Seeing Roy agree so readily, it was clear he had some measure of confidence in venturing beyond the world. He wasn't going there with a death wish, but with the certainty that he would return alive—meaning it wouldn't interfere with fulfilling his future ambitions.
And in truth, Roy truly believed this.
As for bringing the Greater Grail along, that was simply Roy's own selfish desire.
Destroying the Greater Grail outright would be a waste. Though it was unusable now, if he could one day purge its curses, it would become a true omnipotent wish-granting device—a machine capable of materializing souls. It could grant him eternal life and an immortal soul.
Since leaving it here risked another catastrophe, taking it beyond the world and hiding it away—somewhere only Roy knew—meant he could reclaim and reuse it later.
Storing it in Imaginary Number Space wasn't an option. While that dimension was sparse in physical matter and concepts, it wasn't completely empty. Worse, precisely because it was a realm only a select few could access, there was a higher chance of encountering something truly monstrous. If some eldritch horror got its hands on the corrupted Greater Grail, it wouldn't just mean losing it—it could trigger an even greater disaster.
But the Outside of the World? That was a place where truly nothing existed.
"I give up!"
Rin threw her hands up in exasperation.
"Rin, I'll leave the mansion to you."
Roy smiled and entrusted her with his request.
"While I'm gone, please look after them. Don't worry—I will come back. I have a feeling it won't take long."
Taigong Wang began sealing the Greater Grail. A massive magic circle unfolded around the volcanic crater, cutting off external mana and warping the space within, sealing both the Grail and the immense curses surrounding it.
Before long, Taigong Wang approached Roy and handed him a small orb.
The orb was deep blue, wrapped in countless layers of spellwork. Through the seals, one could glimpse a crimson sphere inside, carved with the likeness of a human woman, floating atop a lake of black mud.
"With your Mystic Eyes, breaking the seal shouldn't be difficult."
"True enough."
Roy tested the seal with his eyes and confirmed it could be easily undone.
"Then, let's set off!"
"Right!"
Taigong Wang snapped his fingers, and the two of them levitated into the air.
Higher and higher they rose, until they reached the shrinking void in the sky. Without the Greater Grail's mana sustaining it, the hole was rapidly closing. Without hesitation, the two leaped inside.
Moments later, the void vanished entirely.
But just before they jumped—
Taigong Wang suddenly glanced downward.
"I see… So it really was him."
He smiled faintly, then disappeared into the void without another worry.
Not far away.
"Tsk tsk, so I was spotted after all!"
A figure materialized on a road just two hundred meters from Mount Enzou, shedding his spiritual form.
He pulled back his hood, revealing long, azure hair tied into a ponytail. Dressed in white druid-like robes, he held a staff as slender as a spear. His face was youthful and handsome, yet carried an air of ancient wisdom.
"I was hoping to make a dramatic entrance during the climax, but they handled that King of Heroes all on their own. No chance to cash in a favor… Well, since I've got a rare opportunity to descend, and this world is so interesting, why go back so soon?"
Humming a cheerful tune, the blue-haired youth dematerialized once more.
Back in the cavern.
Rin stared at the now-empty crater, then at the sky where the void had vanished. A deep worry flickered in her eyes.
She knew Roy no longer treated his life carelessly, and with Taigong Wang accompanying him, there was some reassurance. But the Outside of the World was the domain of the Root—how could an ordinary human hope to approach it unscathed?
"You have to come back… After all you've done for me, I haven't even… repaid you… properly yet…"
By the end, her voice had dwindled to a whisper, her face burning red.
Thank goodness no one was around to hear that!
Rin slapped her cheeks to regain her composure, then strode out of the cavern.
***
Aozaki Residence.
Illya and the others, who had been waiting for Roy's triumphant return, were met only with Rin's arrival.
For Utaha and the others—who understood next to nothing about magecraft—Rin kept things simple: "The Holy Grail War is over. Roy won decisively, but he has some business to attend to and will be away for a while."
The girls, unfamiliar with the intricacies, accepted her words without question and soon relaxed, retiring for the night.
But for Illya, who saw Roy as her little brother, Rin couldn't lie.
"You're saying Roy jumped into the Outside of the World?!"
The moment Illya heard the truth, she exploded.
"Why didn't you stop him?! You're useless, Rin!"
"Bold words from a brat! This was Roy's own choice!"
"Even so, what if something happens to him?!"
"Well…"
Rin faltered for a moment before answering with conviction.
"I believe in him!"
"...For a magus, you're surprisingly sentimental."
Illya gave her a strange look—one that was oddly… affectionate?
Rin shuddered at the unexpected warmth in her gaze.
"You're talking about Roy?"
Just then, two familiar figures returned to the Aozaki residence.
Touko and Aoko walked in together, having come back to hear the outcome of the Holy Grail War.
They hadn't expected to walk into such a bombshell!
"You're telling me Roy jumped into the Outside of the World?"
Touko's face twisted as if she'd bitten into a sour plum.
"Oh? He actually went in on his own?"
Aoko, on the other hand, nodded approvingly.
"How sharp of him! I was planning to kick him in myself if he didn't think of it!"
"Do you even hear yourself, Aoko?!"
Touko's expression darkened dangerously as she loomed over her sister.
"Don't get so worked up. Roy will be fine."
Aoko laughed, pushing Touko's face away.
For Touko to care this much about someone was rare!
Was Roy some kind of human incubus or something?
"Remember what I told you before—about how I was twice compelled by some unseen force to act?"
"Why bring that up now?"
Touko scowled impatiently.
"Once was that night when I helped Roy drive off the King of Knights. The other time was three years ago, in the middle of a snowstorm, when I saved a homunculus."
Aoko shrugged, ignoring Touko's irritation as she continued.
Touko froze.
A homunculus saved in a snowstorm three years ago?
That was—
"Right. That was Roy."
Aoko pulled out a chair and sat down, resting her chin on her hand with an amused smile.
"Both times, it was the Root compelling me to act. And both times, it was to save Roy. Do you understand what that means? Roy is someone chosen by the Root. Even if you die, he won't."
***
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