Chapter 30: Post-War Debriefing

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My name is Illya, and I am leafing through "Public Speaking and Eloquence."
174:00:00
When Ryunosuke Uryu returned to the Tohsaka residence, he arrived just in time for the "reset" of the Assassin.
Although the Assassin summoned this time could split into dozens of manifestations—meaning the destruction of a copy would not affect the main body and would even grant intelligence gained prior to its demise—they were ideal pawns for this war. However, their numbers were not infinite. To be precise, a maximum of seventy-nine manifestations could be generated within a single day, a count that would "reset" at midnight.
To conduct reconnaissance, Kirei Kotomine had already dispatched all of the Assassin’s manifestations. Aside from "empathy," the only way to obtain information was to wait for the slain manifestations to reappear after the "reset" and interrogate them.
Because a skirmish had occurred today, Tokiomi Tohsaka needed the specific details of that battle. He was waiting alongside Kirei, while the main body of the Assassin, a young girl named Amil, was fast asleep, clutching the sleeve of the priest's cassock.
Heroic Spirits do not inherently require sleep, but Amil did not even know she was an Assassin. Her lifestyle habits were more akin to those of a human; not only did she need to eat, but she also grew drowsy and slept after dark.
Midnight arrived. Clusters of black mist began to swirl around the sleeping girl. Most of them had been killed during the battle between Lancer and Rider. One manifestation, which had fallen last, provided a supplement regarding the combat situation, while the others, possessing no special intelligence, dissipated shortly after appearing.
"So, Kiritsugu Emiya appeared, but you failed to capture him in the end." Tokiomi Tohsaka waved his hand to dismiss the Assassin, analyzing the situation thoughtfully: "That implies he is actually quite powerful, or perhaps he possesses some form of magecraft capable of dealing with Heroic Spirits, allowing him to act boldly even when Saber is not by his side."
"The 'Magus Killer' does not earn such a reputation without cause," Kirei Kotomine agreed. "Had we been pursuing him with a class possessing Magic Resistance, perhaps he would not have escaped so easily."
"Damn it!" A patch of black mist, denser than the others, swirled up. A tall Assassin wielding a scimitar appeared: "I should have struck sooner!"
"You were not killed by Lancer or Rider. I remember ordering you to monitor a suspicious small speedboat," Kirei Kotomine turned his gaze toward him. "Could it be that Kiritsugu Emiya killed you?"
Among the eighty manifestations of the Assassin, five were special existences with their own names. They each possessed one attribute higher than the others, leading Ryunosuke to jokingly name them the "Four Heavenly Kings." Since Amil had the highest Luck, she was not included.
This Assassin manifestation was "Makur," the one with enhanced Agility. He could instantly boost his speed to an exaggerated degree, which was why he hadn't been killed by the Thunder Chariot while ambushing Rider’s Master. Kirei wanted to know who had defeated him and how.
"It was Caster! Just as I was about to succeed, Caster saved Kiritsugu Emiya!" the Assassin said, deeply frustrated.
"We previously suspected an alliance between the Saber and Caster camps; now, we can confirm it." Tokiomi Tohsaka nodded, picking up the Caster piece that had been at the Einzbern Castle and placing it near the container terminal.
"Then, what was Caster’s appearance and what magecraft did she use?" Kirei continued.
"This... I am not sure." Faced with Kirei Kotomine’s inquiry, the Assassin looked somewhat embarrassed: "I suddenly lost control of my body, and then I received a heavy blow to the head."
"So you were busy showing off your speed, were you?" Ryunosuke Uryu walked into the room with Berserker.
"It seems you had some success, Ryunosuke, am I right? You certainly caused quite a stir." Tokiomi Tohsaka smiled, then withdrew the crystal piece representing Berserker at the container terminal back to the Tohsaka residence.
"Yes, Master. I think I need to use the Binding Chamber," Ryunosuke pointed to the black-clad woman being carried by the Heroic Spirit behind him: "To imprison a female human who knows a bit of magecraft and is skilled with a gun."
"If you hadn't added that qualifier, I would have thought you had captured Kiritsugu Emiya." Kirei Kotomine waved for the embarrassed Makur to step back: "Who is she?"
"Well, I believe she is an assistant or subordinate of some kind. She controlled many familiars and was trying to coordinate with Kiritsugu Emiya at the terminal. Although she carried a communicator, there is no response from the other end." Ryunosuke looked at Tokiomi Tohsaka: "She might know something about Kiritsugu Emiya."
"Well done, Ryunosuke. This woman is likely his eyes and ears. Without her, Kiritsugu Emiya will not be able to conduct reconnaissance easily, which will hinder his actions," Tokiomi Tohsaka smiled and picked up a glass of red wine: "However, there is no need for interrogation. The Tohsaka family can win without resorting to such methods. Keep her locked up until the war ends, or until Kiritsugu Emiya fails."
"Then, who was the one chasing you on a motorcycle?" Kirei looked at the back of Ryunosuke’s hand, where one lightning-shaped Command Spell had already vanished.
"It should be Saber, Master. She used a two-handed sword, and Berserker recognized the opponent," Ryunosuke directed the pitch-black Heroic Spirit to lock up Maiya Hisau: "After we launched a probing attack, we discovered we were heavily countered and unable to retreat, so I had to use a Command Spell to escape."
"As a former subordinate, this was inevitable." Tokiomi swirled his wine glass: "Just ensure they do not engage in battle in the future—go and prepare the cell first."

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"Understood, Master." Ryunosuke Uryu followed Berserker, who was carrying the woman, and headed out.
"Master, Rider and Lancer are heading to the Hyatt Hotel." Kirei Kotomine leaned forward and pushed their crystal pieces toward the hotel where Kayneth was staying.
"This is interesting. Seven Masters divided into three camps, all forming alliances with each other."
Tokiomi Tohsaka sipped his red wine, observing the map.
"However, victory will surely belong to us."
173:19:03
Waver felt that the current scene was somewhat familiar.
This scenario—the teacher and his wife walking in front, while he followed timidly behind—was like being called to the office for a scolding if a classmate were with him, or being brought home for a lecture if Reines were nearby.
But now, it was Iskandar, the legendary King of Conquerors, by his side! Chatting happily with Professor Kayneth!
Yet, why did it feel so much like being summoned to meet his parents, where both sides would conspire to lecture him?
And speaking of classmates, Waver glanced at Lancer, who was following silently behind the professor. That expression of "I will listen to whatever the professor says" was far too similar to the class representatives.
As for Reines, Waver turned his head...
"Waaah!"
"Waver?" Perhaps because they had entered the interior of a safe magecraft workshop, Kayneth’s Rider didn't look back; only Sola-Ui stopped and turned her gaze toward him.
"Why, why is Reines here!"
Waver looked on in horror, pointing at the young girl standing beside him. She wore a round beret tilted to the side, a blue-and-white robe resembling a nun's habit, and had shoulder-length brown hair with curled tips. She had a cold, pure-white face.
"Calm down, that is Luna." Sola-Ui looked at the girl who had caused Waver such great fright: "Does this image have combat capability?"
"[No]," Luna stepped forward toward Waver, watching him retreat repeatedly before saying: "[However, Mr. Waver seems to fear this image, so I used it.]"
"Luna? As in the Volumen Hydrargyrum? Haha..." Waver let out a long sigh of relief.
"[Mr. Waver is merely a male human, after all]," Luna raised an eyebrow; her pure-white features looked somewhat strange: "[I will maintain this image while in a non-combat state.]"
"Is... is she angry?" Waver looked at Luna and Sola-Ui as they turned and walked away, feeling confused.
"Although Ms. Luna's original form is indeed a type of magecraft tool, you would do well not to use that tone or attitude," Lancer leaned forward slightly: "Otherwise, you might as well try calling the King of Conquerors a 'familiar'."
"Ah, uh..." Waver stood dazed for a moment, then realized he had been left far behind and scrambled to catch up: "Wait for me!"
"This fortress looks quite impressive! Could it be that you are an excellent magus?"
"That goes without saying! Throughout the Clock Tower, the number of those whose magical talent exceeds mine can be counted on one hand."
He heard his professor and guardian laughing loudly.
She’s not my guardian!
173:08:45

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After seeing Caster’s appearance, Kiritsugu Emiya fully understood why she had been summoned by that girl named Lin Hao—they were both willing to sacrifice themselves to achieve a greater wish.
Although there were still doubts about her claim to be the Saint of Winter, she undoubtedly had a deep connection to the Einzbern family.
The Einzberns had not given him detailed information, but legend had it that the first summoning of the Holy Grail was predicated on the Saint of Winter sacrificing herself.
The same fate was already entwined with his wife, Irisviel. Once the Holy Grail finally descended, she, as the vessel of the Grail, would inevitably vanish.
If Kiritsugu were to fail, then his and Irisviel’s daughter, Illya, would be the next vessel for the Grail.
Illyasviel, the child born from the hopes of Kiritsugu and Irisviel to create "a possibility for the future," must never suffer such an unfortunate fate—as long as—as long as he could win this Holy Grail War.
Even if it meant bearing all the evils of the world, it did not matter.
At this moment, Kiritsugu Emiya had returned to his hideout in a dilapidated hotel with the spiritual form of Caster. Maiya would not be there to open the door for him this time, but this location would soon be unusable anyway.
Once Tokiomi Tohsaka’s faction captured Maiya Hisau, any location connected to her would quickly lose its security. It was not that she would confess, but with the Assassin’s intelligence-gathering capabilities, finding this place by following the trail was only a matter of time.
It was usable for now because the girl-Heroic Spirit who claimed to be the Saint of Winter had laid down a concealment barrier, but once she left, this place would have to be abandoned.
"Your presence must have already been discovered by the Assassin," Kiritsugu said, walking through the rooms to ensure everything was in order, speaking to the invisible Caster.
"You mean the one I stepped on? He saw nothing." Accompanied by drifting silver fluorescent particles, the silver-haired, red-eyed girl appeared in the room.
"I mean the fact that you have joined the war and allied with us," Kiritsugu pulled out a cigarette and lit it.
"Anyone who sees my appearance would know that." Caster flicked her sleeve, freezing the cigarette into an "ice pop" before it shattered into pieces: "Smoking is prohibited in my presence."
"I need you to return to the Einzbern villa and let the monitoring Assassin discover you on purpose," Kiritsugu shook his head and put away his cigarette case: "That way, they will all assume that I, who was attacked, have returned as well."
Given that Saber Alter had engaged in a skirmish, the fact that he had two Sabers would soon be exposed, so it was necessary to do something during this time gap.
"And what do you plan to do?" Caster pointed to the upper floors of the Hyatt Hotel outside the window: "Continue playing the role of the oriole behind the mantis?"
"Of course," Kiritsugu showed a somewhat dangerous expression: "Infiltrate the Tohsaka residence."
Kiritsugu Emiya himself lacked reconnaissance abilities regarding magecraft. If he lost Maiya Hisau’s familiars, he would be extremely passive in terms of intelligence. Furthermore, he could not leave her behind, if only for the sake of their long-standing student-teacher bond.
"What is the plan?" Caster eyed the various weapons he had collected: "Are you planning to barge in with the Black Saber?"
"No, with the confirmation that both Saber and Caster are away from the battlefield, the other two factions will surely clash first," Kiritsugu felt the term 'Black Saber' was quite fitting: "After all, neither Kayneth nor Tokiomi Tohsaka are the type to wait and see; they seek to expand their advantage as soon as they have one. I will infiltrate and rescue her while they are busy fighting each other."
"Hmph... fine. I hope you won't waste another Command Spell." Caster thought for a moment and finally answered.
Click. The door behind him was opened from the outside. Kiritsugu judged that it was the returning Black Saber, but he found it strange that she had returned so long after the battle.
"Pfft!" Caster, who was facing the door, hurriedly covered her mouth to stifle a laugh. Kiritsugu turned around with a sense of foreboding.
Saber Alter was still her usual cold, stern, and unapproachable self, but the two large bags she was carrying perfectly ruined that image.
They were stuffed to the brim with takeout bags featuring the logo of a white-bearded old man or the letter M.