Fate: I Will Eventually Become the Hero of Justice

Shirou withdrew, but was extremely puzzled why Karna went mad.

What exactly had happened with the Red Faction? He was curious, but now was not the time to investigate further.

Although they were on the same level, due to [Heroic Mortal], he still had the advantage against Karna. He could likely defeat Karna alone through a grinding battle of attrition, but taking on both Karna and Arjuna would mean certain defeat.

So for now, he chose to retreat cautiously. He did not want a fruitless war of attrition with Karna. Yet Karna's parting words left him confused. Why would Karna ask him to protect Kiara?

Moreover, why was Kiara here with the Red Faction hunting her?

Karna said to oppose the other...

The other what? who?

Shirou frowned.

That Karna, not even finishing what he wanted to say. Though conveying this much likely took considerable effort with his state. But just what happened to the Red Faction?

Mordred emerged from underground, noticing Shirou's furrowed brows. "Why were you fighting Red's Lancer, Assassin?" she asked.

"I should be asking why you followed me after I told you to wait in Trifas," He frowned, questioning her.

She shrugged. "With a battle that intense, it would be weird not to check it out."

He sighed. "You were hiding there to trail me from the start, weren't you?"

"That's right. So what? We've got an alliance but I'm not your slave. I've still got my own mind," she huffed.

He gazed at her for a long moment before saying gravely, "Mordred, to be honest, you're still a stranger to me in many ways. I know you have your own capacity, convictions, mature thoughts, and accomplished deeds. You're an adult, not some kid needing guidance. It's fine if you ignore me - I've no right to control you. I've only one demand: that you protect yourself well. That is enough."

Shirou looked at Mordred's face, so similar to Artoria's, wanting to reach out and pat her little head. But in the end he only squeezed her shoulder before leaving.

She stared after him, gritting her teeth in frustration. "What the! That guy's never even met me when I was alive. Now that I'm long dead he wants to lecture me? 'Protect yourself well?' Hmph. Even if I die again I'll just go back to wandering that ruined kingdom... Hmph, didn't even get a thanks. I shouldn't have lent a hand."

"Though...that state Lancer and Archer were in...were they being controlled by something? Command spells or..."

Holding the Grail, she gazed thoughtfully at its third eye before slowly burrowing underground again.

While pondering Karna's cryptic words, Shirou headed to the dilapidated encampment, still lively despite Atalanta's attack.

The crowd cheered as he returned. Adam and the others inquired after him briefly, but Shirou said he was fine, soon settling them down.

He stared at Kiara, who currently sat by the bonfire listening as a homunculus curiously explained his name's meaning to her.

Mash quietly settled next to Shirou. After some small talk, she said: "Mr. Fujimaru, I can now confirm Miss Kiara was transported to this world through a connection point."

"Transported to this world?" He turned to Mash.

"Yes," she nodded. "Miss Kiara should have originally lived in another world. But due to the connection point, she moved here instead. Chaldea defines these situations as 'Transition' events - though from their original world's view it would be as if they 'Vanished into thin air'. So they are also called 'Vanishing' incidents."

"Has this happened at Chaldea before?"

"It has!" she said. "But the probability is extremely low. Chaldea's records contain only one or two examples. So it's considered a special event."

Shirou nodded.

He was in no hurry to act against Kiara. Firstly due to the information Karna let slip, giving him pause. Secondly, this Kiara truly differed greatly from the Beast III he knew.

The proper Bodhisattva path sought to ferry all beings, while the inverted Bodhisattva path sought self-benefit. The Beast III state of Kiara was formed purely from selfish desire, so she was known as a Devil's Bodhisattva.

But the Kiara before him, voluptuous figure and all, had the mindset of a country girl seeing the wide world for the first time. There was an innocent purity to her.

Given this, he found it hard to make a move against her.

As the dark night faded, brighter daylight emerged as the red sun climbed the horizon.

Adam bid farewell to Shirou. Last night they had already discussed several plans to rescue Spartacus, preparing to implement them one by one. However, as they said, they wanted to stand on their own, so did not ask Shirou for aid.

Kiara wanted to join but Adam firmly refused: "It's too dangerous. I can't drag you into this. Please, don't come along."

Saddened but nodding in agreement, Kiara saw Adam's group off with Shirou and Mash.

Reluctance filled Kiara's eyes.

Mash asked: "Do you like them a lot, Miss Kiara?"

"Of course," she nodded happily, "It was fun being together. Just like facing a pure, limpid pool of water. Ah... This must be what the Bodhisattva meant by innocent Buddha Nature untainted by birth and death, free from both purity and defilement, neither increasing nor decreasing."

Kiara smiled joyfully.

Shirou had to agree. As Adam and homunculi were like newborns, white and pure as blank paper.

It was pleasant being with them since you didn't need to worry about schemes from them. Though also unpleasant as they were very curious about many things and asked endless questions.

Quick tempered people interacting with them would probably be driven to rage. After all, human interactions depended greatly on compatibility.

"But Mister Assassin also has this innocent Buddha Nature," Kiara beamed at him.

He quirked a brow. "Sorry, but I don't believe in such things."

Kiara pointed at his eyes, smiling brightly. "That has nothing to do with belief or doctrine. Your eyes are truly beautiful, Mister Assassin. The eyes reflect the soul, and of all I've met, yours are the loveliest." She paused, adding: "Though...I haven't met many people yet."

He felt somewhat bothered at the compliment. Again his eyes were called beautiful... Frankly, as a grown man constantly told he had such lovely eyes, it was embarrassing. But nothing for it - the awakened flames within were practically his distinguishing mark.

Shirou had Kiara follow him, leading the group back to Trifas.

Along the way, she was very curious about the unfamiliar plants they saw, pointing and asking about each one. If it was someone impatient and ill-tempered they would likely blow up in anger over her endless questions already.

But Shirou's temperament was exceptionally gentle and patient. He answered every single question she asked.

And to begin with, Kiara directed most questions at Mash, whose temperament was as soft and fluffy as a lamb, unlikely to anger unless poked in the eye.

With Mash's explanations, Kiara understood the names and composition of many plants. Her expression seemed to say "I see now!"

Shirou's group of three returned to Trifas, heading to the rendezvous point with Mordred.

Unsurprisingly, she was not there and had run off somewhere already. Only Sisigou waited for them.

Shirou asked, "Where's Mordred?"

Sisigou answered, "She said something about investigating, even used a Command Spell."

A Command Spell?

Shirou glanced down - indeed, one was missing from Sisigou's hand.

Could it be...!

His heart shuddered.

Had she run off to the Red Faction at this time?!

Shirou was shocked and worried, but just then Kiara asked Mash about some unknown flowers when suddenly Mash saw Kiara surrounded by a group of people.

They looked at her with feverish, greedy eyes that put Mash on high alert. But Kiara did not seem afraid.

She was all too familiar with such intense gazes.

The group closed in on Kiara, crying out frantically, "Praise the beautiful world, Lady Founder! Our great Lady Founder..."

Hearing the commotion, Shirou's brows knitted tightly as he glared at Kiara frostily. From their words, these were clearly cultists from Valcea.

The cultists said their Lady had gone to Trifas to spread her teachings, with the Red Caster as her second in command.

Could it be...was Kiara the Master of Red Caster?

Kiara recognized the cultists' intense gazes, but was confused by the way they addresed her. She asked strangely, "Why are you calling me Lady Founder? I haven't succeeded my father yet."

...

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