Chapter 27. Astolfo: Just a Peek!

I Will Eventually Embark on the Path of No Return Called a Hero [Arc2] - 27. Astolfo: Just a Peek!

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People are crying...

People are wailing...

People are angry...

He grasped the possibility, a miracle as poisonous as a toxin that made people cheer, and the title of "Miracle Child" seemed to have started circulating from that moment. But he knew very well that it was not the victory he deserved...

It was not luck at all, but a precursor to despair that crushed hope completely.

He had lost, lost quite naturally. How could those who entrusted everything to miracles overcome those who held reality in their hands?

He had failed. Divine grace had confused him, and the desire to save the lives in front of him had blinded him. Thus, he failed thoroughly.

Despite sacrificing so many lives, what he gained was nothing...

Shirou Kotomine slowly opened his eyes.

The dream was over. This time, he would definitely not fail, but before that...

"Awake? Of course, you can continue to sleep if you want~" Semiramis, the Queen of Assyria, rested her chin on her hand, admiring Shirou Kotomine's troubled expression. "Your sleeping face is quite pleasing."

"Why am I sleeping on your lap?"

Shirou Kotomine was confused. Even though he had been a flesh-and-blood human for sixty years, his sense of vigilance should not have weakened. Why was Semiramis always able to approach him so easily and place his head on her lap?

"Because I am an Assassin?" Semiramis laughed joyfully.

"What if someone sees us?"

"No one can see us. Hm, it's rare that I feel like doing something fitting for a Servant. Do you have any complaints?" Semiramis puffed up her cheeks, lightly poking Shirou Kotomine's throat with the spike in her palm, as if throwing a tantrum.

"It's a bit embarrassing, but thank you," Shirou Kotomine sat up with a wry smile, seemingly ignoring the spike that could pierce his throat at any moment.

"Hm, that's good~" Semiramis nodded in satisfaction, then her expression turned serious. "The time has come. Except for Archer, Saber, and the lost Berserker, the rest are all here."

"Doesn't that mean there aren't many left?" Shirou Kotomine sighed deeply.

They could be said to have had a perfect start. Whether it was Karna or Achilles, both were extraordinary beings capable of sweeping the Holy Grail War by themselves.

And he had also managed to get hold of their Master smoothly. But things began to collapse afterward. The whereabouts of Archer's Master were unknown, and even the data couldn't be obtained.

Because Semiramis underestimated Cyd's blessing and accidentally leaked information, Saber's Master fled, and Berserker, incited by Caster, charged into the enemy's camp and was captured. It seemed that only Assassin had issues on their side.

"It's okay, that has already been completed. Even if a few Servants are missing, it doesn't matter," Semiramis raised her leg. "I have prepared plenty of Dragon Tooth Warriors."

"But both Archer and Saber are outstanding Servants," Shirou Kotomine scratched his face. "Berserker's Noble Phantasm is also quite troublesome."

"That Noble Phantasm..." Semiramis sighed with some headache. "That kind of thing is too uncontrollable."

"The key issue is still Ruler, or rather, Cyd's attitude," Shirou Kotomine stood up.

"Ah~ That lucky guy who won the favor of the gods?" Semiramis frowned with some disgust. She still couldn't forget her embarrassing slip of the tongue. "The garden is completed; he has no ability to obstruct us."

"Don't underestimate his kindness. He's one of the few heroes who achieved the impossible with a mortal body," Shirou Kotomine rarely showed an expression of admiration. "He is different from me. He brings miracles to people, but more importantly, he gives them hope for the future. If it's him, he would definitely understand me."

Semiramis raised her eyes with dissatisfaction. "What if he stands in your way?"

"Ah~ It's difficult, but he must be removed," Shirou Kotomine scratched his face, speaking with a mix of helplessness and determination. "I will not allow anyone to obstruct me."

"Now that's more like it!" Semiramis stood up, spread her arms, and turned around before coming in front of Shirou Kotomine. She lifted his chin with her finger. "If you back down, I won't hesitate to pour poison into your mouth~"

"Don't worry, I won't back down again," Shirou Kotomine smiled lightly. "It's about time to begin."

The massive fortress slowly ascended.

The war was about to begin.

…

"What are you doing?"

Gordes's body jolted, and the can he was holding fell to the ground.

"Hmm? Canned beef?"

Gordes was somewhat nervous and didn't dare to look at the pink-haired Servant in front of him.

"Why... why are you here? Servants shouldn't need to eat."

Ah~ Damn it! Why did I have to run into this irrational person at a time like this!

"Ah~ I was just bored, wandering around," Astolfo listlessly placed the canned beef back into Gordes's arms.

Ever since hearing Cyd's remarks and the death of the artificial human, he had been wandering around aimlessly, and as a result, his somewhat perverted Master had lost interest in him.

"Ahem, well... I'll leave now," Gordes nodded and swiftly walked toward the kitchen exit.

"By the way... why do you need so many cans?" Astolfo put his hand on Gordes's shoulder.

"I'm hungry!" Gordes started sweating.

"So you need to eat this many?" Astolfo narrowed his eyes at Siegfried, who was carrying a sack. From the bulging marks on the sack, it seemed to contain some cooking tools as well.

"Food... food reserves are necessary!" Gordes raised his voice.

"At your own camp?" Astolfo tilted his head. "And you could have had the artificial humans deliver it to your room. Why are you sneaking around like this? Could it be that there's something in your room that can't be seen by others?"

Gordes's sweat increased.

"By the way, I remember the artificial humans died because of you," Astolfo's eyes brightened and his mouth started to curl into a smile.

"I don't know what you're talking about. Saber, let's go!" Gordes shook off Astolfo's hand and walked out of the kitchen with his head held high.

Siegfried, as if not noticing Astolfo's bright eyes, quickly followed Gordes.

"Don't follow me!"

Gordes sped up from a brisk walk to a run, with Siegfried tightly following behind, occasionally picking up cans that fell from Gordes.

"Ah~ We're just passing by~" Astolfo said cheerfully, with his hands behind his head.

At the door.

"I will absolutely not let you in!" Gordes, panting, leaned against the door, his stance firm as if he had a treasured possession behind him.

"Just a peek! Just one peek!" Astolfo clasped his hands together, pleading with a look that promised he would see everything clearly.

"Absolutely... not allowed!"

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