Chapter 371

"What are you planning to do by sealing everything away? Do you want me to live as an ordinary child? If that's the case, it's not so bad, but why Ilya? Why can't I keep the memories that were originally mine?"

In your eyes, it might just be a matter of sealed memories, but my existence is within those sealed memories. After being sealed, I can no longer have family, home, friends—these things that are taken for granted. This is the existence that is called 'I'."

"..."

Irisviel fell silent. Rather than saying she didn't want to speak, it was more that she couldn't refute it, because ten years ago she probably never imagined that an independent consciousness would emerge from the 'sealed past'.

"You didn't say anything at all, Mom. Ivia He said he wanted to see you, and I have indeed had that thought, but it's really unnecessary."

Chloe lowered her head and changed her address from 'Mrs. Irisviel' to 'Mom'.

"Since I already know that the Einzbern no longer exists, the Holy Grail War will no longer occur. Therefore, it can be said that 'Chloe' of the Einzbern Family has nowhere to go."

Chloe wasn't actually sad or panicked; she felt only calm, as if the matter wasn't worth worrying about.

The Einzbern is gone, so what? She is no longer Ilya, but a completely new being named Chloe.

"Now that I see it this way, I can integrate well into my new family, Mrs. Irisviel."

"I am no longer Ilya, but --"

Chloe.

The Pink-Haired Girl's youthful face seemed to be uttering words that signified a complete severing of ties with the Einzbern from this day forward.

This reminded Irisviel of his reply that night when she had told Ivia, "I entrust that child to you": "It doesn't matter whether she is 'Ilya' or not, it's all the same. The Three Paths Are Forever Severed Here, and all in this world will attain the same Dharmakaya."

After much research, Irisviel discovered that the Buddhism terminology in the latter half of the passage meant that "all afflictions will be eliminated in the future, and the eternal truth will be revealed." As for the "Dharmakaya" in the latter part, it is one of the Three Bodies in Buddhism. The Dharmakaya is something that people inherently possess and does not require cultivation. As long as one is enlightened, one will see the origin.

The Buddhism the Three Bodies: the Nirmanakaya, the Dharmakaya Body, and the Embracing Dharmakaya. The Dharma Body is the essence, the Reward Body is the form, and the Transformation Body is the function. One becomes three, and three are one; thus, the Three Bodies are one.

When all sentient beings attain Buddhahood, the Three Bodies are completed simultaneously, without any distinction of order or sequence. The Buddhism concept of "all sentient beings attaining Buddhahood" refers to Maitreya's Dragon Flower Three Assemblies Dharma’s End Period, where Maitreya himself is liberated while simultaneously liberating all sentient beings.

Of course, Irisviel didn't think much of it. She simply assumed that Ivia, who seemed to be Buddhist, was using classical allusions to indicate that he wouldn't abandon Ilya and Chloe. This interpretation made Irisviel wonder if Ivia was making some kind of harem-related secret statement.

Regardless, Irisviel smiled at Chloe at that moment.

It's understandable that my child is heartbroken by my actions and doesn't want to acknowledge me, and it's only natural that they resent me. I don't expect them to be forgiven at all, even though I have no intention or ability to make up for the debt I owe them over the years. But even so, they are still my child.

However, children will eventually become independent and will inevitably venture into a world unknown to their parents.

So, if this is what the child desires, then as an incompetent mother, all I can do is watch her go, hoping she can at least find some happiness.

Therefore--

Even so, Chloe von Einzbern Einzbern always welcome him.

"You've finally come back, Kuro, why don't you stay here for the night?"

After dinner, Chloe, who was planning to leave with Ivia, overheard him saying this at the door.

"Eh..."

Chloe didn't know what to say in response, a heavy feeling settled over her, as if she were about to be abandoned...

Perhaps sensing Chloe's thoughts, Ivia then said this.

"Don't worry, it's just for one night, that's all, nothing more. We can tick it."

Ivia stretched out her hand and raised her little finger.

Chloe and Ivia hooked their little fingers together. They gripped each other's little fingers tightly. In that instant, both Ivia and Chloe wore serious expressions, especially Chloe, who tightly closed her lips and unconsciously tightened her grip; after releasing their little fingers, they smiled at each other without realizing it.

The girl's face radiated trust in him.

Just then, Ilya's weak cough came from the other side of the wall.

"Cough cough cough..."

"It must be the voice of Magical Girl on TV."

"... Really?"

"There's no mistake, it must be."

Unlike Ivia, Chloe became increasingly excited as she spoke. Only after Ivia left did she walk into the Hall with her hands on her hips and meet the gaze of Ilya, who looked gloomy and hesitant. Perhaps due to Chloe's true identity and the conversation they had just had, Ilya felt both displeased and uneasy.

"Has the Magical Girl not grown up yet?"

"Kuro!"

This provocation reignited the sisterly rivalry.

In the dead of night, Chloe suddenly woke up in bed for some unknown reason.

Although it seemed to her that the rattling of the glass window from the wind and the constant whispering of the wind outside had woken her up, Chloe still felt that she must not have been sleeping comfortably there.

However, as she prepared to lie down again, she discovered that Ilya was gone from the bed, leaving only herself and Irisviel.

So Chloe got up again and went to the rooftop outside the room, where, as she expected, Ilya was indeed standing.

"What are you doing, looking at the stars so romantically? This is so unlike you!"

"No, it's just that I can't sleep."

Ilya sighed, "I still can't believe it, that you and Kuro have this kind of relationship."

"Yes, now that you mention it, that's true..."

Chloe was about to say something when her gaze was drawn to what was below, and she gasped softly, "Huh? What happened to Number One and the others...?"

"Hmm, those people seemed to be the ones who went to the school to find your maid Kuro, around noon, right?"

What came into view of the two people having their conversation late at night was a group of petite girls dressed in European-style maid outfits and with Big-Eared Ones on their heads walking out of the Great Gate of the Edelfelt House across the street. At the same time, they were also holding a red-haired woman who was in a coma and tied up. They looked like some kind of evil force.

In fact, while Ilya, Chloe, and Irisviel were talking, Bazett was sent by another force in the Clock Tower to retrieve the Class Card, had already attacked the Edelfelt House. With his powerful strength, he overpowered Luvia, Rin Tohsaka, and her butler, and even Miyu was using the Sapphire, was almost defeated.

The reason I didn't have time to inform Ilya was that, besides the fact that Bazett had used the Edelfelt House's Bounded Field against them, a group of maids suddenly rushed into the courtyard and confronted Bazett.

At first, Bazett thought they were experimental subjects of beast-transformation Magecraft, kept at great expense by the Edelfelt House. However, she quickly realized she was wrong, because these maids were actually the Daikokutens who had come under Ivia's orders.

In particular, their 'Mouse Pure Land' is not a particularly powerful attack, but simply a trap to defeat the opponent with a swarm of rats. Therefore, it is not very convenient to use the Fragarach or similar techniques. In short, they are confused by all kinds of traps that appear anytime and anywhere, and then Daikokutens.

Then, Ilya and Chloe, who couldn't sleep at night, happened to see it.

At that moment, the Daikokutens also noticed the two people's gaze, and they all bowed respectfully towards the second floor.

Good evening, madam.

"... Hmm? Madam? Isn't this the maid from the Ivia family—"

Completely puzzled, Ilya glanced at Chloe beside her and noticed a subtle expression on her face.

She immediately guessed who the lady was referring to, and Ilya felt as if the sky had fallen for the umpteenth time.

"Aaaaaah! Kuro, just how far have you gone?!"

"Of course it's that level."

Despite saying this, Chloe quickly turned and left, prompting Ilya, gritting her teeth, to chase after her into the room.

However, for Chloe, the moment she entered the room, she seemed to see something flicker slightly at the Great Gate of Edelfelt. To put it metaphorically, it was like a star in the Galaxy shedding a tear—a tiny glimmer of light. But she thought it must be an illusion.

The next instant, Miyu, wielding the power of Sapphire, slowly emerged from behind the Daikokutens at the Edelfelt House Great Gate. Before the Daikokutens arrived, she had learned from Luvia was fighting Bazett, and Rin Tohsaka about something that 'shouldn't exist'—

The Eighth Class Card.

Because there was absolutely no eighth Servant in that Holy Grail War.

To be honest, Miyu herself didn't know why she was following these maids out. She had no idea what she was doing, and that was all she did. She just came out like that without saying a word.

Thump, thump.

Suddenly, Miyu felt as if she could hear the faint pulsation of her own heartbeat.

Thump, thump.

I thought I would never hear that voice again, a voice I'd heard long ago.

--This is a gift for my 'Galaxy'.

At the same time, the Black-Haired Girl vaguely heard words coming from within her own heart.

"If you don't expect a miracle, your wish won't come true. What should you do then?"

Miyu didn't answer immediately, and in fact, she didn't have Answer yet. Then a voice sounded, whether it was Miyu's own reply or a warning from within her, it was unclear.

"Give up."

Chapter 404 Because, five years ago, you left.

The world is filled with the sound of cicadas every day, as if they have all blended into the air.

"Let's go buy a swimsuit."

Chloe, speaking to Ivia, was visibly excited.

Although a lot has happened during this time, Summer Vacation has finally arrived, so Chloe is very concerned about the 'must-do summer activities,' since the sea is the first thing that comes to mind when talking about summer, which is normal.

"Number One and the others can do it for you, you just need to tell them, right?"

"It's different now."

Since Chloe is considered Ilya's companion, her Birthday is also July 20th. She probably wanted to Birthday at the beach with Ivia, which is why she asked to go buy swimsuits together. Otherwise, all she had to do was say that the Daikokutens would Perfection create 'swimsuits' according to her wishes.

By now, the Small Park where the two were located was almost the same size as Edelfelt House. After all, the Daikokutens were quite efficient, and as for proof of money and land acquisition, it wasn't a big deal for them, who had existed for so many years.

"Kuro, it's almost my first Birthday, so let's go shopping together, brother."

"You'd be better off asking Ilya about this, or Number One or Number Two."

That's true, but if you don't come with me to choose...

Chloe pouted at this point, "What if I think it's too revealing, or that there's too little fabric, and I keep nitpicking?"

"I don't think the swimsuits sold to children in shopping malls are 'revealing' as you describe."

"I don't care."

Chloe shook her finger. "Anyway, you can choose for me, brother."

So Chloe and Ivia went out and came to a store in a large shopping mall in Fuyuki, which was displaying many swimsuits because summer was approaching.

However, after the two left, Daikokuten Number One picked up a phone and dialed:

"Little Number Eighteen, is the shop on the beach finished? Master and Madam are leaving soon, remember to make it quiet. Also, besides the restaurant, there's a hotel and... what? Someone's competing with us? They need to build something there too? Wait, that name sounds familiar, Edelfelt? Isn't that the house Master wanted us to visit before...?"

This was a coincidence, because after Luce told Luvia that there was Eighth Class Card, Luvia, after confirming that it was true, planned to buy the plot of land on the beach and find it without anyone noticing. However, because it was buried too deep, she had to spend time digging it out, which caused a conflict with the Daikokutens were planning Ivia and Chloe's beach trip.

"It looks like we need to go to the Edelfelt House and meet with the head of the family to discuss this. After all, we were the ones who saved her and defeated Bazett."

Number One muttered to himself.

While it's not impossible to use force directly, that's the behavior of a wild beast.

Indeed, before they accepted their master's teachings and reformed, they were merely creatures concerned only with satisfying their hunger and striving to reproduce. But now, they are beings enlightened by noble people, no longer just wild beasts that steal food.

After a moment's thought, Number One, who was about to go and discuss the matter with her, opened the door and bumped right into Luce, who had hesitated for a long time before finally coming back to ask Ivia not to be a 'Buddha'.

"Wow, such big rats, and so many of them..."

The Bible mentions rats occasionally, but mostly in a negative way. On the one hand, it says they are unclean and should not be touched; on the other hand, it says they will damage things. Even the golden rats that the Philistines used as compensation were proposed because they suspected that the plague was related to rats.

In 1 Samuel 6:4, the Philistines asked, "What shall we offer as an atonement gift?"

They said, "Offer five golden hemorrhoids and five golden rats, according to the number of Philistine leaders, for all of you and the leaders are suffering the same Calamity."

Naturally, Luce felt somewhat uncomfortable with the Daikokutens, whose true form was a rat. Of course, she also felt that since they could exist peacefully here, it meant they were recognized by her father. If anyone was at fault, it must be Buddhism, which was trying to make her current father a Buddha.

"You..."

Number One could naturally tell that the Blue-Haired Girl, whose aura was very similar to Ivia's, had seen through their true forms. However, she also noticed that this aura was different from Chloe's. Rather than being a mistress, she seemed more like a true young lady, a descendant of the master.

"Welcome, young lady."

So the Daikokutens were meeting for the first time.

"I can sense a connection between the lovely young lady and the master. Especially in terms of her aura, it's particularly wonderful."

"Miss! You've come at the perfect time! We've just finished cooking rice and will start preparing the dishes now. Is there anything you need? Would you like a massage?"

"As expected of the master, even his daughter is so adorable!"