Chapter 1185 1178 Freed From This Tragic Fate

Chapter 1185 Freed from this tragic fate

Weber himself could feel the magic power absorbed by Rider through the magic circuit. The burning feeling in his chest just now has completely disappeared, replaced by a fierce feeling of fatigue. The strength of the whole body seems to have been drained away, and even moving fingers and opening eyes have become difficult.

"... What? Big 11 votes? What are you going to do next?"

"Well. It's like this... Tonight, first of all, Saber is the opponent. Attack the castle in the forest again."

"Aren't you going to chat with them?"

"Of course not. The alliance is over, and everything that needs to be said has been said. Now it's time to fight with real swords and guns."

Although Rider's voice is still bold, the hidden vigilance can still be heard in it. Even for Rider, that Saber is definitely a strong enemy. He has long been prepared for a magnificent and fierce battle.

"...If you continue in this state, how much can you recover by the evening?"

"Well...if everything goes well. 'God's Wheel' cannot exert its maximum power yet, but there is no problem with simple flight."

Then the spirit seemed to think for a while and continued with a sigh.

"But 'King's Army' - I'm afraid I can only use it once in the future."

"Oh..."

It is a blessing in disguise that I still have an ace in my hand.

"This should be saved for the battle with Archer. I can't deal with the golden guy's ultimate move without an ace. As for other enemies, they can be dealt with as long as the chariot is deployed."

Although there is no problem with this in terms of strategy. But Waver suddenly had a new question in his mind.

"But... Rider, why did you choose Saber as your opponent?"

"Hmm?"

"Didn't you say that you don't care about that guy anymore? And considering your current situation, shouldn't you try to reduce the number of battles in the future?

As for Archer... forget it, that was some weird agreement you made on your own initiative, and you can't go back on it now. But forget about the battle with Saber, it's better to wait for other Servants to destroy her."

Hearing Waver's serious suggestion, Rider couldn't help but laugh.

"Hey, kid. If I could extend my finger, I would flick your forehead hard."

"What? What's wrong!? Isn't what I said the most correct strategy?"

If Rider's physical form was here, Waver would definitely cover his forehead with both hands, but now the opponent is in a spirit state, so the short magus also seems to be tougher than usual.

"Saber must be defeated by me. This is my duty as a fellow Heroic Spirit."

"...What do you mean?"

"That foolish woman, if she is not defeated by me, will continue on her wrong path. That would be too pitiful for her."

Although it was difficult for Waver to understand Rider's words.\nHe still understood the feelings of this King of Conquerors who had ignored the Holy Grail War.

So as a Master, it would be better to give up this unnecessary plan - in fact, Waver himself did not have the optimism that he could rely on others to kill Saber. This Servant called Saber was too powerful. Archer, another powerful rival, the mysterious Golden Servant. In Waver's opinion, he was very scheming, and it was basically impossible to let him fight Saber before Rider and both sides would lose.

So for Rider, a head-on confrontation with Saber was basically inevitable.

"...Forget it, if that's what you want...okay..."

Although Waver wanted to refute a few more words, he realized that no matter what he said, it was meaningless, and finally gave up. Waver gradually became too tired to sleep, and lay down in the brand new sleeping bag, feeling the warmth of the duvet.

"Okay, don't insist. Go to sleep, kid. Rest is your battle now."

"Hmm..."

Although there are still many things to say.\n But I'll talk about them after I wake up. Talking to Rider without a physical form, although I don't have to be on guard against him flicking my forehead, it always feels like something is missing. And no matter what, even speaking now feels very tiring. I'd better have a good sleep.

So Waver gradually relaxed his almost exhausted body and fell into a deep sleep.

-

37:02:47

When Irisviel opened her eyes again, the first thing she saw was the sunset light that dyed the skylight of the underground warehouse into a crimson red.

Because she lost consciousness, it seemed that the whole day had disappeared, and she had been in a deep sleep. Now this gradually collapsing body is more like a state of suspended animation than sleep.

But the current condition is not bad, it seems that resting for such a long time has had some effect. Although I still don’t have the strength to sit up, at least I still have the strength to speak.

Irisviel looked to the side and found Kuu Maiya still sitting motionless in a corner of the wall like a mural. She maintained the same posture and position as Irisviel before going to bed. But from the sharp blade-like gaze emanating from her eyes, there was no trace of fatigue or laziness, she was just looking blankly at a certain corner in the air.

Her appearance not only makes people feel reliable, but also makes people mistakenly think that she is a familiar or a robot. Even Irisviel couldn't help but feel a certain degree of fear towards her. What kind of training and mental toughness is required to maintain this level of concentration? It is really unimaginable.

With a little awe, Irisviel suddenly thought that the woman known as Kuu Maiya might have reached a state beyond the realm that Kiritsugu was pursuing.

"—Hey, Maiya."

Irisviel called her softly. Maiya immediately turned her attention to Irisviel like a hound who heard the dog whistle.

"Why are you fighting for Kiritsugu?"

"...Because other than that, I have nothing."

After figuring out that the person he was protecting was not in any pain or discomfort and just wanted to chat, Maiya calmed down his nervousness a little and thought quietly for a moment before answering.

"I can't remember my family or my name. The name Kuu Maiya was given to me by Kiritsugu in order to forge a passport."

"--Why?"

Seeing Irisviel's surprised expression, Maiya raised the corner of her mouth and smiled. For her, who showed no expression at all, this was the maximum indication of her relaxed atmosphere.

"All I can remember is that it was a very poor country. There was no hope, no future. Just hatred for each other and robbing each other of food to survive.

The war will never end. It is clear that there is no money to maintain the army, but the killings between each other continue all the time... At that time, I don't know whose idea it was. Rather than conscripting soldiers for training, it would be faster to just send children to the front lines with guns. "

"..."

"So I can't remember what happened before I picked up the gun. In this way, in order to extend my life, I can only keep killing. Snipe the enemy and hold the trigger tightly. This is the only function left in my whole body, and the rest are all Abandoned... The children who couldn't do this were killed by the children who could do this. Then I lived in this way until I met Kiritsugu."

Maiya lowered her head and looked at her hands as she spoke. The slender and long fingers are not as gentle as a woman should be, and can only remind people of sharp weapons.

"As a human being, my inner heart is dead. Only my external organs are still active and maintain human activities. And the person who picked me up to maintain my 'life' is Kiritsugu, so my life can be left to him. To use it...that’s why I stay here.”

Although Irisviel had long had a premonition that Maiya had a miserable life experience, but hearing these things told by her now was far beyond Irisviel's initial imagination.

Irisviel was silent and speechless, but this time it was Maiya who asked first.

"Compared to me... Madam, your persistence is even more surprising."

"--Why?"

Irisviel, who had never expected Maiya to say such a thing, couldn't help but be surprised.

"You have been growing up in such a closed castle and know very little about the outside world. Why are you so supportive of Kiritsugu who is determined to change the world, even at the expense of your own life..."

"I--"

Maiya’s words once again made Irisviel fall into deep thought.

Emiya Kiritsugu, a husband whose ideal is to "save the world". After learning that what he is pursuing is the Holy Grail hidden in his body, can I still have the same thoughts as him now?

"——Yes. Actually, I don't quite understand Kiritsugu's ideals."

Yes, the answer is - no.

"In the end, I still pretend to understand. Maybe it's just to be with the one I love. Just like Maiya said, I have almost no understanding of the world that Kiritsugu wants to change. In my heart Maybe it’s just something Kiritsugu taught me.”

"...Do you think that's the case?"

"Yeah. But we have to keep it a secret from Kiritsugu."

This was an incredible feeling for Irisviel. Words that she would never say in front of her husband were actually said in front of this man.

"No matter when, I will tell him that I firmly believe that he is right. For his ideal, I will even sacrifice my own life. I pretend to have the same ideal with him. If I share the same ideal with him, , and if you sacrifice your life for that ideal——compared to a woman who simply sacrifices for her husband, then it won’t be a burden to Kiritsugu, right?”

"I see."

My love for Kiritsugu and my trust in Saber are two completely different feelings. The feeling of dependence. For Irisviel, this feeling that I felt for the first time can be roughly called "friendship".

"Then, madam, don't you have any wishes of your own?"

When asked this question again, Irisviel couldn't help but recall the battle in the forest with Maiya. At that time, in front of the overwhelming and powerful existence of Kotomine Kirei, where did her fighting spirit come from?

"I hope... I hope Kiritsugu and Saber can win, and I hope they can seize the Holy Grail."

Of course, that also means Irisviel's death, and that will be her final farewell to Kiritsugu.

But even so, this wish is the source of the courage that surges in Irisviel's heart.

"Is this... the so-called achievement of the third magic, the long-cherished wish of the Einzbern family?"

"No. Even if we don't reach the Holy Grail, it's fine. What I hope is that the battle will end forever. Just like what Kiritsugu pursues, change the structure of this world and end all struggles. This war for the Holy Grail in Fuyuki City is no exception, right?

This is the fourth time, and I hope this will be the last Holy Grail War. I hope I will be the last android sacrificed as the container of the Holy Grail."

At this point, Maiya finally understood the hidden meaning of Irisviel's words.

"...Are you talking about your daughter?"

"Yes."

Iliasviel von Einzbern. The product of alchemy that was fertilized by a magician in the mother's body of an android. Although she had not seen it with her own eyes, Maiya had heard of her existence.

"This is the clan leader's plan. The 'Guardian of the Holy Grail' after me will use a more powerful android. Not only will the secret of the Holy Grail be implanted in the fetus, but a magic circuit will also be added to its exterior so that its body can become a container for the 'Holy Grail'.

The clan leader had foreseen the possibility of the 'Fifth' Holy Grail War long before the start of this 'Fourth' Holy Grail War, so he let me give birth to Ilya. If Kiritsugu and I fail, then that child will be used as a test bed for the 'Heavenly Clothes'."

Irisviel's voice was filled with the warmth of family affection at this time.

This is the ironclad evidence that this android called Irisviel is by no means a simple android. She has a human heart. The kindness of a lover, a happy smile, and sad tears. The warmth contained in her heart. It is the most critical part of being a human.

"When I held the child and fed her... I knew very well in my heart that this child would eventually become a 'container'. Can you understand the feelings of a mother who feels boundless despair in front of her beloved child?"

"..."

Maiya remained silent and did not answer. Irisviel continued.

"But this is the fate of the Einzbern family's androids. Whether it is that child or my granddaughter, every time a daughter is born, they will experience this sadness. Every time the Holy Grail of Fuyuki descends, this fate will repeat.

So I hope to end this pain here. Use my body to end the paranoia of the Einzbern family. If my wish can be realized, then my daughter will be freed from this tragic fate. That child can live out her entire life as a human being without any connection to the Holy Grail."