the living [comprehensive]

Numbly waiting for death, or choosing to betray; for people who lost everything in the war, it seems that there are only two choices before them.It is better to be insensitive or to be wicked than to be hopeful in vain; and there is nothing wrong with saying "hope" is a luxury.

However, the birth of hope is always accompanied by despair, and vice versa.Even between completely dark choices, there will be a ray of light cast quietly.

Heroic Spirit stared at the young man below, his focused gaze was so intense that the air seemed to be burning.

He watched the boy lead the little boy forward, while talking patiently with him;

He watched the boy walk into the area populated by Arabs, and put down his weapon under the watchful and even hostile eyes of the locals;

He watched the boy entrust the boy to a kind woman, and left after asking about the surroundings.

Realizing that this ignorant boy who is also "Shiro Emiya" is about to embark on a bumpy road of experience alone, Ying Ling's brows can't help but deeply frowned.

Although he is full of energy right now, when he thinks about everything this brat will face, he can't rest assured.

The heroic spirit who appeared from a high place jumped into the air, intending to wait for the boy's arrival on the only way to the next city.After witnessing the young man's ability to protect himself and protect others, as well as the innocent heart of the other party, Heroic Spirit, who has completely calmed down, also made the final decision.

Since it is impossible to kill the other party, since it is impossible to completely ignore it and let the other party fend for itself;

Then, just stay by the other party's side temporarily as a guide.

In fact, Ying Ling himself also understands that it is a naive and ridiculous idea to completely change the trajectory of the stubborn "Emiya Shirou".

However, if you can really watch the teenagers unswervingly practice the ideals that belong to each other in this land full of gunpowder and blood and tears, you can feel more or less happy.

More importantly, even if a teenager traveling in the Middle East avoids the crisis that he has encountered and the heart melts, he will definitely encounter other guardians.When the time comes, the teenager who knows nothing about the Guardian's future will definitely make a contract with the "Suppression Force" in order to save more people.

——It is necessary to prevent Emiya Shirou from becoming a guardian, even if the opponent is a little devil that no one can like, he must stay by his side for this purpose——

Heroic Spirit tried hard to convince himself that this was just a helpless act of necessity.

On the other hand, Shirou, who knew nothing about the Heroic Spirit's decision, was thinking about the other party.

Archer became a guardian on this land at the beginning, but was betrayed and killed by his companions, and became a bound heroic soul.Now the other party pretends not to know him but quietly follows around, probably trying to prevent himself from becoming a guardian.

Wanting to save others but their hands are covered with blood, protecting innocent victims but being regarded as the culprit; this ending, no matter who it is, is unacceptable.If there's anything that makes Archer shy away from his former ideals, it's what's happening in the Middle East.

That is to say... If you want to avoid Archer's despair in this time and space, you must become a guardian and try to go farther than the other party?

However, if the guardian is doomed to die for protecting others, then what will happen to those partners that Archer used to walk in the Middle East?Could it be that he also became an unnamed heroic spirit?

Shirou, who was thinking, kept walking, stepping into the long yellow sand.Quickly crossing the battlefield littered with guns and broken knives, he tried to cross the vast wasteland and reach the surviving town before dusk.

Not far ahead, there is the ruins of a temple, standing alone in the desert, it looks a bit abrupt.And the familiar figure standing on the pile of rubble and bricks made Shirou stop in his tracks.

This guy... actually ran in front of him and waited.

Although he knew that the heroic spirit would not abandon him easily, and even though he had glimpsed the fragmented fragments of the opponent's life because of the connection of souls during the Holy Grail War, Shirou felt inexplicably sour when he saw the heroic spirit standing alone in his eyes.

Speaking of which, Archer's past is probably like this, right?Resting and moving forward alone, waiting for the hope that is impossible to come.

Suppressing the restless sadness in his heart, Shirou quickened his pace.The gravel and thorns on the ground cut his robe, but he didn't care, he just walked in front of the other party at his fastest pace.

"Ar...uh..." Almost uttering the old address, Shirou suddenly realized that the heroic spirit hadn't told him his name so far.

Almost exposed the truth that he knew the other party.Shirou gasped in shock.

Heroici looked at Shirou's slightly parted lips with interest.Unexpectedly, instead of teasing the boy like before, he directly extended his hand: "Come here, brat."

"Huh?" Shirou had no idea what Archer was talking about.

"Come to my side, kid." Heroic Spirit said, "Don't you want to follow me?"

The whole body of the heroic spirit bathed in the sunlight was shrouded in white light.Shirou, who tried to look at the position of the Heroic Spirit, felt pain from the direct light in his eyes.

The sunlight was so strong that Ling Shirou couldn't see Heroic Spirit's expression at this moment.But he could clearly distinguish the gentle smile overflowing from the other party's voice; it was almost the most frank and gentle moment of this awkward guy he had ever seen so far.

Such a gentle tone really doesn't look like Archer, it's scary to act like that...Huh?

The terrified Shirou realized something belatedly.

Heroic Spirit stretched out his hand to him?In other words, he was recognized?

The joyful young man couldn't hold back and stepped forward, and then stopped when he was about to stand side by side with each other in disbelief.The bad memory of being attacked by Archer without warning during the Holy Grail War came to mind, and Shirou involuntarily flinched.

"Tsk." Heroic Ling pouted impatiently, and violently pulled the boy in front of him towards him.When the boy fell forward in a panic, Heroic Spirit subconsciously wanted to support him, but because of the temporary teasing psychology, he stood upright and let the boy bump into him.

Colliding heavily with the body made of steel, Shirou burst into tears from the sharp pain coming from the tip of his nose.Trying to gain a foothold, he soon realized that Yingling was playing tricks on him.However, before he could fight back, Yingling spoke again: "During it, is it too happy to be stupid? Oh, it really is a brat who is afraid of being abandoned. Of course, if you change your mind and don't want to be with me Colleagues, that’s a good thing for me, after all, it’s troublesome to watch ignorant brats self-destruct.”

"I haven't changed my mind!" Shirou stared at Heroic Spirit unconvincingly, "Besides, I will not destroy myself! I will show you my persistence."

"Then I'll wait and see." Heroic Spirit sneered, but took Shirou's wrist, "I need to save magic power, so this time you can walk to the town by yourself."

"Yeah." Shirou followed Heroic Spirit and took steps together.He wanted to turn his wrist to hold Heroic Spirit's hand, but gave up after hesitating.

Why don't you do unnecessary things?Killing the root cause of Archer's despair was the only thing that mattered.Moreover, Archer, who hated him, must not be able to bear his intimate touch.

The two walked forward in unison until a girl riding a camel appeared in sight.The opponent's military attire aroused Shirou's curiosity: "Is that girl a soldier patrolling here?"

"It is." Heroic Spirit replied a little bluntly.

Although he was a little concerned about Archer's sudden change of attitude, Shirou's attention was completely attracted by the girl: the girl who found him and Archer jumped up, drew her sword out of its sheath while her body was still hanging in the air, After landing in front of the two of them, he looked at the two of them vigilantly.

The girl in front of her is indeed a very good fighter; but the physical functions of the other party have far exceeded the scope of human beings.

After eliminating the crisis, the girl also confessed her affairs frankly: "I am the guardian stationed here. Right now, this city is guarded by me."

The girl also had a peaceful life, and was even about to marry a lover who served in the army soon; but, after the civil war broke out, all happy daily life ceased to exist.

When the girl's hometown is engulfed in flames due to bombing, when the army of the girl's lover is in a bitter battle, when the girl's body is full of red sores but can only wait quietly to die in rot, the "restraining force" appears, and, with the girl trade.

"Although I have to fight non-stop, it's really great to save my compatriots and this city with my dying life." The girl looked devout and awed, "This is the so-called miracle."

Looking at the tired but bright-eyed strong girl, Shirou swallowed back his comforting words: "Indeed, hope is like magic. Although it's unbelievable, it does exist." He said sincerely, "In despair It’s amazing to see the light of miracle in it.”

After finishing the conversation and returning to Heroine, Shirou belatedly realized that the other party was not in a good mood.

No... It's not so much a bad mood, it's better to say that the soul is gradually eroded by the shadows until there is no room for positive emotions anymore.

Shirou finally couldn't hold back: "Are you in a bad mood? Did I do something wrong?"

"No." Heroic Spirit returned to normal.

Shirou probed further: "Then tell me about becoming a guardian?"

Heroic Spirit didn't answer, and Shirou confirmed his conjecture: the other party really didn't want to become a guardian.

Then, let's put this matter aside; anyway, the other party can't stare at me all the time, and I will always find a way to become a guardian.Shirou thought to himself.

The two settled in the abandoned house as before.Feeling the chilling atmosphere in the air, Shirou sighed softly: "Living here is really painful."

"Well. Here, 'living' is an extremely painful thing. What's worse, even if they can live to see the dawn of the next day, they can't see a little bit of hope." Heroic spirit rarely echoed Boy, "So, what's your plan?"

"If you plan to... I think, let's do our best." Shirou said softly, "As long as I can help them with my strength, even if it's just one person, I will be happy."

"Is that so?" Heroic Spirit asked softly, his gaze softening when he looked at Shirou. "For you little brat, it might not be very comfortable to lean on my shoulder? You can rest your head on my lap."

Shirou, who followed his advice, had an incredible feeling: "Actually, you are also very gentle." He gave a heartfelt compliment.

"What nonsense are you talking about, you." Heroic Spirit responded in an unfriendly tone, smoothing the boy's broken hair behind his ears with his slender fingers, leaving a cool touch on the side of the other's cheek, "Rest."

The author has something to say: Shirou is the 233 of the healing department