The next day, Sakura regained her energy. Accompanied by Takumi, she went to the Type-Moon World as agreed and picked up Rin Tohsaka and Aoi Tohsaka. Then he happily took the two of them around Dimensional City.
Rin Tohsaka showed a keen interest in everything in Dimensional City and followed Sakura to explore everywhere. Aoi Tohsaka was more concerned about how Sakura was doing here. After a tour, she stayed in the reception hall to chat with Riveria. In addition to understanding the situation, she also exchanged parenting experiences.
As for Takumi? He was not in Dimensional City at this time, but at the Tohsaka estate in the Type-Moon World, talking about business with Tokiomi Tohsaka.
"To sum up, I will be in charge of this Holy Grail War."
A simple statement about the remaining issues of the Third Holy Grail War, compared with the information inherited by the Tohsaka family, convinced Tokiomi Tohsaka of the existence of the "All the World's Evil."
Takumi believed that Sakura had the right to inherit the Matou family. As Sakura's guardian, he would control the Matou family on her behalf. As one of the Three Great Families, he announced that he would take over the organization of the Fourth Holy Grail War. The reason was that he was prepared to deal with the evil in this world.
In this regard, Tokiomi Tohsaka naturally didn't dare to have any objections. Rather, because of the evil that had contaminated the Greater Grail, he no longer cared about who would preside over the Fourth Holy Grail War. The Greater Grail was already unusable. For him, the impact was even greater than when Sakura disowned him.
Winning the Holy Grail War and reaching the Root was his lifelong goal. He had invested an unimaginable amount of effort into it. Now he was being told that everything was in vain.
"Damn it!"
As for whether Takumi was lying to him? Tokiomi Tohsaka didn't think that was a possibility. Setting aside the historical data of the Tohsaka family—which recorded that in the last Holy Grail War, the Einzberns summoned a boy of the Avenger class—there was simply no reason for Takumi to lie to him. With Takumi's strength, if he had any plans, he would not need to waste words; he could just act directly without such trouble.
Soon, Tokiomi Tohsaka accepted this result. After all, the previous Holy Grail Wars had never succeeded, all failing due to various problems. So, although the current situation was even more outrageous—ending before it even started—there was a precedent. It was not that hard to accept.
As for why Takumi, an outsider, wanted to get involved? Takumi didn't say, and Tokiomi Tohsaka didn't dare to ask. He could only assume the man was interested in the Greater Grail or the evil within it. With someone as powerful as Takumi willing to help deal with the problem and repair the Greater Grail, Tokiomi Tohsaka was actually pleased. As long as the evil is purified, they could hold another Holy Grail War before the magic power is depleted. Then, there would be no more problems, and things could proceed smoothly.
Thinking about it like this, what reason did he have to refuse? It was just...
Tokiomi Tohsaka calmed down and said, "I have no problem with this, but as for the Einzbern side..."
He had no objection, but among the Three Great Families, in addition to the Tohsaka family and the Matou family now taken over by Takumi, there was also the Einzberns. If the Einzberns did not agree, then there would be no discussion about Takumi taking over the war.
The reason the Three Great Families held a dominant position is that they controlled essential aspects of the ritual. The Tohsaka family provides the spiritual land, which is an indispensable energy supply. The Matou family is responsible for the system of summoning Heroic Spirits and Command Spells. And the Einzberns are the core of the core. The Greater Grail and the Lesser Grail are both Einzbern patents. These three families are indispensable, forming the structure of the Three Great Families.
But if one were to say who is most important, it is the Einzberns. The exclusive technology of the Lesser Grail allowed the Einzberns to firmly grasp leadership. Therefore, Takumi could not proceed without Einzbern's consent.
"Don't worry about the Einzberns. I will go there and tell them in person. What I am telling you is just a courtesy, lest you cause trouble when the time comes."
Takumi waved his hand, unconcerned about the Einzberns. He had a way to make them listen.
Tokiomi Tohsaka saw this and didn't ask further questions. He couldn't help but complain, "Look at me now; I couldn't cause trouble even if I wanted to."
Although his injury had stabilized, it had not healed. He was currently in a wheelchair to recuperate. Movement was very inconvenient. Takumi didn't care about the complaints and handed over some instructions before leaving the Tohsaka house. Then, based on rough information, he teleported to the location of Einzbern Castle in Germany.
After looking around, Takumi discovered the conspicuous castle in the woods and walked directly toward it. The barrier around the castle did not hinder him, but the welcome of the homunculus maids was a bit troublesome. Takumi didn't hurt them; he simply knocked them out. Pushing through, he arrived at the center of the castle and met the current patriarch of Einzbern.
Jubstacheit von Einzbern, also known as Ahad, was also a homunculus—a humanoid terminal that managed the central systems of the castle. In fact, there were no living humans in the entire Einzbern family. They were all homunculi created under Ahad's management. Even Ahad operated automatically with the goal of reproducing the Third Magic. The entire Einzbern estate was almost a machine.
What Takumi had to do now was take over this machine. The method was simple: display the Third Magic. Takumi had obtained this a long time ago, and he used it now to influence Ahad.
"Your final order is to reproduce the Third Magic, right? Now that the Third Magic has reappeared through me, what should you do?"
Looking at Ahad, whose processing was nearly overloaded, Takumi asked with a smirk.
Ahad was silent. But after the silence, he quickly put on a smile. "In this case, I should naturally welcome you to take over the Einzbern family."
Then he gave a salute. "Jubstacheit von Einzbern, I would like to lead the Einzberns to serve you as Lord."
The current Einzbern Castle was the legacy left by the family as the inheritors of the Third Magic. These homunculi were developed to serve the inheritors of that Magic. Now that a new person had obtained the Third Magic, that person naturally had the right to inherit this legacy.
"Well, I accept it."
Takumi nodded with satisfaction. Einzbern was easily taken over. Then, under Ahad's introduction, Takumi accepted everything about the family one by one. After the check, Takumi discovered something.
"Hm? Irisviel is still single? What's happening here?"
"Oh, this... Illya is a child created through alchemy. Irisviel made her privately. I had a headache because of it at the time," Ahad explained.
Ahad thought Takumi was wondering how Irisviel became a single mother. Takumi realized that in this parallel timeline, Irisviel did not cooperate with Emiya Kiritsugu, let alone marry him. Although she was still the same person, she did not have a partner, and Illya was created using Einzbern technology. Emiya Kiritsugu had nothing to do with them. At this time, the Magus Killer was elsewhere, continuing his work, perhaps not even involved in the Holy Grail War.
"Fine."
In this regard, what else could Takumi say? All he could say was: well done! Parallel worlds offer great variety. Takumi naturally liked Irisviel very much. Since she had no connection to Emiya Kiritsugu, he accepted the situation politely.
Of course, the homunculus maids could also be taken back to Dimensional City. The alchemy of the Type-Moon World was quite powerful. Except for a lack of emotions, homunculi like those of the Einzberns were basically no different from living people. They had all the same functions. After mastering this technology, Takumi wouldn't have to worry about the population of Dimensional City. He could mass-produce homunculi.
As for the cost? With unlimited magic power and material generation, Takumi didn't need to care about the cost. The only problem was the lack of emotion. Although he could program them to simulate emotions, it was ultimately artificial. If he wanted them to have true self-awareness, they would need time to grow. Just like Irisviel and Illya, he would teach them little by little, letting them grow like normal people to enrich their emotional cognition. However, it was a good way to increase the population.
In addition to the personnel and knowledge, the Einzbern property held many valuable things—mainly magical materials unique to the Moon World. Taking them back could enrich Dimensional City's resources. Of course, the most precious item was the one prepared for the upcoming war: King Arthur's scabbard, Avalon!
"Gee, no matter how many times I look at this scabbard, I can't help but notice how large it is."
Takumi took Avalon from Ahad, examined it, and threw it into his King's Treasure. The item was excellent, and now it was his. He would not leave the tool for summoning Artoria Pendragon to others. What if it were lost? Wouldn't that mean Saber couldn't be summoned? Without Saber, this world would be far less interesting.
Later, Takumi told Ahad of his intention to take over the Holy Grail War.
"You continue to run Einzbern Castle here. Help me collect the magical knowledge of this world, and you are allowed to use Einzbern technology in exchange. The more you collect, the better. I will handle the Holy Grail War. Prepare some people to follow me to Fuyuki, including Irisviel and Illya. I will take them with me too."
"I obey."
Ahad accepted the new order and went to make arrangements.
"Hello, Master. My name is Irisviel. You can also call me Iri."
"This is my daughter, Illya."
Irisviel brought Illya to Takumi, looking at the handsome man with some uneasiness. She had just received notice that the castle had changed hands and they had a new Master. This sudden change caught her off guard. As homunculi, she knew how magi usually treated them—as tools. She didn't know how Takumi would treat them. Takumi asking to see them specifically made her panic even more.
"I hope it won't be something bad," Irisviel thought, holding Illya's hand tightly.
As for Illya? She didn't know much. She just looked curiously at the beautiful older brother.
"Don't be nervous. Unlike those magi, I won't make things difficult for you."
Takumi looked at Irisviel and comforted her with a smile. Seeing that Takumi was easy to talk to, Irisviel relaxed a little.
"You can follow me from now on. You'll be responsible for helping me manage those maids for the time being."
"Okay, Master."
"Don't call me Master. I'm not used to it. Just call me Takumi."
"Okay, Master Takumi."
"Forget it, it's up to you. We'll go to Fuyuki later. You can get ready and see how the staff is arranged."
Irisviel's formal reaction was a bit dull for Takumi. What he liked about her, apart from her beauty, was her lively personality, but it hadn't shown yet. However, they had just met, so it was normal she couldn't let go. Takumi didn't push it; the relationship could grow later.
"I see."
Irisviel nodded and, after some hesitation, left Illya there while she went to work. Illya was not afraid to face Takumi alone. Without Irisviel's direct control, she became much bolder.
"Big brother, are you our Master? But what is a Master?" Illya asked curiously.
Seeing the cute little girl asking such a question, Takumi didn't know how to answer for a moment. After thinking, he said, "Well, you can understand it like this: just as Iri and Ahad take care of you, I can take care of all of you now."
"Oh..." Illya nodded.
Just when Takumi thought she understood, she said something surprising. "So, you are my grandfather's grandfather?"
"Of course not!" Takumi felt a bit embarrassed and added, "It's that kind of relationship, but I'm not his grandfather, and I'm not that old. You should call me uncle or brother."
He reached out and rubbed Illya's head, messing up her hair. What a strange thought, little girl! A grandfather's grandfather? He was surprised she could even think of that. Illya didn't resist; she just smiled awkwardly.
"So, should I call you Brother Takumi?"
"That's right, but if you want, you can call me Onii-chan."
"Onii-chan?"
"It means brother in the language of other regions."
"Oh, the language of the outside world. No wonder Illya doesn't know it. So, can Onii-chan tell me about the outside world? Illya is very curious."
"Fine."
Anyway, he had nothing to do, and Illya was cute, so he chatted with her. After a while, when Irisviel came back, she saw Illya circling Takumi, happily calling him "Onii-chan."
Irisviel: "???"