In the world of Type-Moon, it all begins with becoming Morgan's husband!

She thought this might make Artoria realize that something was wrong with her thinking.

however--

What the witch didn't know was that Artoria didn't struggle much with such a pointed question.

She has found a reason to let go.

"Britain is indeed very important."

"only--"

“Mr. Ian has already told me... that its outcome is not something I alone can change.”

"The path Britain chooses and the future it takes are decided by everyone together."

"A 'king' doesn't need to exist, or rather, everyone is a 'king'."

"so--"

Artoria looked directly at Vivian, her eyes no longer filled with the entanglement of the past.

"Whatever fate befalls Britain, it is something I should accept."

"Now, I want to do what Ian asked me to do before—to pursue the life that belongs to me."

At this point, Artoria smiled.

"To be honest, I didn't know what to do before."

"But after seeing you, I suddenly realized that I already had the answer."

"What I want, what I pursue, is actually him—so I will continue to participate in the Holy Grail War until I meet him again."

“Master, perhaps this is why we met again.”

After saying this, Artoria smiled happily.

It's clear that she spoke from the bottom of her heart; it was an answer she had a clear conscience about.

In comparison, Vivian felt somewhat clownish, filled with suspicion.

The witch realized she had lost completely.

After a long while, Vivian sighed.

In the end, she couldn't get rid of this servant who had such passionate feelings for her husband.

She then answered the question the other person had just asked.

"Britain is finished."

"As for Ian's current situation... it's quite complicated."

"so--"

Vivian's eyebrows drooped slightly, a sign of her unwillingness to accept reality and her helplessness in the face of it all.

She never imagined that one day she would have to stand on Artoria's side.

"Little sister, can you help me?"

"..."

This was the first time Artoria had heard Morgan call her "sister," and it was also the first time she had seen the incredibly proud princess ask for her help.

Perhaps she really had no other choice.

Realizing this, Artoria was very willing to accept her request—it was a reconciliation with the past.

So the girl smiled and said in a manner appropriate to the other person:

"Sister, I am your servant, of course I will try to help you."

"Let's discuss this further once we get to the castle."

“Well,” Vivian forced a smile, “let’s get going.”

The forest is quite large.

Vivian and Artoria walked for quite a while before arriving at the castle.

But the sight they saw after passing through the woods made them both pause in surprise.

There is indeed a castle here.

but--!

At this moment, it was completely charred black, like a skeleton that had been burned by endless fire.

The snow fell heavily on the massive castle structure, piling up into a thick winter decoration, silently announcing the death of this building.

"how so?!"

Vivian was somewhat surprised.

She truly didn't know the castle existed—otherwise, she wouldn't have needed Artoria to mention it to learn about it.

But the witch wasn't so oblivious as to say that the castle was on fire without her even realizing it.

Was Artoria lying to herself?!

Vivian looked at the girl beside her with suspicion.

however--

This malicious speculation was shattered in an instant.

Because Artoria's reaction was written all over her face.

Holding East Starien's hand, she subconsciously took a few steps back.

That castle.

How did that castle, where I once lived with my close friend Irisviel, become like this?

Seeing the shock that Artoria couldn't hide in her green eyes, as if it would turn into a scream at any moment.

Vivian knew that her judgment had been wrong once again.

She had to admit that her rationality would become quite chaotic whenever Ian was involved.

"younger sister."

"This castle...wasn't it supposed to be like this?"

Artoria quickly gave her answer—because the answer was all too obvious.

She shook her head and replied, "Sister, this was originally a very magnificent castle, but now..."

"..."

Upon hearing this, Vivian covered her forehead—she realized that nothing had gone smoothly since she set foot on Fuyuki soil.

"Are you alright?" Artoria asked worriedly.

“It’s nothing.” Vivian sighed. “It seems the situation is a bit more complicated than I thought.”

"I should have investigated this thoroughly first."

"It's not too late."

Artoria, a Rider, dispersed the illusion of East Starion.

She looked at the forest castle before her, now reduced to ashes and only a skeleton, and spoke her thoughts.

"Sister, let's go inside and take a look."

Unsurprisingly, the two sisters, having put the past behind them, reached a consensus at this moment.

“Of course,” Vivian replied without hesitation.

"I have to find out the truth."

A few minutes later, inside the forest castle.

As soon as Vivian stepped into the castle, she sensed the presence of magic.

To be more precise, the air here is filled with such a great deal of magic that it is impossible to ignore.

but--

Vivian, visiting this place for the first time, couldn't be sure whether it was something that had always been there or a trace that appeared after the fire.

But one thing is 100% certain—that is, someone once performed magic here.

She decided to get more information from Artoria, who had been there before.

"Sister, over here..."

Knowing what Vivian wanted to ask, Artoria, who also sensed the traces of magic, quickly answered.

"No, these weren't there before."

"The current situation must have arisen after the fire."

"..."

“Then it seems we need to investigate more thoroughly,” Vivian said as she walked deeper into the castle.

however--

As the investigation deepened, the situation became even more bizarre.

That's right.

The castle was indeed attacked by fire.

But it cleverly avoided certain places—such as the dining room and several rooms downstairs.

The stairs and other structures were also preserved very well during the fire.

That's one way to put it—

If you ignore the shocking burn marks, the castle is actually perfectly usable at this moment.

From this perspective, the scene before us doesn't resemble a fire at all; rather, it looks more like a complete hoax.

Now, not only was Vivian, who was new to the area, confused, but even Artoria was bewildered.