Fate/Britain Lostbelt : Hero of Justice

"She's already asleep…? That fast?"

Shirou had meant to chat with Morgan a bit more, but before he could even get a word out, the girl curled up on his lap had drifted into a deep sleep—in a matter of seconds.

Was that… some kind of talent?

At the very least, Shirou knew he couldn't do that. No matter how exhausted he was, it always took some time before sleep came—unless he was knocked unconscious by external force.

"Still… she looks so peaceful."

A faint smile curled at the edge of Morgan's lips. Watching her like that, Shirou could only assume she was having a pleasant dream.

"When was the last time I had a dream like that…?"

In the past ten years, the number of good dreams Shirou Emiya had could be counted on one hand—no, scratch that. Excluding the dream where Kiritsugu adopted him, he might not have had a single one.

A happy childhood, a warm home—everything had been torn away in an instant. Tragedy struck, and the world he once knew was obliterated, leaving scars that even time couldn't mend. Even if that version of ■■Shirou hadn't been rescued by Kiritsugu, he was already far removed from becoming a "normal" person.

That version of ■■Shirou… was already broken.

"Man… what's wrong with me? Am I seriously jealous of someone else's nap now?" A strange static-like tingle crawled across his forehead as Shirou gave a dry chuckle and shook his head at the absurdity of his own thoughts. "Still—"

His gaze drifted to Morgan's sleeping profile.

Her pale skin looked soft enough to melt at the touch. Without realizing it, Shirou reached out and gently pressed his palm against her cheek. The contact was warm—smooth and unresisting.

"Mmm…~"

A sleepy murmur escaped her lips.

Morgan didn't wake. Perhaps, in her dream, she felt that same warmth against her skin. Curled up like that, she looked more and more like a content little kitten.

Whatever dark thoughts had lingered in Shirou's heart were blown away in an instant by the sight of her.

A small smile touched his lips. He didn't pull his hand away.

"It's only been two days… but it feels like we've known each other forever."

Shirou mumbled, as if trying to justify the mischievous gesture. After all, he and his guardian, Fujimura Taiga, often played harmless pranks on each other—ear-blowing when asleep, pouring ice water down the neck in summer, and the like.

It was how their bond had first formed. Though she'd already been a high schooler back then, Taiga had still possessed a childlike spirit, and she'd quickly found a rhythm with young Shirou.

Come to think of it, back then… Taiga had a sort of mature charm too.

Every now and then, Shirou would find himself thinking things like that. Maybe it was because, in those days, Fujimura Taiga had worn her hair in a quiet, elegant ponytail.

"Come to think of it… I don't think Sakura ever got pranked by Fuji-nee. What the heck? Was I the only one she ever targeted? That woman really is…"

Despite his grumbling, a faint smile curled at the corners of Shirou's lips.

Kiritsugu was often away from home, traveling in pursuit of some secret he never shared. As a result, for the past ten years, Shirou had spent most of his daily life with Fujimura Taiga and Matou Sakura.

Looking back on it now, those were truly precious memories—ones worth cherishing.

Even if part of him had been twisted by tragedy, Shirou hadn't completely broken. And perhaps… it was thanks to them.

And if he included the present… then Morgan deserved to be counted as well. After all, they had made a vow to one another—heart to heart.

"I wonder… Was Kiritsugu ever like me?"

The thought suddenly came to Shirou—of his foster father.

Did Kiritsugu Emiya once have family he was that close to? Friends he could open his heart to?

Shirou couldn't say he knew nothing about Kiritsugu. But when it came to his past… Shirou could only shake his head helplessly. That chapter of Kiritsugu's life remained a closed book.

....

"Let's go!"

"Don't pull so hard!"

Morgan had woken up full of energy, already back in battle mode. Like a soldier ready to charge, she grabbed Shirou's arm and took off running, while he—still half-asleep—struggled to keep up.

He hadn't gotten a wink of sleep since Morgan had fallen into his lap. But oddly enough, he wasn't all that tired either. So he decided it was best to get moving and take care of the important matter first.

That important matter was: ringing the Bell of the Pilgrimage.

They dashed all the way to the Mirror Clan's palace. Thanks to prior orders from Ainsel, the two were granted passage without resistance. They reached the inner sanctum where the great bell was housed.

Ainsel was already there, waiting for them.

"Welcome."

Perhaps because of the sanctity of this place, her expression was solemn—like a priestess presiding over a sacred ritual.

——The Bell Hall served as a shrine for the Mirror Clan. It was where the relics of the Six Great Faeries were enshrined, a place to declare one's origin and atone for the primordial sin. Yet over time, as the Faerie Calendar advanced, the hall had become more of a ceremonial relic than a living tradition.

"My true name is Morgan, a faerie of paradise born from the Sea of Stars," she said, her voice imbued with reverence. "Ainsel, you are the one who first proposed the word 'pilgrimage.' Surely that means you understand the fae's original sin?"

"I do," Ainsel replied. "We of the Mirror Clan seek repentance for our transgressions. Britain itself was born from the sins of faeries. Faerie of Paradise, we ask you to fulfill your mission. Ring the Bell of Pilgrimage and bring salvation to our kind."

With those words, Ainsel stepped aside and revealed the grand bell behind her—the Bell of Pilgrimage, waiting to be sounded.

…..

"Hymn of Paradise, Chant of the Inner Sea."

"An existence born for the chosen—to judge, to correct."

"The primordial Bell of Bone, to guide the lost children home."

"——Forgive their sins."

The one who sang spoke with the voice of Paradise. In resonance with the magecraft imbued in her words, the great bell trembled. Its sound rang deep and long, echoing outward from this small bell tower to every corner of Britain.

Every faerie—within their hearts, their very souls—heard its toll.

Yet each reacted in their own way.

…..

Orkney.

Land of the Rain Clan.

Tears flowed from the chieftain's eyes as she knelt upon the earth.

Behind her, the fae of the Rain Clan mirrored her sorrow—each and every one weeping in solemn repentance.

"Priestess… shrine maiden… we shall not beg for forgiveness."

"We fae bear the Original Sin upon our backs—we deserve judgment. But please, grant us the chance to atone."

…..

City of Wind.

A place where faeries and humans coexist in "harmony."

There stood Aurora, chieftain of the Wind Clan.

The most beautiful, the gentlest, the kindest faerie in all of Britain.

Whether the Aurora of the previous generation or the one yet to come—as long as there exists an Aurora, she will always be the most radiant being in Britain.

——That's what every faerie and human in the City of Wind believed.

They never doubted it.

They were proud of Aurora's existence.

However…

"The tolling of the bell stirred something within me… a vague nostalgia for the Six Original Faeries. But…"

Aurora, smiling radiantly, crushed a tiny insect between her fingers.

"How unpleasant. This ringing… it dulls my brilliance. What if—because of this—people no longer see me as beautiful? What do you think, Kent?"

The elegant beauty tossed the crumpled insect to the ground.

In that instant, its magical glamour dissipated, revealing its true form: a faerie of the Wind Clan.

His name was Kent, and formally, he served as Aurora's secretary.

Yet, as with many before him, Aurora had quickly grown tired of him.

"Has your soul already begun reincarnating?"

"I hope you're reborn as a diligent little faerie again in your next life."

When Kent didn't reply, Aurora understood everything.

With a soft sigh and a tone of false pity, she lamented his passing.

She paid no further mind to the dead faerie.

Nor did she dwell on the bell that had momentarily stirred her heart.

For Aurora, the Pilgrimage Bell was nothing more than a bothersome interlude.

Today, as ever, she pondered how best to remain adored and admired.

…..

City of Flowers.

The beautiful sanctuary of the Wing Clan.

The sound of the bell swept through the city like a ripple of fate.

All across it, faeries of the Wing Clan reacted with raw emotion: some wept as they prostrated themselves, others contorted in anguish.

Only two remained calm.

"Totorot, how did that bell make you feel?"

"Me? Hahaha! I've got no idea how it even works. Though, I did get this sudden flash of guilt… like I'd committed some huge sin. What about you, Muryan, oh great Game Master? What's your take?"

"Fascinating. Absolutely fascinating. I imagine this bell will spark a war across Britain. Some clans will be outraged, no doubt."

"That's just like you, treating all of Britain like one big gameboard. Oh, by the way, I've decided—I'm leaving the city."

"Huh?"

"This bell's just the trigger. But honestly, life here's gotten boring. I want to wander. So, farewell!"

"If you find anything fun, come back and tell me!"

And so, in the City of Flowers, two faerie girls chatted merrily about travel and adventure.

They spoke as though the bell that shook their hearts had meant nothing to them.

Or maybe, just maybe, it meant everything.

.....

The Wind Clan and Wing Clan had paid little heed to the bell.

But the same could not be said for the Earth Clan and the Fang Clan.

The moment the bell resounded, the two clans reacted as one— A joint declaration of dread, denial, and hatred.

"There's no mistake! That was the bell of Paradise!"

"The Faerie of Paradise has returned! It's come to judge us for our sins!"

"We cannot allow this!"

"Those sins were our ancestors' crimes! What do they have to do with us, the descendants?"

"Exactly! Exactly! Cernunnos's death has nothing to do with us! We're innocent!"

"Then we must kill it. If the Paradise Faerie dies, then we fae of Britain can go on living in peace and joy!"

"We must not allow the pilgrimage to begin!"

"And those traitors who've harbored the Paradise Faerie in secret… they're no better!"

"There's no doubt. The traitors must be the Rain Clan. Only the Rain Clan, isolated in the far north, could hide such a thing without being discovered!"

"Rally the other clans. Destroy the Rain Clan!"

"Kill the traitors! Kill the Paradise Faerie! All for the sake of Britain!"

And so, the faeries of these powerful clans, driven by the fear of their own sins being exposed, chose bloodshed over atonement.

...

The Western Isle — Ireland.

"Oh my? So this is the bell that terrifies the southern faeries?"

"But I feel… nothing. No tremble in my heart. Does that mean I bear no guilt?"

"So the Paradise Faerie has begun her pilgrimage. I suppose the faeries of Britain are all quaking in fear right now, huh? Hehehe… serves them right."

Queen Medb—ruler of the northern fae and the sole survivor of the Great Purge—mocked the terrified faeries of Britain.

From the other side of the Sea of Nothingness, beyond the reach of Britain's authority, she had forged a hidden realm.

A place both unseen and undeniably real: the Western Isle of Éire.

"What a perfect opportunity. Mobilize the army."

"It's time to return to Britain—and let those faeries feel the flames of vengeance."

The pink-haired queen rose from her throne, clad in a Celtic battle leotard that hugged her form with flawless grace.

Her figure, supple yet fierce, was that of a warrior queen sculpted by legend— A tempest, poised to reclaim her homeland in fire and blood.

Vengeance has begun.

...

Whether it was the Six Great Fae Clans within Britain, or the exiled Northern Faeries beyond it, none of their thoughts, fears, or wrath could reach the Hall of the Bell— that hallowed ground where the chime had just echoed.

At that very moment, Morgan and Shirou slowly opened their eyes, emerging from the ineffable, dreamlike trance they had fallen into during the ringing of the bell.

"What we just saw… was that Avalon?"

"…Perhaps."

"Every time the Pilgrimage Bell rings, I catch a fleeting glimpse of the Inner Sea of the Stars… my birthplace. But between that place and Britain, I think… I prefer Britain."

"You were born in Avalon, but you grew up in Britain. It's only natural to feel that way."

The two spoke quietly of the wondrous vision they had witnessed while the bell rang.

A world that seemed like paradise— a boundless field of blooming flowers, swarms of Phantasmal Beasts roaming freely, time itself erased, and an eternal watchtower standing unmoved through it all.

Though it lasted only a moment, the vision left a profound impression on Shirou's soul.

So… the magecraft Morgan cast yesterday, before Moss appeared— Was that a partial unveiling of the Inner Sea of the Stars?

No… perhaps it wasn't merely a glimpse.

Perhaps what she did was open the Gate to Avalon itself— And through it, invoke Avalon's power to dispel evil.

As for the magecraft released by Morgan, [The Star of Hope That Embraces You (Around Caliburn)], whether it merely temporarily alters the surrounding environment with magical energy to simulate the scenery of Avalon, or actually opens the gate to Avalon — the two of them were unable to reach a conclusion.

In reality, that point was unimportant. As long as they were clear that the effect of this magecraft was extremely powerful, that would be enough.

—Although Shirou did not understand the exact concept of corrective defense, according to what Morgan had said, there almost existed no attack capable of breaking through corrective defense. Understanding that alone was sufficient for him.

—Beyond corrective defense, the magecraft was also capable of dispelling negative statuses and enhancing all aspects of the physical body. The auxiliary effect of combining both was indeed powerful.

From Shirou's own perspective, he believed that Morgan's trump card had reached the level of a grand magecraft.

The only drawback was that this magecraft consumed an excessive amount of magical energy. Previously, Morgan had nearly collapsed after using it just once; if Shirou had not supplied magical energy in time, she would have at least remained unconscious for an entire day.

"Shirou, have you noticed any change in yourself?"

Morgan suddenly asked.

Her question left Shirou puzzled. He examined himself from the perspective of a magus, but he did not detect any abnormalities in his Magic Circuits or his physical condition.

"No change,"

Shirou replied, shaking his head.

Upon hearing that, Morgan said, "As expected," and then let out a sigh.

"Is the enhancement brought by the bell limited only to the body of a Fairy of Paradise?"

Morgan sounded rather regretful.

In order for Shirou to understand, she slightly released a portion of the magical energy within her body.

With a boom, as if struck by a raging wind, had Morgan not been holding onto him, Shirou would likely have been slammed into a wall by the violent yet invisible storm.

"Kh… was that… a storm formed entirely by magical energy?"

Shirou finally understood Morgan's earlier words.

Different from when he first met her, the Morgan after ringing the bell had become even stronger—especially in terms of the total amount of magical energy within her.

If, at first, Morgan's magical energy level had only been around a grade of E, then now it had increased to at least a C rating.

In other words, Morgan's magical energy had grown by at least tenfold. Taking into account the vast number of magecrafts she had mastered—

The Morgan now was on a completely different level in terms of strength compared to before.

No wonder she had told Shirou not to worry about the issue of magical energy.

"Fairies of Paradise are [Stars of Origin] that drifted from the Sea of Stars to the earth. Their different origin makes them [Fairies That Grow]."

This time, it was Ainsel—who often lacked presence—who answered.

Her knowledge was profound, and she also possessed the ability to foresee the future, giving her a unique understanding of the Fairies of Paradise.

"Yes, Ainsel." Morgan nodded. "At the beginning, I couldn't even compare to a low-class fairy, but as long as certain conditions are met, my strength will continue to increase."

As the name implies, the condition referred to was the ringing of the Pilgrimage Bell.

As long as the Pilgrimage Bell continued to be rung, Morgan's power would grow in leaps and bounds— from one to ten, from ten to a hundred, then from a hundred to a thousand…

There were a total of six bells. Theoretically, Morgan could strengthen herself six times in total—enough to elevate her from a low-class fairy to the strongest fairy.

No doubt, when Morgan held Shirou's hand and rang the bell with him, she had hoped to increase his power as well.

Unfortunately, the bell could only let Shirou briefly witness the Sea of Stars and could not strengthen him personally.

Perhaps, that was the case.

"Since we've already rung the first bell and my strength has been enhanced, next we should discuss the matter of the Crimson Calamity."

Although she regretted that Shirou couldn't benefit from it, Morgan quickly shifted the topic to more pressing concerns.

The looming catastrophe facing the Mirror Clan—Albion's draconic corpse fused with the resentment of the northern fairies—was the most urgent crisis at hand.

"Ainsel, fate is never fixed. If you don't believe that, then I shall personally change it before your eyes."

The hand Morgan continued to hold with Shirou tightened in grip, expressing her determination.

"I will face the Calamity together with Shirou."

If she couldn't even suppress a mere "calamity," then what right did she have to protect Britain?

In her view, while the calamity was indeed fearsome, it was nothing more than that.

The reason Britain's fairies feared the calamity so deeply was because the calamity itself countered their very existence. It was their natural enemy.

No matter how strong one was, facing a natural enemy still brought the risk of total destruction.

But Morgan was different. She was a fairy, yes—but a Fairy of Paradise. The calamity's counteractive effect was minimal against her.

What's more, she had Shirou at her side. With that, there was no way she would lose to the calamity.

"I believe in your vow."

"Great Fairy of Paradise, the entire Mirror Clan shall become your sword and shield, to aid you in defeating the corpse of Albion and returning it to its slumber."

Whether it was unexpected or to be expected, Ainsel's attitude had changed significantly compared to the night before.

Perhaps it was due to Morgan's sudden increase in power that she now believed. That explanation certainly made sense.

For pure fairies, so-called laws could not restrain their inherently free nature. Only overwhelming power could fully subdue them.

Such thoughts arose in Morgan's heart.

As for whether Ainsel had truly changed her attitude due to power—ultimately, that no longer mattered to Morgan. What mattered now was… if she encountered other clan fairies in the future, and if words failed to reach them, then in the end, she could indeed rely on force to persuade them.

"According to your prophecy, how much time remains until the Crimson Calamity officially erupts?" Morgan asked bluntly.

"Five days."

"Five days, huh… Mm, that's enough time. Then let's rest well today, and depart officially tomorrow."

Morgan set the date to confront the calamity.

She was not the type to passively defend. If possible, she preferred to strike first, turning defense into offense.

Only by thrusting the spear first could one force the enemy into a defensive stance with shield raised.

One step ahead, and every step thereafter follows.

"Understood. Today, I shall gather the army capable of fighting, and tomorrow I shall ride out with you," Ainsel said.

Morgan only nodded in acknowledgment. Then, she left the Bell Hall with Shirou.

Compared to when she had entered, she now carried a newfound composure—perhaps a change brought about by her increase in strength.

Although the change was still faint, Shirou could sense it.

"Compared to before, you've become a lot more mature," Shirou remarked.

"Is that so? I've matured… Mm, you're right. It's good to be a bit more mature."

Morgan, praised, blushed slightly. But then, as if recalling something, her mood lifted.

She gripped Shirou's hand even tighter, as though if she let go, Shirou would vanish.