I am Belzebuub(Nasuverse)

Both Kariya and I decided to ignore the church's orders and warnings. It was a waste of time to pursue Caster, and besides… there was a loophole in the truce part of the Holy Grail War. Only fools would follow the orders just to be eliminated by one of the Masters… or by Gilgamesh, as the priest wanted alongside Tohsaka.

Is there such a fool? Lancer's Master was that fool. It's no wonder he'll get killed, and Lancer will honor his class by dying to his own spear.

"…?"

I looked in a direction far from the city, very far, straight to the west, where the Einzbern castle was, where Saber was. I could feel something strange coming from there, something very fast, extremely fast. Was it a… Vibration?

Everything that exists vibrates, but this Vibration was different. It wasn't natural; instead, it was like the beginning of my own Vibrations.

I need to investigate and find out what this Vibration is.

It could help me become stronger in the future if I discover its source and how it works.

"Master, I'm heading out."

I turned and spoke to Kariya, who was keeping an eye on the Tohsaka residence through the flying Familiars lent by Zouken.

"Where are you going, Bel? At this time of night?"

"I'm going to… investigate something important I sensed with my Skill at the Einzbern castle. You can send a Familiar to follow my steps if you want, I don't mind, Master."

I spoke bluntly after thinking for a second.

"And the supervisor's orders? Didn't we enter a ceasefire with everyone except Caster?"

"He didn't specify anything like that, Master. Look, the supervisor never mentioned punishment for not following the new rule. So… what ceasefire are you referring to, Master? Aren't you planning to attack Tohsaka all the same? With or without a ceasefire."

Kariya fell silent, understanding my words.

"I'm going, Master."

Without saying anything else, I left, went downstairs, and exited through the back. Really, I can't understand why others only placed their Familiars at the front of the mansion.

But…

Looking at the moon again is terrifying.

"I wish it would dawn soon."

I made a wish from the bottom of my heart. I don't know if I'll be able to handle this for ten years after the Fourth Holy Grail War ends.

×××××

Head straight west, leaving the bustling streets of Fuyuki for about thirty kilometers.

There's a state highway running east to west that crosses high mountains far from villages and devoid of human presence. A stretch of dense forest occupied both sides of the highway, and this piece of forest seemed forgotten by the torrential rise of territorial development.

Perhaps this land is state property, but based on its records, it seems to be privately owned by a foreign company; moreover, it's still unconfirmed whether this foreign company actually exists. If someone insists on investigating this land, the first disconcerting thing would be this legendary urban myth.

There are rumors that in the deepest part of this dense forest lies a legendary castle.

Of course, this myth is just a dull fairy tale. Although the forest is undeveloped, it's still just an hour's drive from Fuyuki City. If such a strange castle really existed, everyone would know about it. In fact, people have conducted countless surveys of this primitive forest and never found any traces of human structures.

But after a few years, someone brings this myth up again.

Once, a group of children entered this forest half-joking, half-exploring, and there was also a lost hitchhiker. They saw an ancient castle suddenly appear amidst the dense fog; it was built of stone and immensely spectacular. No one lived inside the castle, and it seemed abandoned. But inside, there were all sorts of utilities, and everything was in perfect order, giving people the illusion that humans really lived there. It's said to be an extremely strange ancient castle.

Obviously, no one would believe this rumor. At best, it's a story told by tabloids running out of news material, using a page of their special summer edition dedicated to strange stories to spread it.

Only a small number of mages know that this castle truly exists.

This castle only welcomes the owner who enters here to participate in the war every sixty years; in short, it's a castle in the style of magic.

This castle is enveloped by multiple layers of illusions and bounded fields, and it would never be exposed to the outside except in rare accidents. This is a strange space of existence. The people who know of the castle's existence call this dense forest the Einzbern Forest.

When Fuyuki held the Heaven's Feel, Jubstacheit, the head of the Einzbern family, felt it was inadequate to establish an outpost on lands directly subject to their archrival Tohsaka family. Therefore, he fully used the financial power of his clan and bought all the lands covered by the nearest Ley Lines to Fuyuki as the Einzbern family's headquarters. This was near the start of the third Heaven's Feel, which also coincided with the tense and dangerous times just before the start of World War II.

This vast primitive forest is covered by a bounded field and completely isolated from the outside world, and the Einzbern family transferred everything from their original castle to this forest. From this act, one can see the immense financial power of the Einzberns and their extraordinary persistence in pursuing the Holy Grail. Compared to the Einzberns, the various negotiations the Tohsakas had to make to buy land in Fuyuki and the effort they put into hiding everything would only be laughable.

On the highway…

Mid-calf black boots passed with quick and precise steps.

×××××

Hours earlier…

The dense atmosphere made Irisviel sigh countless times.

"…Are you tired, Iri?"

Kiritsugu asked. Irisviel hid her melancholic expression and shook her head with a smile.

"It's nothing, I'm not tired. Continue."

Irisviel urged Kiritsugu. Kiritsugu continued talking about all sorts of information about Fuyuki City. A map representing the entire city of Fuyuki was spread out on the table in front of Kiritsugu.

"…Two locations are the heart of the entire area. One is the residence of the Second Master, Tohsaka. The other needs no explanation; it's Mount Enzou. All the surrounding ley lines converge at Mount Enzou. The details are exactly as the Head of the Family, Acht, had said…"

The servants arrived at the castle before Irisviel and company and properly prepared everything at the meeting place before leaving. Therefore, the location of the meeting was immaculate. Not a speck of dust accumulated anywhere, from the table legs to the teacups, and the vases were filled with fresh flowers. It's impossible to imagine that no one has lived here for sixty years.

It would be a lie to say she wasn't tired. But Irisviel at least rested a bit in bed. Kiritsugu, on the other hand, hadn't rested for a minute. It was almost noon when Kiritsugu and his assistant Hisau Maiya arrived at the castle. However, as soon as they arrived, they received the summons from Fuyuki Church, controlled Familiars, confirmed the supervisor's warning, and so on, and Kiritsugu actively dealt with all these annoyances without stopping. Last night, after the battle at the warehouses, Kiritsugu and company attacked Lancer's Master, Kayneth, and even encountered Kotomine Kirei. Another fierce battle followed. However, Kiritsugu didn't show even a hint of exhaustion, so there was no reason for Irisviel to complain about tiredness.

No, there were other hidden reasons for Irisviel's sighs.

"…There's a powerful boundary around Mount Enzou, originating from the Ryuudou Temple at its peak. Because of this, existences that aren't nature spirits… like Servants… can only enter through the road approaching the shrine. Keep that in mind when using Saber."

These words advising caution to Saber could have been said directly to Saber face-to-face. However, Kiritsugu still hadn't even glanced at the girl dressed in masculine attire standing behind Irisviel.

There were two reasons why the air became stagnant and heavy. One was that Saber displayed an attitude of absolute refusal toward Kiritsugu. This attitude of Saber's didn't form now but only became more apparent since they arrived at the Einzbern castle.

"Moreover, besides those two locations, there are two more key positions where the ley lines converge. One is the Fuyuki Church on the hill to the south, and the other is the new residential complex east of the CBD. In conclusion, there are four main spiritual bases in Fuyuki properly equipped to perform the descent of the Holy Grail."

"So, when the war enters the final phase and the number of Servants is reduced, we must take control of one of these locations?"

"Correct. Any questions about the topography?"

"…Saber, is there anything you're unsure about?"

Irisviel acted tactfully and tried to spark her interest. The Servant smiled and shook her head.

"Nothing in particular. It was a sufficient explanation."

Although the girl in question probably didn't realize it, from an observer's perspective, it was a sarcastic and irreverent response.

With a sigh, Irisviel continued.

"So, about our policies moving forward… It seems all the other Masters will hunt Caster first, right, Kiritsugu?"

"Yes, it seems to be the case. The supervisor implied there would be compensation for the effort."

Some time ago, Kiritsugu told them about the Fuyuki Church's announcement and the rule revision by the supervisor; the perverse nature of the Caster Servant and the supervisor's support to stop him.

"However, regarding this Caster, it would be more advantageous if we didn't join the other Masters. After all, at this moment, we're the only ones who know his true name… Baron Gilles de Rais."

Kiritsugu, with lips twisted in a cynical smile, continued.

"He must have gone mad if he's stalking Saber like that, thinking she's Joan of Arc. This guy is useful. We don't even need to drive him out, just set our nets and wait."

"Master, that's not enough."

It was the cold, defiant voice of Saber, who had been detached from the discussion until then.

"With Caster's personality, if we do nothing and simply deal with him, the number of innocent victims will only increase."

Perhaps Saber expected that with her sincere words, she could break through the wall surrounding Kiritsugu's heart; if so, it was futile.

As always, Kiritsugu, with no indication of having heard Saber's voice, spoke again.

"It'll be fine, Iri. We didn't find any openings in the bounded field, and the alarm and scanning systems have already been checked…"

Biting her lip, Saber's expression grew darker as she looked at Kiritsugu. Although Saber could forcibly endure the way Kiritsugu ignored her, the righteous indignation at him letting Caster do as he pleased was too much.

Of course, Emiya Kiritsugu couldn't care less about Saber's gaze.

"We weren't going to use the castle this time, but the situation has changed. Until we can lure Caster, we'll hold our position in this fortress."

"…But Kiritsugu, don't we need to think of a way to deal with Lancer first?"

Irisviel offered a counterpoint on behalf of the ignored Saber.

"It's been eight hours since you defeated Lord El-Melloi, but Saber's left hand still hasn't healed."

"If the curse from that spear doesn't lift, it means Lancer is still fine. Unlike Archer and his Independent Action skill, the Lancer Servant can't remain in the current world for long without a Master."

Kiritsugu quickly nodded at what his wife was pointing out.

"That's right. Perhaps Lancer made a new contract with a new Master, or I failed to kill Kayneth… an obstacle arose and prevented me from confirming his death."

"If so, to face Caster more safely, don't we need to defeat Lancer first?"

However, in the face of Irisviel's continued questions, Kiritsugu shook his head.

"We don't need to confront Caster directly when he appears. Just make the most of the terrain. Saber can simply escape and confuse the enemy's line of sight."

Irisviel was shocked. When Saber heard this from Kiritsugu, she was dumbfounded with rage.

"Not… fighting Caster?"

"All the other Masters have set their sights on Caster. Someone will surely deal with Caster without us lifting a finger. Therefore, we have no need to commit that extra act."

"Caster is a great choice for all those Masters chasing Caster with bloodshot eyes. Caster's gaze is fixed on Saber. As soon as Caster makes a move, one or two of the Masters chasing Caster will definitely set foot in this forest, and we can attack those Masters from the side. The Master who gave all their attention to chasing Caster would never think they'd switch from the role of hunter to hunted."

That was it; this was, without a doubt, Kiritsugu's strategy. In Kiritsugu's eyes, there is no human morality or pride as a mage. He is just a predatory machine deduced from the formula of survival of the fittest.

Kiritsugu originally hadn't planned to come to this castle. Irisviel finally understood Kiritsugu's intention to suddenly change his plans and join forces with her.

"Master, you… how despicable do you want to be?!"

Saber rebuked loudly and angrily, and Irisviel also felt a slight pang in her heart. Saber's indignation now was different from the anger she felt last night due to Rider's mockery and Caster's flamboyance; in a way, this was an even more furious rage.

"Emiya Kiritsugu, you are insulting the Heroic Spirits."

"I only entered this war to avoid spilling rivers of blood. Fighting for the Holy Grail, without senseless bloodshed, minimizing sacrifices, one person taking on the mission of fate instead of armies of men and competing here… that's what we, Servants, are supposed to do."

"Why don't you give me the responsibility to enter the battle? You were exactly like this when you attacked Lancer's Master last night. One misstep resulted in a disaster. I've already made a deal with Lancer to fight again! You don't need to use such despicable means… or does Kiritsugu have no faith in me, a Servant?"

Kiritsugu didn't respond. He maintained an indifferent silence as if Saber's furious words were mere trifles. Irisviel infinitely hated that expression of indifference on Kiritsugu's face.

This man was not the husband she knew.

She truly knew that Emiya Kiritsugu had a dual personality. She detected that on one hand, Kiritsugu invested all his emotions in his wife and daughter, and on the other, he hid the scars of his past in his heart. Irisviel knew something about the kind of life Kiritsugu lived before entering the Einzbern family. But was that the decisive factor causing the divide between them?

Moreover, the factor that helped Irisviel realize this was that woman dressed in black present at the meeting. That woman didn't say a single word and silently entrusted everything to Kiritsugu. That woman was the other reason Irisviel felt melancholic.

It wasn't the first time she saw Hisau Maiya. She had seen Hisau Maiya a few times at the Einzbern castle. It was Hisau Maiya who managed all of Kiritsugu's mundane affairs outside during the nine years of Kiritsugu's seclusion.

The woman who acted with Kiritsugu before he met Irisviel. During this meeting, she didn't have the slightest doubt about Kiritsugu's words and maintained her unyielding silence. Perhaps, for Maiya, the Kiritsugu now was the Emiya Kiritsugu she knew.

Suddenly, a faint aroma wafted into Irisviel's nose. It was the smell of tobacco. That smell of tobacco had always been with Kiritsugu since the day she met him. Irisviel still remembered how much she detested that smell back then.

She hadn't smelled that scent for a long time after marrying Kiritsugu. Now, the smell of tobacco emanated from Kiritsugu again. Perhaps this is the smell of gunpowder from the battlefield.

The current Kiritsugu had undoubtedly returned to the Kiritsugu of nine years ago. Back then, to win the Holy Grail, Acht welcomed Kiritsugu. Kiritsugu was like a cruel and ruthless hunting dog.

And Irisviel, back then, was just a doll guarding the Holy Grail. Recalling Kiritsugu's past was almost like Irisviel recalling her own past. It was as if the nine years they lived together no longer existed. Irisviel's heart began to grow restless and uneasy.

At this moment, the person closest to the man Emiya Kiritsugu was not her, his wife, but Hisau Maiya…

Irisviel didn't say what she was thinking but asked a completely irrelevant question.

"…How should we handle the new war rule the supervisor proposed? Didn't he want us to enter a ceasefire with all enemies except Caster?"

"Ignore that new rule. The supervisor only provided the rewards for following the new rule and not the details of the punishment you'd receive if you violated it. If the supervisor really bothers us about it, we can simply pretend we didn't know about this rule."

Completely different from his attitude toward Saber, Kiritsugu answered Irisviel's questions meticulously.

"…Besides, it just doesn't seem like the supervisor of this war is trustworthy and respectable. Hiding Assassin's Master as if he knew nothing about it; he's probably on Tohsaka's side. Until we figure everything out about him, we should temporarily regard him with some suspicion."

"…"

Saber was so angry her body trembled, and countless thoughts wandered through Irisviel's heart. For a moment, both fell silent. Kiritsugu took this silence as a signal to end the meeting.

"Then the meeting is over. Irisviel and I will stay in the castle and prepare for Caster's attack. Maiya, return to the city and gather information. Report to me if there's any changer there."

"Yes, sir."

Maiya nodded without hesitation, stood up, and left the meeting room. Kiritsugu stood up shortly after, gathered the map and documents on the table, and also left the room. Kiritsugu didn't look at Saber even once until the end.

Saber, completely ignored by Kiritsugu, bit her lip hard in anger and stared at the carpet beneath her feet. Irisviel and Saber remained in the meeting room. At this moment, Irisviel didn't know what words she could say to calm the furious Saber.

No, the proud King of Knights, Saber, wouldn't expect others to comfort her with useless words. Currently, for Saber, what was needed was to address the current problem at its root. Thinking of this, Irisviel placed her hand on Saber's shoulder to show her gratitude and immediately chased after Kiritsugu, leaving the meeting room.

That overwhelmingly deliberate ignorance Kiritsugu showed toward Saber wasn't just because the two had different beliefs. If Kiritsugu didn't harbor emotions like extreme hatred or anger toward Saber, he wouldn't be able to act so ignorantly toward her. In short, Kiritsugu went overboard this time. No matter how much their strategies diverged, they were still comrades fighting for a common goal. While they didn't need to respect each other, they shouldn't humiliate one another either.

Irisviel soon spotted Kiritsugu's figure. He stood on the balcony overlooking the castle's front garden, leaning on the railing, and gazed at the nighttime forest. Fortunately, Maiya's figure wasn't beside Kiritsugu.

"…Kiritsugu."

Irisviel spoke as she slowly walked up behind Kiritsugu. She didn't think her voice would suddenly become stern. Kiritsugu must have sensed her presence because he didn't seem the least bit surprised but turned around slowly.

Irisviel was prepared. Just then, when Kiritsugu confronted Saber in the meeting room, an expression of such cruelty escaped his eyes. Irisviel braced herself to face Kiritsugu's cruel gaze directly. However, when she saw Kiritsugu's expression as he turned, she couldn't help but feel helpless and froze in place.

Kiritsugu's expression was like that of a hurt and defenseless child, forcibly holding back tears. Kiritsugu seemed to have been pushed against a wall. The Kiritsugu standing before Irisviel now was far from the figure of that powerful mage-killer; he was just a weak and cowardly man.

"Kiritsugu, you…"

Kiritsugu didn't speak, tightly embracing the confused Irisviel. His chest was trembling. In Irisviel's eyes, her husband's shoulders had always been strong and dependable, something others could rely on, but now her husband was as helpless as a baby sheltered in his gentle mother's arms.

"If I…"

Irisviel felt her husband embrace her even tighter, to the point of hurting her. Then, her husband's weak question sounded in her ear.

"If now I decide to throw everything away and flee from here… Iri, will you leave with me?"

Irisviel could probably never imagine that a man like Emiya Kiritsugu would ask such a question. She was so shocked that she couldn't speak for a while and only asked back after a long pause.

"Ilya… that child is still in the castle. What about her?"

"We'll go back to the castle and take her out. Anyone who stands in our way will be killed."

It was a short, sharp sound, but also full of despair. Without a doubt, Kiritsugu wasn't joking; he was serious.

"After that… I'll give everything I have for our family. I'll protect Ilya and you with my life."

"…"

Now Irisviel finally understood the feelings of this man trapped before her. Kiritsugu, her life partner, was facing the greatest battle of his life and had already been forced down a path of no return.

He was no longer the Kiritsugu of nine years ago. No longer that cold, emotionless dog, no longer that killing machine that relentlessly punished itself.

Kiritsugu had changed. He had become very weak, even forcing himself into such a situation to achieve that cruel ideal. The key that made Kiritsugu change was none other than Irisviel.

Wife and daughter. They shouldn't have been included in Emiya Kiritsugu's life.

Originally, Kiritsugu had nothing to lose. He couldn't even feel pain. It was precisely because Emiya Kiritsugu was such a man that he could be extraordinarily strong, pursue the immense ideal of saving the world, sacrifice everything without hesitation for it, and become a soldier whose cruelty knew no bounds.

The current Kiritsugu wanted to return to the past, to be the man he was before. But at the same time he recalled the past, a deep, inconsolable dilemma formed in Kiritsugu's current soul. Those nine years had completely changed Kiritsugu. Kiritsugu was already enduring immense pressure and pain just to maintain the appearance of the cruelty and ruthlessness he had before.

Kiritsugu's ignorance of Saber was exactly the exposure of Kiritsugu's weakness. Currently, Kiritsugu was already exhausted trying to preserve himself. He didn't have the energy to accept Saber, not even extra energy to communicate with the King of Knights.

Irisviel's heart ached terribly. The man she loved with all her heart was being tormented, but there was nothing she could do. That was because the one who caused all of Kiritsugu's anguish was herself.

The only thing Irisviel could do now was to weakly raise her doubts to him.

"Are we capable of escaping? We…"

"We can. There's still a chance now."

Kiritsugu answered immediately. But it wasn't believable. Kiritsugu only said this to allow his own heart to still hold onto that illusory hope.

"…You're lying."

Then Irisviel pointed it out, gently and cruelly.

"That's impossible. Emiya Kiritsugu, it's impossible for you to escape. Abandon the Holy Grail, abandon the ideal of saving the world; you would definitely not forgive such a person. You would definitely be the final judge and declare your own death sentence."

Kiritsugu finally cried out. He understood this too. He hadn't had any choices for a long time.

"I'm so scared…"

Kiritsugu sobbed and spoke about what was in his heart like a child.

"That guy… Kotomine Kirei targeted me. Maiya told me this. That guy used Kayneth as bait to lure me onto the hook. He's already guessed all my plans…"

"I might lose the battle. I sacrificed you and left Ilya aside, but still… that most dangerous person has already aimed his weapons at me. That guy is the enemy I least want to face!"

Emiya Kiritsugu, not a heroine nor a warrior, but an assassin. He doesn't have the courage and pride to fight others with his life on the line. He's a coward. Therefore, his goal is to cautiously ensure his victory and right to survival with the least risk. For the hunter, the worst nightmare is to be hunted by another.

But even so, if it were the Kiritsugu of nine years ago, he wouldn't even raise an eyebrow and would calmly think of the best solution. That was the terror of Kiritsugu when he had no loved ones to lose. But now, when the Kiritsugu who fears losing his loved ones faces battles again, the fear of losing those he loves has become his fatal weakness.

"I won't let you fight alone."

Irisviel said gently while stroking her husband's trembling back.

"I will protect you. Saber will protect you too. And… Maiya will be by your side as well."

Irisviel was forced to admit which woman Kiritsugu needed most at this moment.

Only one person could awaken the tenacity sealed deep in Kiritsugu's heart and recall the cruel, heartless personality Kiritsugu had many years ago. But Irisviel would never mention this to Kiritsugu.

If Irisviel still had something she could do, it would be to embrace Kiritsugu and let him have some temporary solace. However, Irisviel prayed silently in her heart.

It didn't matter if her prayers didn't work. She prayed that the time she was allowed to embrace Kiritsugu would be prolonged, even if by a minute or a second. Then, she could heal Kiritsugu's pain as best she could with her limited strength.

Such prayers and the embrace of the two vanished simultaneously without a trace.

Irisviel's chest suddenly pulsed intensely, and she couldn't help but tense her entire body.

Vibrations, repeated and intense, appeared in her Magic Circuits as soon as she maintained the Bounded Field of the forest within her own magic.

Vibrations. That was the alarm.

"…Already here?"

Her husband murmured beside her ear. Calmly, he returned to the resolute and cruel tone she still wasn't accustomed to.

Kiritsugu detected that something had happened just by seeing his wife's expression. Irisviel nodded silently and left her husband's embrace. The cruel demeanor of that mage-killer emerged before her eyes once again.

"Fortunately, he came before Maiya left. Now we can crush him head-on… Irisviel, prepare the crystal ball used for far-seeing."

"Right."

Events were happening much faster than expected. The whirlwind of battle began to blow in the forest.

×××××

"…He's appeared."

All the key players of the Einzbern camp gathered once again in the meeting room: Kiritsugu, Maiya, and Saber. In front of the three, Irisviel showed the image the Bounded Field had captured of the intruder in the crystal ball.

The intruder wore a black cassock, and a malevolent aura hung over him. Moreover, the crimson-stained patterns on the fabric seemed blood-soaked, flickering in and out of view in the forest.

"Is this Caster?"

It was the first time Kiritsugu saw Caster. Irisviel nodded toward him. The figure reflected in the crystal ball was indeed the strange Heroic Spirit who stopped Saber last night.

"But, what is he going to do?"

What intrigued Irisviel was the fact that Caster was leading a group of people behind him.

Caster didn't act alone this time. It seemed he was leading about ten people behind him, walking through the forest. All these people were immature children. Even the oldest only seemed to be elementary school students.

All the children staggered as they walked, as if sleepwalking, while Caster walked in front, leading them. Undoubtedly, these children were controlled by Caster's magic.

It must be that Caster saw the supervisor's notification and kidnapped these children from Fuyuki and its surroundings.

"Iri, what's this guy's location?"

"Within two kilometers northwest of the castle. It seems Caster doesn't intend to go further into the forest."

The bounded field expanded in the forest is a circle with a five-kilometer diameter, with the castle as its center. Caster's location was at the edge of this Bounded Field.

If Caster went deeper toward the center of the bounded field, Irisviel could support Saber in battle. However, as if Caster sensed Irisviel's intentions, he began circling the outside of the Bounded Field.

"Irisviel, the enemy is luring us out."

Saber said resolutely. She needed only a few minutes to reach Caster's location with her speed as a Servant on foot. Saber's thoughts also reached Irisviel. At that moment, Saber's mood was extremely anxious, eager to rush out and crush Caster.

But the King of Knights couldn't do as she pleased. The group of children gathered behind Caster was exactly why the King of Knights felt uneasy.

"Hostages… right? Definitely."

Irisviel murmured melancholically. Saber nodded.

"Triggering preset traps and machinations would harm those children. Only if I defeat Caster can those children be saved."

The current situation was clear without explanation. However, Irisviel also had reasons to hesitate. Saber's injury was a significant disadvantage, and it was worrying to have her fight Caster like this. Irisviel instinctively deduced that Caster was a difficult enemy. She couldn't support Saber outside the Bounded Field.

'Letting Saber fight alone in such a situation…'

At that moment, Caster's beastly eyes suddenly lifted. Had he already sensed Irisviel's clairvoyance?

Caster looked in Irisviel's direction, raised his arms flatteringly, and bowed to her. It was such a simple thing for the mage Heroic Spirit to do.

"I came here especially to visit you, as per last night's promise."

The surface of the solid crystal ball began to ripple, and sound started transmitting from the surveillance location.

"Now, please give the order to let me be in the presence of that beautiful holy maiden again."

Saber looked at Irisviel, urging her to give a command quickly.

The girl who was a Servant had already prepared to fight. It was only her Master who was hesitating.

As if sensing Irisviel's thoughts, Caster showed a contemptuous expression, let out a laugh as if performing a one-man show, and said.

"…Ah, it seems you still can't decide. I expected to wait a long time too, so take your time to prepare. Come on, this is such a boring game… may I borrow a corner of your territory?"

Caster snapped his fingers. The children who had obediently followed behind Caster the whole time opened their eyes as if waking from a dream. The children looked around helplessly, as if unable to figure out where they were.

"Listen, children, let's play hide-and-seek. The rules are simple. Just run from me. If I catch you…"

Caster's hand extended from the sleeve of his cassock with a motion and grabbed a child beside him.

"Stop!"

Saber knew her prevention would have no effect, but she couldn't help but shout.

The sound of a skull breaking. Brain matter splattered in all directions, and eyeballs slid through the air. These nightmare scenes were etched into everyone's minds.

The children let out anguished screams and scattered everywhere. Caster, standing in the middle, laughed loudly and happily, licking the blood-covered fingers with his tongue.

"Hurry up and run. I'll start chasing you after counting to a hundred. So, Jeanne, how long will you take to prepare before I catch all the children?"

Irisviel no longer hesitated upon seeing this scene. It was impossible for her to hesitate any longer. She was also a mother. That child who was killed and then discarded, her small, pitiful figure was exactly the same size as her own daughter, Ilya.

"Saber, defeat Caster for me."

"Yes, sir."

The King of Knights' response was extremely brief. Saber had already vanished from the meeting room when Irisviel heard her reply.

Only the wind that began to blow behind her was filled with extraordinary rage.

_______________

Notes

I hadn't planned to write about this. But when I realized that Irisviel's Magic Circuits triggered the alarm with Vibrations… I was compelled to add five thousand unnecessary words.

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