"Master, you going to the library by yourself is one thing, but can't you let me off?"
For the oldest hikikomori, making her get up early was scarier than killing her.
Dragged out of bed by Kaguya early in the morning, she was dazed and groggy the whole way, employing all sorts of cute and coquettish acts, even striking a bunny girl pose with one hand, desperately trying to get Kaguya to spare her.
"Get up. There is no second option."
Having already discerned that her Servant was extremely lazy, even to a distorted degree, Kaguya remained unmoved by Merlin's attempts to sell cuteness, whether through looks or personality.
She stared coldly at the Grand Caster who was only tough at home. Unlike Ryuya, she didn't know the meaning of mercy.
"No, Master, please no..."
Simply clinging tightly to Kaguya, the shameless Merlin hugged her Master, her perfectly proportioned softness pressing against her.
"..." Remaining silent, she simply pulled Merlin out the door forcefully. Kaguya had long since severed her mercy and naivety atop that hotel.
Having experienced over a thousand death cycles, her mind was incredibly resolute. She was no longer the sweet female lead of a slice-of-life series, but the absolute powerhouse of a Shounen series.
"Sigh... Master, you're really quite terrifying."
Seeing a shadow of Morgan in Kaguya, Merlin began to suspect if this Master was sent by heaven specifically to manage her.
Forced to obediently follow Kaguya out, the two of them studied the Snowfield City map while formulating plans, thoroughly demonstrating what it meant to play with tactics!
The same Snowfield City, but about a week earlier, inside the Einzbern Castle.
"Ryuya-sama, we have delivered the Avalon scabbard to the Tohsaka Family and informed them about Emiya Kiritsugu's planned arrival in Snowfield City."
"Tohsaka Tokiomi should have already contacted the Holy Church's representative and the Magus Killer by now."
Kneeling on one knee before Ryuya to report on their tasks, the Einzbern Faction was, after all, the most ancient and powerful among the Three Founding Families.
Perhaps the Tohsaka of this generation, Tokiomi was indeed capable, able to elevate the Tohsaka Family, but before the former Sun-Crowned King, he still fell far short.
"Mmm, I understand. You may leave."
Watching as the Masters from the Zero version of Fourth Holy Grail War were all proceeding according to his plan, Ryuya went to the underground laboratory prepared for summoning, where Irisviel, who had been waiting for him, was.
"Iri, are you ready?"
"I'm fine, Master."
Nodding at Ryuya, Irisviel didn't hide her feelings of love at all.
She had no particular feelings about the Holy Grail War or being a Master. In her eyes, if she could help Ryuya and make her creator happy, that was the greatest happiness of her life.
Of course, she couldn't always obey Ryuya in everything. At the very least, sleeping together every day and the special 'breakfast' couldn't be missed. That was the happiest time for the homunculus.
Her face slightly flushed with shyness, watching Ryuya drawing the magic circle with mercury, Irisviel asked curiously, "Master, can a magic circle like this really summon a Servant?"
In the Western fantasy novels Irisviel had read, whenever the protagonist needed a magic circle, it involved gems, mithril, rare materials, and a whole bunch of stuff.
This was the first time she'd seen someone just draw a magic circle and use mercury like Ryuya.
'Wasn't it a bit too simple?'
"This is enough, Iri."
While drawing the structure of the magic circle, Ryuya continued, "A magic circle is ultimately just a bridge linking to the Throne of Heroes. What truly allows a magus to summon a Heroic Spirit is the magus's magical power, talent, compatibility with the Spirit, and whether any Spirit is willing to respond."
"As for the magic circle and catalysts, they are, at best, auxiliary tools, not the most important elements."
By now, Ryuya had stopped his hand.
He gently held Irisviel's arm and said softly, "Are you ready, Iri?"
"I can do it, Master."
Nodding, looking at the remaining 6 Command Spells on the back of Ryuya's hand, Irisviel knew that the Command Spells on Ryuya had been disappearing in a strange way these past few days, as if the False Masters were officially beginning to appear.
As their arms pressed together, a warm sensation flowed through Irisviel's body, followed by a burning pain.
In just a moment, three Command Spells appeared on her arm, officially marking her as a Master in this war.
"Then let's begin, Iri."
"Mhm."
Standing side by side with Ryuya, Irisviel channeled the magical energy within her body.
Instantly, dust and smoke swirled inside the room, a manifestation of gathering mana.
"Let thy body rest under my command, and thy fate be tied to my sword."
Beginning the incantation for the summoning, Irisviel could feel the emergence of the so-called miracle testing her.
"Answer the call of the Holy Grail. Those who follow this will and reason, answer me!"
The flow of magical energy accelerated, bringing with it even more painful heat. Never having experienced this feeling before, Irisviel couldn't help but open her eyes, wanting to look at Ryuya beside her for some comfort.
"I am the one who accomplishes all good in this world. I am the one who gathers all evil in this world."
Sensing Irisviel's gaze, Ryuya took hold of the girl's hand with one of his.
Feeling the man's magical energy nourishing her, Irisviel's pain lessened considerably.
"Shrouded by the great words of the three powers, traverse the restraining circle, appear! Guardian of the Scales!"
Finally, with the last surge of magical energy, the Heroic Spirit from another world arrived at the battlefield named Snowfield City.
"My name is Morgan le Fay Pendragon. May I ask... are you my Master?"
Dressed in a silver-black silk gown, wearing a veil, the sorceress appeared amidst the smoke. Her pale blue eyes looked at Irisviel.
'I didn't sense the aura of a Master on this girl, so my Master must be the person beside her?'
Smiling, Morgan's gaze turned to Ryuya on the other side, and then she froze.
"My name is Artoria Pendragon."
A solemn aura, radiating a divine, stunning radiance. Simply standing quietly upon the earth, the King of Knights, holding the Holy Sword and the Holy Lance, demonstrated what it meant to be a peerless beauty.
But beneath that perfect exterior, the queen covered in resolute roses wore bright silver armor, her cold aura seeming capable of freezing the entire castle solid.
Appearing silently just like that, Artoria looked up at her Master, only to find the figure she hadn't seen for over a thousand years standing beside the Master.
It was...