Fate/Ultimate Antagonist

[128] Tired

Yellow is the color of the earth.

The young man in a yellow robe, holding a withered branch, stood amidst thousands of unwilling souls.

When the azure sky dies, the yellow sky shall rise.

Unyielding determination, summoning the souls.

The young man stood silently, his dark yellow robe fluttering in the scorching wind.

Reinhard didn't know what to say or if there was anything left to say.

All the impassioned words he had prepared seemed to have drained away at this moment.

He might be the most villainous person in the world.

Because he was truly cruel.

These people didn't have to die, he could have saved them.

So what if he faced five thousand armored soldiers, a military general, and crimson mecha?

So what if he faced the entire dynasty?

So what if Alaya and Gaia were corrupted?

As Pure Heart, Reinhard could have saved their lives, allowing these pitiable people to eat their fill, wear warm clothes, and return to peaceful, stable days.

But instead, he chose to ignite this fire.

Burning has a cost.

And the fuel for this blazing fire was the lives of these nearly starved people, their barely surviving existence.

Reinhard deceived them.

He seemed to offer two choices, but there was actually a third... people could cherish their lives and still survive.

He was indeed a... villainous person.

"No, no... you're wrong, we don't want to live a life of charity, Master."

Lost in thought.

A hoarse yet gentle voice echoed in the young man's heart, the lingering will of the souls.

"We want to live with dignity."

"If that's not possible, then to die with dignity will do."

"I can grow my own food, weave my own clothes."

"But... we can't sustain ourselves..."

"Master, you spoke about a peaceful world. Does it really exist?"

A master for life.

There has never been a savior in this world.

Tears streamed down the young man's face as he caressed the withered staff in his hand. If it wasn't for sheer desperation, who would gnaw on tree bark and grass roots?

Even the tree bark had been chewed clean.

It was like extinguishing the last bit of hope.

"Peaceful world..." The young man whispered softly, dazed. "It exists, it truly exists. But you are destined never to see that day of peace..."

Such regret.

Reinhard no longer wished to deceive their hearts.

Yet...

"Yes, we understand, Master."

The people's responses were light yet resolute.

The young man stood lost in thought for a long time.

"Do you regret dying like this?"

"No regrets."

Their layered voices, rising and falling, echoed in the young man's heart.