Very soon, Gilgamesh spoke.
"Former?"
When she heard that title, the expression on Sajyou Manaka's face almost cracked. The corner of her mouth twitched slightly.
Even when facing Gilgamesh, she had always maintained a calm state of mind. Yet that single word, "former," hit her straight in the armor.
Just a short while ago, she had still been Saber's Master. And now… she was the ex?
"I only made this Holy Grail War a little more interesting."
At last, Sajyou Manaka raised her head. There was a faint smile in her sapphire eyes.
"Archer, aren't you the type who only cares whether things are interesting?"
"As for how this Holy Grail War ends, you don't really care either, do you?"
Gilgamesh glanced at her coldly.
"So you can read people's hearts? What a pity. You seem to understand others, but not yourself. Especially when it comes to Saber."
K.O. Fatality!
'This is bad. Is this golden show-off here just to argue? If this keeps going, Manaka's going to explode on the spot.'
Alvin's heart sank.
"Archer, what exactly do you want?"
Gilgamesh first looked at Alvin in slight confusion, then a playful smile quickly appeared on his face.
Since the start of the Holy Grail War, this was the first time he had seen Saber show such an expression.
This trip was truly not in vain.
"I already said it. Your 'former' Master summoned a special Servant. Yet now that Servant is nowhere to be found. Don't you find that strange, Saber?"
Gilgamesh spoke calmly.
Alvin did not respond. His mind was racing.
It was true. Earlier, Irisviel had also said that Sajyou Manaka was performing a Heroic Spirit summoning ritual, and she had indeed summoned a special Servant.
But now… where was this eighth Servant?
It could not have just slipped away on its own after being summoned, could it?
'Is Manaka plotting something?'
As Alvin thought this, his gaze unconsciously shifted to Sajyou Manaka. His eyes were filled with confusion and doubt.
What he did not know was that, although Manaka kept a smile on her face, she was equally puzzled inside.
She was the one who summoned the eighth Servant.
Yet now, even she could not sense that Servant's presence.
Of course, that was not the most urgent matter right now.
Sajyou Manaka's gaze drifted casually toward Gilgamesh behind her.
Even she could not deal with more than one Servant at the same time.
And this one was Archer.
But was she really going to just let "Irisviel" walk away with Saber?
At that thought, a trace of hesitation and complexity flashed in her eyes.
At the same time, deep inside his mansion, Tohsaka Tokiomi had just received intelligence from Assassin. He frowned slightly.
"So that's how it is. The Einzbern family has formed an alliance with Saber."
'How did such a drastic change happen in less than a single night?'
The head of the Tohsaka family had no idea what exactly was going on between Alvin and Sajyou Manaka.
'And Rin's disappearance… does it have anything to do with Saber?'
Just as that thought crossed Tokiomi's mind—
Knock! Knock!
A knocking sound suddenly came from outside the quiet hall.
Tokiomi glanced toward the door.
No alarm had been triggered by the mansion's detection barrier.
'That means… it is someone familiar?'
'But who would come at this hour?'
'Could it be Aoi coming to see me so late?"
Knock! Knock! Knock!
The knocking came again.
Tokiomi composed himself, walked to the door, and slowly opened it.
———
[Port]
Two Servants and two Masters stood facing each other. The atmosphere was somewhat strange.
Sajyou Manaka first glanced at Gilgamesh, then silently looked at Alvin.
After a long pause, she seemed to give up and let out a soft sigh.
"Forget it."
"Even if I try to keep you now, you won't come with me, will you, Saber?"
Alvin said nothing. His silence was his answer.
No matter what, he had to send Irisviel back first.
And… he could not stay in Fuyuki forever.
"This time, I'll let you go, Holy Maiden of Winter."
Sajyou Manaka cast a light glance at the silver-haired beauty behind Alvin. Her cold voice carried a dangerous chill.
"But I will kill you. Soon."
She was not joking.
Gilgamesh looked at her coldly.
"Are you treating me as if I'm not here?"
He had come specifically for Sajyou Manaka.
And now she was ignoring him entirely, even planning to walk away right in front of him.
To the King of Heroes, that was a blatant provocation.
Sajyou Manaka did not even lift her head to look at him.
"Why don't you check on your Master first, Archer?"
Gilgamesh paused.
Then, as if sensing something, he instinctively looked toward the direction of the Tohsaka residence.
Very soon, his expression stiffened. His eyes darkened.
"So someone dared to infiltrate the Tohsaka house while I was away?"
For the King of Heroes, that was an outright challenge.
He immediately turned and left the port.
Alvin watched the golden king disappear from view before withdrawing his gaze and looking ahead.
"Was that your doing, Manaka?"
"Even I can't handle everything perfectly."
Sajyou Manaka slowly shook her head.
"I didn't know Archer would be drawn here in the first place. And I have no idea what's happening at the Tohsaka house right now."
She looked at the silver-haired beauty behind Alvin.
"Holy Maiden of Winter… seeing as you're about to die anyway, I'll spare you for now."
"No matter what you do, Saber will end up being mine."
Although the Holy Maiden of Winter was attached to Irisviel's body, her consciousness was far too weak.
If not for the support of the Greater Grail in Fuyuki, she might have already vanished.
For Sajyou Manaka, letting the Greater Grail gather enough magical energy and remain in Fuyuki permanently was the most important thing.
If she wanted Saber to stay in Fuyuki forever, that was a necessary step.
As she left just like that, "Irisviel" seemed a little worried.
"Saber…"
"It's fine. Even Manaka can't make the Greater Grail descend without enough magical energy, right?", Alvin thought for a moment.
"I'll take you back to see Illya first. But if possible, I hope you won't reveal that you're not really Irisviel. Just get along with Illya normally."
"Irisviel" was slightly stunned, then seemed to understand. Her gaze softened.
"Alright."
Whether Irisviel or Illya, they were both homunculi.
Tools born for the Holy Grail War.
From the moment she was born, Irisviel had already prepared herself to sacrifice her life to summon the Greater Grail.
But Saber did not treat her like a doll.
'Maybe it is because he himself is not human either?'
"Irisviel" thought quietly.
———
Knock! Knock!
Deep inside a building—
As knocking echoed, the silver-haired girl inside pushed the door open a crack and peeked out cautiously.
When she clearly saw the woman beside the boy, the unease in Illya's eyes slowly turned into joy.
"Mom!"
She rushed forward and hugged Irisviel, burying her little face into the woman's soft chest, rubbing against her like a kitten.
"Irisviel" showed a loving expression and gently stroked Illya's soft silver hair, then subconsciously looked at Alvin.
"You two go in first. I still have something to deal with."
Alvin said.
"Also… there's another girl inside. If she wakes up in the middle of the night, I'll have to trouble you to look after her."
"Irisviel" tilted her head, her crimson eyes full of confusion.
"She's from the Tohsaka family, but not long ago, the head of the Tohsaka family gave her to the Matou family," Alvin explained.
"Irisviel" froze for a moment, then quickly understood.
"For the sake of obtaining the Matou family's magecraft?"
There was a meaningful look in her eyes.
She knew a little about the Matou family's magecraft.
It was not something a child could endure.
"Be careful when you go out, Saber."
"Irisviel" said softly.
"I can't supply you with much magical energy right now."
At the end, there was a trace of apology in her tone.
She was only a wisp of consciousness.
And not long ago, the mark of the Lesser Grail had just been transferred from Irisviel.
Her body was extremely weak.
The only reason Alvin could remain manifested now was because of his own [Independent Manifestation].
"Don't worry. I'm just going to find someone. I'll avoid fighting other Servants this time," Alvin smiled.
"Onii-san, are you leaving?", Illya looked up, her crimson eyes filled with unease.
Alvin gently patted her head, "I'm just stepping out for a bit. I'll be back soon."
After saying that, he looked at the silver-haired beauty, "Can you do me a favor, Irisviel?"
"What is it?"
"I'm looking for someone."
Alvin said, "All Servants are summoned based on the Greater Grail. So their whereabouts fall within its domain. I only accepted this summoning to save someone."
He looked into Irisviel's eyes, "He's my teacher. The Servant summoned this time is Lancer."
———
[Tohsaka Residence]
In the dim hall, a golden figure descended silently.
Gilgamesh narrowed his crimson eyes and looked at the mysterious Servant sitting in the hall.
"You knew I would return, yet you still dared to stay here. I admire your courage, unknown Servant."
As he spoke, he noticed Tohsaka Tokiomi standing in the corner.
Tokiomi was staring at the Servant in the hall, looking like he wanted to say something but did not dare. Cold sweat had unknowingly formed on his forehead.
Even when facing the King of Heroes, he had never been so flustered.
'Just who is this Servant?'
Gilgamesh stepped forward and lifted his head to get a clear look at the Servant before him.
Golden twin tails fell naturally over her shoulders.
She wore a gorgeous dress embroidered with golden threads.
Beneath the hem, a pair of small, delicate, snow-white feet peeked out.
She was still toying with a bright red gemstone in her hand. She looked up at Gilgamesh and said with a smiling face, "Goldie, long time no see."
═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═
[email protected]/AmbitiousTranslator
🥳Joining P@treon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please consider joining.🥰 You can access upto 20 advance chapter through P@treon.