"senior………………"
While trying his best to resist the attack from Mordred, Mashu couldn't help but move his eyes towards the Master behind him.
Although the pressure from the giant shield in her hand made Matthew unsustainable, what really confused her was Mordred's words - the profound meaning behind the simple question almost destroyed Matthew's whole life. The will to fight since.
Why is she fighting, and what does she want to gain from it?
Mordred's words were like another sword blade, slashing at Mashu's will while Clarent was slashing physically.
Maybe it’s because the heroic spirit who gave him the spiritual foundation and Mordred are both Knights of the Round Table, so they have a friendship. If someone else said such words, Matthew might regard them as words that disturbed his heart and laugh. Forget it, but if Mordred said such words...
Matthew wanted to refute strongly and block Mordred's attack right now.
I want to prove to her and myself right now that the bond between me, Master, and that girl will never be easily severed by Mordred like the Knights of the Round Table.
But the more Matthew has such feelings, the more deeply he realizes that this is just like the stress reaction of a beast when it is touched and wounded.
As human beings, the more they lack something, the more they want to emphasize something.
Mordred's words were absolutely correct.
In Ma Xiu's heart, she could no longer deceive herself at this moment.
No matter how much she gave the reasons why she should help the girl, no matter how much she emphasized her position as a servant, no matter how much she convinced herself that she was repaying the kindness she felt at that time, Matthew could no longer continue to deceive herself. .
Human beings can deceive themselves for a while, but they cannot deceive themselves for a lifetime.
Even the knight who fearlessly charges at the giant will lament the absurdity of his life at the end of his life.
When the undeniable reality is before our eyes, human beings can no longer continue to deceive themselves.
"Ah... I am indeed, I have always longed to get that warmth from the hands of my seniors."
Matthew finally recognized himself and the reasons for his actions all along.
Rather than saying that she was repaying the kindness of Fujimaru Ritsuka, it is better to say that she was already captured by Fujimaru Ritsuka at that time.
The kindness may not be repaid, but the longing from body to heart is difficult to resist for Matthew, who has never experienced human society.
It is better to say that even adults with normal mental development will make some bold and even transgressive behaviors because of desire and desire, let alone Matthew, who has grown up in a "birdcage" since childhood.
Like a "poison", Mashu was addicted to Fujimaru Ritsuka's "addiction".
That's why Mordred, who recognized the core of her relationship with Fujimaru Ritsuka, said angrily that he didn't look like a knight at all.
After all, the knight who focuses on dedication is the profession that has nothing to do with taking.
In other words, the glory they are obsessed with is not something that can be obtained by asking for it.
When he thought of this, Mashu's feet became increasingly weak. Originally, he could barely maintain a stalemate with the magic flow from Mordred, but now he could only keep retreating.
That's why she longed for the Master behind her, longing for Fujimaru Ritsuka to continue to give her the same warmth as usual, so that she could continue to fight.
Matthew Kyrielight is not a qualified "Servant" at all.
Roman, who had always remained silent and silently observed the scene coming from the other side of the image, was also aware of this problem.
He was annoyed why he didn't realize it until now.
As Matthew's half-guardian and the doctor who has always been responsible for her physical and mental health, Roman actually needed Mordred's actions to realize that something was wrong. It was a complete dereliction of duty.
Is it because he tried too hard to treat Mashu as someone he could get along with normally?
He clearly knew that Masu was a "creature" to some extent but could ignore this, so he ignored the shortcomings that were not revealed but should be revealed.
This is as unreasonable as a terminally ill patient suddenly accepting everything without any pressure or burden.
It's too ideal, Mashu's personality.
But he didn't notice this at all, or in other words, he blamed everything on Mashu's own sensibility.
It is precisely because most people in Chaldea know Mashu's identity that Mashu will subconsciously reject other people's deliberate kindness in order not to cause trouble to others.
Matthew has always been silently bearing all the doubts about the stability of self-awareness and the necessity of the value of existence.
And when a person appears who doesn’t know his identity at all but still treats himself as a normal person, and can accept and forgive himself even if he does something wrong or goes overboard——————
Of course, you will indulge in that person's tenderness.
It is difficult for Roman to judge the rights and wrongs of this relationship by himself. After all, he is only a half-hearted person as a "human being".
But Roman knew very well that Mashu's attitude of putting everything down to repaying kindness and being a servant was just an attempt to escape and distort the relationship between the two.
"Sure enough, you realize the crux of the problem yourself, Mashu."
Mordred paused and continued:
"You just blindly asked for something from your master. You knew clearly that as a servant you shouldn't do this, but you still deceived yourself. Looking back on it now, you will only be overwhelmed by shame. You are a completely unqualified servant! What on earth do you want to do? How long do you have to rely on others?"
With Mordred's shouting, the last barrier built by Matthew also crumbled.
The sunlight completely disappeared into the thick fog in London, and the street lights that had been out of power for several days did not come on unexpectedly.
The only light left around him was the scarlet lightning released from Mordred's sword.
And after the light ended, everything seemed to fall into the dense foggy night.
Mashu gritted his teeth and slowly closed his eyes as if accepting his fate.
"There's nothing wrong with relying on others, right?"
An unexpected voice sounded from behind Ma Xiu. It was slightly trembling and even crying, but the determination in it was something that no one present could refute.
It's really strange. It's just a threat of death. He has faced it countless times so far, but this time it is the most fearful and helpless one for Fujimaru Ritsuka.
But because of this————————————
Only then did she have the courage to fight and truly feel that she was fighting.
Fujimaru Ritsuka stepped forward resolutely, approached from behind Mashu, and raised the giant shield with her, just like before.
A red light lit up from the back of Fujimaru Ritsuka's hand, and Mashu's limp legs gradually regained their strength.
"senior……?"
Mashu was a little surprised. Why did Ritsuka Fujimaru still give as before when she had confessed that she didn't really want to repay the favor, nor was it out of duty as a servant, but just because she longed for the other person's tenderness? Support yourself.
Don't you feel cheated?
"Until now, I am still very scared and worried, and I really want someone to help me - but unfortunately I don't even know who that person is? But I want to The feeling of helping others probably stems from the desire to be helped.
It is precisely because I hope that I can get help when I am in trouble that I help other people in trouble. Just as I hope that person will never refuse my prayer, I will certainly not refuse Matthew's prayer. Humans, aren’t they just creatures that support each other to survive? "
Fujimaru Ritsuka said while recalling the figure in the vague memory in his mind.
Although no matter how he recalled it, there was no clear sign of that figure, but the more he recalled Fujimaru Ritsuka, the more convinced he became that there must be something missing there.
"However, I, an unqualified servant, am not worthy of mastering you..."
"What I want is never a Servant, Matthew!"
Fujimaru Ritsuka's suddenly raised voice made Mashu find it difficult to speak for a moment.
"Eh……?"
"Besides, no one would be willing to just be a servant, right? People who don't ask for anything are scary, right?"
Now, as the last master of mankind, Fujimaru Ritsuka is no longer confused.
In that unfamiliar land of ice and snow, in the foothills of Antarctica, whether it was the last Master or the last hope of mankind, these false names were never what Fujimaru Ritsuka longed for.
What she hopes for is just a partner who can make that strange institution no longer strange and give that piece of ice and snow a touch of warmth.
A partner who can chat, play, and play with her without any scruples, without worrying about other people's opinions or being cautious.
"One day, I also want to rely on others wholeheartedly without being rejected. I also want to stand by others even if I cause trouble. Therefore, can I ask you a favor, Mashu?"
"yes--"
Matthew flattered briefly but firmly.
"Rely on me wholeheartedly, Matthew——because the relationship between us is by no means as simple as master and servant, right?"
Fujimaru Ritsuka showed an extremely relaxed smile to Mashu.
".........As you command, Master!"
After a brief silence, maybe he was accepting this unreasonable order, or maybe he was making mental preparations, but no matter what, Mashu regrouped and re-deployed his Noble Phantasm.
"It resembles a precious phantom, and then unfold it——This is to protect the foundation of human nature! (Lord Chaldeas)!"
The blue light illuminated the foggy night in London, and the scarlet light finally poured into the phantom barrier that was erected again.
But unlike last time, although the fortress this time was still just a shadow, it did not collapse.
Mordred looked at the barrier in front of him and the determined eyes of Mashu and Fujimaru Ritsuka. He let out a helpless breath, and then dropped the sword in his hand.
"My partner... I didn't expect this kind of answer. In the end, I was taught a lesson. Well, my goal was achieved."
"Huh? Sir Mordred, don't you plan to continue attacking?"
"What sarcastic words are the winner talking about? Mash, my magic power is not unlimited. It is very rare for me to be able to release the Noble Phantasm for so long without the supply of the Master. Besides, haven't you already done it well?" Did you accept my attack? Master's fighting spirit has returned, so naturally I have no reason to attack."
"So, Lord Mordred really didn't mean to be rebellious!"
Matthew said in surprise.
"Of course -! I didn't rebel because I liked rebellion... It's all helpless, helpless!"
"You're really good at speaking. He's obviously a rebellious knight who releases his Noble Phantasm even to his Master."
A cold voice came from the corner on the side, and then walked out the black figure of Arturia Alter, who had an aura that kept strangers away.
"Miss Alt!...Are you always here?"
Even though his master was the girl behind him, but holding the round table where the Knights of the Round Table gathered, Mashu was still a little concerned that Artoria saw his gaffe just now.
"Well, I arrived shortly after Roman contacted me. Although I wasn't worried, I came just in case."
"That's right..."
Mashu lowered his head in disappointment, and Fujimaru Ritsuka had no choice but to stroke the junior's head to calm her down.
"After all, Miss Alt has been prepared since you left."
Henry Jekyll's figure also followed Artoria out of the corner.
"It seems that Matthew and I are the only ones who are still kept in the dark. Did the doctor already know Mordred's intention and just keep pretending to be dead?"
Fujimaru Ritsuka asked Roman, who was sitting comfortably in the control room, with some disdain.
"What do you mean by pretending to be dead!! I just kept silent when I should have kept silent!!"
What followed was Roman's continuous complaints.
"Well--I'm relieved to know you're still in good spirits, doctor."
Fujimaru Ritsuka dug out the non-existent cerumen in his ears, and then said perfunctorily to Roman.
"Hey, have you seen it a long time ago————, if that's the case, don't let me be this evil person! You guy!"
However, Mordred seemed a little unhappy that his intentions were exposed.
"Do you have any opinion?"
Artoria slammed the Sword of Victory, which was still in the form of a hammer, to the ground.
As if he had encountered a natural enemy, Mordred immediately put away his spikes.
"No! No!"
Mordred, who was clearly capable of rebelling against King Arthur, could only pout and complain when faced with the familiar black-armored knight in front of him who couldn't tell where he looked familiar.
"...However, compared to you, I do not have a preaching position. Even if I recognize this problem, it is not something I should say. I still have to thank you for this, Sir Mordred."
"……………………Ah! It’s so annoying. This kind of thing is fine no matter what!"
Facing Artoria Alter's straightforward thanks, Mordred didn't know how to respond.
"At the same time, I would also like to thank you, Master. You gave an extremely excellent answer... which has benefited me a lot."
The third way beyond pure giving and pure taking.
A third path that most humans would naturally choose, but none of her or her Knights of the Round Table chose such a path.
What an irony.
Although she chose this path without regrets, she obviously didn't want to get anything, right?
To think of this only after the fall of Camelot... What a failure.
Whether as a king or as a human being.
"Well, I was no better than Masu when I was embarrassed in the beginning, so there's no need to praise me like this... Hahaha."
Fujimaru Ritsuka noticed a slight tingling in his abdomen while scratching his belly.
However, Mashu's sudden change in expression and the sticky and moist texture on his hands made Fujimaru Ritsuka couldn't help but look down.
I saw that the clothes on her abdomen had been completely soaked with blood at an unknown time.
The foggy night in London has just begun.
