"Saber's Master."
Snow Empress enveloped the unconscious Irisviel in mana and carried her back to Ryudou Temple. "Is he out of his mind?"
Damien had described Kiritsugu Emiya to his companions.
A man who dreamed of justice, aiming to be a hero of justice and bring peace to the world.
But what exactly was his so-called justice and peace?
Could justice defined by one person's perspective truly be called justice?
Snow Empress couldn't fathom his strange logic.
"Humans..."
Snow Empress shook her head, then dissolved into ice crystals, vanishing into the air. "So hard to understand."
She took Irisviel with her.
Not just out of spite, but also out of curiosity about the mysterious power within the woman.
Snow Empress couldn't decipher it, but that didn't stop her from bringing Irisviel back for Damien to assess.
"Kiritsugu Emiya!"
Meanwhile, Artoria, recalled by the Command Spell, appeared almost instantly at Kiritsugu's side.
"You've sunk so low as to abandon even Irisviel."
Grabbing his collar, Artoria demanded, "In your eyes, is everyone expendable for victory?"
"Everyone has their mission, and Irisviel is no exception."
Kiritsugu knew Irisviel's role well.
She was the vessel for the Holy Grail, a key to summoning it.
With Lancer's fall, three Heroic Spirits had now died by Damien's hand.
This meant Irisviel's body was nearing its limit.
"What do you mean?"
"Tell me, what does that mean?"
Artoria respected Irisviel far more than Kiritsugu.
If she could, she wished Irisviel were her Master, not this despicable man.
"Irisviel is the vessel for the Holy Grail."
Kiritsugu explained Irisviel's identity and role to Artoria.
The Holy Grail was divided into the Greater Grail and the Lesser Grail.
The Greater Grail, the true form of the "Saint of Winter" Justeaze, was connected to Fuyuki's leylines, drawing mana to fuel the Holy Grail War.
It had the power to connect with the Throne of Heroes, summoning Heroic Spirits as Servants.
The Lesser Grail, simply put, was a tool to control and stabilize the Greater Grail's operations, preventing malfunctions.
This tool was provided by the Einzbern family... specifically, their homunculi.
Irisviel was the vessel created by the Einzberns for the Fourth Holy Grail War.
Each time a Heroic Spirit died, their soul would flow into Irisviel.
Once more than three Heroic Spirits perished, Irisviel's personality would begin to collapse.
"When only two Heroic Spirits remain, the Holy Grail will manifest."
At that point, Irisviel would die.
This was an inevitable fate, unchangeable.
"That's why I summoned you back."
"Staying there would have been a pointless sacrifice."
"..."
Artoria hadn't expected this. "Why didn't you tell me something so important?!"
The thought of Irisviel's inevitable death pained her.
Her entire existence was to summon the Holy Grail.
How was that different from a sacrificial offering?
"The Holy Grail I seek comes at the cost of Irisviel's life."
Artoria couldn't accept such an outcome.
If the Holy Grail was such a thing, could she truly, in good conscience, wish for the salvation of her nation and people?
"With that one's magecraft expertise, there's no way he didn't see Irisviel's importance."
Kiritsugu had already accepted Irisviel's impending death.
So, he wouldn't save her... it was unnecessary.
"You really are a bastard!"
Justice? World peace?
To Artoria, Kiritsugu was just a scumbag lost in his own delusions.
"I'm going to bring Irisviel back!"
Artoria prepared to head to Ryudou Temple to formally request Damien return Irisviel.
Damien was powerful.
But he was also a king with his own sense of honor.
If possible, Artoria hoped Damien could find a way to prevent Irisviel's death.
For that, she was willing to pay a price.
"By the power of the Command Spell, Saber... "
Swish!
Before Kiritsugu could continue, Artoria's blade was at his throat.
"Don't stop me, Kiritsugu."
Artoria saw through him. "Or when your Command Spells run out, I'll kill you!"
What Holy Grail War?
What Master and Servant?
If she couldn't protect someone dear to her, what was the point of her wish to save her people?
She would bring Irisviel back.
Even if it meant risking death.
"..."
Watching Saber leave, Kiritsugu's face darkened.
He deeply regretted summoning Saber.
Any Heroic Spirit with better compatibility would have spared him this trouble.
Per Kiritsugu's plan, with the situation as it was, they should stay on the sidelines, waiting for Damien and Gilgamesh to settle their duel.
Heroic Spirits' mana and Noble Phantasms were finite.
No matter who won, the survivor would be greatly weakened.
Then, Saber could strike, giving him a chance at the Holy Grail.
Unfortunately, Saber despised such schemes.
Meanwhile, at Ryudou Temple, Damien looked at the white-haired woman Snow Empress brought back, surprised.
"What's this?"
Damien asked, "What happened?"
"My trophy."
Snow Empress recounted the events exactly as they unfolded.
"So, you were upset about Saber's sudden retreat."
"And kept Irisviel as retaliation?"
Damien scratched his head awkwardly. "I'm not blaming you, but what do we do with her?"
Killing her was out of the question.
Locking her up?
Damien wasn't so crude as to treat a woman that way.
"Forget it."
"Find a room, assign two kijin, and take good care of her."
***
Bonus Chapter:
100 Power Stones = 1 BC
300 Power Stones = 2 BC
500 Power Stones = 3 BC
700 Power Stones = 4 BC
1000 Power Stones = 5 BC
***
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