Chapter 66: The Fiancée
In truth, very few people on the surface of this planet were qualified to know the true identity of ORT... And by coincidence, the Old Man of the Jewels—who had lived from the 1st century to the present day and crossed countless parallel worlds—was one of them.
However, even this Old Man of the Jewels who knew this journey well could never have imagined... that this extraterrestrial monster was now quietly hiding inside Matou Yuu's Reality Marble.
In fact, tracing back to the origin of ORT's arrival on Earth could be considered a "major misunderstanding" in the entire history of the planet.
In a distant future timeline, "Gaia" would eventually die, yet humans on Earth could still survive like parasites on the barren surface.
For Gaia, this was an absolutely intolerable betrayal—dying while the parasitic creatures continued to live.
Therefore, before dying, Gaia sent an "SOS distress signal" to other celestial bodies within the solar system and even farther galaxies.
Among the celestial bodies that received this distress signal was the Ultimate Lifeform hidden deep within the Oort Cloud—ORT.
However, Gaia's original meaning was roughly "After I die, come help destroy humanity on Earth."
As a result, ORT—as a higher-dimensional celestial lifeform—did not accurately grasp human concepts of time down to years, months, and days.
Thus, when it descended upon Earth, it realized it had arrived thousands of years too early.
So the mercenary who received Gaia's order stayed there and fell asleep, transforming the "Amazon Rainforest" into a Crystal Valley suitable for sleeping.
Although he did not know the details of ORT, there was no need to investigate deeply. The aura that dominated the planet was enough for this Old Man of the Jewels to keep his distance.
"An Ultimate One from beyond Earth..."
Zelretch's cloudy eyes solemnly stared at the seemingly ordinary "robotic vacuum cleaner."
He took a deep breath and furrowed his brows. "...So it's no wonder you have the courage to challenge the deterrent."
Excluding the Mother Goddess of Creation Tiamat who was currently "restraining herself" outside, this young man alone had two Ultimate One-class nuclear bombs residing inside his body!
According to the original plan of the Old Man of the Jewels, after Crimson Moon's possession ended, Matou Yuu should have entered an unprecedentedly weakened state, and even Crimson Moon should not have been able to forcibly seize the body.
The result was... Yet at this weakened stage, Matou Yuu had actually released a second "summoner."
If it were anyone else, they would surely curse, "This kid is too pure, almost like a super-powered dog!"
"This sleeping guy... You can't even control him, can you?"
Zelretch quickly organized his thoughts and lowered his voice further. "Do you know what would happen if he went berserk and awakened here?"
"The worst possible outcome is that everyone dies together."
Matou Yuu smiled. "Besides, wouldn't it be able to sleep more peacefully inside my Reality Marble than being left in the South American jungle where the outside world could disturb it at any time?"
"...If possible, I would like to leave it here to sleep soundly."
The ORT card was both a trump card that could turn the tide for Matou Yuu and his greatest helplessness.
Because even Matou Yuu himself could not command ORT. At best, his relationship with ORT was like that of a landlord and a freeloading tenant.
After being abandoned, the first thing it would do upon waking would probably be to treat the landlord and everything in the world as snacks.
But... He originally did not need ORT.
As long as this extraterrestrial giant spider continued to sleep peacefully inside his Reality Marble... that was enough.
Since he could not attack ORT, why not place it in a "backup defensive position"?
On the soft carpet nearby, Fujimaru Ritsuka, Mash from Chaldea, and the guardian of the Counter Force, Emiya Alter, had also been forcibly pulled in... And the Old Man of the Mountain stood silently in the shadows like a god of death.
Facing the alien disguised as a "robotic vacuum cleaner" in the corner, Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mash hesitated, while the usually cold Emiya Alter was enveloped in a death-like silence.
"I see... Not only can you open a Reality Marble, but you're also hiding such an explosive being?"
After a long silence, Emiya Alter opened his mouth in a hoarse voice. "If I had really shot you at that time... what would have happened?"
"The maintenance of a Reality Marble is based on the caster's own soul and life. If I died, this mental image world would naturally collapse. And without the constraints of the 'hot bed,' it would probably fall straight into the outside world."
Matou Yuu paused before continuing. "As for what exactly would happen after the fallout... Honestly, I don't know either."
He raised his face, half-jokingly, and said, "Maybe it would just turn around and obediently go back to South America to continue sleeping?"
"Do you really think so... Yuu."
The corner of Emiya Alter's mouth twitched slightly.
Moreover, from the center of the Amazon Rainforest to the current snow-covered city, the distance spanned approximately 8,000 kilometers across an entire hemisphere, crossing the equator and numerous ocean currents!
If this "extraterrestrial giant spider" were truly forcibly awakened and fell onto the North American continent, would it obediently walk 8,000 kilometers to go back to sleep?
It would not be an exaggeration to say that Matou Yuu was now spinning a beautiful lullaby for ORT... so it could sleep peacefully inside this essential bounded field.
However, if Matou Yuu died, the lullaby would suddenly end... No one knew what disaster this planet would face when ORT awakened from its slumber, and no one had the courage to bet the entire history of humanity on it.
The goddess Tiamat might show mercy out of deep love for humanity, but the ORT dictionary did not include the concepts of "life" or "compassion."
Click.
At that moment, the gem-encrusted staff in Zelretch's hand lightly tapped on the soft carpet.
He stared warily at the still-sleeping crystal spider, then fixed his gaze on the young man before him.
"Indeed... You are Lord El-Melloi II's disciple, right? The students at the Clock Tower this year seem much more 'interesting' than before."
"Receiving such praise from the Second Magician is an honor for a student."
Matou Yuu nodded calmly and unwaveringly, then raised his face to get to the point and began probing. "So, have you decided to help?"
Zelretch glared sharply at this reckless young man with irritation and snorted coldly. "Do you have a second option this time?!"
He had lived for over a thousand years and crossed countless parallel worlds, but he had only truly felt "pressure" from the King of the Moon once.
But this time was different. Originally, he had been cold and skilled at "witnessing and saving human justice," but instead he was being threatened by this fearless little villain.
Unfortunately... there was truly nothing he could do.
Old Man of the Jewels turned around with a cold face, leaning on his staff as he slowly walked out of the mental image world in his heart. A slightly helpless yet hopeful voice echoed in the room.
"Waver Velvet? That guy really raised an extraordinary monster disciple... Hmph, let's see what path he can carve out under this cursed starry sky."
After leaving behind these meaningful words, Zelretch's figure gradually disappeared amid the refraction of space.
Matou Yuu watched until his figure completely vanished.
Then he turned around, looked at Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mash standing nearby, and asked softly.
"If you want to leave right now, I'll send you back to Chaldea immediately."
Fujimaru Ritsuka's eyes wavered slightly.
On one side was an unpredictable apocalyptic danger, and on the other was a lonely mother who had once cried out in pain inside the Imaginary Sea and only wished to hold her children.
"Senpai..." Mash gently tugged on her sleeve. Her purple eyes were filled with confusion, but even more so with unconditional trust in her Master's decision.
After a while, Fujimaru Ritsuka took a deep breath. "Honestly, Matou-san... Your plan is nothing short of an act of complete madness."
Her eyes, once filled with suffering, now became clear and bright again, as if she had made a decision.
"I'm just an ordinary magus. I don't have the responsibility to bear your small possibility, nor the courage to sacrifice my own future. If Doctor Roman or Da Vinci were here, they would absolutely do everything in their power to stop you..."
The orange-haired girl paused for a moment, then raised her face and met Matou Yuu's eyes. Her voice was gentle yet unwaveringly strong.
"But... If it's me, then I want to see that miracle."
"In the process, we have witnessed far too many personal tragedies where people sacrificed themselves for a greater purpose. If you want to save this world, you must pay the price of eternal exile and the Mother's death... Such human logic is truly pitiful."
"Matou-san, I will not leave Snowfield City. If the plan fails and the goddess Tiamat ultimately cannot shed her Beast shell... As the Master of Chaldea, I will do everything I can to stop her here, even if it means destroying her."
"But for now, please let me stand here... and watch you save her."
Emiya Alter, who was standing nearby, shrugged helplessly at these words and returned the black pistol to his coat.
"Considering the current situation, the 'boss' must be grateful that I didn't shoot you just now, right?"
He glanced at the "robotic vacuum cleaner" in the corner and said in a relieved tone. "So, today let's pretend we saw nothing and know nothing... Go ahead and try."
As the absolutely rational plunderer of "Alaya," this was already the greatest violation Emiya Alter could commit—and it was lenient.
Upon hearing these words, a genuine smile finally appeared on Matou Yuu's pale face.
Then he looked at the skull-masked elder standing silently in the shadows.
"Old Man of the Mountain, I kept you waiting."
The assassin wearing a crown that burned with ghostly blue flames nodded slightly, his low voice resonating like the abyss. "I witnessed your awakening."
The gates of the Underworld must be opened once again for you."
Matou Yuu raised his slightly trembling right hand and snapped his fingers.
Snap.
The scene of the warm room inside the Reality Marble faded like ripples.
In the distance, the swirling Sea of Life and the colossal shadow of creation sleeping in the air quietly floated, radiating a sense of despair.
After leaving the protection of the mental world, Matou Yuu felt an overwhelming fatigue that had been suppressed suddenly rush through his entire body like a breaking dam.
After all, to endure Crimson Moon's arrival, he had pushed his magical energy and physical strength to their limits. Now this body was like a candle flickering in the wind, ready to go out at any moment.
He took a deep breath and lowered his head, shouting toward the scorched earth. "Mistress of the Underworld, open the gates of the Underworld completely right now!"
"Who do you think you are?! Who gave you the audacity to order the noble goddess of the Underworld so brazenly?!"
Eventually, from deep underground, Ereshkigal's irritated and slightly indignant yet mischievous scolding echoed from deep underground.
However, even as she grumbled discontentedly, the proud goddess's hand movements showed no hesitation.
Rumble——!
Accompanied by a violent tremor from the earth, a bottomless abyss of the Underworld instantly opened in the ground.
Zelretch looked up at the colossal figure floating high in the sky and said in a heavy, low voice. "Matou Yuu, let me say this in advance——"
"The Underworld is indeed not a domain for the living. As long as she falls into the Underworld, even Tiamat or an Assassin can forcibly grant her the concept of 'death' through the laws there."
"But that does not mean he can precisely sever Tiamat's 'Beast concept.' If that sword's peeling fails... she will completely discard her last humanity and fall into complete frenzied domination as Beast II. By then, she will no longer be the merciful Tiamat you know."
The old man said this, then stared at the black-haired young man beside him. "Are you truly prepared to endure this complete destruction?"
A faint smile appeared on Matou Yuu's face. "You won't know if it works until you try it... At that time, when facing Crimson Moon alone, did you absolutely believe you could win?"
"Traveling to the ends of the Imaginary Sea, observing various parallel world lines, and quietly watching the rise and fall of human principle... Aren't you drawn to humanity's unfathomable 'miracles'?"
Zelretch was momentarily stunned.
After a while, when the Second Magician looked at the young man again, his weathered cloudy eyes held an unprecedented strange brilliance and expectation.
However, he immediately furrowed his brows slightly as if remembering something very important.
"But considering the current situation, is there really a way to awaken the goddess Tiamat and make her voluntarily descend into the 'Underworld'?"
In order to slow the Sea of Life from swallowing the planet's surface as much as possible, Tiamat had previously forcibly suppressed her own consciousness and was now in a deep state of "self-sealing."
In this situation, unless someone broke through all obstacles, approached her true body, and awakened her personality as the "Mother Goddess of Creation."
But... in this Sea of Life filled with things that would melt everything, who could survive and approach Tiamat?
At that moment, Emiya Alter's grayish-white pupils suddenly contracted, and he instinctively glanced at Matou Yuu nearby.
"Yuu, you..."
Zelretch also followed that gaze and was momentarily stunned.
...The young man moved.
His arms were already hanging weakly, and his body was covered in the aftereffects of Crimson Moon's possession, as if every movement was screaming in pain from overwhelming pressure.
This body was already completely broken. If not for the final obsession deep in his heart, his consciousness would have already completely collapsed.
However, beneath this soulless shell, Matou Yuu walked slowly toward Tiamat's direction like a moth chasing a flame.
Zelretch opened his mouth, instinctively wanting to stop him. "You——"
"...Leave it to me."
Matou Yuu paused.
To conserve his last remaining physical strength, he did not turn around and said calmly. "If there is anyone in this world who can enter that sea unharmed and awaken Tiamat... then it's only me."
After he finished speaking, he took another step forward.
However, the instant Matou Yuu approached Tiamat, the slightly boiling Sea of Life suddenly seemed to sense the intrusion of some "foreign existence" and instinctively began to swirl violently.
That was the unconscious self-defense mechanism of the Return Beast!
BOOM!
With an ear-shattering roar, endless black mud rapidly rose and transformed into a tsunami that seemed to swallow the sky, violently raining down upon the young man's frail, paper-thin figure!
Fujimaru Ritsuka immediately turned her face and said urgently. "Mash... Help Matou-san! No matter what, we must carve a path to meet the 'Mother'!"
"Yes, Master!"
Without hesitation, Mash secretly gritted her teeth, exploded her magical energy with a roar, and quickly stepped forward to shield Matou Yuu.
A fierce wind fluttered the girl's pale purple short hair. Facing the overwhelming Sea of Life, she fearlessly raised the sacred cross-shaped shield in her hand and slammed it forcefully into the scorched earth!
The moment the shield landed, a dazzling pure white magical light erupted from within the girl.
"That is our homeland. It heals all wounds and soothes all grudges——"
The girl's clear and powerful singing voice pierced through the roar of the tsunami and echoed beneath the desperate night sky.
"Appear!"
"——Lord Camelot!!"
The high walls of the City rose within the light, firmly blocking the black mud tsunami that covered the sky beyond the walls!
However, even with the defensive walls of Lord Camelot, advancing upstream through this Sea of Life—symbolizing "planetary reconstruction"—was as difficult as ascending to heaven.
Although Tiamat intended to accept Matou Yuu's existence, her "surface-level" Beast instincts seemed to sense something and strongly rejected his approach.
Conceptual pressure weighed heavily on Matou Yuu's body. With every step forward, his legs trembled uncontrollably.
Just as he was about to fall, a strange refraction suddenly occurred in the space behind him.
"Really troublesome for an old man..."
Letting out a helpless sigh, Zelretch raised the gem-encrusted staff in his hand.
The brilliance of the Second Magic forcibly tore an Imaginary rift in the Sea of Life, shouldering the conceptual pressure for Matou Yuu.
But in the end, this was only a drop in the bucket.
After these consecutive ultra-dimensional downgraded possessions, Matou Yuu's broken body had long since reached its limit.
Even though Crimson Moon had desperately repaired it with the gift of "Dead Apostle" blood, it could not compensate for the severe overexertion deep within his soul.
Matou Yuu's vision darkened extensively, his body felt as if filled with lead, and unable to maintain balance, he fell straight into the abyss.
It felt as if he were sinking into the depths of a cold sea, all surrounding sensations stripped away, and urgent voices faintly reached him from outside the defensive line.
"Matou-san——!"
"Yuu——!"
As the sound faded, his consciousness completely sank into endless darkness.
However, within this abyss that seemed to swallow reason, he suddenly faintly sensed a subtle, decadent fragrance that awakened all desires deep within his soul.
"It seems you've gotten yourself into trouble... Onii-sama."
Amidst the sweet lingering fragrance that gently enveloped him, a breathtaking voice reached his ears, as if it could melt both reason and soul.
Like a drowning man finally grasping driftwood and breathing fresh air, Matou Yuu's eyelids twitched slightly and slowly opened.
When he struggled to raise his head, he was shocked to see a girl with messy purple hair floating in the air above the black mud.
The girl was wearing a strange dress woven like burning crystals. Her proud, ample chest was hidden beneath fabric that danced like magical flames, and beneath her slender waist that could be grasped with one hand were a pair of long, full legs.
Like a fallen black lotus, she bloomed quietly within the abyss, radiating an extremely captivating yet dangerous aura.
"Sakura...?"
Matou Yuu squeezed out the unbelievable name from his dry throat.
Meanwhile, at the outer edge of the Sea of Life's defensive line, Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mash stared blankly at this sudden development, looking up at the sky.
The usually cold Emiya Alter instantly tensed and stared intently at the purple-haired figure. He looked like the embodiment of a demon, and instinctively gripped his gun.
As one aspect of Emiya Shirou, he naturally knew Matou Sakura...
However, the aura emanating from this girl who resembled "Matou Sakura" was far too strange.
In the first place, when had she become this strong?!
At the same time, Matou Yuu finally returned from his previous thoughts. "Sakura, why are you here...?"
Furthermore, the overwhelming charm surrounding the girl at this moment was completely different from the girl who had once timidly followed behind him.
What on earth had happened...?
"Do you have the luxury of asking questions here? There should be something more important, right?"
Matou Sakura did not answer his question. Instead, she extended her soft, boneless jade-like hand and gently cupped the young man's pale, exhausted face.
She gazed at him with eyes full of gentle affection, caressing his cheek with her fingertips, and said softly.
"Please... Go do what you want to do."
"Sakura swore a long time ago. If it's your wish, no matter what gods or abysses await, I will remove them——"
The instant the girl's sweet words fell, the power symbolizing "cosmic love and decadence" was unleashed with a roar!
This sudden eruption of magical energy forcibly carved a path through the Sea of Life leading to Tiamat's true form.
Matou Yuu had no time to think further. He stared at the girl and nodded heavily. "Wait for me until I return."
Then he turned around and resolutely walked along the path paved by the fallen power.
Only after the young man's figure completely disappeared into the depths of the black mud did the purple-haired girl finally withdraw her gaze.
She turned around and landed gracefully on the ground.
"I've seen countless parallel worlds, but today is truly an eye-opening day."
Zelretch leaned on his staff, his complex gaze fixed on the girl before him, as if he had seen through her true nature at a glance. He said, "I never expected you to provide such help to a human."
"What's so strange about that?"
Matou Sakura raised her gaze, and a perfect, gentle smile appeared on her strikingly beautiful face.
A pitiful fragility lingered in her eyes and brows, and her voice was as soft as water. "Back when I was in the Matou family, I told him. I'll help with anything."
"After all... Sakura's only wish is to fulfill his wish."
"On this point... Emiya should understand this too, right?"
At the end, the girl's eyes wavered as she smiled at the white-haired, dark-skinned man nearby.
Emiya Alter remained silent for a while.
After all, Emiya Shirou, who had grown up in Fuyuki City, was naturally very familiar with Matou Sakura.
In his memories, that purple-haired girl had always followed behind Matou Yuu like a shadow, often gazing at him with eyes full of longing.
That was why he was not surprised that she had come to help no matter the sacrifice.
But... Emiya Alter almost imperceptibly frowned and secretly assessed the girl before him with his grayish-white eyes.
She was desperately trying to restrain herself, but the instincts of the guardian of the Counter Force vaguely sensed an "abnormal" aura emanating from her.
After all... When had this group arrived in Snowfield City? Why had neither he nor Chaldea noticed her existence until now?
However, before Emiya Alter could organize his thoughts, Fujimaru Ritsuka approached with a grateful expression and was the first to break the silence.
"Anyway, we really owe you one this time!"
The orange-haired girl clasped her hands together and let out a long sigh of relief. "If you hadn't made it in time, things might have gotten out of hand... Without the path you carved, Matou-san might not have been able to approach the goddess Tiamat's consciousness space."
At the end, genuine emotion and hope appeared in the orange-haired girl's eyes. "I hope Matou-san succeeds... May the lovers finally be united."
"..."
However, that blessing was precisely what descended at that moment.
The perfect, gentle smile on the purple-haired girl's face suddenly cracked slightly.
The air seemed to freeze instantly.
"Lovers... So they've become a couple now?"
The very next moment, the girl's gentle voice seemed to carry a hint of confusion.
She tilted her head and said, "The goddess Tiamat... Isn't that generally called a 'mother'? Why... have the lovers finally been united?"
Unaware, Fujimaru Ritsuka did not mind much and still smiled while sighing. "This is indeed a long story... Honestly, when we learned the truth ourselves, we were also shocked. We never expected that Matou-san was actually in contact with the Mother Goddess of Creation."
At this point, she sighed slightly worriedly and stared at the distant depths of the boiling black mud while saying quietly, "But the current situation is far too urgent."
"I wonder if Matou-san can successfully awaken the personality of the goddess Tiamat... If he fails, the two of them might really..."
"Sen-Senpai! Stop talking!"
Seeing Matou Sakura's expression freeze, Mash seemed to notice something, and a flicker of panic appeared in her eyes.
She rushed over, covered Fujimaru Ritsuka's mouth, and raised her face with a faint smile. "Um... Matou-san. This is a long story... We'll have Matou-san explain the personal matters directly later. Haha... ha..."
On the other side, Fujimaru Ritsuka seemed to have noticed nothing. She looked slightly confused as she removed Mash's hand and tried to continue speaking.
However, at that moment, she suddenly sensed an eerie atmosphere.
She glanced again at Mash and Emiya Alter beside her, and the two were silently staring at her with extremely subtle eyes.
No matter how slow she was, when Fujimaru Ritsuka turned her gaze once more and looked at the expressionless purple-haired girl, the Master of Chaldea finally belatedly noticed something.
The smile she had just shown completely froze.
Cold sweat dripped from her forehead to the ground.
Eh...
"...Did I say something wrong just now?"
…