"Little ghost, I've had a great time at Camelot, it's something I've never experienced since I was born. Thank you and Lily for giving me all this. We'll see each other again in the future......"

As Skaha's figure disappeared completely, a gentle murmur came into my ears.

After that, it's all over.

The girl and I stared together at the sunlight shining from the sky.

Today, the morning at Camelot is as sunny as ever.

Countless people have already started their day's work in the morning, and they can see the scene full of life from the high observation deck.

It's just that there is something missing around me and I am lonely.

The girl and I were silent with each other, neither of us taking the lead to break the atmosphere.

"Artoria, I'm ......"

I don't know how long it took, and I felt that I couldn't keep it here, so I tried to speak.

And then—

The blonde girl threw herself into my arms.

"I'm sorry ......"

Some faint voices came from the deeply buried lip flaps.

"No...... It's not your fault, it's my ...... if I really want to say it."

The unexpected situation made me a little scrambling.

"Please don't leave my ......"

However, the girl's next sentence made me slightly stunned.

"What are you talking about, how could I possibly leave you?"

Feeling inexplicable in my heart, I put my hands on the girl's slender shoulders to pull away, and then asked her.

"Sister Skaha has left because she is not a member of this world." The girl bit her lip, as if there was some unspeakable struggle in her heart, "Shirou's existence itself is also very unstable. I'm afraid that at some point and somewhere, you'll disappear from my world, just like Sister Skaha......"

"So, at least promise me not to go until I give you permission to leave, okay?"

The girl looked up in my arms, and her face was full of tears.

…… To be honest, I was blown away.

It's not the first time I've seen a girl look like this in front of me, but it's the first time I've seen such a troubled look.

And it doesn't come out of anything else – like responsibility, faith, or whatever.

But it's completely, because of me.

…… What should I say?

Logically, I can't promise her.

Because I can't even be sure of my current situation. It is very likely that one day, I will return to the place where I belonged, as the girl said.

But how could that be said?

We have always avoided each other on this issue and have never taken the initiative to raise it.

That's not because I don't care, it's quite the opposite.

It is precisely because I care too much about the other party's feelings that I don't have the courage to think about it, to refute it, let alone openly discuss it.

It is an unsolvable thorn that will always run through the relationship between the two of us, so that no matter how great happiness is, there are hidden dangers that cannot be ignored.

"This thing...... Can you tell us another day......" I muttered, wanting to jump over as usual.

Generally speaking, every time I say this, the girl nods understandingly, then respects my choice and doesn't ask anything more.

But today, this trick is doomed to fail.

“…… Don't you even tell me a word of truth? ”

The girl lowered her head and whispered as if in a dream.

Sadness, sadness, disappointment...... All the feelings that are enough to regret a lifetime are like turbulent currents hitting the crumbling atrium.

"Just this time, Shirou, I want you to tell me what's in your mind at the moment." Raising her head, the girl took a deep breath and looked into my eyes, "It's okay, it doesn't matter what you say." I'll just listen quietly and then act as if nothing is heard. ”

…… If you didn't hear it from the beginning, why should you listen to it?

The logic that doesn't make sense reminds me that it's impossible to reason.

If I had to do something for the other person, no matter how difficult it was, it wouldn't matter how many times I repeated it.

However, when the fatalistic tragedy turns into an invisible blade, it only tears out the true heart that cannot be concealed into pieces that can never be recovered.

I have passed the test of many loves, but what really makes people feel desperate is life itself.

"Yo, the little ghost and the knight king, I finally found you after looking for you!"

Just when I was in a difficult dilemma and couldn't extricate myself, a rough voice sounded from behind me like thunder.

"-Who is it!?"

Excited, I quickly looked behind me.

I saw Iskander, a burly and tall man, striding towards this side with the bright red cloak behind him.

"Ahem, cough, it turned out to be the King of Conquest, come here!"

For the first time, my heart was full of gratitude and expectation for the appearance of Iskander.

This guy has a magical power in him, and he is always able to completely break the original atmosphere at the moment of appearance, replacing it with his own aura.

It was thanks to him that the overwhelming situation just now was able to get out of it for the time being.

Iskandar was also a little surprised when he saw me waving at him in a hurry, obviously not expecting me to welcome him like this.

But then, he showed a clear smile, and there was no longer the slightest confusion in his eyes.

"Hahaha, little ghost, can you finally understand the royal way of this king? This couldn't be better, it seems that this trip to you is really worth it! ”

"So, what is the matter with you coming to me and Artoria?"

I didn't dare to stop and hurriedly picked up Iskander's words, for fear that the atmosphere that had finally eased up would become tense again.

"Hey, hey, hey, this is a very great cause, and if you say it directly here, I'm afraid it will be disappointing. Let's go, let's go have a drink, and only after getting drunk can we live happily! ”

Iskandar waved his arms heroically, and his strong arms unceremoniously rested directly on my shoulders.

…… Anyway, is it really a person standing with me, not a whole fierce bear......

"Shirou, don't go!"

The girl who hadn't spoken for a long time stepped forward and raised her hand at this time, grabbing the corner of my clothes.

"Tsk, Knight King, you're not right. Between this king and the little ghost is a man's heroic heart and inexhaustible feelings, you are so dead to the ghost, he will not be able to grow into a real man for the rest of his life! ”

Seeing this, Iskandar raised his eyebrows and squeezed his eyes at the girl.