Chapter 100. The Public Execution of the Dark History Corridor and the Mental Attack Known as "Social Death"
The Eastern Continent, a rocky wasteland about a hundred kilometers from the Oasis of the Gods.
The scorching sun hung high, and the air was so dry it felt like it could spark a fire. The "Argo" caravan, magically modified by Emiya Shirou, was like an untiring steel (actually wooden) beast, jolting forward across the rubble-strewn wilderness.
"I can't take it... I'm going to die... Is this the so-called 'retribution for eating too much'?"
Inside the carriage, Argo was sprawled on the floor like a dried salted fish, his stomach bulging like a leather ball. Last night had been his peak moment—as the "Crab-Slaying Hero," he had single-handedly finished off three entire lobsters and a bowl of crab roe rice. The result was that he now found it difficult even to roll over.
"Serves you right. Who told you to eat so much that you even wanted to crunch up the shells and swallow them?" Olna (Amazon) sat cross-legged nearby, sharpening her [Golden Eater] battle-axe with a whetstone. Although she had eaten even more than Argo last night, thanks to the Amazonian digestive system—which rivaled an incinerator—she was still full of energy and even felt like eating another cow.
"Big sis Olna... aren't you stuffed?" Argo raised his head with difficulty, his face full of envy and spite. "Is your stomach connected to another dimension?"
"Hmph, this is to stay in combat condition at all times." Olna blew the iron filings off the axe blade. "Besides, leaving leftovers of what Emiya makes is a crime. It's a sign of disrespect to the chef."
"Well said!" Emiya Shirou, who was driving at the front, gave a thumbs-up (left hand) without looking back. "However, Argo, you should get up and move around. According to the map, up ahead is 'Echo Canyon.' The terrain there is complex; if we're ambushed, you won't even be able to run in that state."
"Echo Canyon?" Wishe (Half-Elf) put down her magic book, her brow furrowing slightly. "I've heard of that place. Rumor has it that 'Echo Sprites' who love pranks live there. They mimic travelers' voices to lead them astray."
"Pranks? Ha! I am the ancestor of pranks!" Argo instantly perked up (though his stomach remained distended). "Back in the day in my village, I had the glorious record of making the auntie next door chase me for three streets! Mere sprites—watch how I toy with them!"
"I hope you don't end up crying for your mama later." Yuris (Werewolf) leaned against the window, coldly delivering a finishing blow. He was carefully combing the fur on his tail with a comb, his movements cautious as if it were some peerless treasure.
"Lord Yuris~ Your tail's fur is so nice~ Let me touch it for a bit~" Elmina (the Dancer) took the opportunity to lean in, her face full of infatuation.
"Get lost! Don't touch me! It'll shed!" Yuris's fur bristled.
Looking at this group of teammates who didn't forget to play the fool even while traveling, Emiya Shirou sighed helplessly. Although the atmosphere was joyful, the string in his heart remained tight. Ever since they left the oasis, that feeling of being watched had never disappeared. Moreover, the closer they got to the East, the more chaotic the magical energy in the air became. That feeling... was like walking into a massive, unstable thaumaturgical workshop.
"Everyone, sit tight." Shirou tightened the reins, looking at the mountain pass ahead that was gradually narrowing. "We're going in."
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Echo Canyon. As the name suggests, it was a place where you could hear an echo even if a needle dropped. On both sides were towering cliffs, the rocks appearing a haunting grayish-white, as if they were the skeletons of some gargantuan creatures. A thin white mist drifted within the canyon, and visibility was less than fifty meters.
After the caravan entered the canyon, the surrounding sounds suddenly became strange. The rolling of the wheels, the panting of the Dire Wolves, and even the breathing of the group echoed and overlapped constantly between the cliffs, eventually turning into a buzzing low-frequency noise.
"It's so noisy..." Helga (the Knight Order's Elf Mage) covered her ears, her expression pained. "The acoustic structure here is wrong... it's like there are countless mouths whispering in my ear."
"Hey—! Is anyone there—!" Argo suddenly shouted recklessly.
"Anyone there—there—ere—" The echo exploded instantly, surging back and forth in the canyon like sea waves, making everyone's eardrums ache.
"Idiot! What are you doing?!" Olna smashed a fist onto Argo's head. "Doing—doing—ing—" even the sound of the scolding was amplified.
"Quiet." Fianna (the Knight Commander) drew her spear, her expression solemn. "Something... is watching us."
"Hee hee hee..." Just then, a sharp burst of laughter suddenly rang in everyone's ears. This laughter didn't come from a specific direction; it rang directly inside everyone's minds.
"Hee hee hee—" "Hee hee hee—" "Hee hee hee—"
The echoes overlapped, as if thousands of invisible imps were mocking them simultaneously.
"Who is it?! Get out!" Crozzo raised the Hammer of Thor, looking around nervously.
"Welcome to... the Corridor of Truth..." An erratic voice rang out. "O hypocritical heroes... here, lies cannot pass..." "If you wish to go through... you must surrender... your 'Truth'."
"Truth? What kind of crap is that?" Argo clutched his head, trembling. "I-I don't have any truth! Everything about me is fake! Even my hair is dyed (it wasn't)!"
"Don't listen to its nonsense." Shirou calmly activated [Mind's Eye: True]. Though his vision was obstructed, he could perceive the flow of magical energy. "This is mental interference magic. The source of that voice... is in the mist."
"Trace—On." Shirou's left hand gripped thin air, and a short sword shaped like a tuning fork appeared in his hand. "Wishe (Half-Elf)! Prepare the 'Purifying Wind'! Olna! Prepare to cut someone!"
"Understood!"
Just as everyone prepared for battle, the voice rang out again. "Violence... cannot solve problems..." "Since you do not wish to surrender your Truth voluntarily... then I shall..."
Hum—!!!
A strange ripple of magical energy instantly swept through the area. It wasn't an attack, and there was no damage. However, everyone's body stiffened for a split second.
"What's happening? I can't move my body?" Lazar (Shield Guard) discovered in terror that his limbs seemed to no longer obey him.
"It's not a binding spell." Shirou frowned. "It's... Forced resonance?"
Just then, in the open space in front of the caravan, the white mist suddenly condensed, turning into several massive, mirror-like walls of fog. Within the fog walls, images of... the group emerged?
No, those weren't ordinary images. Those were—the scenes from the depths of everyone's hearts that they least wanted others to see.
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[Social Death Execution Stage · Act 1: The Werewolf's Secret]
On the fog wall, Yuris's figure appeared. But the him at this moment did not have his usual fierce and aloof demeanor. The Yuris in the image was hiding in a deserted corner, holding a small comb, looking intoxicated as he... combed his large, fluffy tail. Not only that, he even
struck several extremely cute poses toward the mirror (water surface). For example, a head tilt, sticking out his tongue, and even trying to bark like a dog: "Woof."
"Ah... this fur color is perfect... as expected of me..." The Yuris in the image talked to himself, his face overflowing with a perverted sort of happiness.
"......" In reality, the scene was deathly silent. Everyone's gaze slowly and stiffly moved toward the now-petrified werewolf youth.
"Th-That is..." Elmina covered her mouth, but a legendary glint exploded in her eyes. "Is that... Lord Yuris's... private life?!" "So cute! Too cute! I want to keep him as a pet!"
"WOOOOOOOO—!!!" Yuris let out a shrill scream, his entire being turning grayish-white. "That's an illusion! It's slander! It's fake! I would never do such a thing! I am a lone wolf! A lone wolf, do you understand?!"
"Hee hee hee... saying no with your mouth, but your body is very honest..." The voice rang out again, full of mockery. "This is your truth... 'the little dog who longs to be petted'."
"I'll kill you! I'm going to kill you, aahhh!" Yuris broke down, waving his claws and about to charge forward to fight to the death, only to be held back firmly by Elmina. "Calm down, Lord Yuris! I like you that way too!"
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[Social Death Execution Stage · Act 2: The Amazon's Maiden Heart]
Before everyone could recover from the werewolf's "gap moe," the second fog wall lit up. This time the protagonist was... Olna.
In the image, this berserker who usually only shouted "I'll kill you" was hiding under the covers. She was holding a needle and thread, and was... sewing a pink, lace-filled... dress? Moreover, as she sewed, she was humming a song. "La la la~ I'll wear this for Emiya~ he'll definitely praise me for being cute~ hehehe..." That expression was exactly like a maiden in love.
"......" Everyone fell silent again. Then, collectively, they turned their heads toward the Amazon warrior who was now holding her giant axe, face flushed red, and body trembling.
"Th-That's..." Olna's voice was shaking; the handle of the axe was about to be crushed. "That was for... for..."
"For what?" Shirou asked subconsciously.
"FOR CHOPPING YOU IN HALF, YOU BASTARD!!!" Olna, flew into a rage out of shame, swinging her axe at the fog wall. Boom! The fog wall scattered and then reformed. "It's useless... this is a projection of the heart... it cannot be cut..."
"Waaaah... I'll never be able to get married... I don't want to live anymore..." Olna squatted on the ground drawing circles, her combat power instantly dropping to zero.
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[Social Death Execution Stage · Act 3: The Clown's Diary]
Immediately after, the third wall appeared. This time it was Argo.
In the image, Argo was sprawled on a table writing a diary. The background audio was his emotiOlnal reading: "Month X, Day X, Sunny. Today I saved the world again (though it was just helping a neighbor find their cat). The girl at the bakery looked at me with eyes full of admiration (actually, she was looking at a fool). Ah! My cursed charm! Why am I so handsome and dashing? Future history books will surely record it like this: The great hero Argo, not only possessing supreme strength but also a handsome face that makes even the gods jealous..."
"Pfft." Wishe (Half-Elf) couldn't hold it back and burst out laughing. "Is this your... Heroic Tale?"
"AAAHHH! Stop it! Turn it off! That's private! It's private!" Argo rolled on the ground, trying to cover everyone's ears with his hands (though it was physically impossible). "Don't look! You'll get styes if you look!"
"Hee hee hee... the vain clown... this is your truth..."
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[Social Death Execution Stage · Act 4: Knight Commander 's Obsession]
The scene shifted, turning to Fianna (the Knight Commander). This usually cold and serious Pallum girl was currently hiding in a deserted tent. In her hand, she held a... small biscuit made by Emiya Shirou. She first carefully took a lick and then showed an extremely happy expression. Then, she talked to herself toward the biscuit: "So delicious... if it's made by that cook... it would be great if I could kidnap him back to the Knight Order to be my exclusive chef... by the way... if he could be my... that... it wouldn't be out of the question..."
"C-Commander?!" Lazar and Helga looked at their commander in terror. That swift and decisive commander... actually had such thoughts?!
"......" Fianna's face was now as black as the bottom of a pot. The spear in her hand trembled slightly, the tip pointing at the fog wall. "Slander. This is slander. I have absolutely never thought about kidnapping that red-head back to be a 'bandit's wife'... wait, I mean chef."
"To explain is to cover up, Commander," Shirou added from the side.
"Shut up! Do you want to die?!" Fianna glared over, oozing murderous intent.
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As one "dark history" after another was exposed, the morale of the entire team had plummeted to rock bottom. Or rather, the entire party had entered a "frenzied state after social death."
"Enough!" Emiya Shirou finally stood forward. While looking at others' dark histories was interesting, if it were his turn... it would be bad. He didn't want his "wanting to be an Ally of Justice" chuunibyou speeches to be made public.
"Who are you? Why are you blocking the road?" Shirou shouted at the mist.
"I am... the Watcher of Truth..." The voice became sharp. "Now... it is your turn... Being from Another World..." "Let me see... what filthy secrets... are hidden in your heart..."
The final fog wall lit up. Everyone held their breath. Even Yuris and Olna, who were on the verge of going berserk, stopped and looked curiously at the wall. This mysterious red-haired man... what kind of dark history did he have? Peeking at the women's bath? Or some indescribable fetish?
However. What appeared on the fog wall was not some funny or shameful scene.
It was a... sea of fire. A boundless, all-consuming fire of the Red Lotus. Amidst the ruins, a young boy (child Shirou) was crawling in despair. Corpses were everywhere. The smell of burning felt as if it were coming through the screen.
Then, the scene shifted. It was a red back, standing atop a hill of swords. Lonely, desolate, filled with endless regret and persistence. "This body... is made of swords."
Following that were the repeated deaths and rebirths he experienced in this world. The pain of the severed arm, the tearing of the soul, and that... suffocatingly heavy obsession to protect everyone.
"......" The voice that was previously giggling suddenly fell silent. The fog wall began to tremble violently. Not because the scene was too shameful, but because... that "truth" was too heavy. So heavy that even this sprite, who took pleasure in "peeking into hearts," felt a shiver.
"This... what is this..." The voice became terrified. "Why in your heart... is there only... swords?" "No desire... no happiness... only... an endless wilderness?"
"This isn't funny! This isn't funny at all!" "Monster! You are a monster!"
Boom! The fog wall actually shattered on its own because it couldn't withstand the weight of Shirou's heart.
"......" Shirou stood in place, expressionless. He glanced at his stunned teammates. "Sorry, did I scare you?"
"Emiya..." Ariadne (the Princess) covered her mouth, tears welling in her eyes. Although she didn't know what those images meant, she felt that bone-deep sadness. "Have you... been carrying these all along?"
"Brother Emiya..." Argo stopped fooling around too. He looked at Shirou and suddenly felt that his so-called "troubles" were like a child's joke in front of this man.
"Don't look at me with those eyes." Shirou smiled, though the smile was a bit forced. "Those are all things of the past. Right now... I'm living quite happily." He pointed at the meat stewing in the pot (though no one was eating it now). "At least, I have food to eat, and you guys are here."
"Waaaah... Emiya!" Olna suddenly rushed over and hugged Shirou (nearly strangling him). "Big sis will cover you from now on! If anyone dares bully you, I'll chop them to death!"
"Me too..." Yuris turned his head away and snorted. "Since I saw your secret, we're even. From now on... I'll reluctantly block a couple of blades for you too."
"Truly a... troublesome fellow." Fianna put away her spear, her gaze softening. "However... as a knight, I acknowledge your resolve."
Just then, deep in the mist, the voice rang out again. Only this time, the previous arrogance was gone, replaced by a hint of... sobbing?
"Waaaah... so scary..." "I don't want to play anymore... you guys just go..." "This human's head is full of knives... it's stabbing me to death..."
As the voice faded, the white mist around them receded rapidly. The fog walls blocking the road vanished without a trace. The exit of the canyon appeared ahead.
"We... cleared it?" Argo was stunned. "By winning through a pity contest?"
"I suppose that counts as a tactic," Shirou shrugged helplessly. "Though the process was a bit... stomach-aching."
"Regardless, the road is clear." Shirou jumped back into the driver's seat. "Everyone! Get on! We need to leave this cursed place before dark!"
"Yes!" This time, the response from the group was exceptiOlnally unified. After experiencing a "social death" and "soul shock," the bonds of this team seemed to have become even firmer.
"However..." Inside the carriage, Elmina suddenly poked Yuris. "Lord Yuris, that tail-wagging movement you did in the illusion... can you do it one more time?"
"GO TO HELL!!!" Yuris's roar echoed through the canyon.
"And big sis Olna," Lyra (if she were there) would definitely have said. "That pink dress... actually suited you quite well."
"Shut up! Forget it! That's an order!" Olna covered her face, wishing she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
Looking at this group of bickering companions, Emiya Shirou held the reins, a trace of a genuine smile appearing at the corners of his mouth.
Though the past was heavy, the future... didn't seem bad.
The caravan drove out of Echo Canyon. Ahead was a vast plain. And at the end of the horizon, a tower piercing the clouds (the prototype of the Ancient Babel) was already faintly visible.
"Finally... we're almost there," Shirou whispered. "Is that... the finish line?"
No. That was just a new starting point. The adventure of the Mythic Era was about to reach its most climactic chapter.
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