You call this a projection?

Tohsaka Rin, who had asked Emiya Shirou for an answer regarding her own ”dark history,” saw her brow furrow deeply as she contemplated his response.

The reason was simple: the essence of Ruby’s ability was to use the Second Magic to traverse parallel worlds, taking one’s ”ideal self”—a version of oneself that had already realized their ideals in another reality—and projecting that existence onto their current self.

Naturally, to better wield the power of this ”ideal self” and avoid being influenced by that version’s psyche, Ruby would brainwash its contractor without hesitation, protecting their mind from being overwhelmed by the influence of parallel-world counterparts... and perhaps, one shouldn’t exclude the possibility that this also satisfied Ruby’s own twisted sense of humor.

Even though she had used Ruby once, Rin was still unclear about exactly what had transpired during that process.

She only knew that in the days following, her friends had steered clear of her, and she had left herself a warning note to never use Ruby again. Of course, it wasn’t as if Rin hadn’t tried to corner those who ran from her to force an explanation out of them regarding what happened that day.

All she could say was that it was truly her ”dark history.”

The problem was that she couldn’t understand why she had acted that way back then. Not yet aware of just how malicious Ruby truly was—and acting only on the belief that she had sealed it away for a good reason—Rin looked at Shirou with curious eyes, hoping he could provide an answer, and perhaps use that information to dissuade Shirou from his current obsession with using the staff.

”...Er, well, that’s true. The artificial spirit inside that Kaleidoscope staff does indeed have a terrible personality.” Shirou, recalling Ruby’s ”glorious” track record in Fate/hollow ataraxia, nodded in agreement. If only Ruby could restrain its twisted sense of humor and act like the version in Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya—who, while still mischievous, at least honestly helped out—that would be ideal.

’Wait a minute!’

”Rin, you said ’artificial spirit’—do you think things like that can be brainwashed?” Shirou suddenly asked, struck by a thought. ”Or rather, what exactly is an artificial spirit? Is it something like a computer program or artificial intelligence?”

”...Uh, what I mean is: is this artificial spirit something that only acts according to commands pre-edited by the mage into the Mystic Code, unable to act if no command is given? Or is an artificial spirit a ’man-made soul’ created by a mage, existing with a genuine soul, much like how homunculi are no different from real humans?”

Recalling that in his past-life memories, Rin was described as a technological dunce who didn’t even know what a ”download” was, Shirou quickly adjusted his phrasing to describe the problem in a way she could understand. This question was important.

”Ah? What is an artificial spirit?” Rin looked at Shirou, confused.

However, Rin didn’t say anything about Shirou avoiding her question to ask a new one. Or perhaps, she had finally realized that this ”dark history” of hers should remain buried forever in the depths of her mind, never to be recalled. Seeking to change the subject, she answered him earnestly: ”An artificial spirit is naturally a man-made soul, used to assist mages in operating Mystic Codes.

But Shirou, brainwashing that malicious artificial spirit inside the Kaleidoscope staff to make it behave is impossible.

It’s not a question of whether it’s doable; it’s that when magic interferes with an object that contains magical energy, one must first clear away the existing energy before you can affect it. This is precisely why objects destroyed by magic are difficult to repair with magic—because the ’destructive’ mana remains within them.”

Rin explained this common knowledge among mages, which indirectly explained why the Holy Church always used ”gas explosion” as an excuse to cover up the Holy Grail Wars, rather than using magic to repair the damage before anyone unrelated could discover the scene. It wasn’t that the Church couldn’t think of doing so; it was that they couldn’t. Faced with the destructive traces lingering with the magical aura of a Servant, never mind the Church—even the Mage’s Association would struggle to find enough mages who could eliminate those traces and repair the damage in a short time.

”If I put it this way, Shirou, you should understand—” Rin said seriously, ”It’s not that we can’t brainwash the artificial spirit with magic; it’s that the artificial spirit, constructed via the Second Magic, must inherently possess the characteristics of the Second Magic itself.

It can draw infinite magical energy from other parallel worlds, making it completely impervious to being brainwashed or influenced by the magic of an ordinary mage.”

To eliminate the infinite mana, one would first need to possess infinite mana and master the Second Magic. But if one could do that, there would be no reason to brainwash Ruby in the first place.

”Normally, that is true. However...”

Trace on!

——[Pseudo-White Snake]!!

A sturdy, white-and-purple humanoid Stand appeared behind Shirou. Accompanied by his next words, it manufactured a command DISC and placed it into his hand: ”...I have a very special kind of magic (Stand).

Consider this a moment of self-indulgence on my part, Rin.

Compared to the other two methods, I actually prefer this first one so that Miyu can use the Kaleidoscope staff to protect herself.”

”...Is that so? Then there’s no helping it.” Rin sighed.

”Rin?” Shirou looked curiously at Rin, who had suddenly started walking away while speaking.

”Hey, Shirou, what are you standing there like a fool for?” Rin turned back and said, ”Isn’t this what you said? You want Miyu to use the Kaleidoscope staff?

Just to be clear, I’m not doing this for your sake, Shirou.” Rin emphasized again, ”I’m just coincidentally very curious about what happened back then. Since you don’t seem to know what it’s all about either, I’ll have to take the initiative and find the answer myself.

This doesn’t mean I think your method is feasible! Shirou, are you listening to me!?”

”Yes, yes, I hear you.” Shirou, who had asked Bazett to keep an eye on the distortion node and watch over Miyu, quickly followed after her, nodding with a smile. ”Thank you, Rin.”

”Ah~~”

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