Chapter 85: Watching My Dark History on Livestream – My Life Is Over
"Summoning me with this trash?! That damn Necromancer is pissing me off!"
"Oh? That Lancer looks familiar... Aha, it's Vlad III!"
"Johanna, you fought Vlad III before, right? Back then, I was busy fighting off a horde of Wyverns. Was he strong?"
"... How should I put it? If he doesn't activate his Noble Phantasm, I end up at a disadvantage."
"That peasant girl possessed an ordinary human...? I see, so that's how she descended?"
Outside the hallway, Ethan sat on a long bench, holding a can of oolong tea in his hand, quietly gazing at the perpetually snow-covered scenery outside the window.
"Master, are you sure it's okay not to be in there?"
Emiya Kiritsugu walked over and sat down beside Ethan.
"Ah... It should be fine. But hey, aren't you going to watch?"
Kiritsugu had quite a lot of fans in the livestream. Just a moment ago, people were still spamming the chat asking about him.
"For me, acting alone is still the best way to complete a mission. But a Holy Grail War that took place somewhere does have a certain reference value. I'll review it seriously later."
"... Then what's the point anymore?"
The whole purpose of a livestream is to watch together! If Kiritsugu watches alone, then what's left for the audience to see of his reactions?
But even if he did enter the room, with that emotionless face of his, there probably wouldn't be any noteworthy reactions anyway.
In truth, the reason Ethan didn't choose Fate/Zero from the beginning was precisely because of Kiritsugu.
Making him watch FZ? That's no different from hell on earth.
Step by step, watching himself sink into darkness, sever ties with Saber, personally kill his wife and child, only to end up with nothing but a burning Fuyuki.
And worse, leaving behind two monsters who specialized in locking children in the basement of that devastated city.
The true despair of a human life.
Just imagining the scene of forcing Kiritsugu to watch FZ made Ethan want to run over and hug Martha's thighs for confession.
"Master, actually, I came to find you because I have something to discuss."
"Hm?"
It was rare for Emiya Kiritsugu to seek him out.
"I just spoke with that doctor. It seems Chaldea needs to activate a new backup area internally and requires a Servant capable of independent combat to assist in recording data."
"There's even an area like that?"
"According to the doctor, once the recording is complete, Servants will be able to participate in simulated battles inside."
A training area?
So Chaldea really had a place like that.
"So you want to help Dr. Romani and the others?"
"I am merely an Assassin who lives in the shadows. In life, I seemed to have used dirty methods to eliminate my enemies. Now, I respond to the Master's summons as a tool of the Counter Force."
Emiya Kiritsugu lifted his head and gazed at the snowfall outside the window.
"To be honest, I don't know why I felt a little lost during the last battle. I even wavered when I heard the words of that saint. For an Assassin, that's a fatal mistake."
"You mean when we were attacked?"
Back then, Martha and Emiya Kiritsugu were supposed to work together to stop the invading Wyverns. In the end, what exactly did Martha and Emiya Kiritsugu talk about...?
Now that was intriguing.
"An Assassin who cannot strike decisively is nothing but a burden. That's why I want to take a short break to adjust myself."
"Umu, then I'll leave assisting the doctor to you."
Ethan quickly spoke up.
"However, this isn't a vacation—it's a mission."
"A mission?"
Emiya Kiritsugu turned to him with a confused expression.
"This is a mission to reclaim the future of humanity. Supporting Chaldea is an important part of that. So, you don't need to blame yourself. Right now, you're on the right path—I can guarantee that!"
Looking into Ethan's determined eyes, Emiya Kiritsugu hesitated for a moment before his tone seemed to lighten.
"The right path… I see."
"Alright, it's about time. I'll go check on the situation, too."
Ethan stood up, watching Kiritsugu's figure as he walked away. Somewhere in the distance, he vaguely saw a woman with long hair standing by his side.
"Nani?!"
Ethan rubbed his eyes and indeed saw the faint silhouette of Irisviel.
Could it be that because he had used the Holy Grail, he was now able to see her?
As if she noticed his gaze, Irisviel's illusion gently nodded in gratitude from afar.
Emiya Kiritsugu had spent his whole life searching for the right way to save the world. Perhaps Ethan's words had helped ease his burden, even if just a little.
Alright, time to go see how those people are doing.
"That damn Magus dared to call me a woman?! Is he tired of living?!"
"Burned at the stake as a witch, betrayed by her own country, yet that girl isn't even angry?! This Holy Grail War record must be fake, right?! There's no way that could happen!"
As soon as Ethan opened the door, the scene before him was Mash and the others desperately trying to hold back Mordred and Jeanne Alter. At this moment, the fury on both their faces was visible to the naked eye.
"Calm down! This is just a recording!!!"
"Jeanne Alter-san, put your sword away! No setting things on fire in here!"
"Everyone, please calm down!!!"
Watching the chaotic mess of people tangled together, Ethan suddenly felt a headache coming on.
Forget it, I'll just pretend I didn't see anything…
Just as he was about to slip away, Martha immediately noticed him.
"Ah! Master is here! Hurry and help us!"
"No, no, you guys go ahead and talk it out, I'll be on my—GUAHHHH!!!"
Without a word, Martha grabbed Ethan and dragged him back.
"Everyone, settle down! Master has something to say!"
Seeing Ethan appear, Jeanne Alter and Mordred temporarily paused, but immediately began complaining to him.
"That peasant girl is definitely hiding something! She was executed by her own country—how could she not hold a grudge?!"
"The record of me is messed up too, Master! It's full of unrelated scenes—why does that Homunculus keep showing up?! Who even wants to watch that?!"
"Skip to the part where that peasant girl gets humiliated! I want to see how she gets wrecked!"
"Master, hurry up! Show the part where I fight bravely! The Holy Grail War definitely ends with my victory, right?"
Faced with the intense demands of Jeanne Alter and Mordred, Ethan had no choice but to reluctantly agree and start fast-forwarding.
Under everyone's focused gaze, the screen showed the scene where Mordred first saw the King of Knights leading the Knights of the Round Table into the city.
In the recording, Mordred appeared with eyes filled with admiration and a smile as pure as a young maiden's.
…Oh shit!
Ethan had a bad feeling. He quickly turned his head, only to see Mordred reaching her breaking point, lifting Clarent with murderous intent.
"DIEEEEEEEE!!!!"