Chapter 110: Farewell and Shirou Emiya

Roland lay on a bench outside the church, his pupils reflecting a sky as blue as if it had been washed clean. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the surrounding leaves, falling upon his face in fragmented patches, yet it brought him only a sense of gentle warmth.

"Fuyuki City, what a beautiful city it is."

As he had done before, he sighed, but suddenly, another low voice picked up where he left off.

"If you wish, there is no harm in resting a little longer."

Kirei Kotomine, still dressed in his solemn priest’s robes, walked naturally to Roland’s side. "The ritual is only just beginning to take shape. There is still plenty of time before we reach a final conclusion, let alone execute it. You need not be in such a hurry to leave."

"The ritual is confirmed to be in this world, isn't it?" Roland reached out to shield his eyes from the sun, his tone indifferent.

"Yes, right here in this world. Your resurrection, the evolution of your Stands—they are all inextricably linked to it. When you eventually ascend to Heaven, it will be from here." Kirei spoke with a serious expression. "Even if it were only to replenish your incantations, there are many places in this world worth experiencing."

"Hmm, that is true." Roland muttered, acknowledging the point. "However, I don't intend to leave for the sake of replenishing incantations—at least, that is not the primary goal. I am leaving to resolve… some issues within myself."

"Issues?" Kirei was puzzled. Roland's power had already completely transcended the limits of his imagination; if the man before him wanted to destroy the world, it would be reduced to purgatory in a matter of moments. Yet, a being as great as he felt there were problems with himself?

"Kirei, do you think that in most cases, the body obeys the consciousness, or does the body manipulate the consciousness?" Roland frowned slightly and sighed. "Before the innate essence awakens, the instincts of the body—those electrical signals and hormones—combined with acquired environments, shape who we are. But once the soul awakens, one must treat this balance with extreme caution."

Despite breaking free from the influence of the Demon Sorcerer Shendu, that body had completely disrupted the fragile balance he had managed to maintain. It forced Roland to use the flesh created by the Evils of Humanity to strengthen his shadow side and maintain equilibrium whenever it wasn't strictly necessary to do otherwise. He had realized long ago that wisdom and the soul were two different things. Even a being as powerful as Shendu, when faced with the endless erosion of time in Hell, would devolve from a wise demon sorcerer into a monster only slightly better than a beast.

Roland’s situation was more delicate. His soul had been sublimated, and his body had changed. If he did not use the Evils of Humanity to offset these factors, his situation would be far more troublesome; he would have no leisure to appreciate the scenery here. He did not want to complain about this; there was no logic in reaping the benefits and then lamenting the cost. In fact, he had always been quite open-minded about it. No matter what changes his Stand brought, even if he were now worlds apart from the day he first crossed over, as long as his roots remained the same, he would harbor no resentment. As long as he didn't truly become a serial killer hiding in a small town or a great demon obsessed only with ruling the world, it was fine.

However, for the sake of the eternal path to Heaven, he could not stop his forward momentum. Perhaps there would be new Stands in the future. Their influence might be small, but it would still exist. With someone like Zouken Matou as a cautionary tale, Roland did not want to become a twisted being like him. To avoid this, and to guard against being plotted against and sealed away—like Shendu had been—to erode his wisdom and patience, the evolution of his spirit had to be prioritized.

"Before the full scope of your ritual emerges, I must leave for a while to restore my own state as much as possible." Roland summarized calmly. The soul of Shendu, compared to the peak of the Fire Demon, was missing much. Not to mention the Thousand Wisdoms, even the power of the Talismans remained largely sealed, and he could only rely on the Dragon Talisman he currently possessed to slowly recover. Breaking those seals to release and restore that divine power was an urgent matter.

Moreover, ever since he recovered his body and was granted the power of the Evils of Humanity by Mother Black Qi, Roland had made a startling discovery: his Fire Demon essence was steadily growing in his current state of unified spirit and flesh. This could only mean one thing: his Fire essence, as the origin of the Fire Demon, was also in a withered state, though it was less obvious than with the Talismans. Because of the contrast caused by Hell's function of eroding wisdom, many overlooked that Hell weakened not just the demons' wisdom, but their power as well. The performance of the eight great demons after their seals were broken was proof enough that they were far weaker than when they were first sealed; in their prime, their power levels were far beyond what they showed.

Thinking of this, Roland fell silent. Having accepted the benefits of ascending to the heavens in a single step, he had to face the troubles that came with this rank. Relying solely on the Dragon Talisman, supplemented by the Third Magic, could not satisfy Roland's needs quickly. Even when he had connected to the outside of the world and his magical power was nearly infinite, he could not achieve this. After all, the power of Talismans and Demon essence was not so simple. A vast amount of magic was a mere flourish, not a solution to the core problem. To restore them, he needed a purer and gentler power.

"Where on earth am I supposed to find such a thing…" A glimmer of exploration appeared in Roland's eyes, yet he still could not find the answer. Though, he had no choice in the matter anyway.

"I believe fate will provide you with the answer. Trust in gravity; everything in this world will flock to you on your path to Heaven." Kirei’s eyes remained calm. In many ways, his trust in Roland exceeded Roland’s own.

"If that is the case, that would be wonderful. But one cannot be too greedy. In the worst-case scenario, I can still complete the incantation; in that regard, I have no right to complain." Roland looked at the look of absolute certainty on Kirei’s face and couldn't help but laugh. "Besides, the process of replenishing the incantations is, in itself, a form of spiritual growth."

"Do you still need to grow?" Since the start of this conversation, it was the first time Kirei had sounded surprised.

Roland remained silent for a moment, his voice steady as always. "Of course I do. The spiritual realm and the power I currently possess—calling it a child wielding a sledgehammer would be a compliment. Kirei, if I were to suppress my physical stats to your level and use no extra power, just comparing technique, who do you think would win?"

"This…" Kirei hesitated after thinking it over carefully.

Roland had no intention of hiding it and provided the answer directly. "You would win. You are an excellent Executor, a tough killing machine. This experience and technique come from your accumulation and growth over the past few decades. Although I could kill you with a flick of my finger, I still have flaws in the application of power."

In the mortal world, a person who can utilize eighty percent of their potential is already a rare master. Roland knew he was strong, often gaining the upper hand in battles against numerous ancient heroes, but that did not mean he surpassed them in every aspect. Great power does not mean everything. Even the supposedly invincible Fourth Bomb and the Authority of the Beast of 666 were not truly beyond reach. Energy blasts were the most efficient output of Fire Demon essence, but that did not mean the essence could only be used for blasts. Yoshikage Kira and Shendu had given Roland the qualifications to enter the fray, but these two Stands had significant flaws in combat. Kira was officially noted as not being suited for combat due to his personality, and Shendu… well, he didn't use the Talismans as well as Jade did, and he was constantly knocked down by Jackie Chan. While there was the element of "Righteous Energy" involved, considering the power gap where Jackie couldn't even match Shendu's original body even with the Ox Talisman, yet managed to kick him over when Jackie had no Talismans, the defeat was quite comical.

Roland knew very well that to become a true powerhouse, one must first recognize one's weaknesses. To avoid ending up like that fellow who was so drunk on power and arrogant that he was thrown into space to stop thinking, Roland wanted to keep moving forward. Beyond maintaining his anchors, he began to recognize himself. His starting point was certainly not high, but the Key of All Souls had given him a chance. Since that was the case, there was only one path before him: to use others to complete himself. Those varied Stands would only make Roland’s path clearer and his steps more firm. The more influences he accepted, the more divine Roland would become—this was the path he had chosen.

To transform from a piece of human trash who only wanted to seize an inheritance into a savior of villains who transcended fate required a soul-stirring defeat and a century of reflection. Possessing more possibilities, Roland naturally stood on the shoulders of his predecessors, turning every bit of past power into sustenance, thoroughly integrating it into his spirit to achieve true growth.

"It seems your mind is made up. No wonder you’ve arranged everything these past few days."

"Rin, Sakura, Illya, and Caren are getting along well. Irisviel and Aoi are reliable mothers; there is nothing to worry about. Besides, Fuyuki City has Caster helping to manage things." Roland stretched and stood up from the bench. Kirei followed, suddenly saying, "And what of Caster? The reason that witch remains in this era is only because of you, whether it is the supply of magic or..."

"That is fine. She already knows and has accepted this." Roland said firmly. "Parting is but an instant; she will take good care of everything in Fuyuki during this time." He slowly raised his hand, looking at the silver ring that had changed his fate, and smiled slightly. "After all, I have already made a contract with her that is more eternal than the Holy Grail."

Seeing that the matter was already set in stone, Kirei looked at Roland's pure, faint, yet dazzling smile, his eyes brightening as he nodded silently. He seemed to gradually understand the key to Roland's ritual for ascending to Heaven, so he gave his assurance.

"When you return next time, I will present you with the path to the Gate of Heaven."

"I trust you, Kirei." Roland spoke suddenly. "Let's leave that aside. You’ve completely dumped Caren on me lately, throwing yourself entirely into the construction of the orphanage. It seems that adopted child is truly to your liking. Your father says you’ve even given him your surname."

"Because Shirou has the aptitude. Although it is different from the void released within Caren, his incompleteness is just like my own, caught in the struggle between concepts and self. Therefore, I wish to provide him with guidance. Moreover, his incompleteness will attract more help for the path to Heaven. If possible, I hope he can inherit my legacy in the future."

"Shirou Kotomine?" Roland chewed on the name, feeling a sense of emotion. "Then I shall look forward to it."

—

"Shirou Kotomine…"

Ever since he woke up, Shinji Matou had been unable to find any pleasure in anything. His past memories were gone; he had no impression of those who claimed to be his family, and even his obsession with the magical path had been diluted. All that remained in him were the dregs of what was called talent. Even the name Shinji Matou was merely a label used by others to confirm his identity. According to his own tests, the abilities he had once studied were strengthened to a staggering degree, and his perspective on the world had been greatly broadened.

Everything around him was so dull, so shallow. Only the man who called himself Roland could make him feel fear. Otherwise, even the mages who were now far stronger than this child's body were, in Shinji's eyes, merely objects to be treated as equals. He would absolutely surpass them in the future; this was not his confidence, but a future inferred from existing conditions. The magic circuits in this body had all become clear, and his aptitude, even judged by a very harsh standard, was excellent. According to his daily, bored progress in studying the magical arts, he would likely earn the honorable "Three Primary Colors" title after reaching adulthood.

But what was the point of that? Shinji could not understand. This fundamental gap made it impossible for him to get along with his family or the people at school. Fortunately, following Roland's suggestion, he boarded at this facility that was both a church and an orphanage. Honestly, it was much better. As long as he took the initiative to show a distant attitude, these children who had experienced hardship would keep their distance. If there were any who were blind to the situation, he only needed to show his power.

The original Shinji Matou should have lived his boring life according to plan, but all of this was broken by the red-haired child before him. Despite being the adopted son of the priest who managed the facility, he was always like a fool, passionately devoted to his ideals, facing everything with kindness, and possessing an incomprehensible stubbornness. Just like today, spending so much time on the useless act of high jumping.

Shinji had been watching for the whole afternoon. He watched Shirou Kotomine fail time and again, constantly trying and constantly failing. This meaningless behavior was even more boring than his own, and what was more incredible was that he had actually watched for several hours. Finally, after Shirou Kotomine failed again, he spoke.

"Your actions are completely meaningless. Without changing your exertion and posture, such attempts are just relying on luck."

"Eh?" A look of surprise appeared on Shirou’s face, but it was quickly replaced by joy. "Shinji, this is the first time you’ve actively spoken to me."

"I just couldn't watch anymore." Shinji raised his hand, letting the stinging sensation of the magic circuits running in his body rise. "Domination."

This basic magic, which could only be used to manipulate small animals, was easily applied to humans—a feat even adult mages found difficult—when combined with the Matou family secret arts given to him by Roland. Under his control, Shirou Kotomine’s body began to adjust its breathing and exertion, leaping down and clearing the bar he had tripped over countless times.

"You’re amazing! Shinji." His body easily taken over by another, Shirou felt no sense of offense, but instead excitedly rushed over and grabbed Shinji's hand. "Join me! With you here, the search for the path to Heaven will surely be very smooth!"

"Heaven?"

"Yeah." Shirou nodded. "Kirei said that he and I are the same kind of incomplete people, unable to obtain the happiness of an ordinary person through the mortal world. What we can do is prepare ourselves, find the Gate of Heaven, and finally wait for that man, who is like a god, to ascend to Heaven and bring eternal happiness to the whole world."

"Heaven… logically, this is completely unnecessary… The world is chaotic; some are experiencing happiness, others must accept suffering. It is only natural that those born incomplete suffer more."

"You’re right… but, wouldn't a world where everyone can attain happiness be wonderful? I believe firmly in what Kirei believes." Shirou stared at Shinji. "Just like you actively approaching me today—can that be explained by logic? You wouldn't have contacted anyone before."

*Just because you're too stupid…* Shinji was about to explain, but he frowned. Explaining it itself was already a departure from his original intention. He, who couldn't even understand familial affection, was moved by the child in front of him. This didn't seem like him at all.

Was there something about Shirou Kotomine that attracted him? Shinji racked his brain, driving it to the limit, but found no corresponding answer. He was just watching Shirou's futile efforts, driven by the indignant emotions in his heart.

"Even knowing this ideal is slim, are you willing to devote yourself to it?" He looked at Shirou and raised the question.

Shirou’s face carried a smile as bright as the sun. "Just in this process, if we can help more people gain awareness, aren't we one step closer to a happy world? Encounters themselves are part of gravity." He looked happily at everything around him. "What kind of person you will meet in the next moment, how much your life will deviate from the plan, whether you can reach the ending of Heaven—these unknowns, these realizations, make me excited every moment. Only by devoting myself to this can I find a smile."

Shirou rested his chin on his hands and pondered for a while. "I’m afraid this is the pleasure Father mentioned. Shinji, you’re always so rigid. You have to pursue things that make you happy to become better."

"Pleasure…" Shinji repeated the word and immediately understood the source of his heartfelt emotion. There was no mistake. He had found pleasure in the very act of observing Shirou Kotomine, and that was why he had changed. This unknown deeply washed over Shinji’s soul. In the boring reality, he finally had a second object that could cause ripples in his heart. Moreover, unlike Roland, who made him feel fear, what he found in Shirou Kotomine was an unprecedented excitement.

"I will join." Shinji cast aside his rationality and looked at Shirou seriously. "I will witness this so-called Heaven, and see what kind of unknowns arise from you chasing it. But I cannot guarantee that this ideal will have an ending."

"What does that matter? The ending is already destined; it’s just a matter of whether we can reach it in our generation." Shirou revealed a chillingly bright smile. "After all—people, in the end, are going to Heaven."