“Then, is there really no way to save everyone?”
Emiya Shirou asked.
He inherited Kiritsugu’s ideal, but he didn’t want to inherit the other person’s methods.
At least for now, he still firmly believed that there was some way to save everyone.
“Why do you think Emiya Kiritsugu failed?”
Surtr asked in return.
“This is way too sudden.”
He only found out today that Emiya Kiritsugu was a killer; how would he know why the other person failed?
“Could it be because he wasn’t strong enough?”
Tentative answers were a very normal thought process for a boy of this age.
“That is one aspect, but even the gods are not powerful enough to change the world by their own single strength.”
As they spoke, the two arrived at the entrance of a shop.
“However, I think the most main problem is still…”
Under Emiya Shirou’s weird gaze, Surtr strode into the shop, her voice drifting over leisurely.
“He is illiterate.”
fsn: Chapter 17 Hello, Big Sister
“I-Illiterate?”
Emiya Shirou, who had expected the other person to say some profound conclusion, was somewhat dumbfounded.
It was just like playing a game where you thought the opponent was going to unleash an ultimate move, only for them to pull out a pink bunny.
He turned his head to look at the name of the building ahead.
‘Fuyuki Municipal Library.’
“Calling him illiterate is indeed a bit excessive, but there should be nothing wrong with saying his knowledge level is not high.”
Releasing the pigeon, the two entered the library.
There was no help for it; pets were not allowed in the library.
Surtr walked in front, her gaze lingering on the bookshelves as she asked.
“As a current high school student, would you think that achieving world peace relies solely on yourself alone?”
“That’s impossible, right.”
It was something that required almost no thought.
Even though Emiya Shirou wanted to save everyone, he also knew this wasn’t something a single person could accomplish.
“Yeah, anyone who has taken a history class wouldn’t have this kind of thought.”
Surtr pulled a book from the bookshelf.
“Now, a question: what do you think you should do when you alone cannot accomplish this goal that is far too grand for you?”
“I would… go look for companions, I suppose.”
Hesitating for a moment, Emiya Shirou spoke up.
It was an overly obvious hint, but honestly, before the other party brought it up, he had never thought of it. This chapter was copied from g.com without permission.
Surtr wore an expression indicating that the child was teachable.
“Even superheroes have companions; a single person’s strength is limited, but when there are many people, things will be different.”
“Splitting hairs over something far beyond one’s own abilities is undoubtedly foolish; after a long period without positive feedback, there is a high probability of becoming a fanatic.”
Pointing out Emiya Kiritsugu here.
If he could even sing a line or two of “Unity is Strength”, he wouldn’t have become obsessed into that ghost-like state.
In the end, he only had Hisa Maiya by his side, and even treated her as a tool; if he could accomplish anything like that, one could only say his luck was better than Taiga’s.
Also longing to save the world, Surtr felt that the old worm was much more outstanding than him.
He had clear methods and like-minded companions; even if she ultimately failed, she would only feel it was a pity.
And Emiya Kiritsugu.
In her past life when watching the anime, she only felt that this guy really deserved to die.
“If you have inherited Emiya Kiritsugu’s ideals, then read more books; you aren’t the only one who wants to make this world a better place.”
Finding a few more books from the bookshelf, Surtr placed a stack of books into Emiya Shirou’s hands.
Basically, these were books suitable for an idealist like him, mostly the works of great figures, along with a few fairy tales to heal his twisted soul.
Some Surtr had read herself, and some she only knew the general contents of.
After all, in her past life she was an art student; being able to have read a few was already pretty good, she couldn’t ask for too much.
The selection of topics was quite directional, such as “The Power of Unity”, “Decisive Moments in History”, etc.
Unfortunately, she couldn’t find a certain book about uniting all forces that could be united.
But it was enough.
For someone like Emiya Shirou who viewed ideals as more important than himself, reading these would somewhat influence his subsequent actions; she just didn’t know if it would breed anything strange.
“So many.”
Feeling the weight in his hands, there were at least a dozen books here.
“Also, how do you know I inherited Kiritsugu’s ideals?”
Emiya Shirou was puzzled; it seemed he had never said that.
“…Isn’t this an obvious thing?”
Pausing for a second, Surtr belatedly realized that she had accidentally let it slip.
She should have just met him right now.
But thinking about it, it didn’t seem to matter anymore; what needed to be said had already been said.
“That sounds very suspicious.”
Emiya Shirou’s expression was weird, but he didn’t pursue the matter too much.
Regardless, the other party’s advice was genuine, making him realize some problems he had never thought of before.
Perhaps this was what they meant by “bystanders see clearly”?
He thought of a proverb from a certain mysterious country.
“Thank you for today, Miss Surtr.”
Emiya Shirou expressed his thanks; perhaps he needed a friend to discuss ideals with together.
In his mind, the figure of a certain seaweed-haired person involuntarily appeared, but he quickly banished it.
However, speaking of Shinji, Emiya Shirou always felt he had forgotten something.
It seemed.
It seemed the other party had asked him to help move today; last night his family’s underground gas pipeline leaked and caused a huge explosion, so it was no longer livable.
Glancing at the time, it had long passed the time they agreed upon.
“Sorry, Miss Surtr, I need to help a friend move today, so I’ll be leaving first.”
Simply explaining the reason, Emiya Shirou bid farewell to Surtr.
“But I will remember what you said today.”
“Mm, go ahead, go.”
Waving her hand, Surtr watched him leave; anyway, everything she could think of had already been said.
“However, moving at this time of day, could that person be Second Lord?”
Leaving the library, Surtr muttered to herself.
It felt eight or nine times out of ten that he was.
The Second Lord of this world hadn’t committed many sins, yet inexplicably lost his home, which was quite unlucky; however, Surtr didn’t feel any guilt at all.
‘By the way, when can I know the mission result?
Surely I won’t have to wait a few years, right?’
Surtr asked in her heart.
[If the host travels through worlds, the mission will be automatically settled.]
‘Mm, that’s good.’
In ten days or so she would be able to see the result; hopefully today’s words could play some role.
But indeed, this kind of ambiguous mission was the most tiring.
She wasn’t someone good with words; just these words alone consumed a huge amount of her brain cells.
If possible, she still hoped it could be simple and direct.
Thinking this, Surtr walked on the street and looked up at the sky.
The sun had already sunk to the edge of the horizon; next, she would go to the church and then head back.
If Kirei Kotomine was still alive, she would have him sent off.
He was a scumbag who used children’s lives as consumables, so she could just farm some Primogems and let him play his final value.
But if the other party was already dead, honestly that would be a bit troublesome.
Bazett plus Lancer, this was a combination like cheating; who could handle two causality reversals?
Making the worst plans, Surtr walked down the deserted street.
Her gaze swept across the middle of the road, wanting to hitch a ride.
The church was far away on the other side of the Fuyuki Bridge, and taking a taxi there would obviously save a lot of time.
But before that, a white-haired figure first caught her attention.
“Hello, Big Sister.”
The figure stepped forward, elegantly lifting the hem of her skirt and greeting Surtr with an angel-like smile.
“My name is Illyasviel von Einzbern.”