Irisviel / A Talk

The details of the subsequent bounty will be provided in a separate chapter...

Chapter 85. Irisviel

In the cool morning air, Emiya Kiritsugu had already appeared in front of an abandoned house in Miyama Town.

As an old building that has been built for over several decades, it has not undergone any repairs or renovations. There are even earthen warehouses built in the previous era remaining in the courtyard.

This was the place he had bought as a reserve base for Irisviel. Considering that Einzbern Castle outside the city had also been attacked by the enemy, buying this hidden location was definitely not a meaningless decision.

"Kiritsugu..."

The moment Kiritsugu stepped into the courtyard, a figure as agile as a black cat appeared before him.

"... Are you here to visit Madam?"

Kiritsugu nodded silently, Maiya lowered her head and whispered.

"Her current state seems to be..."

"I know, I understand."

Regardless of what Kiritsugu was determined to see Irisviel in person, and he was already mentally prepared for it.

Having realized this, Maiya said nothing more and stepped aside to make way.

Arriving at the tatami room where Irisviel was, Emiya Kiritsugu gently pulled open the wooden sliding door. He immediately saw Saber standing guard beside Irisviel.

Although he had a very bad impression of his Master, even to the point of being terrible, it did not affect his concern for the flawless, pure white princess in front of him.

If Servant could choose their Master, Saber would definitely choose Irisviel over Emiya Kiritsugu.

But this is just a hypothetical scenario...

Seeing Kiritsugu enter, Saber nodded to him before getting up and leaving the small room, leaving the couple alone.

After Saber left, Kiritsugu quietly approached Irisviel's bedside. Gazing at his peacefully sleeping wife, Kiritsugu suddenly recalled his past memories.

--Memories of my first encounter with Irisviel:

"Patriarch, is this the Holy Grail?"

Emiya Kiritsugu, employed by the Einzbern family, was taken by Chief Ahad to the deepest part of the Einzbern Family's workshop where he lay in slumber. Looking at the silver-haired beauty in the amniotic trough, the surprise in his eyes was self-evident.

"Yes, it's a vessel created by connecting the form of Servant to the mortal world and collecting the souls of Heroic Spirit as offerings to summon the Greater Grail. This is one of our finest creations in recent years!"

The old man's smug expression spoke volumes.

"Why give it such a beautiful appearance when it's just a vessel for the Holy Grail —a device with only a few years of lifespan?"

I think I was feeling this kind of disbelief at the time, as I knocked on the glass of the amniotic trough:

"Oh, can you hear me? Can you hear me?"

"OK..."

The pure white princess suddenly opened her eyes while she was sleeping. Looking through the amniotic fluid floating in front of her, she saw a deep crimson gaze that completely seduced Kiritsugu, a feeling he still couldn't forget.

Now, it's almost exactly the same as it was then.

"Kiritsugu-- "

The sleeping wife seemed to sense her husband's arrival. Irisviel opened her eyes and looked at Kiritsugu with tender love in her eyes.

She reached out to touch Kiritsugu's cheek, but even such a simple action was incredibly difficult for Irisviel in her current state. Her outstretched hand fell limply before it could even touch her lover.

The falling arm was caught by a rough hand. Emiya Kiritsugu held Irisviel's hand as if it were the most precious treasure in the world, gently stroking it against his cheek.

"I'm here... I'm here..."

Feeling her lover's cold, powerless fingers, Irisviel's hard, indifferent exterior crumbled before her.

Irisviel, existing as the vessel for the Holy Grail, exists solely to reclaim the souls of defeated Servant in the Holy Grail War, thus paving the way for the creation of the Third Magic, the Heaven's Feel. Currently, she has only reclaimed the souls of Servant and Berserker; Irisviel's human functions are already beginning to shut down...

Once all the Heroic Spirit's souls have been recovered, her human form and functions will disappear, and she will revert to her Holy Grail form.

Regardless of victory or defeat, Emiya Kiritsugu will inevitably lose his wife. But having already known this, he can only watch helplessly as it unfolds.

"I... feel very happy..."

Perhaps understanding her husband's thoughts, Irisviel gently stroked the man's cheek and whispered.

"To have fallen in love with you... to have married you... to have a husband, a daughter, over the years... you have given me everything I wanted... I have no regrets, I have everything in this world, all the happiness..."

"... I'm sorry, there are so many promises I haven't kept."

I once said I would take you away from that castle where it's winter all year round, to see the Azaka blooming outside, to see the ocean shimmering with light.

I promised you that I would take you out to see all of this sooner or later.

Looking back now, it was such an irresponsible agreement.

"No, it's already very good. Hmm."

Irisviel didn't complain about the vows that couldn't be fulfilled, and smiled slightly.

"Give all the happiness I never experienced... the rest of it, to Illya, your daughter—my most important Illya."

Kiritsugu finally understood why Irisviel could still smile so bravely even though she was on the verge of destruction.

"You must bring that child with you."

A mother who places her hopes on her child has no fear.

That's why she smiled and faced her demise without fear.

"Let that child see all that I've never seen before... Let her see the cherry blossoms in spring, the white clouds in summer..."

"I see."

Kiritsugu nodded.

This is a meaningless act for a machine that only knows how to seize the Holy Grail; yet another completely pointless agreement.

Even so, as a human being, I would still nod.

But after obtaining the Holy Grail and fulfilling its long-cherished wish of saving the world... will the machine, having completed its mission, transform back into a human?

When that time comes, he will surely remember his promise to his wife. Then, he will fulfill his duties as a father and cherish his children dearly.

That's something for the near future; it will be realized in just a few days.

Upon hearing her husband's reply, Irisviel smiled genuinely; it was a heartfelt smile, not merely a gesture of reassurance.

As a special doll created by the Einzbern Family, she is a being beyond humanity. Even with only a short lifespan, she can serve as a vessel for the Holy Grail, granting wishes to the man she loves and bringing him salvation.

Her life was no less fulfilling than that of any other human woman, and she felt genuinely happy and proud of it.

"Kiritsugu..."

At that moment, Maiya Hisau's voice came from outside the door, and before Kiritsugu could answer, he heard:

"We've received news from Caster..."

(The wife will always be the Kiritsugu!)

Chapter 86. Discussion

When Irisviel opened her eyes again, the first thing she saw was the crimson sunset that shone through the wooden sliding doors, bathing the entire Japanese-style room in its red glow.

Because of the loss of consciousness, it was as if the entire day had vanished, and I had been trapped in a deep sleep. Now, this gradually collapsing body is less like sleep and more like it has entered a state of suspended animation.

However, the current situation is not bad; it seems that resting for so long has had some positive effects.

Irisviel, struggling to sit up, looked around.

Kiritsugu was no longer in the Kiritsugu room; instead, Maiya Hisau sat motionless against the corner of the wall. Although her eyes were closed as if she were taking a nap, her tense body showed no sign of fatigue or lethargy.

"Maiya..."

A weak voice escaped her lips, and upon hearing Irisviel's call Maiya Hisau, like a hound on a command, immediately opened her eyes and looked in Irisviel's direction.

Looking into Maiya Hisau's gaze, which was as sharp as a blade, Irisviel said with a hint of awe:

"I'd like to ask what the current time is...?"

5:45 PM

Having ascertained that the person she was protecting was not in any pain or discomfort, Maiya Hisau's nerves relaxed slightly. She glanced down at the time displayed on her wristwatch and replied.

It's almost time...

With this in mind, Irisviel, who already felt a bit disgusted with sleep, wanted to find something to kill the time before the negotiations with Caster's side began.

Her gaze suddenly fell on Maiya Hisau, who had been following Kiritsugu for even longer than she had. Irisviel felt both awe and curiosity towards this woman.

"Maiya, why are you fighting for Kiritsugu?"

Ultimately, curiosity overcame fear, Irisviel asked the question that had been lingering in her mind for a long time.

"Because besides that, I have nothing."

After figuring out what the lady of the house truly wanted to say, Maiya calmed her nerves slightly, thought for a moment, and then answered.

"I know nothing about my own memories, not even the name Maiya Hisau, which Kiritsugu gave me to forge my passport."

"Why?"

Irisviel, who was born and raised in an extremely cold region, never imagined that Maiya Hisau would have such a tragic experience.

"I'm... sorry!"

Coming to her senses, Irisviel realized how rude her behavior had been to Maiya.

"Madam, please don't worry about it."

Maiya shook her head. This so-called "harm" had absolutely no effect on her, as she had long since completely abandoned emotions.

To reassure Irisviel, she slightly curved the corners of her mouth into a smile, the most "gentle" expression she could muster.

"So... Maiya, what are you planning to do after Kiritsugu achieves his ideals?"

Although she received a "don't mind" reply from Maiya, Irisviel still felt a little ashamed and wanted to end the awkward atmosphere as soon as possible. To appear friendly, she completely omitted the honorific title for Maiya.

Maiya showed no displeasure at Irisviel's abrupt change of topic. However, when faced with this new question, her usually expressionless face revealed a look of confusion for the first time.

"I never imagined I'd live to see that day. If I did survive, there would be no point in me living. In the world Kiritsugu changed, there probably isn't such a place anymore."

In a world without war, someone like me who knows nothing but fighting would surely have no place to belong.

This was a perfectly reasonable conclusion for Maiya.

No, it won't happen.

The words that came out without any thought made Maiya's expression even more confused:

"Why are you so sure, Madam...? Even I myself don't know this..."

"Because, for Kiritsugu..."

Irisviel smiled as she looked into the bewildered eyes of the female warrior and said, "Maiya, you are important too."

"An important... existence?"

Muttering Irisviel's words to herself, Maiya Hisau's gaze became confused once again. As Kiritsugu's [weapon], she had never thought, perhaps never even dared to hope, that she would leave the slightest mark on Kiritsugu's heart.

Now, Irisviel's words caused Maiya's frozen heart to waver slightly.

"Although Kiritsugu won't say it out loud, he would be even more heartbroken if Maiya really wasn't by his side."

"Sad..."

"Furthermore, Kiritsugu's ideal world must be a world suitable for everyone to live in. Such a world would definitely have a place for Maiya- san. Otherwise, Kiritsugu will have no one to take care of him in the future~"