The Einzbern Family's Tragic Wish

Upon entering the castle and seeing the rows of long legs, Li Mo couldn't help but be taken aback. He stopped and looked at the maid closest to him, asking, "Where are your Einzbern people?"

The guests have arrived, and the hosts haven't even made an appearance?

As the maid Li Mo had grabbed was about to speak, a gentle voice suddenly came from the front, "You all may withdraw. I will attend to our guests."

This voice... sounds a little familiar!

Li Mo turned around and, as expected, his guess was correct. It was the wife of the magus killer, Kiritsugu Emiya, the mother of the adorable Illya, Irisviel von Einzbern.

Red eyes, white hair, a gentle voice, and a cute face. Li Mo suddenly felt that Kiritsugu Emiya was actually getting a good deal?

However, regarding the return of Avalon, Irisviel probably couldn't make the decision herself, right?

So, Li Mo turned around and looked directly at Irisviel, saying neither subserviently nor arrogantly, "I have heard much about you, Mrs. Irisviel. However, the item I am returning is far too important, and I would prefer to meet with the head of the Einzbern family."

After hearing Li Mo's words, even with Irisviel's gentle nature, she was momentarily stunned. I've heard much about you? What kind of nonsense is that? Does this person know me?

Could my identity have been leaked?

Irisviel's expression changed. Li Mo's words suddenly made her think of the Holy Grail War four years later, when she would be the vessel for the Holy Grail, allowing it to appear in the end.

But soon, Irisviel suppressed her chaotic thoughts and tried her best to appear calm, saying, "The head of the family is inside. Please follow me."

Li Mo nodded. Although he didn't know why Irisviel had spaced out just now, his business was important. He tugged at Sakuragi's coat, and the two followed Irisviel into a large hall.

"Welcome to my Einzbern home. May I ask what you are returning, esteemed guest?" As soon as they entered the hall, a powerful voice boomed from the front, drawing Li Mo and Sakuragi's attention.

Upon seeing the person who spoke, Sakuragi's expression remained calm, but Li Mo's face turned extremely ugly. Magic power surged around him, billowing his long coat.

The head of the family, whom Irisviel had mentioned, was also an homunculus! Although hidden well, Li Mo saw it immediately!

He had mentioned Brishisan from the start, and now, it wasn't just his own reputation on the line!

With a dark expression, Li Mo almost gritted his teeth as he spoke word by word, "You bring an homunculus to meet me? Is this how you Einzberns treat your guests!"

In the world of magi, being slapped in the face was a surefire way to make enemies!

As Li Mo unleashed his anger, Sakuragi beside him was completely bewildered. He glanced at the figure in the hall, then back at Li Mo, and thought, Alright, I didn't notice it...

However, the person who had spoken from the front turned around with a smile, their eyes seeming to reminisce about something, and said, "People... there are no longer any Einzberns. As you can see, Einzbern Castle is now inhabited only by us homunculi."

Li Mo and Sakuragi both froze. The Einzbern family... is gone?

Seemingly unable to comprehend, Li Mo looked at the person in front of him and asked, "I recall your patriarch being named Ahad. Where is he?"

"Ahahahahaha..." The person in the hall burst into laughter, looking at Li Mo with sharp eyes and saying, "I am Ahad. An homunculus. There have been no Einzberns for a long time!"

It turned out that the current Einzbern Castle was actually a workshop established at the beginning of the Common Era by the disciples of the Third Magus to recreate the Third Magic. Later, however, they were unable to recreate the Third Magic and could only place their hopes on doll-making technology, hoping to create individuals identical to the Third Magus. This was why the Einzbern family's homunculus technology was so advanced.

Of course, they succeeded. After nine hundred years of exploration, a magus in Einzbern Castle accidentally created an homunculus capable of recreating the "materialization of the soul," known as the Winter Saintess, Justicia Lieselotte von Einzbern. However, this success was always accidental and had nothing to do with their nine hundred years of effort. All they could do was continuously manufacture homunculi of the Winter Saintess, hoping to find a method for success, until they discovered Justicia's drawbacks.

Yes, although Justicia could recreate the Third Magic, the cost was extremely high. And although she did not age, her body was extremely frail, and she couldn't even leave Einzbern Castle!

The Third Magus's final wish was to save all of humanity, and his disciples, who inherited his magic, naturally shared the same goal. But when they discovered that Justicia could not be replicated, let alone surpassed, they collapsed. Some left the castle, while others chose self-destruction. After that, all that remained of the Einzberns were the Justicia they left behind and the homunculi made from Justicia.

After Ahad's explanation, Li Mo was filled with disbelief, his voice trembling as he looked at him, "So, after those magi left, it was you homunculi who have been operating this castle all along, and the so-called Einzbern family has always been just you!"

From the disciples of the Third Magus to this group of homunculi, what was it that sustained them?

Ahad fell silent. After a long pause, he finally replied to Li Mo, "That's right. Although we do age, the homunculus technology left by those magi has been passed down. We've been relying on that to maintain our current numbers."

Li Mo gave a bitter smile. Heh, the final wish to save all of humanity. Does humanity truly need saving? Can anyone truly achieve this?

No, it seems someone really did achieve it!

Li Mo suddenly remembered Ritsuka Fujimaru from the Fate Grand Order worldline, that last Master of humanity. Everything he did seemed to fulfill that very purpose.

But it's a shame that in the end, he was only granted the rank of Opening by the Mage Association?

Seeing Li Mo fall silent, Ahad couldn't help but ask him, "Aren't you curious why I am the current head of the family? Where did the ageless Winter Saintess, Justicia, go?"

As for Sakuragi? He had been following behind Li Mo and was long ignored by him...

Li Mo's lips twitched, and he shook his head, saying, "It was you and the other two of the Three Great Families who constructed the Holy Grail system, wasn't it? I probably know more about this than you do."

The Holy Grail has long been corrupted, yet you continue. Of course, I know more!

Hearing Li Mo's words, Ahad showed a moment of surprise. However, he didn't directly ask but instead inquired about Li Mo's purpose for coming.

"Then, about the item you mentioned you were commissioned to return, can you take it out now?"