Chapter 87: The Final Task

"This is... the underground cavern where the Greater Grail lies."

In all his years in Fuyuki, this was the first time Tenkei Shiomi had truly set foot at the heart of the Greater Grail.

With him were Morgan and the allies who had just fought by his side.

The vast, open sky above and the barren earth below made it easy to forget this was all underground. The cavern stretched nearly three kilometers in diameter, and at the end of the path they walked stood a wall-like formation of rock. Atop that rock was the altar of the Greater Grail.

The Black Holy Grail had been destroyed, and the mound of flesh above the lake behind Ryuudou Temple had vanished along with it.

Tokiomi Tohsaka, used as the core, had been retrieved from the lake by Kiritsugu Emiya himself. Though he'd lost an arm, he was still clinging to life.

What shocked Shiomi even more, though, was that Kiritsugu—known for being cold and ruthless—had acted to save someone on his own initiative.

Had he misjudged this man? Or had something within Kiritsugu changed? Shiomi couldn't say.

But as they drew within less than a kilometer of the altar, everyone felt it—the barrier blocking their advance.

It was both a wall and a safeguard.

Sealed within the Greater Grail's altar was an endless wellspring of magical energy—limitless for any Magus to draw from.

Without the Holy Grail manifest as a medium, coming into contact with that much raw mana was dangerously reckless.

"This is close enough," Morgan said, stopping.

The grotesque form that had manifested in the lake had only been the external terminal of the Greater Grail. Even if it and the "hole" had been destroyed, it wouldn't affect the core—it would merely shut the door once again.

She turned and faced Artoria, Iskandar, and their respective Masters.

"Once the purification begins, the Holy Grail will lose the mana needed to function. The Servants will begin to fade. So I'll ask one last time—do you all agree to bring the Holy Grail War to an end?"

It seemed like an unnecessary question, but Morgan asked again to be sure.

She understood all too well the allure the Grail held for both Magi and Heroic Spirits.

But after witnessing its true nature with their own eyes, none of them—neither Master nor Servant—could accept a Grail that had been corrupted.

Their answer was unanimous.

"Then let us begin the purification ritual."

Morgan raised her magic spear, using it as a staff. She gently thrust it into the air before her—as if triggering a hidden switch. Instantly, vast magic circuits flared to life across the ground.

If one were to look from the sky, they'd see the circuit's design mirrored the form of Justeaze seen earlier.

Because Justeaze, whose entire body was a web of magic circuits, had used her own flesh and blood to become the foundation of the Greater Grail, a key component of the Holy Grail War had been fulfilled.

The contamination of the Greater Grail stemmed from an irregular-class Servant entering it during the Third Holy Grail War, tainting its mana.

Under normal circumstances, purification was no longer feasible—only dismantling it remained.

But Morgan, who had deciphered the structure of the Fuyuki Grail War system in mere days, knew what had to be done. The price? Only a portion of the mana that took sixty years to fully accumulate.

That sacrifice would be enough to purge "All the World's Evil" sleeping within the Grail.

As the purification ritual began, it became clear the time for farewells had come. The Masters and their Servants slowly dispersed, parting ways and offering their final words.

"What's wrong? Feeling reluctant to let go?" Morgan asked.

Now that the purification ritual of the Holy Grail had begun, there was no longer any need for her to maintain it—unless, of course, Artoria or Iskandar suddenly changed their minds and tried to interfere.

That was the only reason she had the leisure to ask Shiomi.

"No... It's just that so much has happened in the past few days," Shiomi said with a faint smile. "Chasing after an omnipotent wish-granting device really isn't easy."

"The Magi didn't create the Holy Grail to free themselves from all suffering," Morgan replied, shaking her head. "They did it to overcome suffering itself. Whether it's reaching the Root or chasing a dream so grand it defies the limits of the world…"

It was that very desire to change the world that brought about everything as it stood now.

And it was that same desire that led the Holy Grail War to such a conclusion.

"The Servants are beginning to fade," Morgan said, pulling Shiomi back from his thoughts.

Artoria and Iskandar were waving their farewells in their own ways.

Though Irisviel seemed a little reluctant, she still smiled. Waver, on the other hand, was crying uncontrollably, forcing the King of Conquerors to pat him on the shoulder and offer a few parting words.

After bidding farewell to their Servants, Irisviel and Waver left the cavern, leaving Morgan and Shiomi behind as they waited for the purification to conclude.

"The ritual is just about finished," Morgan said gently.

Shiomi looked at the witch beside him, a deep sense of reluctance rising in his chest.

"The Holy Grail War may not have granted anyone else's wish... but yours, at least, came true," he said, forcing a smile as he congratulated her.

"I suppose so," Morgan replied with a vague smile.

As the ritual neared its end, the words he'd been holding back clung to the edge of his lips—until the light signaling Morgan's departure began to shimmer.

"If... if I asked you to stay, to forge another contract with me, would you say yes?" Shiomi reached out and held the hand that was still within reach.

Morgan looked slightly surprised, a flicker of joy lighting her eyes.

"Without the Holy Grail War, maintaining a Servant's mana will be difficult. Even for you."

"Even so, I want you to stay," Shiomi said, lowering his gaze. "I still don't know anything about you."

Unexpected, yet not at all out of character—very much in line with what Morgan had come to understand about him.

"Well then, it can't be helped. Since my husband has pleaded so sincerely, how could I possibly turn a deaf ear?" Morgan turned her wrist and clasped Shiomi's outstretched hand. "Even if I know you're not asking just for yourself... I'll let that slide, just this once."

"I didn't mean it like—" Shiomi started, feeling misunderstood, ready to explain.

But Morgan silenced him with a glance.

"Less talking, more contracting," she said. "Let's get it done."

"Right, then I'll..."

Just as he was about to recite the spell, his lips were sealed.

A cool, soft sensation filled his senses.