Recalling the moment he had called out to that black-robed old man, Emiya Shirou couldn't stop his face from heating up.

It was embarrassing.

Very embarrassing.

He had originally thought that, after stepping out, the other party would at least ask how he had seen through such perfect Presence Concealment.

Instead, he was ignored completely.

After thinking it through, Emiya Shirou arrived at the answer.

The direction he had shouted toward was completely different from where the man had actually been standing.

Knowing full well that Emiya Shirou was talking nonsense, the man had still stepped out of the shadows.

And in doing so, severed Ereshkigal's contract with the Three Goddess Alliance.

Just imagining what would have happened if he hadn't come out made Emiya Shirou cringe so hard he felt like he could carve out a three-bedroom apartment with his toes.

"What? You're saying his Presence Concealment was at the pinnacle?"

Roman's voice rose sharply.

The thought that even Chaldea's detection systems couldn't observe such concealment made a horrifying conclusion surface in his mind.

Emiya Shirou's reply confirmed it.

"Exactly. Just like you're thinking, Roman."

"The one who appeared really was that person."

"Is it really him?"

Roman's voice trembled with excitement.

"Hey! What riddles are you two playing at?"

"Just say it already!"

Standing behind Emiya Shirou with her hands on her hips, Ishtar shouted impatiently.

Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mash nodded along vigorously.

Seeing that, Emiya Shirou stopped dancing around the topic.

"He's an existence on the same level as your final opponent."

"Grand Caster-the Mage King Solomon."

He paused.

"Grand Assassin."

"The First Hassan."

"Grand Assassin?!"

"The First Hassan?!"

As expected, the moment Emiya Shirou finished speaking, Ishtar, Ereshkigal, Fujimaru Ritsuka, and Mash all cried out in shock.

Even Gilgamesh's pupils contracted slightly-though his expression didn't change.

The appearance of a Grand Servant was enough to shake anyone.

Though Gilgamesh and Merlin were both candidates for Grand Class, a candidate was still only a candidate.

Until one truly ascended to the Grand seat, their Saint Graph was no different from that of an ordinary Servant.

Amid the shock, the corners of Gilgamesh's mouth curled upward.

The arrival of the First Hassan drastically increased their odds of defeating Tiamat.

This was a variable he had never foreseen.

Before Fujimaru Ritsuka and the others arrived, Gilgamesh had already seen the future.

He had made every preparation possible.

And yet, even so, Tiamat remained unbeatable.

What he needed were variables.

Now-

Those variables were appearing one by one alongside Fujimaru Ritsuka's arrival.

How could he not be excited?

"So it really was the First Hassan..."

Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mash both murmured.

During the previous Singularity, they had heard that name more than once.

An existence feared by all Hassans.

"Yes."

"It was him."

"And the reason he appeared here is because of his bond with you, Ritsuka."

"He was drawn to this Singularity by you."

"He's also our greatest ally here."

Emiya Shirou was very clear about one thing.

Without the First Hassan's strike-without the sacrifice of his Grand title-

Tiamat could never be defeated.

After explaining everything, Emiya Shirou turned and walked toward Ereshkigal.

He extended his hand.

"Come, Eresh."

"Let's form a contract."

"Ah-"

Ereshkigal, who had been lost in thought, was startled.

She stared at Emiya Shirou's outstretched palm, hesitating.

"What?"

"As a goddess, are you planning to go back on your word?"

Emiya Shirou's tone carried deliberate provocation.

"Who's going back on their word?!"

Completely baited, Ereshkigal immediately reached out and placed her hand in his.

The next instant, her hand was clasped tightly.

Her face flushed a deep red.

She quickly turned her head aside, unable to meet his eyes.

As Emiya Shirou activated the contract, their magical energies connected.

Mana intertwined.

Warm.

Resonant.

Feeling that familiar sensation, Emiya Shirou smiled.

"From today on, we're eternal companions."

"Please take care of me."

Hearing words that sounded almost like a confession, Ereshkigal replied in a small voice.

"Mm..."

"Please take care of me too."

...

"Ah, perfect. Perfect."

Walking along the path back toward the surface, the atmosphere among Emiya Shirou's group was exceptionally light.

Their original goal in descending to the Underworld had only been to rescue Gilgamesh.

But now-

They had gone far beyond that.

Not only had they saved Gilgamesh, they had gained Ereshkigal's support and completely dismantled the Three Goddess Alliance.

The harvest was more than generous.

"It's such a shame Goddess Ereshkigal didn't come to the surface with us."

Mash spoke with genuine regret.

"I really wanted her to see the surface with her own eyes."

"It can't be helped."

"As the Mistress of the Underworld during an era filled with constant death, she's destined to be busy."

"She also has to release all the souls she gathered."

"And more importantly..."

"She can't exert much strength on the surface anyway."

"In that case, it's better for her to remain in the Underworld and provide support when needed."

"As for enjoying the world-"

Emiya Shirou, walking at the front, spoke calmly.

"Once we defeat all our enemies and resolve this Singularity, we'll have plenty of time to take her around."

"Yeah."

Fujimaru Ritsuka nodded firmly.

She agreed completely.

They were about to face the final battle with Gorgon.

No one had time for sightseeing.

And besides-

With the world drowning in death and conflict, even Ereshkigal wouldn't be able to enjoy herself.

"Speaking of which."

Gilgamesh suddenly spoke.

"Ishtar."

"In myth, you once descended into the Underworld."

"You should've known Ereshkigal hated you."

"So why did you still challenge the Underworld?"

At that, everyone turned to Ishtar.

Their gazes filled with curiosity.

Ishtar scratched her cheek awkwardly.

"No particular reason."

"I just couldn't stand it."

"Being ordered by the gods never to leave the Underworld or whatever..."

"The moment I heard something that disgusting, I couldn't just sit still."

"It's just the Underworld."

"Why not leave it behind and come out?"

"I went down there just to tell Ereshkigal that."

"..."

Silence followed.

Then-

Laughter erupted.

"That really suits you, Ishtar!"

"Exactly!"

"That's totally Miss Ishtar's style!"

The one laughing the hardest was Gilgamesh.

"Hahahaha!"

"And in the end, you were stripped bare and killed."

"Truly hopeless!"

"That way of provoking others is completely your style."

"No wonder Ereshkigal was furious."

"If things were that easy, who would bother working so hard?"

"But looking at the outcome..."

Emiya Shirou spoke after the laughter subsided.

"You did succeed."

"Right?"

Ishtar smiled brightly.

"No matter how it happened, she finally left the Underworld."

She lifted her chin proudly.

"So in the end..."

"I won."

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