Tanuki Rise of the Yokai Clan

"I-Irisviel..."

Saber felt strangely awkward and was unable to look at Irisviel directly since she felt guilty for some reason. She was summoned to the Holy Grail as a Saber, and as a knight, she vowed to protect her Master, yet here she was, being chummy with the opponent.

"Saber..."

Irisviel also felt awkward but, at the same time, disappointed. She thought that Saber might be able to hold on and still believe in her and her husband, but she knew that it was impossible to do, especially when she thought about her husband's conduct and the relationship between Saber and her husband.

Saber and Kiritsugu were like water and fire.

If they talked to each other, then without a doubt, it would lead to an argument.

Nevertheless, Irisviel also wasn't surprised at why Saber had fallen so far. If she didn't have a husband, then she might follow Saber, but she had a husband. Even if she knew her husband's face was like this, she had decided to follow her husband even if Saber didn't follow her.

However, Irisviel also knew it was impossible for Saber to follow her, especially when the contract between Saber and her husband had been lost and stolen by Tamazuki.

"You have come at the right time."

"Eh?"

Irisviel was confused.

"Come here. There is something that I need to take out from your body."

"........"

Irisviel fell in silence before she let out a sigh since she knew this war was already futile. The winner of this war was, without a doubt, the young man in front of her, yet could he really take out the thing inside her body?

"Are you going to kill me now?"

"Huh?"

Saber was confused, then asked, "Tamazuki, what did she mean?"

"She thought I was going to kill her."

His answer was so plain that Irisivel and Saber were confused, making them wonder whether he would really kill Irisviel.

"...kill? Are you going to kill Irisviel?"

Saber was confused since Tamazuki's face wasn't like someone who was about to kill someone, or rather, his face was like an exasperated or exhausted face who faced an idiotic person.

"Saber, did you know about the Lesser Grail?"

"...Lesser Grail?"

"Before we summon the Holy Grail, the Lesser Grail is needed to bait and hold all the energy absorbed from the killed Servants. So the question is, where is that Lesser Grail?"

His words were clear, and Saber, who wasn't stupid, instantly understood everything. "...Irisviel?"

"Yes, she is the Lesser Grail. She was born as a Lesser Grail of this Holy Grail War, so if you want the Holy Grail and realize your dream, you need to kill her. Can you do that now? To realize your dream by killing the person that you have promised to protect."

"......."

Saber couldn't say a single word since this fact wasn't something that she wanted to hear.

Did it mean that she needed to kill Irisviel if she wanted the Holy Grail?

"...why?"

Saber's voice was shaky as she asked that question to Irisviel.

If she knew about that fact, then what was the point of getting the Holy Grail?

How could she, as a knight would, sacrifice the person that she wished to protect for her selfish desire?

Yet, at the same time, her expression was ugly as she realized many things were hidden from her.

Was she really that unreliable?

Did they not trust her so much?

In the end, what was she?

Was she just a tool for them to realize their dream?

Not only Kiritsugu but Saber also felt betrayed by Irisviel.

Irisviel was quite awkward since she knew her secret was easily revealed by Tamazuki.

The two fell into silence, and neither of them knew what they should say.

"Well, even if she tells you there is nothing you can do since Irisviel is destined to die in this Holy Grail."

"But you won't let her, right?"

Saber quickly caught his point and looked at him with a knowing smile since she knew his personality well.

"......"

Tamazuki's lips twitched, and he wondered why Saber trusted him so much.

Did she not remember what he did last night?

Was this Stockholm syndrome?

It was said that the feelings of love and fear were quite similar to each other since they made one's heart beat so fast, so one often mistook the two feelings, and sometimes, people used fear to make someone fall in love, too.

Nevertheless, he should focus on Irisviel first.

"Come here."

Irisviel looked at Tamazuki and wasn't sure what to say at that moment.

Was he going to remove the Lesser Grail from her body?

But how?

Or rather, wasn't her entire body the Lesser Grail itself?

Yet, facing Tamazuki, Irisviel didn't have a choice and walked toward him obediently.

"Irisviel, did Kiritsugu know about your situation?"

Saber couldn't help but ask since if Kiritsugu knew about Irisviel, whose body was created for a Lesser Grail, then Kiritsugu shouldn't stay silent and let his wife be sacrificed for the Holy Grail, right?

"No, he knows."

"...he knows?!" Saber was dumbfounded; then her feeling became that of anger. "He knows, yet he still let you come here? Letting you die?!" She couldn't help but raise her voice and got angry at Kiritsugu.

She knew that Kiritsugu's way of life was definitely the opposite of her, and she wouldn't accept such a way of life. His way of life was disgusting in her eyes, especially when she saw how callous he was that he could even sacrifice his wife for the so-called empty dream of the Holy Grail.

"...don't say that, Saber..." Irisivel was awkward once again, but she felt her heart clenched tightly since this was the truth. "...that man... my husband... he bears something no one has experienced. He is a pitiful man."

"Even so, it didn't change the fact that he had sacrificed you!"

No matter how tragic Kiritsugu's life was, it didn't change the fact that Kiritsugu was ready to sacrifice the life of her wife.

Irisviel wanted to say something, trying to help her husband, but Tamazuki stopped her. "Let's talk later. I want to take the Lesser Grail from your body first."

"........"

This time, Irisviel fell into silence again and looked at Tamazuki. "Tamazuki-kun, before you remove the Lesser Gral from my body... can you tell me your wish?"

"My wish?"

"Yes, I want to know what your wish is after you get your hand on the Holy Grail."

Tamazuki raised his brows, then said, "I just want to become powerful by getting into the "Root," gaining all the knowledge and phenomenon in the world." It wasn't a wish but what he planned to do. Moreover, he wasn't like any others who wanted to rely on others to realize their wish. He only believed in his strength to get everything.

By gaining Holy Grail and getting access to the "Root," he would become stronger.

That's all.

Scheherazade and Saber didn't feel surprised by Tamazuki's wish since they knew as long as he became powerful, he could help them to realize their dreams, or rather, after talking with him, they realized by his side was probably their wish.

While Scheherazade could be honest with that feeling, Saber was a bit embarrassed since it was her first time to have such a feeling.

However, Irisviel fell in silence once again, then said, "Then, if that's the case, can you give the Holy Grail to my husband? I will give you my everything, so please!"

"......"