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IBHJ Chapter 275
🕑 Added 2023-05-21 23:09:10 +0000 UTCA trail of radiant light stretched out before him, erasing the boundaries of time and space.
The life records, kept apart for over 1,500 years, now converged into one.
However, as Shirou approached the twilight of that era, a furrow formed on his brow.
It was an inexplicable sensation, unlike anything he had experienced before. It felt as though his personal history had been engulfed by an enigmatic force, giving rise to an entirely new and empty shell record.
This record bore the name of the Eternal King.
Undoubtedly, as Zelretch and Merlin had mentioned, the Root had cleaved Shirou's life record into two distinct segments.
However, the portion spanning eight years, from his seventh to fifteenth year, had transformed into an empty husk of a record. It had been etched into the vast tapestry of Pan-History and absorbed into the Throne of Heroes.
However, this included record, known as the Eternal King, held no substance or essence. It was nothing but an empty shell, incapable of being summoned or harnessed in any meaningful way.
Since the record of the Eternal King is devoid of substance, the true essence lies within Fujimaru Shirou. As long as Fujimaru Shirou remains alive and committed to his own vessel and identity, the Eternal King cannot be summoned.
It's akin to playing a game, where Fujimaru Shirou assumes the role of the "main account," while the Eternal King is the "alternate account." However, there exists only one client and computer for accessing the game.
To invoke the presence of the Eternal King, Fujimaru Shirou must enter a state of slumber and direct his focused consciousness towards the record of the Eternal King.
And this is the biggest difference between him and the Heroic Spirits in the Throne of Heroes.
The Heroic Spirits are demoted to the role of Servants, summoned for the purpose of the Holy Grail War, where they materialize as mere clones. However, Shirou must immerse his main consciousness within the record of the Eternal King, and he is limited to participating in one Holy Grail War at a time. Unlike other Heroic Spirits, he cannot generate multiple clones of himself or engage in the extraordinary phenomenon of battling against himself.
In the Holy Grail War, it is possible for others to summon the Eternal King as well, provided they obtain Shirou's consent and have him transfer his main consciousness into the records of the Eternal King. This process is necessary to successfully manifest the Eternal King.
However, one might wonder why Shirou would even consider participating in the Holy Grail War. After all, in his world, he has already rendered the Holy Grail War useless and dismantled it. There is no chance of another Holy Grail War taking place, let alone any summoning happening again.
The Eternal King exists in the Pan-History as a variant record sourced from King Arthur's chronicles. His presence is deeply engraved within this timeline. In certain parallel worlds, summoning King Arthur can indeed bring forth the Eternal King. However, since these worlds lack his relic, the chances of successfully summoning him are slim.
What's even more crucial is that the Eternal King is his alter ego, and he has the right to refuse.
"If you summon, I decline," that's his stance on the matter.
Engaging in such childish make-believe games hardly seems worthwhile to him. Who has the time for such childish make-believe games?
Yes, to Shirou, or rather the Eternal King, the Holy Grail War with its seven-person battles appears as nothing more than a small-scale game of make-believe.
It's completely unnecessary to pay any attention to it.
As for the strength of the summoned Eternal King, Shirou doesn't have time to consider it for now because the path has already reached its end.
His home is on the other side of the light.
His emotions couldn't help but stir, yet they also filled him with apprehension.
...
Shirou blinked, momentarily disoriented, before gradually regaining his senses.
Before him lay a landscape that was at once unfamiliar and yet strangely recognizable.
In the distance, a skyline of majestic commercial buildings stood tall, adorned with a mesmerizing display of vibrant lights and an array of captivating colors.
"Big brother!" a voice exclaimed, filled with astonishment.
He turned around to find a young girl with flowing white hair rushing towards him, tears streaming down her face as she enveloped him in a tight embrace.
Staring at the girl who seemed simultaneously familiar and unfamiliar, Shirou's astonishment escaped his lips, "You... are you Sakura?"
Sakura's face lit up with a beaming smile as she confirmed, "Yes! I'm Fujimaru Sakura, your little sister!"
Shirou's gaze lingered on Sakura, taking in the changes that had taken place. Her once-black hair had transformed into a striking shade of white, her eyes gleaming with an ethereal light. He scratched the back of his head, feeling a twinge of unease.
When he last saw Sakura, she was still a young child, but now she had blossomed into a young woman, her growth undeniable. His attention couldn't help but be drawn to the two prominent curves on her chest, which seemed almost comparable to Artoria's.
And wait... didn't Sakura have black hair? How had it transformed into this striking shade of white?
However, Shirou surrendered to Sakura's embrace, allowing himself to be enveloped by her warmth.
After assuming the role of the Eternal King for an extensive period, he longed for a connection that went beyond his kingly duties. He yearned to reclaim the comforting sensation of being Fujimaru Shirou, the caring and protective older brother.
"Shirou!" Arcueid, who had returned earlier than him, looked at him and exclaimed, "I need to go back to the Millennium Castle for now. I'll see you tomorrow!"
"Mmm, tomorrow? Wait, tomorrow? Weren't you planning to lock yourself in the Millennium Castle?" Shirou, while gently patting Sakura's head, looked at Arcueid with a puzzled expression.
"Hehehe! It's so enjoyable to be with you! It's fun! And, and! It's easier for you to help me control my bloodsucking impulses! I want to come and have a great time! You have to take me to many, many exciting places!" Arcueid beamed with excitement.
"Sure, just make sure to bring some money," Shirou said.
"Money?" she blinked, looking slightly perplexed.
"Of course. Do you think we're in my Camelot? This is a capitalist society, money is everything."
"Ah... Do you mean you don't have any?" she asked.
"Of course, I don't have any! Do you think this king... cough cough cough! Do you think I'm rolling in money? I don't have a single penny!" Shirou expressed his helplessness, a tinge of regret lacing his words. He had completely forgotten to seize the opportunity to bring some gold from Camelot—what a monumental blunder!
Sakura lifted her head and responded, her voice filled with warmth, "If you need money, I have some, big brother."
"First, let go of my waist," Shirou sighed in resignation.
"I won't let go. If I release my grip, big brother might disappear again!" Sakura insisted, her face buried once more into his chest.
Shirou: "..."
"Hahahaha... So it's gold, right? I got it, I got it!" Arcueid chuckled heartily, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "I remember there being heaps of it in the Millennium Castle. I'll fetch it for you! Just make sure you take me out to have some fun!" With that, she cheerfully walked away.
The location they were in was atop a hill, and without paying attention to her footing, Arcueid carelessly took a misstep, resulting in a resounding "thud" as she tumbled down.
"Wahhhh—"
Screams echoed through the air.
Shirou hurriedly rushed over to investigate the commotion, only to discover that Arcueid had conjured a magnificent white bird and was soaring away on its back.
"I'm off!" she called out to him, waving energetically.
"Don't get so caught up in your own world that you forget to watch where you're going!" Shirou reminded her.
"Okay!" she replied with a huge smile. However, her blissful moment came to an abrupt halt as she careened headfirst into a solid tree trunk, resulting in a resounding "thud."
She walked away from the scene, her hand cradling her forehead, tears glistening in her eyes.
Shirou: "..."
Comments
Duck
Arcruied being a lovable dork is truly therapeutic.
