Emiya Shirou glanced at the memory card in Himeko's hand, then shifted his gaze away without any interest and shrugged. "I thought my rejection to you yesterday was clear enough."

"Don't change the subject," Himeko smiled. "Now I'm asking you if you're still interested in the things we talked about yesterday."

"Oh, what does it matter if I'm interested or not," Shirou laughed. "'Ignorance is also a kind of happiness.' If I remember correctly, this sentence is the advice you personally gave me. I'm not going to be one of you, and I'm not going to do something just because you say so, so I advise you to put away this memory card. Fulfilling the idle curiosity of a stranger we just met today by willingly leaking military secrets—no matter how you look at it, this deal is not worth it."

"Whether it's a worthwhile deal or not isn't up to you, but something that should be judged by me, kid," Himeko said, narrowing her eyes slightly, a teasing and joking look in them. "For most people, ignorance is indeed a kind of happiness, but for people like you, holding onto ignorance is truly a form of happiness. Is it your choice?"

"I'll return that sentence to you," Emiya Shirou said coldly. "Whether ignorance brings happiness or not, it's not for you to decide, but for me. I don't intend to interfere with your values, and likewise, you're not qualified to define the happiness of others."

"Well said. If it weren't for the wrong occasion, I would applaud your wonderful remarks," Himeko suddenly laughed. "But don't you think there's a loophole in your statement that can't be ignored?"

"A loophole?" Emiya Shirou folded his arms and narrowed his eyes slightly. "You might as well make it clear."

"It's simple logic," Himeko smiled. "Before you truly know the truth, how can you judge whether it's better for you to know or not to know from the beginning?"

"Whether one wants to reveal the truth to others has always been in their hands," Emiya Shirou retorted without confusion, looking straight into Himeko's eyes. "From the very beginning, you never gave us the freedom to choose. Knowing the truth or not knowing the truth—does it really matter to manipulators like you?"

"I won't deny your accusation. The fact is just as you said. We stand in the shadows, hiding the truth of this world from ordinary people, beyond their recognition. But there are always some exceptional individuals in this world, either incredibly intelligent or possessing extraordinary common sense, who cross the barrier called 'ignorance' that we've erected. They step into a wider, freer, but more dangerous world."

"I don't understand what you're talking about," Emiya Shirou averted his gaze, his voice low.

"It's okay if you don't understand. The point now is..." Himeko held the memory card between her fingers and gently placed it on the counter next to the sink. "Now, I, Himeko, captain of the fifth team, the Flame-Chasing Moth, make a judgment based on my subjective will. You're the black sheep who is qualified to cross the fence. Therefore, I entrust all the truth I've uncovered so far to you. Whether you choose to pretend not to see the truth after this or accept it, it's none of my concern." Emiya Shirou stared at Himeko as if he had completely sorted out his thoughts. Seeing through his calm expression, he suddenly said, "How did you find out?"

"Let's say it's just a woman's intuition?" Himeko blinked and suddenly wore a resentful expression as if complaining about something. She raised her hand and rubbed the back of her neck. "Don't give me that awful look. We've been attacked for no reason, and we're the ones who should feel wronged. Honestly, the back of my neck is still throbbing with dull pain. You, you little brat, attack others without hesitation and hold nothing back."

"...Sorry." Emiya Shirou turned his head and sullenly apologized.

"If you're truly sorry, how about accepting my invitation?" Himeko put away her cynical expression and looked at Emiya Shirou seriously. "I won't continue hiding it—what you glimpsed from my notebook last night is incomplete information. Even the files I prepared for you differ greatly from the facts."

"Really?" Emiya Shirou was taken aback. After hearing Himeko's words, he felt like the other party was playing tricks on him. "Then why are you giving it to me?"

"The reason is simple." This time, Himeko's expression was unusually serious. "Even if you escape the confines of 'ignorance,' you'll still be limited to jumping from one world to another—using this analogy, can you understand?"

Emiya Shirou frowned. "So you mean you don't have all the truth?"

"In this world, who can guarantee that they know everything?" Himeko said quietly.

"Compared to those researchers who get closer to the truth and find themselves further away, our position as fighters can also be considered a form of 'ignorance is bliss.'"

After hearing Himeko's words, Emiya Shirou fell into silence.

"You are the fighters of Moth that chase the Fire, and it is an 'Anti-Honkai Organization' established under the auspices of the United Nations..." After a long pause, Emiya Shirou spoke in a calm tone. "In your notebook, I saw records about 'Honkai,' a disastrous phenomenon that brings unpredictable calamities to human society in various forms, giving rise to monsters such as 'Honkai Beasts' and 'Zombies.'"

"But in the information I read, it also stated: For today's human civilization, the so-called 'Honkai' is not something to be overly feared. With the power of the Fire Moth, it's not difficult to eliminate the Honkai eruptions in this world. The Honkai phenomenon doesn't pose a real threat to human civilization." Emiya Shirou raised his head and looked at Himeko with a serious expression.

"If it's a problem you can easily handle, then non-professionals like me shouldn't interfere in your affairs. That's the judgment I made last night after reading those materials."

"But listen to what you're saying to me now..." Emiya Shirou trailed off. "Everything you've said... and you've even actively hoped for me to join you several times."

"Is the so-called 'Honkai' actually more serious than what I've seen in the materials?"

After listening to Emiya Shirou's inference, Himeko sneered, and her voice suddenly turned cold, as if she was gritting her teeth. "That's right, 'Honkai is not something to be overly feared.' For human civilization, the matter of the Honkai is not a difficult problem to solve." Himeko's voice carried a tone of hatred that invaded the previously warm atmosphere in the room, causing it to turn cold.

Suddenly, Himiko placed her palm in front

of Emiya Shirou, spreading it out.

"With those sharp eyes of yours, you should be able to see the physical abilities of this body, kid."

There were no calluses on her slender and fair fingers.

Just from his beautiful and delicate appearance, Himeko seemed more like a CEO of a small business rather than a fighter on the front lines. However, after seeing that white palm, Emiya Shirou nodded calmly.

Though he didn't know how Himeko achieved it, there was no doubt that there was a huge disparity between that slim and beautiful body and the "ordinary person" Emiya Shirou had initially perceived.

Setting aside the special nature of being a spiritual body and the magical abilities, in terms of physical prowess alone, Himeko's athletic abilities weren't much weaker than his own when he used the Archer class card.

To the extent that Himeko could even compete with a Servant who didn't employ a Noble Phantasm.

"Did you know? Kid, before I became the captain of the fifth team, I was just an ordinary soldier."

Himeko smiled softly, and the relaxed words carried difficult emotions. Her gaze wandered, unfocused and erratic, as if traveling through time and space, returning to battlefields built with blood and tears. Within her orange-gold pupils, a spear-like sternness silently spread, completely different from the cynical Himeko a few minutes ago.

"I've always fought on the front lines against the Honkai. I've witnessed the deaths of soldiers, witnessed the helplessness of humans consumed by the Honkai, and watched them turn into undead who slaughter their own kind and comrades. I've seen comrades I just met get torn apart into irregular chunks by Honkai Beasts attacking at high speeds... And you're telling me that kind of thing... for the current human civilization, it's just a problem that's 'not really' difficult to solve?"

Hehehe... as if feeling the absurdity from the depths of her heart, Himiko let out a sneer, her voice revealing her powerlessness.

"Are you telling me all this to ask for my help?" Emiya Shirou said softly. He raised his head and calmly looked at Himeko's weary face.

"I did consider it before, but now I have changed my mind now," Himeko took a deep breath, staring at Emiya Shirou's calm expression, and spoke in a detached voice. "Rather than joining the Fire Moth right now, I hope you can witness the truth of this world with your own eyes, like those who stand at the 'top.' I can't be considered the type of smart researcher. Instead, I'm probably better suited for taking action."

"So, this is something only you can do," Himeko said. "People who stand in high places look down upon this world and watch lives trampled by the Honkai like ants. They feel no pain, their suits remain unstained by even a drop of blood, and they aren't the ones paying the 'price.' So, they either can't see—or they choose to turn a blind eye to the truth."

"And we, who stand on the front lines, can only see the cruel and ruthless side of the Honkai. We can only witness the truth of what those creatures in human guise are. Because of that, we also lose the necessary rationality—just like me now." Himeko pointed to herself.

"So, I hope you can step outside and take a look, bring your family, and witness this insane yet peaceful world with your own eyes. I believe that with your abilities, protecting yourself and your family won't be difficult."

"I also believe that after experiencing all this, you...or that intelligent little girl will make the most correct judgment in line with your 'intentions.'"