Chapter 702: Ren: I'm Here to Marry Irisviel!
The culprits behind yet another mysterious "gas explosion" in Fuyuki City—Ren and his valiant Servant, Ria—had already vanished from the chaotic scene.
Leaving the smoking crater of the Matou estate behind, they traveled north, far away from the bustling urban district.
Their destination was a place forgotten by time and civilization.
Deep within the dense, snow-covered forests that surrounded the outskirts of Fuyuki lay the hidden domain of the Einzbern family.
Ria had already deactivated her Spirit Form and changed into a set of modern casual clothes Ren had provided—a simple white blouse and a long blue skirt that complemented her eyes.
Wearing heavy magical armor all the time looked very strange, especially when walking with a child.
"Is it... snowing here?"
Sakura Matou, walking between them, looked up in wonder.
Her small hand was tightly holding Ren's warm palm. She extended her other hand timidly, trying to catch the pristine white snowflakes falling from the grey sky.
Tip.
A snowflake landed on her pale skin and melted instantly.
"Huh, it's not cold at all!" Sakura exclaimed, her purple eyes widening.
Normally, the bitter cold of the Einzbern forest would freeze an ordinary human to the bone within minutes. It was a Bounded Field designed to repel intruders.
But Sakura felt nothing but a gentle coolness.
Ren gently squeezed her small hand, a soft, invisible barrier shimmering around them.
"How could I let my adorable Sakura get cold?" Ren said softly, his voice warm amidst the blizzard. "The cold can't touch you as long as I'm here."
"Oh..." Sakura's cheeks flushed a healthy pink. "So it was Brother Ren who did it."
Sakura was extremely happy and sweet.
For a girl who had known only darkness and pain in the worm pit, this treatment felt like a dream. Brother Ren not only saved her from the terrifying bugs but also cared for her comfort in such minute details.
It would be wonderful if I could marry Brother Ren in the future, she thought innocently.
Sakura's little head was filled with gratitude that was slowly morphing into a childish, yet profound, adoration.
"Master, this is...?"
Ria looked ahead, her knight's intuition tingling.
Through the veil of snow, a massive structure loomed. It was a medieval castle, stark and imposing against the white landscape. It felt less like a home and more like a fortress of solitude.
"The Einzbern Castle," Ren answered with a mysterious smile. "Sakura's home from now on."
"My... home?" Sakura blinked.
"Yes. A place where no bugs exist."
With that assurance, he led them towards the massive iron gates.
As soon as their footsteps crunching on the snow crossed the invisible boundary line—
"Stop!!!"
A sharp cry cut through the wind.
Two maids emerged from the shadows of the gatehouse. They were identical in attire—traditional maid uniforms—and appearance, with white hair and crimson eyes that marked them as homunculi of the Einzbern line.
However, their demeanor was vastly different.
The one on the left, Leysritt, held a giant magical halberd that looked far too heavy for her slender frame. Her expression was dull, almost robotic.
The one on the right, Sella, held no weapon but radiated a strict, disciplined aura. She was the one who had shouted.
"Who are you?" Sella questioned, her eyes narrowing suspiciously. "Why have you trespassed into Einzbern territory without permission? This is private land."
Ria stopped, her hand instinctively moving to her side, though she carried no sword in this form.
She could sense the disparity in power. The halberd-wielder, Leysritt, had significant combat potential, boasting immense physical strength. Sella, however, was a mage-type, delicate but skilled in bounded fields.
Ren didn't stop walking. He smiled calmly, looking at the two guards as if they were welcoming committees.
"I've come to propose."
"???"
At these words, everyone present froze.
The winter wind seemed to stop blowing for a second.
From little Sakura to the stoic Ria, and even the emotionless Leysritt, they all looked at him in shock.
"P-Propose?!" Sella stammered, her composure cracking.
Sakura tugged his hand urgently. She looked up with wide eyes and whispered, "Brother Ren... proposing... is that getting married?"
"Something like that," Ren replied casually.
"Oh..." Sakura's face fell slightly, but then she puffed up her cheeks with determination. "If Brother Ren wants to, Sakura... Sakura can too! I can be a bride!"
Sakura said with courage, her jealousy flaring up in the cutest way possible.
Ren chuckled and patted her head. "Sakura, you're still too young. Give it ten years."
"Wuwu..."
Sakura lowered her head in disappointment, kicking the snow. It was true that she was too young. If only she could grow up quickly like the big sister next to him...
Speaking of the big sister...
"Master... what... what are you saying?"
Ria's question carried a sour taste she couldn't quite understand herself. It tasted like vinegar.
After Ren had touched her 'firsts' multiple times before—the kiss, the mana transfer, the intimacy—unconsciously, Ria's feelings towards Ren had become very special. She viewed herself as his... partner.
And now he was walking into a strange castle to propose to someone else?
Am I just a mana battery to him? The King of Knights felt a rare pang of insecurity.
However, Ren pretended not to notice the dangerous glint in Ria's emerald eyes. He said indifferently, "Just watch. It's part of the plan."
He turned to the stunned maids and raised his right arm.
He rolled up his sleeve, revealing the intricate, glowing red tattoos that spiraled up his arm.
The Command Seals.
Sella's eyes narrowed instantly. Leysritt lowered her halberd slightly.
They recognized the mark. It was the absolute proof of a Master in the Holy Grail War. But they had never seen so many Command Seals on one person.
Thinking of something, Sella, the more diplomatic of the two, signaled Leysritt to stand down.
"Wait here," Sella commanded curtly.
With that, she turned and walked quickly back into the castle, her footsteps hurried.
"..."
The group stood in the snow. Leysritt stared blankly at Ren, then at the halberd in her hand, as if wondering if she should still attack.
Ria could only stare at Ren with a lingering, complicated gaze. She wanted to ask, but her knightly code demanded she trust her Master.
A few minutes later.
The heavy oak doors creaked open. Sella emerged, her breath visible in the cold air.
She whispered something into Leysritt's ear, and the combat maid finally lowered her weapon completely, stepping aside.
Sella bowed stiffly. "The Family Head invites you in."
"Let's go."
...
[Location: Einzbern Castle - Main Reception Hall]
Under the guidance of the two maids, the three entered the luxurious castle.
The interior was breathtaking. High vaulted ceilings, crystal chandeliers, and red velvet carpets. It was a palace of ice and royalty.
Even Sakura, who used to live in the affluent Tohsaka household before her hellish adoption, couldn't help but be attracted by the lavish decorations. But unlike the Tohsaka home, this place felt empty. Sterile.
They arrived at the grand reception room. A fireplace roared with magical fire, providing the only warmth in the vast space.
Three people were already waiting there.
Sitting on the main throne-like chair was an old man. He had a long white beard, sharp red eyes, and skin that looked like parchment.
This was Jubstacheit von Einzbern, also known as Old Man Acht, the current head of the Einzbern family and the oldest Golem master.
Standing beside him was a woman who seemed to be the very definition of elegance. She had pristine white hair, crimson eyes, and a figure that was nearly perfect in its proportions. She wore a red dress that accentuated her dignity.
Irisviel von Einzbern.
And hiding behind her skirt, peeking out with shy curiosity, was a young girl. A miniature version of Irisviel.
Illyasviel von Einzbern.
Ren's eyes swept over them. He knew the history of this timeline perfectly.
He knew that Kiritsugu Emiya had failed to summon a Servant. Or rather, the Servant he was destined to summon—Artoria—had been intercepted by Ren.
Because he failed to summon a Servant, and his Command Seals inexplicably vanished (stolen by Ren), Kiritsugu was deemed useless by the Einzberns.
He ultimately did not marry Irisviel. He was sent away by Old Man Acht with a bag of money and a memory wipe regarding the Holy Grail War secrets.
So how was Illya born without a father?
Even Ren was initially surprised by the twists and turns involved.
Originally, Old Man Acht intended to use Kiritsugu Emiya's and Irisviel's genes to create a child through artificial human technology—a perfect blend of human magecraft and homunculus durability.
However, after Kiritsugu's failure and expulsion, the genetic material that had already been cultivated using Irisviel's base began to mutate strangely.
It reacted to the lingering traces of the Third Magic in the castle.
Illya was conceived solely from Irisviel's genes, a form of parthenogenesis triggered by the Grail's will.
Even stranger, under Old Man Acht's examination, Illya turned out to be the most perfect artificial human in the Einzbern history. She was a natural-born Lesser Grail with immense magical circuits.
So, she remained as Irisviel's daughter, raised in the castle, waiting for the war.
Irisviel calmly gazed at Ren. Her expression was serene, almost doll-like, but there was a flicker of intelligence behind those red eyes.
Illya, on the other hand, was both scared and curious about the little girl (Sakura) who was holding the stranger's hand.
Old Man Acht's sharp gaze swept over Sakura (noting her Matou magical signature with disgust) and Ria (sensing her power with caution), finally resting on Ren.
"Esteemed guest," the old man rasped, his voice sounding like grinding stones. "You broke through our Bounded Field without triggering an alarm. Impressive. How may I address you?"
Ren calmly took the tea offered by Sella, sat down on the sofa opposite the old man, and replied, "Ren."
Old Man Acht slightly furrowed his brow at the lack of a family name. "Ren. Let's be direct. You are a Master. Why have you come to the Einzbern?"
"State your purpose."
"I appreciate your straightforward approach," Ren said, placing the teacup down with a soft clink.
He leaned back, crossing his legs comfortably.
Then, he pointed his finger directly at the beautiful woman standing by the fireplace.
"As I said to your maid before I came... I am here to propose marriage. I am here to marry her."
"..."
Silence descended on the room.
The fire crackled loudly in the quiet.
Irisviel tilted her head, her eyes blinking in genuine confusion. She pointed at herself. "Me?"
She was an artificial human. A tool. The concept of marriage was foreign to her, something she had only read about in books. Why had this stranger come for her?
Before Old Man Acht could explode in anger at the absurdity, Ren moved.
He didn't attack. He simply rolled up his sleeve again.
"Ria."
Ren spoke one word.
"Yes, Master."
With his command, Ria instantly understood.
Flash!
A burst of magical energy swirled around her. The casual clothes dissolved into motes of light, replaced instantly by silver armor and a blue battle dress.
An invisible wind raged around her, concealing the golden sword in her hands.
She transformed from a girl next door into a valiant, terrifying Knight in an instant! The pressure she released made the crystal chandelier rattle.
"Servant!"
Old Man Acht blurted out, standing up from his chair. His eyes widened as he stared at the invisible sword.
"That wind... That pressure..."
Ren smiled, "I believe you should be very familiar with her. The class you desired the most. The King of Knights of ancient Great Britain, King Arthur... Artoria Pendragon."
"!!!"
Old Man Acht froze.
Wasn't that the Servant he had prepared for Kiritsugu Emiya to summon? The catalyst, Avalon, was still in their vault!
He had a guess in his heart, a terrifying one. "Did you... Did you steal the summons? Did you take the Command Seals from Kiritsugu Emiya? How did you do it?"
"At a time like this, does the 'how' really matter?"
Ren smiled faintly, his eyes locking with the old man's.
"You want the Third Magic. You want the Heaven's Feel—the Materialization of the Soul. You want the Einzbern wish to be granted after a thousand years of failure."
Ren stood up and walked towards Irisviel. Ria followed him closely, her guard up.
"I can make it happen for you. I can win this war effortlessly."
He stopped in front of Irisviel, who looked up at him with wide, innocent eyes.
"But," Ren turned back to Acht, his voice dropping an octave, filled with absolute authority. "On the condition that Irisviel marries me."
"And the Einzbern family... belongs to me."
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