"Then can you take out the item you intended to return now?"
Seemingly unwilling to continue the discussion, Ahad spoke bluntly.
However, Li Mo rejected the suggestion and said, "Please wait a moment, Patriarch Ahad. I have one more question and hope to receive an answer from you."
Yes, after casually glancing at Sakuragi, Li Mo suddenly recalled a rather serious issue.
Which Type-Moon timeline was the world he currently inhabited?
During the Third Holy Grail War, the timeline differed depending on the Servant chosen by the Einzbern family. If they had chosen the Ruler class back then, it meant the Holy Grail had not been corrupted. While the Three Great Families were still weak, members of the Thousandth Tree Clan had seized the entire Greater Grail System and transported it to Romania. That timeline would become Fate/Apocrypha.
But if the Einzbern family had chosen Avenger, it meant that although the Greater Grail had already been corrupted, it was still beneath Fuyuki. The current timeline would then be the Fate/stay night Li Mo knew best.
And that was something he truly needed to verify with the patriarch before him.
Otherwise, if Ahad saw that Li Mo had brought out Avalon, it would already be a good outcome if he merely changed expression and left. They might even start fighting on the spot. Who would Li Mo ask for confirmation then?
He had no intention of eagerly running all the way to Fuyuki, only to awkwardly discover that there was no Holy Grail at all...
Clearing his throat, Li Mo asked solemnly, "During the Third Holy Grail War, what class was the Servant summoned by the Einzbern family? Would Patriarch Ahad be willing to tell me?"
That was all? Ahad fell into thought, unsure whether he should answer Li Mo's question.
Beside him, Sakuragi stared at Li Mo in astonishment. His gaze was extremely complicated, as though saying, "Why do you have so much pointless crap to say? Aren't we here to return something?" Li Mo noticed it.
The hell kind of look is that!
Li Mo cursed inwardly. I'm doing this for your sake, you know? Otherwise, you won't even know how you die in the future.
"Avenger." After weighing it for a moment, Ahad decided to answer. Though he had no wish to continue talking with Li Mo.
Perhaps it was a fine quality passed down among magi. Although Ahad's aged face continually creased into a frown, he showed no impatience. Instead, he continued politely, "Guest of the Clock Tower, the Einzbern family now wishes only to continue surviving. Apart from participating in the Holy Grail Ceremony, we will not have any conflicts with the outside world. I also hope you will bring this message back to the Clock Tower."
The implication was clear: take out the item already and go back to the Clock Tower!
Yet Li Mo was not annoyed. Instead, he felt relieved. Avenger—if it was Avenger, that meant the next Holy Grail War would be in Fuyuki. He would not have to face the combined assault of seven Servants!
The previous Holy Grail Wars in Fuyuki had been manageable. The Heroic Spirits summoned were all minor figures; the strongest was no more than Golden Pikka. But if it was the Holy Grail War in Romania, how many easy opponents would there be...
Demigod hero Achilles, Charon, who had taught numerous demigod heroes, and Garna, son of the Sun God—how the hell was he supposed to fight that?
This was the real world! Where would he find a Berserker Nanako who could destroy a planet with one Noble Phantasm? Where would he find an Avenger Ishtar who could end the world with a single skill?!
You might not understand what it would mean for those Heroic Spirits to appear in a Holy Grail War.
We usually used only two words to describe Heroic Spirits like that: fucking awesome!
I often say this: back when Emiya Shirou could casually pull the King of Knights, that was nothing. But if I, Li Mo, casually find a Holy Relic and summon some absurdly overpowered Heroic Spirits, would I even need to fight a Holy Grail War?
I'll set up an ambush. This outstanding disciple of the Clock Tower will act as bait and let Tokiomi Tohsaka jump around for a while first. He's dead for sure.
Then I'll hit that Mage Priest with a soul-searching interrogation and quietly make a fortune. He wants the Greater Grail too? No problem—he can't beat me. First, I reinforce my tongue, project the Holy Grail in one second, and it'll even be an incredibly awesome corrupted Holy Grail. Then Mana Burst will prepare the spell immediately. This genius will wipe out every Master—but I can't use that.
Be a scheming bastard, a Master who knows all the intel. Just let Kiritsugu slaughter everyone else first.
Give Kayneth a hat. Hurry up, Kayneth! Kayneth, don't you want your wife anymore? Hurry up, Kayneth! Stop dawdling, Kayneth.
Let Kayneth get eliminated first. Wait, wrong target. Kayneth seemed to be one of us.
Apologize to Kayneth, all right? Kayneth, I'll take that hat off for you.
After taking that hat off for you, Kayneth! Begin your magecraft show! Tilt left, tilt left. Beautiful!
What the hell is Gilgamesh anyway? Have you seen Avenger Rin? Have you seen Berserker Nanako?! If you can beat Berserker Nanako today, I! Will! Eat! This Greater Grail on the spot!
And what the hell are Heroic Spirits? I, Li Mo! If I didn't have the strength to defeat ordinary Heroic Spirits, I'd be too embarrassed to participate in any Holy Grail War!
Although Berserker Nanako could end the Holy Grail War with one Noble Phantasm, I won't! I want to enjoy the face-changing magic of Golden Pikka, one of your laughable bunch!
Now that's a magus—aside from needing to be careful not to get instantly killed by a Heroic Spirit while summoning one!
Li Mo grinned foolishly, unable to pull himself free from his fantasy of slaughtering everyone. Avalon appeared directly in his hand, and he offered it to Ahad. "This is the item I came to return. Forgive me, but I cannot reveal my client's name."
"Avalon... Irisviel!!!"
Just as expected, Ahad's expression changed and he shouted. Countless identical-looking homunculi began streaming into the hall through the exit.
Ahad's face darkened. He narrowed his eyes at Li Mo, then ordered Irisviel, who had entered and stood nearby, "Go to the basement and see whether Avalon is still there."
The item had been missing for so long, and the Einzbern family had not even noticed? Li Mo clutched his stomach, nearly laughing himself sick while holding the Sword Sheath.
Were homunculi ultimately still just homunculi? Aside from Irisviel and the adorable Illya who came later, throughout all these years, perhaps only that Winter Saintess had possessed a soul. The other homunculi merely acted according to preprogrammed routines?
Holding his head, Li Mo tried his best not to look so gleeful as he said, "There's no need to get so worked up, Patriarch Ahad. Look, haven't I brought the item back to you now?"
But Ahad did not appreciate Li Mo's goodwill. He raised his right hand, and every homunculus in the hall lifted a weapon toward Li Mo and Sakuragi.
"The honor of the Einzbern family shall not be violated. Outstanding disciple of the Clock Tower, tell me the name of the client who had you return the Sword Sheath!"
Before you continue