The Command Spell was originally a special crest designed by Makiri Zolgen for the Holy Grail War ritual in Fuyuki, created to give Masters control over their summoned Servants. It symbolized the Master's absolute authority. While Servants with Magic Resistance could resist one Command Spell, only a few could withstand two.
After the Fourth Holy Grail War ended, Shiomi ford a new contract with Morgan, severing ties with the Grail War system—aning Command Spells were no longer part of the equation.
Shiomi's current Command Spells co from the Chaldea system. Compared to the original, their coercive power and functionality have weakened. If a Servant refuses to cooperate, even using all three may prove ineffective.
So when the Lion King forcibly took the Command Spell from him, Shiomi didn't think much of it. To him, it was just another magical resource that could be efficiently converted into Mana in a Servant's hands.
But he underestimated the power Artoria gained after becoming divine.
Once the Chaldea Command Spells transferred to her, they changed. With her godly status surpassing humanity and the contract usurped, turning the Command Spell on the "Master" beca trivial.
That's why the Lion King brought Shiomi to the front gate of the Holy City to witness the "Holy Selection." Even if soone tried to rescue him, as long as the contract remained intact and the Lion King held onto even a fraction of the Command Spell, Tenkei Shiomi wouldn't be able to escape.
Two still remained.
Bound once again by the Holy Lance, Shiomi sat cross-legged on the bedchamber carpet.
If the Lion King had no way to replenish the Command Spells, he could at least reason with that. But either way, escaping was far harder than he had imagined.
"Now you see—escaping from here isn't so easy after all," ca the Lion King's voice from behind.
It seed she had finished reviewing the Knights of the Round Table's battle reports and returned to the bedchamber after handling matters.
"I underestimated you, Lion King. I never thought you'd be able to turn a Command Spell—ant only for Servants—into a tool to restrain a Master." Shiomi gave a bitter laugh, admitting his failure.
In the end, it was a lack of planning on his part.
He'd known from the start that escaping through the city gates was impossible. His only goal had been to do what he could—intervene in the Enforcent Knights' slaughter of the refugees.
Morgan's sudden appearance had caught him completely off guard. He had thought she would be focused on carefully planning the attack on the Holy City.
Thinking back, the Lion King taking Shiomi to witness the "Holy Selection" likely hadn't been part of Morgan's calculations either.
"Abandon your original plans and walk alongside ," the Lion King said, sitting at the edge of the bed before Shiomi. "Do so, and I'll forgive your transgression today."
Shiomi sat facing the bed as the Lion King removed her cloak and dispelled her armor woven from magical energy, leaving only her form-fitting battle robe.
The deep blue of the robe made her fair skin appear even paler.
She seed completely unconcerned by the bare skin at her chest. Sitting naturally at the bedside, she looked down at Shiomi with her usual gaze.
"No. After witnessing your so-called 'Holy Selection,' I've only beco more certain. Maybe you have your reasons, maybe you truly believe you're saving humanity. But selecting a handful of people based on your own standards, and 'recycling' them like objects... I can't agree with that." Shiomi t the Lion King's gaze directly.
The Lion King was silent for a mont. She raised her index finger, not to unleash punishnt through the Holy Lance, but to release the chains that had bound Shiomi like a rice dumpling. Only the original restraints on his limbs and neck remained.
"Sit," she said. "Then explain why you reject my thods."
Shiomi glanced behind him. A wide, comfortable chair had been placed there. He rose, took his seat, and now faced the Lion King at equal height.
"I've said it before—human nature is corrupt and ugly. Among such people, only a rare few can preserve a pure and kind soul. You know this as well as I do. Only those souls are worthy of entering this ideal city," the Lion King said again, her tone calm and absolute.
She wasn't wrong. Shiomi had seen many such people himself, especially in the world of Magus, where corruption and ugliness were on full display. There, Magi who could be called genuinely kind were few and far between.
"You're misjudging humanity's nature, Lion King," Shiomi replied. "Humans don't seek to do 'good' for its own sake. They're beings who constantly choose what seems best for a better tomorrow. But that 'best option' isn't always a moral one."
He let out a breath. "I've seen all kinds of people who commit evil... So, like you, judge others in the na of justice, deciding who should live and who should die. Others can't even feel ordinary happiness and can only find joy through doing harm. But I've also seen good people—like soone who finally gained a life they longed for, yet still chose to sacrifice all their ti, never letting their guard down, just to prevent humanity's destruction. Or soone who was born emotionally broken, yet still forced themselves to live justly for the sake of soone important to them."
"But regardless of good or evil, no matter how noble the people you select may seem, none of them are free from desire. Those who make choices to survive, to strive for a better future—just because they aren't spotless, you would deny them life. Before making such sweeping judgnts, you should at least see with your own eyes those on this land who suffer, who still fight to survive despite everything. Then decide, Lion King. The Way of the Lion belongs only to lions. It shouldn't be forced onto humans."
Shiomi clenched his fists, refuting the Lion King's ideals word by word.
"Well said," she replied lightly, unfazed by his argunt.
"Even if we debate for days, it won't change anything. I just want you to go out and see for yourself, not remain on your throne, turning into a device called 'king' that enforces your will without question." Shiomi shook his head, fully aware of how unshakable the Lion King's resolve was.
"Then prove it to —with your strength. Words and ideals alone won't suffice. Consider this your punishnt as well."
The Lion King reached out her hand—not to take his, but to undo the remaining shackles on his body.
The bedchamber suddenly dimd. From his seat, Shiomi watched as the Lion King's figure slowly faded into the distance.
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