14 Hours remaining until SFA invades El-Dorado Base.
Year: 2022
Location: El-Dorado Base, Cusco, Peru, El-Dorado
Daytime: Day
Lestari Elliwyn
Health: Great
Magical Energy: Critical
"King of El-Dorado. You must stop, you are better than this!"
What the hell? I suddenly say that crap without thinking.
And the moment I say that, everyone gathers their attention at me. Their reaction varies between person to person. Bell is unreadable as usual, the King stopped his beating for a moment, El-Dorado Caster has a hopeful expression, Miss Fujimaru and Lancelot expressed a surprise, Assassin continues to tend Kenshin as the latter's eyes reflect a high expectation, while Magellan smiles and give me a nod.
"What did you say...? Stopping? You, the person that caused this invasion, telling me that?!" I can see bluish veins in his laughing face, he is no longer able to contain his emotion. "You think I'm stupid?! I know you and that conquistador over there is the reason we are observable the moment I learn her True Name!"
"That was...!"
"Ferdinand Magellan. The conquistador credited to connect the entire world! She is at the forefront of imperialism and invasion! Am I wrong, Caster?!"
"..." El-Dorado Caster was not willing to slander her. After all, she was someone that he could consider a friend. Their view can be contrasting, but ultimately he has a positive opinion of her as a person. He is conflicted between his loyalty to the king and his past friendship.
"You don't need to cover for me, priest. Feel free to speaks what you think of me, what you think of the truth. It is what you do best after all."
"Is that so." Caster closes his eyes and regains his conviction as a priest that upholds morality above all else. "She may be marginally better, but she is no different, or even worse, than the rest of us. A person that prioritizes her own self-interest without any sense of guilt, that's the sort of person Lady Fernan is."
"100. No objection."
"You admit that? You disgust me."
"I get that a lot."
"What the hell..." The King can't believe what he just sees and hears, this person doesn't try to defend herself from the accusation, yet he feels a sense of defeat. Knowing there is no hope of arguing with someone lacking shame, he returns his attention back to me. "Regardless, what do you mean by I'm 'better than this'? You know nothing about me, woman."
"I only know a little about El-Dorado, SFA, this war, that's true. I can't speak which is correct and which is moral. But are you sure you only want petty revenge like this?"
After all, one of the reasons why I haven't taken a side with any of the Factions until now is because I barely know anything about them. I have heard about what horrendous action SFA has done both from the victim and preparator, but I only know El-Dorado one-sidedly. However, it doesn't take a genius to figure that they are responsible for driving SFA into what they are today.
"If about revenge, I had done it countless times back when I was alive. It will not surprise me that I will be summoned as an Avenger in other wars. Or what, you are saying Archer didn't deserve this? Are you saying there is merit in keeping him alive? I don't doubt you can mess with Archer's machinery, but I know you have no magical energy left. I will not risk a self-destruct mechanism from a machine."
"It's not about Archer."
No matter how I see it, Archer has committed a massacre. He attacked El-Dorado Base without caring about Cusco, most definitely taking many innocent lives with his Noble Phantasms. And the King also pointed out the danger of letting his body around.
I'm not a saint that can forgive those who already crossed the boundary, what I stand for is on the contrary.
I'm not against killing my enemy, I have taken many lives who want my head, I allowed Assassin to murder many of New Japan's soldiers.
I am a person that is unwilling to give her own life for the sake of the world.
"I understand how it feels to be robbed of what you desperately try to protect. Its hurt, it makes me angry. Angry to a cruel world that allows it to happen, angry to the people that justify what they had done to me..."
It can't be helped.
It is for a greater good.
The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.
And with that, people want me dead. They take away everything I have, because in the eyes of the world, doing so will end every sadness that befalls them.
That is why, I will not give up anything from myself, us. Including my heart.
"I believe no matter what happens, we should never give up our conscience." The words come free as I look at him shakenly.
"Feeling and righteousness alone wouldn't save others."
"Perhaps." I have heard that from Kenshin, but that is not what important here. Saving others? My concerns are far from that. "But it will certainly save us."
Our quest to unite the world was never been noble in intention. Kenshin and other noble souls may support it for what we are trying to achieve, but it always a self-centered mission of a self-centered girl who wants to save herself. And I don't want to simply biologically alive, I want to be free from the war, free from such worries...
I don't want to be as low as those heroes of justice lacking compassion.
Besides, there is that voice he called "mother" to factor in. Normally, he was above the emotional outburst he currently displays. What the hell was that? Why I could hear it when the others didn't hear a thing?
"And I'm telling you, it is too late of me for that."
"Conscience to save oneself, I see." After listening to my words, El-Dorado Caster gives out a genuine smile. "I'm sure you know, the conquistadors that caused your descendant griefs are my fellow countrymen, I am formerly one of them."
"Yeah, I'm aware. I decided you are different than the rest."
"But I too wish to find fortune from the conquest," he quickly denies the King's condescending reassurance. "I have willfully blinded myself on the atrocity we commit. Perverting many of the Christ teachings for the sake of our own greed, until today I can only feel shame on what I had done!"
He speaks in a self-condemn, seemingly disappointed toward the past.
"But that doesn't mean we can't try to patch it in the present. That doesn't mean what you had done in the past disallows you to do good. The sin we have done in the past is not an excuse to indulge oneself to stay on the path of evil."
He is not shouting like he usually does, everything comes from his mouth is kindness. I am somehow able to understand that this man, above all else, care for the King's well being.
When El-Dorado Caster said that, it was not just the King realized something. Those words also struck deep at me, perhaps more so than the intended target.
"..." The King look at Caster, who firmly stood his ground. He looks to all the Servants present in which most of them are his enemies hours ago. Quickly he realizes how outnumbered he is, and he doesn't want to antagonize Caster as he needs him. Then he looks at Archer's body with hatred once again, before dematerializing his spear. "You people aren't going to budge?"
"You know me well, my king."
"Fine." The King let out a sigh.
El-Dorado Caster turns bright from that change of heart. "Thank you, my king! And the Master too!"
"Umm, I don't do anything worthwhile."
"The fact you push for it is already enough, even if you don't really believe in what you are saying, that's is a great step."
I know he bears no ill-will, "wh-what do you mean by that...?", but I can only feel offended from his remark.
Whatever, who cares about what he just says? Everything ended peacefully, that's more than enough for now.
"Don't be happy just yet. I get it there is no point in beating a scrap, but we can't just let Archer free."
"I agree."
The voice that suddenly cuts the conversation isn't from anyone currently present. It belongs to Leader who located far away from Cusco being broadcasted by Bell's ability.
* * *
"First of all, I must comment that there is someone capable of defeating Archer, which I confident even the Phoenix Emperor and Ghatotkacha from Shangri-La unable to do so. This is our first defeat since I have replaced Benjamin as the leader of SFA. I can't hide the fact that I'm in bewilderment, we truly suffer an incredible loss."
"The devil himself."
"..."
"I suppose this is the first we directly converse, El-Dorado Lancer and the sole Master of this war - Lestari Elliwyn."
In contrast with the King who has been hiding for two years and a half, Leader is practically a celebrity. The man might never appear in the frontline, but he has made many appearances in numerous interviews and credited as the person behind SFA's war machines. Since his ascension into the Chairman of the United States Armed Forces, the constant defeat they have suffered before is almost like a myth.
He brings peace to the formerly hellish North America. It's not surprising that the people have a very positive view of him.
"Because you are a coward that can only hide behind your toys."
"And those toys capable to make the courageous king went off with his tails between his legs."
"Are you the man behind this war?" Miss Fujimaru's voice and presence get his attention. She is the only person here that surpassed Leader's popularity, as Chaldea's exploit has been celebrated across the world, ending many threats from genocidal individuals, or so that's what the general public informed about Chaldea.
"Chaldea is finally resurfacing. Yes, I am, so what of it?"
"Our goal is to protect human history from external threat, and we have been hunting a resurfacing Beast for years; that's why. But now I'm here, I can't just let you murder civilians any longer!"
"That's not the first time someone conveying such sentiment." He pauses for a second, seemingly forcing himself to relax. "They are all dead, like that sad excuse of a king and Benjamin's comrades before you."
"..."
His tone clearly tells to everyone listening that the man fully embraces his cowardice. However, before the two able to make a rebuttal, Leader continues on.
"Let's cut away the petty squabble right now, I already have enough fill on dealing with Tsarina and Emperor's empty semantics. We can agree enough on that front, no?"
"Haaah... haaah... I suppose the reason you are contacting us right now to discuss a term? Because there is no reason for you having a pointless talk like this." Kenshin leans her body to Assassin's shoulder and spoke pantingly.
"Correct. This entire day I can only grow anxious, so many unknown factors pilling up at our throat. Ferdinand Magellan's betrayal, the destruction of our communication device causing us receiving the update of the invasion late, Chaldea finally joining the war and the fact the Master we tried to hunt is a direct counter toward our machines far more than Benjamin's thunder. Honestly, the war already took many tools on our side too and I can't gamble much more."
"You only lost one so far, he isn't even dead yet." It seems Lancelot grows wary toward Leader, and his Master took notice of such change.
"...Lancelot?"
"He sounds like a witch."
"I don't care who is this witch you comparing me to. But one...?" Leader's voice drops into something more bitter and hoarse. "Bell, you don't tell Miss and Mister Hero over there the truth?"
"...just like the Master, I want them to judge themselves about this war."
"You want to witness 'impossibility' just like always. You don't care which will be the victor as long that's been achieved. Honestly, for a monster of logic, your action tends to be illogical, my friend."
"I'm well aware."
"What is he talking about...?" Miss Fujimaru can't fathom the two gentlemen's conversation.
"I see, so you thought that you were siding with the weak and righteous like you are always been?"
(OST)
Leader then laughs mockingly, perhaps the first time since he has been pushed into what he currently is.
"Chaldea, oh, Chaldea! I was thinking about what kind of people the prized 'heroes of the world' is like, but it seems all of you are naive fools! All the Factions that still standing, are built by filth and blood. The Upper Belts constantly try to break their own rules, the Sultanate has armed criminals all over the world, New Japan has recently created the most genocidal Noble Phantasm ever seen, weak Factions constantly demand the blood of the strong, and I wonder what carnage Avalon Britain has done behind their impenetrable storm."
"What...?"
The detail may be unknown, but it is is not a revelation. After all, the greyness of the Factions is one of the reasons why I can't choose any of them. But to Miss Fujimaru who has been fighting in a different front, against an enemy that able to destroy humanity in an instant, something so black and white...
"California, San Diego, Texas, Kansas..." He continues naming American states one by one, almost every single of them. This time, I too don't really get what he means.
"Why are you recounting cities...?"
"!!!" Unlike the rest of us, however, the King seemingly understood what those cities signify.
"All of them houses nuclear facilities. Many of their destruction took tolls on innocent civilians. That man, alongside the rest of the natives, responsible for it. Some attempt even caused meltdowns, but those who responsible already return to the Throne of Murderers by my hand."
"Nuclear meltdown..." Miss Fujimaru can only hide her mouth with her tiny arm. Her eyes tensed, her legs grow weak, she can practically hear the short scream of the victims in her head.
She doesn't understand, she doesn't understand at all. Her expression clearly said so.
If I think about it, she spends five years protecting the present, perhaps she believed in the world they tried to protect as just. But if the people inhabiting it actively tries to end each other, doing something not so different from the worst of mankind...
"What do I even fighting for all this time...?" the celebrated hero can only hide her mouth with her hand.
"Is that true... my king?" Even El-Dorado Caster is uninformed about the deeds. This Servant is special in a sense he originated from a Singularity and was not part of the war. Just like Chaldea, he only prepared to fight something as absolute like fixing a Singularity, which has been resolved peacefully hours ago.
"..." The King stays silent and closes his eyes for a moment. "Mass killing weapon is inhuman. Of course we destroy them all."
"But what about the civilians...?"
"I don't mean to, but some of us can be quite bloodthirsty. Not all of us forgive what the Old World has done. Besides, WMDs are banned in this war, all the Factions agree to dismantle them all. It's not just SFA, nuclear facilities all over the world have been attacked too!"
"Because everyone did so... it becomes justified...?! That exactly the conquistadors logic!!"
El-Dorado Caster can't believe what he just heard. The King that he trusted for years has indirectly killed many innocent lives.
Of course, what he did isn't entirely unjustified. Even if theoretically a Servant can resist a nuclear strike, his people don't. And unlike a battle, war isn't won by individual strength alone. He can't simply retreat from an impossible fight until he won, he must organize another attack, which the enemy may already learn a thing or ten in the next encounter.
Perhaps his past comrades decided, with a heavy heart and responsibility, that they will carry the sins.
But the phrase no choice, fully understand what we are doing, I did what I must do, and other bullshit variants; are the most cursed phrase of all curses in the ears of the victims.
"Nuclear missiles are inhuman, so it justifies the death of civilians, but overwhelmingly powerful Servants like you are not?" But he no longer cares about winning a war of words against El-Dorado Lancer, not anymore. He has something much more important to accomplish, something far bigger in scale. "And the Master, just like what your smart Servant saying, I do indeed have a proposal to you."
"Are you going to invite me like the rest again? How do I create a massive status saying 'don't invite me on your bullshit' in real life?"
"No, no, it's clear you will not budge on something like Tsarina's patronizing attempt. Rather than join us and you will be protected, I will give the entirety of SFA to you. All my machine army and the six Servants including me will be under your command."
"Wha...?!"
Everyone present can't process what he just said. He just lightly said something extremely weightful that no hyperbole will be enough to describe it.
"This man thinks we are a joke. No one in the right mind will believe in such a proposal!" Even a tactician like Kenshin doubts what she just heard.
He doesn't even imply any implicit meaning, he just straight up says he is going to sell the entire Faction to me. Even I, who more or less has a childish dream, this is too good to be true. But what comes next however...
"Of course, its a proposal, so I have conditions for you to fulfill. First, I want you to spare every single citizen of SFA. Second, I want you to stop other Factions to use the Holy Grail. Third..."
I can only imagine the man sported a devilish glare.
"I want to execute every single combatant in El-Dorado before I give the entire Faction to you."
"!?!"
"But why?! Whatever I agree with your term or not, you only need to kill the Servants, there is no reason to kill them all!"
Of course, calling it 'no reason' isn't exactly correct. Small they may be, there is a chance that these combatants will rise and rebel. But more than anything, the most dangerous act of destruction is not something dictated by profit and stratagem; you can reason with logic.
This man has abandoned his humanity, he becomes a beast of pure hatred.
"Why? You know the reason more than anyone, Lestari Elliwyn. The feeling being hurt, the anger that everything you hold dear cruelly taken away, in the name of justice. I want revenge, I want justice to be served to those who are responsible, the same way they do to us. I'm sure you understand, you just said the same thing minutes ago after all."
"No, I was...!"
When I said that, I was talking about the reason why we shouldn't take a path driven by revenge.
But the faces of those who died for me, all lifeless and full of regrets, while I alone hide helplessly like a coward.
Those bastards killed my family, in the name of justice they say, it is unfortunate they say.
Who had done this, who allowed this to happen, who had an idea to murder a Master to end the war? Ah... fucking pieces of shit, human garbage, I hate them, I want them all dead!
And who are these "them all"?
"Admit it, girl. It is only natural for a human being to feel that way. Who in this world wants to see their loved ones dying?"
"That's not... that's not it...!"
He is correct. He is one hundred percent correct about me. However, I already decided that I will never stoop as low as them, I will not sacrifice anyone, at all.
But it is not only me that have stakes on such an evil bargain.
"You bastard! Did you think you can kill my soldiers whenever you want?! You must defeat us first, you are deluding yourself!"
"Yes, yes, I do. Perhaps you have forgotten after secluding yourself for years, that El-Dorado consists more than Cusco? It may not be all of you, but I can start early!"
The capital Lima, other cities outside of Peru such as Rio and Valparaíso. All have been swarmed by effective enforcers with the appearance of a trash can as if reflecting what the heartless enemy thinks of his people. In a single command, they will open fire to all of the prisoners. And he was saying that such a choice is in my hand?
So this is what Bell means about how the weak can only fight dirty against the strong. Truthfully, even the strongest Servant possible has no power to stop such inhuman tactics.
"YOU!!!!!!!"
"Hahahahahahaha!!! Indeed, indeed! All these years I keep your people on the other cities living, what do you think I will do to them, eh? With a single command, my machines will massacre them all!!!"
Then, yet again, I have heard a voice whispering to the King's ears-
There is no need for you to endure the pain anymore. You want to avenge your people, right? It's alright, there is nothing wrong in revenge.--------------------
After all, it's natural, it is very human to feel that way.--------------------
"BAAASTAAAARD!!! I WILL STOP YOU!"
"Wait, I'm not-"
The King can't see any other option left. He wants to protect his people, the man he hates is unreachable and the girl in front of him holds the call of their death.
He hurls his spear toward me, but the spear is blocked by a typical pirate-like saber.
"So do I."
"Move conquistador!"
"No one can tell me what to do. What happened with agreeing to Caster and my Master?"
"That's a different thing altogether!!!"
Magellan uses all her might to block the King of El-Dorado's gigantic chain, but she still have the care to screams at me.
"Don't let him get into you, Lestari-chan! He only twisting your words! What does a man behind a chair know what you had been going through?!"
"I- I know!"
"Lancelot-" ignoring his Master's call, Lancelot burst forward. The King is not the only person trying to take my life. "What are you doing, she is not an enemy!"
"We can't let such a thing happens. She may not necessarily a bad person, but doesn't you remember the director's sacrifice? Even if it's painful, we may sacrifice the needs of the individual for the sake of the greater good!"
"...!!!" Fujimaru Ritsuka can't say anything, she knows that her Servant is in the right.
But he was intercepted by the wounded Kenshin, which unlike their first clash, her Echigo no Ryu has been on the maximum output.
"Don't you dare!"
"Samurai woman! I'm sure a warrior like you know more than anyone about painful choices!"
"You may be correct, but I believe in our cause!"
"I know more than anyone what happened when an individual put their needs above what's important, even a country could fall! I will not allow the same tragedy that befallen King Arthur happened twice!"
"She wanted to search for a third option that can make everyone happy! There is no more noble cause than such. So why you people still trying to end her life?! WHAT JUSTICE CAN BE GAINED ON KILLING AN INNOCENT?!"
Even so, she still can't match him in a contest of strength directly, in which Assassin assisted her to match him. "Kenshin!!!"
El-Dorado Caster is too shocked from the realization, he doesn't know to side with whom. Bell can't join the battle being in his spirit form, even if he can, he too an ally of Leader. The quick alliance falls as fast as how it was formed.
Everyone is in a complete shambles and discord.
Before I realized it, I can feel cold steel behind my skull. Amidst that chaos, someone able to slip through.
"Try to stop me and I will blast her head off! At this range, even superhumans like Servants can't stop the trigger!"
Perhaps he is among the logistic team, perhaps he is one of the many soldiers controlling the AAs. Regardless, the one that slips through is Alejandro of San Blas Church, a simple human being without any supernatural power.
And without my spell, I'm helpless. But even if I have, none of my spells can defend being shot on a point-blank range, even the muzzler will leave me brain-damaged.
"You better not think anything funny like joining SFA!"
And while defending against Lancelot, Assassin screams to him. "PUT THAT GUN AWAY YOU DUMBASS! CALM YOURSELF, DON'T YOU REMEMBER WHAT I SAID TO YOU BEFORE?!"
"I'M CALM! I PUT YOUR WORDS AT HEART!"
"Then-!"
"I'm thinking this through! I know you helped us defending against those robots, I know she helped us defeating Archer, we are eternally grateful for that! He could kill all of my comrades on the other cities whenever, but he instead chooses this time to reveal and use it to have on his side. There is a reason behind it, I'm sure!"
"...!!" Assassin can't refute what he just says, but she clearly worries about me.
I admit his logic is sound, and as long as I do what he wants, I will still be alive. And he might fear my magecraft, which is the reason why he doing this in the first place. If I join him and become the leader of SFA, that's good for him. If I died from this chaos, he still won. But that doesn't change the fact Leader can order the kill shot whatever I join him or not.
God... why do people fates continue dancing on my hand?
What do you think, Mr. Bell?
I talked to him using his Noble Phantasm, and his keen ears know what I seek; as he turns the conversation to private without anyone could interfere and eavesdrop.
I think you did splendidly on both defeating and defending Archer. To not abandoning your conscience, in turn, you can save yourself falling into darkness. After all, you must save yourself first before you dream of saving others. And not just physically like us heroes did, but also emotional health.
From what I have seen about his Noble Phantasms, I believe Archer is Pecos Bill. But I will discuss what does that name signifies at the right time.
Then, I believe you already have your answer to Leader's proposal.
Yes. I'm not going to be the monster that sacrifices others for the sake of myself, as much as I hate it.
Perhaps he listens to my heartbeat and tone, he seems to understand what's bugging my mind.
You may already notice it, but I'm sure Leader sees himself in you. You two are victims of this war, people that failed to protect their loved ones. But victims of a smaller tragedy can turn into monsters that caused a great tragedy, tragic.
Do we really have no choice in the lives of those soldiers?
For the first time, Bell shows a sign of grief.
The machines are a product of Leader's Noble Phantasm, he can do so with a single press. It uses an internet network to transmit the signal. Your Recursion could stop it, but only if you are near the mechanism itself, I'm afraid. This battle... this is animalistic.
I tried to generate electricity on my palm, I am only able to generate a faint spark. I don't even have magical energy to fire a Via.
I can only close my eyes.
I hope if heaven exists, all of you reach such a place.
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Originally Posted by Faux, July 20th 2019
A wise and beautiful woman who exudes an aura of grace. She is a sly, cunning, manipulative person who always gets what she wants, whether through trickery or ruthlessness. Her own fighting abilities are low, but she should not be trifled with. What does she ride? Men, of course!
