Did the Heroic Spirit I conquered become a reality?

At Einzbern Castle, it should be Illya or Irisviel... Kirei Kotomine of the Holy Church might be the Master, and besides that, it's the Matou family.

But right now, the only member of the Matou family who could possibly participate in the Holy Grail War is Shinji Matou.

Besides that... he couldn't think of anyone else for the time being.

Normally, the three starter families can only have three Masters in total, and his two younger sisters don't seem to have shown a strong desire for the Holy Grail War, so they probably won't become Masters either.

So... who else is there?

After a brief moment of contemplation, Tohsaka Yu quickly shook her head to clear her mind and got up to leave.

"Where are you going?" Artoria asked.

"I need to go to Einzbern Castle to discuss what happened last night with them."

Yu Tohsaka looked out the window at the gradually brightening sky, her voice tinged with seriousness: "What happened last night was too strange. That mysterious magician who was secretly drawing magic power is like a time bomb, and we don't know when it will explode. I need to exchange information with them as soon as possible, at least... to confirm whether they are safe."

Although Irisviel survived the Holy Grail War ten years ago, she was, after all, an artificial human created as the "Minor Grail," and her existence itself was fraught with too much uncertainty.

...It's necessary to confirm this.

“I’ll go with you,” Artoria said immediately.

She had to ensure Tohsaka Yu's safety, since they were now in a position of shared honor and disgrace.

Yu Tohsaka did not refuse and left the Tohsaka family with Artoria.

……

Einzbern's castle is located deep in a vast, remote forest on the outskirts of Fuyuki, and is covered in snow all year round.

This place is not only geographically remote, but also has been equipped with countless powerful magical barriers and alchemical traps passed down through generations by the Einzbern family. For ordinary magicians, this place is an absolutely forbidden zone.

However, Yu Tohsaka's journey was unimpeded.

The warning runes that should have been activated disappeared quietly as he approached, and the automatic defense familiars hidden in the forest seemed to fall into a deep sleep, ignoring him.

Clearly, Einzbern was not on guard against him.

When Yu Tohsaka arrived at the magnificent and ancient castle gate, forged from black iron and magic, a silver-haired android dressed in an elegant maid outfit was already waiting there.

When she saw Yu Tohsaka, a gentle smile appeared on her face. She bowed slightly to him and then pushed open the heavy castle gate.

Guided by the maid, Yu Tohsaka entered the ice castle, which was filled with a classical and luxurious atmosphere.

Soon, in the spacious, bright hall deep within the castle, with a warm fire burning in the fireplace, he met his target—Irisviel and Illya.

Irisviel sat gracefully in a soft armchair, holding a steaming cup of black tea in her hands.

She wore an elegant white sweater dress, her long, smooth silver hair cascading over her shoulders like moonlight, her delicate face still fair and beautiful, and she exuded an innate gentle and fragile aura.

Her delicate white feet, clad in casual cotton slippers, peeked out from under her skirt, giving her a gentle and refined air, much like a wife.

On the carpet not far from her, Ilya was playing happily with another maid, their clear, bell-like laughter echoing through the hall, full of childlike innocence and liveliness.

Seeing this scene, the tension and exhaustion that Tohsaka Yu felt due to the Holy Grail War seemed to be quietly healed at this moment.

He took a huge risk and spared no expense to intervene in and change the course of the Fourth Holy Grail War, all for... a warm and peaceful scene like this now?

Irisviel noticed the gaze at the doorway. She turned her head slightly, and when she saw Tohsaka Yu, a clear look of surprise flashed in her red eyes, which always carried a hint of melancholy. But soon, that surprise was replaced by a gentle smile that came from the heart.

Meanwhile, Ilya, who was having a good time playing with the maid, had a slight glint in her ruby-like eyes when she saw Yu Tohsaka. Then, as if she understood something, she tactfully took the maid's hand and quietly left from the other side of the hall.

Soon, only Tohsaka Yu and Irisviel remained in the hall.

"Are Rin and Sakura... alright?" Irisviel asked gently as she spoke first.

"Well, it's all good."

Yu Tohsaka smiled and sat down on the sofa opposite her, continuing, "Although their parents are often away from home, the sisters can help each other out, so it's quite harmonious."

)玖⊙e+留si镏奇芭尔把Irisviel thoughtfully said: "Hmm...that's good."

"By the way, did you come to see me today because of something important, Tohsaka-kun?"

As she spoke, she raised her bright red eyes and gazed tenderly at Tohsaka Yu.

Yu Tohsaka wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but he felt that although Irisviel's words seemed fine at first glance, there was something more to them.

It's like saying: You must have something important to say to me; you wouldn't come to me when you have nothing to do.

Yu Tohsaka silently swallowed back the 'serious business' she was about to say, and smiled, "Do I have to have something important to discuss with you, Irisviel?"

The silver-haired beauty paused for a moment, then quickly shook her head gently and said softly, "That's not what I meant. It's just that you've always come to see me with important matters, so I thought this time would be no exception..."

"That's just because I've been busy with the Clock Tower. One of the reasons I came back this time is to see you," Yu Tohsaka interrupted softly.

Irisviel glanced at him instinctively, only to see the boy looking at her with a sincere and earnest expression.

Although she was old enough to be Yu Tohsaka's 'mother', she was still a young girl at heart. When she heard this, Irisviel was slightly moved. She quickly pursed her red lips and said softly, "You're always so busy when you come back. When do you plan to go back this time?"

She remembered that Tohsaka Yu had once said that when he had free time in the future, he would take her to see the outside world.

However, over the years, they have communicated more through letters.

Although we met yesterday after he returned, we only discussed some business before he left in a hurry.

Yu Tohsaka said helplessly, "I had no choice before because of the Clock Tower work... but this time I will stay for a while before going back."

"Until the Holy Grail War ends?" Irisviel asked.

“No.” Yu Tohsaka shook her head. “After the Holy Grail War is over, I want to take you out for a walk to relax.”

"Didn't we have such an agreement before?"

Irisviel pursed her red lips, glanced silently at Tohsaka Yu, and said in her gentle voice, "Tohsaka-kun, if you're busy, you don't need to stay behind just for me..."

Although my tone was no different from usual, I felt inexplicably uncomfortable.

She knew that Tohsaka Yu had returned for the Holy Grail War, and also for his two younger sisters... and then, perhaps it wasn't even her turn yet.

Although she and Tohsaka Yu were not really a couple, and at most only exchanged letters, she still felt a strange sense of unease whenever she thought about it.

"If you're busy, don't worry too much about how I feel—"

She spoke again in a gentle voice that seemed to encompass everything, but the moment her voice fell, she saw Tohsaka Yu get up and sit down next to her.

He gazed at Irisviel's delicate and fragile profile and smiled, "I think it's worth it, and I promised before that I would take you out to see the world."

He paused for a moment, then asked in a low voice, "Or... do you not want to go out for the time being?"

"That was not what I meant!"

Irisviel almost blurted it out, and then, noticing the boy's fixed gaze, a faint blush quickly spread across her fair and delicate face.

Yu Tohsaka silently gazed at the silver-haired beauty's shy demeanor. He had to admit that a gentle and charming woman like Irisviel was indeed captivating when she was shy.

She seemed to be wearing lipstick today; her small, red lips gleamed alluringly under the light, as if beckoning a man to kiss them.

For some reason, Tohsaka Yu felt a strange flutter in his heart.

How come I never noticed how charming Irisviel was before...? He stared at Irisviel's slightly flushed face, seemingly lost in thought for a moment.

Seemingly noticing the boy's gaze, Irisviel subconsciously lowered her head and stammered, "Why...why are you staring at me like that, Tohsaka-kun?"

Yu Tohsaka didn't say anything, but the back of her hand unconsciously touched the back of Irisviel's hand.

This is a very common tactic in dating. Doing this will most likely test how much the other person likes you. If they don't pull their hand away... then you can consider taking the next step.

Seeing that Irisviel remained motionless, Tohsaka Yu grew bolder and gently reached out to grasp Irisviel's soft, fair hand.

An ambiguous atmosphere fermented and permeated between the two.

"Mom, are you done talking?"

After an unknown amount of time, Ilya's clear and pleasant voice suddenly came from not far away.

Irisviel then seemed to snap out of her daze, almost instinctively pulling her hand away from Tohsaka Yu's, stealing a glance at her daughter not far away, and whispering, "No, you play by yourself for a while..."

After saying that, he looked at Tohsaka Yu, but tried to avoid eye contact with him, and said in a low voice, "Tohsaka-kun, do you really not have anything to say?"

Seeing that Irisviel was trying to change the subject, Tohsaka Yu smiled knowingly but didn't call her out on it.

His tone became more serious as he briefly explained to Irisviel what he had discovered in the alleyways of the new city the previous night.

"In short, try not to go out at night during this period... Your body is already weak, and it would be troublesome if you encountered danger."

Irisviel nodded gently, indicating that she understood.

Then, as if remembering something, she looked at Tohsaka Yu with her beautiful red eyes and asked softly, "Tohsaka-kun... are you planning to participate in this Holy Grail War?"

Yu Tohsaka nodded and said frankly, "But I'm not doing this to fulfill any wish. I just... want to find out how the Greater Grail came to be this time."

He paused, then asked in return, "And you? This time... do you still want to participate?"

Upon hearing this, Irisviel gently shook her head: "I have no such intention. It's just..."

She paused slightly, and a hint of worry and helplessness flashed in her usually gentle red eyes: "...Ilya seems to be very obsessed with this Holy Grail War."

“Illya?” Tohsaka Yu’s mind stirred slightly, and he asked curiously, “Why? She should…”

However, Irisviel didn't seem to want to discuss this topic further. She vaguely glossed over it and then cleverly changed the subject: "Speaking of which, how long do you plan to stay in Fuyuki this time?"

Afterwards, the two chatted about some interesting anecdotes about the clock tower and the changes in Fuyuki City over the past ten years.

Seeing that it was getting late, Tohsaka Yu got up and said goodbye.

However, just as he was about to leave the ice castle, he unexpectedly ran into Ilya at the entrance.

She was holding the huge teddy bear, standing quietly in the shadows of the corner, her ruby-like eyes fixed on him.

Yu Tohsaka's heart stirred, and she stepped forward, a gentle smile on her face, to greet him.

Upon seeing this, Ilya's delicate, doll-like face immediately blossomed into a bright smile. She ran briskly to Tohsaka Yu, tilted her head up, and said in her clear, melodious voice, "Let me see you out, big brother?"

Yu Tohsaka smiled and nodded: "Then I'll have to trouble you... Illya."

With that, he and she walked out of the ancient castle together.

……

The two walked side by side on a quiet forest path covered in snow.

Along the way, neither of them spoke.

Just as they were about to leave the forest, Ilya suddenly turned to look at Tohsaka Yu, a bright and innocent smile on her face: "Big brother, can I ask you a question?"

Yu Tohsaka nodded: "Of course, go ahead and ask."

Do you like my mom?

Yu Tohsaka: "..."

After a brief silence, he coughed lightly, about to speak.

Just then, Ilya said with a smile, "My mother has mentioned you a lot over the years, so if it's you... I can't really not accept it."

As she spoke, she raised her large, bright eyes and looked at him: "So, how about it, do you want to consider it?"

For some reason, her words, though perfectly natural, seemed to possess an indescribable allure when uttered, sparking the imagination.

Yu Tohsaka collected her thoughts and smiled, "Illya, my relationship with Miss Irisviel is more complicated than you think, it's not as simple as you imagine..."

However, no sooner had he finished speaking than Ilya scoffed, "That's what you say, but you just have feelings for my mother, don't you, big brother?"

Although she looked like just a little girl, her calm tone was quite mature as she continued, "If I were a man, I would also like my mother... It's normal, after all, she's a very charming woman."

"Besides..."

Ilya gently beckoned to Tohsaka Yu to come closer.

Tohsaka Yu lowered her head slightly and brought her ear close to Illya's face.

Looking at the boy's profile, Ilya's lips curled into a smile. She tiptoed and brought her soft, cherry-like lips close to his ear, whispering as if a lover were speaking, "Buy one get one free now, big brother~"

"..."

While Tohsaka Yu was still in a daze, Illya turned around with a grin and took two steps back.

She blinked, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. "Just kidding. I'm going back now. Contact me anytime if anything comes up."

"Bye-bye, big brother."

With a wave of her hand, Ilya turned and disappeared into the snow-covered forest.

It wasn't until quite a while later that Yu Tohsaka came to her senses. Looking at the girl who had disappeared from sight, she couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief.

This girl... is completely unlike Irisviel in personality.