In the cool morning air, Emiya Kiritsugu had already appeared in front of an abandoned house in Fukayama Town.

As an old building that has been built for more than a few decades, it has not undergone any repairs and transformations, and there are even mud barns built in the previous era in the courtyard, which he bought for Alice Phil as a reserve base. Considering that the city of Einzbelen outside the city has also been attacked by the enemy, it is definitely not pointless to buy this hidden location.

Saber is not here. I can sense Serrant's presence through the spell, but now I don't feel it at all. I'm afraid she's on her way to Rider's base right now, and Kiritsugu, who realizes this, plans to catch up with her.

A trainee magician like Webber would have had the hang of him and could easily assassinate him - but that would have to wait until Saber had lured the enemy Servant away.

Although the location of the target had been determined, Kiritsugu did not go directly to the scene. Instead, they rushed to the abandoned house that was used as a temporary base.

It wasn't his instinct, but a combination of factors...... I'm afraid this will be his last chance to communicate with his wife.

No, it must not be the last, after all, there is still that possibility, isn't it?

However, before that was actually done, he had to talk to his wife again.

Now that two Servants have already died, Alice Phil, who is the "vessel" of the Holy Grail, knows very well what the state is. If his heart was very fragile, he would never come here.

Seeing his wife now is a test for Kiritsugu. It is a punishment for oneself.

To be the sacrifice of the Holy Grail that one desires, one needs to sacrifice the life of the woman one loves so much - one must face up to this reality. And it does not show even the slightest wavering.

If he can overcome this test, then Emiya Kiritsugu will definitely be able to overcome all inner entanglements and no longer have any hesitation. He will hold the Holy Grail in his hands with the precision and certainty of a machine.

Therefore, this is the last and biggest test for oneself, which is called a combat weapon.

If you haven't endured it...... That means that this man called Emiya Kiritsugu has all the ideals in his chest that is just that.

Kiritsugu stood in front of the door of the underground warehouse and knocked on the door a few times. Soon Maiya opened the heavy iron door from within.

Before he could say a word, Kiritsugu noticed the change in Maiya.

Maiya, who was full of cold and empty gaze at all times, had a nervous look flashing in her eyes now, as if it was Kiritsugu's appearance that made her feel shaken.

“…… Are you here to visit Madame? ”

Kiritsugu nodded wordlessly. Maiya lowered her head and whispered.

"Her state, now ......"

"I know, I know everything."

Anyway, Kiritsugu had to see with his own eyes what was going on in the underground warehouse, and he was mentally prepared for it - Maiya, who knew this, didn't say anything more to get out of the way, and then walked to the outside of the underground warehouse.

In a corner of the gloomy underground warehouse, Alice Phil lies quietly in a magic circle full of magic pulsations. This figure evokes Kiritsugu's memory.

The same goes for Kiritsugu's initial encounter with Alice Phil. He was taken by Patriarch Ahad to Alice Phil, who was sleeping in the deepest part of the Ainzbelen family's workshop, in the amniotic trough.

As a vessel for the Holy Grail, a device that has only a few years of service life, why should it be given such a beautiful appearance? At that time, I really felt incredible.

Is this guy the Holy Grail? When she asked the old magician beside her, she suddenly opened her eyes, which had been asleep. Look through the amniotic fluid floating in front of you and look into your eyes. Filled with a deep crimson gaze, Kiritsugu was completely seduced, and he still can't forget it.

Now, almost exactly the same as then.

Alice Fell opened her eyes and looked at Kiritsugu. Then he smiled softly.

"Ahh

Alice Phil reached out and stroked Kiritsugu's cheek.

It's just such a simple action, for Alice Phil now. It also required considerable physical exertion - the slight spasm of her cold fingers illustrated this fact.

Isn't it a dream? You're really—coming to see me again—"

"Ahh Oh, yes. ”

It was easier than I expected, and I was able to say it smoothly. It's the same when you shoot down Natalia. Words and actions do not affect each other at all. It doesn't matter how entangled your heart is. It doesn't matter how messy the feelings are. Both hands are able to complete the task with great precision.

To be able to win - I believe in that.

Now Emiya Kiritsugu has everything in place. The reliability of its functions can be guaranteed.

Strength as a human being has never been something that Kiritsu has considered. No matter how confused or painful he is, he can't affect his work, and for Kiritsugu, his sense of purpose is systematic, and he can work completely without any disturbances.

From this point of view, it is precisely because of the fatal flaw of being a human being that he is the most perfect as a device.

"I ...... Feeling very happy......"

Alice Fell gently stroked the cheek of a man who could only be called a machine and whispered.

"To be able to fall in love with you...... Marry you...... I have a husband, I have a daughter, and I have been ...... for a few years You gave me everything I wanted...... I don't have any regrets anymore, everything in this world, all the happiness I have ......"

“…… I'm sorry, but there are many, many promises that haven't been fulfilled. ”

I once said that I would take you away from the castle where it was winter all year round. Look at the flowers blooming outside, and look at the sparkling sea.

I once promised you that sooner or later I would take you out to see all this.

Now recall. What an irresponsible agreement.

"No, it's already good. Well. ”

Alice Phil did not complain about the vows that could not be fulfilled. Smiled slightly.

"Take those happiness that I didn't feel...... Give the rest to Elia. Your daughter, my most important Elia. ”

At this time, Kiritsugu finally understood the reason why Alice Phil, who was obviously on the verge of destruction, was able to smile so strongly.

"You must take that kid with you."

A mother who pins her hopes on her child has no fear.

That's why she smiled and faced her demise without fear.

"Let that kid show me everything I haven't seen before...... Let her see. Cherry blossoms in spring, white clouds in summer......"

"I see."

Kiritsugu nodded.

It's a pointless act for a machine that only knows how to take the Holy Grail, and another agreement that makes no sense at all.

But even so, as a human being nods his head.

But get the Holy Grail yourself. After fulfilling his long-cherished wish to save the world...... The machine that has completed its mission will turn back into a human again, right?

At that time, he will definitely remember the promise he made to his wife. Then, do your duty as a father and love your children well.

That's in the near future, and it will happen in just a few days.

But - not now.

"This ...... To return it to ......"

Alice Phil trembled and placed her hands on her chest, then concentrated the magic of her whole body on her fingertips.

Suddenly, a golden glow shone from her hands, which had nothing at all, enveloping the entire warehouse in a warm glow.

“…………”

Kiritsugu held his breath and watched everything in front of him. The light gradually turns into a silhouette. Then it turned into a shiny, metallic object and fell into Alice Phil's hands.

The scabbard of gold.

"Alice ......"

"This ...... It's something that's very necessary for you. In the final battle, it will definitely be useful......"

Alice Field's voice was weaker than before.

It was only natural that Alice Phil, who had taken refuge in the magic circle in the underground warehouse in order to slow down her destruction, had separated from her body the last of the miracle artifacts that protected her, the "Ideal Land Far from the World" sealed in her body as a conceptual weapon.

"I ...... No problem. There's Maiya here to protect me...... So ......"

“…… I understand. ”

Analyze the words calmly.

Originally, it was a treasure possessed by Saber. The "Ideal Country Away from the World" can be used to provide magic to Serrant. And now that Alice Phil can no longer participate in the frontline battles with Saber, it is not strategic to continue equipping her with the "Ideal Country Far from the World".

Even if this Noble Phantasm can slow down the speed of her destruction, it will not help the big picture.

-- The most correct decision now is to get this treasure back.

Kiritsugu took the golden scabbard. Then he put his weakened wife's body on the cold floor and stood up.

"So. I'm leaving. ”

"Hmm—take care."

The words of farewell were very brief.

Emiya Kiritsugu turned and walked out.

……

There were some things that Kiritsugu didn't say.

He didn't tell Alice Phil about it. That could have saved her life.

Because it wasn't certain at all, although Kiritsugu tried to do it, he still hid it from Alice Phil.

Kiritsugu is a calm and cruel person, but he still thinks about it for his wife, and it will be good if things turn out, but if it fails, it won't bring additional blows.

"That's good." He muttered to himself, "The man named Ryunosuke has already said that the collection is almost complete, so he returned to that person." Hopefully, there's no problem with saving Alice Phil, or I'll kill you. ”

Thinking of this, he showed a moment of murderous aura.

But he soon cleaned up his mood, after all, in addition to saving his wife, the most important thing was the Holy Grail War.

Soon, he will face a battle.

Webb and Rider, too, are a pair of fierce rivals.

Kiritsugu didn't dare to think about anything else in such an important battle, and he wouldn't take it lightly.

He was even prepared for the worst, ready for the worst, even if Li Amen's side failed, his wife would still have to die in the end.

With this cold and inhuman heart formed by his own compulsion, Kiritsugu is about to go to the battlefield.

……

Maiya, who was standing outside waiting, couldn't help but gasp when she saw Kiritsugu coming out of the underground warehouse.

Of course, she didn't know the true meaning of the shining Noble Phantasm that she was holding in Kiritsugu's hands now. In fact, what surprised Maiya was the change in Kiritsugu himself after coming out of the underground warehouse.

"I'm going to kill Rider's Master today. Saber has already gone first, right? ”

“…… Yes. This morning, not long before you come here. ”

"Very well—Maimi, I'll continue to ask you for Alice Phil's escort."

"Yes...... Hmm, Kiritsugu? ”

Just as Kiritsugu was about to walk out of the door, Maiya stopped him in confusion.

"What's wrong?"

Maiya looked at Kiritsugu's turned eyes, stared at them for a while, sighed slightly, and then lowered her head and said,

"Finally, it's back. That kind of expression you used to have. ”

“…… Is it. ”

After whispering a reply, Kiritsu continued to walk out the door without looking back. (To be continued......)