Fate: Hero of Justice Takeover-Chapter 628

Chapter 628: The Wish of the King-Saint

Many might have forgotten, so let me remind you about the nature of our Emperor’s Noble Phantasm.

Noble Phantasm: Laus Saint Claudius—The Golden Theater That Invites the Heart to Dance.

Using magical energy, she recreates the theater she built during her lifetime in Rome—a theater she personally designed and named Domus Aurea.

This is a great magecraft that temporarily materializes her inner world as an alien realm, similar yet distinct from a Reality Marble. By reproducing the theater and structures she designed in life through magical energy, she creates a battlefield advantageous to her.

Upon activation, it weakens enemies trapped within. By customizing the architecture, both its form and abilities can be altered. Simply put, it projects buildings while ignoring the construction process, and within this space, the rules she establishes take effect.

This Golden Theater is Nero’s absolute imperial domain.

When she summons this Noble Phantasm within an enemy’s Reality Marble, the two collide like a contest of strength. The Noble Phantasm with the stronger effect and higher rank seizes control of the area.

Nursery Rhyme’s C-rank Noble Phantasm, "Eternal Engine·Maiden Empire," was clearly no match for Nero’s B-rank "Laus Saint Claudius." The endless soldiers and knights were effortlessly defeated in this simple battle of superiority.

Golden-red phantasmal light streaked across the battlefield, weaving together the magnificent theater. Rose petals scattered through the air as the card soldiers froze in place, crumbling into dust. Even the mighty knights of four colors visibly slowed, soon falling to Nero’s blade.

This time, they did not revive.

Had Alice and Nursery Rhyme concealed themselves better, had Hakuno not possessed such keen insight, had Nero not firmly believed in her Master’s resolve—

But there were no "what ifs." The truth was, in this battle, Hakuno and Nero trusted each other completely, fighting side by side with flawless coordination and mutual faith, emerging victorious against Alice and Nursery Rhyme.

"Ah... we lost just like that?" The barrier shattered, the soldiers vanished, and the White Queen, as if unable to process what had happened, stared blankly at the crimson figure charging toward them.

Nero didn’t respond to Alice’s words. To prevent Nursery Rhyme from using any more abilities, she swung her sword, cutting down the last knight before silently charging toward the two remaining queens. Her red dress, tattered and torn, made her look as though she were bathed in flames.

The edge of the Primordial Flame pointed straight at Alice.

Clang!

But just as Nero was mere steps away from Alice, a crimson barrier descended from the sky, separating the two. This wasn’t Nursery Rhyme’s doing—it was the Moon Cell’s predetermined judgment of defeat, the "Fated Death" imposed once one side was deemed utterly vanquished.

An invisible, solemn wind howled as the white and black flowers began to wither.

"Tch. Even after seeing it twice, this sight never sits well with me."

Nero stood beside the barrier, gazing from the world of the living into the realm of death, her displeasure growing. "I’d rather send these two off with my beloved sword."

A swordsman who kills remembers every soul felled by their blade, carrying their memories forward step by step.

But the Moon Cell was different. It mechanically processed data of 0s and 1s, executing rigid protocols with cold indifference.

This vast, frigid lunar world remembered no one. Fleeting hopes, the brilliance of humanity, warm memories—all were worthless variables, mere friction between gears, redundant to its calculations.

It was precisely because Nero saw through the nature of this colossal system that she scoffed at the Moon Cell’s judgment. Yet when she turned and saw Hakuno, panting as she ran toward her, the gloom in her heart vanished, replaced by a radiant smile.

Spinning around, the Emperor in her "new attire" pounced, pinning her clever and adorable Master to the ground without a care for her own exposed state:

"As expected of my Praetor! A splendid reversal! I admire you more and more!"

First came a fragrant breeze, then an intimate encounter with the dirt. Hakuno struggled desperately but was once again subjected to Nero’s suffocating embrace, leaving her dizzy and disoriented. For some reason, this helpless expression only excited Nero further, her ahoge swaying wildly as her affection for Hakuno skyrocketed.

Hakuno, the Moon World’s succubus, and Nero, the Fifth Emperor of Rome—

Quickly getting up, Hakuno turned to look beyond the crimson barrier, only to find the two little girls resting their chins on their hands, watching the not-so-child-friendly scene with great interest...

"You don’t seem afraid of being erased at all." Nero, her Spirit Origin already repaired with magical energy, observed Alice and Nursery Rhyme with curiosity. "You’re about to disappear, you know?"

"Mhm, I know!" Alice and Nursery Rhyme replied cheerfully, like students answering a teacher’s question, completely unfazed by their impending demise. "It’s because Alice and Alice (Nursery Rhyme) realized we couldn’t win against you, so the Moon Cell judged us defeated, right?"

"The Mad Hatter was right—the March Hare is really strong."

"Yeah, yeah. It’s frustrating, but losing is losing~"

The Mad Hatter... Sakatsuki? Hakuno caught the keyword and immediately turned to the chattering pair. "Wait, what did Sakatsuki say to you?"

"Well..." Alice stuck out her tongue. "It’s a secret~"

"No, no." Nursery Rhyme tugged at her Master’s skirt. "The Mad Hatter told us, didn’t he? About the March Hare."

"Oh, right, that time!" Alice suddenly remembered. The purplish-black hue of annihilation had already crept past her chest, inching toward her face.

Yet the Alice of Wonderland continued to sing joyfully, repeating the words the young man had left behind.

"Every victory you achieve means trampling over another’s life—that is the cold truth of the Holy Grail War."

"But do not feel guilt, young maiden. The victor must carry the sacrifices forward, step by step, until they reach the stars."

"Look ahead. Winter is coming. The flower that leaves the greenhouse must now face the frost alone."

Where the girls pointed, a figure seemed to walk further into the distance. When he glanced back, as if sensing something, his golden eyes gleamed with amusement at the gem he had polished himself.

"Keep winning, Hakuno. I look forward to your performance." 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

———

By the time Hakuno left the arena after her battle with Alice, dawn had already broken. Ignoring the awed gazes of the other Masters at the "grinding maniac," she trudged dejectedly toward her room.

"You seem down, Praetor," Nero said softly, following behind her. "Are you mourning the disappearance of those two girls?"

Hakuno nodded, a sorrowful smile on her face. "Even though this is the third time I’ve witnessed an end, even though I already understand this is the Holy Grail War, this is the nature of battle... Alice and the others won’t return here."

The conversations, the laughter, the promises made while pretending to have amnesia—all would remain only as memories, quietly awaiting the moment they were forgotten.

This truth weighed heavily on Hakuno’s heart.

"Are you grieving death?"

A warm voice touched her sinking heart. It was Leo, the uncrowned king of the Holy Grail War. The boy stood before her, his emerald-green eyes clear and solemn, radiating a sacred dignity.

"The disappearance of life is a sorrowful thing. Especially in such a heartless battle, it feels all the colder—because this isn’t a fight born of hatred or revenge, but one where both sides share the same goal yet cannot coexist."

"I acknowledge your grief and pain, for the same scene plays out in the world below. People fight and kill for their own wishes, repeating the same meaningless cycle."

As if sensing Hakuno’s hesitation, the boy spoke gently, laying out his ideals.

"So that one day, no one will die meaninglessly—that is why I have come here, to pass judgment upon it."

"My goal is complete management and order. By gathering all resources and distributing them with maximum efficiency, as long as people’s lives lack nothing, war will not arise. Bringing perfect equality to all—this is the only solution the world should have, the most ideal form of society."

"What do you think? Surely you, Hakuno, would agree with my wish?"

A world where no one starves or suffers, where all are clothed and fed—

It was for this ideal that the boy, the King-Saint, had come to the Moon’s Holy Grail War.

Faced with such a firm and noble wish, did she even have the right to oppose it?

If Leo obtained the Holy Grail, would tragedies like Alice’s, like the old knight’s and Shinji’s, cease to exist?

The boy’s words were like poison—or perhaps a cure? In her grief over Alice’s death, Hakuno found herself strangely drawn to his reasoning.

Yet... one thing remained unclear.

Had Hakuno not been guided by Sakatsuki’s teachings, had she not been touched by the winds of freedom, she might have supported Leo’s ideals.

But the Hakuno standing before Leo was the uncrowned king of the Moon Cell, recognized by Sakatsuki.

"Let me ask you, Leo, heir of the Western European conglomerate." Collecting her thoughts, Hakuno cut straight to the heart of Leo’s argument.

"Just how far does this ’management’ of yours extend? If the resources you monopolize aren’t just material, but spiritual and soulful as well?"

"Does your wish include the ’management’ of life itself? From birth to death, are people’s lives also part of your grand design?"

Faced with Hakuno’s questions, Leo didn’t evade. He admitted it outright.

"Precisely. What I seek is a perfect world. Resource management should be based on efficient distribution. To ensure stability across different strata and classes, to construct a world free of dangerous elements, I will design the most suitable life for every individual..."

"No."

Before Leo could finish, Hakuno interrupted, her expression firm. "A world like that has no future. The people in it would merely be alive—no different from livestock."

Once again, she thought of Sakatsuki.

Had he foreseen this, or were his words mere coincidence? Why did Leo’s ideals sound so much like the stories of "Lostbelts" Sakatsuki told her before bed?

Regardless, the fate of those Lostbelts had already sealed the end of Leo’s dream.

"A stagnant world has no future. A so-called perfect society would hinder humanity’s progress. Only imperfection drives advancement. What you’re doing is merely waiting for destruction."

"Leo, your ideal is doomed to fail."

A girl in red, like a startled doe, hid around the corner, her eyes widening in shock at Hakuno’s resolute declaration. Leo, too, stared at Hakuno as if seeing her for the first time. After a moment, he laughed—a carefree, almost amused laugh.

"...Interesting. But I still believe a ruler is necessary. Hakuno, though your views align somewhat with Rin’s, I’m afraid the light that illuminates this planet need only be mine."

His tone was one of natural pride. Meeting Hakuno’s wary gaze, the young King-Saint declared:

"If you cannot be a lamb, then die. Just as the Asian sphere under Rin’s leadership is about to be destroyed. Ah, of course, my offer remains open. Should you wish to join us in safeguarding humanity’s future, our doors are always open."

The unwavering King-Saint departed. The girl hiding in the shadows vanished without a sound. Only Hakuno remained, continuing her unfinished path. Leo’s ideals didn’t linger long in her mind. Though she still didn’t understand her own wish, she knew one thing for certain—the boy’s path was not the one ahead of her.

Yet even as she deliberately ignored this interlude, the deaths of Alice and the others once again filled her heart.

Though she couldn’t accept his ideals, Leo strode proudly toward his own future.

Then... what is my wish?

Lost in thought, Hakuno pushed open the door to her room—and froze in shock at the sight before her.

"You... how are you—?"