somehow slipped behind her again. Hearing him state his wish, Archer almost grabbed him again, but then decided against it. She always felt that he, too, was just a wooden doll.

"Red" Caster. Shakespeare smiled faintly and closed one eye.

"Therefore, we must activate the Greater Grail; we must do it no matter what."

Do you really believe that wishes can come true?

"You heard what our Master said, didn't you? That Greater Grail can indeed hear Master's and your wishes."

Upon hearing this answer, "Red" Archer's expression immediately turned bitter. It was practically the devil's temptation.

"I... really don't understand. Although that guy's wish might indeed have the power to grant my wish as well. But... is that really a good thing? Is that wish really... correct?"

"Who knows? I can't say for sure. No, let me put it this way. Is it impossible to make a decision without a guarantee? 'What should be done, or shouldn't be done?' If that's the case, then the clown can only laugh it off!"

Archer stared intently at Caster for a long while. A slight resurgence of life seemed to return to her eyes. Then, without a word, she moved away from Caster.

Facing her retreating figure, Caster said:

"Speaking of which, Lord Archer, what kind of hell did you see?"

Archer kept his back to him and muttered to himself:

"It is a corner of the world's organization. There, neither gods, heroes, monsters, nor evil kings exist."

If the evil deeds were committed by a demonic being, then they could be subdued and punished.

If it's a god going berserk, then we can also think of ways to appease the god.

However, that is not any of the above situations. It is precisely because they are so perfectly interlocked that the system that allows the weak to be devoured is perfectly executed by the world's institutions.

There is only one way left to break this situation.

That is to fulfill his wish by activating the Greater Grail. This is Archer's only hope now.

“That is something I cannot save with my own power. But that woman should have been able to save them, yet she still abandoned them.”

Her fists clenched so tightly they trembled with anger. Despite knowing that asking such a question was like stepping on a landmine, "Red" Caster couldn't suppress her curiosity and pressed on:

"That woman?"

The eyes of "Red" Archer, who turned around upon hearing the question, were filled with a joy that almost overwhelmed even fear.

“Joan of Arc, that woman must be killed by me. I will shoot her with an arrow, and if I fail, I will tear her to pieces with my claws. If my claws are not enough, I will bite her to pieces with my teeth.”

"Oh my, do you really think you can do that with your beautiful nails and teeth?"

His eyes still gleamed with madness, and "Red" Archer sneered as if he were genuinely pleased:

"Of course I can. I wouldn't care if I turned into a monster just to kill that woman."

Archer turned and left after speaking, while Caster watched her retreating figure. Behind Caster, "Red" Rider had somehow appeared and was now standing there.

"The so-called eloquence is really unbearable."

Hearing such a harsh comment, Caster turned around and said with a smile:

"Ha, ha, ha. After all, when it comes to my weapon, all I have is this sharp sword of language, 'speakdagger'."

Rider certainly didn't believe that the man had offered Archer his helpful advice out of kindness. Caster clearly had some hidden intention, but the problem was that no one knew what that intention was.

To put it extremely, he might simply find it amusing to use language to mislead others. That possibility still exists.

"Instead of that, Lord Rider, you should go and comfort 'Red' Archer, shouldn't you?"

Caster is right; comforting the "Red" Archer, who is currently in dire straits, is certainly important. However, there is a more pressing issue: the matter of Caster.

"Hmph, I'll go comfort my older sister later. But what I'm more concerned about is..."

Is it about 'what we're waiting for'?

"That's right, although it's called preparation, what exactly is there to prepare? That guy from the 'Black' side will catch up sooner or later, but it doesn't seem like these are preparations made to deal with them."

0310 Weaving a 'Miracle' [Please Subscribe]

"Of course. Originally, such preparations should have been done by Assassin, Her Majesty the Empress."

"That's not wrong either."

This aerial garden is a Noble Phantasm, and its wielder is the unpopular "Red" Assassin.

She should have already prepared countermeasures against the attack. So, what exactly is this "Red" Caster, who doesn't even know magic, doing?

"Although I don't know how to use magic, as a Caster, I possess the skill to weave 'miracles.' So, I'm currently preparing for that."

"A miracle. Is that it?"

To put it bluntly, it's a Noble Phantasm. Just like this Sky Garden, either the necessary items haven't been gathered yet, or it will take a little more time.

In any case, it wasn't about combat, but rather measures taken to break the current situation. Rider speculated.

“Then I shall take my leave. Ah, please wait a moment. By the way, Lord Rider, ‘Black’ Archer is said to be your master Chiron, isn’t he?”

"so what?"

"No, although you are a Servant, I don't know how you managed to accept the fact that you have to fight against your former master."