Chapter 88. Kill Yourself, Yukinoshita Yukino!
Seeing that Mouri Kogoro could, all by himself, uncover the entire truth behind the Fourth Holy Grail War within half a day, everyone was left dumbfounded.
I know you're a detective, but do you have to be this overpowered?!
Uncle Kogoro, come clean—are you actually the reincarnation of Sherlock Holmes?!
…
Is Uncle Mouri really this badass?
In the real world, even Kaitou Kid was stunned, cold sweat forming in his palms.
Uhh...
He had stolen countless world-famous treasures, and Mouri Kogoro had been present at many of those scenes.
Then, all his clumsy tricks...
Had probably already been seen through long ago...
…
At the Mouri Detective Agency, Kogoro squinted slightly, deep in thought. Noticing Ran eyeing him with suspicion, he suddenly turned his head and let out a hearty laugh while gazing at the beauty on the TV, returning to his usual perverted and carefree self.
"Ahahaha, Yoko-san is just too beautiful!"
"Tch~."
Ran pouted.
Dad, who are you even putting on this act for?
...
[Fuyuki City. Dawn had just broken, a pale white streak appearing on the horizon.]
[Cu Chulainn had stood watch all night at the gates of the Shinomiya residence. A slight worry furrowed his brow, but seeing the familiar mustachioed detective return made him exhale in relief. Slowly, he withdrew the cursed spear he had been leaning on.]
["Master, how'd the investigation go?"]
["Not bad. I've basically identified the mastermind."]
[Mouri Kogoro placed a hand on Lancer's shoulder, flashing a confident, manly smile.]
[For the safety of Kaguya and Yukino, he had left Cu Chulainn stationed here.]
[Meanwhile, he had gone alone to investigate leads.]
[Luckily, his luck wasn't bad. He not only obtained intel but returned unharmed.]
[Immediately after, Kogoro murmured thoughtfully, "Come to think of it, where are Yukino and the others?"]
["They're preparing—"]
[Creak—]
[The ornate and elegant door was gently pushed open, and two girls with vibrant expressions stepped out.]
[Seeing this, Cu Chulainn grinned, not at all bothered by being interrupted. He turned to the two girls with a charming smile. "Yo~, good morning, you two cuties."]
["Good morning, Lancer."]
[Kaguya and Yukino nodded. Upon seeing Mouri Kogoro, both of them visibly relaxed.]
["Yukino, you're all set?" Kogoro asked curiously.]
["Yes."]
[The long black-haired girl nodded. Recalling Raku Sou being kidnapped, she frowned, eyes filled with determination. As the rays of the morning sun shone down on her face, they highlighted her sacred and stunning beauty.]
[As if forged in fire and steel, she was about to become a true hero!]
[Cu Chulainn raised a brow with a smirk. "Need my help, kid?"]
["No need. This debt is something I have to settle with my own hands."]
[Yukino refused firmly. Her eyes, clear and unwavering, shone with resolve. "I have to be the one to defeat Archer!"]
["Now that's a fine conviction."]
[Cu Chulainn gave a big thumbs-up, clearly impressed.]
...
["Yukino… you must bring my brother back…"]
[Before departure, Kaguya bit her upper lip. Clutching Yukino's hand, she pleaded sincerely.]
["I will."]
["I definitely will."]
[Yukinoshita Yukino clenched her fists. Her voice was sharp and firm as she turned to leave.]
[The gears of fate had begun to turn. Every single choice would affect her future!]
[But if she gave in to fear…]
[Then who would shoulder that ideal?]
["She's off already? I wanted to tell her about my deductions…"]
[Mouri Kogoro sighed as he watched her retreating back.]
[But it wasn't urgent. He could just tell her after she returned.]
...
[Thirty minutes later, at the abandoned Einzbern Castle in Fuyuki City.]
[The girl took a deep breath, pushed open the ancient gates, and slowly stepped inside.]
[Footsteps echoed unexpectedly within the castle.]
["You're here early, Yukinoshita Yukino."]
[Right then, a hazy voice drifted down from above.]
[Yukino looked up seriously to find a white-haired woman lazily perched up high, as if passing judgment from above.]
["Archer, where is Raku Sou?" the girl asked coldly.]
["Who knows, maybe I already killed him~," the white-haired Servant replied with a mocking smile.]
["Is that so?"]
[Yukinoshita Yukino showed a hint of reflection. "I didn't think I'd end up with such a rotten personality… unable to even speak a single sincere word."]
[The white-haired Servant raised an intrigued eyebrow. "Oh… Yukinoshita Yukino, so you've realized it?"]
["Your true identity… I should've understood from the moment we first met."]
[The girl spoke calmly. "I just don't understand… Yukinoshita Yukino, as a human, becoming a Heroic Spirit should've been your dream. Why deny your past self?"]
["What the hell? So you actually don't understand anything."]
[Servant Yukino spread her arms helplessly. "The person once called Yukinoshita Yukino was simply someone clinging to the most selfish idealism."]
["Wanting to save everyone is impossible. Saving everyone means you must sacrifice a few."]
["There's only so many seats on the bus called happiness, and you have to cut off those who can't get on."]
["That's what a hero does…"]
["That's what someone who calls herself an Ally of Justice—someone like you—believing in ideals with absolute conviction, ends up doing."]
["To save everyone is to be an Ally of Justice, right?"]
...
The atmosphere turned suffocating as two identical yet opposite figures confronted each other.
...
[Archer's overwhelming will distorted the fabric of reality, conjuring an illusion-like mental projection reminiscent of a desert mirage.]
[Along with it came a life full of sorrow, overwhelming despair, and bloodstained hands that would never be clean—memories flooding Yukinoshita Yukino's mind.]
...
A sorrowful BGM played in the background, brimming with indescribable grief.
The sky grew darker, and amber-colored particles of light drifted into view, illuminating the area.
The camera slowly zoomed in, piercing through the darkness, revealing what lay behind that light.
...
[A crimson sunset cast its glow on a land ravaged like never before, filled with corpses, bones, and pools of blood. At the center stood a withering ancient tree, where a tired white-haired woman sat leaning against it.]
[Her heart brimmed with loneliness, confusion, rage, and helplessness…]
[All of which finally condensed into profound sorrow.]
[Only after becoming a Heroic Spirit did she realize the most efficient method to preserve world peace.]
[It wasn't desperately trying to save people—but killing everyone before disaster could even happen.]
[To stop a viral outbreak, she descended under the guidance of the Counter Force and slaughtered every patient and worker in the toxic quarantine ward—regardless of gender or age—even as they pleaded in hopeless terror.]
[To prevent war from spreading in the Middle East, she annihilated the entire rebel force.]
[Even though… among them were children she had once personally raised.]
[She never wanted to make anyone cry. But the world forced her to make others cry.]
[All she wished for was salvation, yet the world demanded she kill.]
[Rationally, none of this was wrong. Her actions had indeed saved more lives.]
[But the woman name Yukinoshita Yukino, inherently kind by nature, couldn't emotionally bear exchanging bloodshed for justice. It was a grotesque, twisted betrayal of her youthful ideals…]
[After countless repetitions—thousands, tens of thousands of times—]
[Yukinoshita Yukino finally broke. She had once tried to end everything by dying.]
[But Heroic Spirits have no concept of death. Even suicide could not bring true rest.]
[Not until she was summoned into the Fifth Holy Grail War did she come up with one way to erase Heroic Spirit Yukinoshita Yukino—by killing her own past self, thereby creating a timeline disruption.]
[Though the odds were near zero, Servant Yukino would never give up.]
...
The memories of Servant Yukino came to a halt.
A deadly silence engulfed the scene.
The entire world seemed to fall still.
No one could have expected that behind Archer's slightly nonchalant smile was such a heartbreaking past. Everyone sank into the weight of her life story, speechless for a long while, their eyes filled with a trace of sorrow.
Who said that Heroic Spirits...
Couldn't have a life filled with tragedy?
Even after death, she had to keep on, endlessly repeating this cycle of sorrow.
"...Haiya."
After a long silence, someone finally trembled as they lit a cigarette. "This... this is just too damn tragic."
"It's not just tragic. A whole life working for the Counter Force, walking the path of justice with no end in sight... ugh, just thinking about it gives me goosebumps."
Many people, recalling what happened next, shivered all over, a chill running down their spines.
Forcing Servant Yukino to keep "working" even after death, and on top of that, in the role of an executioner—her most painful job—working nonstop year-round like some machine, breaking her down and still not letting her rest… This damn Counter Force is even more heartless than capitalism!
Signing that contract was literally Yukinoshita Yukino's blood-soaked misfortune!
"Fuck, no wonder Archer wants to kill Yukino… I finally get it."
Some bigshot in Kyoto mumbled, finally understanding something he had never been able to figure out.
He had always thought that becoming a Heroic Spirit was a great honor.
Not only would one be engraved into the Throne of Heroes, but their achievements in life would be exalted into Noble Phantasms, making them a superhuman-like existence. They could live on eternally in the annals of Human History, immortal and unaging, watching the rise and fall of empires over the millennia.
And yet…
Forget it. Say no more.
Countless netizens suddenly understood, their hearts stirred, and the forums exploded with frenzied discussions.
"I get it now! The white-haired Archer is Yukino after her ideals collapsed, born from the aftermath of countless tragic events!!"
"It's obvious. Servant Yukino doesn't want Young Girl Yukino to become the same person she is now."
"She always helped others, but did Servant Yukino ever think about herself?"
"Shit, if it were me, I'd have committed suicide too—no hesitation!"
"Ugh, it's just too painful... Servant Yukino was pushed by the Counter Force to the point she had to kill even the kids she raised herself…"
"That's why, whether it's a contract or an agreement, always read the damn thing! The Counter Force is scarier than Satan."
"I'm telling you from experience. I always hit 'I have read and agree to the Terms of Service' when gaming, and then dumped $10,000 into the game… the next day, it shut down."
"So the real question is, what happened to Raku Sou and Kaguya in Archer's world line?"
"If they were still around, maybe things wouldn't have gotten so bad."
"I feel like they died in battle?"
"Could be. The Holy Grail War is brutal, after all."
"I don't think it's that simple. Remember the scene where they were sinking at the Fukushima nuclear plant? Archer's expression when she thought she'd die... it was really complicated..."
"Damn it, I also feel like we haven't seen the full extent of Servant Yukino's experiences yet."
"There's something really important that's being hidden."
…
Amid the sighs and laments of netizens, the imagery on screen continued.
At the ancient castle of the Einzbern family, Archer's indifferent voice echoed, resonating across the sky.
["On one hand, you beg for no one to die, yet on the other, you kill for the sake of the majority."]
["You say you don't want anyone to suffer anymore, yet you plunge more and more people into despair."]
["That is me—Yukinoshita Yukino."]
[By the end of her words, her gaze had turned piercingly cold, making people shiver.]
["Don't you think a woman like that..."]
["If she were to die right now, wouldn't the world become a better place?"]
[The white-haired Servant stood high above, raising her hand. With the flow of mana, streaks of blue lightning flashed, and her slender, pale hands summoned twin blades—familiar and cold—then hurled them down to the spot where Yukino stood below.]
["Clang!"]
[A crisp sound echoed as the swords landed, finally falling at Yukino's feet.]
[Archer looked down at the young Yukino, her voice echoing coldly from above.]
["Kill yourself, Yukinoshita Yukino."]
["If I have to do it myself, it won't be pretty."]
[Young Yukino said nothing. Under Archer's icy gaze, she slowly bent down and picked up the sharp blade from the ground.]
[As if…]
...
At that critical, life-or-death moment, the camera suddenly cut away, the scene changing without warning.
From the abandoned Einzbern castle...
To a mage's workshop nestled deep within the surrounding mountains.
WTF?!
Countless people on Earth were left momentarily blank in the head, staring dumbfounded at the sudden transition.
What the hell is Celestial Curtain doing?!
"Goddamn it, why would you cut the scene right now?!"
In one small town, a green-haired girl—the spirit of the sword Murasamemaru—shouted furiously.
Despite having lived for hundreds of years, with ample experience and a steady mind, this was the first time little spirit Murasame truly felt the torment of a cliffhanger scene cut. It was like a cat clawing at her heart—her curiosity was driving her mad, yet all she could do was stomp her feet in frustration.
Still, after the initial fury faded, she couldn't help but stare at the Celestial Curtain, heart pounding.
A mage's workshop...
Could this be Caster's base?
What's about to happen here?
…
[The sky outside was covered in heavy black clouds, stretching for dozens of miles, with a light but constant rain falling.]
[In the mountains, a lonely house sat in silence. A faint, beautiful voice echoed within.]
["Shouko-sama, I'm home~."]
[A robed witch with a charming smile entered the house, carrying a bag of fresh vegetables she had just bought.]
["A… Uh…"]
[A brown-haired girl cautiously poked her head out, and upon confirming who it was, stepped out happily. She grinned as she took the bag from Medea's hands and skipped back to the kitchen, cheerfully beginning to cook.]
[The vegetables were quickly and neatly chopped, along with slices of fresh beef and tofu.]
[In her hands, the pots and pans seemed to dance like extensions of her will.]
[Soon, two piping hot servings of sukiyaki were ready, the pot also containing fragrant miso soup, ladled into porcelain bowls that had been prepared beforehand.]
[Medea stepped over and gently brought the dishes out to the living room.]
[The two of them sat down to eat together. The tall witch looked fondly at Nishimiya Shouko, smiling as she tasted the sukiyaki. The moment the flavor exploded on her tongue, she couldn't stop praising it.]
["Shouko-sama, your cooking is absolutely amazing!"]
["Mm~"]
[The brown-haired girl smiled blissfully, her hands moving rapidly in sign language.]
[Medea responded with a laugh and a warm smile.]
[The atmosphere was so peaceful—so beautiful it felt like a dream.]
[The breakfast ended quickly, and the two members of Team Caster cleaned up the "battlefield" together.]
[Afterward, Medea strictly reminded Nishimiya Shouko to keep practicing her speech.]
[Because she still only used sign language.]
[She couldn't speak.]
["Shouko-sama, I have to step out for a bit."]
[Suddenly, as if sensing something, Medea's tone softened. She walked outside slowly and used her Noble Phantasm to lock and protect the fragile brown-haired girl.]
[Mysterious violet lights shimmered across the ground, forming layer upon layer of magical circles.]
["Mm…"]
[Shouko looked startled, her eyes full of worry as she watched Medea's retreating back.]
[After Hideyoshi and Kojirou disappeared, the unease inside her had only grown stronger. She no longer cared about the Holy Grail or even curing her illness. All she wanted was…]
[Please—don't let her lose anyone else important.]
[This was already...]
[Her last remaining bond.]
...
"WTF, why are they showing such a warm and fluffy scene right now?! Don't tell me Junko's heading straight there?!"
Natsuki Subaru's eyes widened in panic, overwhelmed by the strong stench of impending doom.
This sweet, peaceful moment was practically waving a giant death flag, especially with the thunder and rain setting...
Oh no!