Did the Heroic Spirit I conquered become a reality?

The old priest's face showed an undisguised weariness and worry. "Regarding Kirito... there is still no news."

Tokiomi Tohsaka frowned: "Father Risho, where was the last place Kirei contacted you before he disappeared?"

“It was in his room,” Kotomine Risei replied. “I’m not quite sure what he was doing at the time, but that night… he completely lost contact with me.”

Who could possibly sneak into the church undetected and take Kirei Kotomine away...?

Tokiomi Tohsaka's ominous premonition grew stronger.

After exchanging information with Father Risho but still failing to obtain any useful clues, Tokiomi Tohsaka decided to personally investigate the scene.

He left the church and quickly headed to the room where Kirei Kotomine usually rested.

The scene was not cleaned up, but was instead sealed off by Kotomine Risei.

As a top-tier magician, Tokiomi Tohsaka could clearly sense the chaotic and violent magical remnants remaining in this place, resembling a battlefield.

His gaze searched carefully through the messy room, trying to find a trace of Kirei Kotomine amidst the chaotic remnants of magic.

However, at that moment, Tokiomi Tohsaka suddenly stopped moving.

He crouched down, extended his white-gloved fingers, and picked up a tiny bit of fine crystalline powder from a pile of charred rubble... powder that emitted a faint magical glow.

Tokiomi Tohsaka brought the powder close to his eyes, carefully sensing the residual magical properties and spell structure within it.

The next second, his eyes, which always carried an air of elegance and composure, suddenly narrowed, and for the first time, a look of utter and immense astonishment appeared on his face.

This aura... this pure magical quality, and the unique energy conversion technique it contains... he could never be wrong!

Tokiomi Tohsaka muttered to himself, a hint of astonishment in his voice that even he himself hadn't noticed:

"Gem Magic...?"

Book 1: Chapter 73 The Final Preparations for the Greater Grail Ritual

When Yu Tohsaka returned to the apartment, Tiamat and Ayaka Sajou were already waiting in the living room.

The creator goddess was sitting on the sofa, looking at Tohsaka Yu with curiosity.

"What's wrong, Yu-kun? You seem to have something to say?" Aika Sajou asked with a puzzled tone.

Without delay, Yu Tohsaka immediately recounted what he had said to Morgan earlier.

Upon hearing the last part, a thoughtful expression quickly appeared on Ayaka Sajou's face.

"You mean, I was born connected to the Root, which might allow Tiamat, who devoured the core of the Greater Grail, to touch the Root and thus bring the Greater Grail down?"

"And you, can provide the most basic 'fuel' needed to start this 'wishing machine'?"

Yu Tohsaka nodded with absolute certainty and said, "If the three of us join forces, perhaps... we really can end this Holy Grail War ahead of schedule without hurting anyone and fulfill our respective 'wishes'."

A brief silence fell over the living room.

Sajō Aika remained silent, but a thoughtful light flickered in her emerald green eyes, as if she were carefully considering the possibility of Tohsaka Yu's plan.

A moment later, a rare look of seriousness appeared on her pretty face, which always wore an innocent smile. She slowly nodded: "Yu-kun, your idea... is indeed feasible in theory."

However, at this moment, Morgan, who had been observing coldly, suddenly spoke up.

“But Caster, you seem to have overlooked a crucial issue.”

Her cold voice, like ice colliding, instantly cooled the atmosphere in the living room. "This behavior of bypassing the 'rules' and trying to 'pass the level' directly is tantamount to 'cheating' for the other Masters and Servants who are still in the dark and preparing to win the Holy Grail through battle."

Morgan's icy blue eyes swept over Tohsaka Yu: "At that time, you will face the hostility of all the participants. Whether it is the Hero King, the Sun King, or... your former teacher, they will all not hesitate to regard you as the highest priority to be eliminated."

Yu Tohsaka fell silent for a moment.

Indeed, once this plan is implemented, it will undoubtedly put them on the opposite side of everyone else.

But... when I think of the devastating death toll of the Fourth Holy Grail War, the fact that there were no winners, and the deaths of my teacher and adoptive father, I can't just sit idly by, no matter what.

Even for Sakura and Rin's sake, Tokiomi Tohsaka absolutely cannot be allowed to get into trouble.

“I know.” Tohsaka Yu slowly raised her head, her dark eyes filled with an unprecedented determination. “But even so, we must do it. Whether it’s for the people around us… or to prevent Fuyuki from becoming a nuclear-occupied city…”

Only by using this most special and decisive method to summon the "omnipotent wish-granting machine" that can change everything and connect it to the Root can this Holy Grail War be completely ended.

Seeing the unwavering determination in the boy's eyes, Ayaka Sajou said nothing more.

“Since you’re planning to do this, Yu-kun… I’ll help you.”

Tiamat also raised her hand and made an "Aaa" sound to express her stance.

Then, in a still somewhat hesitant voice, she softly asked, "What...should I do?"

"It's very simple, just leave it to me."

Ayaka Sajou seemed quite interested in Tohsaka Yu's suggestion and immediately said, "I sensed before that the spiritual vein node near Fuyuki City Port is the most suitable place to open the 'Gate'. We can set the ceremony there."

As she spoke, she glanced at the already bright sky outside the window and added with some regret, "However, it would be better to hold such a large-scale ceremony at night."

After all, there are too many people around during the day, which could easily cause unnecessary disturbances.

After chatting for a while on the sofa, Aika Sajou went into the room first, seemingly to prepare some magical barrier.

At that moment, Morgan suddenly looked at Yu Tohsaka, her voice as cool and magnetic as ever, and asked softly, "Caster, don't you really have any wishes you want to fulfill for yourself?"

Yu Tohsaka shook her head: "I know you may not believe it... but I really don't have any wishes. If I could, I just want to end this wrong Holy Grail War as soon as possible, and then... go back to my original life."

He paused, looking at the fairy queen before him who, though always wearing a cold mask, had helped him several times at crucial moments, and a gentle smile appeared on his face.

"If... I had to say," his voice softened considerably, "my current wish is to fulfill your wish, isn't it?"

"After all, Aika participated in the Holy Grail War just for 'fun,' while Tiamat... she herself has no 'wishes' that need to be fulfilled. Among us, perhaps you are the only one who truly intends to make a wish upon the Holy Grail."

Morgan looked quietly at Yu Tohsaka, at the pure honesty and sincerity reflected in his dark eyes.

It was a kind of pure "goodwill" and "giving" that she had never seen in anyone's eyes before.

Her gaze, which always carried a coldness and aloofness, seemed to have undergone a slight change.

After gazing silently at the boy for a long time, Morgan quickly snapped out of her daze and subtly looked away, as if trying to conceal the emotional turmoil she had just experienced.

Seemingly sensing the quiet atmosphere, the woman quickly let out a soft snort, her tone returning to its usual coldness and arrogance: "Using the Root Princess to bypass the rules of the Holy Grail War... Only someone like you who doesn't play by the rules could come up with such a fanciful idea."

She paused, her icy blue eyes returning to Tohsaka Yu, a playful smile curving her red lips beneath the veil: "However, finding a loophole in the rules is commendable."

Yu Tohsaka hesitated for a moment: "Thank you? It's quite rare to receive such praise from you..."

Morgan chuckled and ignored Tohsaka Yu's half-joking teasing.

"Alright, let's stop talking about these unrealistic things." She quickly steered the conversation back on track. "Let's talk about it again when you can actually bring down the 'Walking Grail' and grant your wishes."

Her tone shifted, carrying a hint of reminder: "Let me remind you, because I am the Ruler, due to the most basic rules of the Greater Grail, I cannot directly help you during your ritual. I can only... be a 'fair' observer."

"...You may need to be prepared to deal with multiple servants."

Upon hearing this, Tohsaka Yu smiled knowingly and shook his head slightly: "I know... but not all Servants will become our enemies."

Morgan paused, a hint of confusion flashing in her icy blue eyes, and instinctively asked, "What do you mean? Does that mean there's a servant who will help you?"

“Yes, and we’ve already collaborated once before,” Yu Tohsaka said with a smile.

Under Morgan's suspicious gaze, Tohsaka Yu calmly uttered two words:

"Merlin."

……

Deep within the ancient castle of Eindzbern, the fire in the fireplace burns quietly, bringing a touch of warmth to this elegant and luxurious room.

Merlin sat listlessly in a soft armchair, holding a cup of black tea that had long since gone cold.

He was observing the "spectacles" unfolding around the world with great interest through his omnipotent "all-seeing eyes," occasionally letting out a few words of ambiguous praise.

"Ah sneeze——!"

The legendary magician suddenly sneezed loudly, nearly spilling his tea.

"What's wrong, Saber?"

Irisviel, who was sitting to the side, looking somewhat uneasily at the wind and snow outside the window, was startled by his sudden movement and quickly asked with concern.

"It's nothing, nothing." Merlin rubbed his nose, his gentle and composed smile returning to his face, but a hint of confusion flickered in his purple eyes. "It's just that I always feel... like someone is watching me from behind."

Jiuqi Liujiu 〦Shirt?Pa b (six) Yueyi Irisviel heard this and a look of doubt appeared on her face.

Just then, a gentle, slightly teasing boyish voice suddenly and without warning rang in their ears, as if he had been standing there all along:

"Your sixth sense is ridiculously accurate, Merlin."

Merlin and Irisviel froze simultaneously, and almost at the same time, they looked up sharply in the direction from which the sound came.

In the shadows of the room, a familiar figure leaned against the wall, a gentle, enigmatic smile on his face, quietly watching them.

"Tohsaka...Yu?!"

Almost simultaneously, the two saw complete and immense shock and bewilderment in each other's eyes.

Seeing their bewildered expressions, Tohsaka Yu gave a gentle smile: "You two, don't be so tense. I think perhaps we could find another place to have a proper talk?"

……

A moment later, in a spacious and bright hall of Eindzbern Castle.

After briefly describing his bold idea of ​​a quick way to clear the Holy Grail War using the "Trinity" method, as Yu Tohsaka expected, Merlin immediately launched into his "吐槽" (tu cao, meaning to roast or criticize) mode after the initial shock and contemplation.

“I’m telling you, Tohsaka-kun,” Merlin said, rubbing his forehead with a helpless expression that said, “I knew you wouldn’t play by the rules.”

"Last time in Uruk, I was already working overtime and was completely exhausted trying to help you with that 'anchoring ritual.' I didn't expect that just when I was thinking of taking it easy this Holy Grail War, you... Did you come here specifically to give me more work?"

Upon hearing this, Yu Tohsaka smiled brightly: "You can't say that. This is mutual help, isn't it? Don't you want to end this troublesome Holy Grail War as soon as possible, finish your overtime work, and go back to your Avalon?"

Merlin paused for a moment, then sighed helplessly, "You really know me well."

Having managed to persuade Merlin, the key "technical advisor," Yu Tohsaka then turned her gaze to Irisviel, who had been listening quietly the entire time, her red eyes filled with confusion and contemplation.

Today she wore a pure white long dress, the hem of which flowed gracefully to the ground, and on her feet were a pair of exquisite white high boots, which outlined the perfect curves of her calves.

Her long, flowing silver hair cascaded over her shoulders like moonlight, highlighting her exquisitely beautiful face, which was as delicate as a doll's and without a single flaw. Her fair skin shone with an ivory-like luster under the light.

Yu Tohsaka looked at her with a gentle smile and asked softly, "Miss Irisviel, what do you think of my plan?"

He paused, his voice softening further, as if possessing a strange magic that could easily touch the softest part of one's heart: "If this plan succeeds, the Holy Grail War can end without any 'sacrifice.' In that case... you can pursue your own freedom from now on, right?"

Upon hearing this, Irisviel trembled slightly. She subconsciously looked at Tohsaka Yu, then glanced at Merlin beside her. Those red eyes, which always carried a hint of melancholy, showed no joy as expected.

She was silent for a moment before asking in a very soft voice, "If the Holy Grail War ends... you will disappear, won't you, Caster?"

Yu Tohsaka paused for a moment, but still nodded slightly and answered frankly, "Yes, after all, I am a Servant. When the Holy Grail War ends and the contract is dissolved, I will naturally disappear."

Irisviel's expression grew increasingly hesitant, as if she were struggling with something.

Merlin, who witnessed this scene, gave his master a rather strange look.

Why does it feel like... ever since that day when I was kidnapped by Tohsaka Yu, my master has developed a bit of Stockholm syndrome?

What exactly did they talk about that day?

Even Merlin couldn't help but feel a bit curious at this moment.

But soon, he said calmly, "Speaking of which, even after you disappear, you'll still be able to see Miss Irisviel again, right, Tohsaka-kun?"

"When the time comes, could you take my master out into the world to relax?"

Upon hearing this, Irisviel almost instinctively looked up, glancing at the white-haired wizard with suspicion, and hesitated, "What do you mean by that, Merlin?"

With the Holy Grail War over, Servants should have disappeared... Merlin's words completely overturned Irisviel's expectations.

"Haven't you realized it yet, Master?"

Merlin wore a mysterious smile: "Tohsaka-kun... isn't a deceased Heroic Spirit."

He whispered the secret.

Yu Tohsaka glanced at Merlin silently, but did not refute him.

He quickly turned his gaze to Irisviel.

The woman was also staring at him expectantly, as if she wanted to hear the answer she wanted from him.

For Irisviel, her fate was sealed from birth; the castle was like a birdcage, and she had been trapped in it ever since.

Yu Tohsaka's promise to "take her out to relax" may have been a trivial promise to him, but for Irisviel, it was a huge luxury.

She was able to leave the castle earlier because the magician assassin Kiritsugu Emiya, hired by the Einzbern family, had died, and a Servant of Merlin's caliber was far too powerful.