Chapter 140: Sickly Beauty (Irisviel)

Today is a sunny day.

But Saber's mood was as dilapidated as the house he lived in at the moment.

After the "King's Banquet", everyone in Einzbern realized that the castle was not safe.

Although under the investigation of various masters, almost no master's residence is completely hidden.

Can,
Saber didn't know, but what Emiya Kiritsugu and his wife Irisviel both knew was that their situation was completely different from that of other families!
The Tōsaka family and the Matou family can all live in residences that are known to every Master, without having to worry about being harassed by people with ulterior motives.

No, it’s not so much that they are not afraid, but rather that no one would attack the local tyrants, the Tosaka family and the Matou family, who have been entrenched in Fuyuki City for a long time, unless it is necessary.

The Einzberns were different, completely different.

Although Einzbern is also a local boss in Fuyuki City and one of the three great families,...

Unlike the Tōsaka and Matou families who stayed out of the matter, any magus who had a little knowledge of the Holy Grail War and knew the final process of the Holy Grail War would know one thing: there was an essential item for the Holy Grail to descend.

Irisviel von Einzbern is that one necessary item.

Therefore, in the eyes of Emiya Kiritsugu and Alicefief, relocating the position is something that must be done.

They did the same.

When Emiya Kiritsugu and Maiya attacked the Matou family while the Matou Swordsman was dealing with Gilgamesh.

Saber took Irisviel with her to transfer.

at this time,

Saber and Alice live in an abandoned house in Miyama Town.

Although this old house is more than 90 years old, it has never been demolished or rebuilt.

This is a residence from the old times. There is still an old warehouse in the courtyard. This warehouse is very much to Kiritsugu's liking, so he bought the house without any hesitation using the bloody money he earned from hunting magicians.

He didn't think it was a big deal. After all, money was something that was not stained with blood.

Interestingly,

Compared to those who are pretentious and should experience the hardships of life and think that money has a coppery smell, the person who sells this house not only does not think that money has a coppery smell, but also thinks that money is the best thing. He treats Kiritsugu Emiya as a little lamb and wants to slaughter him mercilessly.

Poor guy~
The seventh head of the Matou family, one of the future rulers of Fuyuki City, died four times at the hands of this 'partner of justice'.

You are just a small gangster, where do you get the courage from?
(This is true. In the original novel, there really are people who are blind enough to mess with Emiya Kiritsugu (hahaha))

Because the old warehouse in this house was very suitable for Irisviel to use as a backup base, Kiritsugu Emiya did not intend to argue any further.

Again.

Helping the upper echelons of the Magic Association and dealing with people they are unable or inconvenient to deal with will earn you very generous rewards.

Among all those rewards, the cheapest is the secular money.

In a word, Emiya Kiritsugu is not short of money.

But this house seemed to have historical reasons or other very complicated things. In short, when Kiritsugu Emiya signed the contract and planned to buy this house that he was very satisfied with, the local violent organization, similar to the mafia, almost came into conflict with Kiritsugu Emiya.

If it weren't for the urgent matter of the Holy Grail War.

These guys who seem to only show the evil of humanity when they are alive, Kiritsugu Emiya doesn't mind cleaning them up.

He killed many people.

Moreover, compared to the Magic Association that would kill innocent people who knew the truth, or the Dead Apostles that would wreak havoc on an entire city.

Emiya Kiritsugu did not think that his methods were cruel.

However, this conflict did not happen in the end because Kiritsugu Emiya paid enough money.

Much more money than this house.

As the violent organizations' members left with their eyes wide open and their faces filled with joy, Kiritsugu Emiya and his assistant Maiya finally refrained from taking action.

It's a bit regrettable that

Emiya Kiritsugu had only come to this house when he was inspecting the house, and after that he devoted himself to the Holy Grail War.

Therefore, Emiya Kiritsugu has never lived in this house even for a single day.

·
Saber has lived in this house for a long time.

No, it’s said to be a long time, but actually it’s only been a few days. It hasn’t even been a month since the Holy Grail War began.

But if we look at the overall time of the Holy Grail War, Saber did waste a long time in this house.

Since the end of the "King's Banquet".

Saber drove to the house under the command of Irisviel.

'Perhaps at that moment, I should have realized that something was wrong.'

The courtyard was completely barren. It was clearly about to enter a severe cold, but the weeds in the yard, which were more than a meter tall, just drooped their heads and did not die, showing their tenacious vitality.

now.

Saber was sitting in front of a stone table surrounded by weeds, with a cup of freshly brewed hot tea on the table.

She was lost in thought.

At that time, Alice Feier kindly asked her how it felt to drive.

In fact, at that time, there was already something wrong with Irisviel's body, right?

Saber thought.

At the time, she was unaware of her partner's questions and answered them truthfully, completely absorbed in the experience of driving.

The riding experience that came with Saber's job made it almost instinctive for her to drive.

There is absolutely no need to go to a driving school in this world to learn how to drive.

It's something that's more like instinct than knowledge.

"No, rather than saying that she didn't notice it, it's more like Alice Fell hid it very well."

Saber shook her head to deny herself.

Although her ministers gave her a very low evaluation, saying: King, you don’t understand human nature.

But Saber is actually very considerate.

Saber asked Irisviel at the time: "Irisviel, is it really okay for me to drive this vehicle? I think you really enjoy the driving process."

result……

Still, it was covered up by Irisviel.

Saber shook her head and sighed, then drank the black tea on the stone table.

Although Irisviel said that there was no need to stay by her side all the time in order not to worry herself.

In order to prevent Irisviel from feeling pressured, he would come out every once in a while to give her some independent space.

Can……

How can I feel at ease?

Thinking about how he had just been summoned, Irisviel's lively and active appearance was exactly the same as when he hadn't pulled out the Sword in the Stone.

But now...

Saber pushed open the wooden door of the warehouse with a heavy heart.

The dim warehouse was said to be a warehouse for storing items, but there was nothing inside except the clean floor.

There was Irisviel, dressed in winter clothes, lying flat on the magic circle connected to the earth veins.

The magic circle was laid by Saber, because Alice, who was supposed to lay the magic circle, didn't even have the strength to get dressed at the time.

And at this moment,
Irisviel’s breathing became slower and slower, and her entire body gave off a sign of dying.

Saber clenched her hands into fists, helpless.

Even someone as powerful as a heroic spirit is like a helpless child in the face of cruel reality.

"It's Saber..."

Irisviel pursed her lips and tried to sit up, but she found that just talking seemed to have consumed all her strength.

She even felt her vocal cords vibrating, but she didn't know if it was an illusion.

“Irisviel…”

Saber walked quickly to Irisviel's side, knelt beside her, and gently held her hand, which looked red and tender because of her snow-white skin.

At this time, the redness and tenderness of the palms are gone, replaced by an unhealthy paleness.

“Irisviel…” Saber moved her lips and spoke out the cruel reality, “Your physical condition is worse now…”

Facing the naked reality.

Irisviel, however, showed an unusual calmness:
"That's right. Gilgamesh, the Acher, has already left the stage, and the Holy Grail is getting closer and closer to its descent..."

"Don't feel sad, Saber, this is the expression I least want to see on your face." "Everything about me was destined when I was 'born'."

"It's not that I'm abnormal, but it was destined from the beginning. On the contrary, I've been able to maintain my human functions. For me, it's a miracle of luck."

"I am an artificial lifeform designed specifically for the Holy Grail War. Grandpa Ahad gave the 'container' a survival instinct, allowing it to automatically avoid various dangers to complete the disguise of the Holy Grail 'container' named 'Irisviel'. That is... me."

"So Saber, I'm not in any danger or pain right now. I'm... just gradually turning back into my original 'thing'."

Alice tried to smile, but found that she didn't even have the strength to twitch her face.

But she knew she wasn't done yet.

He tried hard, summoning the last bit of strength in his body, and apologized to Saber.

“I’m sorry, Saber.” Irisviel looked at Saber, who looked like a little girl but actually carried an entire country on her shoulders. “You only need to be responsible for the important battles, but now, I’ve caused you unnecessary worry…”

"I'm asking you to bear a responsibility that shouldn't be borne by you."

Even though according to human age, Irisviel, a cyborg, is not yet an adult.

But with Illya, she experienced the emotions that only a mother can have.

Even though her husband, Emiya Kiritsugu, is Saber's Master, Irisviel has a deeper understanding of Saber than her husband.

Looking at Saber in front of him, who was looking at him with a sad face, he wanted to say something but didn't know how to start. He wanted to do something but was powerless to do it.

Irisviel only felt heartache.

Saber listened quietly to what Irisviel said.

She didn't refute, and she didn't know how to refute.

In order to dispel some of Irisviel's sadness, Saber could only force an unhappy smile and change the subject:

"Is it really okay? The house we are in now is right in the center of the battlefield."

"No problem." Alice replied tiredly, "The Holy Grail War must be carried out in secret. This is the general principle of the Holy Grail War, and every Master must abide by it silently."

"Both the Tōsaka family and the Matou family have established strongholds in the city, but the Einzbern family, which built a castle in the forest outside the city, is an exception. From the point of view of its location being unknown, the new base prepared by Kiritsugu may be more advantageous than the castle in the past."

"..."

Saber opened her mouth to say something.

Irisviel however closed her eyes and said tiredly, "I'm tired Saber, I need to rest for a while."

"I understand, Irisviel."

Saber stood up from her crouching position and left the room, closing the wooden door of the warehouse.

She didn’t know how long Irisviel meant by “a little while”. Maybe it would be until the next time they met, or maybe…

She walked to the stone table and sat down silently.

The cold wind swayed, stirring the nerves of the weeds in the yard, but it could not blow away Saber's sorrow.

……

……

Emiya Kiritsugu, who is also a member of the Einzbern camp and a live-in son-in-law, is compared to the Tōsaka family and the Matou family who have already joined forces.

He is feeling extremely depressed right now.

Maiya's plan was a brilliant one, and judging from the reaction of Kenshin Matou after he received it, that plan was undoubtedly correct.

The only thing he lacked was what Emiya Kiritsugu despised the most—luck.

In a run-down small hotel on the outskirts of Fuyuki City, the room was filled with smoke, obscuring Kiritsugu Emiya's face.

From the surveillance devices of his subordinates throughout Fuyuki City, he saw Tohsaka Tokiomi, Matou Kenshin, and little Sakura leaving the Tohsaka family.

However, upon hearing the news, Emiya Kiritsugu did not act in a panic.

Whether the other party made a mistake in panic or lured the snake out of its hole is a question that does not require any thought.

There is only one servant, and that servant is very disobedient. He often goes against his orders and even sacrifices his life for the morality of a knight. This kind of servant is what Kiritsugu Emiya least wants to see.

Even if the Servant is not the strongest Saber, but an assassin with relatively weak combat ability, Emiya Kiritsugu is confident that the current situation will not be so bad.

What made him feel even worse was.

In addition to Matou Sakura, the weakness of Matou Kenshin that he found out himself, Matou Kenshin also has weaknesses.

And the other party took the initiative to expose himself in front of his eyes.

That was someone from the Zenjo family. Zenjo Aoi was first excluded by Emiya Kiritsugu, and then through his own channels, he found out without difficulty that Toosaka Rin was the classmate and deskmate of Matou Kenshin and the daughter of Toosaka Tokiomi.

Since the other party dares to expose himself actively.

It was only natural that Emiya Kiritsugu understood what the other party meant.

——Come if you have the ability, I’m waiting!

"..."

Emiya Kiritsugu didn't think he had the ability to deal with two Servants.

The word "give up" did not even appear in his mind.

When he was young, he knew exactly why he killed his father.

He knew exactly what tragedy had occurred when he let his childhood sweetheart go when he was young.

When he was young, Kiritsugu Emiya knew exactly why he killed the woman who was not only his father, but also his mother and his master.

If we cannot win this Holy Grail War, if we cannot hold the Holy Grail, then what will happen to myself who has experienced so much despair, put in so much effort, fallen again and again and been reborn from the ashes?

What is this life really about?

If he loses, Irisviel will die anyway. The woman who loves him deeply is the "sacrifice" he wants to obtain the Holy Grail.

If this is the case, and I still remain indifferent...

Kiritsugu Emiya hasn't seen Irisviel for a long time. Although his actions will not be affected by his feelings, he will feel pain because of his feelings.

If he didn't feel pain, he wouldn't collapse.

But that kind of happy thing has never been related to Emiya Kiritsugu.

Watching the woman he loved die because of the original way of the Holy Grail's sacrifice, for the pain that Kiritsugu Emiya experienced, it can only be said that it can be a memory that will last forever, but it cannot be said to be the straw that broke the camel's back.

The man named Emiya Kiritsugu was more fragile than anyone else and would break at the slightest touch.

But he is also stronger than anyone else and will not fall down until he obtains the Holy Grail.

In addition to Irisviel, Emiya Kiritsugu has another person he cares about but is not worried about.

His child with Alice Fell - Illya.

The years that Einzbern spent preparing for the Holy Grail War were the only colors in Emiya Kiritsugu's life that was full of gray.

At that time, he was confident that he would win the Holy Grail War and hold the Holy Grail.

Einzbern's long-cherished wish is the arrival of the Holy Grail, and this is the only family among the three great families that does not have the need to make a wish for the Holy Grail.

It was for this reason that Emiya Kiritsugu felt unexpectedly relaxed when he joined Einzbern.

By holding the Holy Grail and fulfilling your own wish, you can also fulfill Einzbern's wish.

By then, he could live with Irisviel, Maiya, and Illya, he would no longer have to experience pain, the world would be peaceful, and he would be happy.

This was Emiya Kiritsugu's delusion.

But now,
Victory in the Holy Grail War seemed to be getting further and further away from him, and things that he had never worried about before began to surface in his heart.

That is,
——If I fail, what will be Illya's fate?

She, her own daughter, would surely meet the same fate as his wife Irisviel, becoming the vessel of the Holy Grail and ultimately losing her life before the Holy Grail descends.

"call…"

"jump…"

The sound of exhalation and lighter was heard at the same time.

Kiritsugu Emiya lit a cigarette for himself and ingested the nicotine poison.

He sucked hard and then exhaled slowly.

Shrouded in smoke were his cloudy eyes.

He looked at the computer screen in front of him, which contained a video about Kenshin Matou, which was playing on a loop.

"I will win."

Saying this was much easier than Emiya Kiritsugu had imagined.

It was the same when Kiritsugu Emiya shot down the plane carrying his master with his own hands.

The fingertips that pulled the trigger were relaxed, without any influence from his heart, just like at this moment.

(End of this chapter)