Chapter Fifty-Five: Farewell-The Roaming Homebody(Just a lolicon.)

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“Ali—never seen such a ceiling before? Nonsense…” Lancer was about to make a sarcastic remark upon awakening when his head was struck heavily. “Ugh—so painful.”

“Lancer! Thank goodness you’re alright, truly thank goodness.” Toria, wholly unlike her usual regal self, was sprawled across Lancer’s body.

“Toria?” Lancer’s mind struggled to comprehend the situation. Though he knew Toria could not possibly feel nothing for him, she had never, at least in his presence, revealed any overt affection. This unexpected display left him utterly bewildered.

Gil watched the girl lying atop Lancer with envy, yet remained silent. Toria’s actions could be explained away as a king’s concern for her vassal; but for Gil, there was no such justification. Not that the Hero King ever needed a reason, but in this moment, she was unexpectedly at a loss as to how to proceed.

“My king…” Lancer surveyed the burnt surroundings and understood what had transpired. “I’m unharmed—and, I fulfilled my duty.” Though the church was destroyed, nothing else seemed amiss. He knew Renhua must have resolved everything.

“Mm…” She was no longer the sovereign burdened with the fate of a nation, but merely a young girl, choking back sobs.

“Right, how is Alice?” Only then did Lancer recall Alice’s situation. According to the timeline, there should be no issue, but it was better to ask.

“Alice is fine. Master took her to check the ruined areas for any injured people.” Having recovered from the joy of Lancer’s awakening, Toria realized her own behavior was embarrassingly bold. Yet, determined to declare her claim before Gil, she refused to back down.

“I see, that’s good.” Lancer mused that, since he or Renhua had resolved the fourth Holy Grail issue, the earth wolf likely wouldn’t appear again. While Lancer didn’t dislike the earth wolf as a person—he was simply too much of a good-natured fellow—he would never admit to any fears about losing to the bulldozer in a contest for affection.

“How long was I unconscious?” Lancer finally asked.

“Not long, just as those things vanished, you woke up.” Toria didn’t care much for other details, but pressed again: “Are you really okay? Those things… they were truly… Are you sure there’s no problem?” The abomination had left her with only disgust and negative feelings; she couldn’t find the words.

“It’s fine. This concerns my origins. Although my superior didn’t forbid me from speaking, I heard she’s already made an agreement with the Counter Force: as long as the remaining residue is retrieved next Holy Grail War, you can leave.” Lancer was jubilant at this point, surprised that Renhua entrusted such a thing to him, but he had no intention of questioning the boon now in his hands.

“Really? I can leave this world? That means the responsibility bestowed upon me will no longer bind me?” After hearing Lancer’s words and witnessing the Emperor and Gil herself, Toria no longer agonized over her past mistakes. To leave this place of sorrow with Lancer was, for her, truly good news.

Gil watched Toria, utterly stripped of her royal demeanor, and found herself unable to utter the scornful words she had prepared.

“Lancer…” Though she had just exchanged blows with Toria, Gil now found herself unable to summon a reason for conflict.

“Hero King, do you recall that man?” Now restored, Kirei walked over to Gil’s side.

“That man? Heh, that mongrel?” She recalled the Conqueror King declaring the Grail was not his, and how only that which was not his to conquer brought him joy.

“Hahaha, why am I so concerned about these things?” Lancer and Toria watched Gil laugh maniacally in the newborn sunlight.

“Lancer, remember this—you are my queen. Next time, I will defeat that fellow and have you all to myself.” The Hero King vanished into the morning light, not giving Lancer a chance to respond.

“Ah, who knows if this is a blessing or a curse.” Lancer said helplessly.

“What nonsense are you saying?” Hearing Lancer’s slightly delighted words, Toria struck him hard in the waist.

“Is this a talent skill?” That was Lancer’s only thought.

Lancer felt pain mixed with joy. He knew that when the sun rose, it would be time to depart. Words now seemed insufficient, and he could only…

While Toria continued venting her frustration on Lancer’s waist, she suddenly found him sitting up and embracing her. Never having experienced such a thing before, Toria was instantly stiff with shock. Then she felt Lancer caress her hair and speak.

“My king, last time I left in haste, but this time I must tell you…” Just as Lancer released Toria, gripping her shoulders to confess—

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“Hey, Berserker, you’re still here? Wonderful!” Kariya’s voice rang out from the bottom of the slope. When he ascended, smiling from ear to ear, he found Toria’s face flushed with embarrassment and Lancer scowling at him.

“Uh, well…” Thanks to a certain success, Kariya was no longer angry or deranged, radiating a much brighter aura. Yet, facing Lancer’s glare, he still felt some pressure.

The awkwardness was short-lived, interrupted as a woman appeared with two children.

“Kariya, why are you walking so fast?” She complained at once, but her smiling face betrayed her excellent mood.

“Kariya, are you here to show off? Want to try the vengeance of a bachelor nearly a thousand years old?” Lancer rose from the ground. Kariya feigned terror, but his joy was genuine—this Holy Grail War had fulfilled his dearest wish.

“Ha, Kariya, this must be the Lancer you spoke of. Hello, I am… Aoi Matou, Kariya’s wife.” The beautiful woman blushed slightly.

“Hmph, madam, remember to keep Kariya in line. He’s always boasting to me about his travels, you know what I mean.” Lancer gave a cold snort at Kariya, then delivered a biting remark. Kariya watched as Lancer grinned mischievously out of Aoi’s sight, and could only sigh.

“All right, enough banter. Speak, Kariya—what is it? Toria and I are about to leave.” Lancer knew that after learning the Grail’s secret days ago, he’d asked Kariya to take Sakura away. There was no way he’d return last minute without reason.

“Well…” Kariya hesitated.

But at last, he steeled himself. “Lancer, the Matou clan is no more, and I wish for Aoi and me to receive your blessing at our wedding, so…”

Understanding his intent, Lancer wasted no time and produced a Bible.

“Kariya, do you take Aoi as your wife, to live with her according to the teachings of the Bible, to become one before God, to love her, comfort her, respect her, protect her, as you love yourself? Whether in sickness or health, wealth or poverty, will you remain faithful to her until you depart this world?” Lancer, utterly serious now, fixed his gaze on Kariya.

Kariya straightened his attire and looked at Aoi. “Yes, I do.”

“Aoi, do you take Kariya as your husband, to live with him according to the teachings of the Bible, to become one before God, to love him, comfort him, respect him, protect him, as you love yourself? Whether in sickness or health, wealth or poverty, will you remain faithful to him until you depart this world?” Aoi, after her initial shock, burst into tears. It wasn’t her first time, but the last was for the sake of her family. This time, she could finally be with the one she truly loved, who loved her in return. After a while, she smiled through her tears and said, “I do.”

Lancer, seizing the moment, took two golden rings he had requested from Renhua and handed them to Rin and Sakura, who stood nearby.

“Now, exchange rings as tokens of your marriage.” He signaled Sakura and Rin to give the rings to the couple.

Lancer continued, “The rings are gold, signifying that you will give your most precious love as the greatest gift to one another.”

“Gold never rusts, never fades, symbolizing love everlasting. Their roundness means no reservations, a circle without beginning or end, never to be broken.” Lancer spoke as if he were a true priest.

He then turned to Kariya, “Kariya, please repeat after me:

This is my token of marriage to you. I will marry you, love you, protect you. Whether in poverty or wealth, whether circumstances are good or bad, whether in sickness or health, I will always be your faithful husband.”

Kariya repeated, “This is my token of marriage to you. I will marry you, love you, protect you. Whether in poverty or wealth, whether circumstances are good or bad, whether in sickness or health, I will always be your faithful husband.” Hearing his words, Aoi’s tears flowed even more.

Lancer looked at this couple—second only to Lancer and Sola in romance during the Grail War—and silently wished them well, but did not forget his duty. “Aoi, please repeat after me:

Aoi dried her tears and solemnly repeated, “This is my token of marriage to you. I will marry you, love you, protect you. Whether in poverty or wealth, whether circumstances are good or bad, whether in sickness or health, I will always be your faithful wife.”

After speaking, she threw herself into Kariya’s embrace.

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Lancer’s tone grew lighter, “Now, both of you, please repeat after me:

Where you go, I will go. Where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.” Though he knew neither had faith, Lancer chose to end with the traditional blessing.

“Where you go, I will go. Where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.” Having spoken, the couple kissed, ignoring those around them.

“By the authority given to us through the Holy Scriptures, I declare you husband and wife. What God has joined, let no one separate!” Lancer began to clap, and applause soon echoed around.

First, Toria standing beside Lancer, then the Emiya couple walking over with a child, then Sola appeared from who knew where, followed by Weber.

“Bang! Bang!” With the sound of fireworks, countless lily petals fell in the morning light.

Lancer noticed Rin, standing at the back with a pouting expression. Since Lancer had given precious gems to Alice and Kiritsugu, they had lost their magical abilities. Kariya was still present, Sola’s expression clearly thinking of Lancer, and Weber didn’t possess such delicate magic. The only possibility was Rin, the prodigy. Though her mood was dampened by her father’s death, seeing her mother happy and Kariya doting on her, she couldn’t help but bestow her blessing.

“All right, Kariya, we’re about to leave. This is my blessing for you.” Lancer was in excellent spirits—compared to previous experiences, this was a perfect ending.

“Thank you.” Both replied together.

As the sun rose, Lancer and Toria’s bodies began to slowly fade. But this time, there were no regrets. Lancer simply held Toria’s hand, saying nothing more.

Suddenly, Sakura ran over.

“Big brother!” In the astonished gazes of everyone, she leapt using scattered debris and clung to Lancer’s neck.

“We’ll meet again, right?”

“Yes.”

“Promise?”

“Yes, I promise.”

“Then…” To Toria’s astonished eyes, Sakura kissed Lancer’s cheek.

“Big brother, this will be the relic for your next summoning.” She then snatched the mask hanging from Lancer’s face.

Lancer was about to speak, but as time passed, he gradually faded away. What astonished him was that the mask did not vanish, but remained in Sakura’s hand.

Good morning to all—or good evening. We’ve known each other for some time now. Whether or not you’ve left a review, seeing the weekly increase in clicks always cheers me up. This part ends here, and those who wait for updates probably know I’m a one-chapter-a-day author. It’s not that I don’t want to write more, just that my ability is limited.

I wrote a bit extra this time, because Fate is one of my favorite anime series—long live the Emperor! If today’s review section gets some advice, critiques, or a bump in favorites, maybe I’ll post two chapters today!

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