Shinji Matou At Your Service

Chapter 102: Scathach’s Path of Kingship

Gil de Rais went mad after the death of his beloved Jeanne d'Arc, whom he had poured all his emotions into. He lost his sanity.

He cursed the gods, studied black magecraft, and transformed into the "Bluebeard." He even sacrificed children to resurrect and save his holy maiden.

This madness persisted even after his death and ascension to the Throne of Heroes. Now, his unwavering devotion to his "holy maiden" has been rewarded, as she has been resurrected, although still blinded and deceived by the "gods." But he will not give up; he is determined to save his holy maiden.

Even in the face of opposition from the "dogs of the gods," Assassin, and the nuisance of Lancer, he never considered giving up.

If one attempt failed, he would try again.

If two attempts failed, he would try a third time.

One day, he would rescue his holy maiden, and they would live happily together.

Tonight, he embarked on his "rescue" mission once again.

The catalyst for his action was incidental surveillance. Since the last time when he was caught off guard and Assassin found his workshop and violently broke in, he frequently used the "Clairvoyance" magecraft to monitor the situation in the city, ensuring that no other Servants approached him without his knowledge.

At dusk, he used "Clairvoyance" as usual and accidentally caught sight of the carefree and unabashed Rider.

Watching Rider for a while, Caster was surprised to see Assassin and Rider collide, and soon Archer appeared as well. The three Servants strolled, chatted, and studied modern means of transportation like modern individuals.

Although Caster couldn't comprehend the behavior of the three, he knew that they wouldn't cause him trouble for the time being. Berserker and his Master were focused on eliminating the monsters he had left in the underground sewer, so he didn't need to worry.

As for the remaining Lancer, Caster had already figured out his true nature. Even if he were to cause trouble again, Caster wasn't afraid.

Just to be safe, he should prepare more "soldiers" and attack from a different direction than the day before yesterday.

Tonight, Gil de Rais would save the holy maiden, Jeanne d'Arc.

If Caster had waited for another half an hour, until the three Servants raced towards the Einzbern Forest, he would have abandoned this thought. Unfortunately, there are no "ifs."

...

"Me?"

Scathach looked up at the night sky as Rider called her name. Her eyes were not focused on any particular spot among the stars, but rather looked towards something more distant, as if trying to see beyond the boundaries of the world, outside the realm of reality. Even her low, magnetic voice seemed ethereal.

"Are you asking about kingship or wishes?" she asked.

"Kingship/Wishes!" Rider's voice almost overlapped with Saber's, the former being Rider and the latter being Saber. The different choices showcased their contrasting personalities.

Scathach glanced at Rider and then at Saber, letting out a light laugh.

"Let's start with Saber's question, after all, both she and I come from the Celtic lands."

"Before I explain kingship, there's something I need to clarify. My 'Realm of Shadows' is not like any human nation, and I don't govern the living but the dead. Is that acceptable?" she asked.

"Of course, if anything, it piques my curiosity even more." Rider raised her glass in a toast to Scathach, and Saber, though unable to possess a physical glass, showed the same gesture.

Scathach took a sip of her drink in response. "My concept of kingship is simple: 'Order' and 'Power.' 'Order' refers to the rules established by the heavens, the earth, the world, and the planets. 'Power' serves as a guarantee for 'Order' and the definition of things beyond 'Order.'"

"Life and death are separate, with the living not supposed to tread into the realm of the dead, and the dead unable to enter the realm of the living. That is the rule set by the world. The 'Realm of Shadows' once had a name, 'Tírnanóg,' which is also the origin of the term 'Fairyland.' One of my earliest responsibilities was to guide the souls of the fallen warriors and those who died in their journey to 'Tírnanóg.'"

"However, as you all know, in the age when myths had not yet faded, the boundary between life and death was not so clear-cut. Incidents occurred where the living disturbed the peace of the dead and the dead disrupted the lives of the living. Archer, you must have experienced going to the realm of the dead as well."

Archer responded with a grunt, confirming Scathach's assumption. Rider showed an expression of affirmation as if Scathach's information confirmed his thoughts. The only ones left puzzled were Saber, Irisviel, and Waver.

"Therefore, I use my power to separate the living and the dead. I capture or annihilate the dead who attempt to enter the realm of the living, and I expel or incorporate the living who step into the realm of the dead. Over time, the name 'Tírnanóg' was gradually replaced by the 'Realm of Shadows,' and I became the queen of the 'Realm of Shadows,' ruling over the dead with my power."

"However, for the brave souls who enter the realm of the dead with determination, considering it a challenge, I give them a chance. After all, during that time, the 'Fairyland' still belonged to the mortal realm, and those true heroes displayed the corresponding 'power.'"

"That is my 'kingship'—or rather, the title 'Gatekeeper' suits me better."

Scathach remained calm throughout, as serene as a still pond. She fully understood her duty and remained steadfast, unaffected by what others said.

"Such a dull and uninteresting experience," Archer, in an uncommon display of sighing, spoke with a tone that escaped mockery.

"Unwaveringly following their path, both you and Archer are exceptional kings."

"Thank you for everything you've done for order."

Rider and Saber both gave Scathach considerable praise, and Rider added another comment.

"What about your wish? Is it related to your 'kingship'?"

"No, it's unrelated," Scathach sighed. "Rider, fundamentally, my wish is the same as yours. You wish to live as a human in this world. As for me, I wish to die as a human."

The three kings were visibly shocked by this wish.

"As I mentioned before, I use my power to separate life and death, sealing the Realm of Shadows. This process is not without difficulties. Many living beings refuse to accept this outcome, driven by emotions or other motives, and they attempt to take away the souls of the dead. Similarly, many dead refuse to accept the fact that they have died and seek to return to the realm of the living. Among them are powerful beings such as gods, divine beasts, mythical creatures, demons, vengeful spirits, and more."

"I confront them, battle them, and kill them. My body, soaked in the blood of my enemies, has become eternal. I am neither living nor dead, neither a god nor a human. I do not age, and I have lost the concept of death."

"I can no longer die, whether it be a beautiful death or an ugly death... But I still remember clearly that I was born as a human, so I yearn to die as a human."

"If the Holy Grail is truly all-powerful, I hope it can bring someone capable of killing me."

Where is the one who can kill me?

Scathach sought the answer to this question for millennia.

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