Chapter Thirteen: The New Gatekeeper of Ryūdō Temple / Chapter Fourteen: On the Importance of the Luck Attribute

Yes! Yes! Yes!

The army loudly echoed the King of Conquerors' words, their earthshaking cries ringing in everyone's ears.

Yuxian watched quietly, understanding that this was the charismatic force of King of Conquerors Iskandar's personality.

You could admire his great achievements or despise his atrocities, but you could never ignore his existence.

The King of Conquerors drew the Scepter of Ciprus and pointed ahead. His army closely followed in his footsteps, charging bravely in the direction he indicated and crushing Hundred Faced Hassan.

With Hassan, that uninvited guest, disrupting the banquet, everyone lost interest and hastily dispersed.

Section 13 Chapter 13: Ryuudou Temple's New Gatekeeper

The Holy Grail War continued.

Kiritsugu made the first move against Kayneth.

Perhaps it was fate's mockery, or perhaps the Lancer's luck truly was only E-ranked, but Diarmuid still failed to escape the fate of being forced to commit suicide.

The warrior who had desperately wished to offer up his loyalty let out a curse of despair when Kayneth used a Command Spell to make him kill himself.

Artoria was deeply dissatisfied with Kiritsugu's actions. She felt that her chivalry had been insulted.

Kiritsugu did not care in the slightest. Victory was all he wanted, and he would use any means necessary to achieve it.

The next day.

Yuxian found Irisviel. With three Servants gone, her body, as the Lesser Grail, could no longer endure the immense magical energy and had become extremely weak.

Fortunately, Artoria's sheath, Avalon, was inside her body, barely allowing her to remain conscious.

Seeing Irisviel lying within the magic circle, Yuxian asked Kiritsugu, "You want to save everyone, yet you cannot even save the person you love most. Is it worth it?"

"Win the Grail and save the world. I merely used the most appropriate method."

There was not a trace of personal emotion in Kiritsugu's words. He was someone who would stop at nothing for his goal.

"That is why the people around you left you one by one. Shirley, Natalia, and now Irisviel. Illyasviel will be next."

Yuxian's words were sharp. He did not agree with Kiritsugu. Pursuing justice through evil means—how ridiculous, how tragic.

"You cannot even save those beside you, yet you dream of saving the world. Kiritsugu Emiya, in the end, you will gain nothing and be left only with endless sorrow."

Kiritsugu said calmly, "I will use the Grail to end this unending chain, so that the blood shed in Fuyuki City will be the last blood humanity ever sheds."

Hearing his answer, Yuxian shook his head inwardly. Kiritsugu was not someone he could persuade, so he stopped trying and said instead:

"The Greater Grail is within the Great Chasm beneath Ryuudou Temple on Mount Enzou. Take Irisviel there."

Kiritsugu was somewhat surprised that Yuxian had told him the location of the Greater Grail. It was not strange for the Three Founding Families to know where it was, and he did not believe Yuxian would deceive him with such meaningless information, so he accepted the decision.

If Irisviel was moved into the Great Chasm, then even if they ultimately could not stop the Black Mud within the Greater Grail from overflowing, they could at least ensure that Fuyuki City would not be destroyed by fire.

Mount Enzou, Great Chasm.

Irisviel wanted to pass Avalon to Kiritsugu, but Yuxian stopped her. "This is your final hope of survival. Compared to Kiritsugu, you need it more."

After saying that, he looked at Kiritsugu. He wanted to see what choice this man would make at this moment.

"Iri, I will win this war in the end." With that, Kiritsugu turned and left without lingering for even a moment.

"He loves you deeply."

"I know."

Yuxian said, "Then do not give up so easily. I will try to help you."

"Why?" Irisviel asked.

"For Illya," Yuxian answered.

Irisviel gently shook her head. "I am not her mother."

"I mean your daughter in Germany, Illyasviel," Yuxian corrected her. "Get some rest. We will stand guard outside in case anyone attacks."

Ryuudou Temple's mountain gate.

Yuxian sat on the steps, looking down at the long staircase.

Mash asked, "Senpai, is it enough for us to guard this place?"

"Yeah. They will definitely come."

This was the only route to Ryuudou Temple. The temple had a protective barrier, so Servants could not enter from anywhere else. This staircase was the only way in.

Mash sat down beside Yuxian on the steps. "I have always known that Senpai is a very kind person. That is why so many Heroic Spirits in Chaldea, despite their different personalities, are willing to follow Senpai's command."

"Maybe." Yuxian replied faintly. He had only commanded them in battle in a game; he had never truly met those Heroic Spirits with such varied personalities.

"Senpai wants to save Miss Irisviel, even though she herself has already given up." Mash spoke gently. "Whether it is Mr. Emiya or Illya, we all know that Senpai is a reliable Master. We all believe in Senpai."

"Thank you, Mash."

Mash gently shook her head, indicating that Yuxian did not need to be so polite, and said from the bottom of her heart, "Mash is very happy to be able to fight alongside Senpai."

Mash's thoughtfulness moved Yuxian deeply. What had happened over these past few days had been more intense than all his previous days combined.

"Yo, Master, are you guarding the gate?" Emiya appeared before Yuxian, carrying a lunch box.

"And me, and me! I came to visit Master too!" Illya jumped out from behind Emiya and said impatiently.

Mash immediately stood up. "Mr. Emiya and Illya are here."

"I brought you food so you would not go hungry." Emiya lifted the lunch box in front of him, explaining why he had come.

"Thank you, Mr. Emiya." Mash took the lunch box and said to Yuxian, "Senpai, it is time to eat."

Yuxian nodded to Emiya, then asked Illya, "Have you eaten?"

"We have! We ate at home before coming over!" Illya hurriedly said. "Master, hurry up and eat."

Yuxian was hungry as well, so he stopped being polite and began eating with Mash.

After they finished and returned the empty lunch box to Emiya, Yuxian looked apologetically at Illya. "Sorry, Illya. I promised I would take you to the amusement park today."

"It is okay. Illya is already an adult, not some little kid who does not understand." Although Illya felt somewhat disappointed, she still pretended not to care.

Yuxian smiled and patted her little head. The sight of a child pretending to be an adult was just too adorable.

Illya was very happy. She loved it most when Master patted her head; it made her feel close to him.

Yuxian continued, "Mash, take Illya inside Ryuudou Temple and play with her for a while."

Mash understood that Yuxian had something to discuss with Emiya and did not want Illya to hear it.

She took Illya's little hand, and the two of them walked into Ryuudou Temple.

After watching the two walk away, Yuxian turned to Emiya and asked, "How are things now?"

"Tokiomi Tohsaka is dead. Kirei Kotomine is now Golden Flash's new Master."

Kirei Kotomine had acted after all? Yuxian understood that Golden Flash had drawn out the Soul of Pleasure within him.

"What else?" Yuxian continued.

"Kariya Matou lost control of his emotions somewhat after learning of Tokiomi Tohsaka's death. I do not know what he might do." Emiya frowned. He realized that trusting Kariya from the start had been a mistake.

Kariya Matou was already a ruined man. He had desperately wanted to kill Tokiomi Tohsaka, but at the moment Tokiomi died, Kariya's life had ended as well.

Yuxian had originally wanted to help him, since he was a pitiful man, but after seeing Kariya's actions, he gave up on that idea.

Kariya's heart had already been consumed by hatred. No one could save him.

Yuxian waved his hand. "Ignore him. What about the other two groups?"

"There is no news from the other two groups."

"Fine. We only need to wait here at ease. Golden Flash will definitely come here. Defeat him, and this Holy Grail War will be over."

Yuxian said no more and sat down on the steps again.

Section 14 Chapter 14: On the Importance of the Luck Stat

Yuxian sat on the steps before Ryuudou Temple's gate, while Emiya stood beside him.

Neither spoke. Each was occupied with his own thoughts.

At that moment, Mash ran out, panting heavily. "Senpai, Illya went to the Great Chasm!"

Yuxian was startled and immediately rose to his feet.

Then he seemed to think of something and sat back down, shaking his head helplessly. "Forget it. Illya is not truly a child who understands nothing. She must have known about Irisviel long ago.

She came all the way to Ryuudou Temple today with a plan already in mind. Let her go."

After saying that, Yuxian laughed happily. "She really is a clever little thing. She managed to hold herself back these past few days without asking us anything. So this was what she had been planning."

Mash said worriedly, "Illya will not be in danger, will she?"

Emiya spoke up. "Do not worry. She has been in Chaldea for so long. She is not some sheltered child."

"Yeah, she is a Magical Girl after all." Yuxian nodded. Although he hoped Illya could stay away from these conflicts, if it was her own decision, he would not forcefully stop her. He would choose to respect her.

Within the Great Chasm.

Without any light, it was extremely dim. The somewhat damp environment made the air in the cave feel slightly thick and unpleasant.

Illya moved slowly and carefully through the darkness, following each step cautiously and not daring to quicken her pace.

She could not clearly see the inside of the cave. Everything around her was pitch-black, and she could see only a few steps ahead.

Surrounded by darkness in an unfamiliar place, she was a little scared, her whole body tense.

Illya held the Ruby Wand in her little hand to bolster her courage, deciding that if there was the slightest disturbance, she would throw Ruby at it.

"Who..." Hearing footsteps, Irisviel weakly asked.

"Ah!" The sudden voice startled Illya.

But the familiar voice immediately made her lower her guard, and even her body relaxed.

She identified the direction of the voice and quickened her pace forward, her previous caution vanishing entirely.

Illya came before Irisviel and saw her lying in the center of a magic circle. She asked with a face full of concern, "Are you hurt?"

"Illya..." Hearing Illya's childish voice, Irisviel knew that it was the little girl who shared her daughter's name.

She struggled to raise her hand, stretching it out with what little strength she had left, wanting to touch Illya.

Illya hurriedly grasped her trembling hand with both of hers, leaned closer, and moved in front of Irisviel's eyes.

"You look exactly like my mother, but you speak more like a proper young lady."

Irisviel finally saw Illya's face clearly. She stared blankly for a moment, longing appearing on her face. "Yes, my daughter is also named Illya. Like you, she is a lovely child. She is eight this year..."

"Then I am older than her. I am eleven this year and already in fifth grade." Illya puffed out her chest and said happily.

"I wish she could grow up as happily as you have." Irisviel's face was full of worry.

"Um... where is little sister Illya now?" Illya felt a little awkward, yet she was also very curious about the younger girl who shared her name.

"She is in Germany..."

"That is so far away!" Illya was somewhat disappointed. She had originally thought it would be nice if they could meet.

"Yes, very, very far away..." Irisviel murmured. So far away that she would never see her daughter again.

Irisviel came back to herself and hurriedly said to Illya, "You need to leave here quickly."

Illya shook her head. She had gone through so much trouble to fool Master and come here. There was no way she would leave just like that.

Cough! Cough!

Seeing that she refused to leave, Irisviel grew anxious, worried that the battle that might soon occur would affect Illya.

In her anxiety, she choked on her breath and began coughing continuously.

"Ah, are you okay?" Illya panicked, not knowing what to do.