Chapter 90. The Wind Princess's True Identity and the Awakening of the "Clown" Hero
The Royal Capital Plaza, the heart of the chaos.
When that golden sword qi swept across the field, forcing back the invincible Minotaur, the entire world seemed to hit a pause button.
"Ais...?" Shirou Emiya lay on the ground, staring at the back of the figure standing before him. The same golden hair, the same silhouette—even that aloof yet slightly airheaded aura was identical. If there were a difference, it was that this girl's "divinity" was heavier, and... the part that could be called "a person's heart" (the chest) seemed to be slightly... more magnificent than Ais's? (Shirou swore he wasn't peeking at such a life-and-death moment; it was purely the automatic measurement of his [Mind's Eye]).
"Emiya." The girl turned her head. It was a face exactly like Ais's, yet with a touch more softness and maternal warmth. "Get up. That big guy... is about to go berserk." Her tone wasn't short and stiff like Ais's, but carried a rhythm like wind chimes.
ROAR—!!!
As expected, the repelled Minotaur was uninjured. It only felt the fury of being provoked by an ant. Its crimson eyes locked onto Aria, two streams of scorching white steam snorting from its nostrils. It raised the giant rock (the one it hadn't thrown yet) and charged like a siege ram.
"Watch out!" Olna lunged from the side, her giant axe hacking fiercely at the Minotaur's leg. Clang! Sparks flew. "So hard! Is this guy's skin made of Orichalcum?!" Olna's hands went numb from the recoil.
"Move! Don't get bogged down in a fight!" Wishe shouted as countless wind blades sliced through the black-armored knights attempting to surround them.
"Argo! The carriage!" Shirou endured the searing pain in his body and yelled at the dazed clown.
"Huh? Ah! The carriage!" Argo snapped out of it. He looked at the nearby luxury carriage originally meant to transport the sacrifice (Aria). Though the horses had bolted in terror, the frame was still there.
"How are we supposed to run without horses?!" Argo screamed in a panic.
"Who said we need horses?!" Shirou struggled to his feet and rushed to the carriage. Trace — On! He pressed his hand against the shafts. Though his mana was depleted, he could manage to slightly alter the structure with [Reinforcement Magecraft].
"Olna! Crozzo! You pull the carriage!" Shirou shouted. "Think of this as your 'strength training'!"
"Ha?! You're using us as livestock?!" Olna grumbled, but her body was honest as she grabbed the shafts. Crozzo silently took up the other side.
"Get in!" Shirou shoved the still-reacting Aria onto the carriage and then tossed Argo in as well.
"Hold on tight! It's time for an old driver to speed!" Shirou jumped into the driver's seat (though there were no reins), connecting magic lines to the wheel bearings. Modification — Turbo!
Vroom! Despite being pulled by manpower, with the brute force of a Lv.5 Berserker (Olna) and a Lv.4 Magic Swordsman (Crozzo), combined with Shirou's magical lubrication, the carriage surged forward with the momentum of a Ferrari.
"You think you can run?! Pursuit!" King Eld roared, beside himself with rage.
ROAR! The Minotaur dropped the rock and dropped to all fours, chasing them like a heavy tank.
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The outskirts of the Capital, on the wilderness highway.
A chase titled Fast & Furious: Mythological Edition was underway.
"Faster! Faster! That bull-monster is catching up!" Argo lay at the back of the carriage, watching the massive dark shadow looming closer, snot and tears flowing from fear. "It opened its mouth! It's going to breathe fire!"
"Be quiet! You're too loud!" Aria (let's call her that for now) frowned. She stood up, her rapier waving gently. Ariel (Boundary of the Wind King). No, that wasn't the original Wind King's Barrier. It was something more primal, more pure—[The Wind of the Great Spirit].
Whoosh—! A massive current of air erupted from the back of the carriage, not only dispersing the Minotaur's flames but providing a reverse thrust for the vehicle.
"Waaaaah! We're flying!" With the wind's boost, the carriage leaped straight over a cliff.
"That works too?!" Shirou gripped the handrail, looking at the "Wind Princess" beside him. This absolute control over the wind element... she wasn't human. She was a—[Spirit]. And a high-ranking Great Spirit at that.
After landing, the carriage continued its mad dash, Wishelly losing the cumbersome Minotaur.
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A safe zone, inside a hidden cave.
After confirming the pursuers hadn't caught up, everyone collapsed onto the ground.
"Exhausted... I feel like my lungs are going to burst..." Olna lay on the ground without a shred of decorum, gasping for air. Pulling a carriage with three people for fifty kilometers—only an Amazon's constitution could endure that; anyone else would have dropped dead.
"Me too... mana overextended..." Crozzo leaned against the cave wall, face pale.
Only Aria maintained her elegance. She walked to Shirou, her golden eyes quietly observing him.
"Thank you for saving me," she said softly. "I am Aria. The Great Spirit of Wind."
"Aria..." Shirou looked at the familiar face. As expected. She was Ais's mother. The tragic princess who, in legend, was abducted by the Black Dragon, leading to the end of the Mythological Age.
"I am Shirou Emiya." Shirou extended his hand. Though he had many questions (like 'how is your daughter'—oh wait, she's not born yet), now clearly wasn't the time.
"Emiya..." Aria repeated the name, a smile playing on her lips. "A strange name. But... very warm. Just like... that fool who always secretly brings me flowers."
'Fool?' Shirou blinked. 'Is she referring to... Ais's father?'
"Alright, alright! Can we put this family reunion on hold?!" Argo suddenly squeezed in, looking displeased at the "tender gaze" between Shirou and Aria. "I'm the Leader here, okay! I deserve half the credit for rescuing the Princess... no, at least a third! Also, Your Highness!" Argo struck what he thought was a cool pose. "I am Argo! The future Great Hero! Though I'm just a clown now, my heart is gold!"
"Argo..." Aria looked at him. Then, she tilted her head. "So weak."
Pfft! An invisible arrow pierced Argo's knee. He knelt on the ground, turning into a grey-white stone statue. "Th-That's too blunt! Even if it's the truth, don't say it out loud!"
"Pffft." Wishe, standing nearby, couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Serves you right! That's what you get for trying to look cool!"
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Dinner time. Despite the meager conditions, Shirou used the remaining ingredients to make a pot of thick soup. Aria seemed curious about human food, taking a cautious sip before her eyes instantly lit up.
"Delicious!" She cradled the bowl, her eating speed noticeably increasing. "This feeling... it's like the wind dancing on the tip of my tongue."
Watching this, a sense of déjà vu surged in Shirou's heart.
'As expected, the 'foodie' trait is hereditary? Ais's obsession with fried potato puffs clearly has its roots right here!'
However, Argo seemed somewhat depressed. He held his bowl, sipping soup listlessly, his gaze occasionally drifting toward Shirou, who was chatting with Aria.
"What's wrong?" Wishe sat beside him, nudging him with her elbow. "Stung by the beautiful lady's words?"
"No." Argo shook his head. He looked at the wooden sword in his hand (the electrified one). "Wishe, tell me... what is a true hero really like? Like Brother Emiya—strong, calm, all-powerful? Or like Princess Aria—born noble with divine power?"
"What about me?" Argo laughed bitterly. "Besides running and bragging, what can I do? In today's fight... I couldn't even touch a single hair on that bull-monster. If it weren't for Brother Emiya and Olna, I'd be dead. Can someone like me... really become a hero?"
Wishe fell silent. She looked at her childhood friend. She knew that while Argo usually seemed heartless, he craved recognition more than anyone. That deep-seated inferiority was hidden beneath his farcical mask.
"Idiot." Wishe tapped his head gently. "Who says a hero has to be strong? In storybooks, those guys with all brawn and no brains are usually side characters. But the protagonist..." she pointed to Argo's chest. "They are often the most unremarkable fools who simply refuse to give up at the critical moment."
"Refuse to give up..." Argo murmured softly.
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Late night. Shirou was on watch at the cave entrance. Aria walked over and sat beside him.
"What are you thinking about?" Aria asked.
"Thinking about... the future." Shirou looked at the stars. "We rescued you; the Black King definitely won't let this go. And that Minotaur..." Shirou's gaze grew heavy. "That monster isn't dead. It feels more dangerous to me than Zard. It is... evolving."
"Evolving?"
"Yes." Shirou nodded. "It's learning. Learning our tactics, learning our fear. The next time we meet, it will be even stronger."
"Are you afraid?" Aria looked at Shirou's profile.
"I am." Shirou smiled. "I'm terrified of dying. But... if I don't act because I'm afraid, then nothing will ever change."
"Is that so..." Aria lowered her head, looking at her hands. "I'm afraid too. Afraid of being taken back. Afraid of becoming a sacrifice. Afraid of... never seeing that fool again (referring to her future husband)."
"Don't worry." Shirou reached out and patted her shoulder (Old Father mode fully engaged). "We will protect you. This is... a hero's promise."
"Hero..." Aria looked at Shirou. Suddenly, she leaned in closer, the scent of the wind accompanying her.
"You... are a bit like him. That fool who always said he'd become a hero, yet ended up battered and bruised every time."
"Him?" Shirou blinked. "Are you referring to... Albert (the strongest hero, Ais's father)?"
"Yes." Aria gave a gentle smile. "If you could meet him... you two would definitely be great friends."
"Probably." Shirou scratched his head. "If I can get back alive..."
Just then—BOOM! A massive tremor shattered the silence of the night. The ground shook violently, and dust fell from the cave ceiling.
"Enemy attack?!" Olna jumped up instantly, grabbing her axe.
"No..." Shirou rushed out of the cave and looked down the mountain. His pupils shrank.
It wasn't an army. It was... monsters.
Under the moonlight, the Minotaur that was originally three meters tall had ballooned to five meters. Its muscles had turned the color of black iron, and its horns burned with purple flames. Behind it followed an army of thousands of red-eyed beasts.
Crozzo's face was pale. "That lunatic Black King... he broke all the monster-controlling stones?! Does he want to level this entire area?!"
"Run!" Shirou roared. "We can't fight this many! We need to find a place that's easy to defend and hard to attack!"
"Run where?!" Argo was in a panic.
"There!" Wishe pointed toward a distant cliff. "That's the [Bridge of Sighs]! Once we cross and cut the ropes, we can block them!"
"Go!"
The group began a mad sprint. The monster army surged behind them like a tide. The earth trembled; trees were flattened. The shadow of death snapped at their heels.
"Faster! Faster!" Shirou carried Aria (princess style, for speed) as he leaped through the woods. His mana hadn't fully recovered; he could barely maintain [Reinforcement].
"We're here!" A suspension bridge appeared ahead, connecting two cliffs over a bottomless, raging torrent.
"Cross the bridge, quickly!" The group rushed onto the bridge.
However, just as they were about to reach the other side—
ROAR—!!!
The mutated Minotaur actually leaped straight from the cliffside! BOOM! It landed in the middle of the suspension bridge. Its massive weight caused the bridge to sway violently; the ropes groaned under the unbearable strain.
"It... it caught up!" Argo collapsed onto the bridge floor in terror.
"Dammit!" Shirou set Aria down. "Olna! Crozzo! Take them and go! I'll hold it off!"
"No!" Olna yelled. "You'll die alone!"
"Go!" Shirou projected his twin blades. "No time to argue!"
Olna bit her lip, grabbed Aria and Wishe, and ran. "Argo! Move!"
"I..." Argo looked at Shirou standing before the monster. That silhouette was so thin, yet it stood like a wall against all despair.
Is this... a hero? Argo's body was shaking. Not from fear, but from... rage. Rage at his own incompetence.
"I... I want to..."
ROAR! The Minotaur swung a massive fist at Shirou. Clang! Shirou barely parried, but his feet sank into the wooden planks. The power gap was too great!
"Die! Insect!" The monster uttered garbled human speech.
Just then, a bolt of lightning pierced the night. No—it was a ridiculous figure, holding a glowing wooden sword, charging forward.
"Let go of that cook!" Argo screamed, his voice cracking horribly. "Your opponent... is ME! Leader of the Argo Heroic Faction! The future Brave!"
"Argo?!" Shirou was stunned. "What are you doing back here?! Do you want to die?!"
"Shut up!" Argo rushed to the monster's feet. His legs shook, his hands shook, even his teeth were chattering. But he did not retreat.
"Trace (Imitation)—" Argo yelled, mimicking Shirou. Though he had no Magic Circuits, though he couldn't project, he had... the [Lightning-Struck Wooden Sword] Shirou had enchanted for him. And... a heart that wanted to be a hero.
"Thunder... STRIKE!!!"
With all his might, he stabbed the wooden sword into the gap of the Minotaur's toes (the only weak spot). Bzzzzt! Lightning erupted.
"Awoo!" Though the damage was low, the numbness caused the monster to stall.
"Now! Brother Emiya!" Argo yelled. "Do it!"
"You... idiot!" Shirou's lips curled upward. "Since you've gone this far... I can't drop the ball!"
Trace — On! The twin blades in his hands shattered. A massive, spiral-shaped sword appeared.
[Pseudo Caladbolg II]— Drill Mode!
"GET... LOST!!!"
Shirou leaped high and, using gravity, drove the spiral sword deep into the Minotaur's shoulder. BOOM! The rotating sword qi exploded, pushing the monster to the edge of the bridge.
ROAR! The monster lost its balance. It grabbed the railing, trying to crawl back.
"Not finished yet!" Argo pulled a bomb from somewhere (given by Lyra). This too... was the wisdom of a hero! He shoved the bomb into the monster's mouth.
"Goodbye, big guy!"
KABOOM! The bomb exploded in its maw. The Minotaur Wishelly lost its grip. With a roar of unwilling frustration, it plummeted into the abyss.
"Did we... win?" Argo collapsed on the bridge, watching the disappearing shadow. "I... I can fight too? I can... protect my comrades?"
"Nicely done." Shirou walked over and reached out a hand. "That strike... was very heroic."
"Hehe..." Argo took Shirou's hand, smiling like an idiot. "Of course! I am... Argo, after all!"
However.
Just as the two prepared to leave—
Snap! A crisp sound. The suspension bridge rope... snapped. The battle just now had completely destroyed the bridge's structure.
"Waaaaah!" The wooden planks beneath them collapsed instantly. Shirou and Argo fell together.
"Emiya! Argo!" The others on the opposite bank screamed in horror.
"Trace — Wire!" Shirou reacted instantly, shooting out a magic line that snagged a rock on the opposite cliff. "Grab me!" He snatched Argo's hand.
The two hung in mid-air above the bottomless abyss.
"Close one..." Argo looked down, his face pale. "Brother Emiya, whatever you do, don't let go!"
"Don't worry, my hand is—" Shirou was about to say it was steady, but he suddenly realized... his right hand... the dragon-bone prosthesis. In the battle just now, because of mana overload... it had cracked.
Crack. The fissures spread rapidly. His fingers... began to lose sensation.
Oh no... Shirou's heart went cold.
'I can't hold on.'
"Brother Emiya?" Argo felt Shirou's grip loosening. He looked up and saw Shirou's pained expression and the crumbling hand.
"Your hand..." Argo froze. "Did it become like this... to save me?"
"Don't talk! Hold on!" Shirou gritted his teeth, trying to use his left hand to grab him. But the distance wasn't enough.
"If you don't let go..." Argo looked at the shrieking magic line. "This line... can't support the weight of two people. If this continues... we'll both fall."
"Shut up! I can definitely—"
"No." Argo suddenly smiled. It was the most relieved, most handsome smile he had ever shown in his life.
"Brother Emiya. Thank you. You let me know... that even a clown can become a hero."
"You... what are you doing?!" Shirou's pupils shrank.
"My Heroic Tale... Chapter One is finished." Argo's fingers began to let go, one by one. "The rest of the story... I leave to you."
"Go save the Princess. Go become... a true hero."
"Don't do anything stupid! ARGO!!!" Shirou roared.
"Goodbye, partner."
Argo let go.
"NO!!!"
Shirou watched helplessly as that white figure plunged into the darkness. The clown who always bragged, always ran, yet chose sacrifice at the Wishel moment. Just like that... he vanished into the abyss.
"Argo..." Shirou hung from the cliff, tears streaming down his face.
"Why... why every time... does someone have to be sacrificed?"
"You bastard..." Shirou's right hand shattered completely, turning into dust. He used his left hand to grip the rock with all his might and climbed onto the cliff.
He knelt at the edge, staring into the bottomless canyon. The electrified wooden sword was still lying on the bridge fragment.
"I swear." Shirou gripped that wooden sword tight.
"Your story... isn't over. I will... along with your share... cut through this damn era completely!"
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