Because the Babylonian treasury was split by Angelica, young Gilgamesh only received a small portion of lower-level or non-combat Noble Phantasms.
Therefore, the bet's terms could only be fulfilled once the cards were retrieved. Shinji wasn't in a hurry, as his opponent didn't seem like the type to cheat.
Of course, while Shinji wasn't in a rush, someone else was visibly anxious.
...
On the third day of Rin's maid life.
In the opulent reception room.
Rin, dressed as a maid, finally couldn't hold back her frustration as she watched Shinji, young Gilgamesh, and Gilgamesh argue endlessly about the proper way to make fried noodles.
"You guys, enough already!"
Rin shouted, interrupting their heated debate, and pointed at the screen showing the final battle approaching.
"The battle is starting over there! Why are you three casually discussing such trivial things? It's too abnormal!"
"Exactly! It's too abnormal!"
Shinji immediately crossed his arms and nodded in agreement, then pointed to Gilgamesh's fried noodles with lobster, abalone, and other delicacies.
"No matter how you look at it, that's not normal! Adding such things only covers the original taste of the noodles! It's like the saying 'gold and jade on the outside, rot on the inside.'"
"That's not what I meant!"
Rin fumed, feeling an uncontrollable urge to crack open Shinji's head to see what he was thinking. How infuriating!
Moreover, she was furious that even Bazett had some connection with him... So angry! She wanted to castrate him!
"Indeed," young Gilgamesh sighed, looking at Gilgamesh's luxurious noodles. "The main dish is fried noodles. Adding so many high-class ingredients overshadows it."
Hearing this, Gilgamesh, swirling his wine glass, frowned and scolded loudly, "Fools! What the king consumes must be this splendid! Only then is it worthy of the king's status! Common food would disgrace the king's name!"
"I don't think the king's name has anything to do with this. Besides, respecting the original taste of food is important."
Young Gilgamesh scratched his head, smiling awkwardly, and then brought a forkful of noodles, soaked in high-quality broth, to his mouth.
"No, you don't have the right to say that either..." Shinji, half-squinting, retorted emotionlessly. "Using that kind of broth to soak instant noodles loses the original flavor too!"
Slurping his noodles, young Gilgamesh looked at the bowl Shinji held, which contained at least three boxes of premium caviar.
"I think you're going overboard too, big brother, adding caviar is a bit much..."
Shinji chuckled and said, "Nonsense! This is just a bit of flavoring! It enhances the noodles' original taste and aroma!"
Seeing the three still arguing about the fried noodles, Rin lowered her head and sighed heavily.
She couldn't understand why these three felt no tension at all, especially Shinji. Even though his friends and acquaintances might be in danger, he could still leisurely eat noodles!
"By the way, Tohsaka."
Shinji, remembering something, picked up an unopened box of noodles and looked at Rin. "Want some? There's one more box here."
Rin: ...
...
As the final battle approached, the black Pandora's Box suddenly appeared, hovering over Fuyuki City. Seeing this, Shirou and the others, with determined expressions, prepared themselves for the confrontation.
Watching the screen showing Shirou and the Einzbern group getting ready for the final battle, Rin silently cursed Shinji while eating her noodles.
"Ah, I'm full. Maid, tea, please."
Young Gilgamesh smiled at Rin, but she coldly refused.
"Maid time is over!"
"Huh? Is that so? Well, I guess I'll have to make do with some high-quality canned tea."
A few minutes later, Rin, the last to finish her noodles, glared coldly at Shinji, young Gilgamesh, and Gilgamesh, who were all still playing or gaming without a care.
Even though the battle had started, these three acted as if nothing was happening, playing games, tinkering with car models, and browsing their phones!
"Enough, I don't even want to complain anymore."
Rin held her head and sighed heavily, then forcibly pulled Shinji, who was lying on the sofa browsing his phone, up and pointed at Shirou on the screen.
"Those two don't matter, but you should be paying attention! Archer's target is Emiya! Isn't he your friend?"
"You're worried about Emiya?"
"No! I just..."
Rin hesitated, a hint of guilt on her face, as memories of the dreams caused by her bond with Archer resurfaced.
After a long pause, Rin unclenched her fists and continued, "I just think that his way of life wasn't wrong. Emiya and Archer, even if he regrets it now, that regret isn't wrong either! It's just... it's too sad, isn't it? You'll help a friend, right? So, what about Archer? Isn't he also Emiya Shirou? So... please!"
"Hmm..." Hearing this, Shinji thought for a few seconds, then looked up with a serious expression. "Honestly, I feel a bit jealous..."
Rin's face reddened, and she turned away, stammering, "T-That's not it! It's not that kind of thing between a man and a woman... I just want you to help him because he was my Servant..."
"Then just keep watching. The only one who can save him is himself. This is true for both sides."
"Aren't you worried that Archer will kill Emiya?"
"Of course." Shinji shrugged, looking at Shirou and Archer on the screen, exhaling slightly.
"Because... his name is also Emiya Shirou."
Hearing this, Rin paused, not fully understanding.
"As long as he is the Emiya Shirou I know, their essence is the same. In short... they're both idiots."
After saying that, Shinji noticed Rin's slightly unhappy expression and asked, "What's wrong? Why the face?"
"Because you're really annoying. Always acting like you know everything, but never explaining fully. It's infuriating!"
"Even if I explained, it wouldn't change anything," Shinji replied, his tone softening. "In this world, the outcome cannot be changed. Even if the past is altered, the future remains the same. That's the tragedy of this world. In other words, Emiya Shirou doesn't have to become Heroic Spirit Emiya, but Heroic Spirit Emiya is always Emiya Shirou."
"If you keep speaking in riddles, I'll really hit you!"
Rin threatened coldly, but she understood Shinji's point. Even if Archer changed his fate in the past, he couldn't escape his predetermined destiny and reality.
"Then he... is too pitiful..."
"Can you call it pitiful when his wish was fulfilled?" Young Gilgamesh smiled, interjecting.
"That wish wasn't for himself..."
"That's not true, big sister." Young Gilgamesh interrupted Rin, looking at the screen. "An unselfish wish, regardless of who benefits, as long as it's what you wish for, it's still your wish.
The real conflict isn't between his justice—sacrificing a few to save many—and his desire for everyone around him to be happy. It's between his justice and his self-sacrificial spirit."
Rin wanted to argue but chose to remain silent.
Young Gilgamesh was right. Emiya Shirou's greatest conflict was between his belief in justice and his excessive self-sacrifice.
This was the root of Heroic Spirit Emiya's regret. He was pushed to the limit by his ideal, becoming a "justice" machine, losing all feeling.
Even after death, he couldn't escape, forced to repeat his life as a Heroic Spirit, leading to endless regret.
...
The final battle had begun without anyone noticing. The strange black box appeared over Fuyuki City, and Shirou and his group headed to the crater, ready for battle.
The battlefield was divided: Shirou faced off against Archer, getting knocked down by a combo, Saber trying to help but being stopped by Shirou, insisting on a one-on-one fight!
The heroic giant and Archer-transformed Miyu worked together, the siblings and Lancer combining their efforts against female Gilgamesh. Under the giant's efficient command and Lancer's reliable support, they managed to suppress her.
The last battlefield was Berserker and Bazett along with Luvia, fighting against Beatrice, the toughest "enemy" so far.
Julian, with a cold expression and hands in his pockets, sat on the high platform watching, seemingly indifferent and not planning to make a move...