Chapter 46: A Single Thing Can Sometimes Take Precedence Over Everything
"If I have to give one reason... it would be to save as many people as possible."
For Shirou Emiya, this is an undeniable reason.
Even though he has already made a choice between his sister and the world, he would absolutely not change this philosophy, because this is how Shirou Emiya lives.
When he sees someone in need of saving right in front of him, he can't help but want to save them. However, as I said, the premise is that they want to be saved. No matter how powerful one's ability is, a person can only save those who wish to be saved.
"Then why?"
"Incidents, natural disasters, illnesses... people you don't even know are dying every day; that's just a matter of course.
If someone dies because of a Cursed Spirit, you can't stand idly by?"
Masamichi Yaga's question was clearly pedantic. Due to differences in function, as well as the limits of one's ability and energy, there's only so much one person can accomplish.
Farmers are responsible for planting, janitors for cleaning, firefighters for rescues, and protective measures for natural disasters; the function of Sorcerers is to eliminate Cursed Spirits and protect non-Sorcerers.
However, from the perspective of a Jujutsu educator, he believes this kind of deep questioning is necessary.
Most people in the world live in a daze; their lives lack a clear goal, and the biggest victory is simply living a little better day by day.
But Sorcerers cannot afford this.
"A Sorcerer deals with death constantly. Not just their own death; they see people killed by Curses, and they must personally exterminate Curses.
If you merely want to save people, wouldn't it be better to pursue a career in medicine?" A Sorcerer who cannot look honestly into their own heart or doesn't know what they truly want.
When faced with desperation, it's difficult for them to burst forth with astonishing willpower. A clumsy escape would be considered a good ending, as they wouldn't have been senselessly killed by a Cursed Spirit.
Wouldn't it be laughable to realize at the last moment that being a Sorcerer wasn't the job they wanted most?
"Here we go again, here we go again..." This was Gojo Satoru's very quiet grumbling.
"As for why I want to save people..."
Hearing Masamichi Yaga's question, Emiya couldn't help but start reflecting. But having gone through so much, he is no longer the confused boy he once was, so Emiya naturally recounted that story—
"When I was very young, my hometown experienced a massive explosion that turned several kilometers of the city into a sea of fire, and I was saved there by him." The person Emiya was describing was Kiritsugu Emiya, who raised him and taught him various Magecraft and combat techniques.
"I still remember that face. It was the figure of a man whose eyes were filled with tears because he had found someone still alive, but who was genuinely happy from the bottom of his heart.
He looked so happy, it was as if the one saved wasn't me, but himself."
Still alive... still alive! Really still alive... That's what Kiritsugu said while holding his hand.
"Just like that, he thanked someone, as if he was grateful to a higher power, in a tone that even the dying me felt envious of.
He said that saving even just one person was his own salvation."
Emiya knew Kiritsugu was that kind of person. At that time, he would choose to sacrifice the few without hesitation if it meant saving the majority, yet he would feel immense pain and self-reproach for making that choice.
Despite harboring an idealistic dream, his actions were utterly realistic; he was a contradictory person. But perhaps because of that, Kiritsugu was able to pursue his ideal to that extent all by himself.
"Was he your family?" Masamichi Yaga asked.
"Yes. And only later did I learn that my old man's childhood dream was to become a Hero of Justice, but he also said that after growing up, he realized heroes have a shelf life.
So when I was a child, I said that I would inherit his dream." The term Hero of Justice truly ran through the life of 'Shirou Emiya,' and even in the other worlds Emiya saw in his dreams.
"I see, you inherited a family member's dream.
That sounds wonderful, but if that's all there is to it, I would have to say it's not suitab—
No, Kiritsugu pursued his wish until his death, and I once wanted to follow in his footsteps to become a Hero of Justice." Masamichi Yaga was interrupted by Emiya before he could finish.
"But a while ago... or maybe quite a long time ago.
I realized then that I was merely imitating the form of justice, imitating my family and what it meant to be human; I was just an empty shell."
Imitation is a human instinct. When people are in dangerous or unfamiliar environments, herd mentality is infinitely magnified.
Even in a disaster, they may not know which direction is safe, but as long as they see many people running there, they will feel justified in following. The Shirou Emiya saved by Kiritsugu Emiya naturally and subconsciously imitated that Hero of Justice.
The reason everything changed was later—
"It wasn't until I unexpectedly lost my family that I realized what was more important to me. And after losing another important person, I gradually became the person I am now."
If it was Gojo Satoru, he would quickly understand that Emiya was referring to his body.
"I only started to become stronger to save my sister, and in that process, I gradually realized one thing.
It might sound selfish, but for me... a single thing can sometimes take precedence over everything.
The reason I go out to save people is also because I want to try and protect that kind of thing... the genuine smile right in front of me, and the absence of tears and sadness."
Emiya's ideal is no longer the hollow idea of saving the world by becoming a Hero of Justice, but a more selfish 'protection.'
Protecting his sister, protecting that happiness, and of course, being willing to protect every beautiful thing in front of him that is worth protecting. Thinking about saving humanity in the broader Human History is still too distant and empty for him.
"So, in order to protect that single thing you speak of, you would even go so far as to destroy the world, right?" Masamichi Yaga asked this question.
"Ah, undoubtedly.
...But an answer like that probably won't be considered acceptable, right?" Although he was speaking the truth, Emiya half-expected to be rejected as a teacher because of it.
However, not only was Masamichi Yaga somewhat taken aback by the answer, but Gojo Satoru couldn't help but laugh, his smile broader than a machine gun could suppress.
"No, you've passed." Looking at Emiya, Masamichi Yaga's tone was very serious. "Not only that, but your answer was quite perfect."
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