"Heracles was very generous. He gave me both of his Noble Phantasms as a farewell gift…"
After successfully calming Aishia and Est, Charlie leaned against the cold room wall. He closed his eyes, processing the new information in his mind.
Nine Lives and God Hand.
Charlie didn't find it strange that a Heroic Spirit would give their Noble Phantasms to a human. After all, this wasn't the first case.
Charlie didn't find it odd that a Heroic Spirit would bestow their Noble Phantasms upon a human. In the vast history of the Fate world he knew from his previous life's memories, this wasn't the first instance.
The most famous example was Mash Kyrielight. She was a Designer Baby, a Magus genetically engineered to serve as the primary vessel for a Heroic Spirit's soul. The project aimed to harness Heroic Spirit power by binding them to a compatible mortal vessel, creating a Demi-Servant.
With Galahad's noble personality, how could he not rage over the fact that Mash was a human experiment subject? He went berserk, nearly destroying Chaldea!
After possessing Mash for some time, Galahad fully surrendered his power to the pure-hearted girl.
Charlie's situation was similar, though in a different context. Heracles handed over both his Noble Phantasms as repayment for ending his suffering caused by the Abyssal Devourer's manipulation.
"So that means Onii-chan has eleven extra lives?"
"Mm. You could say that. With God Hand, it completes my previous immortality, which only granted long life without regeneration. If before I could be killed despite being immortal, now even if I die, I'll rise from death."
"I see. That's good news. Contrary to his terrifying appearance, that big guy is actually very generous."
The big guy Est referred to was none other than Heracles. Clearly, the Sacred Sword Spirit was pleased that Charlie was now harder to kill.
"Heracles truly deserves the title of Greece's Greatest Hero. Even gifting Charlie such extraordinary presents."
Sharing Charlie's previous life memories, Aishia knew better than Est how noble Heracles was.
Even summoned as a Berserker, Heracles protected his Little Master, Illya, to his last drop of blood. Heracles was the definition of valor and redemption.
*CREAK…!*
Suddenly, the room door creaked open. The female survivor they had rescued appeared at the threshold, hesitant. Under the gaze of three pairs of unfamiliar eyes, she seemed uneasy but mustered the courage to step inside.
"Thank you for saving me. I'm truly grateful for your help."
The young girl bowed deeply, sincerely expressing her gratitude.
"You're welcome. My name's Charlie Avalon, just call me Charlie. This peach-haired girl is Aishia, and this little one is Est. What's your name?"
Sitting upright, Charlie flashed a harmless smile—the kind he usually used to assure humans and animals he wasn't dangerous.
"Kei. Shirogane Kei."
"Shirogane Kei, a nice name… Hm?"
Charlie smiled at the girl, but moments later, his smile froze. He remembered that was the name of this world's protagonist's younger sister.
He observed the girl before him more carefully.
The girl's waist-length white hair was messy and tangled, unwashed for who knows how long. Her face was dirty with dust and soil, hiding what should have been strikingly captivating beauty. Her skin was extremely pale, likely from lack of sunlight and nutritious food. Though her appearance resembled a homeless person, her clear blue eyes hadn't fully lost their light of hope.
"Um… Is something wrong with me?"
Kei stepped back, frightened by Charlie's prolonged stare. She worried this stranger might want to do something bad to her.
Her reaction was completely natural.
A year surviving in the apocalypse had taught her many things. She had experienced events that shattered modern mindsets.
The apocalypse truly tested humanity's most primal nature.
In safer times, everyone wore masks of civility, making it hard to see their true hearts. Only when facing death daily could one truly discern someone's real character.
In fact, Kei had repeatedly been targeted for rape by surviving men. After all, in many people's eyes during the apocalypse, women were often seen as nothing more than commodities for lust.
Not wanting to be reduced to a man's toy, Kei deliberately hid her natural beauty behind dirt and tattered clothes to avoid attracting lecherous men.
"Sorry for making you uncomfortable. I was just thinking we look similar. Our hair and eyes are the same color."
Realizing her fear, Charlie deliberately averted his gaze to avoid scaring Kei further.
"True. You resemble me more than my older brother."
Mentioning her brother filled Kei's heart with deep sadness. Her face darkened.
Humans only appreciate things after losing them. That's what Kei felt now.
In the past, she went through a rebellious teenage phase and often treated her brother harshly, finding him overprotective and annoying. But after her brother was mysteriously killed, Kei was overwhelmed with deep regret over all her past actions and words.
Not wanting to dwell in grief over her late brother, Kei changed the subject. Her wary eyes now focused on Charlie, particularly on the faintly glowing green root-like pattern on his chest—the manifestation of the Armor of Fafnir.
"Charlie-san. Are you human?"
"I'm human, while Aishia and Est are Spirit species."
"You're not lying, right? How can a human have that kind of power? If humans could be that strong, humanity wouldn't be pushed to near extinction."
Clearly, Kei didn't believe his words. She had witnessed Charlie fighting one of the strongest monsters that brought civilization's downfall. To her, it was impossible for an ordinary human to battle a walking natural disaster (Heracles).
"Your doubt isn't wrong, Kei. May I call you that?"
"Mm."
After Kei allowed him to use her first name, Charlie continued his explanation gently.
"Humans of this world are indeed powerless against monsters invading from another dimension. But… Kei, in your eyes, do I look like a human from this world?"
"No way?! Charlie-san is from another world? That clichéd isekai light novel plot is real?"
Kei immediately understood the implication of Charlie's words. Though not an otaku, she had heard classmates discuss isekai novels. So, she somewhat grasped the concept.
"Yes, I'm from another world. My arrival is to save this world."
Charlie didn't beat around the bush. Telling Kei a partial truth was the best way to gain her trust and help her process the surrounding chaos.
"Saving the world…" Kei murmured softly.
The phrase felt so heavy, yet it also brought relief. Amid all the limitations and despair she had endured over the past year, there were always stories of resilience and hope for a better future.
Now, for the first time since the world ended, Kei truly saw a glimmer of that hope standing before her—in the form of a young man with white hair and blue eyes, with a strange glowing pattern on his chest, and two mysterious beings as his loyal companions.