Iori's Faction Strikes First

Artoria silently watched Mordred vanish without saying a word.

Though Mordred's words had moved her somewhat, they still could not shake her resolve to return to the past and choose a king anew.

After a brief moment of sorrow, Kairi Sisigou stepped forward and told them everything he knew. Without lingering any longer, he turned and left the Einzbern House grounds.

Emiya Shirou and the others had no intention of stopping him and simply let him go.

The group returned to the castle's living room, where the maids had already prepared tea and set it on the table.

The three sat on the sofa and discussed the information they had obtained from Kairi Sisigou.

"Shirou, let me ask you one more time. Do you really not intend to withdraw from the Holy Grail War?" Illya lifted her teacup and took a sip. "Without Command Spells to support you, you can't even have Saber release her Noble Phantasm."

Emiya Shirou fell silent for a moment, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the rim of his teacup.

"If I withdraw, then what will happen to you and Saber? That golden bastard definitely won't spare either of you." He stared intently into Illya's eyes.

Illya smiled awkwardly and avoided Emiya Shirou's gaze. "It's fine. Berserker will protect me."

"I won't withdraw. I'm going to protect you." Emiya Shirou looked at Illya.

Artoria beside him also looked at her and spoke. Yet those eyes seemed not to be looking at Illya, but at the shadow of someone she saw through her.

"Me too. This time, I will definitely keep you safe."

Both answers were entirely within Illya's expectations. One was a hopelessly kind man and her father's adopted son; the other had been her father's Servant in the previous Holy Grail War, who had promised to