Shirou, who returned from the Fairy Kingdom

"Alright, alright, that's enough for today. I'm going back now."

"Trying to escape, Rider?"

Shirou's performance encouraged Saber, and she issued a provocation.

"Let's save our final battle for next time... Look, the person you've been waiting for has arrived."

Saber and Irisviel followed Rider's gaze and saw Sera walking towards them, along with the red-haired boy she was holding in her arms.

"Shirou!"

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

Volume 1, Chapter 86: The key to winning the Holy Grail War is harmony within the harem!

The air in the magnificent halls of Eindzbern was thicker and more suffocating than usual this morning.

The long table, like the Chu River and Han Border on a chessboard, divides the two sides.

On one side were Irisviel and Saber, and on the other side were Hassan the Hundred-Faced and Hassan the Lolita, sitting like two armies facing each other.

Apart from the little girl Hassan, who was completely focused on dealing with the desserts and cakes on her plate, the other three women all had tense expressions.

"Could you please explain why you, who should have been eliminated by Saber, are still alive? And moreover..."

Irisviel frowned slightly, crossed her arms, and interrogated the female assassin with an aggressive attitude she would never normally display.

"And you're hanging out with my Shirou? Assassin-san, you must be Tokiomi Tohsaka's Servant!"

After the battle ended last night, the Assassin who appeared in the Einzbern territory did not leave.

She probably realized that she had been seen by the two android maids and there was no need to hide anymore, so she stayed.

Irisviel had already heard about what happened from the witnesses, Sera and Liselle:

While Shirou and Kotomine Risei were fighting, Hassan the Hundred Faces suddenly appeared and attacked the old priest from behind.

After that, he was ordered by Shirou to pursue another Assassin who had infiltrated the forest.

Facing the homunculus's imposing aura and the gaze of the strongest Heroic Spirit beside her, Hassan the Hundred Faces scoffed dismissively.

"Huh? You didn't know? Didn't Shirou explain it to you?"

"If I knew, I wouldn't be asking you now!"

After the battle last night, Shirou fell into a deep sleep.

It must be because of the intense battles of the past few days; it's already 10 a.m. on the second day, and Shirou still shows no signs of waking up.

Irisviel, of course, wouldn't disturb Shirou's rest, so she came to "interrogate" the assassin who appeared in the Einzbern Forest—

　Why is this woman calling Shirou by his first name?

This is clearly a privilege reserved only for me and Saber!

"...Hmm, I see."

Hassan with a provocative smirk curled up: "You don't know anything? Looks like you haven't gained Shirou's trust."

"Varied----"

Irisviel slammed her hand on the table, and Saber quickly tried to calm her down.

"Calm down, Irisviel. They're clearly trying to provoke you on purpose. Don't fall for it."

"........."

After Saber's comment, Irisviel sat back down in her seat.

As she spoke, her lips twitched, "Whether I've gained the child's trust... let's put that aside for now."

How did a suspicious woman like you gain Shirou's trust?

"By the way...did you betray your Master, Kirei Kotomine?"

"There's only one possibility that I'm here," said Bai Mao Hassan.

Upon hearing what she said, Irisviel immediately seized the opportunity to retaliate, covering her mouth with a mischievous grin:

"She actually betrayed her master... Heh, Miss Assassin really has no integrity."

Saber, don't you think so?

"Uh……"

Artoria looked embarrassed.

Irisviel is acting rather strangely today.

Even if the other party's background is suspicious, there's no need to be so aggressive, right?

Saber was unaware that Irisviel actually felt a strong sense of crisis towards Hassan the Hundred-Faced.

Especially when I saw the purple-haired, brown-skinned female assassin gently wiping the cream from the corner of little Hassan's mouth...

This woman! She's totally my character!

I'm all you need for Shirou's motherly type of woman!

And she's a foreign mom just like me!

Are you kidding me! An exotic mom? That's too much of a cheat... *sigh*

Irisviel gritted her teeth and clenched her fists: she was determined to get rid of Shirou no matter what.

Hassan raised an eyebrow: "It's true that I betrayed Kirei Kotomine, and if that's something to be criticized... then what about Shirou? Are you going to criticize him too?"

Irisviel's expression froze: "You mean..."

Hassan, with his hands proudly clasped to his chest, said, "It was Shirou who pursued me, you know, and he said something like that..."

"The moment I first saw Assassin, I knew I had to make her my first ally."

Shirou, you know, sometimes says things that are embarrassing without any shame.

"Gu...!"

This time, not only Irisviel, but Saber also suffered a devastating blow.

"Shirou, did he really say such a thing?"

Assassin glanced at Saber: "If you don't believe me, why don't you ask her yourself?"

Artoria was pale and slumped back in her chair like a deflated balloon.

"Cheer up, Saber!"

Irisviel shook the blonde girl's dejected shoulder: "It's not even confirmed yet, so we've already lost!"

“Enough, Irisviel… that’s enough…”

"This is delicious, thank you for the treat..."

On the other side, after finishing her cake, the little girl Hassan looked up and politely thanked the android maid who was serving her.

Lizzie nodded silently, then looked at the still full teacup beside the little girl.

"Don't you like black tea?"

Loli Hassan frowned: "...It's too bitter."

"I'm sorry, this child is a bit of a picky eater," said Bai Mao Hassan, his face full of apology.

Lizzie was silent for a moment, then said, "I understand. Let me add some sweetened milk."

Upon hearing this, Loli Hassan immediately beamed with joy and took the black tea with milk from the maid.

"Miss Assassin, who exactly is this child...?"

Irisviel frowned as she looked at the little girl happily drinking her milk tea and asked.

Then, Hassan the Hundred-Faced explained to the two of them the origins of the little girl Hassan and her encounter with Shirou.

"How could something like this actually happen..."

Irisviel noticed that Hassan's expression softened as he spoke.

She possessed a gentle gaze that no historically infamous leader of an assassination cult could possibly have.

Irisviel had assumed that Assassin would be a more ruthless and cold-blooded Servant.

But now it seems that she is no different from herself or Saber; she is also a "person" with flesh and blood.

No, perhaps at the very beginning of the Holy Grail War, Assassin wasn't as emotional as he is now.

It must have been her time with Shirou that gradually restored her humanity.

Irisviel finally realized.

"I'm sorry, Assassin, I just accused you of being a frivolous servant who betrayed his master."

Now I understand why you made a contract with Shirou...

You and I were both saved by that child.

Assassin means that's not true.

"I betrayed Kirei Kotomine to pursue my own interests; there was no future under that man."

“Mmm,” Irisviel said happily, “You are willing to betray your original Master in order to repay Shirou’s kindness.”

Bai Mao Hassan frowned: "Hey! Listen to me!"

"Miss Assassin! Shall we get along well from now on?"

"Aha?"

Hassan looked speechless, and Irisviel continued.

"I think you must really hate me and Saber, but that's okay—"

It's okay if you continue to hate me and Saber, because I understand your desire to protect Shirou better than anyone else.

So, in the final days of the Holy Grail War, let's all join hands and support Shirou!

"........."

After a long silence, Assassin nodded with a displeased expression.

"Great!"

Irisviel clapped her hands happily.

Now she understood that the real reason she disliked Assassins was the so-called "like repels like."

This person also puts Shirou first in her heart, which is why she rejects him so vehemently.

Hehe... Shirou, this kid, wasn't deceived by a strange woman; quite the opposite.

Honestly, he's clearly just an 8-year-old kid.

Mom, I must discipline you more strictly from now on, otherwise I don't know how many women will be heartbroken because of you!

"What's so funny?" Baimao Hassan asked curiously.

"No, I was just thinking that Miss Assassin is a woman too."

"That's ridiculous... Of course I'm a woman."

Hassan rebuked her, his cheeks slightly flushed.

Just then, Loli Hassan suddenly looked toward the entrance to the hall.

"Shirou!"

The red-haired youth entered the hall, greeted everyone, and was just about to explain the Assassin situation to Saber and her servants—

"Hehe, that's no longer necessary. Ms. Assassin and I have already reached a mutual understanding, right?"

Irisviel smiled and winked.

"……Why?"

Shirou asked in a daze: What exactly happened while I was away?

……