Shirou, who returned from the Fairy Kingdom

……

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, they got down to business. Assassin conveyed Kiritsugu Emiya's willingness to talk to Shirou.

"A Servant who has made a contract with the 'World'...!"

A bead of cold sweat trickled down Saber's cheek: That man, just like me...?

"Shirou, are you planning to meet him?" Irisviel asked.

"That Assassin is a Servant who has made a contract with the 'World,' and he probably possesses important information that we don't know about—"

Why did the Counter Force interfere in this Holy Grail War, and what was its reason for targeting Irisviel's life?

These are questions that cannot be answered through combat.

Irisviel nodded: "Understood. Let Saber and Assassin accompany you."

Although I'm very curious to see what kind of repulsive face the man who has repeatedly aimed for my life has, he probably doesn't want to... no, he's afraid to see me.

"about this point."

Hassan said, "That man said he only wants to meet with Shirou. Not to mention Saber, he won't even allow me to accompany him."

Saber exclaimed alertly, "Shirou, this is a trap!"

The other party is a ruthless killer who will stop at nothing to kill his target; he must be plotting something. I mustn't go to the appointment!

Shirou thought for a moment and said, "Don't worry, Saber..."

I've already beaten him three times, so I wouldn't mind winning again.

Besides, I'm not alone.

"What do you mean... Ah!"

Saber finally realized that Shirou's servants were not only Assassin—there was also the woman who never showed her face from beginning to end and remained in spirit form the entire time.

Because she was so inconspicuous, Saber almost forgot she existed.

Shirou has made up his mind to meet the Assassin named Emiya Kiritsugu.

……

……

"I've lost contact with my father since last night?"

Upon hearing the contents of the communication sent by his teacher, Kirei Kotomine showed a surprised expression.

Tokiomi Tohsaka seemed convinced that Risei Kotomine had met with misfortune, and Kirei Kotomine sensed extreme frustration in his tone.

The old priest was not only a close friend of Tokiomi's father, but also a man who was like his guardian.

However, what is very sad is—

When Kirei Kotomine, the son, heard that his father's whereabouts were unknown, he felt no emotion whatsoever.

It's likely that until the very end, Kotomine Risetsugu always regarded him as a son he was proud of, but he never opened his heart to his father.

Even so, Kirei Kotomine did not feel any regret or sadness.

"Kirei, from now on you will be in charge of the general affairs of the Holy Grail War."

Tokiomi Tohsaka wearily explained his schedule to his disciple: "This afternoon I'm going to the Zenjou family... to visit Rin."

The magician thought he wouldn't see his daughter again until the war was over, but the priest's disappearance shook his resolve.

For the first time, he truly understood how chaotic the Holy Grail War was, where even a powerful figure like Kotomine Risei could be swallowed up without warning.

Thinking that he might also die, Tokiomi Tohsaka desperately wanted to see his daughter's face.

Perhaps this was their last conversation.

……

……

Last night, Kiritsugu Emiya gave Hassan Hyakami an address, saying that if he wanted to talk to him, he should come here to find him.

The address is a cheap hotel in the new capital, which was Kiritsugu Emiya's base during the Holy Grail War.

Shirou marveled at Kiritsugu Emiya's taste in choosing a hideout: "This kind of inn has a wide range of guests, from couples and families to adulterers, making it a perfect place to hide."

Shirou pretended to be very familiar with the place, walked straight through the lobby, and took the elevator to the seventh floor.

Push open the slightly ajar door to room 703.

Shirou finally met the man he had clashed with three times.

"Ah, yes, I'm here. I came to keep my appointment alone, Grandpa... oh?"

Even Shirou himself was taken aback.

Even though the person standing in front of him was a gloomy man who looked only thirty years old, the way he addressed him was not "uncle," but "grandpa."

Strange... Oh well, this happens occasionally.

"Irisviel must die. If she continues to live... this world will only face destruction."

Emiya Kiritsugu remained expressionless and got straight to the point with his first words.

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

Volume 1, Chapter 87: The Fairy Kingdom's Team Building Begins!

"If Irisviel isn't killed... the world will perish?"

Shirou frowned.

To be honest, he really wanted to retort, but looking at the man's serious expression, he ultimately said nothing.

Shirou narrowed his eyes: This man... is probably not lying.

"I do not believe."

Although he was convinced that what he said was true, Shirou retorted, "I can't lose in terms of momentum."

"What's the basis for your statement? Is it the 'world' that summoned you to this era... or is it what the restraining force told you?"

Kiritsugu Emiya shook his head: "No, I did not receive that request."

However… destroying Einzbern's homunculus is the simplest way to avert the world's destruction.

Shirou breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this: "In the end, it was your own arbitrary judgment."

For a fleeting moment, he even worried that perhaps Irisviel's true desire was to "destroy the world," and therefore he had to prevent her from obtaining the Holy Grail.

At least Shirou was somewhat relieved to know that it wasn't Irisviel's subjective problem.

Kiritsugu Emiya further explained: "This Holy Grail War is like a scam."

The chaotic battles for the wish machines are nothing more than a grand scam to lure other participants in.

This battle is a subtle trap that gradually advances the countdown to the great catastrophe as the Servants involved are defeated and leave.

When a certain number of Servants summoned here are sacrificed, a mechanism hidden within the Greater Grail will be activated.

Shirou frowned suspiciously: "...Some kind of mechanism?"

This statement is too vague. Is he trying to hide something?

Kiritsugu Emiya said, "There's no need to know what its physical form is. Just imagine it as something like a bomb that can destroy the Earth. It's something powerful enough to wipe out the entire history of humankind."

On the mystical side, magicians call such a device a "final device".

In a mythological system, the being that leads the "world" to its end (God) —

For example, something like Surtr, the fire giant king in Norse mythology.

Shirou: "..."

Sorry, I'm only 8 years old. I don't know anything about Norse mythology.

"The fire giants that appear in Norse mythology inherited the destructive nature of the primordial giant (Ymir)."

Ms. Avalon interjected with commentary at the opportune moment.

"The being who wielded the 'Sword of Flame' and burned the world to ashes during Ragnarok, the final war in Norse mythology."

In short, he's a super powerful demon king! Oh dear, how terrifying!

Shirou's heart skipped a beat: "Big sister Avalon, tell me more about it when we get back."

Lady Avalon exclaimed in surprise, "Oh? Master is interested in mythology? That's unexpected..."

"No, tell me about the 'Sword of Flame' that burned the world to ashes."

"Is this the main focus?"

Shirou turned to Assassin and asked, "If what you're saying is true, why set such an outrageous trap? Who did it?"

He was a little angry; "using the Holy Grail to do evil" had already crossed Shirou's bottom line.

"This was not the original purpose of the ritual; it was corrupted by some absurd human-caused disasters."

Kiritsugu Emiya said, "The Holy Grail, which should have been immaculate, has been corrupted and cursed."

"Is this the Third Holy Grail War?" Shirou asked rhetorically.

Kiritsugu Emiya paused for a moment, then nodded.

This boy is indeed very perceptive... he thought to himself.

Shirou continued his analysis: "So the purpose of your summoning here is to prevent the Greater Grail from appearing."

Because once the Holy Grail is fully revealed, something powerful enough to destroy the world will descend—

And you believe the simplest way to prevent this is to destroy the Lesser Grail.

"That's right," Kiritsugu Emiya nodded solemnly.

"Alright... I understand that this Holy Grail War will ultimately be a waste of time and there will be no winner."

Perhaps what you're saying is true, but I will not allow you to kill Irisviel.

Kiritsugu Emiya seemed to have known from the beginning that Shirou would say this: "Even if she doesn't kill the homunculus, she will die when the Holy Grail War ends."

Shirou rolled his eyes: "You think I don't know?"

"!"

Kiritsugu Emiya looked surprised.

Shirou lowered his gaze slightly: "Irisviel's design lifespan was originally intended to last until the end of the Fourth Holy Grail War."

A few days later, after she absorbs the souls of six Servants, she will completely lose her biological functions.

Even if we take a step back and assume the Holy Grail War is forcibly interrupted, Irisviel would only have one or two more months to live at most.

To ensure his victory, Einzbern underwent an incredible magical transformation on her.

Unimaginable magical circuits were implanted within her body—at the cost of her lifespan.

"Now that you know..."

Shirou said with a serious expression, "Even if Irisviel only has a few days left to live, I will make sure she lives to the very end—"

This is my covenant with Irisviel, and also my promise to Saber.

In the end, Shirou never found what he wanted.

Despite having no desires, he once decided to help Irisviel and Saber obtain the Holy Grail.

On one hand, their obtaining the Holy Grail wouldn't have any negative consequences; more importantly—

Shirou was touched by the trust and tacit understanding between the two women.

Irisviel and Saber are just like me and Morgan... Shirou really projected himself into that image.

"Old man, I advise you to give up the idea of ​​killing Irisviel."

"Of course, if you insist on doing that, then try killing me first, if you can."

As Shirou said this, an unwavering and earnest look appeared in his amber eyes.

"Hmm... I guessed you would say that."