the living [comprehensive]

Heroic Spirit raised his upper body slightly, no longer oppressing Shirou with his body, but still imprisoned Shirou in a small space with his arms.

"Are you... afraid that I will die?" Shirou asked tentatively, "Because the guardian's ending is mostly self-destruction?"

"It's better to say that it is doomed to self-destruction. Whether it is to become a guardian or save them, I will throw away all such stupid ideas!" Heroic Spirit emphasized his tone, and then sighed again, "Speaking of which, when I guessed my identity, I didn't I wasn't surprised at all, and I didn't feel any sense of crisis when I killed you, you guys are more mature than I thought."

"Because, I know you a little bit." There was a hint of a smile in the young man's exhausted voice, "You have always been like this, arrogant, awkward, duplicity, and self-willed."

"I'm really sorry that I hate it so much." Heroic Spirit began to consider the feasibility of strangling the opponent to death immediately.

"As for you, it's true that you're not very likable. But no matter what, I can't hate you." There was no haze on the face of the injured and embarrassed boy.He showed a gentle smile to Ying Ling: "Although you are always sneering at me, I have already received your concern. Moreover, I have always believed that you, who can't even completely abandon your ideals, are you? would really kill me."

The boy's gentle and calm attitude caused Heroic Spirit to lose the ability to speak for a while.

I am indeed the "Emiya Shirou" after realizing my ideal, it is not surprising that the boy will have longing and trust in himself.However, something seems wrong.

"Don't talk big to me. It's just a few days together, don't make it seem like you know me very well."

Hearing this, the young man's thin shoulders trembled, his hands clenched into fists, and after a moment of tension, they loosened.At a certain moment, a heroic spirit's incomprehensible expression appeared on his face, and he quickly calmed down: "It's true that we only got along for a few days," he said softly, "But you and I are also considered to be soul-linked." ? So, I can understand your mood a little bit. Anyway, that's it."

Watching the boy close his eyes and turn his head to the side, a crack appeared on Heroic Spirit's stern face.

Realizing that the young man has learned to hide his private feelings perfectly, Yingling felt relieved for the other party, but at the same time, there was a trace of inexplicable emotion in his heart.

Saying that I can't trust my former "self", isn't this brat also hiding a secret from himself?As the most intimate existence of each other on the soul level, I have already let the other party know the most crucial things—even though they are unbearable and dirty—but the other party has been reluctant to open up for a long time.

Is there any unspeakable secret in front of "myself"?It's... very annoying.

Looking down at the boy who was stubbornly not looking at him, Heroic Spirit gradually moved his eyes down to the intersection of the other's shoulders and neck.The wound he had slashed at the other party's collarbone hadn't healed yet, and the breath of magic power flowed in the air along with the oozing blood.

There was an evil fire in his heart that could not be vented, and the Heroic Spirit suddenly lowered his head and bit hard on the bloody collarbone of the young man.

"!?" Shirou opened his eyes suddenly, almost screaming out from the sudden pain.

The wound was torn open mercilessly, and the sharp teeth embedded in the cut flesh.The heroic spirit seemed to be venting some kind of anger, biting himself while drawing blood, and the hands holding his shoulders tightly cut off the possibility of escape.

"Very..." Shirou tried to stop, his voice trembling with pain, "It hurts..."

As if awakened by Shirou, Heroic Spirit straightened up abruptly.He took a deep breath, and then licked off the remaining blood on his lips.

Did he bite himself to replenish his magic power?But it seems that the usual Archer wouldn't do such a thing?

Could it be that... Just now, I unintentionally made Archer angry?

Shirou was puzzled, and his cheeks were dyed bright red unknowingly amid endless guesses.

While Shirou was in a daze, Heroic Spirit also noticed the color smeared on the boy's cheeks.He stretched out his hand subconsciously, stopped when he touched the other's warm cheek, and withdrew his hand like an electric shock.

It seems that something has changed.

Some kind of emotion that shouldn't exist arose between the two people who were born from the same source but had no intersection.

The heroic spirit waited quietly for the young man to use his magic power to heal the wound on his shoulder and neck, and then stretched out his hand to the other party: "Let's go, brat."

Shirou stared at Heroic Spirit's hand in a daze, but didn't grab him immediately.

The boy's hesitation made Yingling frown tightly: "Stop dawdling, brat. I can't stay here in the Middle East forever. I have to send you to a safe place before I have to leave."

leave?

Shirou, who was stunned by a certain word, raised his head reflexively, clasping the hand that Heroic Spirit extended in front of him: "Sorry, but I still have to catch up with the team of guardians. I want to Help them. Of course, I won’t be a guardian unless necessary.” His voice gradually dropped, “I won’t be you, and I won’t make you face the situation where you have to kill me yourself. I don’t I will... let you show such a sad expression again."

After saying these words, Shirou lowered his head deeply, waiting for the heroic spirit's cynicism.

However, what he waited for was the gentle touch of the heroic spirit on his head.

"Stupid brat."

Heroic Spirit's low voice rang in his ears.Afterwards, Shirou was hugged by the opponent.

"Hold on yourself, I won't be responsible if you fall." Heroic Spirit said, and then jumped up under the dark sky.

Archer is really gentle; moreover, Archer has nothing to do with his insistence.

With such thoughts in mind, Shirou buried his face deeply in the neck of the Heroic Spirit.

"Stop acting like a spoiled child to me." Yingling's tone was disgusted, but his arms hugged the boy in his arms more tightly.

***

With the permission of the red-robed young man who is the leader, Shirou began his journey to fight side by side with the Guardians.As a magician, although he is just an ordinary human being, he is gradually accepted by those guardians who reject foreigners in battle.Although occasionally killing women and children makes Shirou feel painful, he also finds some comfort in the company of his companions.

Of course, what's more important is the aura that belongs to the heroic spirit that is by my side.Although most of the time he can only exist in the form of a spirit body and cannot communicate verbally, with Archer by his side, Shirou can feel at ease.

However, after entering the war-torn area, they encountered a more difficult battle situation.And Shirou, who had to fight the black monster, was gradually filled with unspeakable pain in his heart.

——These monsters exuding a rancid smell and looking like hell ghosts were once guardians, and they were indistinguishable from their companions who fought with them——

Thinking of this, the young man who slashed and killed with a knife felt unbearable pain in his heart.But he still brandished his weapon, watching the fallen warrior's neck cut open, and the gushing black blood spread like a stinky cloud, coloring the world in front of him with despair.

The battle came to an end, and Shirou finally had time to breathe.The black corpses of monsters have piled up around him.Not wanting to take a closer look, Shirou walked towards his companions.

As in the past few days, another Guardian has been killed in battle.But the young man in the red robe didn't pretend to be cheery to encourage everyone as before, but looked dignified.

"What happened?" Shirou asked tentatively, and then found that the other party looked over seriously.

"Mr. Wei Gong, you are fighting with us to protect the innocent people on this land, right?"

"Of course. At the same time, it is also to help you. I hope it can also relieve your pain..."

"Then, why not become a guardian?" The young man interrupted him coldly, "If you also have such a strong desire, then you just need to make a wish to the restraining force."

Shirou pursed his lips slightly.

"Our army repelled the enemy, but it was almost wiped out because of being ambushed by these disgusting monsters of unknown origin!" The young man gritted his teeth angrily, "If we, as guardians, can become stronger...if you become a guardian too , things might turn around!"

Shirou, who was accused, did not defend: "I'm sorry. I can understand your mood."

"Unless you become a guardian, it is impossible to understand us." The young man softened his tone, "There is a dying guardian who seems to be your old acquaintance. She said she knew you during the battle just now. She looks a little strange now, Go and see her. We'll be waiting for you."

old acquaintance?I don't have any old knowledge here.

Confused, Shirou followed the guidance and walked to the mangled man who was dying.

The moment they looked at each other, a sharp and unbearable sting pierced through his exhausted body.

The only intact pair of pupils, as beautiful as stars, belonged to the girl he saw when he first entered the Middle East.

The girl who was once in high spirits had her abdomen ripped open and her hands and feet were torn apart.Theoretically speaking, according to the injuries, the girl should be a dead person by now.

However, because of the guardian's strong vitality, she was still breathing painfully awake.

"I'm glad...you..." The girl seemed to want to express the joy of reunion, but after uttering a few words, she coughed up blood, and even vomited out her broken internal organs.

"Well, I'm fighting with them now." Shirou tried to appease him, "Shut up."

"Where is my...husband...?"

Facing the girl's desperate question, Shirou remained silent.

After repelling the enemy, the army belonging to the country was attacked by monsters again. Few of them survived the battle, and that did not include the girl's lover.

The man who escaped death once because of the girl's prayer was not spared this time, and even his body was torn to pieces.

The girl's eyes are clear.As if returning to the light, her face was a little bloody, but her eyes dimmed.

"We just want to protect the cherished person; or, it is the wish of the cherished person."

Why they were lost after all; why what was once considered to be the truth by each other has become worthless garbage.

"We just want to survive."

Why at this moment, even death has become a relatively easy choice.

Hearing the girl's words, Shirou's whole body ached as if being scorched by a raging fire.

He stared at the girl's cloudy eyes and gritted his teeth, quietly holding the knife that fell on the ground.

"We just want to expel the monsters, for the sake of anticipation..."

The girl's voice stopped abruptly.

The moment her blood-stained skin cracked, revealing the dark skin beneath, Shirou stabbed her heart with a knife, ending her life and transformation into a monster.

"Sorry...I'm sorry." The boy apologized over and over again, stubbornly not letting the tears fall from his eyes.

The fact that the monster's true identity is the guardian must not be revealed;

Therefore, it is better to end the girl's life by myself, and bear this despair by myself.

The girl seemed to understand something, and smiled helplessly: "It turns out that the most hated thing..."

It turns out that the most hated thing is the transformation of a person who was once full of hope.

The guardians completed their mission but were not redeemed, but started a new cycle full of despair.

The girl's breathing stopped, and the corpse remained in human form.

Shirou wanted to close the girl's eyes, but someone grabbed his hand from behind.

"Don't touch her, her blood has been polluted and it will make your skin fester." The heroic spirit who appeared to stop the boy hugged Shirou tightly behind his back, restraining the boy's impulsive emotions Behavior, "She won't blame you. You've... done enough."

Is that enough?

Receiving the precious comfort from the heroic spirit, Shirou didn't feel relieved, but became more bitter.

How could there be enough.Clearly, it was all because of Archer's help that he was able to come to the present.

If only I could be stronger——

If you are so strong that you don't depend on anyone——

The author has something to say: eat enough sugar, let’s eat black mud~!