"Mmm..."
Little Illya, feeling a bit dizzy, opened her eyes to see Irisviel.
"That's great, Illya, you're okay."
Although '[Illya]' had said it was nothing serious, Irisviel was still very concerned about Illya's condition after being poisoned.
She held the latter's hand, her face full of relief. "What happened to me..."
"You were poisoned by Assassin, just took a short nap."
"I told you, didn't I? Among Servants, there are some who use poison as a means of attack. But you, relying on Ruby's protective ability, didn't take it seriously at all."
"Gomen nasai..."
Looking at the somewhat listless little Illya, the silver-haired girl sighed:
"After all, it's the first time; this kind of situation is bound to happen."
"Well, I've already briefly explained things to Irisviel. You can accompany her next."
"Kiritsugu is still waiting for me outside."
"Oh..."
After speaking, she walked into the courtyard of the mansion, where Kiritsugu could be seen talking with the returning Saber.
He took a deep drag from his cigarette, his mood not very good.
Saber's condition couldn't be said to be bad; it could only be described as extremely terrible.
Because her Noble Phantasm and True Name were exposed on the first night, she was directly targeted by Kayneth after being injured. While Kiritsugu was dealing with Kayneth, Lancer was also sent to entangle Saber.
Her damaged spiritual foundation meant that Saber, who originally relied solely on her stats and A-rank Instinct to contend with Lancer, no longer had the advantage to fight him head-on. In fact, under deliberate calculation, Lancer found an opportunity and struck her with Gae Buidhe, severing the tendons in one of her hands, just like in the original story.
It was precisely because her True Name was exposed and her spiritual foundation was damaged that this development unfolded even more smoothly than in the original.
Because her spiritual foundation was damaged, she had to transfer the magical energy from her armor, which was ignored by Gae Dearg, to her attacks. As a result, Lancer, who had been aiming to cripple Saber from the start, caught her right in the act.
A high-level mana burst inevitably requires high Strength support. Once Strength is insufficient, the Noble Phantasm is basically useless.
If not for a certain fish-eyed madman who appeared out of nowhere, constantly shouting 'Saint,' 'Saint,' and disrupting that battle, plus '[Illya]' also intervening to help Kiritsugu, allowing Saber to escape the predicament, then Saber would probably have been sent back to Camlann Hill to continue squatting happily.
"I've been targeted."
Kiritsugu sighed.
Terrible, this was also why he didn't want Saber to be too conspicuous and wanted to keep her movements as hidden as possible.
Servant battles, in a sense, were information wars. Once too much information was exposed, it was easy to be targeted.
Just like Enkidu, although very powerful, once faced with curses like 'instant death,' he would be eaten to death due to his mythological cause of death.
Saber was, of course, no exception.
"Looks like Kiritsugu is quite troubled."
After Saber was sent away, the girl in a purple dress and purple hat walked out of the house.
"...Illya."
"...Are you really Illya?"
"Well, at least this exterior is genuine... As for the inside... If it's hard to understand, think of it as 'spiritual evocation,' that should be easy to grasp, right? Just like those two goddess-possessed vessels on the first night, this child's quality as a vessel is also quite excellent."
[Illya] gently stroked her chest, saying nonchalantly:
"Also, I still suggest you treat me with the attitude of 'Illya' as much as possible. Although I'm not that child, because of the 'method of use,' if I'm treated as a stranger, or even an enemy, then this 'child' will also get angry and sad. In that case, it will cause me some trouble."
"What is your purpose? How can I get you to leave Illya's body?"
"My purpose? Illya should have already told you, right? Although I'm not—but, that child in the room is indeed your genuine daughter.... As for the difference of being from another world, I don't think you'll care too much. And this wish is undoubtedly the common wish of 'Illya.'"
"As for leaving.... It's more of an accident. As for my own wishes, of course, whenever and wherever the original owner of the body needs it, I can switch back. But before fulfilling this 'wish,' I probably can't do that."
"This child won't easily let me leave either—if it's Kiritsugu, you should understand, right? Just like a drowning person, when they see hope, they'll grab onto the rope and refuse to let go no matter what. Right now, this child and I seem to have that kind of relationship."
"Hey, Kiritsugu, that's quite mean. You keep asking me questions but don't give me a chance to say what I want to say. Even if you're a dad, I'll still be a little troubled."
"What do you want to say?"
"Kiritsugu, if you turn back now, it's still not too late."
"Give up the Holy Grail War and accompany Illya with Mom."
"From this child's perspective alone, I'm seriously telling you this—but... Mr. Kiritsugu Emiya, the final choice ultimately lies with you."
"But before that, I'll tell you one thing."
"If you're hoping to achieve that ideal of 'justice' through the so-called Holy Grail, then I must regretfully tell you, that's impossible."
"?!!"
"I know you probably find it hard to believe, but it can't be helped. Although the Holy Grail was originally fine, during the last Holy Grail War, the Einzbern family, in order to achieve victory, used very dishonorable means in violation of the rules, and ended up summoning an incredibly weak Servant—Angra Mainyu."
"Although in terms of strength, that Servant was extremely weak, just an ordinary person, but as an Avenger who died, he didn't return to the Throne like previous Servants, but instead became an existence called 'All the World's Evils' and resided within the Grail."
"A tainted Holy Grail cannot be used through normal means. Even if you really use it to achieve a wish, it will definitely be realized in the most twisted and malicious way." As she spoke, the silver-haired girl gently shook her sleeve, and a scene appeared in Kiritsugu's eyes.
Dark, like a quagmire, filled with endless malice, bringing fire and blood, the miserable cries of humans endless.
Looking at all this, Kiritsugu Emiya's empty eyes were filled with despair and disbelief.
"How could it be... How could it be that kind of thing!"
"This kind of thing won't be able to help you achieve your wish, Kiritsugu, right? That also won't be the future you expect."
"So..., although doing this doesn't conform to my usual principles."
"However..."
"Kiritsugu... turn back."
"There's still a chance now. At least you can still be a qualified husband and father."
"This child expects that."
Looking at the silent Kiritsugu, smoking, [Illya] sighed softly.
"The night is still long, Kiritsugu. Irisviel and this child will be waiting for your decision."
"You can think about it slowly."
The second night of the Holy Grail War, although not as intense as the opening and the first night, was still turbulent with undercurrents.
In the Tohsaka residence, the victim of the first night, Tokiomi Tohsaka, was lying in bed.
The damage caused by the Origin Bullet left this elegant magus in a miserable state. His Magic Circuits were all destroyed, reducing him to a paralyzed cripple. This result made Tokiomi, who had always prided himself on his identity as a magus, utterly desperate.
Of course, what made him even more desperate wasn't just this—because the Origin Bullet's destruction of his Magic Circuits was so thorough, that... the Tohsaka family's Magic Crest, which was stored in him, was completely destroyed.
Originally, even if he died in the Holy Grail War, Rin Tohsaka could transplant it from his corpse, but now it was utterly destroyed.
This meant that generations of the Tohsaka family's efforts had been reduced to ashes.
Logically, in this situation, choosing to withdraw from the Holy Grail War was the wisest choice. At least then, Tokiomi Tohsaka could still play the role of a disabled ordinary husband. With Aoi's love, Rin could still have a healthy childhood... and then start accumulating again. Haha, although after the Magic Crest was destroyed, the decline of the Tohsaka family had probably become an established fact.
But…
"Did you catch that stray dog?!" Although his face was grim, upon seeing his disciple Kirei Kotomine enter his room, Tokiomi was excited.
If one were to ask who Mr. Pot-King hated the most now, it would undoubtedly be that man named Kiritsugu Emiya.
His hatred for that person was beyond description.
This was also inevitable.
Clearly a magus, yet he used such unseemly methods to sneak attack, even severing his honor as a magus, and even扼杀 the future of the Tohsaka family. Tokiomi wished he could eat his flesh and flay his skin, and cast his soul into eternal flames for forging!
Under such circumstances, Kiritsugu's base was attacked. How could he not intervene?
But that detestable Gilgamesh simply wouldn't cooperate with him—Gilgamesh even lacked interest in using elixirs to heal Tokiomi Tohsaka's injuries.
Daring to disturb his meeting with Enkidu, and then being so disappointingly beaten into a cripple, being willing to acknowledge Tokiomi as a vassal and maintain the Master-Servant relationship, that was Mr. Goldie being too magnanimous.
Unable to command Gilgamesh, Tokiomi could only place his hopes on his loyal and outstanding disciple.
Assassin was the only obedient pawn he could command now.
"Sorry, Teacher. Assassin seems to have been ambushed and suffered considerable losses."
"...Damn it!"
Hearing this bad news, Tokiomi was somewhat angry. Normally, he would probably be very tolerant, but perhaps because the blow was too great for Mr. Pot-King, the current Tokiomi was somewhat mentally unstable, very irritable and easily angered.
"However, according to monitoring, Lancer's side seems to have clashed with Kiritsugu Emiya. Saber was injured, and under the attack of that Clock Tower Lord, Kiritsugu Emiya also seems to have fled in disarray."
"The situation after that is unclear. A powerful magical energy fluctuation disrupted external communications in that area," Kirei Kotomine said with a blank expression, while staring intently at the currently miserable Tokiomi Tohsaka.
For some reason, seeing his magus teacher in such a miserable state, he felt quite joyful... Ah, this was truly too sinful.
"That stray dog is really lucky.... Good.... Good! That man cannot die at the hands of others! Cannot!"
"...Phew.... Well done, Kirei."
Somewhat ferocious, but after taking a deep breath, he still tried his best to regain his composure, forcing a smile at Kirei Kotomine, trying to CPU (persuade) him.
"Have Rin and that Magic User been found?"
He asked another question he was concerned about—under Kirei Kotomine's report, Tokiomi already knew that his daughter seemed to have also become a participant in this Holy Grail War, and was even possessed by a goddess... Honestly, normally, this was an undeniably terrible thing. After all, that was the future of the Tohsaka family, his own daughter, yet she became an opponent, and even a highly dangerous one.
But now…
Learning of this, Tokiomi felt that this might also be a good thing.
With the Magic Crest destroyed, the Tohsaka family had no future.
If so....
Then, why not use Rin, who was possessed by a goddess, and try to use the fact that she was his daughter to influence her... and then form an alliance with that Magic User.
The goddess Ishtar, plus the Fifth Magic User, the combat power of this combination was among the top even in this entire Holy Grail War, so much so that even Gilgamesh would have a headache seeing it.
If he could pull her to his side, then this perplexing Holy Grail War would become more certain.
That way, even if he became a cripple, he could still achieve the ideal the Tohsaka family had always dreamed of, reaching the Root.
And if he could comprehend True Magic, it could even make up for the destruction of the Magic Crest, allowing the Tohsaka family to flourish again.
So....
For himself, for the Tohsaka family, for Rin! The victor of this Holy Grail War must be me, Tokiomi Tohsaka!
At this moment, Mr. Pot-King discarded some things he was unwilling to let go of in the past. Although he had indeed become a cripple, it seemed... he had actually become more like a magus.
However, this also caused Aoi's situation to become somewhat dire.
Originally, the man named Tokiomi Tohsaka, although he had indeed married her to use her as a breeding tool, had also invested some emotions.
But when he began to transform into a complete magus, that cold-blooded monster, sensitive and irritable, because he needed to rely on Kirei Kotomine, he didn't dare to vent on his disciple, so he could only vent on Aoi.
However, she didn't have many thoughts about this. She only noticed Kirei Kotomine's concerned gaze, glanced at her once deeply loved husband, and a strange arc unknowingly appeared on the corner of her mouth.
"Tokiomi, time to take your medicine."
"Illya, what would the other world's me and Kiritsugu be like?" Although not very detailed, Irisviel still more or less understood the general situation. Accompanying little Illya, knowing that this Illya was the daughter of her parallel world self and Kiritsugu, out of childish curiosity, she couldn't help but be very curious.
If there was no Holy Grail War. Then maybe she and Kiritsugu would live a very happy life, right?
"Kiritsugu often travels for work, and Mom often travels around the world with Dad.... Sometimes they'll suddenly come back for a surprise visit, but other than that, I don't know much... At home, it's mostly Nii-san, Sella, and the others who accompany me."
"Nii-san?" Irisviel knew Sella, the Einzbern homunculus, her personal maid. But catching the keyword 'Nii-san,' Irisviel couldn't help but pay more attention. Could it be that she and Kiritsugu had other children?
"Nii-san seems to be Kiritsugu's adopted son..."
"Oh... adopted son." Irisviel instantly understood and lost interest.
That man was like that; it wasn't strange for him to adopt children. Although with Irisviel's personality, she didn't care much about such things, but... Kiritsugu Emiya's most classic adoption example was that assistant named Maiya Hisau....
Adopting and adopting, and then ending up as a bed partner.... Even if she was very magnanimous, to say Irisviel didn't care at all would definitely be a lie.
"The Kiritsugu and Mom from that world aren't actually much different. If I had to say, it's probably that they chose Illya over pursuing the so-called Holy Grail."
"Eh....?"
"For Illya, they gave up the Holy Grail, snatched Illya back from the Einzbern family, then proactively sealed the Holy Grail, and personally put their ideals into practice. It seems to be that kind of development."
"...Is that so? But I have no such impression at all..."
Little Illya was somewhat puzzled. If she was the same as this world's '[Illya],' then why did she have no memories of the past...
"Right? You have no memories of the past at all."
"Because Kiritsugu and that world's Mom sealed the past you."
"Right here...." The silver-haired girl gently tapped the latter's chest with her slender index finger, speaking meaningfully.
The next moment—
Little Illya's eyes became bright, yet empty.
Undoubtedly, this was the part later known as Chloe, or Kuro Illya.
Although divided into two people through class cards, these two people were, in the end, actually from the same origin.
Illya was Illya, and Chloe was also Illya.
In fact, Chloe even took precedence over Illya, because Kuro was the original Illya who lived in the snow castle, the same as the body '[Jiang Illya]' used. And little Illya was another personality born after Kuro was sealed.
She murmured in a daze.
"So it was..... like that?!"