To Become a King and a Magician 280

Title: The Holy Grail Finally Works Normally

At the entrance to the Greater Holy Grail.

Mordred watched Atalanta walk inside. “No need to follow, Master? If what you said is true, that cat girl’s wish will have a pretty big impact, right?”

“Yeah, it’s significant, but it also depends on whether the Holy Grail can grant a wish that massive.”

Naoki spoke while sitting in front of Achilles, whose body was pierced by a dozen arrows.

“The Greater Holy Grail can indeed grant wishes, that’s true. But granting a wish requires Mana. Atalanta’s wish is to create a world where all children grow up in love. That’s essentially reshaping the existing world or completely altering the minds of all humanity. A single Holy Grail doesn’t have that kind of power.”

“To grant a wish like that, it would require something like Amakusa Shirou’s idea—using a vehicle to carry the Greater Holy Grail around the world, spreading its influence to every corner.”

“So, Big Sis’s wish can’t come true?” Achilles, whose body was starting to dissolve into specks of light, gave a wry smile. “Then what’s the point of this Holy Grail War?”

The battle between Achilles and Atalanta, the final fight of this Holy Grail War, ended as it appeared now—with Achilles’ defeat.

After his heel was pierced, losing his invincibility, his leg strength drastically weakened. Having already fought a life-or-death battle with Chiron, Achilles’ remaining strength wasn’t enough to defeat Atalanta, who had barely taken any damage.

The first critical point was that he could hardly keep up with Atalanta’s speed. His prized chariot had also been shot down during his fight with Chiron, leaving him constantly kited and outmaneuvered by Atalanta.

Of course, the battle wasn’t entirely one-sided. Though Atalanta won, it was a hard-fought victory, and she sustained significant injuries. Making it to the Greater Holy Grail was likely her limit.

The bottom line: both were heavily wounded.

“What’s the Holy Grail War for?” Naoki smiled. “For the evils inherent in humans, of course. Yggdmillennia wanted to reach the Root, for power, status, honor… for everything humans desire, they wage the Holy Grail War. It’s that simple, just like the Trojan War you fought in during your life.”

The Trojan War.

A war fought for beauty, wealth, and honor.

Achilles sneered. “No matter how much time passes, humans never change in that regard. Well, I’m not much different myself… But it’s a pity. In this Holy Grail War, besides Teacher, you’re the one I most wanted to challenge.”

“You want to get crushed by the moon?”

“Oh!” Achilles, as if struck by a flashback, replied eagerly, “If I could bring down the moon with my own hands, as a warrior, I’d have almost no regrets. Sadly, in my current state, forget bringing down the moon—I might disappear just by moving a little.”

“Then next time.”

Naoki laughed. “Holy Grail Wars happen in every parallel world. Even if it’s not in this world, maybe you’ll be summoned again in the next one? If I’m there too, I wouldn’t mind letting you challenge the moon.”

“Hahaha! Sounds good! Then I’ll look forward to the day we meet on the battlefield, Magus—Natsukawa Naoki.”

Achilles, the swift-footed hero, vanished with the wind after saying that.

Thus, of the fourteen Servants in the Holy Grail War, only Atalanta remained.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

Underground.

The resting place of the Greater Holy Grail.

Wounded and limping, Atalanta arrived here. She gazed at the Greater Holy Grail, radiating golden light before her.

“The Holy Grail… is this the Holy Grail?”

It wasn’t shaped like a chalice as she’d imagined, but that didn’t matter—as long as it could grant her wish.

As if sensing the arrival of another petitioner or recognizing that the Holy Grail War had its final winner, the Greater Holy Grail suddenly emitted a blinding light, enveloping Atalanta.

When the light faded, what appeared before her was an endless white world and a beautiful woman clad in celestial white garments.

“You are…”

[Justeaze Lizrich von Einzbern, once called by that name. Now merely the personality executing the Greater Holy Grail’s functions.]

[Final winner of the Holy Grail War, Atalanta, please state your wish.]

Yes, her wish.

It didn’t matter where this was or who stood before her. What mattered was her wish.

“My wish is… to create a world where every child grows up in love.”

[Wish received, execution commencing—]

Success!

Atalanta felt a wave of relief wash over her. The Holy Grail had accepted her wish. Now, she no longer had to worry about children in this world suffering the same past as hers, and existences like Jack the Ripper would never arise again.

Finally, a world where children could be happy would come to be.

Atalanta closed her eyes in satisfaction.

At the same time, above ground.

“Wow, it’s actually starting.”

Seeing the light shining from underground, Naoki sighed with slight frustration, holding his head. “So it’s really happening this way—her wish being granted through mind rewriting… The Holy Grail’s method is brutally straightforward.”

The Holy Grail grants wishes by directly delivering the result, skipping or even bulldozing through the process. It’s like a car speeding toward a set destination, smashing through any obstacles. Mana is the power to break those obstacles and the fuel to keep the Grail’s car running.

Now, with sixty years of accumulated Mana, plus the absorption of numerous Servant souls, the Mana in the Holy Grail had reached a terrifying level. Even so, it wasn’t enough to fully realize Atalanta’s wish.

Rewriting the minds of all humanity to forcibly instill the concept of “loving children”—that’s how the Holy Grail grants wishes. But even with its current power, the Grail’s Mana might only cover all of Romania.

“If this continues, who knows what the impact on this society will be… Will an entire country turn into lifelong members of a Child Protection Association?”

“That sounds disgusting.” Mordred frowned. “Master, aren’t you going to stop it?”

“Does it need stopping?” Naoki pointed upward. “The Counter Force hasn’t made a peep, which means a change this small doesn’t bother them. For things that don’t affect the planet’s or humanity’s survival, they’re always too lazy to intervene.”

“Besides, in terms of results, there’s no harm in more people loving children. Kids growing up healthy is better, right? —Come on, time to join Gray and the others.”