Chapter 250: The Holy Grail is With Me
"Thank you very much for your kindness, Hikigaya, but it's no longer necessary..."
Facing Hikigaya Hachiman's goodwill, a bitter smile crossed Irisviel's face as she shook her head.
If she could, she would certainly want to just leave, forever departing this city that broke her heart.
But how could she, the vessel, leave? How could she possibly be able to leave?
"No longer necessary?"
Hikigaya Hachiman exchanged a puzzled look with Artoria, and after seeing that she was equally bewildered, he kept his gaze on Irisviel.
"Um, could you explain a little more clearly? Why can't you leave?"
Could it be that the Einzbern family gave Irisviel a "kill-or-be-killed" directive?
If that were the case, Hikigaya Hachiman could give her some money and let her live under an assumed name in Japan...
"Saber, I'm a little hungry. Could I trouble you to bring me some food?"
Hearing Hikigaya Hachiman's question, Irisviel did not answer directly. Instead, she looked at Artoria and found a suitable excuse to send her away.
"....."
Artoria naturally understood that Irisviel didn't want her to know what she was about to say next.
She nodded, stood up, glanced at Hikigaya Hachiman, and walked downstairs.
"Ah, Saber, you've come down! Where is Onii-chan?"
In the first-floor dining room of the inn, Sakura and Karna were sitting at a table piled high with food.
Seeing only Artoria come down, Sakura tilted her head, curiously asking about Hikigaya Hachiman's whereabouts.
"As for Hikigaya, he is talking with Irisviel."
Thinking of Irisviel deliberately sending her away, a trace of worry involuntarily appeared on Artoria's face.
"Huh, Big Brother is talking with Irisviel?"
Hearing Artoria's words, a hint of surprise surfaced on Sakura's face.
Except for a few specific matters, Hikigaya Hachiman had never kept any other information secret from Sakura.
Thus, Sakura was well aware of the relationship between Irisviel, who stayed in the next room, and Emiya Kiritsugu from yesterday.
Those two alone together...
"Don't worry, nothing will happen."
Seeing Sakura's surprised look, Artoria mistakenly thought she was worried that Hikigaya Hachiman might be retaliated against by Irisviel.
"No, I'm not worried about that."
After all, Sakura was very clear about Hikigaya Hachiman's strength. Even ordinary Heroic Spirits couldn't defeat him. Even if Irisviel was a very powerful Magus, she wouldn't stand a chance of harming him in a confined space like a room.
On the contrary, Sakura was more curious about what they were discussing, since even Artoria had been sent downstairs...
"Gulp~"
Suddenly, a loud noise rang out next to Sakura's ear.
"Huh?"
She looked up suspiciously at the person next to her. Although Artoria tried her best to put on an "I had nothing to do with it" expression, her flushed face and continuously rumbling stomach still betrayed the fact that the sound had come from her.
"Is Saber hungry?"
Recalling how Artoria had eaten a lot, a lot of food at breakfast that morning, a look of understanding flashed across Sakura's face.
"No, I was just..."
Artoria opened her mouth, just about to explain the reason for her stomach making strange noises, when suddenly the aroma of food wafted to her nose.
"Gulp..."
Artoria's eyes instantly darted to the food on the table, and she made a swallowing sound.
"Haha... then let's eat first."
Covering her mouth and chuckling softly, Sakura took the initiative to hold Artoria's hand and pulled her down to sit at the table.
"Well, actually I..."
Artoria reluctantly sat down in the chair, still wanting to make a final struggle.
"If you don't eat now, the food will get cold soon."
Winking at Artoria, Sakura proactively gave her a suitable excuse.
"......If that's the case, then there's nothing that can be done about it..."
Hearing Sakura's words, Artoria paused for a moment, then put on a serious expression that absolutely no food could be wasted.
.
.
.
"So, was there something important you wanted to talk about, leaving us alone?"
Hikigaya Hachiman watched Artoria close the door and leave, then sat down by the bed and asked.
"There is indeed something important I wanted to tell you, Hikigaya..."
Looking at Hikigaya Hachiman before her, a conflicted expression appeared on Irisviel's face.
However, thinking about Emiya Kiritsugu's death, she sighed and made up her mind.
"Hikigaya, do you want the Holy Grail?"
"No, I don't."
"Huh?"
Hearing Hikigaya Hachiman's answer, Irisviel was instantly stunned.
Why was Hikigaya Hachiman's answer different from what she had expected?
"Is it strange not to want the Holy Grail? Why does it feel like every single one of you looks surprised when you hear that..."
Seeing the exact same expression on Irisviel's face as everyone else's, a trace of helplessness flashed across Hikigaya Hachiman's face.
That so-called omnipotent wish-granting cup is just a trick, why does everyone have to treat it as so important?
"Since you don't have a reason to necessarily obtain the Holy Grail, Hikigaya, how did you qualify to participate?"
Seeing that Hikigaya Hachiman didn't seem to be lying, Irisviel was puzzled.
Although if there are no suitable candidates, the Holy Grail will relax its selection criteria at the end to make up the numbers, just like Caster's Master.
But Hikigaya Hachiman was a Magus chosen to participate by the Holy Grail based on strict conditions a year ago.
How could a person with no desire for the Holy Grail be chosen?
"I'm very curious about that myself..."
Hikigaya Hachiman's tone was full of resentment as he answered.
If he hadn't been chosen by this damn Holy Grail, he would have returned to his own world with Sakura a year ago. How could he still be here?
Although Sakura is also a very cute younger sister, he has been separated from Komachi for a whole year!
"...The Holy Grail is with me."
Hearing Hikigaya Hachiman's words, Irisviel was silent for a few seconds before deciding to be completely frank with him.
"?"
"I am the vessel for the Lesser Holy Grail, created by the Einzbern family for this Holy Grail War to facilitate the summoning of the Greater Holy Grail. And with enough Heroic Spirit souls returning to my body, I am actually about to become the Lesser Holy Grail..."
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