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552. Scathach's Marriage Contract/Irisviel's Determination/Towards the Castle (4k)

[Scathach's words made Irisviel concerned.]

[She came to the Land of Shadows and didn't know why she had to resort to this method to keep you here.]

【but--】

She's not one to hide her thoughts.

[She directly raised her doubts to Scathach.]

"so--"

"Is this some strange ritual?"

Irisviel sat down on a stone somewhere in the grass.

Although the surrounding environment seems to have been corroded by the deceased, in fact these natural environments have not lost their original appearance.

If you have to say it...

Maybe the color is just wrong.

But Irisviel has never been one to care about these things.

"A strange ritual..." Scathach repeated what Irisviel said, her voice becoming a little softer.

"It's not some strange ritual, it's a necessary step."

"The only way?"

Irisviel tilted her head slightly, looking a little confused about what Scathach mentioned.

"Yes." The Queen of Shadow Kingdom nodded.

"Though I did bring you to the Shadow Realm through my death-filled Gate of Skye."

"But in the final analysis—"

Scathach looked at Irisviel in front of her as if she saw Ian.

"He's still just a dead man wandering around here."

"If he is not granted some kind of identity to allow him to stay here, then as time goes by, he will be forgotten by this country."

"By that time, it will be difficult to take any remedial measures."

Scathach's explanation was certainly true.

As the queen of the Shadow Kingdom, she had no need and no possibility to lie about her own kingdom.

That would be disrespectful to the deceased and a blasphemy to her status as queen.

but--

Not telling lies does not mean that you cannot mix in your own selfish motives.

Scathach still had that trick up her sleeve.

For example... in this remedial measure, she chose the method she most expected.

That is the marriage contract.

However, what the Queen of Shadow Kingdom did not know was that her little thoughts were as obvious as the moon hanging high in the sky.

Even a woman like Irisviel, who was relatively thick-skinned, could clearly sense it.

She quickly asked:

"In that case—"

"There's no need to get married, is there?"

"If you want to give him a status, shouldn't you start with the perspective of a 'guest'? Why did you immediately think of a marriage contract?"

"..."

Scathach was stunned for a moment. It was obvious that she had not yet thought of an explanation for Irisviel's question.

Or rather, she had no intention of explaining.

After all, Irisviel didn't seem like someone who would casually doubt the existence of others.

"This one……"

"You're blushing again." Irisviel said very bluntly, "I see—you wanted to do this, didn't you?"

"I..." Scathach stammered.

That was the complete opposite of her usual cold and icy self.

Irisviel laughed when she saw this scene.

"It feels so familiar~"

"It's exactly the same as when I first met Kiritsugu."

"I understand." Irisviel stood up from the stone and took Scathach's hand.

She seemed to know this way of getting close to other people very well.

"Then how can I help you?"

"Is that what you're telling him? Or something else? I'll be happy to help you!"

"..."

Scathach felt a little uncomfortable with Irisviel's enthusiasm.

However, after realizing that the other party had no ill intentions, the Queen of the Shadow Kingdom did not hesitate any longer, but quickly explained her thoughts.

"Actually, you don't have to do anything."

"After all, you are just a 'vessel' that carries Ian's soul."

"For me, the process of taking my marriage vows with Ian is simply a way to pass on our contract, using you as a path."

"I understand." Irisviel nodded thoughtfully.

"So, I just need to stay still, right?"

"Well... that's the theory."

[After obtaining Irisviel's consent, Scathach began to conclude a contract with you.]

This is a very simple process.

[Or rather, for the Queen of the Shadow Kingdom, it is a burden-free matter.]

After a year of separation between Yin and Yang, you heard each other's voices again.

"O wandering undead, I am Scathach, Queen of the Kingdom of Shadows."

"If you wish to remain in my kingdom, then offer your allegiance."

"The oath is established!"

After reciting the long spell, a rotating blue halo appeared on Scathach's hand. It was drawn with her most proud rune magic, which was enough to see into Ian's soul that Irisviel had "recovered".

Different from the previous one, at this moment, in addition to "reconnaissance", it also has the function of "contract".

Because both the strength and the instantaneous increase in magic power were beyond the reach of the previous runes.

But compared to these——

Scathach was more worried about something else.

As the queen of the Shadow Kingdom, she has the means to invite anyone into this realm through the Gate of Skye, a realm overflowing with death.

But in the final analysis, this is always just an "invitation" rather than a compulsory transfer.

This means that if Ian himself does not agree to this kind of thing, then no matter how tempting the conditions are drawn up by Rune magic, he will never appear in front of him.

So...what will be the outcome?

Scathach was filled with sorrow.

She hated being bound by emotions like this, but she had no choice.

On the other side, as Scathach's rune magic took effect, a blue mark appeared on Irisviel's forehead.

That was a sign that the magic circuits in her body had been forcibly requisitioned by the Queen of the Shadow Kingdom - she needed to use this method to convey her contract to Ian.

But for Irisviel, this process was a little bit painful.

After all, in essence, this is equivalent to putting an unsuitable key into the keyhole in the most primitive and violent way.

To say that it feels good is absolutely impossible.

only--

Despite the extreme pain, Irisviel never complained at all.

She was really too kind. Even at this moment, she was still thinking about the reunion of Ian and Scathach.

If this could be achieved, this artificially created "Little Holy Grail" would not mind enduring this pain.

[Thanks to Irisviel's efforts, Scathach's contract was finally delivered to you.]

It was a very complex "paragraph," and even at first glance one could sense how dauntingly long it was.

Apparently, in order to hide her emotions, Scathach used quite a few words and expressions that would only be used by a "Queen."

But this cover-up is completely meaningless.

【After all, there's no way to tell whether someone is dislikeable or not. 】

【But if you don't care about someone, you can tell at a glance. 】

【Faced with this contract, I'm afraid you won't agree.】

After a moment of soul-determination, you finally agreed.

This is the moment you truly "arrive" in the Land of Shadows.

“Ughhhhhhhhhh——!”

As Ian "signed" the contract with Scathach, Rune magic was brought to its peak at this moment.

This was equivalent to pulling "a part" out of Irisviel's body.

For her, it was naturally very painful.

Almost instantly, Irisviel knelt on the land of Shadow Kingdom.

She placed her hands on the ground, and the magic circuits all over her body glowed, even her cheeks turned a deep blue.

"This……"

Even Scathach, who didn't know much about the construction principles of the "Lesser Holy Grail", knew that Irisviel's current condition was very wrong.

No.

can not be like this.

The Queen of the Kingdom of Shadows decided to put a temporary stop to this matter - she couldn't let Irisviel, who had originally offered a helping hand out of kindness, suffer this pain because of her own selfish desires.

That would make Ian look down on himself!

however--

When Scathach stretched out her other hand and prepared to stop the rune magic on Irisviel.

An unexpected scene happened.

Although she was in great pain, she gently pushed away the hand of the Queen of Shadow Kingdom when it reached out.

"Scathach, I can do this."

"This is...what I can do."

"But you're in so much pain!" Scathach was a little anxious, "I have to stop it immediately!"

"No."

Irisviel answered almost instantly.

"What I endured was only temporary pain."