Type-Moon, I'm a magician, is that true?

"Then let's just ask directly, Aiwen, what is your purpose in staying with Illya? We are really worried if you don't know this."

"Do you suspect I have other intentions? This issue is actually not as complicated as you think. Illya and I are naturally on the same side because I—"

"--Let me speak for you next, since you are Illya's Servant, right? This identity explains everything."

Outside the door, a man interrupted Aiwen in a pretended calm voice.

It was obvious that despite his best efforts to control himself, the turbulent emotions still controlled his body and were about to overflow from the dam in his heart.

"What……?"

Irisviel fell silent subconsciously, feeling overwhelmed as she stared blankly at Aiwen.

She couldn't believe that the little guy in front of her who made her feel close to him was actually a hero praised in human history, and she had just tried to make him call her sister!

Damn, now I feel so embarrassed.

However, this emotion was replaced by heartache the moment she looked at her husband.

A man with messy hair and wearing a black coat was standing at the door. He cast a complex look of pity and entanglement at the girl on the bed. Compared with the impression of Kiritsugu, he was now visibly weak.

"Kiritsugu?"

Alice called out his name in surprise. She got up from the bed, came to her husband's side, and stroked his dark circles with concern.

"I obviously didn't call you, why didn't you want to sleep a little longer? You didn't even close a wink yesterday."

"There's nothing I can do. My daughter is here, but I'm fast asleep. My dignity as a father is completely ruined."

The rough big hand formed a sharp contrast with Irisviel's smooth and tender small hand. Kiritsugu held his wife's hand and rubbed his face against it, with deep guilt hidden in the tenderness in his words.

After a moment of tenderness, he looked at Aiwen with lifeless eyes and repeated the shocking truth again.

"The caster fighting Archer was just a cover. Illya's real servant is actually you, right? I wonder if my guess is correct?"

"Wait, Master, are you serious?! I can't believe it!"

Saber slammed the table and stood up. She was so surprised that she even ignored the agreement to hide Kiritsugu's identity as the Master.

"I personally witnessed the mythical battle between Caster and Archer. They are both undoubtedly the most powerful Heroic Spirits. Are you now saying that Caster, one of the protagonists of that battle, was a sham?"

"Saber..." Irisviel showed a worried look.

"Calm down, Saber, let's go out and talk slowly."

He tilted his head and gestured towards the door without saying anything. After Saber left, Emiya Kiritsugu turned around and looked at Aiwen beside him.

"Would you like to come along? Both as a Master and as Illya's father, I have much to discuss with you."

"Also, don't worry about Illya. She's my and Ellie's daughter. She won't be in any danger here."

Without saying a word, Aiwen expressed his attitude with practical actions. He followed Saber's pace and left the bedroom.

"Eri, stay with Illya for a while. I'll be back soon."

Emiya Kiritsugu looked back with nostalgia. On the big bed were the two women he loved most at the moment, but he could only send his loved ones to death.

This was a foregone conclusion, but Illya's arrival shook the remaining human spirit in him.

Reason forced him to ignore the pain and turned away, leaving behind Irisviel who raised her hand as if to keep her.

“Kiritsugu…”

A woman's sad moan echoed in the huge room.

In the corridor outside the door, Aiwen looked at the man with a painful face and blinked.

"You should stay with Aunt Ellie. She must be very happy that the three of you are reunited as a family."

"As a Heroic Spirit, are you also interested in the little love between families?"

Emiya Kiritsugu curled the corner of his mouth in a mocking manner. He took out a cigarette from his pocket, but did not light it. He simply held it in his mouth.

He used to be a chain smoker, but he stopped smoking after Illya was born.

"Of course, I've also caused the girls and friends who loved me to worry because of my momentary stubbornness. Now I think it was just me being too stubborn."

“The legacy of the past is important, and the vision of the future is beautiful, but the people around you who are willing to wait for you now are more valuable than all of this.”

This is not a profound truth, but the conclusion that Aiwen came to after his experience. The sincerity in it makes Kiritsugu Emiya unable to refute it.

Although he appears to be a cold-blooded killer, he actually holds a sentimental outlook on life, otherwise he would not want to be a partner of justice.

After all, he has richer emotions in his heart than normal people, and that is why something in the past continues to torment him.

"Never mind. I have higher priorities for now."

Emiya Kiritsugu shook his head. His current pursuit of the Holy Grail was impossible to waver.

"Back to the topic, first of all, let me confirm one thing, you are Illya's Servant, right?"

Chapter 135: Alliances are also an essential part of war (4k5)

After these words were spoken, Saber, who had been silent, also cast a dragon-like gaze at him.

Aiwen was actually a Servant, but she had never realized it. This fact seemed to make Miss Knight King feel a little unwilling. Mixed with the remorse for unconsciously revealing Kiritsugu's Master's identity with her previous behavior...

In short, Saber is not very kind to Aiwen now. In major matters, it is the same as before, but in daily life, it may be a lot more awkward.

"Well, I did sign a contract with Illya, and this body also belongs to what you call the Servant framework."

Aiwen nodded, and Saber opened her mouth but hesitated to speak.

She believed in her own eyes, and the caster who wielded the Noble Phantasm with her at that time was definitely not an illusion, but in this case, how to explain Aiwen's existence?

Emiya Kiritsugu glanced at her, recalling his own peace of mind when she'd headed straight for the center of the battlefield tonight, and sighed. The question that was on the tip of his tongue was temporarily postponed, replaced by another one.

"Then could you explain the other caster? Theoretically, it shouldn't be possible for two identical classes to appear in the Holy Grail War."

"Of course, if he is actually a Servant of another class who uses magical means, then that would make sense."

Hearing this speculation, Saber's expression brightened a little.

She didn't care what class Gilgamesh held, but she couldn't accept that one of the parties in that duel was called a fake or a false existence.

That glorious and mythical battle was like an epic tale. As a casual participant, she felt she had an obligation to uphold the honor of both sides.

"You are so sure of my identity as a caster that you would rather doubt a Servant who has fought a real battle than doubt me?"

Aiwen asked curiously, but Emiya Kiritsugu just pointed to his eyes.

"That's not my judgment, but the Einzbern clan leader's. I think you must have used some tricks in front of him. I'll still trust that old man's knowledge of magic."

"Besides, it's easy for us to tell if you're a Servant or not. Any Master can see a Servant's stats, unless they possess a Noble Phantasm that conceals them."

"So, what are my values in Uncle Kiritsugu's opinion?"

Upon hearing this, Saber beside her also pricked up her ears quietly. She was also very concerned about Aiwen's specific situation. Besides, it was natural for her to understand her future opponent.

"Honestly, it's strange. I've never seen a Servant so biased."

Emiya Kiritsugu didn't beat around the bush and told the truth about everything he saw.

"Strength, Endurance, Agility, and Magic are all E, but Luck and Noble Phantasm are EX. I'm afraid only Caster classes have these attributes."

"In a head-on battle without using a Noble Phantasm, I have some confidence that I can defeat you. Your stats are so weak that they are even inferior to those of a phantom."

Having said that, Emiya Kiritsugu did not dare to underestimate Aiwen at all. That huge Noble Phantasm EX was like an unexploded nuclear bomb. Everyone had to give him some face before his true identity was revealed.

But from another perspective, he was very satisfied with Aiwen's values, because this was exactly in line with his plan.

"Well, your Noble Phantasm may be powerful, but its combat quality is so weak that it will collapse in a single blow. To avoid this disadvantage, do you want to join forces with me and Saber?"

Yes, this is Emiya Kiritsugu's fundamental purpose.

That's a Servant!

Even though Aiwen's stats are weak, as long as he is a Heroic Spirit, he will always have some advantages over ordinary humans. Even if he doesn't use his Noble Phantasm and just stays by his side, Gundam EX's Luck will definitely be of some help.

In addition, Emiya Kiritsugu does not believe in alliances. He knows too well the darkness of human hearts, and the so-called allies are nothing more than a fig leaf for convenient backstabbing.

But Aiwen is different. He is the Servant of her daughter and can almost be considered as her own camp. Even if he has his own thoughts, Illya's Command Spell can persuade him.

Of course, in addition to these superficial reasons, there is also a hint of malice buried deep in his heart.

"First, find out the effect of that EX Noble Phantasm during the alliance. As long as you have a plan in place, when it's just the two of you left, such weak stats won't be able to withstand Saber's sword."

Kiritsugu Emiya is very jealous of such a cost-effective servant who can be controlled perfectly.

"I have no opinion."

Saber on the side didn't think too much about it. She was the king and had seen too many alliances and followings, so she had her own logic.

Her intuition didn't react to Aiwen, so at least she qualified as an ally.

"Let's leave that question for tomorrow. I can't answer it."

Unexpectedly, Aiwen neither agreed nor refused. He just shook his head and established his own authority and responsibilities as a matter of course.

"I am currently Illya's Servant, so I will naturally follow the rules of a Servant. Only the Master's orders determine my direction. In the absence of orders, I will take the initiative to act in order to fulfill the Master's wishes."

"It's the Master's right to form an alliance or not, Uncle Emiya. You shouldn't expect me, a Servant, to make the decision on my own."

After finishing what he wanted to say, Aiwen nodded goodbye to Kiritsugu and Saber. His figure disappeared in the haze, leaving only his last words.

"Let's call it a night. I'm sure the other Masters won't attack again. Let's leave everything for tomorrow."

Emiya Kiritsugu felt a little regretful for staying where he was, but he thought it was a good thing. A Servant who obeyed his Master so well was more in his interest.

"Alas, if only my Servant could restrain himself in this way."

He looked at Saber deeply, and the regretful look in his eyes made Saber feel a little puzzled.

"Master...?"

"No, it's nothing. Since he said that, I'll go and convince Illya tomorrow. It won't make any difference."

Just as Aiwen said, there was nothing to do tonight. When he thought of this, a strong sense of sleepiness came over Emiya Kiritsugu.

He shook his head and walked towards the room of Illya and Irisviel behind him, giving Saber an order.

"Saber, tonight's guard and patrol are up to you."

"The duty lies."

After that, the two of them walked in different directions.

One went straight to the bed where his family was and fell into the arms of tenderness after a long absence, while the other began to patrol back and forth in the forest.

-----------------

"Boy, why are you sweating so much?"

Also tonight, in an ordinary house in Fuyuki City, a strong man who gave people a strong sense of oppression was concerned about the thin boy hiding in the quilt.

"Need I tell you, idiot? Of course I'm scared!"

Unable to endure the continuous slaps from the strong man, the quilt moved, revealing an ordinary and pretty face.

"I never thought the Holy Grail War would be so terrifying. Damn it, I shouldn't have come to Japan to prove myself. I want to go back to England... What kind of magic competition is that? What's the difference between that and facing a natural disaster?"

His eyes were filled with tears and his whole body was trembling. His mind was destroyed by the disaster of the previous clash of Noble Phantasms, and he realized his own insignificance.

"I'm sorry, Rider, I can't do this. I can't muster up the courage to participate in the Holy Grail War anymore."

Seeing his master speaking in frustration and looking miserable, the sturdy man scratched his head and laughed.

"Hahahaha, what nonsense are you talking about? Even though you keep complaining, your body is very honest. It still shows no signs of giving up."

Rider was very satisfied when he saw the boy who was obviously scared to the point of crying but would rather hide in the quilt than pack his bags and run away.

"On the surface, you appear to be of ordinary talent, but deep within your consciousness lies a bold and proud heart. You are indeed worthy of being my master."

However, while thinking this in his heart, Rider also knows that the power of dreams is limited, and there are indeed things in reality that cannot be overcome.

"Archer and Caster, two sides of the same Heroic Spirit, are incredibly powerful. I'm powerless against them."

The rider was clearly calculating the gap between the enemy and himself. Although he had an extremely large number of trump cards, they would probably be ineffective when facing the divine attack of the highest quality.

"But even so, it's the king's duty to guide his subjects. Even if hell lies ahead, we must present a victorious posture!"

The sudden heroic declaration made the boy stick his head out from under the covers, and he complained strenuously about the noise made by his servants.