A temporary stage was built next to the highway, and while Illya and Olga Marie gave their opening remarks, preparations on the track were completed.
On one side of the two-way four-lane road, there are two rows of objects covered with black cloth neatly arranged. There is no doubt that these are the racing cars needed for off-road racing.
"For this off-road race, we need to give special thanks to the Fujimura Group. They provided the track selection and planning, as well as the vehicles. The vehicle maintenance was handled by my beloved mother, Irisviel, and my handsome father, Emiya Kiritsugu. Please give them a few words."
While speaking, Illya had already left the stage and came to the track with the blessing of the flying spell.asxs.
The moment they landed, a man and a woman wearing blue technician uniforms and holding various tools lifted up two pieces of cloth and climbed out from under the car.
The man lit a cigarette and sighed: "Why did it become like this?"
The woman smiled brightly and waved her hands: "Everyone, you must keep going."
"In order to ensure fairness and justice, the starting order will be determined by drawing lots. Please welcome Miss Racing."
At this time, Olga Marie also picked up the microphone and waved to the other side.
Then, a tall girl with short purple hair and wearing a belly-baring short skirt and top worn by racing girls came up holding a lottery box.
Cu Chulainn, who was waiting for the draw, covered his nose involuntarily and said in a trembling voice: "Ba, Bazette~"
The racing girl, who had a natural expression, became coy, her body shrank, and her weak appearance was completely different from her usual heroic appearance: "Because, because the Lord said there were not enough people, so he asked me... Is it inappropriate?"
"No, no, no, it's just perfect. Ah, it's such a feast for the eyes, ahahahaha."
Cu Chulainn laughed heartily, and Bazette felt even more embarrassed.
"Really, really, you actually laughed at me."
"No, no, this is really nice."
While teasing his Master, Cu Chulainn did not forget to give a thumbs up to Lorelaia who was not far away. The latter was indifferent, and in a blink of an eye, she found Shinji staring at her with a strange expression.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Well, I remember that you were the one who won the race girl position when the lottery was drawn."
"Oh? You want me to dress like that in public? (Angry + unfriendly look)"
"Well, it's a little inappropriate, although I'm curious about what you'd look like as a racing girl."
Lorelaia looked at Cu Chulainn, then at Shinji, and sighed, "So I'm talking about you men. Racing girls are out of the question, but I've prepared professional racing suits. I don't know what you guys were thinking, turning the Holy Grail War into this form? And yet so many people agree with it."
"Because most people don't really like fighting and killing, especially for Servants, they should enjoy their rare second life."
Lorelaia's understanding of Servants is no better than Shinji's, so after getting over the initial shock, Shinji is the first Master to agree with Gilgamesh's proposal - even though the two of them were fighting to the death just a few minutes ago.
"That Altira—" The woman who called herself the "King of Destruction" expressed her incomprehension and disapproval until the end.
"She's the same, she just hasn't realized it yet."
"Huh?"
"Have you ever asked her what she wants?"
Loreleija was stunned for a moment, then replied: "Destroy everything, shatter civilization?"
"That is her instinct or duty, but not her true wish. Have you seen her dream? When the connection between a Servant and a Master reaches a certain level, they can see each other's dreams."
"ah-"
Lorelaia remembered that she had indeed had a strange dream with Altira as the main character.
The dream was monotonous, very monotonous. Altira, dressed in shepherd's clothes, was riding a horse and galloping all the way.
Keep running.
Run across the grassland, jump over the river, pass by yurts, and see countless cattle and sheep.
At the end of the dream, the girl finally stopped. Under the blue sky and white clouds, she was walking on the hillside in the wind. She showed an innocent smile, and her beauty even amazed Loreleija, who was of the same sex.
Because the dream was so different from the Altira she knew, she simply classified it as a product of her own wild imagination. But now it seems that this is not the case? "
Shinji looked past Loreleija and towards the female god of war who was clearly not used to this kind of situation.
"What do you think was the most memorable thing in her life? Shattering the pride of the Roman Empire? Making half of Europe tremble under her iron hoof?"
Loreleija nodded instinctively, but Shinji shook his head.
"No, none of these. These great historical events are nothing but passing clouds to her. What really engraved in her heart are actually many seemingly ordinary and common things. Riding a horse in the grassland, herding sheep and horses - don't you think it's incredible?"
"Ah, yeah."
"It's easy to understand. Many people think you are cold and ruthless, a superior ruler, but ignore that you are also a human being with emotions. Altira is the same. She has always been curious about the life of a non-warrior, about life outside of a warrior."
Shinji recalled the words that the self-isolated giant god in the Moon World had said to him in a longing tone.
"What would I be if I wasn't a warrior?"
"Is it to travel the world on horseback as a free traveler?"
"Is it like the people of Europe that I have seen, cultivating the land, growing wheat, and baking bread in hot ovens?"
"Hunting beasts and birds?"
"Are you going to learn that thing called writing and write a book using that?"
"Or, shyly snuggling in someone's arms?"
"have no idea."
"What will it be like?"
That's what Shinji said at that time.
"You'll know, one day, you'll know."
Now, Shinji still believes this, and is becoming more and more convinced.
Seeing the man in front of her revealing that heart-wrenching tenderness once again, Lorelaia sighed with a complicated expression.
"You really know her well. What's the matter between you two—"
"You'll find out later."
"Why not now?"
"Because the lots have been drawn, the competition is about to begin."
Shinji pointed and saw that the ranking of the cars and the corresponding contestants were already marked on Fiore's board.
"You have to do things one by one and focus on the present. You taught me that. Let's continue the unfinished battle."
"Okay, let's see who wins!"
Loreleija stopped hesitating and walked over to her Servant, and the two of them walked into the arena together.
Behind them, Shinji clenched his right hand.
In the deepest part of the palm, no, to be more precise, in the soul beneath the body, a brilliant rainbow light quietly blooms.