Type-Moon: Root Seiko

Because of his witty banter, even though Orange was currently transferring Irisviel's body, Artoria wasn't worried at all.

This is not quite the same as "trust".

She just felt that, given Luo Zhen's humanity, he would never allow Alice to suffer any more pain.

That doesn't make sense.

The two of them had merged, which made Artoria completely believe them, that's all.

"But why?" she wondered.

Luo Zhen didn't understand her sudden change in radio frequency.

After all, the two of them are neither new humans nor angels, and they have no chat rooms or empathy.

Unless they reassemble and merge on the spot, they cannot directly understand each other's thoughts.

But that's what makes it good, that's what makes it romantic.

Artoria gazed at the misty witch's corridor before her, admiring the sapphire-colored velvet curtains.

"Why do you love humans so much? I'm very curious." The Knight King looked at him honestly.

This left Luo Zhen momentarily speechless.

It's like asking someone, "Why do you like living?"

Ultimately, disregarding all additional factors, the answer can mostly be "because of fear of the unknown (death)".

So Luo Zhen also answered in the same way: "Because I don't want to hate humans."

"I haven't loved enough yet; I've only just enjoyed a few years of free and unrestrained human life."

"This is the result of my long-term efforts, and I want to enjoy it for a longer time, at least for the rest of my life."

"But what about you?" Luo Zhen retorted, "Why do you want to be that troublesome king? Why not just shirk that responsibility and not draw that broken sword?"

“…Indeed, the answer might be the same as yours.” Artoria chuckled.

She understood what Luo Zhen meant.

During the fusion of their spirit origins, Artoria sensed his life, his pain, and his thoughts.

Conversely, Luo Zhen also fully understands her past.

The chosen king was born to perpetuate Britain's weapons, the artificial red dragon.

She also knew that her life, up until she pulled out the Sword of the King, had been designed.

To say that period of her life was so happy that she wanted to give back to the world wouldn't be an exaggeration.

Even now that she has experienced life once more, Artoria's answer remains the same as before.

"Because I see people laughing, and I want more people to laugh like that. I don't think that's wrong."

"Me too." Luo Zhen held out his fist.

Artoria also extended her fist, and the two bumped fists together.

She couldn't help but laugh: "They don't look like a married couple."

"I think it has a lot of that old married couple vibe," Luo Zhen said more seriously. "Chengzi and I are pretty much like that usually. As we spend more time together, we'll have even more of that kind of unspoken understanding..."

"Caught in the act?" Orange, who pushed open the door, killed with her eyes.

The door frame hit Luo Zhen's protruding face squarely, giving him a blush.

Lord Orange chuckled.

In response to Artoria's questioning gaze, Orange gave a thumbs up.

"Mother and mother are both safe. The body I made for her is perfect. She'll be fine once she wakes up."

"Thank you." Artoria bowed deeply to Orange.

Luo Zhen and she immediately got up and went inside to check on her.

There were no scattered or flying limbs or internal organs.

There were two Irisviels lying on the two beds.

They even covered each other with thin blankets to ensure the dignity of the person involved, demonstrating the doctor's thoughtfulness.

One of them, Irisviel, had a steady breath and her skin glowed with a vibrant light pink; she was sleeping soundly.

Meanwhile, the other Irisviel's body, which had been replaced, presented an incredible sense of "completeness."

Her skin was as white as snow, and she was not breathing, yet she did not give the impression of being a lifeless creature.

On the contrary, she embodies a sacred attraction.

That serene face was divine, making one instinctively want to worship it; she was even more beautiful than the vibrant Irisviel beside her.

"..."

The next moment, she opened her eyes.

Golden eyes stared directly at Luo Zhen and Artoria, opening their mouths as if to say something.

“No.” Artoria reached out and covered her eyes. “This is not for your body, Rungomminiad.”

Under the control of the Knight King, the original owner, the Holy Lance that occupied Irisviel's original body was quickly dismantled and returned to its original form.

After summoning Artoria, Irisviel forcibly commanded her to use her Noble Phantasm with a Command Spell, shattering the "Rhine Gold".

That resulted in Irisviel being completely drained.

His body was shattered and his internal organs dissolved; he was, in fact, dead on the spot.

Irisviel herself knew this would be the outcome, and therefore prepared to go all in.

She implanted the Holy Lance itself, which was intended to be a relic, into her body, using its "fixed" nature to forcibly prolong her life.

If it weren't for an invincible puppeteer like Orange, who could create a perfect vessel to hold her soul.

Sooner or later, Irisviel will be corrupted by the divinity of the Holy Lance, becoming yet another goddess without blood or tears... unable even to attain a proper death.

Artoria, take up the holy lance that she once wielded.

Without pausing, he handed it to Luo Zhen.

"I accept it," he solemnly confirmed.

The King of Knights nodded, everything was understood without words.

The fact that the King of Knights could entrust this Holy Lance with such confidence is perhaps Rōzen's greatest achievement in this Holy Grail War.

The equation for victory has been written.

He has everything he needs.

Chapter 118 The Dinner Table as Usual

"……call."

Irisviel has learned to breathe again.

The cool air inside the mansion stimulated her nostrils, causing her to unconsciously take a deep breath.

As the newborn internal organs began to function, the girl's chest rose and fell, its bulge visible beneath the thin blankets.

She sat up gently.

Her snow-white hair slipped down her shoulders, serving the purpose of covering her face instead of the thin blanket that had slipped off.

"Oh!" she exclaimed sweetly, instinctively covering her chest.

This reaction dispelled the last vestige of her innocent aura.

Irisviel Einzbern is no longer a homunculus.

She has more acute senses, healthier internal organs, and more fragile muscles and bones than before.

She no longer has magical skin that automatically protects her from environmental changes, and the number of magic circuits in her body has decreased by about one-third.

But she can also feel her heart beating clearly, instead of relying on the surgical technique engraved on the flesh to assist in pumping blood.

"...I've really become human?"

Irisviel didn't know whether to call it surprise or melancholy; this was the first time she had ever felt such a complex emotion.

She lost a lot, but gained even more.

Most of these were things she was getting for the first time, and she was learning to adapt from scratch.

Then she heard a polite knock on the door.

Thump, thump, thump, steady and crisp.

"Please come in," Irisviel replied in a dignified tone.

She recognized the woman as the mistress of the mansion from the force of her knock, so she only pulled the thin blanket over her chest.

Previously, she could create models of the environment outside the walls simply by relying on her magical reactions.

But now that she has lost that ability, she feels that she can still recognize it using the five senses of a normal person, which is incredible.