Chapter 56 - yyy

A golden blank card dropped into the dust.

It was a brand new golden card engraved with the pattern of a humanoid wolf—this was Miss Illya's spoils of war, a reward for the diligent and a prize for the brave.

Without a doubt, this was Berserker's card. Just like when she killed the Dark Magician, at the moment the Heroic Spirit Servant's soul and magical energy returned to the Holy Grail, Miss Illya, who had personally killed her opponent and infused her black magical energy into the fatal wound, was able to exploit a bug-like loophole.

She could intercept a trace of the deceased Heroic Spirit Servant's Spirit Origin, and wrapped in malicious intent, forge it into a new card—a new Dream Summon Noble Phantasm that transcended the limits of the Spirit Origin.

But Miss Illya wasn't happy right now, because she was so exhausted she couldn't walk another step. The fact that she hadn't immediately lost consciousness was a testament to her strong will, maintaining that desperate determination to survive beyond her limits.

Therefore, she couldn't pick up that card over ten meters away—and even if she could, she wouldn't have the energy to use it again in the short term.

Her eyelids grew heavier and heavier. She wanted to just fall asleep like this, but the thunderous roar and hearty laughter beside her ears made her understand that if she fell asleep now, it would be eternal slumber.

She had already pushed herself this far—wasn't that enough? The Heroic Spirit Servants who had perished at her hands already numbered three, and each one was far from second or third-rate. With such a brilliant record, resting for a moment shouldn't matter. After all, she had already worked so, so hard, hadn't she?

To just fall asleep like this... actually wouldn't be so bad. After exhaustion, eternal rest would be quite comfortable...

"Leave now, or I won't mind adding one or two more heroic souls to my count."

As the dust settled beneath the pale moonlight, the half-kneeling girl slowly stood up with an expressionless, stiff face.

Just from the movement of her joints, one could faintly see her burst blood vessels continuously dripping blood. Her voice was calm yet faint, like that of a proud, cold king who never ceased from bloody battle.

Even though everyone could see she had reached her limit, with her words, the entire battlefield fell silent.

The thunder god's chariot descended to the ground. Waver Velvet, witnessing this scene, held his breath in concentration.

He couldn't help but cover his mouth, not daring to make a sound, as if unable to believe the devastation before his eyes. Several buildings along the street had already collapsed, trees and houses had become decorative ruins, reflective threads like spider webs were either slack or taut and densely packed everywhere. The entire commercial district looked as if it had been demolished—he couldn't find a single intact spot anywhere.

Waver trembled slightly as he tugged on the cloak of the fierce, burly man beside him and pointed quietly to the street nearby:

"Rider, I... I remember, the Holy Grail War is supposed to be a secret magical ritual, right?"

"....."

No one answered his question, because whether it was the Lancer who had arrived from another direction or the towering warrior beside him, both sensed an invisible malice and killing intent. Without exception, their eyes were locked on Miss Illya dozens of meters away, her small, blood-soaked hand gripping a silver thread dagger as she slowly stood up.

Everyone knew she was at the end of her rope, yet no one dared defy her declaration.

Because this killing intent and malice were truly astonishing. If before, she had been a snow sprite who would play and joke around even when facing enemies, now she was a hero who had broken through in bloody battle—a remarkable figure who had turned impossible victory into reality, a pinnacle existence in close combat who had crawled out from a battlefield of certain death.

Her presence was weakened, yet it also gave people the feeling of refined simplicity, an aura turned inward. No one knew whether she could still unleash that beyond-limit instant strike like before, using a life-for-life approach to fight to the death with someone present. Although everyone here were heroes who didn't fear battle or challenges, fighting such a severely wounded opponent...

If you won, it would be a dishonorable victory, and you might even be left with wounds from their final desperate counterattack.

If you lost, it would be pure humiliation—embarrassing enough to be laughed at by other heroic spirits in the Throne of Heroes for two and a half years.

"Hahahahaha! No need to be nervous, Caster. This king said before—I have no intention of being your enemy."

"It's just that the explosive magical energy clash between you and that knight Berserker was so captivating that I couldn't help but want to witness it, so I came specifically to observe the situation. Although I arrived a bit late for the beginning and middle parts of the duel, this king was fortunate enough to glimpse that brilliant collision of martial arts at the peak, that breakthrough beyond limits. I came here specifically to congratulate you on claiming honor and victory."

After about ten seconds of silence, Iskandar on the chariot suddenly burst into hearty laughter, breaking the silence of the moonlit night. He wasn't a thief—what did he have to fear?

Originally, he had just been touring Fuyuki City's night market with his little Master, eating snacks, when he suddenly detected the burst of magical energy and came specifically to watch a brilliant duel. He wasn't planning to ambush or sneak attack anyone.

Moreover, he had absolutely no need for such sneak attacks. As a king, he had always conquered others fair and square. Such opportunistic moves were not his way or style as a king.

"....."

Miss Illya didn't speak, only staring deadly with her blackened eyes at Iskandar laughing boldly on his chariot. She naturally didn't believe these ghost stories.

After all, Kariya Matou had told her the same thing before, even guaranteeing it with a Command Seal.

Yet when it came time to fight, didn't he still fight? Such verbal promises were worth nothing.

However, given Iskandar's attitude, her gaze moved past him to look at the Lancer approaching from another street:

"And you? Knight of the Lance, do you wish to battle me?"

"...I would like to have a showdown with you, little kitten. Watching your battle with that Berserker has me itching for action, but I've already said I'm not a knight who takes advantage of others' misfortune. My chivalry doesn't allow me to attack you in your current state."

Diarmuid, with his cursed, devastatingly handsome face, showed a helpless smile and spread his two cloth-wrapped spears. This Age of Gods magician now had heavy killing intent.

Completely different from the cunning, holy snow sprite before—like a startled cat that would lash out at anyone.

Right now he certainly had the ability to make her exit, but such a victory would be somewhat dishonorable. Although both he and his lord already considered her the greatest threat in this Holy Grail War, who could guarantee her Master didn't have one or two Command Seals left? If the pursuit failed, there was no telling who this bristling little kitten would target first afterward.

Of course, this concern was only part of it. Most importantly, he wanted an honorable victory, and his lord didn't think a mere magical exchange meeting in this backwater of the Far East required such underhanded methods of taking advantage of someone's misfortune.

"However, if you, little kitten, extend a warm invitation, it would be unromantic of me to refuse. We can arrange a place and have our death match afterward, how about it?"

"Oh my, but I'm also quite afraid that you, little kitten, might bring that King of Knights lady to gang up on me. That would be rather troublesome for me, wouldn't it? But with your excellent character, little kitten, you wouldn't do such a thing, right? You certainly wouldn't bully me with numbers, would you?"

Diarmuid shrank his neck with apparent seriousness, looking as if he was truly frightened and troubled.

These seemingly teasing, flirtatious jokes also lightened the battlefield atmosphere considerably.

However, his gaze remained as sharp as an eagle's, watching and guarding against both Iskandar and Miss Illya. He could choose not to attack others, but he couldn't fail to guard against others attacking him—or rather, he eagerly anticipated others attacking him.

"Rider, you decide." Miss Illya's words were few, simply stating four words.

Upon hearing this, Iskandar's eyes first focused sharply, then he understood Miss Illya's meaning. She was referring to the banquet of heroes he had mentioned during the day.

"Hahahahaha, then this king shall accept without further courtesy." The named Conqueror King laughed heartily again, then looked at the Lancer who didn't quite understand:

"Lancer, this king plans to hold a banquet of heroes, scheduled for tomorrow night. After the feast ends, we can settle our respective grudges and determine the true victor—how about it? Caster has already accepted the invitation. You can't refuse, can you? Drinking and discussing ideals with heroes from different eras would also be a marvelous affair, wouldn't it?"

Miss Illya taking the initiative to bring this up naturally pleased him. Regardless of her reasons—whether to change the subject or hint that she didn't wish to continue fighting tonight—the more people at a banquet of heroes, the better. It could also serve as the eve of their final battle.

"A banquet? Hahaha, that's not unacceptable. I'd also be happy to drink heartily with this little kitten, the King of Knights, and the Conqueror King..."

Diarmuid caught the key implications and didn't object too much. Whether it was a banquet or a decisive battle royale, he was willing. After all, backed by a Clock Tower Lord, he certainly had more trump cards than what he'd shown when fighting the Dark Magician.

Moreover, he also caught Miss Illya's hint—she didn't want to completely tear off the mask and start fighting now. She was giving this stalemate situation a way out, allowing all three parties to let the matter slide.

However, hearing a voice suddenly sound in his mind, Diarmuid's smile paused mid-laugh:

"It's just, little kitten and Conqueror King, you both understand that if I participate in this heroes' banquet, my Master will be alone, and something unfortunate might happen. After all, we all know that until now, a certain Heroic Spirit Servant has never appeared in battle. They certainly won't come to the banquet you're holding, Conqueror King, and if they take that opportunity to ambush and assassinate my lord, or any of the other heroes..."

"Tomorrow afternoon, news of Assassin's exit will be announced by the Church."

"?"

The Lancer, who had been following his lord's orders and was about to negotiate some concessions before letting Miss Illya go, suddenly froze, as if he didn't understand her meaning.

At most, he had wanted to extract some intelligence from this snow sprite, or perhaps some Age of Gods magical research materials for his lord to study and reference.

But judging by this, it seemed she was willing to pay far more than he'd imagined.

"Could it be that you, little kitten, have already..."

"Yes, I've already located Assassin and have maintained continuous surveillance."

"!!!"

"It's a Heroic Spirit Servant with extremely bizarre concealment abilities. Sometimes it can stand right before other Heroic Spirits, and even those with Instinct or Mind's Eye skills cannot detect it. But for me, tracking its whereabouts isn't very difficult. In the Age of Gods, I had a close friend who, like the assassin, was skilled in concealment and disguise—able to rewrite others' cognition to a certain extent and make them subconsciously ignore them. So I also possess corresponding detection magecraft. Without exaggeration, I know almost exactly where it is now and what Noble Phantasms and skills it possesses."

Miss Illya's expression was calm, appearing confident. Combined with her terrifying battle record, it inexplicably made people believe her, feel that she truly had such capabilities.

You must know that Assassin's existence had always been a Sword of Damocles hanging over every Master's head.

The Lancer's Master had been so wary of this shadowy presence that until today in the Holy Grail War, he hadn't stepped even half a foot outside his magical workshop in the Fuyuki Hotel. He was extremely cautious of this assassin who came and went without a trace, whom even Instinct and Mind's Eye couldn't detect. Only madmen like Kariya Matou would dare to wander around at night with their Servant.

"An Age of Gods magician skilled in concealment and disguise?"

"Just what kind of Age of Gods is this? Could the Clock Tower's records really be wrong?"

In the Fuyuki Hotel, Kayneth frowned deeply. Having this snow sprite who knew a bit of everything—close combat, ranged combat, curse skills, smoke screens, fog, barriers—was already absurd enough. But apparently, she also had an Age of Gods magician friend who knew disguise, concealment, and something akin to advanced hypnosis.

How was this so different from the Age of Gods recorded in his family records and Clock Tower materials? They knew way too many diverse skills. Were Age of Gods magicians really legitimate?

"...Little kitten, are you serious? There are really such Age of Gods magicians?"

Diarmuid helplessly became his lord's mouthpiece.

"How vast and distant was the Age of Gods? As far as I know, close combat was a required course for Age of Gods magicians. I even know some Age of Gods magicians who, because they found chanting spells too troublesome, often hid a longsword or other weapon in their staff or on their person, ready to catch threatening enemies off guard."

Miss Illya spoke without a blush or racing heart. With so many Age of Gods magicians, there were bound to be a few oddballs, right? Besides, magicians' circles weren't all the same.

Since she was a strange magician skilled in close combat, it was perfectly reasonable for her friend to be similar, wasn't it?

"The Age of Gods was very cruel, especially the late Age of Gods. Having many skills doesn't hurt."

"A magician like me who can't perfect one thing naturally has to take an alternative path, using quantity to replace quality. As far as I know, the Mage's Association has collected quite a bit of unofficial history from the Age of Gods—not all of it is fabricated nonsense. Much of it is verifiably true Age of Gods events."

"You know Jason, right? The hero who obtained the Golden Fleece. Do you know why Jason retained his previous experience of being usurped by Pelias and sent to find the Golden Fleece?"

Huh?

Isn't this accepted history and legend?

Could there really be some inside story?

Kayneth felt increasingly unsettled. He naturally knew of that Age of Gods hero Jason who, aided by Hera and alongside heroes like Heracles and Meleager, sailed on the Argo through countless dangers to obtain the Golden Fleece.

The hero who was ultimately cursed by the love goddess Aphrodite, seemingly as a joke, and died filled with regret. This was known to many in both the Clock Tower and modern mythology.

But hearing this Age of Gods magician speak, it seemed quite different from the myths and legends.

"Little kitten, what exactly is the inside story?"

Diarmuid continued asking on behalf of his lord, as his lord seemed ready to completely re-evaluate modern magecraft and research Age of Gods magecraft.

However, Miss Illya just shook her head lightly, hesitating before finally transforming it into a sigh.

She couldn't really say, because she didn't actually know. She was just piquing their curiosity.

As long as the Heroic Spirit Servants present—or rather, their respective Masters—believed that this counterfeit Age of Gods magician was knowledgeable and experienced, and stopped questioning whether she truly had the ability to find Assassin or that she really did have an unorthodox Age of Gods magician friend, that was enough.

"So, shall we make a deal? I guarantee in Caster's name that before midnight tomorrow, the Church will announce news of Assassin's exit."

"And the battlefield for our final showdown will remain after the banquet. I'm a bit tired tonight."

Miss Illya swept her gaze over the two heroes present, giving her promise.

She didn't believe these people would easily let her go. They were just wary and worried that her dying counterattack might let another Heroic Spirit Servant reap the benefits.

Therefore, she needed to be appropriately firm while also yielding appropriately, offering a benefit that was quite attractive to Masters.

"Of course, Knight of the Lance, Rider, you could also test whether I have any strength left, whether I can bite off a chunk of someone else's flesh before exiting!"

The woven blade cut dozens of strands of her silver hair. A dozen or so White Stork Knights with meager magical energy materialized, soaring like knights protecting their princess.

Covered in wounds, her blood vessels ruptured, Miss Illya tilted her head with tears of blood streaming down:

"Right now I am the weak one. If you want to kill me, step forward and gamble on how many Command Seals my Master has left!"

Iskandar left with hearty laughter, just as he said—this was merely a pinnacle battle of heroes that attracted him to watch, not an attempt to take advantage of someone's misfortune.

Following closely behind was Diarmuid, who also gave Miss Illya an apologetic bow, seemingly apologizing that his lord's orders had forced him to extort her, making her promise to deal with Assassin—that Sword of Damocles hanging over all Masters' heads—which was practically highway robbery.

In fact, even aside from these two Heroic Spirits' character, they wouldn't want to attack the severely wounded Miss Illya when another Heroic Spirit Servant was present. After all, her battle record was simply too dazzling.

The victories over the King of Heroes and the Dark Magician could still be explained as combinations of various favorable factors.

But this time, Miss Illya had genuinely achieved a solo kill of a Heroic Spirit Servant.

Regardless of whether there was an information gap, Noble Phantasm substitution, or the Master holding them back, the fact remained—this was a one-on-one victory.

Moreover, this Heroic Spirit Servant was already the pinnacle of close combat in this Holy Grail War. Even Diarmuid admitted that even with magical reactor enhancement, his odds of victory were at best fifty-fifty. Miss Illya being able to defeat him head-on meant her momentum and prestige had reached their peak.

Three days, three consecutive kills of Heroic Spirit Servants.

All killed personally, two of them top-tier existences. This brilliant record might contain some water, but even with water, the remaining gold content was still top-tier.

What level was this? Second-rate? First-rate? This strength would be considered outstanding even among first-rate Servants, wouldn't it?

No one dared gamble on whether Miss Illya had enough strength left to bite someone before dying, allowing another Heroic Spirit Servant present to justly eliminate this hero who took advantage of others under the pretext of avenging Caster.

No one dared gamble on how many Command Seals Miss Illya's Master had left.

Because at best, the most optimistic calculation suggested that in the harbor battle, Miss Illya might have used one Command Seal, and in this close combat duel with the Black Knight, she might have used another—totaling two Command Seals used. While this seemed like a lot, there was still considerable reserve left. You must know that after defeating the Dark Magician, Miss Illya's Master would have received Command Seal rewards. Even if two had been used, there should still be two remaining.

Facing a desperate situation, her Master would certainly use a Command Seal to recall her. Once that recall succeeded, it would be a fight to the death afterward.

Although the Holy Grail War was always a fight to the death, if you couldn't be certain of completely finishing off the enemy in such a death match, and there were still multiple Heroic Spirit Servants on the field, it would be purely negative returns.

"What a shame."

"I had wanted to see that interesting expression of finding hope in desperation, then plunging back into despair from that hope. It seems I somewhat underestimated how much ancient heroic figures value their principles. Such a good opportunity, yet they chose not to attack you."

About five or six kilometers from the battlefield in the Fuyuki City district, Kirei Kotomine, eating mapo tofu at the Taishan Restaurant, felt somewhat disappointed.

Before him sat an already empty blood-red plate, clearly having finished its contents not long ago.

But it was understandable. Irisviel's current identity and status were somewhat too special, maintaining an alliance with the swordswoman girl. If they attacked her before the swordswoman died and let her escape, they would face pursuit not from just Irisviel alone, but from two entire Heroic Spirit Servants.

The Holy Grail War had only entered its middle stage, with five Heroic Spirit Servants still openly present.

Without certainty, making mortal enemies was clearly unwise. At the very least, they had to wait until the assassin—that Sword of Damocles—exited, and the various Masters lifted their restrictions against going out. Only then could they gradually stop worrying about their respective Servants' strength, needing only their Servants to hold off the enemy Servant briefly while the real showdown happened between Masters.

After all, this was the proper process of the Holy Grail War. Most of the time, Heroic Spirit Servants just needed to not be particularly terrible. The real victory was decided between Master versus Master.

And Irisviel's offer to handle the always-hidden Assassin—undoubtedly benefiting those Masters who wanted to kill her but didn't quite dare—naturally allowed her to retreat from the battlefield unscathed.

"Kirei, you'll need to work harder lately. I just received news that there's a problem in the commercial district near Fuyuki City's new area. Most likely, Heroic Spirit Servants clashed in battle again."

The exhausted old priest entered the restaurant from outside and sat down across from Kirei Kotomine.

The past few days had been more troublesome than an entire year's worth of covering up magical incidents. If not for the three founding families and the Church both having deep pockets and setting aside funds for cleanup before the Holy Grail War, plus the Church's sufficient influence, he—the supervisor of Fuyuki City—should have been replaced by now.

"What's the specific situation?"

"Still unclear, but according to distant familiars observing the scene, at least two buildings over twenty stories tall have collapsed there. The estimated damage range isn't much better than the harbor battle. Once dawn breaks, various media outlets will probably scramble to report on it."

The old priest—Risei Kotomine, the supervisor of this Holy Grail War—sighed without much concealment. To have a battle break out in the city district, possibly in residential areas, these magicians were getting bolder and bolder.

However, judging by the lack of major commotion, there should have been a bounded field to keep civilians away, so at least those magicians hadn't completely lost their minds to bloodlust.

"At least that district does have actual gas pipelines..." Risei Kotomine could only comfort himself with this excuse to keep his blood pressure from spiking. Just get through these seven days.

The gas companies of Fuyuki City would have to suffer a bit more. After this period, he would use his connections in court to try to reduce sentences for those gas company executives. After all, if there were no gas companies to take the blame in the next Holy Grail War, the next Church supervisor would have a hard time.

"By the way, Kirei, how's the investigation into Caster's Master's true identity progressing? With Assassin at your disposal, you should have found some clues, right?"

A Master who wouldn't even come to claim Command Seal rewards—he really couldn't understand what kind of person they were.

The old priest's squinted eyes opened slightly. For that mysterious Caster's Master, not only were the other Heroic Spirits' Masters investigating, but the Church had also been frantically screening all magicians who had visited the Far East since the harbor battle.

Yes, that's right—when they couldn't find anything in Fuyuki City, the Church had directly begun checking all visitor records throughout the entire Far East. Yet until now, they still hadn't discovered even half a clue.

It was as if that Age of Gods magician had no Master at all, appearing out of thin air.

This was a bad sign. The commotion caused by the people on the surface, including that irregular eighth Heroic Spirit Servant, was already known to the Church and could be disregarded. But unknown existences were another matter entirely. This made him, the supervisor, feel a trace of unease. He'd even gone so far as to have Kirei Kotomine—his own blood relative who possessed the theoretically best intelligence network in the Holy Grail War with Assassin—secretly investigate this matter.

"...I was just about to discuss this with you."

Kirei Kotomine hesitated for a few seconds, then showed the back of his hand with only one stroke of a Command Seal remaining.

Seeing this, the old priest's gaze became sharp, his kindness gradually transforming into seriousness.

He didn't care how many Command Seals the other had left, because he was very satisfied with and confident in this son of his, knowing that he was steady in his work and would never compete for that so-called omnipotent wish-granter. This was absolute trust built over many years.

But this didn't mean he didn't know what having only one Command Seal stroke meant. Or rather, as the Holy Grail War's supervisor, for him to be forced into using two Command Seals meant his situation was already precarious.

"What happened? I remember you still had two Command Seals just now, didn't you? Did you use another Command Seal during the time I was out?"

"Yes, because Assassin requested my aid."

"Requested your aid?"

"Correct. While investigating that mysterious Master, it had been progressing very smoothly, having caught a lead and successfully tracked them down, about to determine their movements. But at the last moment, it was attacked by Caster. Breath Concealment completely lost its effect before that outstanding Age of Gods magician. With just one encounter, Assassin, which had tracked them to the new district area, was severely wounded. Afterward, I couldn't even sense its current condition anymore."

"..."

Risei Kotomine fell silent.

An assassin severely wounded in one encounter by a magician who got close for a counterattack—it sounded so bizarre.

But if it was that Caster who even killed his good friend Tokiomi Tohsaka's Heroic Spirit Servant and defeated the irregular one, it somehow seemed quite reasonable.

"Return to the Church, Kirei. After all, in other Masters' eyes, you're also a participant. If magicians other than Tokiomi discover your Command Seals, you'll be in danger."

"You've already done more than enough this time, using Assassin to help the Church discover that irregular eighth summoned Servant like Gilles de Rais, and gathering massive amounts of intelligence that the Church's familiars couldn't monitor. You've worked hard enough. Go back and think it over carefully. If you've decided, tell your teacher. After I finish dealing with the situation there, I'll personally announce your withdrawal from this Holy Grail War, granting you protection from the Church just like your teacher."

His narrowed eyes gradually closed. Risei Kotomine returned to his kind old priest demeanor and patted his son's shoulder with heartfelt advice.

Kirei Kotomine nodded expressionlessly, seemingly agreeing with his old father's suggestion.

The old priest secretly breathed another sigh of relief. He understood his son's character—it could be said to be as excellent as a true saint's.

So he was truly worried that his son might do something impulsive because of his teacher-student bond with Tokiomi Tohsaka. If that happened, even in death, he wouldn't rest easy, feeling he had ruined a promising saint and would have no face to meet the Lord.

"I'll go check on that commercial district in the new area first. Kirei, remember—aside from your teacher Tokiomi, most magicians are research fanatics completely devoid of humanity. The Holy Grail War is far from what it seems on the surface..."

BOOM—!!!

Before Risei Kotomine could finish his words, a deafening explosion suddenly rang in their ears.

The restaurant floor also trembled as if from an earthquake.

"Quick! Someone help! Call the police! Call the police! The hotel—the Hyatt Hotel has collapsed!"

"Mommy, Mommy, where are you? I'm scared..."

"Run! Run! The hotel collapsed—everyone run! It's falling!"

Panicked, chaotic voices rang out continuously. Risei Kotomine's heart filled with foreboding as he looked out the window.

Through the window, he could see in the distance the Hyatt Hotel—over 150 meters tall, hailed as the most luxurious and highest-class building in all of Fuyuki City—collapsing. From outside to inside, due to the destruction of load-bearing walls and certain key structural points, it was imploding inward.

This was controlled demolition, a crystallization of modern scientific technology using large amounts of explosives.

It could ensure the outer walls and exterior collapsed inward rather than harming innocent civilians outside the building's perimeter.

"I..."

Watching the Hyatt Hotel collapse, Risei Kotomine suddenly felt dizzy.

He nearly lost his balance from the sudden spike in blood pressure, clutching his forehead and staring blankly at the collapsing luxury hotel. It was as if with the collapse of that hundred-meter-plus building, he felt his sky—and his latter half of life's glorious, distinguished political achievements—had also collapsed.

Meanwhile, Kirei Kotomine had no mind to worry about such things, because hadn't his old father just said it? The Holy Grail War was very cruel. The Church just needed to handle the cleanup. The Heroic Spirit Servants and their Masters had much more to consider.

Moreover, he really hadn't lied about one thing just now—he seemed to have genuinely lost contact with Irisviel. This concerned him more.

After all, his original plan was to let her taste that feeling of plummeting from a peak of breaking through desperate straits back down to rock bottom before recalling her. He hadn't actually planned to let her die. And based on Irisviel not having drawn much magical energy from him, he judged her injuries weren't too severe—just a minor setback. She should still be able to trade a few more blows with other Heroic Spirit Servants before truly despairing.

What he wanted to savor was precisely this kind of despair—this pleasure of destroying beautiful things fascinated him deeply.

But fascination aside, sustainable development was still necessary. Irisviel was his ticket to the Holy Grail War finals—or rather, to stirring up some fun.

He didn't want her to actually die like this, at least not until a certain opportunity arose.

A certain moment when he felt appropriate, when he believed the instantaneous pleasure she could provide would exceed the overall sustainable development pleasure.

"Splurt!"

Beneath the pale moon, a spray of blood flashed!

Three silver thread daggers pierced the brain, heart, and throat of the already unconscious, dying Kariya Matou, letting this magician—driven mad and to extremes by Crest Worm torture—sleep eternally, never to wake from his dreams!

One worm after another crawled out from the pierced wounds, seeming to want to find a new host to parasitize.

But sensing the terrifying magical energy from the snow sprite before them, they very sensibly burrowed back into the already deceased corpse.

"I said I would help you end the pain of the Crest Worms, after your Servant was gone."

Using what little strength had just recovered, Miss Illya came to Kariya Matou's side and killed him.

With vision already blurred, Miss Illya murmured. Under the moonlight, the blood on her body had already coagulated, and even her black coat Spirit Dress could no longer be maintained, leaving only the oversized white shirt from when she was first summoned.

Her blood-stained pale calves and scar-covered slender arms were now exposed without cover.

She had no more strength or energy left. Even manipulating magical energy was a luxury for her now. After killing Kariya Matou, that breath she'd been holding onto to maintain her spirit also gradually disappeared.

The large-scale familiar army had long since collapsed from lack of control, leaving only a single hummingbird familiar with a few remnants of magical energy still circling and guarding by her side.

"Hiss, hiss, hiss."

After their host died, the Crest Worms and other insects greedily devoured Kariya Matou's remaining flesh and blood. Miss Illya had no time to mind these things. Instead, her eyelids grew heavier as she looked toward a certain little girl not far away who had been blown into a green belt, her body unconsciously trembling as she continued pretending to be unconscious.

She wanted to finish her off or turn her into a human bomb, but obviously, in her current state—unable to even use a Noble Phantasm and probably unable to beat even an ordinary person—she didn't have such capability. Even a person coming up and bonking her on the head could knock her out and carry her home.

"Stop pretending to sleep. I'll count to three. If you don't get up, you'll never get up again."

"..."

"Three."

"Wait, wait, wait! I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to deceive you, great Heroic Spirit! Please don't kill me like an enemy too! (╥﹏╥)"

Rin Tohsaka, who had been trying to get away with playing dead, quickly scrambled up with reddened eyes!

She had only wanted to rescue her classmate Shinji who'd been kidnapped by bad people. How did she get caught up in such a terrifying battlefield?!

"Come here."

"Please, great Heroic Spirit, don't eat me! My family has many, many beautiful, exquisite gems..."

"Carry me."

"?"

"Carry me on your back. I'll give you directions. Or I'll send you to meet your maker."

"Um, excuse me, are you a Heroic Spirit Servant?"

"Yes."

"So that means you're participating in the Holy Grail War, right?"

"Yes."

"Then what's your true name? Can you tell me? Um, a simple title would be fine too."

"Caster."

The night wind swept across the deserted, cold street. Moonlight pouring through gaps in the clouds illuminated two adorable little girls who looked roughly the same age and height.

A small hummingbird familiar circled nearby as a guard, seemingly ready to sacrifice itself without hesitation to kill anyone who made any move to harm its master.

The blood-soaked girl in the white dress was surprisingly light—much lighter than Rin Tohsaka had expected. Whether due to psychological suggestion or blood loss, when she had lifted the girl's drooping head onto her back, she'd barely noticed the weight at all. Light as a stuffed toy her own size.

Glimpsing that delicate, adorable face from the corner of her eye, Rin couldn't help wanting to pinch those cheeks.

It was a beauty like a porcelain doll from anime or movies, with distinct silver strands that were smooth and lovely.

She was drowsy as if wanting to sleep, yet stubbornly forcing herself to stay alert—a small girl putting on a brave front.

Even covered in dried blood, she emanated an inexplicably pleasant, refreshing fragrance.

Rin felt the tickle of silver strands falling against her cheek, felt that weak breath blowing against her ear, and her heartbeat involuntarily quickened as her breathing slowed.

An inexplicable, intense sense of accomplishment welled up—both fear and excitement. Even a hero from myths, epics, and legends—she could interact with one so closely. This heart-stirring feeling, like anime characters coming to life, made her small face flush with excitement.

Who didn't have fantasies? Who didn't have innocent dreams? In this era in the Far East, who hadn't watched magical girl and masked rider anime?

Although she hadn't clearly seen the battle between that terrifying Black Knight and the snow sprite, and her body's protective mechanisms had made her subconsciously ignore some of the bloody scenes out of fear, the remains of this battlefield—like something from mythic epics—let her imagination run wild, picturing the snow sprite's confrontation with beastly monsters, adding her own cool story details.

"So, um, Caster-sama, are you a magical girl? Was that black outfit from before your transformation? After the battle ended and you defeated those scary villains, did you undo your magical girl transformation?"

"...I am a magician from the Age of Gods."

"A magical girl from the Age of Gods?"

Rin asked reflexively, perhaps talking more due to lingering shock.

To distract herself and satisfy a child's curiosity, she asked questions that even she found embarrassingly exciting:

"Is the little bird beside you a familiar? Is that card in your hand like the legendary 'Clow Cards'? Is your transformation chant something like: 'In Caster's name, reveal your true power before me—I, Caster who made a contract with you, command you now—release the seal!'"

As the most iconic magical girl anime of 1994, Rin had naturally watched and loved the various cool Clow Cards in Cardcaptor Sakura.

And perhaps children's imaginations really were remarkably vivid—when Illya had her familiar supervise Rin picking up a golden card from the dust and dirt, Rin had immediately thought of that anime, wondering if these were the so-called Clow Cards.

"No."

Miss Illya, drowsy with an increasingly foggy mind, raised her finger to point in another direction. She didn't bristle, because after tonight, the other Masters and Heroic Spirits would likely guess she possessed advanced spirit possession magecraft anyway.

Counting her initial form, she now had three complete forms, each with distinctly different combat styles. Combined with her identity as an Age of Gods magician, it was easy to conclude this was some kind of advanced spirit possession technique.

So she wasn't angry about whatever Rin imagined. Besides, even if she wanted to silence her, in her current state she couldn't possibly manage it. She had to rely on this small girl—the only one present she could handle—to take her away from this disaster zone of a commercial district before the Church and Fuyuki City police arrived.

Speaking of which, Tokiomi Tohsaka's eldest daughter had impressive strength. Even at around 30 kilograms, Rin was carrying her without even breathing hard.

Compared to being a magician, such natural talent seemed better suited for martial arts.

"Then what's the transformation chant? Caster-sama, can you teach me? I really, really want to become a magical girl too, fighting crime under the night sky, punishing evil and promoting good, becoming..."

"I'm not a magical girl, just a magician. A legitimate Age of Gods magician."

"Um, but at the very end I think I glimpsed you and that scary Black Knight fighting with cold weapons. I thought magicians were supposed to use magecraft? That didn't look like what the books describe..."

"The world of magicians is very cruel. If you don't learn many things, you'll fall behind. Close combat is a required course for qualified Age of Gods magicians."

Miss Illya's voice grew softer and softer as she slumped completely against the small girl's shoulder, closing her blackened eyes.

She was so, so tired. The overload on her spirit and Spirit Origin couldn't be quickly repaired with magical energy alone. Although Berserker's card had nullified the fatal wound the Black Knight dealt her, the other injuries still remained. The pain wasn't much less than Kariya Matou being devoured by Crest Worms. Her entire spirit had been tortured numb by the pain. The damage from overloading her Spirit Origin and body was almost irreversible—even with sufficient magical energy, she'd probably need three or four days of rest.

Still, she didn't regret it. At least she was alive now.

Whether surviving one more second, one more minute, or a day or two—as long as she hadn't completely stopped breathing, there was still a future. And as long as there was a future, there was still hope.

"Rin Tohsaka... aren't you afraid of me?" In a daze, seeing they'd nearly reached the residential area, Miss Illya asked in a voice that was ethereal and blurred.

"Very afraid—super scared! But Caster-sama, you're a hero. You saved me from that evil magician who kidnaps children and my good friend. My father always said that as members of the Tohsaka family, we must never fail to repay others' help, and we must always maintain excellent character and credibility. If I let fear stop me from repaying someone's help, what right would I have to become a proper family head in the future?"

Rin's childish voice rang with determination. She didn't know her thinking wasn't up to a proper magician's standards, because this was the Tohsaka family creed.

Still young, she hadn't encountered the dark side of magicians yet, using her father Tokiomi Tohsaka as her standard.

Whatever kind of person Miss Illya truly was, she had saved Rin—that was the fact she'd witnessed. What others thought in their hearts didn't matter.

What mattered were their actions. Judge by deeds, not hearts—if you judged by hearts, there would be no good people in the world.

She thought it was enough that Miss Illya, who had saved her, was a good person who had helped her. As a child, her thinking was that straightforward. Otherwise, she wouldn't have hidden things from her parents and run out late at night to search for her good friend Kotone, putting herself in danger while investigating the children's disappearances.

"Oh, I see..."

"Then you really are... an idiot..."

Everything before her eyes plunged into murky darkness. Miss Illya said no more—or rather, her consciousness had already sunk into ethereal, thoughtless silence. Her guiding hand drooped limply as she fell deeply asleep for the first time in this Holy Grail War, resting quietly on the naive little girl's back in the cold snowy night like a hibernating white kitten.

She didn't know if she'd see tomorrow's sun. Even thinking had become a troublesome, exhausting luxury.

Maybe Rin would dump her at Tokiomi Tohsaka's doorstep. Maybe they'd encounter some magician or Heroic Spirit wanting to finish her off along the way. Maybe after realizing she'd lost consciousness, Rin would pull out some weapon and stab her in the heart... But what did it matter?

This was the Holy Grail War. No one knew whether tomorrow or an accident would come first.

At least—at the very least—dying in her sleep wouldn't be particularly painful, would it?

She was just a filthy, detestable murderer anyway. As long as she'd tried her best, whatever the outcome was enough.

"Prepare to withdraw, Maiya."

Fuyuki City Central Tower.

The expressionless man in a trench coat lit a cigarette and gave the order through his radio, then unhurriedly descended from the tower.

This was the still-unfinished Fuyuki City Central Tower, only a few hundred meters from the Hyatt Hotel—a natural observation point with a complete view.

The empty structure of steel and concrete was deserted. Far below the building, he could see the area around the now-collapsed Hyatt Hotel where hundreds or thousands of civilians had fallen into panic. But Kiritsugu Emiya knew their panic was excessive.

Because he was undoubtedly an expert in controlled demolition, and he'd evacuated hotel staff, guests, and other civilians before the explosion. So theoretically, except for Kayneth residing on the top floor, for everyone else this explosion was just thunder with little rain—an earthquake.

"Kiritsugu Emiya, I finally understand now—you're an evil heretic through and through."

"I used to believe we just had different paths toward the same goal, but I was such a fool. All this time I've seen and remembered Irisviel's assessment of you, never doubting your true nature. But now if you still tell me your wish is to save the world with the Grail, I'll only find that contradictory to your actions."

Not far away, the swordswoman guarding against Assassin revealed her black-suited form from behind Kiritsugu. Right now, with that terrifying assassin's existence, even a bold magician killer like Kiritsugu Emiya didn't dare travel alone outside the Einzbern castle. He had to keep his Servant close for protection.

"A butcher who takes joy in so-called honor and reputation—in my view, whatever I say to you is wasted effort. You're dissatisfied that after proposing to Kayneth a decisive battle in his magical workshop, I violated the verbal agreement and secretly demolished his workshop, burying him beneath the Hyatt Hotel."

Kiritsugu carried the case containing his sniper rifle, descending the stairs step by step.

He didn't even bother looking at the swordswoman's dissatisfied expression.

"Then tell me, with your injured wrist, what qualifications do you have for a decisive match with Kayneth's Lancer? To put it bluntly, have you forgotten the result from last time?"

"In just ten minutes of close combat sparring with Diarmuid Ua Duibhne, you fell completely at a disadvantage. Your agility and speed couldn't match his, your combat skills lagged behind. You couldn't win in battle or escape in flight. If it had been more than just martial arts practice, if I hadn't seized that opportunity to propose tonight's duel in his magical workshop, do you think last night would have ended so easily?"

After the Dark Magician battle, Diarmuid had invited the swordswoman and Illyasviel to spar in martial skills. Fighting one against two, he'd forced Illyasviel to retreat within fifty moves, then comprehensively suppressed the swordswoman in under ten minutes.

To avoid wasting a strategic Command Seal, Kiritsugu had used the swordswoman's voice to propose a magical duel to Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald.

Unrelated to battles between Heroic Spirits, he would personally storm the Clock Tower Mineralogy Lord's magical workshop to settle the outcome between their two camps.

Kayneth naturally wouldn't refuse such provocation. Through Diarmuid, he'd immediately agreed, seemingly never minding challenges from other magicians.

This was the pride and confidence of the ninth-generation head of the Archibald family, a genius magician of the Clock Tower.

He'd even praised Kiritsugu then, saying that though the notorious rat at least retained a magician's pride, he would ensure Kiritsugu died less painfully in their fair duel, settling their conflict in the manner between magicians.

And then... there was no "and then."

Kiritsugu came. Then without ever entering the magical workshop, he demolished the Hyatt Hotel.

By now, Kayneth was probably dead beyond dead, reduced to ashes along with Fuyuki City's most luxurious hotel.

"Are you insulting my chivalry to my face? Even losing there would be an honorable defeat, not the despicable rat tactics you used!"

"Knights cannot save the world. So-called chivalry is just a means some people use to promote conflict as having distinction between right and wrong, making people mistakenly believe that risking your life on the battlefield is somehow a noble virtue. Do you know how many young people throughout history have bled and sacrificed themselves because of this so-called nobility?"

The Holy Grail War had nothing noble or pure about it. Everyone was an enemy.

Noble spirit wouldn't help them obtain the omnipotent wish-granter. Only surviving to the end and eliminating everyone else was the true solution.

"Besides, didn't you tacitly agree? You self-proclaimed noble butcher, King of Knights."

"You—!"

"Don't act as though you're so noble and flawless. You killed no fewer people in life than I have. Dare you say not a single innocent soul haunts your hands?"

Reaching the bottom of the building, his car parked in the corner. The cold wind blew across his face.

Kiritsugu turned expressionlessly to look at the swordswoman who seemed about to lose her composure. Their compatibility was poor, but they actually only had emotional conflicts in personality. Their goal was the same—to win in the end.

From the moment she'd chosen to keep fighting even after learning Irisviel's true identity, he'd understood this swordswoman was also a fanatical hero. She also refused to believe she'd lose in this Holy Grail War's finale.

Even with the result laid before her, she would still fight without hesitation until her last breath.

"...Then at the end, if our final enemy is Illyasviel ."

"Kiritsugu Emiya, what will you do? I want to hear your most honest thoughts."

Kiritsugu remained silent.

The swordswoman withdrew her anger and dissatisfaction, looking coldly at this man full of lies yet with absurdly naive ideals. He told her to abandon useless chivalric spirit—but could he abandon so-called familial bonds?

The issue of Illyasviel had become a forbidden topic Kiritsugu refused to discuss since last night. Even Irisviel hadn't mentioned it in front of him anymore.

But in reality, he was just running away. She wouldn't gently let him think it over like Irisviel would.

"Illya is our ally now. Her priority always ranks behind everyone else. Asking me this now is like a petulant little girl throwing a tantrum."

The black car drove toward them, bright headlights gradually magnifying in Kiritsugu's lifeless eyes. His assistant Maiya Hisau sat in the driver's seat, with Irisviel in the passenger seat happily eating a small cake.

Lately Irisviel seemed suddenly enamored with these unhealthy sweets, buying many at home and even keeping some in the car's trunk when going out.

"Priority ranking behind? I doubt that. You know very well what you really think."

The swordswoman saw Irisviel approaching and lowered her voice, seemingly not wanting the gentle princess to know about her conversation with Kiritsugu:

"Besides, I'm speaking hypothetically. Answer me, Kiritsugu Emiya. To seize the Grail and win final victory, how much are you willing to sacrifice or how far will you go? Of course I want a final showdown with Illyasviel, but I can't be certain what you're thinking."

Aside from her, only four Servants remained on the field. Both the King of Heroes and Diarmuid had likely exited as expected.

They'd entered the Holy Grail War's middle stage. Eliminating one or two more Servants would bring them to the final match.

"Then when your Kingdom of Britain fell apart, what were you thinking facing Mordred? Did you consider just giving up and letting it take over the kingdom?"

"That's completely different! Mordred wasn't even my child—it was a homunculus my sister Morgan created using magecraft to obtain my genetic material. Asking me to acknowledge a child I never knew existed and let it inherit the kingdom is utterly ridiculous and unreasonable..."

"So what's the difference? Between Illya and Mordred?"

"....."

"They're the same—whether it's Mordred to you or Illya to me."

The excuse didn't matter. What mattered was both sides stood opposed.

Although Irisviel wasn't as rebellious as Mordred, their positions were set—both could only be mortal enemies. Just as the swordswoman already knew Britain was beyond saving yet still refused to hand the kingdom to Mordred.

Kiritsugu also knew his outcome in this Holy Grail War would likely be failure, yet similarly wouldn't give up fighting or surrender the omnipotent wish-granter that could realize his lifelong ideal.

"Kiritsugu, Saber, want to try this cake? It's really, really super delicious! (๑´ㅂ`๑)"

Seeing Kiritsugu take the passenger seat and the swordswoman sit in back beside her, Irisviel held up two small cakes and offered them to each, placing the treats before their mouths. Kiritsugu accepted indifferently.

The swordswoman hesitated a few seconds before also accepting the cake and taking a small bite.

"Ugh, this is way too sweet, Iri."

"Eh? Really? I think it's fine—being sweet and wonderful is the best, isn't it?"

Irisviel affectionately hugged the swordswoman's arm, leaning on her shoulder and blinking with a gentle, energetic smile, trying to appear perfectly normal.

A few drops of cold sweat appeared on her forehead, her breathing inexplicably more rapid.

But the swordswoman and Kiritsugu, both lost in thought, didn't notice anything wrong with her.

Just as she'd told Illya before, she wouldn't withdraw from this Holy Grail War.

Because from the start, she'd never had the option to withdraw.

"What's wrong, Iri?"

The swordswoman noticed Irisviel had closed her eyes and was leaning on her shoulder, asking softly in a voice only the two of them could hear.

"Nothing, I'm just... a bit tired."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, so Saber, lend me your shoulder—let me rest for a while..."

To achieve humanity's salvation, we need the power of magic—we need the omnipotent wish-granter.

This is our destiny, the lifelong pursuit of homunculi from the Einzbern family.

You are the Einzbern family's highest masterpiece, the final gamble surpassing all aprevious Lesser Grails with refined techniques. You bear the three-thousand-year aspiration of the entire Einzbern family.

You carry the sole opportunity obtained by the Winter Saint with her life, along with the other two great magical families' sacrifices since the Holy Grail War ritual's establishment. Why won't you accept this destiny? Wanting to struggle to the end just for a chance to live—this shouldn't be your thinking at all.

"Magic? Humanity's salvation—if only humans gain happiness from that, what are we living for?"

"We have no concept of happiness, because we're tools. Simply manufactured instruments."

This was a world of snow. Silent, bone-chillingly cold snow winds blew across the snowy forest plain.

Silver-haired, red-eyed girls stood expressionlessly across the snowfield like puppets.

Not far from them lay a small figure in a blood-stained white nightgown with bandages wrapped around her forehead. Her silver hair and pure white, thin clothing made her blend perfectly into this place—like a snow sprite. Whether in appearance or temperament, this little girl was flawless. It would be even better if she could smile.

Of course, that was difficult. The little girl's eyes were hollow, her expression indifferent. She walked barefoot through the snow regardless of the cold, like a programmed girl without her own thoughts or emotions.

"The Einzbern aspiration has nothing to do with me. I have no interest in realizing any miracle of human salvation. Let me save others? Then who will save me? I'm a very selfish person. Between greater love and lesser love, I only choose to love myself."

The three Lesser Grail girls from previous Holy Grail Wars simply shook their heads.

They were pure goodwill, the subconscious manifestation of the Lesser Grail's Heart skill. So they wouldn't forcefully pressure her about anything, only explain the principles they knew.

Illyasviel 's existence was very special—she possessed both the Lesser Grail's Heart, the Einzbern family's millennia-old masterpiece for saving the world upgraded to a retained skill, and a malicious misfortune clinging to her that made her combat awareness and luck extraordinarily strange. Like an existence woven from good and evil clashing together, her alignment could be called truly chaotic and unclear.

Two paths lay ahead—one leading toward the Lesser Grail girls, the other toward a blurred black figure.

"Then do you want to turn toward her? Illyasviel von Einzbern."

They pointed to the humanoid black shadow forming on another path across the distant snowfield. That was also one of the Holy Grail War's historical Lesser Grails, like them—the subconscious manifestation of the second retained skill, All the World's Evil's Observation.

Fundamentally, the Lesser Grail's Heart and All the World's Evil's Observation contradicted each other.

Their mechanisms completely clashed, which was why Illyasviel 's personality seemed sometimes good, sometimes bad—appearing purely adorable with noble lady-like courtesy one moment, then unscrupulous and full of lies like a malicious person deceiving everyone the next.

This caused many mechanisms of both skills to be masked. For instance, the Lesser Grail's Heart's prayer function was usable but not written on the skill panel.

And All the World's Evil's Observation also had abilities similar to Mad Enhancement but were similarly masked by the Lesser Grail's Heart's existence, only discoverable gradually by the holder exploring the mechanisms.

Unless the holder completely abandoned one side's mechanisms, the other side's mechanisms would fully unlock.

"With me, you don't need to follow any so-called destiny. You just need Mama to hold you, my most adorable, most beloved good daughter Illya~"

The black shadow's tone was gentle, her voice almost identical to a certain Mrs. Illyasviel .

In reality, Illyasviel was dying. Overloading beyond the Spirit Origin and body's limits couldn't be compensated for with magical energy. Only by choosing between her and the Lesser Grail's Heart's prayer, and bearing the fate after choosing, could she possibly survive.

After all, though she'd supposedly defeated Lancelot, Illyasviel had actually already lost. She purely relied on the Noble Phantasm's mechanism of nullifying one fatal wound to barely hang on. Otherwise, she wouldn't even have had the chance to severely wound Lancelot.

"...Choose me, and you don't need to follow anything. You just need to use the Grail after winning the Holy Grail War to make a wish different from those three over there. After that, you can follow your interests. They treated dear Illya as a tool, but I treat you as my most beloved daughter~"

One side offered salvation for the world's people. The other side offered the world's people's extinction.

This was the greatest point of contradiction between the two retained skills—both upgraded to skills with completely different essences.

And now, Illyasviel had to choose one side, twisting her personality to survive.

Becoming either a fanatical, frenzied personality going mad in battle, or an adorable personality who loved eating cakes in daily life. After choosing, the skill would guide her to only one side—whether in battle or daily life, there would only be one state.

One skill's strength and mechanisms would fully unlock while completely sealing the other skill—like abandoning one skill to raise the other's ceiling.

"You don't love me at all. You're all the same. No matter who I choose, afterward I won't be me anymore—just a personality derived from a skill."

"Hehe, but at least that way you'll be happy, won't you? My adorable Illya. I can guarantee I'm much stronger than that hypocritical Lesser Grail's Heart. As long as you choose me, I can help you kill all your enemies~"

The Lesser Grail's Heart protected the lower limit, while she—All the World's Evil's Observation—offered a purely high ceiling.

If not for All the World's Evil's Observation keeping her hanging on by a thread at the end, relying solely on the so-called Lesser Grail's Heart, she could never have broken through the Spirit Origin and body's limits to pluck blooming roses from time's interstice to successfully kill Lancelot.

"Besides, does it matter whether the future you is you or not? Either way, it's all Illyasviel , right? Just a personality slightly worse than before. This kind of naughty little girl is much more popular than a well-behaved good girl~"

"....."

She extended her hand toward Miss Illya and slowly approached, but unfortunately, the little girl only stepped across the snowfield, completely ignoring her as if she couldn't see her at all.

Tch, what a disobedient child.

All the World's Evil's Observation spread her small hands helplessly. Her black mud could quickly help Illyasviel repair physical external and internal injuries.

While the Lesser Grail's Heart's prayer could rapidly help Illyasviel repair mental overload and the burden on her Spirit Origin from breaking its limits.

—Provided the mechanisms within the skills were fully unlocked.

But she'd told the truth—her ceiling really was high. Though not as comprehensive as the Lesser Grail's Heart, in the Holy Grail War, pure evil offered more survival chances than pure good. So Illyasviel choosing her was genuinely beneficial.

The side effects were just being slightly unlucky—including but not limited to mostly failing at whatever she did.

The Lesser Grail's Heart came with hidden passive luck from being loved, while All the World's Evil's Observation came with hidden passive misfortune from being abandoned by the world. The two skills had always clashed in attributes—like extreme luck followed by extreme misfortune, or misfortune followed by inexplicable luck.

"Achieving the Third Magic to save the world's people is our aspiration. You've made the best choice, Illyasviel . Einzbern won't disappoint you."

"....."

The three Lesser Grails also extended their hands toward Miss Illya, yet she likewise simply passed by them.

They blinked, seemingly confused, watching helplessly as the little girl before them walked into the snowfield's depths against the cold wind—toward ultimate death.

Even the somewhat annoyed All the World's Evil suddenly realized and felt some surprise.

Not choosing her, not choosing the Lesser Grail's Heart—she'd gone mad.

"Illya, do you know what you're doing? If you don't choose either side, you'll die here! Whichever side you choose, you're still Einzbern's—you can continue living. You're Einzbern's culmination, the crystallization of technology. If you just silently exit like this, are you really willing?!"

"Missions, missions, missions—goals, goals, goals. Whatever Einzbern family. No matter whose way I follow, wouldn't I completely lose all sense of self?"

Beasts crawled from corners of the snowfield—greedy, terrifying wolf packs.

Watching the small girl advancing aimlessly across the snowfield, they wanted a hearty meal—death itself.

Miss Illya instinctively felt afraid but still walked wordlessly, expressionlessly toward the depths. She truly feared death, but if living meant losing herself, what difference was there from death? She disliked these villains arbitrarily assigning her responsibilities. All she wanted was happy, joyful, beautiful survival.

Since accepting fate meant dying with lost self, why not choose a freer manner of death? At least this was her own decision.

Not some bullshit destiny or forced choice—only for herself, not for Einzbern. Not for so-called relatives and friends who claimed it was for her own good. Not dying for annoying responsibilities and obligations.

"You've gone mad! Illyasviel , without us, you can't leave here alive!"

The Lesser Grail's Heart and All the World's Evil's Observation both grew anxious, seemingly both preparing to approach her closely and take over her consciousness when she couldn't bear it and submitted.

However... RIP!

A military dagger slashed through white snow, directly piercing the blurred black shadow with Illyasviel 's appearance and voice. This was something that shouldn't exist!

Mechanisms outside these two skills—mechanisms Illyasviel theoretically shouldn't possess!

At the same moment, the same murderer's dagger suddenly fell, also piercing through the three Lesser Grail's Heart girls' chests, instantly ripping out their bloody hearts!

"Illyasviel , what have you done?"

"Killing me and her? Without me and her, you can't possibly wake up in reality!"

"How will you resist other Heroic Spirits! How will you win in the end and obtain the happiness you want!"

All the World's Evil's Observation stamped her foot angrily, glaring at Miss Illya. They were just skill manifestations—they wouldn't die. But her actions undoubtedly blocked her own survival path. She naturally wouldn't want her to die!

After all, in a sense they were all the same person, just with different wishes. She didn't want happiness—only for everyone in the world to die. And before that wish was fulfilled, Illyasviel absolutely couldn't die!

She could accept Illyasviel choosing the other, but not choosing neither!

"Very simple—I'll just kill everyone, won't I?"

"?"

Illyasviel faced the howling wolf pack, her lips curling more maliciously than All the World's Evil's Observation.

She let these beasts tear at her long hair, arms, thighs, ripping off chunks of flesh. She laughed wantonly as if feeling no pain.

"You..." Only now did All the World's Evil's Observation realize—Miss Illya might be even more extreme than her.

That personality distortion was even more malicious than hers. That pure lack of moral concepts was even stranger than the Lesser Grail's Heart. This was a twisted evil born for survival and happiness—clearly revering beautiful things yet producing evil.

BOOM! The snowfield seemed to experience an avalanche as suddenly appearing magical energy impact sent the wolf pack flying. Two black shadows slowly emerged from within!

A short girl murderer whose face couldn't be seen clearly, and a red-hooded magician killer!

"Die? I'm truly afraid of death. But if death is my just desserts—the outcome after desperately trying and gambling everything—why can't I accept it?"

"I don't need to live by twisting my wishes. I can abandon anything except... I will never forget I want happiness."

Golden cards materialized from nothing in her hands, emptiness being filled.

Severe pain eroded Miss Illya's spirit, wanting to drag her into death's underworld to accompany lonely ghosts. But clearly she disagreed, and her friends wouldn't agree either.

The little girl in the snowfield faced the cold wind, bleeding continuously, directly confronting death's desperate straits.

Her eyes gradually transformed into determination as she shouted a completely different contract than her previous Noble Phantasm uses—or rather, not a contract at all. After all, unconscious in reality, she couldn't even think of chanting words, only instinctively shouting a certain name...

"—Berserker!!"

BOOM!

The cold, bone-chilling flat snowfield shattered at this moment!

Mixed with the wolf pack's mournful howls, it transformed into shattered fragments. Dark silence drowned everything—whether the scenery here or the people who'd appeared.

When she came to, in Miss Illya's eyes remained only boundless, endless darkness. Had she died? Because she'd refused those two paths to survival? Body collapsed, spirit shattered, Spirit Origin destroyed from being unable to bear the strain?

Just as she thought this with some regret—

A ray of light continuously expanded within the blackness. Various long-lost sensations also returned.

She extended her hand, wanting to touch it. As she drew near, that ray of light grew increasingly vast.

This was hope's light, warm light—the light a little girl afraid of cold yearned for. Physical perception gradually recovered—magical energy flowing and circulating within her body, symbolizing she hadn't died.

"A somewhat... unfamiliar ceiling..."

Miss Illya drowsily opened her eyes, murmuring in confusion.

Meeting her gaze was a large expanse of beautiful tan-black ceiling. With her superior vision, she could even see patterns and certain holes upon it.

Sunlight streaming through the window was rather dazzling. Miss Illya holding the golden card couldn't help frowning and raising her fingers to block the inconsiderate sunlight. After about three or four minutes, she finally recovered some energy.

"The furniture isn't new, but there's no dust. The room must be regularly cleaned by someone. It's quite spacious too—a family with modest assets in Fuyuki City's residential district."

Miss Illya propped herself against the floor and pushed aside the blanket, covering her still somewhat aching small head as she surveyed her surroundings.

This was a room about twenty square meters. Table, television, tea sets, and various items were all present. Under the TV cabinet sat several anime discs. Though not luxurious, it had a comfortable tidiness—likely a living room area, just cleaned for guests to rest.

This place?

Where was this?

Still feeling exhausted, Miss Illya forced herself to rally and prepare to stand and investigate. However, her weak limbs clearly weren't obeying her commands.

Just trying to stand and take a couple steps, she tumbled back onto the futon.

"Thud..."

"What happened, what happened, what happened? Eh? Caster-sama, you're already awake?"

Hearing the noise, Rin Tohsaka came running from outside with her half-eaten rice ball and slid open the room's door.

Then meeting her gaze was what looked like someone who'd given up—like a dried fish lying on the bedding curled up hugging a pillow, contemplating life as a salted fish.

She tried burying her small face completely in the pillow, because having recovered some strength, she finally had energy to cry. This fall triggered a chain reaction with her other injuries, making her hurt so badly tears wouldn't stop.

"Caster-sama, are you... crying?" Rin noticed the dampened pillow and blinked.

"No!"

"But your eyes are clearly red. If you want to cry..."

"My eyes are natural! Natural!"

"Um, could it be magical energy deficiency? I read in a book that if..."

"Go away! Get out! Say one more word and I guarantee I'll kill you and dump you in Tokyo Bay! Ten times!

A stat monster. A pure stat monster. That Black Knight's strength was absolutely ridiculous!

He'd cost her two lives. Two whole lives!

Various information advantages combined, catching him off guard by taking his eyes at the start, plus his Master holding him back, various skill mechanisms pushed to overload, and most importantly—two cards that each nullified a fatal wound... Yet Miss Illya still felt like she'd nearly died and could barely stand. Every part of her body hurt.

She'd only defeated the Black Knight by stacking card after card. He'd traded one life for three of hers and still nearly won, shattering two resurrection armors.

First, he'd destroyed her Assassin card on initial contact, then Caster got smashed too. After canceling her transformation, she'd been weaker than ever before.

Now awake, Miss Illya wiped away tears that pain had forced from her eyes. If even one factor had gone wrong last night, she'd be dead.

Lancelot's strength was absurd. Two class cards enhanced by her reached first-rate Heroic Spirit Servant levels. In other words, Lancelot hadn't been fighting her one-on-one—he'd been simultaneously battling two first-rate Servants plus her as a second-rate driver. Yet he still broke through both first-rate Servants and nearly crippled her, the second-rate driver.

One versus three.

Reverse-killed two first-rates, left one second-rate critically wounded.

She couldn't even evaluate what level of strength that was. She just knew that fighting any of the remaining three knight-class Heroic Spirit Servants one-on-one, she'd never be beaten this badly.

Jack the Ripper's speed—the Black Knight could match it. Heroic Spirit EMIYA's speed—the Black Knight could suppress it with martial skill. If not for having developed over several days...

Last night would have been her death. Or rather, if her strength had still been as pathetic as the first night when she'd failed to even assassinate a Master properly, if her combat awareness and desperate determination hadn't been tempered by battle's fire—last night even with five cards, she felt the Black Knight could have broken through them all, like the gourd brothers rescuing grandpa, summoning them one by one only to get picked off individually.

"Kariya Matou, you just wait. Once my injuries heal, I'm wiping out everyone in the Matou family! (▼皿▼#)"

After waking and resting for nearly half an hour, Miss Illya finally managed to crawl up, enduring her aching body as she stuffed small bites of rice ball into her mouth.

The more she thought about it, the more shocking last night seemed.

Based on what the Black Knight said after their contract broke, he was—as expected—the legendary strongest Knight of the Round Table from Britain, Lancelot. The magic sword he'd drawn was his Noble Phantasm, Arondight - The Unfading Light of the Lake. One sword strike had taken one of her lives, and that was just the equivalent of a plain, simple normal attack.

If he'd drawn the magic sword at the start of battle, even if she'd defied heaven itself, she'd probably still have been defeated. Thankfully, Kariya Matou's magical energy was insufficient and he had no spare Command Seals—she'd schemed to make him waste two during the harbor battle.

Though determined in his resolve, he'd wanted to keep one seal in case six Servants' souls weren't enough for the Grail to descend, allowing the Black Knight to commit suicide directly. He hadn't dared use it until seeing a possible elimination scenario at the very end.

Otherwise, those terrifying stats plus the magic sword—even eight first-rate Heroic Spirit Servant class cards might not be enough for him to cut through.

"Caster-sama, what are you saying? Do the rice balls not suit your taste?"

Rin Tohsaka sat across the small table in duck-sitting position, propping up her small face and blinking curiously.

She couldn't hear Miss Illya's muttering clearly, and due to excessive shock, many events from last night were blurry. So she didn't know that the person her companion had finally caught her breath to kill was actually her mother's good friend.

Not long ago, she'd met Uncle Kariya Matou, who'd been so kind to her.

"Nothing, I'm just thinking these rice balls taste pretty good." Miss Illya bit viciously into the small rice ball. But honestly, these rice balls really did taste quite good.

Though they couldn't compare to sweet cakes, eating them still made her feel quite pleasant.

"Um, Caster-sama, you think they're delicious too, right? I'll tell you, when I woke up this morning I also thought they were super yummy—I ate three whole ones in one go!"

Rin seemed excited to finally find common ground with Miss Illya. So this Age of Gods magician who'd saved her could actually eat modern food, and apparently had similar tastes to hers!

"And guess what—guess who made these rice balls? Caster-sama, you definitely can't imagine! o(〃'▽'〃)o"

"Oh, first of all, it's definitely not you. Anyway, it absolutely couldn't be you."

"o(╥﹏╥)o"

"...Who made them?"

Seeing Rin's dejected face after being called out, Miss Illya—in poor condition—fell silent for a few seconds before taking the bait from this seemingly silly little girl.

After all, logically speaking, she'd saved Illya's life. Heaven knows how the girl had carried her nearly 30-kilogram body, forcing herself to cross from the commercial district to the residential area several kilometers away. But the fact that she'd barely saved Illya's life couldn't be denied. Out of courtesy, she couldn't be too cold.

In a couple days when she had to bury her, she'd at least burn some magical girl merchandise for her.

"It was a little kid. He's also the one who picked up both Caster-sama and me last night."

Rin felt dejected for a few seconds, but hearing Miss Illya willing to engage with her, she quickly turned from sad to happy and continued explaining.

"Picked us up?"

Miss Illya chewed the tasty rice ball, tilting her head in confusion.

There was no magical presence here—she could sense that. This was one of the main reasons she hadn't immediately tried to leave after waking up.

Rin basically had no cunning, so in her speculation, this should be a residence Rin had snuck into after its owner left. But she hadn't considered they'd actually been picked up by a stranger. After all, last night her injuries were severe—even now her clothes still had bloodstains and her flesh bore knife scars. Any normal person with a functioning brain should have called the police or an ambulance to send her to the hospital. How could anyone pick up suspicious strangers like them and bring them home?

"Do you know hypnosis magecraft?"

"Of course... not! Father hasn't taught me that kind of magecraft yet. But if Caster-sama is willing to teach me, I'll definitely study very, very seriously!"

Rin propped up her small face, looking at the snow sprite with anticipation, stars practically in her eyes. An Age of Gods magician—an existence even more ancient than Father! And as everyone knew, the more mysterious and ancient magecraft was, the more powerful it became.

If she could teach her a couple general-purpose magecraft techniques, she'd definitely be able to inherit the Tohsaka family head position faster after growing up, bringing the Tohsaka family to a new historical peak and making Father look at her with new eyes.

"Go away. I don't know hypnosis magecraft either. The Age of Gods was very cruel—we generally didn't learn low-level magecraft. Everyone basically started with advanced flash techniques and swordsmanship." Miss Illya casually waved her hand, refusing Rin without a blush or racing heart.

Don't ask—just know the Age of Gods was very cruel. What she knew was orthodox Age of Gods magecraft. What she didn't know was all low-level magecraft that wasn't useful.

"Um, charm magecraft or suggestion magecraft would work too."

"...Do I look like someone who knows charm magecraft? Stop thinking such random things."

"Okay."

Hearing Miss Illya seemed a bit impatient, Rin felt slightly disappointed at being disliked, but quickly adjusted and continued:

"Last night I brought you to the residential area. It was very cold and you'd fallen into deep unconsciousness. Originally I wanted to bring you to Father's residence in Fuyuki City, but it was too dark and I got lost, not knowing which way to go. I was afraid you'd catch cold, Caster, so I slowly carried you deeper into the residential area for over an hour, planning to find a house with lights still on to borrow a blanket to cover you. Then I found this place, knocked on the door, and a little boy about my age answered..."

"Wait! You're saying you carried me for over half an hour to reach the residential area, then carried me for over another hour going deeper into the residential area seeking help? In the dead of winter, late at night, you walked for nearly two hours carrying me?"

No way.

Your Strength and Endurance are kind of ridiculous, aren't they?

Who's the Heroic Spirit Servant here—you or me? You should know that a twenty-liter water jug only weighs 20 kilograms. You carried me at nearly 30 kilograms—equivalent to one and a half water jugs—for two whole hours?

Miss Illya blinked at the confused Rin. The girl wasn't even ten years old yet. This strength—or rather, this endurance—wasn't much weaker than an ordinary adult's, was it?

"Because Caster-sama, you're very light. Is there a problem?" Rin scratched her small face in confusion.

Honestly, she was incredibly light. Whether it was psychological suggestion or blood loss, she'd felt like a large-sized doll.

"No, nothing. Continue..."

"Then that little boy heard I needed help and saw Caster-sama covered in so much blood. He froze at first, thinking we were playing dress-up games, but quickly realized the blood was real. Though scared, he still opened the door and helped me bring you inside."

"And then? His parents didn't say anything? Letting two strangers into their home late at night?"

"Um, his parents are both busy working overtime and won't be home for a couple days. After that, he asked how Caster-sama got hurt so badly with so much blood—did you encounter bad people? He wanted to use the phone to call the police."

Reaching this point, Rin paused. That kid's personality was really quite upright, simple, and earnest. Maybe because they were both little girls, he'd been like an idiot with no sense of caution, both frightened yet timidly wanting to help.

"And then, upholding the principle that mysteries can't be leaked and the Holy Grail War is a secret ritual, I obviously couldn't let that kid actually call the police..."

"You killed him? Or used magecraft to hold him hostage?"

Miss Illya instinctively thought with a magician's mindset. After all, in this situation with the family's adults absent, to avoid leaking mysteries, taking over the cuckoo's nest was undoubtedly the most reasonable and convenient choice. No matter what, Rin was still the heir of a magical family—she should have considered these things.

"No—Caster-sama, can you not think of me as so scary? That kid helped us. How could I possibly repay kindness with enmity and hurt him? (?°?°?)"

Rin, who hadn't interacted with magicians besides her father, rebutted somewhat helplessly.

It seemed the Age of Gods really was very cruel. Caster-sama and a modern magician like her had such vastly different principles and concepts. She kept talking about killing people and taking hostages at every turn.

Did she seem like the type of gorilla woman who only knew violence and had no noble bearing?

"Then what did you do? I can't imagine what other method besides that could..."

"I told him a well-meaning lie."

Rin lowered her head and scratched her small face. Her face immediately flushed, seemingly feeling somewhat embarrassed. At the time, she'd just tried it without expecting it to actually work.

Kids were probably just really easy to fool. Or he was a big idiot.

Miss Illya, hearing this, became increasingly confused. She couldn't imagine what kind of lie could explain their condition last night that would make anyone who saw it want to call the police. After all, she knew Rin didn't know hypnosis or charm magecraft, and was a bit naive—dumb enough to follow a Servant not summoned by her father, Tokiomi Tohsaka.

Such a dumb little girl—what lie could she tell? Could it be she'd misjudged last night and Rin was actually a social genius with inexplicable persuasive power over ordinary people?

"What did you say? Don't tell me you claimed we're actually wandering gang members, that our parents were framed and killed by rival gangs, we were sent out at the cost of our parents' loyalists' lives, the entire Fuyuki City underworld is searching for us, those people have eyes in the police station, so we can't call the police and expose our whereabouts?"

"Oh, I said Caster-sama fought monsters, was left critically wounded in mutual defeat with monsters trying to destroy Fuyuki City late at night, and I rescued you as a defeated magical girl."

"....."

Rin's face grew redder and redder as she watched Miss Illya—who seemed completely stunned, wanting to speak but not knowing what to say, falling into inexplicable silence.

She actually thought this reason was incredibly embarrassing too, but in the dark of night with the wind high, her head had gotten hot and she'd just blurted it out. She'd even added lots of details on her own.

Caster-sama was a magical girl whose daytime identity was an elementary school student at Fuyuki Elementary, but at night she transformed into the dark guardian protecting Fuyuki City's innocent civilians from monster attacks. The recent gas leak incident at the harbor, and the small earthquake events that kept happening periodically—

These were actually caused by her battles against terrible monsters. This was the dark side of the hidden world. Every night, she would engage in battles to uphold love and happiness against those monsters.

And she, Rin Tohsaka, was Caster-sama's disciple—a magical girl apprentice of Fuyuki City.

Every day she had to gather intelligence and fight alongside her, until she became a qualified magical girl like her, able to stand alone and defend Fuyuki City's peace.

"I, you, this, I, magical girl..."

Snapping out of her silence, Miss Illya's words became incoherent. She felt her dignity was gone.

What the hell, a magical girl! How could she say something so embarrassing? She was a dignified Heroic Spirit Servant with a glorious one-versus-three battle record in the Holy Grail War. To have her face described as a magical girl from a children's anime—this was way too embarrassing.

At least—at the very least, she could have said Kamen Rider. Wouldn't that sound better than magical girl? Magical girls were wholesome family entertainment, way too different from her style.

"He believed it?"

"Yes!"

"He had no objections whatsoever?"

"Nope!"

"So what you're saying is, a kid believed I'm a defeated magical girl, gave us shelter here, provided food, without a shred of doubt?"

"Yes, yes, yes, yes!"

Miss Illya felt completely awful. No way—were kids these days really this gullible?

He believed such nonsense? Were Fuyuki City children's acceptance levels just too strong?

Could it be from inhaling too much leaked gas, giving the kid brain development problems?

Just as she puzzled over this while unconsciously finishing her rice ball, approaching footsteps interrupted her thoughts...

Tap, tap, tap.

The footsteps drew closer and closer.

Then the sliding door to the living room slowly opened.

"Magical girl big sister, you're awake? There are plenty more rice balls—please don't be shy."

A little boy with short reddish-brown hair, brown eyes, stubborn yet straightforward gaze, entered the room enthusiastically carrying a plate of rice balls and placed them on the table.

His eyebrow ends were shaped like lightning bolts. He wasn't tall, appearing about the same age as Rin.

Sensing no magician's presence from him, Miss Illya reflexively accepted a rice ball, politely wanting to thank him. However, before she could speak, one sentence from this red-haired little boy made her pause mid-word.

"Thank you for always protecting Fuyuki City, magical girl big sister from the M78 Nebula. I believe you'll definitely uncover the secret organization's conspiracy and capture Phantom Thief Kid!"

"?"

Rin Tohsaka.

Just how many goddamn settings did you add for me?!