"You seem a bit down?"
Jiang You, seated in the "audience seats," glanced at Illya beside him. Initially, she had been fascinated by the battle between the Magical Girl and the servant, but she soon fell silent, her expression turning melancholy.
"It's not so much that I'm unhappy, but rather... a little resentful, I guess."
Illya sighed as she watched her crazed self flee.
"A Mystic Code like that...truly worthy of a Magician's tool. It's ridiculously powerful. Back then, to become a proper Master, I underwent so many modifications. And with this thing, I effortlessly obtained strength comparable to a Servant..."
"So you want to try being a Magical Girl too?" Jiang You replied randomly, already knowing the answer.
"How did you even interpret it that way?"
Illya playfully tapped Jiang You's head—a habit she'd picked up from him. When she glanced at him, she found him staring back with a serious expression. Realizing he was just trying to lighten the mood, she blushed and tapped him again.
"I bet you just wanted to see me in those flimsy outfits, didn't you? I saw your eyes following that Illya the whole time. She looked good, right?"
"Honestly? Average." Jiang You deadpanned, uttering words that could get him arrested. To him, it was the truth. He'd seen countless bizarre Magical Girls—even urban night-fighting Magical Boys. Prisma Illya's outfits held no appeal for him; what drew him to her was her girl-next-door personality. And of course, the most important thing: her name was Illya. "I just like Illya, that's all."
"Which Illya are you talking about? If you don't clarify, I won't let you off easy!"
Looks like even I can't afford to let my guard down.
Jiang You nervously sipped his drink—one that all Illyas loved, of course, but something he couldn't admit in front of one of them.
Just then, Miyu completed her Install, the soaring pillar of light drawing both their attention. It was a timely distraction for Jiang You.
Miyu materialized on the spot, clad in crimson Echo Cloth paired with a black midriff-baring top, wielding a massive bow nearly as tall as herself. Her attire was identical to that of Heroic Spirit Emiya—Miyu had actually used a Servant Card to perform an Install!
"Is that even possible?" Jiang You exclaimed, startled. He couldn't help but wonder if these cards could be used so easily.
"What's happening?" Illya asked, her attention having been entirely elsewhere moments before. Jiang You's astonished expression clearly indicated something major had occurred.
"My Cards have gained a new function," Jiang You replied.
He half-expected to find himself transported into some virtual world where Servant Cards could be used for direct physical combat. After all, that's how he usually used them anyway. And this was technically a computer world... maybe.
"So, if Shirou Emiya uses Illya's Card, would he become Magical Girl Shirou Emiya too?"
Jiang You had a rather dangerous thought, realizing that those cringe-worthy images might actually become reality. He then spotted a glaring oversight.
"What if Shirou uses the archer Card to Install? What would be the result?"
"Wouldn't that just be Shirou Emiya himself?"
Jiang You had previously discussed this with Illya. In Miyu's world, Shirou Emiya had won the Holy Grail War by using Archer's Install.
"It's not the same. Heroic Spirit Emiya is Heroic Spirit Emiya, and Shirou Emiya is Shirou Emiya."
Though this sounded as self-evident as saying "if someone is killed, they die," it explained why there were so many different versions of Shirou Emiya.
"Should we try it sometime?"
"...Then I want to try your Cards."
Illya might even shout, "Caster is the strongest!" With Jiang You's current Deck strength, he certainly deserved that title. Now, Jiang You could face nearly any opponent head-on without fear, though this confidence stemmed from Tiamat's overwhelming power.
"My Cards..."
Jiang You actually possessed such a thing now. Come to think of it, Fairy Tristan and Illya had never interacted. He didn't dare let them meet yet. Fortunately, Fairy Tristan was currently preoccupied with her role as Savior, establishing her territory and leaving her little time to cling to Jiang You. For Jiang You, Fairy Tristan had been through so much with him that he found it difficult to let her go. He wondered which side he would ultimately choose first.
"Maybe I'll try it later if I get the chance. I don't know what kind of abilities I'll gain—it might even lead to some kind of recursive power."
-
Miyu stretched slightly, feeling a power utterly distinct from her Magical Girl form surging through her veins. Her physical stats had nearly tripled.
"Is this... my brother's power?"
"This is clearly the power of a Servant... Miyu's brother must be quite the formidable figure."
Sapphire, as the catalyst for Miyu's Install, was acutely aware of her current state.
"Your compatibility with this Servant—your brother—is exceptional. You can unleash almost his full power. Now you possess the ability to face Medusa head-on! The Heroic Spirit's combat instincts should already be ingrained in your mind. Don't overthink it—fight instinctively!"
"I've become one with my brother..."
Miyu was still savoring the sense of fulfillment that Install had brought. In truth, every card provided the same effect; she simply viewed Oath Emiya through a special filter.
"I suggest you put your idea to rest right here."
Sapphire shuddered inexplicably, sensing Miyu standing at a crossroads in her life. If she took this turn, Miyu would become a strange, yandere-like figure.
"Ruby and Illya are still waiting for our help! Miyu, Mr. Jiang You has helped you so much. You don't want to disappoint him, do you?"
Miyu finally snapped out of her reverie, realizing she still cared about what Jiang You thought of her. She quickly refocused her attention on the battlefield. Illya and Medusa were now hundreds of meters away, yet in her vision, she could clearly see even the creases in Illya's skirt.
Such was the terrifying visual acuity of an Archer. Instinctively, Miyu projected a spiral-shaped longsword.
"Saber?"
Sapphire assumed Miyu's brother had been summoned as a Saber. Just as she was about to speak, she saw Miyu nock the longsword like an arrow onto her bowstring.
"Wait! Is that how you're supposed to use a sword? Miyu, does your brother just shoot swords around for fun?"
"My brother is indeed the captain of the archery club, but he's also skilled in swordsmanship. Perhaps that's why."
Miyu didn't understand what kind of maneuver this was, but her servant instincts told her this was the right course of action. She trusted her brother's instincts implicitly.
Just as Medusa was about to seize Illya, a streak of light shot toward her with blinding speed.
Medusa glanced at it but made no move to dodge, knowing it would pass about two meters behind her, posing no direct threat.
Still not used to it?
Medusa initially assumed Miyu hadn't fully adapted to the enhancements granted by the Install, but as her peripheral vision caught the shape of the "arrow," her serpentine pupils constricted sharply. She recognized this arrow!