Interfere

Kiritsugu Emiya was somewhat speechless when he heard Mo Li's words. He had already explicitly stated that the other party was Diarmuid, which gave them a tremendous advantage over those who did not know both sides' identities. And yet Mo Li was still talking about avoiding taking sides?

Watching the two fight on the battlefield, Artoria was injured when Armor of Red Rose pierced her armor. Mo Li suddenly said, "Kiritsugu, Illya is very light, isn't she? Lighter than even your weapons."

Kiritsugu Emiya was jolted. "How do you know that?!"

Mo Li looked somewhat melancholy. "I don't need to guess, nor do I need to monitor you. Just thinking about it tells me that, as the descendant of you and Irisviel, she couldn't possibly be normal. Actually, you should have brought Illya along this time. I could have saved her, but unfortunately, you didn't bring her. That means more work for the future."

Even Kiritsugu Emiya's hand holding the gun began to tremble involuntarily. "You... what did you say? More work in the future?"

Mo Li turned around and spoke to Kiritsugu Emiya in a complicated tone. "Do you think the Einzbern Family—a family that dared to summon Angra Mainyu in order to win the Holy Grail War—would really have enough conscience not to lay hands on Illya and modify her?"

Kiritsugu Emiya's pupils constricted, and veins instantly bulged on his forehead. "They... those bastards! They're going to lay hands on Illya?!"

"This outcome shouldn't come as a surprise, should it, Kiritsugu Emiya? Do you think you will definitely win and make a wish upon the Holy Grail, and that because you win, the Einzbern Family will leave Illya alone? If that is truly what you think, then I can only say you are being a little naive. It is already known that something has gone wrong with the Holy Grail War. I will maintain the Grail system, but with no certainty that I can cleanse the contamination and restore the Third Magic Heaven's Feel, what sort of safeguard do you think the Einzbern Family will put in place?"

As he said this, Mo Li looked toward Irisviel. Such a beautiful woman, yet her fate was tragically short.

Kiritsugu Emiya looked over as well. An answer surfaced in his mind, one that made even a man as nearly cold-blooded as him feel terror once more. "They'll turn Illya into someone like Irisviel?!"

"That's right. Why couldn't there be another Lesser Grail, Illya, after the Lesser Grail Irisviel? They could abandon this contaminated Holy Grail and prepare for the next Holy Grail War. Do you think they wouldn't do it?"

"Damn it, damn it, damn it! Those bastards! Why would this happen?!"

Kiritsugu Emiya was furious and horrified, yet he did not deny Mo Li's speculation. In his eyes, the Einzbern Family truly was capable of doing such a thing.

Mo Li sighed. "Everything was already destined from the moment they summoned Angra Mainyu. The Einzbern Family, greedy for the Third Magic Heaven's Feel's power as a wish-granting machine, was bound to pay for its recklessness and mistakes."

Mo Li said meaningfully, "But... Kiritsugu, when do you think Illya was modified?"

Kiritsugu Emiya's whole body trembled.

Realizing that something was seriously wrong with Kiritsugu Emiya, Maiya had no choice but to speak up and try to bring him back to his senses. "Kiritsugu, stay calm."

Yet this time, the ever-rational Kiritsugu Emiya did not respond to Maiya. Instead, he stared at Mo Li with bloodshot eyes. "What do you mean? Could it be that Illya has already..."

"Ever since she was still in Irisviel's womb, the head of the Einzbern Family had already begun modifying her."

Mo Li delivered the words lightly, effortlessly severing the last thread of Kiritsugu Emiya's reason.

"Ah!!!"

No fourth person heard Kiritsugu Emiya's anguished howl. Mo Li had set up a barrier to isolate the area before they arrived; after all, he had no desire for outsiders to know what he and Kiritsugu Emiya were discussing.

Having no interest whatsoever in watching a man weep, Mo Li looked toward the field. Artoria had just changed into another set of equipment to improve her agility and was charging at Diarmuid with sword in hand.

Seeing that Artoria had indeed taken the bait, Diarmuid immediately revealed his hidden killing move. The seemingly dangerous long spear, Armor of Red Rose, was merely bait on the surface. During their previous exchanges, he had mostly used spear techniques with the red spear.

Yet the weapon truly capable of securing victory was the other, shorter yellow spear. Yellow Rose of Mortality inflicted wounds that could not be healed. Unless the Yellow Rose was broken or Diarmuid died, no amount of recovery could restore the wound beyond its initial state. No matter where it struck, it would be an effective result!

At that moment, both sides believed victory was assured. Each was certain that they would be the one to catch the other off guard and emerge victorious.

The two were about to clash again, just as the victor was about to be decided.

Whoosh~

Clang~

The Heavenly Halberd wedged itself between their weapons. At that moment, both Diarmuid and Artoria stared at it in extreme shock, electric arcs still crackling off its surface.

Mo Li drifted lightly down from the sky, landing on the butt of the Heavenly Halberd. He said to the two of them, "All right, apologies for interrupting your fight, but could I ask Lancer to move aside a little? One of my subordinates is quite eager to speak with Saber."

"Who are you? A Servant?" Diarmuid leapt backward several times, opening up some distance before staring at the Heavenly Halberd and Mo Li in confusion. "You don't look like a Lancer. What class are you?"

Artoria also had no intention of striking Mo Li from behind while his back was turned, so she retreated as well. "Unknown strong one, who are you?"

"I'm a Master." As Mo Li spoke, he jumped down from the Heavenly Halberd, pulled it free, and rested it on his shoulder.

At that moment, both Heroic Spirits on the field and the spectators were plunged into shock.

"A Master?!" Many people cried out in disbelief at once.

"Ah, how should I put this... little Saber, one of my subordinates really wants to meet you." Mo Li turned to Artoria and smiled. As a Land God from the Qin Dynasty era, calling Artoria little sister was not inappropriate at all.

Artoria could barely keep herself composed. "L-Little sister?!"

Mo Li was somewhat speechless. "Compared to someone wanting to see you, do you care more about what I called you?"

Artoria looked embarrassed. "Uh, my apologies. Who wants to see me?"

Mo Li pointed to the side. "Berserker. I won't tell you his identity just yet."

Everyone looked in the direction Mo Li pointed. Berserker Lancelot appeared, clad in black armor with intense black mist pouring from his body like a 3D special effect.

The moment he appeared, just as Mo Li had expected, Lancelot immediately began acting insane, roaring in a voice distorted almost to breaking, "ARTHUR!!!"

"?" Artoria, who had not recognized Lancelot's voice at all, said, "Who are you?"

"AR! THUR!" Lancelot raised the excessively heavy Arondight and slashed at her. In that instant, Mo Li flashed to Irisviel's side.

After blocking Lancelot's heavy blow, Artoria's expression changed when she saw this. "Iris!"

But she had no time to rescue Irisviel. Berserker Lancelot's relentless assault left her struggling to cope.

Mo Li rested the Heavenly Halberd on his shoulder and said, "Don't worry, I'm a friend. Irisviel, did you bring the item from the Einzbern Family? I'm the one who sent you the letter. My name is Mo Li."

Irisviel relaxed after hearing that. "I brought it. It has already been delivered to the Tohsaka Estate."

"Good. This is for you—a portable barrier artifact, in case anything unexpected happens. I don't want anyone to die in this Holy Grail War. That includes you." Mo Li took out a protective talisman and gave it to Irisviel.

At that, Irisviel accepted the charm with a kind smile. "Thank you for your kindness."

Irisviel knew her own fate. In her eyes, there was no way she could survive; all she could do was accept Mo Li's goodwill.

Yet, as though he knew what she was thinking, Mo Li said, "Don't worry. I keep my word. You'll be fine, Lady Irisviel. I'll correct the Einzbern Family's mistake."

Irisviel stared at Mo Li in shock. Could he know?

In the field, Diarmuid watched Lancelot and Artoria trade blows, his hands itching to join in. But the honor of chivalry prevented him from taking advantage of the moment to gang up on either of them.

However, the situation in the field displeased Kayneth. Though Mo Li's circumstances had indeed surprised him, he had not forgotten that he had come here to win, to display his greatness, and to please his wife Sola. Thus, he complained to Diarmuid, "What are you standing around for, you fool? At such a crucial moment, you're doing nothing!"

Hearing Kayneth's complaint, Diarmuid could only respond helplessly. "My deepest apologies, my lord, but it would be inappropriate for me to intervene in the current situation. Those two Heroic Spirits seem to know each other. Speaking of which, does the name Arthur bring anything to mind, my lord?"

"Hmph..." Seeing that Diarmuid was unwilling to intervene, Kayneth had wanted to rebuke him further. But upon hearing the Lancer's question, he instinctively began to think. "Arthur, a sword-type weapon, and enough courage to fight you on equal terms... I do have a guess, but it shouldn't be possible. She doesn't match the historical legends. At the very least, she shouldn't be a woman."

"Oh? May I ask what it is, my lord?"

Kayneth stated with certainty, "That newly arrived Heroic Spirit shouted 'Arthur' twice. He looks like a Berserker, so we must account for distorted pronunciation. Correcting it gives us Arthur. And the sword-type weapon she has consistently refused to reveal suggests that the moment it appears, her identity will be exposed. If she truly is a woman, then I believe her name is likely Artoria, the King of Knights of Britain!"

Artoria, who was still exchanging blows with Lancelot, was startled. She had not expected to be exposed so quickly.

Diarmuid suddenly understood. "So it is the King of Knights of Britain—Artoria, the King of Knights. Now we're even. Your side uncovered our True Name first; now I know who you are as well!"

"Damn it!" Artoria gritted her teeth and sent Lancelot flying with a slash. Retreating several steps, she shouted at Mo Li, "Are you an enemy or an ally?"

Mo Li smiled somewhat sheepishly. "Of course I'm an ally. But my Heroic Spirit is a Berserker—getting him to calm down isn't easy."