Chapter 50. The World-Shaking Masterpiece of Shiina Mashiro – Northern Ireland Demands Independence!
"So that's the end, huh..."
The Celestial Curtain gradually faded away, and many people on Earth let out a light sigh, their eyes squinting with regret.
They were overwhelmed by an indescribable emptiness, as if they had been immersed in a magnificent short play that was suddenly interrupted. After watching it, their souls felt lost, their hearts stifled and irritated, and they had no interest in doing anything else.
The more sensitive and emotionally rich a person was, the easier it was to fall into this state.
Where's the next part?
When will Fate/staynight resume airing?
The thrilling Noble Phantasm battles, the grudges between Masters and Servants, the intense clashes of various factions...
It was like a glorious and grand tapestry slowly unfolding.
No one could resist being drawn in by the aura of the Servants.
Especially 'King Arthur' Artoria Pendragon, the peerless Holy King, the noble one from Ancient Britain…
A truly capable leader, devoted to national affairs and deeply loving her people.
Her holy sword carried her ideals; she had walked to the edge of the world, her name forever engraved on the Throne of Heroes.
The miracle that happened at the ancient castle in Greenland was still shaking the entire world.
No—
To be precise, the temporary suspension of Celestial Curtain gave people time to think.
Many miraculous events began to erupt, continually stirring the hearts of humankind.
"This is… the unprecedented variable of a thousand years, isn't it?"
Someone murmured.
Around them, countless people nodded in stunned agreement, still shaken deep inside.
No one dared to underestimate the "revolution" brought by Celestial Curtain — because if it had existed this long, it must have already withstood focused firepower from nations, waves of military attacks, and yet it still stood silently and towering above, coldly observing the world.
The force behind it… must be something far beyond the imagination of mankind!
"The appearance of Celestial Curtain… must conceal a purpose grand enough to shake the world…"
In the United Kingdom, a blonde, blue-eyed young lady named Cecilia gazed into the distance in a daze.
The elite European education she received had always taught her: in times of change, if one does nothing, they will be swept away by the tide of the times and be buried.
And when the tide recedes, all that remains will be a lonely white skeleton lying on the sand.
"Perhaps… the revolution has already begun, hasn't it?"
She took a sip of tea, her gaze complicated as she looked out the window.
...
Outside was a world in chaos, with four to five million Britons on strike and protesting.
"Northern Ireland, independence!!"
"Empire Where the Sun Never Sets, Brexit!!"
"—Welcome the Sword in the Stone, restore King Arthur!!"
"The power of the working class is limitless! We cannot let sewer rats steal the fruits of our labor!"
The man at the front wore a serious expression, waving the brilliant flag of the British Empire.
He raised his hand and shouted, the crowd erupting like a volcanic explosion, ready to roar to the heavens.
Each person may have held a different ideal, but the desire for the government to make concessions was one and the same.
The British Empire had possessed far too many colonies, leading to countless historical aftereffects, with constant ethnic conflicts…
Though diverse in ethnicity, there were primarily two major groups: the Anglo-Saxons and the Celts.
Those who fervently worshiped King Arthur, taking pride in their bloodline—
—were the Celts.
They are primarily distributed in Western Europe.
Today, the Irish, Scottish, Welsh, Cornish in England, and the Bretons in France all belong to the Celtic ethnic group.
Because King Arthur was the Red Dragon who resisted the barbaric Anglo-Saxons, the king in Celtic mythology.
Taking advantage of the Greenland incident, the people were stirred, and under the guidance of public sentiment, a strong, unbreakable unity had formed. The Irish government suddenly awakened and began to quietly push forward plans, aiming to hold another referendum for independence.
So why do the people want Ireland to leave the union?
Because those Brits are nothing less than real bloodsuckers—Ireland was a colony of Britain.
There are just too many things between them that can't be reconciled!
Take just the period from 1845 to 1850, when the Great Famine struck Ireland—while under the rule of the British Empire, the main food crop, potatoes, rotted, and blight spread rampantly...
In just five short years, millions of Irish people died, the population decreased by a quarter, leading to a massive wave of migration.
How could anyone swallow something like that?
But because the territories were adjacent, and they couldn't win in a fight, and since science and technology weren't developed at that time, they had no choice but to grit their teeth and survive.
Now that they have the power to turn the tables, of course they should take this opportunity to pressure the British government!
Moreover, the act of returning the rusted Sword in the Stone currently housed in the British Museum back to Ireland for the people to see is also a good way to stir up public emotion.
In addition, after the illusionary event in Glastonbury, the aftershocks were still huge.
Plane tickets to Glastonbury were sold out.
Millions of people around the world had entered a frenzy, longing to witness with their own eyes the place where the miracle happened.
The videos filmed by tourists at that time were spreading wildly on YouTube, with view counts easily surpassing billions.
Perhaps…
In just a few days, millions of tourists would flood into Glastonbury.
They were people from all nations, all ethnicities with different skin colors and faces, carrying reverence for King Arthur, coming to behold that ruin.
Of course, the one they venerated was not some vague King Arthur of this world…
But the female Arthur from a parallel world!
That pure heart, those radiant eyes, that solemn sense of justice…
Had already captivated countless people.
They were already infected—with an incurable illness called "King Poison."
Or more specifically—the Simps disease.
Online devotees from all corners gathered together and, fueled by the excitement of their like-minded souls, quickly formed the organization 'Great Britain King of Knights Support Group', and anyone who wanted to join had to solemnly swear the organization's motto.
And that was—
"Where the King's sword points, is where my heart points!!"
The roar echoed through the blue sky, filled with the fervor of a vow to live and die following King Arthur, making the blood boil in one's veins.
...
At the same time, in the British Empire—
An oil painting that shocked the world appeared, bearing the signature of the artist "Shiina Mashiro."
In the painting, the King of Knights, solemn and majestic, was driving the sacred Sword in the Stone into the ground, her ancient cloak billowing like a thick quilt, the Round Table Knights standing around her in solemn protection, holding swords and standing tall with resolve.
A faint red hue adorned each person, radiating a sacred aura like the first rays of dawn.
The entire painting seemed to contain the destiny of ancient Britain, with the expressions of the knights vividly lifelike.
The artwork was quickly highly praised and ultimately presented to the noble and elegant Queen Elizabeth.
"What a magnificent painting…"
In the British Parliament chamber, Queen Elizabeth II couldn't hide her admiration.
She reached out to stroke the head of the blond child in front of her, her gaze on the painting filled with astonishment, joy, and a hint of enchantment.
"Mashiro, what kind of reward would you like?"
"Um..."
Shiina Mashiro tilted her head in thought.
She had painted this piece simply to preserve the majestic image of that King.
A reward?
She had never even thought about it…
"Can't think of one?"
Elizabeth II smiled gently, "You must really like King Arthur, right? Then I shall have the royal guards escort you to the museum, so you can personally see the Sword in the Stone passed down from ancient times."
"Yes, thank you…"
Shiina Mashiro nodded calmly, though a trace of joy rose in her heart.
Before long, under the escort of the royal guards, her figure gradually disappeared into the distance…