FATE: Target of Grand Master

Xia Yan listened patiently to the three of them and slowly said, "Illya is indeed not easy to persuade, but it's not entirely impossible. After all, she is Kiritsugu Emiya's daughter, and nominally Shirou's older sister."

"ha?"

Shirou Emiya and Rin Tohsaka were both taken aback, while Saber looked as if she had just realized something.

"Shirou, Illya has very complicated feelings for you. That's why she both wanted to kill you and didn't. Back then outside the church, if Illya had really intended to kill you, Archer might have fared well, but Saber would definitely have been severely injured or even eliminated by Berserker."

Hearing such a comment, Artoria did not refute it, but still insisted, "If it really comes to that, I will make Berserker suffer too."

"Also, even if we don't convince Ilya, it's a good reminder to the white-haired little girl. As a Lesser Grail, she can certainly understand what it means when another Lesser Grail appears, and it's an old bug at that."

"Wait a minute, Brother Xia Yan, I understand everything else, but what is this Lesser Holy Grail? Is there more than one Holy Grail?"

Emiya Shirou raised his hand to ask a question.

Xia Yan looked at Rin: "Rin, didn't you explain anything to Shirou?"

Rin Tohsaka guiltily turned her head away.

Xia Yan sighed. "It's a long story. Let's talk about it on the way to save time."

"Brother Xia Yan, senior, and sister... sister, I'll have dinner ready at home and wait for you to come back."

Rin looked at Sakura with great surprise, then smiled along with Natsumi and Shirou, saying, "Yes, we'll be back on time."

After leaving Emiya's residence, Xia Yan, Shirou, and Rin immediately split up.

Since Saber couldn't materialize, the three of them decided to walk. To improve efficiency, Xia Yan cast a spell on himself and Shirou that would increase their movement speed and reduce fatigue.

Xia Yan is now very grateful that he persevered with Morgan's magic instruction. After learning magic, even if it's not for combat, it has brought him great convenience in his daily life.

"Simply put, the Holy Grail in the Holy Grail War is divided into two categories: the Greater Grail and the Lesser Grail. The Greater Grail is the one that can grant wishes, while the Lesser Grail is the key that collects the magical energy of defeated Servants to open the Greater Grail."

On the way, after listening to Xia Yan's tutoring, Emiya Shirou explained it in his own words.

"That's right, Shirou's comprehension is quite good. Also, the Einzbern family, along with the Matou and Tohsaka families, were the three families that first jointly initiated the Holy Grail War, commonly known as the three starter families of the Holy Grail War. Among them, the Einzbern family was responsible for the ritual itself of the Holy Grail War. At the same time, they also possess extremely advanced artificial human technology, so in this Holy Grail War, the Master Illya they dispatched is both a participating Master and a Lesser Grail," Xia Yan added.

"It's like this: you only need one key to unlock a lock. If Matou Ryouken were still alive, then as the Lesser Grail, he would have to compete with Illya for the magical power of the deceased Servants. Killing Illya would be a win-win situation for him, as he could both destroy another Lesser Grail and absorb Berserker."

Emiya Shirou immediately drew inferences from this and described the possible scenarios.

Xia Yan nodded, quite satisfied with Emiya Shirou as a student.

As they spoke, the three of them arrived in front of an extremely extravagant European-style castle located in the center of the forest.

"It seems that Ilya is not opposed to our visit."

Xia Yan remembered that there was a barrier set up in the forest by the Einzbern family. He was originally worried that he would encounter obstacles on the way, but it seems that bringing Shirou along was definitely the right thing to do.

The castle gates slowly opened, and Xia Yan and the other two walked into the castle hall together.

A little girl with silver hair, dressed in a purple dress, was already standing in the hall, accompanied by two maids.

Lifting the hem of her skirt and slightly bending her knees, Ilya gave Xia Yan and the other two a standard aristocratic bow.

"Welcome to my castle, my three guests."

Emiya Shirou was a little stunned. The last time they met, this little girl had devoured him one after another. How come she had become so obedient this time?

Xia Yan, in coordination with Ilya, placed his left hand on his right chest, bowed slightly forward, and nodded in return, giving her a noble salute.

"Nice to meet you, Miss Illya. My name is Xia Yan. I am the Master of Lancer in this Holy Grail War. I am currently working with Shirou and the others towards a common goal."

Ilya immediately became interested in Xia Yan and said, "It seems that Shirou's friend knows how to please ladies better than Shirou himself."

Xia Yan immediately nudged Shirou's arm and whispered, "Illya's calling you out."

"I know it's long-winded, but I would never greet someone in such an affected way."

Xia Yan sighed and took the initiative to state his purpose.

"Ilya, we've come here to..."

"What you want to do is none of my business, and I will not participate in your alliance."

Ilya rejected Xia Yan without even listening to him finish speaking, showing no mercy whatsoever.

"Unless, Shirou, you live in this castle from today onwards and become my possession, belonging only to Illya."

Shirou could see a hint of expectation in Illya's eyes, but he could not accept such a condition.

"Illyasviel, you might not remember this clearly, but Shirou's adoptive father is your father, Kiritsugu Emiya. You two are actually..."

Saber's attempt to ease the situation backfired.

"Saber, don't mention that man in front of me! I've been waiting for him all these years, but... but he abandoned me and adopted another son here!"

Illya tearfully recounted Kiritsugu Emiya's ruthlessness, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Young Miss".

Sera, the maid behind Ilya, placed her hands on Ilya's shoulders, which were trembling slightly due to her emotional turmoil.

Xia Yan and the other two were at a loss for how to persuade him, and the scene suddenly became awkward.

"Since you, Shirou, are unwilling to become my possession, then none of you are leaving. I'll give you a quick death. Go, Berserker!"

"roar!"

A giant over 2 meters tall leaped from the second floor of the castle, wielding an axe-sword, and slashed down at Xia Yan and his companions.

"Shirou, get away from me!"

Artoria immediately changed into her battle armor and stood in front of Xia Yan and Shirou.

The axe and the holy sword collided, and the immense force of Berserker's downward slash shattered the ground beneath Artoria's feet.

Artoria forcefully pushed Heracles away, and the two Servants then engaged in a fierce battle.

Xia Yan really didn't expect Ilya to be so resolute, but even if he left, he had to pass on the message to her.

As he ran towards Illya, he said, "Matou Zōken has replaced Sakura as the Lesser Grail tainted by the black mud. You should understand what I mean."

Maid Lizziet, wielding a giant axe, stood in front of Xia Yan.

"Young Miss, you are not allowed to approach without permission."

Ilya put one hand on her hip and said, "So what? I have Berserker. Berserker is the strongest."