Chapter 101. The Heroic Philosophy of the One Named "Argo"
There was only one day's journey left to the legendary "Great Hole."
The sky bore an ominous dark purple hue, as if a canvas had been stained by overturned grape juice. This was the area where magic was at its densest and most chaotic since the Age of Myth—the [Chaos Wastes]. Here, the laws of physics occasionally went on strike; gravity sometimes pulled sideways, and even the flow of time could experience stutters akin to network lag.
In such a land where even the gods would shake their heads, the "Argo," a covered wagon now looking somewhat tattered, still crawled forward tenaciously.
"I can't go on... I really can't... I feel my soul drifting out of my mouth..." Argo hung over the window like a puddle of mud, twitching rhythmically with the jolts of the vehicle. His face was pale, his eyes lifeless, and he muttered to himself. "Why is the road here more intense than a roller coaster... Did that rock just grow legs? I saw it smile at me! It definitely smiled at me!"
"Shut up. If you're motion sick, just lie down quietly." Olna (the Amazon) sat cross-legged opposite him, holding a massive whetstone, performing maintenance on the [Golden Eater] battle axe. Though the carriage swayed violently, her hand remained as steady as a rock. "If you dare puke in this wagon again, I'll stuff you into that bag full of Man-Eater plant seeds."
"Olna, you're so cold! And here I thought we were comrades who watched each other's 'dark history' just yesterday!" Argo protested with grief and indignation, trying to awaken a sliver of sympathy.
"Don't mention that!" Olna's movements stiffened, and a burst of sparks flew from the axe blade—a physical manifestation of her killing intent. "If anyone dares mention the words 'Pink Lace Dress' again, I'll cleave them!"
"Waaah! Sorry! I have amnesia! I don't remember a thing!" Argo instantly adopted a head-clutching defensive crouch, a move so practiced it was pitiable.
Shirou Emiya, sitting in the driver's seat, sighed helplessly and tightened the reins (which were actually magical threads).
Ever since the "Echo Canyon" incident yesterday, the atmosphere in the team had become very subtle. Yuris (the Werewolf) had kept himself wrapped in his cloak, refusing to let his big fluffy tail show for fear someone would associate it with the image of him wagging his tail at a mirror in the illusion.
Almiria (the Dancer) stared at Yuris's back with a lecherous expression, letting out eerie "hehehe" giggles from time to time, clearly not having recovered from the shock of that "gap moe."
As for Fianna (the Knight Commander)... whenever she saw Shirou take out crackers now, her face would turn red as a tomato and she'd turn her head away in a tsundere huff, though her hands were faster than anyone's when it came to grabbing the crackers.
"Is this team... really okay?" Shirou asked himself for the 101st time. If this were an RPG, this would definitely be the kind of gag party where everyone has SSR stats but gets wiped out by "uncontrollable forces" due to personality flaws.
"Situation ahead," Wishe (the Half-Elf), who was in charge of scouting, suddenly poked her head down from the roof. "Strong magical reaction. And... that shape looks a bit familiar."
"Familiar?" Shirou pulled the reins, bringing the two Dire Wolves to a halt. He activated [Clairvoyance: Eagle] and looked ahead.
Squatting on the only path through the wasteland was a massive creature. It had the body of a lion, the wings of an eagle, and... a giant human face. That face didn't carry the majesty of legend; instead, it wore—how should one put it—the bored expression of a roadside fortune teller who hadn't had a customer all day.
"A Sphinx?" Shirou raised an eyebrow. This classic gatekeeper monster actually existed? And in this era?
"It looks like... it's waiting for us." Princess Ariadne leaned in, golden eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Legend says the Sphinx poses riddles to passersby. If you can't answer, you get eaten."
"Eaten?!" Argo, who had been playing dead, instantly resurrected and dove behind Olna. "Then let's take a detour! I hate riddles most! My IQ is only enough to figure out how to run away!"
"There is no detour." Wishe jumped down from the roof, smoothing her wind-blown silver hair. "The space in this area is locked. Unless we defeat it or pass its trial, we'll just keep going in circles."
"Then we fight through!" Yuris drew the short swords at his waist, his face full of malice. "I happened to be looking for something to vent on... after yesterday's humiliation of a public execution!"
"Wait, don't be impulsive." Shirou stopped the violent bunch. "Let's try communicating first. After all, we are civilized people (mostly)."
.
.
.
The group stepped off the wagon and stood before the massive Sphinx. Up close, they realized it was even larger than imagined; its claws alone were the size of millstones.
"Yo, finally here, living ones." The Sphinx yawned, its giant human face showing an extremely human-like, bored expression. "I've been waiting for three hundred years. There isn't even a ghost in this godforsaken place. The last batch to pass by was a pack of goblins—they smelled so bad I didn't have the heart to take a bite."
"You can talk?" Argo asked in surprise.
"No kidding. How else would I give the riddles?" The Sphinx rolled its eyes (if it had whites). "Alright, enough small talk. According to the rules, to pass through here, you must answer my riddles. Answer correctly, and I'll let you pass and give you a small gift; answer incorrectly..." It licked its lips, revealing a mouth full of sharp teeth. "I happen to be a bit hungry."
"Hmph, playing tricks." Olna shouldered her axe with disdain. "Bring it on! What I'm best at is... taking care of the one asking the questions!"
"Don't be in such a hurry, big lady." The Sphinx actually winked (an extremely terrifying sight). "This is just for a living. There are... hm, nine of you (counting the wolves). So, I have three riddles. You pass if you get two right. How's that? Fair, right?"
"Three riddles?" Shirou frowned. Usually, isn't it just one? Are even monsters using "sea of questions" tactics these days?
"Now, the first question." The Sphinx cleared its throat and assumed a serious expression. "Listen well. What walks on four legs in the morning, two legs at noon, and three legs in the evening?"
"..." Total silence.
"That's way too easy!" Argo couldn't help but roast it. "Is this a riddle for a three-year-old?! The answer is 'Man'! A baby crawls on four legs, an adult walks on two, and the elderly use a cane as a third leg! You have the nerve to bring out such a cliché riddle?"
"Answer... correct." Instead of being angry, the Sphinx showed a look of appreciation. "Not bad, not bad. It seems the quality of this year's examinees is decent. I thought young people these days only knew how to kill and didn't even understand the classics."
"Huh? That's it?" Everyone felt like they had thrown a heavy punch into a bale of cotton.
"Don't get happy too early; that was just the warm-up." The Sphinx wagged its tail, its expression turning cryptic. "The second question, listen well. What is something that you have, and others have too? But if you give it to others, you no longer have it; if you don't give it, others can still steal it; and once lost, it can never be found again?"
"This..." The group fell into deep thought. What kind of philosophical question was this? Money? Life? Virginity(?).
"Is it... Time?" Ariadne guessed softly.
"Incorrect." The Sphinx shook its head.
"Is it... food?" Olna patted her stomach.
"Also incorrect."
"I know! It's a wife!" Crozzo (the Blacksmith) suddenly shouted. "If you give your wife to someone else, you don't have one! If you don't give her, others can steal her! And once NTR'd, she's not coming back!"
"Pffft!" Shirou almost spat. Crozzo, what on earth have you been through? Why do you have such dangerous thoughts?
"Answer... incorrect." The Sphinx looked at him like he was an idiot. "The correct answer is—[A Secret]. If you tell a secret to others, you no longer have a secret. If you don't speak, others can still steal it through various means (like yesterday's Echo Canyon). And once exposed, that secret is no longer a secret."
"Ah! That's cheating!" Argo jumped up and down. "Who could guess a brain teaser like that! And you were definitely throwing shade at us just now, weren't you? Definitely shading what happened to us in Echo Canyon!"
"Hehe, one wrong answer." The Sphinx gave a sinister smile, its claws scratching the ground with a screeching sound. "It's one-to-one now. If you get the next one wrong... prepare to become my lunch."
The atmosphere instantly turned tense. Everyone gripped their weapons. Although it was a riddle game, they were all ready to start a fight at a moment's notice.
"The final question." The Sphinx stared at Shirou Emiya standing at the front, its eyes seemingly able to peer through his soul. "This question is specifically for you, Red-Haired One from another world."
Shirou froze. It could tell?
"The question is..." The Sphinx's voice became low and solemn. "In this world, what is the sharpest sword?"
"A sword?" Everyone looked at Shirou. This was practically a free point! This guy was a blacksmith who could hand-craft divine artifacts!
"Is it... the Sword of Promised Victory?" Argo whispered a hint. "No, it should be that Ea sword that can cut through space, right?" Wishe analyzed. "Or maybe our Amazonian battle axe?" Olna added with blind confidence.
Shirou was silent. He looked down at his own white-gold right hand. The sharpest sword... was it EA? Was it Excalibur? Or was it the Tsumukari Muramasa he had just forged? Physically and conceptually, it was indeed those divine artifacts. But... looking into the Sphinx's eyes, filled with wisdom and the weariness of ages, Shirou knew the answer was definitely not a specific weapon.
"What's wrong? Can't answer?" the Sphinx urged, saliva practically dripping from the corner of its mouth. "If you can't answer, I'm digging in!"
"The sharpest sword..." Shirou looked up, his gaze becoming clear and resolute. He didn't draw any weapon; instead, he extended a finger and pointed to his own—heart.
"It is [Conviction]," Shirou said calmly. "No matter what kind of divine artifact it is, if the user lacks the conviction to match it, it is merely a piece of scrap metal. Only a sword swung to protect what one wants to protect, to carry out one's own path, is the sharpest."
"Because it... can even cut through destiny."
"..." The Sphinx was stunned. It stared at Shirou for a long time, as if checking to see if he was just speaking pretty words. Finally, it suddenly burst into a fit of laughter. "Hahaha! Conviction? What a... cliché yet irrefutable answer!"
It withdrew its claws, lay back down on the ground, and returned to its lazy state. "Answer... correct. Although it's a bit cheesy, in the Age of Myth, this kind of answer is the standard."
"Phew..." Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. They passed.
"Alright, off you go." The Sphinx waved a claw, and the mist behind it cleared, revealing a path leading deep into the wastes. "The road ahead won't be easy. Near the Great Hole... a lot of filthy things have gathered."
"Thank you." Shirou bowed slightly to the Sphinx.
"Uh... what about the small gift?" Argo suddenly poked his head out, rubbing his hands expectantly. "You said there was a gift for passing!"
"Tsk, what a greedy brat." The Sphinx casually pulled out from its mane... a golden bell, and tossed it to Argo. "Take it. This is the [Bell of Awakening]. If you ever find yourselves lost in a phantom realm or a nightmare, ring it; it will help you find yourselves."
"Just this?" Argo shook the bell with some disappointment, making it jingle. "I thought it would be a divine artifact."
"Don't be ungrateful! This is a life-saving tool!" Wishe gave him a sharp knock on the head.
Bidding farewell to the Sphinx, the team continued forward. The closer they got to the "Great Hole," the more desolate the surroundings became. The ground turned into black scorched earth, and the sky was filled with dark clouds that would never dissipate.
Night fell. The wagon parked behind a massive rock to take shelter from the wind.
"I'll take the night watch tonight," Shirou said. He skillfully set up a campfire and began preparing dinner. Despite the harsh environment, one still had to eat. Tonight's menu was [Special Shirou-Style Creamy Mushroom Chicken Stew]. The rich milky aroma and the savoriness of the mushrooms barely managed to dispel the oppressive atmosphere.
After eating, everyone went to bed early. Only Argo sat by the campfire, dazed, holding the Lightning Wood Sword.
"What's wrong? Still thinking about the bell?" Shirou walked over and handed him a cup of hot tea.
"No." Argo shook his head. He looked up at Shirou, the firelight reflecting on his face—which, though cleaned of makeup, still looked somewhat comical. "Emiya-bro... that answer you gave. Conviction... is the sharpest sword."
"Yeah."
Argo lowered his head, his voice trembling slightly. "I don't have that kind of thing. I don't have a grand wish to save the world, nor the resolve to cut through destiny."
"I just... want to be famous. I want to be praised by everyone. I want to become... that kind of shining hero. Is someone like me... forever unable to possess the 'sharpest sword'?"
Shirou looked at the clown before him, lost in self-doubt. He thought of Bell Cranel in a future story, who was willing to stand up even for a stranger. That boy's soul was so similar to the Argo before him.
"Argo," Shirou sat down beside him. "Why do you want to be famous?"
"So... I won't be looked down upon. To... prove that I can do it too."
"Then, when you see someone else in danger, what do you do?"
"Run, of course!" Argo said as if it were only natural. But under Shirou's gaze, his voice grew smaller. "But... if I don't save them... that person might die. If that happens... I won't be able to sleep."
"That's enough." Shirou smiled. He reached out and ruffled Argo's messy hair.
"'Not wanting to see others sad' is also a form of conviction. And it's a conviction gentler than any 'Great Cause'."
"Really?" Argo looked up, tears glistening in his eyes.
"Really." Shirou pointed to the wooden sword in Argo's hand. "Do you remember how you got this sword? It's because you dared to swing a sword at the Black King to save me. In that moment... the sword in your hand was sharper than any divine artifact."
"..." Argo was stunned. He looked at the wooden sword in his hand as if seeing it for the first time.
"So... even I can do it?"
"Of course." Shirou stood up and brushed the dust off his pants. "Don't think too much; go to sleep early. Tomorrow... we reach the end. When that time comes, we'll need you, the 'Captain,' to lead the charge."
"Leave it to me!" Argo jumped up, regaining his usual energy. He raised his wooden sword and struck a pose against the night sky. "I am Argo! The great hero of the future! A 'finish line' like that... I can charge through it in one breath!"
Watching that silhouette playing the fool under the moonlight, Shirou shook his head helplessly, but the smile in his eyes couldn't be hidden.
'This idiot... might truly be the brightest light in this era of despair.'
Meanwhile. Less than ten kilometers away. At the edge of the "Great Hole."
The mysterious figure in the black robe stood at the entrance to the abyss, holding that thick book. Behind him, countless black shadows were writhing, gathering into a terrifying army.
"Have you finally arrived... the variable from another world?" The mysterious person closed the book, revealing a pair of crimson eyes beneath the mask.
"The stage is set. The final trial... and the final despair."
"Let me see, Shirou Emiya. When your 'conviction' faces absolute 'nothingness'... can it still... cut through these chains of destiny?"
Rumble! From deep within the Great Hole came a dull, heavy sound like a heartbeat. The [Primordial Throb] that had slept for millennia... had awakened.
The final battle of the Age of Myth. It was about to explode.
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