Chapter 390: BB and Hawaii?
"Since you are so troubled, why don't you explain the ins and outs of the matter to them?" Sherlock Holmes asked the woman beside him.
Da Vinci smiled bitterly and said, "The White God has already realized his error and wants to return everything to its original state. He spared Chaldea and even helped us get back on track, but the things Shirou has done will be reverted to their original state."
"But Chaldea is safe, isn't it?" Holmes said calmly.
"It really is as annoying as ever. You—hmm! Regardless of whether the God or Shirou wins, there won't be any problems at Chaldea. That is why I am so troubled; when it concerns a God, even a perfect genius can't think of a good solution," Da Vinci said, holding her face in helplessness.
"If one knew that Emiya Shirou, who was reincarnated into a different world, and the White God were facing a crisis where only one can exist, and both sides hold their own versions of justice, who could say for certain which is the correct choice? Gudako and Mash have already had to carry enough burdens, so how could I let those two children make such a choice?" Da Vinci shook her head and said.
At this very moment, on the path leading back through the portal, Shirou's soul was transferred to another space by Alaya.
This was a small floating island. Upon it stood a bare, black ancient tree, and the platform was only about the size of a school playground. The surroundings were empty and gray; it seemed that beyond this platform lay a bottomless abyss.
Underneath that big tree stood a little girl holding an umbrella. She sensed that Shirou had arrived, so she spun the canopy of the umbrella and turned it around. As the umbrella spun, the tree began to grow; tender leaves sprouted on the branches, and flower buds bloomed one by one. They were brilliant, pale pink cherry blossoms that instantly covered the center of the platform.
The figure revealed silver hair like snow and pure, clear red eyes, just like a little princess living in a castle of ice and snow in a fairy tale. However, she was draped in a red kimono embroidered with cherry blossoms, and her face was that of Illya, whose hand Shirou had just been holding.
"Are you changing into human form again?" Shirou looked at the little girl's face and frowned.
Alaya stood on her tiptoes and spun around lightly like a dancer, as if showing off her beauty. She smiled sweetly and said, "Isn't this good? I am currently in a state that fully simulates humans, possessing the same flesh, heart, and soul as a human. Therefore, I can also understand the thoughts of humans."
"No, even if you become like this, you are ultimately still the Counter Force, the collective unconsciousness of humanity—a mechanism meant solely for the continuation of humanity as a whole. As long as someone is an individual human, they cannot reach a true consensus with you," Shirou shook his head.
"But... if it's the current me, I can also do all the things that humans can do."
This time, Alaya instantly moved to Shirou's front, her body leaning directly into his arms. Her appearance was no longer that of a little girl, but of a young woman of sixteen or seventeen. Her features shifted—at one moment looking like Rin or Sakura, at another a dainty lady with Eastern elegance, and then transitioning into an Occidental beauty. Her hairstyle also changed between twin-tails and long straight hair, and the colors changed as well. The temperament revealed during this process was ever-changing.
Alaya's voice, within its charming feminine softness, possessed a slight, alluring magnetism. After the heavenly words were spoken, the beautiful voice still swirled in his ears.
Alaya transformed once more into the age of twenty-four or twenty-five, transitioning from a youthful girl to a stage of mature feminine charm. Her slender, delicate waist and full bust revealed the seductive charm of a woman everywhere. At this moment, the clothes on her body were still the size from when she was a child, baring both shoulders and barely able to wrap around her body.
Shirou seemed to see the shadows of dozens of familiar girls upon her, leaving behind the best features of each. Finally, she transformed from a beauty who could topple cities into a bewitching woman who could topple nations. Perhaps calling her the most beautiful combination of humanity would be more appropriate.
"What's wrong with that? As long as it allows all of humanity to continue, isn't everything else 'justice' regardless of what it is? Even among tens of thousands of Heroic Spirits, you have the best compatibility with me. If it were with you, who possesses the power of creation, we might be able to produce an extraordinary guardian," Alaya said, extending her fair, slender arms from behind to embrace Shirou, whispering into his ear.
"Can you not do that! Are you getting more and more excessive?" Shirou turned his head away, refusing to look at the maiden.
"What's wrong? Do you not like girls like this? Could it be that cute boys are more to your liking?" Alaya looked at him in surprise, preparing to transform.
"Stop! What exactly are you trying to say! Please speak clearly, or I'm leaving," Shirou extended his palm to block the other party. If he only had the power of a Heroic Spirit, he truly didn't possess the high-level technique of moving between parallel worlds. But as long as he used the power of the God of Creation, he could use it freely on anything that existed.
"No, I just came to congratulate you for resolving your inner conflict and understanding how to use this power for yourself. As long as it doesn't harm the human collective, both Gaia and I permit you to do so. You can freely use your authority," Alaya said.
"I have never thought of replacing the White God, nor do I have any intention of using that ability for myself. That is not a power I can use well," Shirou shook his head.
"This is the primal desire that humans possess, and it is also a right you can exercise. Why refuse? Clearly, you have already started using this ability for yourself, so why deny this behavior now?" Alaya asked in confusion.
"I? Have already used this ability for myself?" Shirou raised his head in surprise.
"You created Holy Grail energy for the Lesser Grail, allowed her to shape a physical body, and kept her by your side, didn't you?" Alaya, incarnated as a perfect woman, covered her mouth and giggled.
"That was because I wanted to make Illya happy... Ah... I see," Shirou realized that this was indeed his own thought. Alaya was not wrong. He brought Illya to his world more for his own sake—it was his way of making amends and finding redemption.
"It is allowed. As long as you defeat the White God and take his place, you will receive our recognition, serving as a human with the power of a god, acting as the guardian of humanity and the Earth. If you had no desire at all, then you would be exactly the same as the White God, and you wouldn't have my approval either," Alaya said.
"But... unless it is to save others or for the sake of others' happiness, I will not use it," Shirou said, deep in thought.
"You only need to remember that being true to yourself is what matters most! This is not 'taking,' but rather ensuring that power is placed on the side of justice. Allowing good people to be rewarded—the more one gives, the more one should receive; that is only natural. If it's you, it is also perfectly fine to pursue your own desires more faithfully."
"..."
"Go back, Shirou. Properly reunite with your family and companions. The next time we meet, it will be the moment to gather the keys to defeat the White God." Alaya gave Shirou a light push, transmitting his soul back to where his body was.
Walking into the portal and being summoned out, by the time Shirou woke up again, he was in a lying position. However, the place where his head was resting was unexpectedly soft, and there was a faint scent of flowers.
At that moment, on the other side from where the scent was coming, a silver flash swept past, pouncing onto Shirou!
"Shirou! What exactly is the matter with you? You came out of the portal and just kept staring blankly. I pulled you, and you just fell straight to the ground!?" Illya opened her ruby-like eyes.
Because of her concern, her eyes appeared even redder, and even the corners of her eyes were a bit moist.
"Ah, sorry. Illya, I was actually pulled aside by the Counter Force for a chat," Shirou hurriedly explained. "By the way, where is this place?"
"Pfft, pfft, pfft, Senpai." At this moment, a girl's little-devil laugh came from right above Shirou.
Shirou looked to the other side and happened to see the purple-haired girl looking down at him. He could feel the girl's chest almost pressing against his face. The girl pressed her soft mounds against him, pushed them to one side, and forcefully rested her chin on them just to barely make eye contact with Shirou.
Only in this way could BB clearly see the other person's face while giving Shirou a lap pillow.
Shirou realized that the soft things he had been resting on were actually the girl's fleshy lap pillow—no wonder it was so soft.
"Shirou-senpai, although seeing your defenseless, pig-like sleeping face isn't bad, since it's such a nice place, you shouldn't sleep anymore. Let's go play! Let's play~! This is Hawaii~!"
"Eh? Hawaii?" Shirou gave up the lap pillow benefit provided by the girl, sat up, looked around in confusion, and asked: "Why... did we come to this southern land?"
"Ah! Shirou! You're finally here; Mother has been waiting for you for a long time~!" Raikou, wearing a swimsuit and looking quite spirited in many ways, spread her arms and pounced over.
"Stop! Raikou, hello," Shirou held up his hand to block the person coming toward him and asked helplessly.
"We fought with real swords and guns before. Although the Raikou over there was corrupted, she was still a good person," Shirou covered his face, unwilling to look at the person's face.
"Mm? What?" Raikou maintained a maternal smile, blinked, and revealed an infinite gaze of love toward Shirou.
"No... that's enough. But Raikou, didn't you go back? Why? Why are you still here! You returned to your original world, didn't you!" Shirou asked in confusion.
"Of course it's because BB-chan invited everyone to come over~!" The purple-haired girl said with a grin, her hands behind her back.
Shirou noticed that this girl, at some point, had started wearing a baseball cap, had styled her long purple hair into a braid, was wearing a sun-protective coat over her top, and had hot pants on, revealing the girl's youthful, energetic legs.
Yes, this was the southern island territory personally crafted by the GM-level artificial Heroic Spirit BB-chan. Because she was avoiding the witch's pursuit and waiting for Shirou to return,
waiting around idly was simply too boring. Therefore, she took the suggestions of the people around her and developed this southern island paradise.
In the distance ahead was the azure, boundless sea, with waves continuously crashing against the golden beach, splashing up white sea spray. Along the shore, there were coconut trees heavy with fruit.
From one side came the sounds of girls frolicking. Familiar people were playing beach volleyball. When Shirou looked in that direction, the girls there happened to look over as well.
Under a parasol not far away, Yukinoshita Yukino, lying on a beach chair, just happened to close her book and look toward this side.
Because the "Yuki-encyclopedia" was here, the facilities here could be said to have everything one could ask for. Even the service staff in the shops were just AI simulated into existence, while the customers were Heroic Spirits and humans invited by BB. Among the numerous shops, there were quite a few familiar faces.
"Oh, that guy has finally come over," a silver-haired girl wearing a black bikini said with a faint smile. She arched her eyebrows, looked down at her current attire, and then looked at the boy over there, seemingly anticipating something.
However, for some reason... even though she was wearing a swimsuit, she still had a katana tucked into her waist.
On the table next to the silver-haired girl were all kinds of food and stacked piles of plates with nothing left but residue. This was the Irish Celtic-style "Sea House," one of the dining venues created by BB.
"Shirou is here!" Artoria, who was madly eating yakisoba and all kinds of fried barbecue foods, also raised her head at this moment, looked toward Shirou, checked the food not yet on her plate, and then made a decision. She picked up her plate and walked toward the outside of the shop while stuffing her face.
"Wait! Customer! You haven't paid yet, why are you running!" A delinquent-looking young man with blue hair in a braid, wearing beachwear, shouted while holding a spatula.
"Trying to eat and run!!!" Beside him, a tall, beautiful woman with rose-colored short hair and a tear mole at the corner of her eye—who was holding a plate—glared, a flicker of professional mercenary-like murderous intent flashing in her eyes. She was clearly a waitress wearing an apron over her swimsuit, yet she revealed the rugged temperament of a professional soldier everywhere.
"A-wun-den-den-wun-jiu-chi-fei-lai!!!" Artoria replied with her mouth stuffed. Even when she spoke, she didn't stop the mouth that was sucking down the yakisoba from the super-sized plate, and she ran toward the outside of the shop.
"Wait! Customer! We don't do credit here!" The waitress was about to chase after her.
Artoria sucked all the yakisoba into her mouth, swallowed it with a gulp, threw the plate back onto the table in the shop, and shouted: "Make that chuunibyou woman with the katana pay!"
After leaving this sentence, Artoria continued to bite into fried chicken chunks and skewers as she ran toward Shirou.
"Bastard! It's not your turn to tell me off, you swimsuit maid holding a pistol and a mop! Stop right there!" Jeanne shouted angrily, preparing to draw her sword and chase after her.
"Customer! Please pay your bill before you leave!" The rose-haired waitress stubbornly blocked the silver-haired girl's path, not retreating in the slightest. Although she was an AI created by BB to serve everyone, she was also a perfect reproduction of a human once observed by the Moon Cell. Her archetype was the type who would dare to confront a Servant face-to-face.
"Get lost! Don't think that just because you're an AI, I won't cut you down!" Jeanne glared at her angrily and said.
"Customer! If you want to leave, please pay for your friend's bill as well!" The rose-haired woman firmly braced her arms to hold the silver-haired girl's arms and advised.
"Who's friends with her!! You tell me! How much is the total!!" Jeanne's face flushed red with anger, and she roared toward the inside of the shop.
"Thank you for your patronage!!!" The waitress and the shop manager replied happily.