Chapter 38: Ana's Future
Hearing Merlin's explanation, Gudako frowned. "But, I feel like you both really like humanity?"
Merlin smiled slightly. "You are quite shameless to say something like that, but I won't deny it—both he and I are very fond of humanity."
"But, isn't it strange to not have any attachment to humanity while still 'liking' them?" Gudako asked.
"That's simply a difference in perspective. King Gilgamesh feels that what humanity creates has great value. On the other hand, I am very interested in your ending—especially in you, the person you brought along whom I cannot see through. Just what will your future be...? To witness that moment, I will continue to live on."
"Well, in other words, neither I nor King Gilgamesh are human. I am a hybrid of an Incubus and a human; although I study humans, I don't truly understand human emotions. An Incubus, when it comes down to it, is merely 'someone's dream'."
"However, even a being like me can possess joy. I am the only one who can possess 'my own purpose'."
Hearing this, Gudako tilted her head. "And that is...?"
"It is, of course, a happy ending for you humans."
Merlin laughed. "I want to see the 'dream' that humanity makes at the very end, as they face their final doomsday. Humans are foolish, and creatures filled with flaws, but the history you draw is incredibly beautiful."
As he spoke, Merlin looked up at the beautiful starry sky, dotted with countless specks of light. "No matter what the final ending may be, it is a thing of value worthy of remaining in this universe."
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After arriving at the front lines, the group was exhausted from their travels and went to rest. Shirou, however, noticed that Ana had not returned to her room, so he followed her trail and joined her atop the city wall.
"Good evening." Seeing the girl sitting on the edge of the wall with her long purple hair draped down her back, Shirou greeted her. "Still not resting?"
"I couldn't sleep, so I'm resting here. What about you? Shouldn't you be asleep?" Ana asked.
"I don't actually need to sleep," Shirou smiled. "For me, sleeping is more like a pastime. And sometimes, I have interesting dreams while sleeping. Though I don't know where they come from, they are quite useful."
Shirou turned his right hand over and produced a wreath. "This is for you, from that elderly woman. She said you would surely become the most beautiful girl in the city one day."
Ana's eyes flickered, revealing a joyful smile. "This is from the flower shop grandmother..."
She reached out to take it, gazing at the wreath in a trance.
"That grandmother, in her home without sunlight, always watched over those withered flowers. She told me so many things. Even though she was already blind, she was still so calm, and she even invited me to eat butter cake with her... she kept saying how delicious it was, even though she couldn't taste anything anymore..."
"I think it must have been because it really was very delicious."
Hearing Shirou's words, Ana lowered her eyes and spoke in a low, heavy voice.
"I hate humans, but they are still so warm. The city of Uruk was once my dream. To be treated gently by humans, to treat others gently—I've always wanted that. In the past, I thought, 'wouldn't it be nice if I could be like that?'... I think you already understand my situation, don't you?"
Saying this, Ana tilted her face slightly to look into Shirou's pale-gold eyes.
"Yes, I know. You are Medusa," Shirou nodded.
Ana's Saint Graph was the same as Rider's, but she had manifested in an 'idolatrous' form similar to a young girl or child, similar to Gorgon's two older sisters, thus lacking the 'mature' and beautiful form of the Medusa everyone knew. Ana in this state had a different mindset than the Medusa of the Rider era; even though she claimed to 'hate humans,' it was more a reflection of her shyness and not knowing how to face them.
"This is a dream that the grown-up version of me, with a mature mind, can no longer recall. I really shouldn't accept this."
Saying this, tears welled up in Ana's eyes, and she handed the wreath back to Shirou.
"Because that grandmother's grandson was killed by Demonic Beasts at the North Wall... once dawn breaks, we will set out to subjugate Gorgon. I came here for that purpose. But through this journey, my reasons have changed slightly."
Ana stood up on the wall, gazing at the distant sunrise. "The old me fought for herself; the current me fights for the people of Uruk."
"But if you do that, you will..." Shirou looked at the young girl.
Ana smiled and shook her head. "That is my mission."
Shirou suddenly spoke up: "The thing I loathe most is destiny."
As he spoke, he reached out and placed his hands on the girl's shoulders.
"Ana."
"Eh? W-what is it...?" Being stared at this way made Ana feel inexplicably nervous; she couldn't help but swallow.
"I assume you already know your future destiny, don't you?" Shirou asked.
"Yes..." Hearing this, Ana lowered her eyes, her expression filled with sorrow. "Ever since I came to this world, I have been telling myself over and over: I cannot live on, I cannot stay here, I cannot smile. But... I really want to live. I really want to stay here, and I really want to smile, but..."
"Then, have you ever thought about growing in a completely different direction?" Shirou asked.
"Things like that..." Ana was silent for a few seconds. "After defeating Gorgon, I will also..."
"No, there is still a way. It just requires you to make a small sacrifice."
As Shirou said this, he leaned down toward the girl, whose violet eyes were gradually widening.
"Mm... mm...!?"
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The Blood Temple sat in the southeast of the Mesopotamian plain. Now, because the Absolute Demonic Front was besieged by Demonic Beasts, the entire road was crawling with beasts and pterosaurs; for an ordinary person, reaching it was impossible.
ROAR—!!!
As the moment for the Demonic Beasts' siege arrived, the soldiers opened the city gates and swarmed out.
Quetzalcoatl charged at the very front, wielding her serrated greatsword.
"Jaguar Man!"
"Here!"
Hearing the call, Jaguar Man whistled, and the pterosaurs soaring in the sky carried a massive stone axe, delivering it to Quetzalcoatl. Then, after the pterosaurs released it, the stone axe plummeted from the sky like a meteorite.
Quetzalcoatl raised her hands to catch it, causing the earth to tremble upon impact. She gripped the handle with both hands, spun around, and flung it out with a sudden, violent motion.
The sheer force behind this throw was enough to send the stone axe toward the Blood Temple. It soared through the air, rotating over a distance of 30,000 meters, before slamming into the Blood Temple.
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