The sky gradually darkened, and the room filled with a peaceful stillness.
Bathed in the soft light, Illya lay quietly on the bed, looking utterly exhausted.
Illya curled her petite body slightly, like a tired kitten pressed close to the mattress.
Her silver hair, falling to her waist, spread over the pillow. Her gentle breaths brushed against the stillness of the room.
Illya's eyes were half-closed, her long lashes fluttering softly like butterfly wings.
The air seemed to grow heavier along with her condition. The strain, pressure, and exhaustion she had endured showed on her face.
Concern furrowed Illya's brow, as though she were thinking about how to face tomorrow.
Though she was exhausted, Illya was at least still conscious.
It was obvious that the room was in Kaoru Sakura's home.
But this probably wasn't Kaoru Sakura's bedroom.
The bedroom Illya was in was plain in its layout, but spotless, with everything arranged neatly.
Dragging her tired body, Illya slowly sat up and leaned against the headboard.
Just as Illya had guessed, she was now inside the Fish Fresh House.
Perhaps hearing Illya stir, Sasuke slowly pushed open the door and asked expressionlessly:
"When will Kaoru wake up?"
Illya glanced at the clock hanging in the room and replied in a weak voice:
"She should wake up in about an hour."
"Don't worry. Kaoru will be fine."
"I would never hurt her..."
Sasuke's deep, dark eyes showed not a trace of emotion as he gazed indifferently at Illya, sitting on the bed.
"Indeed."
"Otherwise, I wouldn't have let you live this long."
"Next question."
"That guy in the forest today said you're a vessel for the Holy Grail. What does that mean?"
The guy Sasuke meant was, of course, Gilgamesh.
Illya fell silent for a moment. It wasn't that she didn't want to tell him; she was trying to figure out how to explain it to Sasuke.
Fortunately, it wasn't difficult.
Illya lowered her head, her pale hand clutching the blanket over her:
"Originally, I would have told the last remaining Master in the Holy Grail War the whole truth."
"But it seems there's no need for that now."
"The so-called Holy Grail War is a battle to summon seven Heroic Spirits and kill one another for the right to possess the Holy Grail."
"But those are only the rules on the surface."
"In truth, Masters are merely tools for bringing Servants into this world. The only things needed to complete the Holy Grail are the Heroic Spirits."
"Their souls are collected by the Holy Grail prepared by the Einzbern Family and used to power the Greater Grail's core."
"The Greater Grail is a magic circle built on land managed by the Tohsaka Family. It oversees the Holy Grail War system."
"It all began three hundred years ago."
"The Einzbern Family, the Makiri, and the Tohsaka."
"These three families wanted to use the Holy Grail's power to travel beyond this world. That was their true goal."
"The Einzbern Family's lost mystery was a grand ritual capable of granting true immortality."
"Heaven's Feel."
"Magic that can materialize souls."
"As for the Holy Grail vessel, that's me."
"More precisely, my heart."
"A magus is someone with Magic Circuits, but you could say I was made out of Magic Circuits."
"A living sacrifice for the Holy Grail..."
Sasuke's expression didn't change at all. He looked at Illya and continued questioning her:
"Then why did the Holy Grail become a tool for killing?"
Illya's expression turned grave. She knew this story well.
Illya took a deep breath to ease her exhaustion, then continued:
"Avenger."
"The eighth class of the Holy Grail War."
"That's the one Golden Sparkle said was his true self, washed away by the flood."
"Angra Mainyu."
"This is a story that took place in a village where the people followed Zoroastrianism."
"The villagers wondered: could all of humanity be freed from evil thoughts and live kindly and honestly?"
"So they chose a young man and wanted him to bear all the sins of the world."
"And prove that everyone else was good."
"And so, a hero was born."
"An unnamed man whom the people hated as evil, yet worshipped as a god."
"This was the Avenger, Angra Mainyu."
"During the Third Holy Grail War, the Einzbern Family summoned Angra Mainyu as a Servant."
"But that Heroic Spirit was very weak."
"Angra Mainyu lost soon after the battle began and was absorbed by the Holy Grail."
Illya's voice grew heavy as she continued:
"At that moment, the Holy Grail granted a wish."
"Angra Mainyu was born from the people's wish for him to be 'pure evil.'"
"And that wish was finally realized inside the Holy Grail, giving form to his desire."
"All the World's Evils."
"An individual capable of cursing all of humanity."
"That is the Holy Grail's true nature."
"The last time, the Holy Grail was destroyed."
"Because of that, Angra Mainyu never came into the world and remained inside the Greater Grail."
"Someone bore a part of it, like that golden, glittering guy."
To Sasuke, this wasn't particularly hard to understand. He said:
"So the Holy Grail can only bring destruction now?"
Illya couldn't say for sure, since Angra Mainyu had never successfully appeared in the world, but it would undoubtedly cause a catastrophe.
"And from what you've said, that golden guy might still not be gone?"
Though Sasuke had defeated Gilgamesh and even erased his body from this world, Gilgamesh's physical manifestation had ultimately originated from within Fuyuki's Greater Grail.
Having seen many strange techniques in the Ninja World, Sasuke naturally had his doubts.
Illya didn't know how to answer that either.
But it wasn't impossible.
Seeing that Illya wasn't sure either, Sasuke couldn't be bothered to dwell on it.
After all, in his mind, no matter how many times Gilgamesh appeared, he could never be Sasuke's match.
Looking at Illya's exhausted face, Sasuke asked:
"So what's happening to you now?"
Illya knew what Sasuke meant and answered:
"I absorb the souls of defeated Servants, and my body gradually loses its functions."
"If another Servant is defeated, I might fall into a deep sleep until this Holy Grail War ends."
Illya looked up at Sasuke.
"If possible, before I pass out, I'd like to spend a little more time with Kaoru..."
Sasuke looked at Illya indifferently.
"Fine."
"Kaoru's in her room. You can go see her."
Illya didn't know what to say. Once again, silence fell over the room.
Illya used all her strength to get out of bed, staggering as she walked.
But in the end, she made it to Kaoru Sakura's room.
Alone in the room, Sasuke's phone chimed with a text message.
The sender was...
Shirou Emiya.
Before you continue