Once Izumi finished chatting with Irisviel and the others, Sella finally remembered to usher everyone inside.
She hurried to prepare tea for the group, moving with a level of urgency that bordered on frantic hospitality.
Even the usually lethargic Leysritt was… working.
Diligently.
As if the presence of a certain individual had flipped some internal switch.
Both maids retained their memories from the previous worldline—
when they, along with Irisviel, vanished together.
Unlike the emotionless puppets the Einzbern family was infamous for,
these three homunculi had developed hearts of their own.
They no longer behaved like rigid dolls, bound to cold directives.
After everyone exchanged pleasantries and sat down, Irisviel suddenly remembered the existence of her daughter.
She grabbed Illyasviel's arm, smiling brightly.
"Illya, this is the head of the Einzbern family."
"So from now on, you must behave and listen to him, okay?"
"Like a proper servant."
Illya froze.
"Se… servant!?"
"That has to be a joke!"
Her expression was sheer disbelief, bordering on panic.
Kuro snickered, eyes gleaming mischievously.
"It's not a joke, you know."
"Illya, you'll be warming Master Izumi's bed in the future."
She spoke with smooth confidence—
too smooth.
Kuro knew more than the others.
Her consciousness had awakened at a young age;
she retained fragmented knowledge about the Fourth Holy Grail War and the Einzbern family's secret history.
Born from the sealed memories and nature of Illya, she possessed insight her counterpart lacked.
Her very existence was, in a way, a byproduct of the Third Magic.
So yes—
for a being tied to the Third Magic, Izumi could be considered her "master."
She had simply accepted that fact long ago.
Illya, on the other hand, stared at Kuro as if she'd just casually unveiled a cosmic horror.
"W-W-Wait! What do you mean by that!?"
She nearly burst into tears.
She had apparently become someone's maid without her consent.
And maids did all sorts of things.
Things she didn't want to think about.
Izumi sighed wearily at her meltdown.
"Irisviel, you didn't explain her origins to her, did you?"
Irisviel fell silent.
After a long pause, she admitted:
"…I didn't."
"I simply didn't know how to tell her."
Kuro, Sella, and Leysritt also went quiet.
Calling Irisviel their "mother" was technically correct—
but biologically inaccurate.
Illya listened, confusion growing.
Her mother and Izumi were speaking in cryptic riddles.
And Rin, Sakura, and the others immediately leaned in, eavesdropping with shameless curiosity.
Izumi smiled and decided to drop the bomb directly:
"Illya, Irisviel isn't actually your mother."
"In fact, it would be more accurate to call her your older sister."
"And she's only one year older than you."
Illya's soul exited her body.
"Wh—What!?"
"Older sister!?"
"You're joking! You have to be joking!"
She had called her "mom" for over a decade.
And now suddenly—
sister?
Only a year older?
Impossible.
Absolutely impossible.
Izumi chuckled.
"I know it's harsh, but it's the truth."
Once the worldlines collapse and Illya regains memories of her alternate selves,
the truth would surface naturally anyway.
There was no point hiding it.
The room fell silent—
stunned by the revelation.
Illya trembled.
"S-So it's… real?"
Kuro patted her shoulder sympathetically.
"Isn't this a good thing?"
"It means you can marry Izumi-oniichan and—"
"MMMPH!"
Before she could finish, Illya tackled her and clamped a hand over her mouth, face scarlet.
"D-Don't say weird things!"
"Stupid Kuro!"
Her panic instantly derailed the serious topic.
Which, honestly, was a blessing.
At least she wasn't crying anymore.
Watching the girls wrestle, Irisviel let out a soft breath of relief.
Her expression relaxed as she turned to Izumi again.
"Izumi-sama… did you come this time to take us away?"
Hope flickered in her eyes.
She had waited so long.
After the Fourth Holy Grail War, she traveled the world—
experiencing everything she could.
But now, she was bored.
This world had nothing left to offer her.
If Izumi wished to lead her somewhere new,
she would gladly follow.
Izumi nodded.
"Yes. That's the plan."
"I'm taking you all to participate in the upcoming Fifth Holy Grail War."
"In a parallel world."
Irisviel's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Then… I can meet another version of Illya, right?"
"How delightful!"
She looked thrilled at the thought of chaos.
Illya, mid-wrestle with Kuro, froze.
"Another me?"
"Like Rin-onee-san from before?"
"I want to go! I'm coming too!"
Seeing another version of herself sounded thrilling.
Even if Izumi claimed she wouldn't grow older after ten years,
Illya refused to believe it.
She wanted to see with her own eyes.
Izumi could already read her thoughts.
"Relax. I'll bring all of you."
"Illya, Miyu, Kuro—everyone."
Taking a squad of magical girls to crash a Holy Grail War sounded amusing.
And Izumi was curious how the other Illya would react upon meeting Irisviel.
As for Luvia and Bazett—
Izumi decided to leave them here.
He'd meet them again once the worldlines converged.