What If You Changed Saviors

The question was whether that strange teleportation method was Berserker—Morgan's great magic, or Xi Jianxi's own.

If it was the former, it was easy to understand. If it was the latter, it meant Xi Jianxi couldn't be judged by the logic of ordinary Magus.

"Kiritsugu..." Irisviel clasped her husband's hand.

She knew the hidden worries in her husband's heart.

Having met Xi Jianxi once, she was even more certain that the possibility of winning the Holy Grail War was decreasing.

Unlike her husband, who possessed strict and lofty ideals, Xi Jianxi had no such unattainable dreams. That young man was the type to firmly grasp every bit of happiness around him with his own hands.

Winning the Holy Grail War wasn't important. Surviving and returning to their children was more important.

Anyone who saw him would understand. Irisviel knew this.

Those who weren't fixated on victory were harder to defeat.

"I won't let you fight alone," she told her husband gently. "I will protect you, and Saber will protect you. And also... Miss Maiya."

She had to admit who the woman Kiritsugu needed most right now.

Only one person could help his heart regain its past strength, regaining that sternness that could seal away all pain and fear. It was something Irisviel absolutely couldn't do.

If there was anything she could do, it was to at least hold Kiritsugu and comfort him. But—Irisviel couldn't help but sincerely pray.

It didn't matter if she couldn't help him; she hoped heaven would grant her a little more time to comfort Kiritsugu like this, even if it was just for another second.

—As she made such earnest wishes, her desires turned into illusory bubbles.

A sudden palpitation in her chest made Irisviel tense up. The forest barrier magic she had only recently mastered was pulsing strongly within her magic circuits.

This was an alarm.

"—Did they come this quickly?" Kiritsugu's whisper was unexpectedly calm. He knew the situation just by seeing Irisviel's expression change and had already entered a state of combat readiness, both mentally and physically.

"Do you want to send a message?"

"Yes, Maiya and I will evade, leaving the fighting here to you and Saber," Kiritsugu said. "It's a good opportunity for me to see his skills."

"Okay."

Irisviel picked up the obsidian stone and went to the main hall. She channeled her magic into it, and the stone turned to dust, dissipating in her hand.

The wind suddenly gusted through the enclosed hall, and black crows emerged from the void.

After they dispersed, Xi Jianxi and his Servant, Morgan, appeared.

It's just...

"Why did you bring... the children?" Irisviel was stunned.

"No one can guarantee that Kayneth won't try to sneak into my house and take the two children hostage while Morgan and I are away," Xi Jianxi explained simply. "Do you have guest rooms? I'd like the children to rest first."

"...Yes!"

Irisviel, snapping back to reality, could only hastily deal with this unexpected situation.

After settling the two children in the guest rooms, Irisviel activated the foresight crystal ball, projecting the image of the intruder captured by the barrier onto the crystal ball.

The strange black robes danced, and the red patterns on them seemed to be saturated with blood, appearing and disappearing among the trees and foliage.

"That's Caster," Xi Jianxi narrowed his eyes, his expression turning grim.

This was because Caster, Gilles de Rais, was not alone. He was also accompanied by over a dozen young children, the oldest appearing to be just about Sakura's age.

"Einzbern, can you confirm the enemy's location?" Xi Jianxi asked.

"A little over two kilometers northeast of the castle. They don't seem to be heading deeper into the forest yet," Irisviel explained.

Morgan closed her eyes and sensed for a moment. "It seems they are deliberately avoiding the castle's barrier and stopping in the outer area to lure out the enemy. They're at least not a low-tier Magus Servant."

"If they're luring the enemy, then those children..." Artoria was somewhat angry.

If they rashly activated the mechanisms and traps outside the barrier, it was hard to guarantee that those children wouldn't be harmed.

"Then, as he wishes, let's go meet the enemy, King Arthur," Xi Jianxi said to Artoria.

This was exactly what Saber wanted. Just as she was about to agree, she realized something was wrong.

"Us? You're coming with me?" she asked.

"That's right," Xi Jianxi said with a confident smile.

Artoria looked back at Morgan. "Then... what about big sister?"

"There are children here, so I want to leave the protection task to her," Xi Jianxi said, looking at Irisviel. "If you're uncomfortable sharing a space with another Servant, you can withdraw to another location, Einzbern."

"No, I'll stay here." Irisviel vaguely guessed that Kiritsugu might be targeting these two children.

If Caster were to be successfully dealt with, perhaps...

As a mother, she didn't want children like Illya to be involved in the battlefield, even if it slightly contradicted Kiritsugu's objective.

For now, she would be a hostage.

"I understand. Then Saber, let's go."

Xi Jianxi turned and walked into the corridor, activating his transfer magic.

Chapter Twenty-Six: Battle for Einzbern Forest (1)

Artoria, having experienced spatial transfer magic more than once, was calmer as she observed their current situation.

She had initially thought it was a spell Morgan could cast without incantations, but in reality, it was Xi Jianxi's specialty.

Both Kiritsugu Emiya and Irisviel had analyzed it incorrectly.

"Flowers?"

What's more, during the spatial transfer, Artoria noticed another change.

The form of the transfer magic had changed; previously it was crows, but this time it was petals full of spring's breath.

"Is something wrong?" Xi Jianxi began habitually checking the wound on his shoulder.

Artoria shook her head, "I'm a little surprised. The transfer barrier made of crows before reminded me of the Fisher King from my era."

"The one who was disabled, lived in seclusion in the mountains, and used crows as familiars?" Xi Jianxi understood.

"That's right. His daughter was also the mother of Galahad, one of my Knights of the Round Table," Artoria said, looking somewhat helpless and melancholic.

Galahad's father, Lancelot... and Guinevere, were all people connected to the downfall of the Knights of the Round Table.

Even so, Artoria had never resented any of them.

No one was wrong.

It was precisely because no one was wrong that she wanted to obtain the Holy Grail, to change the reasons that led to such an ending.

"The forms of transfer magic are chosen according to my mood. I thought since I was helping the legendary King Arthur, I'd play the part of Merlin the Mage of Flowers for a bit," Xi Jianxi said.

Artoria gave a wry smile, "Well, at least... you're nothing like Merlin."

"I'm not a succubus," Xi Jianxi said, his smile gradually fading.

During their brief conversation, the spatial transfer magic was completed, and the two were now in a forest more than five kilometers away from Einzbern Castle.

For Caster, their actions were no different than jumping into his trap.

But conversely, the two, who had planned an ambush, could also be said to have successfully lured Caster into their trap.

"Tsk... too late?" Xi Jianxi clicked his tongue coldly, his eyes filled with disgust and anger.

The children he had seen through the crystal ball were all killed.

Even with the fastest transfer, in less than half a minute, they had all become victims caught in this Holy Grail War.

The ground was covered in corpses, emitting the scent of fresh blood, a testament to the fact that these children had been alive just moments before.

"Welcome, Jeanne. As expected, the swiftness of soldiers is paramount."

Caster's face was full of smiles as he greeted Artoria, who had also become enraged and was fully armed, raising her weapon.

He couldn't help but feel proud of the grand feast he had prepared, his smile filled with self-praise. Standing in a sea of blood, his dark robes were stained with the blood of the living sacrifices, making the color appear even more vibrant.

"How do you feel about this tragic scene? It's heartbreaking, isn't it? It makes one very sad, doesn't it? Can you imagine the pain these innocent children tasted before they died? But Jeanne, compared to what I did after losing you, this is hardly a tragedy!"

Caster spoke of the tragic scene with composure, as if recounting his achievements.

"You bastard!"

Xi Jianxi no longer wanted to hear anything Caster had to say. Magic gathered in his palm, ready to unleash a Mana Burst.

If one could remain indifferent in the face of such an event, they would only become numb and cold.

He wanted to kill him with a single blow.

Even if it meant further exposing his trump cards, Xi Jianxi didn't care.

If Sakura or Karen had been among them, he probably would have gone berserk.

The past two years of daily life were not a lie; he truly loved those two children, which was why he was furious at this moment.

"Wait!" Artoria placed her hand on Xi Jianxi's right hand, though she too was incredibly angry.

As if ignoring Xi Jianxi's anger, Caster gazed at Saber with delight, a viscous smile on his face.

"—Oh, Jeanne, your eyes filled with anger are truly beautiful!"

The reason Artoria stopped Xi Jianxi from unleashing his magic to kill Caster was hidden beneath Caster's robes.

It was the last surviving child among those taken hostage.

The child was still held under Caster's arm, sniffling and crying. This deranged Servant was currently using the child as a shield, which was why he had deliberately left one alive.

If Xi Jianxi's magic had been unleashed just now, it would have undoubtedly heavily damaged Caster, but it would have also turned the child into charcoal.

"Let the child go!" Artoria shouted, "Demon!"

Xi Jianxi gritted his teeth, and the magic in his hand changed its gathering form.

"Do you hate me so much? Yes, of course, you hate me. How could you ever forgive me for turning away from God's love! Because you revered God more devoutly than anyone in the past!"

"This war is to select the Heroic Spirit suitable to receive the Holy Grail. If you fight in a way that a Heroic Spirit shouldn't, the Holy Grail will abandon you. Since you've already been resurrected, the Holy Grail is no longer of any use... but if Jeanne, you really want to save this child's life..."

Unexpectedly, Caster released the child, letting him stand on the ground.

"Come, child, be happy. The devout follower of God says she wants to save you, and that Almighty God has finally shown his mercy. However, all your other friends are completely dead."

The child, unable to discern the current situation, could only believe Saber was there to save them. With a loud sob, they ran directly towards Artoria, their small hands clutching the folds of Artoria's skirt armor.

At this moment, Xi Jianxi placed a hand on the child.

"Be good, it's dangerous here, hurry and escape. If you keep running forward, you'll see a large castle. Go there and ask for help."

Watching Artoria gently comfort the frightened child, Caster showed a hint of confusion. "Oh my?"

Saber felt a surge of magic and looked down, only to find the child had lost consciousness.

"What did you do?" she immediately guessed it was the result of Xi Jianxi's action just now.

"To use a child as a sacrifice for magic, that's truly the most evil and unorthodox of all unorthodox methods." Xi Jianxi turned, narrowing his eyes as he mocked Caster. "What bad luck. I am also a Magus. As long as my Rune is still carved onto him, he cannot be sacrificed by any magic."

"Ugh oh oh oh oh! Peasant! Peasant! Peasant!"

Caster let out a shriek sharp enough to tear through the forest mist, cursing Xi Jianxi for ruining his plans.

But it was clear this child wasn't his only sacrifice. The children who had already been killed were also Caster's sacrifices.

Through the flesh and blood of the living sacrifices, over a dozen writhing, dark green Sea Monsters emerged from the children's spilled blood, surrounding Xi Jianxi and Artoria.

Chapter 27: Einzbern Forest Offense and Defense (2)

"It seems I'm not the only one who made thorough preparations to meet you." After roaring and venting, Caster once again showed a dangerous, sinister grin. "You've also brought a Magus capable of blaspheming against the divine by your side."

"Saying such things, Caster, I don't think you're qualified to bathe in the… divine radiance overflowing from the Holy Grail." Xi Jianxi retorted with all the mockery he could muster. "Unlike this 'Joan of Arc'."

He knew, of course, that the Holy Grail of Fuyuki was not the true Holy Grail of the church.

"Hahahaha! The radiance of the divine, I, Gilles de Rais, no longer need it!" Caster produced a thick, bound book from somewhere.

The book's cover was wet and glossy, as if it had been splashed with water. It was made from human skin.

Though it was just a book, it flowed with magic no less potent than a Noble Phantasm.