Illya's Invitation

A moderate rain began to fall in the evening.

The sky was lowered by a blanket of dark clouds, causing night to descend all the more rapidly.

As the downpour intensified, many shops along the street prepared to pack up and close early.

Sasuke, who had spent a busy day at Fish Fresh House, was no exception; he hung up the "Closed" sign and headed up to check the rooftop drainage system.

Because Fish Fresh House was an old building that hadn't been renovated in years, it was prone to various malfunctions. Although Sasuke had made many improvements since arriving, minor issues still cropped up from time to time.

There was no helping it; such were the trifles of daily life.

Clad in a black raincoat, Sasuke stooped to inspect the rooftop drains. Finding nothing serious, he prepared to head back downstairs.

However, someone was watching him from afar.

The observer's presence was exposed quite deliberately, as if done on purpose.

Sasuke followed his instincts and looked toward the night sky, where Illya stood on the rooftop of a nearby high-rise apartment, looking down at him.

Sasuke was not surprised. After a quick scan of the surroundings revealed nothing unusual, he immediately used the Shadow Clone Technique.

The white mist generated by the Shadow Clone was instantly washed away by the rain.

The clone of Sasuke leaped into the air, the rain lashing against his raincoat as he moved at high speed.

Utilizing the rooftops of the surrounding residential buildings, Sasuke quickly reached the roof where Illya stood.

Illya was still staring at the Sasuke on the roof of Fish Fresh House.

In reality, the true Sasuke had already been called downstairs by Kaoru Sakura, who was asking him what he wanted for dinner.

"So, is this the method you used when you suddenly disappeared last night?"

Faced with Illya's question, Sasuke did not deny it.

He had no intention of hiding the Shadow Clone Technique.

There was no need to.

In this world, aside from himself, no one should be able to understand the principles behind it.

Furthermore, the more people who knew about it, the safer Fish Fresh House would be.

After all, they could never be certain just how many such versions of Sasuke existed.

"If I recall correctly, nighttime is when you Masters and Servants fight. Why call me here?"

Illya walked slowly to the balcony railing, extending her fair, small hand to catch the rain while gazing into the distance.

"As a magus, aren't you curious about that omnipotent wish-granting machine?"

As she spoke, Illya's expression was indifferent, as if she were troubled by something.

However, because Illya had her back to him, Sasuke could not see her face clearly.

The so-called omnipotent wish-granting machine referred to the Holy Grail.

It was the prize for the victor of the Holy Grail War—the object contested by seven pairs of magi and Heroic Spirits, possessing the power to grant any wish immediately.

That, at least, was the surface-level truth, and most uninformed magi believed it to be so.

Although Sasuke had learned some information about the Holy Grail through Rin Tohsaka, he had no interest in the thing.

If it were the version of himself from the past, driven by obsession, he might have fought tooth and nail for it.

But now, this so-called omnipotent wish-granting machine couldn't pique his interest in the slightest.

Moreover, whether it was granting a wish or obtaining power, there was always a corresponding price to pay.

There was no such thing as a free lunch; obtaining this so-called omnipotent wish-granting machine might not necessarily be a good thing.

Sasuke responded to Illya with an expressionless face:

"I have no interest in such things, and I don't need it right now."

"But since you can ask such a question, it seems you are very interested in it?"

Faced with Sasuke's counter-question, Illya fell silent. After a long while, she whispered:

"Not interested at all..."

Illya's answer was unexpected, but Sasuke couldn't be bothered to ask further; after all, the magi of this world were all strange.

Sasuke walked over to Illya's side, leaning his back against the iron railing, and asked calmly:

"So, you brought me here just to ask these things?"

Illya smiled faintly:

"Yes and no."

"There seems to be something very interesting happening on Caster's side. Would you like to go and take a look with me?"

The railing was rusted, and under the impact of the rain, it emitted a pungent smell of iron.

Sasuke turned around and, like Illya, gazed at the rain-swept shopping street with a calm expression:

"I said, I have no interest in the fighting between you people."

"If there is nothing else, I am heading back."

Hearing this, Illya did not look at Sasuke. Instead, she twirled a lock of silver hair hanging by her ear, smiling slightly.

"But if I happen to die tonight, I might not be able to see Kaoru tomorrow."

"It would be such a pity if I couldn't eat the delicious food Kaoru makes for me just because I died."

"If..."

Just as Illya was about to continue playing on this theme, Sasuke cut her off, his tone calm:

"Shut up."

"Stop using Kaoru as an excuse."

With a Berserker like that, it would be quite difficult for Illya to actually die.

However, Illya had already gained some understanding of what kind of person Sasuke was, so she was quite adept at prescribing the right medicine, and the effect was remarkably obvious.

"Anyway, since there's another you protecting Kaoru at Fish Fresh House, it wouldn't hurt for the you here to go see something interesting with me, would it?"

Today was perhaps the most exasperating day of Sasuke's life. Looking at Illya, who was smiling at him with her eyes closed, he couldn't be bothered to say anything more.

Adhering to the philosophy that silence implies consent, Illya struck while the iron was hot:

"But before we go find Caster, why don't you accompany me for a walk somewhere else first?"

"After all, there is still plenty of time left tonight, isn't there?"

Seeing that Sasuke still did not speak, Illya skipped along, splashing through the water.

As water droplets sprayed in all directions, Illya reached the center of the rooftop and smiled faintly:

"Sasuke, I hope you can keep up."

"Berserker."

No sooner had Illya finished speaking than the Berserker, who had been in spirit form, instantly manifested on the rooftop!

In an instant, the surrounding rain was scattered by the sudden appearance of Berserker!

The next moment, Berserker carefully lifted Illya with his massive palm.

After Berserker bent his knees slightly, accompanied by a thunderous boom as he left the ground, Illya and Berserker shot toward the sky!

The tremendous noise produced by Berserker sounded like thunder, fitting perfectly into the rainy night.

As for Sasuke, his figure flashed and vanished from the rooftop as well.

By the time Sasuke and Illya appeared again, they were on a deserted road.

Because this area was located on high ground, one could see almost the entire view of Fuyuki City from here.

With the heavy rain and the late hour, it was impossible for anyone else to be on the road.

Yet, not far away on this pedestrian path, a blonde young man holding a black umbrella was walking toward them.