"It's All the World's Evil."
Justeaze quietly shared the reason with Damien.
When the Grail descended, All the World's Evil targeted the remaining two Masters, showing them its malice-filled depths.
Sakura, safe within Damien's Reality Marble, was unaffected.
But Emiya Kiritsugu wasn't so fortunate.
As in the anime, he was trapped in an illusion, tormented by a moral dilemma.
Faced with choices between Natalia, Illya, and Irisviel, he killed Natalia, shot Illya, and strangled Irisviel.
In other words, for his ideals and heroic dreams, Kiritsugu abandoned his wife and daughter.
The love Irisviel once held for him turned to equal parts loathing.
"Damien."
Artoria, supporting Irisviel, pleaded, "Can you take Iris and Illya-chan with us?"
"Well..."
Damien shrugged, unbothered.
His Reality Marble was vast; one Sakura or a group made little difference.
Besides, Irisviel and her daughter were easy to sustain.
The town he'd built had plenty of resources.
It could give Sakura a playmate.
Damien thought of Illya, fond of the white-haired, red-eyed girl.
She and Sakura could make a perfect magical girl duo.
"Alright."
With a wave, Damien drew Irisviel and the Kijin into his Reality Marble.
There stood a villa, the one he'd constructed in Fuyuki.
The newborn Reality Marble was a boundless void.
But Damien could fill it with whatever he chose.
"By the way."
Damien turned to Justeaze, "The Einzbern castle... I can take it, right?"
"Of course!"
Justeaze smiled, "I was just about to suggest that."
It was, after all, her home for centuries.
Taking it along was ideal.
"Let's go to the Einzbern castle."
With that, Damien led the group through a spatial rift.
In Fuyuki, he'd done his part by blocking All the World's Evil.
The rest was up to Emiya Kiritsugu.
And Kirei Kotomine...
He hadn't been killed by Kiritsugu but escaped.
Unfortunately, Kotomine's luck ran out, and he fell to the Shadow Guard who'd been watching, avenging Sakura's father.
Tokiomi, rest in peace.
I'll take good care of Sakura.
With that thought, Damien stepped out of the spatial rift.
Before him stood the ancient Einzbern castle, nestled in a snowy landscape.
The barriers meant for human magus were useless against Damien's group.
Especially with Justeaze, an insider, guiding them.
Taking the castle was effortless.
As for the current Einzbern head and guards...
Most guards were will-less homunculi, and the few with autonomy were subdued by Damien's Kijin.
The so-called head, Acht, didn't exist.
Yes, didn't exist.
Acht full name was Jubstacheit von Einzbern and a Gandalf-like old man.
In reality, he was an artificial intelligence created by the Third Magic user's disciples to control the castle's core.
His true form was Golem Jubstacheit.
Acht was merely the eighth-generation humanoid terminal.
"This mistaken path ends here."
Justeaze's appearance stunned Acht.
But he showed little emotion.
As a golem, all human feelings were simulated by programming.
Snap!
Damien snapped his fingers, collapsing all magic within the castle.
Acht, the hollow shell, perished alongside it.
Seeing the old man fall, Justeaze felt no pity.
Only disgust and numbness.
Too long.
Trapped in this tomb-like castle as a puppet for far too long.
Only today did the winds of freedom finally reach her.
"Please wait a moment."
"Let me clean this place for you, Lord Damien."
Justeaze bowed respectfully, and Damien nodded, "Thank you."
"Shall I arrange a maid to guide you?"
"No need."
Damien smiled, "For a tour, isn't there a better candidate?"
"Oh, right, Iris-chan."
"I'll take my leave then."
Justeaze curtsied gracefully and walked away.
But watching her back, Damien sensed a chilling killing intent.
If he wasn't mistaken, the Einzbern family was about to face a bloodbath.
"Scary."
"Is this the Saintess of Winter?"
With that thought, Damien released Irisviel and Artoria from his Reality Marble.
"Demon King!"
"Damien!"
"Is this... the Einzbern castle?"
The two women quickly recognized the place.
"I brought Justeaze to reclaim her assets."
Damien explained what happened, revealing the truth about Acht and the Einzberns.
"How could this be..."
Even Irisviel hadn't imagined the reality.
Everything was a lie.
They were all mere test subjects for a grand experiment.
"Iris..."
Artoria, unsure how to comfort her, changed the subject, "At least you have Illya, right?"
"That bastard Kiritsugu!"
Artoria gripped her hand, trying to offer reassurance, "I'll protect you, Iris."
"Thank you, Saber."
Irisviel was touched, knowing she couldn't wallow in despair, "You're right. I still have Illya to care for."
***
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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