IBHJ 1003 (Patreon)

Shirou drifted in an endless sea of darkness. Time lost all meaning. The only thing he felt was a chilling familiarity. It was that sensation of being swallowed, consumed, trapped—just like that time in Fuyuki.

A soft voice whispered, warm against his ear. "Rest now, my love. Let go of your burdens."

The voice paused, then added with a hint of longing, "I've missed you... Arthur."

Its tenderness was like a siren's song, pulling him deeper into the abyss. He couldn't resist, didn't want to resist.

At the heart of the darkness, a vortex yawned like a black hole, drawing his consciousness towards it. But there was no pain, no fear, no struggle. Instead, a profound sense of peace washed over him.

He no longer needed to think, to worry, to strive. Closing his eyes, Shirou surrendered to the pull, his mind emptying of all concerns. Artoria, Mordred, Sakura, Ritsuka... all the anxieties of the world faded away. It felt as if his soul were returning to a place of pure tranquility, free from all troubles.

“Shirou, no matter what you become, I will be by your side. You won't be alone.”

Artoria's voice echoed in his ears, and Shirou suddenly woke up with a start, his heart racing. People were waiting for him. He couldn't give up now.

Disoriented, he pushed himself up, blinking rapidly as he tried to make sense of his surroundings.

"What is this place?"

As his vision cleared, he found himself in a room that seemed plucked from a fairy tale. Walls of smooth, white marble surrounded him, their pristine surface almost glowing. A balcony caught his eye, overflowing with vibrant flowers in countless colors. White doves perched on the branches, cooing softly as they tilted their heads to observe him.

Through the branches on the balcony, he could see a clear blue sky dotted with pristine white clouds. It was a scene of dreamlike purity, like a glimpse of heaven.

Suddenly, his eyes focused on a figure in the garden below. At a white table, a young girl in a white dress sipped fragrant tea from a white cup.

His heart sank as he recognized her. Manaka Sajou!

As if sensing his gaze, Manaka lowered her cup and turned, a bright, sunny smile spreading across her face. "Good day, Arthur."

He frowned, about to confront her, but then he noticed his own attire – a pure white gown, eerily similar to the one he had prepared for Artoria at Morgan's ball in Britain. He tugged at the fabric, but it wouldn't come off.

His eyes narrowed as he met Manaka's gaze. "What have you done to me?"

"Why, I've simply prepared a perfect costume for my prince."

She leapt onto the balcony railing with grace and glided towards him. As she moved, her simple white dress shimmered and flowed, transforming into a pure white formal gown.

His eyes narrowed. "I am not Arthur."

"I know you're not Arthur," she said with a gentle smile. "But it doesn't matter. I still love you."

He scowled. This was his first real encounter with Manaka since Shinjuku, and his immediate impression was that she was sick.

"Yes, I suppose I am sick," she said, her voice filled with an unsettling affection. "My love for you has become a sickness. But don't worry, I will fulfill your wish. Britain will rise again, and you will be my Eternal King, my prince."

"Well, your love is really cheap, you simp," he scoffed.

"S-Simp?" She was stunned, asking with a confused face, "What's that?"

"It's what you are." He replied coldly. "A pathetic loser like you, who deceives themself, indulges in their own fantasies, and sacrifices everything, but still fails to obtain love. No, you're even worse. Others just face unrequited love, while you were stabbed through the heart by the very person you loved. A comical clown, that's what you are."

Manaka's face froze. His words were like a sharp dagger, piercing deep into her heart. She struggled to maintain her composure, forcing a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Are you trying to provoke me, my prince?"

He sneered. "Provoke? Why would I bother provoking a loser who couldn't even keep her 'beloved' from being stolen by her own sister?"

"Crack crack crack --"

The moment those words left his mouth, the room itself seemed to react. A sound like splintering ice filled the air as fine cracks spread across the once-pristine white walls. From these cracks, an ominous black glow pulsed, casting eerie shadows throughout the room.

Manaka's face hardened, her eyes blazing with with a hint of killing intent.

"Oh?" His lips curled into a cold smirk. "It seems I've finally wiped that sickening smile off your face."

"Eternal King..." She stared at him with an icy gaze.

He raised an eyebrow. "Oh? You know me?"

"You're in my custody now. Of course I know everything about you. I know you destroyed my future." She paused, her tone growing sharp. "But that's irrelevant. What I want is for you to take back what you said. My love isn't cheap, and I am not a simp!"

He sneered. "And what if I refuse?"

"Anyone else would be dead already," she replied, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "But you... you're Arthur. I love you. So you will live."

Her gentle smile returned as if a switch had been flipped. The shattered walls knitted themselves back together seamlessly, the ominous black glow fading away, leaving behind only an unnaturally pristine white.

"You really are a simp," he scoffed.

"Think what you will," Manaka said, waving her hand dismissively. "For now, rest. When you wake, your country will be reborn on this earth, and you will ascend as the Eternal King." With a serene smile, she turned to leave.

"Wait!" he shouted. "Don't you try to force your twisted fantasies about Arthur on me!" He lunged for her, but the space between them seemed to stretch endlessly, like an invisible barrier expanding with each step he took. Helpless, he could only watch as she glided away.

Yet, despite his dire situation, he wasn't anxious. His eyes locked onto Manaka's collar, focusing on a detail she had overlooked.

There, hidden beneath the white fabric near the clasp, was a tiny speck of black. So small that it would be invisible to anyone not looking for it.

Mud.

His mud.

He'd managed to put it there during that short moment when he made her angry.

As Manaka's figure faded from view, Shirou turned his attention to the pristine white room. "This must be a manifestation of Manaka's mind," he murmured, his eyes narrowing. "I've finally infiltrated it. Now, let's see your true face, Lord of Salvation."

Reddish-black mud oozed from his shadow, splattering against the walls. The pristine white surface melted like wax, dissolving into a flowing stream of black, not chocolate, but pure, venomous malice.

A path opened before him, he stepped forward, then hesitated. "...I hope Mordred doesn't run into any trouble." he muttered, a flicker of worry crossing his face.

With a sigh, he pushed aside his concerns and strode out of the white room.

Manaka left with a smile plastered on her face, but as she reached her throne within the Grail, her expression crumbled. Despite the facade of gentle magnanimity she'd presented to Shirou, his words had struck a nerve.

"Simp? Cheap?" she whispered, her voice laced with bitterness. "Am I a failure at love?" Her fingers curled into fists. "I know, I've always known. But Arthur," her voice hardened, "do you have any choice other than loving me? No matter which Arthur it is, the only one who can have you is me."

Once pure, Manaka had been twisted by her obsession, her "love" transforming her into a creature of chaos.

She lounged on her throne, idly tapping a fingernail against the armrest. With each tap, mud-like humanoids rose from the ground—Servants captured during the Holy Grail War eight years ago, now eternally enslaved to her whims.

"I saw a future where the Eternal King kills me," she mused, her voice a low murmur. "But his past is incomplete. I never saw how he defeated me. Still, the only true threat is that fairy he's so fond of. Even Father warned me about her power... and told me how to deal with her." A cruel smile twisted her lips. "Excellent. I'll eliminate her first."

She would deploy her full force, capture Tethys, and use her as a sacrifice. Fujimaru Shirou wasn't the Eternal King yet. He hadn't summoned that Saver. This would be enough... for now.

"Oh, Ayaka," Manaka smiled, her voice dripping with a twisted blend of sisterly affection and venomous jealousy. "Let neesan show you what a true magus can do."

Eight years ago, her sister had met her prince—Arthur. Ayaka had even dared to speak with him, to try and seduce him. It was unforgivable.

Consumed by jealousy, Manaka had attempted to sacrifice Ayaka to the Grail, to complete the ritual and summon the Beast. But at the crucial moment, Arthur had betrayed her, plunging a blade into her back and casting her into the Grail.

This time, failure was not an option.

Armed with knowledge of the future, she held all the cards. How could she possibly lose?