Gen Urobuchi wants to write stories that can warm people's hearts.
Those who know about my creative history will probably furrow their brows and think this is a sick joke. Honestly, I have trouble believing it myself. For when I start typing out words on the keyboard, the stories my brain comes up with are always full of madness and despair.
The truth is, I haven't always been this way. I have often written pieces that didn't have a perfect ending, but by the last chapter the protagonist would still possess a belief that "Although there will be many hardships to come, I still have to hold on".
But ever since I don't know when, I can no longer write works like this.
I have nothing but contempt for the thing men call happiness, and have had to push the characters I poured my heart out to create into the abyss of tragedy.
For all things in the world, if they are just left alone and paid no attention, are bound to advance in a negative direction.
No matter what we do, we can't stop the universe from getting colder, either
, and on the same principle. This world is only maintained in existence by a series of logical, common-sense processes; it can never escape the bondage of its physical laws.
Therefore, in order to write a perfect ending for a story you must possess the power to break the chain of cause and effect, invert black and white, and act in complete contradiction to the rules of the universe. Only a heavenly and chaste soul, a soul that resounds with genuine praise for humanity, can save the story; to write a story with a happy ending is a double challenge, to the author's body as well as the mind.
At some point, Gen Urobuchi lost that power. He still hasn't recovered. The "tragedy syndrome" is still continuing within me. Is this a terminal disease? Should I give up on the pure "warrior of love" that I have longed for? Or mount a pallid battle steed and reincarnate into a bearer of the plague... could it be that I can only create pieces that give men courage and hope in my next life? (When I wrote this, I accidentally wrote "courage" as "lingering ghosts". I guess that's what I get for using IME — Ah, I just wrote "IME" as "hatred"... is there no way out of this for me?)
Those who know about my creative history will probably furrow their brows and think this is a sick joke. Honestly, I have trouble believing it myself. For when I start typing out words on the keyboard, the stories my brain comes up with are always full of madness and despair.
The truth is, I haven't always been this way. I have often written pieces that didn't have a perfect ending, but by the last chapter the protagonist would still possess a belief that "Although there will be many hardships to come, I still have to hold on".
But ever since I don't know when, I can no longer write works like this.
I have nothing but contempt for the thing men call happiness, and have had to push the characters I poured my heart out to create into the abyss of tragedy.
For all things in the world, if they are just left alone and paid no attention, are bound to advance in a negative direction.
No matter what we do, we can't stop the universe from getting colder, either
, and on the same principle. This world is only maintained in existence by a series of logical, common-sense processes; it can never escape the bondage of its physical laws. Therefore, in order to write a perfect ending for a story you must possess the power to break the chain of cause and effect, invert black and white, and act in complete contradiction to the rules of the universe. Only a heavenly and chaste soul, a soul that resounds with genuine praise for humanity, can save the story; to write a story with a happy ending is a double challenge, to the author's body as well as the mind.
At some point, Gen Urobuchi lost that power. He still hasn't recovered. The "tragedy syndrome" is still continuing within me. Is this a terminal disease? Should I give up on the pure "warrior of love" that I have longed for? Or mount a pallid battle steed and reincarnate into a bearer of the plague... could it be that I can only create pieces that give men courage and hope in my next life? (When I wrote this, I accidentally wrote "courage" as "lingering ghosts". I guess that's what I get for using IME
— Ah, I just wrote "IME" as "hatred"... is there no way out of this for me?) -Gen Urobuchi, Afterword to Volume 1 of Fate/Zero
"And there you go. You heard her, Iri. Our Heroic Spirit over there considers a battlefield to be better than Hell. What a joke. A battlefield is Hell itself. There's no hope to be had on one. There is nothing but unspeakable despair. Just a soulless crime we call victory, paid for by the pain of the defeated. But humanity has never recognized this truth. And the reason is that, in every era, a dazzling hero has blinded the people with their legends, and kept them from seeing the evil of bloodshed they bring. True human nature has not advanced a step beyond the Stone Age."
For Saber, who only know the utterly cruel, emotionless Kiritsugu, it was the first time she saw Emiya Kiritsugu’s other side – a man almost crushed by endless anguish and sorrow, his monologue that was close to lamentation.
"That sword... is the dream all warriors, past, present, and future hold as their deaths approach. A sad, exalted dream. She carries their will as her pride, bidding them to remain steadfast in their loyalty. Now, the undefeated king sings aloud the name of the miracle she holds in her hand. Its name is..."
The path of devotion is a great labor. Do not ever mar it."
- Gilgamesh, to Waver
"He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; Your rod and your staff—they comfort me. You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil. My cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life. My cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life."
- Kotomine Kirei, quoting Psalm 23 in episode 23
"The King is never lonesome! For his wishes are our wishes!"
“BEHOLD, MY PEERLESS ARMY! Their bodies may return to ash, but their spirits still hear my call! These men are my legendary heroes – my loyal followers! They’re my true friends - breaking the rules of space and time to fight once more at my side! They are my treasure within treasures; they’re my right to rule! They make up Alexander's mightiest Noble Phantasm – Ionian Hetairoi!!”
Iskander, The King of Conquest
"Uniting dreams beneath a banner of conquest. I praise your efforts at least. But foolish warriors, have you not learned? Dreams disappear when the dreamer wakes. Every last one of them with no exception. Therefore, it was inevitable that I would be the one to stand in your way. King of Conquerors, now know the end of your eternal dream. I shall show you the stark reality!" NOW, AWAKEN EA. A STAGE WORTHY OF YOU HAS BEEN SET. LOOK UP AND BEHOLD, ENUMA ELISH!"
Gilgamesh, as he prepares to battle Iskander's Ionian Hetairoi
"To win, but not destroy; to conquer, but not humiliate: That is what true conquest is!"
Iskander
"Glory lies beyond the horizon...Speak of conquest and demonstrate it!"
Iskander, King of Conquest
"You want to win... You want to win so desperately? You desire the Grail so desperately? You have crushed... You have crushed my sole remaining wish... And you just stand there...do you not feel any shame at all?! I will never forgive you... I will never forgive any of you! You inhuman monsters, who have ruined the honor of a knight, let my blood taint your dreams forever! May the Grail be cursed. May the wish it grants bring disaster! And when you fall into the searing pits of hell... you will remember the hateful rage of Diarmuid!"
Diarmuid Ua Duibhne speaking his Dying Curse
Assassins have no rights! Who made things so cruel?
Zayd of the Assassins, Einzbern Consultation Room
"What...What am I? What evil? What cruelty? This is my wish? This destruction and tragedy? This is my pleasure?!"
- Kotomine Kirei, realizing Evil Feels Good
Hey. Hey old man! If you're gonna sleep, do it in your bed!
Right...I'm fine.
When I was little, I wanted to be a hero.
What? You wanted to be? Did you give up?
Yeah. Unfortunately, being a hero is a limited-time thing When you grow up, it's hard to call yourself one. I should have realized that earlier.
I see. Then I guess you couldn't help it.
No. No I couldn't. ...It really is a nice moon.
Yeah. Since you couldn't do it, then I'll do it. You're an adult now, so you can't do it. But I can. Leave it to me... Your dream.
All right. ...I feel better.
Kiritsugu and Shirou, in the final episode.
Kerry, what do you want to be when you're older?
I want to be a hero.
Shirley and Kiritsugu
