Fate/Zero:Act 13 Part 2

-47:42:07

In the cool morning air, Emiya Kiritsugu had already appeared before a certain abandoned house in Miyama.

It was an old building built many decades ago and didn’t go through any renovations or maintenance. The courtyard was even left with a storage room built in the previous era. This is exactly the place that he bought as a preparatory headquarters for Irisviel. When he thought that even the Einsbern Castle outside the city had already been attacked by enemies, purchasing this hiding spot was definitely not a meaningless move.

Saber was not here. He can feel the Servant’s presence through his Command Seals, but now he didn’t feel anything at all. Perhaps she was on her way towards Rider’s headquarters. Realizing this, Kiritsugu planned to follow her.

It will be very easily to assassinate an apprentice magus like Waver once his hiding spot becomes known – however, he can only make his move once Saber lured away the opposing Servant. Kiritsugu also followed Tōsaka Tokiomi, who left Fuyuki Church by himself, all the way to the Tōsaka house last night, but he didn’t find an opportunity to strike at all. He could feel that Archer was looking over the situation from some unknown location. If he boldly strikes his Master under such a situation, it would have been nothing less than suicide.

Although he had affirmed the target’s location, Kiritsugu didn’t go to the scene straightaway. Instead, he rushed towards this abandoned building that served as temporary headquarters.

It wasn’t his intuition, but a premonition that combined many factors together… he feared that this may be his last chance to communicate with his wife.

Now, with three Servants already fallen in battle, Kiritsugu was very aware of the situation of Irisviel, who was the ‘Vessel’ of the Holy Grail. Had his heart been very fragile, he would never have come here.

The meeting with his wife now is a trial for Kiritsugu, a sort of punishment for himself.

The sacrifice required for the Holy Grail that he seeks is the life of the woman that he loves dearly – he must face that fact, and can not show even a sliver of indecisiveness.

If he can overcome this trial, then the Emiya Kiritsugu from now on would definitely be able to defeat all the sentiments in his heart and have no other doubts. Prudently and concretely, just like a machine, he would certainly hold the Holy Grail in his hands.

Therefore, for the self that was called a weapon of war, this is the final and the greatest test.

If he can not handle it… then that means all the dreams the man called Emiya Kiritsugu has in his chest are nothing at all.

Standing in front of the door leading to the underground storage, Kiritsugu knocked out a pattern according to their agreed password. Soon, Maiya opened the heavy steel doors from within.

Kiritsugu noticed the changes in Maiya before any words were said.

Maiya, who always had eyes full of nonchalance and nihilism no matter what, had a sliver of a nervous expression flit past her eyes as if Kiritsugu’s appearance made her waver.

“… Are you here to visit madam?”

Kiritsugu nodded wordlessly. Maiya lowered her head and said in a low voice.

“Her current situation…”

“I know, I know everything.”

No matter what, Kiritsugu needed to look at the scene in this underground storage with his own eyes. Moreover, he had long been mentally prepared for this – upon understanding this, Maiya didn’t say anymore and stepped out Kiritsugu’s way, then she walked towards the outside of the underground storage.

Irisviel silently lay in the Magic Circle that filled with prana pulsations at the corner of the dim underground storage. This figure recalled Kiritsugu’s memories.

Kiritsugu and Irisviel’s first meeting was also just like so. He was brought by Acht, father of the household, into the deepest part of the Einsbern family workshop, and stood before Irisviel, who was slumbering deeply within a sink of amniotic fluid.

As the Vessel of the Grail – why would they give a contraption with only a few years of usage such a beautiful appearance? Back then, he really felt that was unreasonable.

Is this thing the Holy Grail? She, who was originally deep asleep, suddenly opened her eyes when he asked this question to the old magus beside him. The eyes that stared at him through the amniotic fluid that floated in front of her face and that gaze filled with dark crimson had Kiritsugu completely enthralled. He still could not forget it even today.

Now, it was almost identical to that time.

Irisviel opened her eyes. She and Kiritsugu looked at each other, then she gave a small, gentle smile.

“Ahh – Kiritsugu –”

Irisviel stretched out her hand and caressed Kiritsugu’s face.

Even such a simple movement required the current Irisviel to spend a relatively large amount of energy – her icy cold fingers convulsed a little to portray this fact.

“– Is this a dream? You really – came to see me again – “

“Ahh, yes.”

It was easier than he thought, and he could still easily speak. It was the same when he sank Natalia. Language and actions were not affected at all. No matter how tangled his heart is or how frayed his emotions become, his two hands can still complete the job very precisely.

He can obtain victory – he believes in that firmly.

Now, Emiya Kiritsugu had prepared everything, and can completely guarantee the trustworthiness of his functions. The strength of humans was never something that Kiritsugu was bothered with. No amounts of confusion or anguish can affect his work. For Kiritsugu, his mental system of recognizing a goal and act towards it can function without being disturbed from anything whatsoever.

From this perspective – he is the most perfect as a tool because he has that fatal flaw as a human.

“I… feel very happy…”

Irisviel gently caressed the cheek of the man who can only be called a machine and said softly.

“For being able to fall in love with you… to marry you… to have a husband, to have a daughter. In the fast few years… you gave me everything I wanted… I no longer have any regrets. Everything, all the happiness in this world, I’ve already…”

“… Sorry, there were many many promises that are unfulfilled.”

I had said that I’ll get you out of that eternally wintery castle and go look at the flowers blossoming outside, to look at the sea that sparkled with light on the waves.

I had once promised you that I’ll one day bring you with me and look at all those things.

Now that he remembers it, what an irresponsible promise that was.

“No, it was good enough. Mmm.”

Irisviel didn’t complain about those promises that couldn’t be fulfilled and said with a smile.

“All those happiness that I didn’t experience… all that was left undone, please give them to Illya. Your daughter – my most important Illya.”

At that moment, Kiritsugu finally understood the reason why Irisviel, who was approaching the edge of destruction, could still smile with such strength.

“You must, bring that child there.”

The mother who bestowed her hope onto her child has no fear.

That’s how she can face her own demise with a smile, with no trace of terror.

“Let that child, see everything that I didn’t see in my stead… let her see, the cherry blossoms in the spring, the clouds in summer…”

“I understand.”

Kiritsugu nodded.

For a machine that only knows to obtain the Holy Grail, this is a meaningless action and yet another meaningless promise.

Even so, he would still nod as a human.

After he’s obtained the Holy Grail and fulfilled his wish of saving the world… the machine that finished its duty would change back into a human again, right?

Then, he would definitely remember his promise to his wife. And then, do the duty of a good father and love his child thoroughly.

That’s something for the near future. It can come true after only a few more short days.

However – now isn’t the time.

“This… needs to be returned to…”

Quivering, Irsiviel placed her hand on her chest, and then concentrated all the prana within her onto her fingertips.

Suddenly, in her originally empty hands, a golden light started shining, and enveloped the entire storeroom into with a cover of warm brilliance.

“…”

Holding his breath, Kiritsugu looked upon everything happening before him. The light gradually formed a silhouette, and then turned into an object shining with a metallic sheen and fell into Irisviel’s hands.

The golden scabbard.

“Iri…”

“This… is something very important for you. In the final battle, it’ll be definitely be useful…”

Irisviel’s voice sounded even weaker than before.

That was to be expected. Irisviel, who hid in the Magic Circle in this underground storeroom in order to slow the speed of her destruction, separated the miraculous Noble Phantasm that was the last thing protecting her – Avalon • All is a Distant Utopia, sealed within her as a Conceptual Weapon – from her body using her own hands.

“I… will be fine. Maiya’s here to protect me… therefore…”

“… I understand.”

Upon calm contemplation.

Originally, as Saber’s Noble Phantasm, Avalon has the ability of providing prana to the Servant. Now, since Irisviel can no longer participate in front-line battles with Saber, continuing to equip her with Avalon no longer has any strategic meaning.

Even if this Noble Phantasm can slow the speed of her destruction, it won’t help the bigger picture at all – the most correct choice right now is to repossess this Noble Phantasm from her.

Kiritsugu took the golden scabbard, then placed his wife’s weak body onto the icy cold floor, stood up, and said.

“Then, I’ll be going.”

“Mm – take care.”

The words of farewell were very brief.

Emiya Kiritsugu turned and walked out.

Maiya, who was standing and waiting outside, couldn’t help but draw a sharp breath when she saw Kiritsugu, who came out of the underground storeroom. Of course, she did not know the true meaning of the Noble Phantasm, shining with light, which was currently held in Kiritsugu’s hands. Actually, what surprised Maiya were the changes on Kiritsugu himself after he came out of the underground storeroom.

“We’ll go finish Rider’s Master today. Saber has left already, right?”

“… Yes. Just this morning, not too long ago before you came here.”

“Very good – Maiya, I’ll keep entrusting the job of protecting Irisviel with you.”

“Yes sir… Hmm, Kiritsugu?”

Just as Kiritsugu was about to walk out of the door, Maiya stopped him with a dazed voice.

“What’s wrong?”

Looking at Kiritsugu’s eyes that turned on her, Maiya stared at them for a moment, then took a small sigh and said after lowering her head.

“It’s finally back. The expression that you had back then.”

“… Really?”

After a low reply, Kiritsugu continued walking outside without turning around even once.

Back to Act 13, Part 1

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Forward to Act 13, Part 3