A dimensional journey starting from the Dragon Clan

Chapter 1174 ‘Tool’

"Bastard...bastard, bastard..."

His whimpering sound was suddenly covered up by a burst of cheerful laughter coming from behind.

He slowly approached Kariya with a cane, and the insects all avoided this old and short figure. It was none other than the object of Kariya's hatred, Matou Zouken.

"Yariya, you are really miserable like this."

The old magician used his cane to lift Kariya's chin and force him to raise his head. Kariya no longer had the energy to scold him, but still stared at him with hatred and murderous intent with his remaining right eye. Just glaring at his opponent was already exhausting him.

"Don't get me wrong, I don't blame you at all. You were so seriously injured, but fortunately you can come back here alive - Kariya, I don't know who saved you. However, this battle seems to Good luck."

Zang Yan, who spoke softly to his "son" like he was stroking a cat, was in a particularly good mood today - so his smiling face was filled with evil connotations.

"Three Servants have been dealt with, and only four are left. To be honest, I didn't expect you to be able to survive until now. It seems - maybe I still have a chance to win this gamble."

Just like that, after Zang Yan finished speaking, he suddenly took a few steps back to distance himself from him.

"Perhaps it wouldn't be a bad idea to get a Dao Lock for you again. Kariya, now that it's over, I'll grant you the 'ace' I've secretly kept just for today. Come on -"

Gu, the crutch suddenly pressed against Yanye's throat, forcing him to open his mouth. Immediately, Zang Yan's cane moved upward like a mouse, and stabbed into Yan Ye's mouth.

"Ah, ugh...!?"

Kariya passed out in pain. The worms eroded ruthlessly along his mouth and into his esophagus, finally reaching his spasming abdomen. Now even if he wanted to vomit, it was too late.

Then - it was as if a red-hot iron had been put into his belly, and a fierce burning sensation burned him from the inside of Kariya's body.

"Ugh...ah!?"

Yan Ye struggled painfully, making the shackles on his hands rattle. The blood that had seemed to be stagnant began to boil violently, and the heart began to beat wildly as if it was almost bursting.

That is a condensed magic block. The marking insect began to move again in Kariya's temporarily rejuvenated body. The simulated magic circuits in Kariya's body began to pulsate like never before, and his limbs began to feel pain as if they were being torn apart - but this also meant that Kariya's paralyzed hands and feet could feel again.

Seeing that the "trump card" worked, Zang Yan taunted loudly.

"Hehehe, the effect is really immediate.

do you know? The magic block you just swallowed came from a worm. It was the one that absorbed Sakura's virginity in the first place. How are you, Kariya? The girl’s essence that I’ve been absorbing over the past year—is this the best magic power, right? "

Perhaps this series of cruel actions satisfied his sadistic heart, and the old magician turned around with a smile on his face. When he was about to leave the insect warehouse leisurely, his sarcasm stung Yan Ye's eardrums again.

"Go and fight, Kariya. Burn the lives you took from Sakura. Don't begrudge your flesh and blood to bring the Holy Grail back! If only someone like you can do it."

Then, as the barn door slammed shut, there was only cold darkness and the noise of crawling insects.

Kariya choked up silently.

············

The warm afternoon sunlight gently warms the exterior wall of the warehouse, gradually sloping towards the west.

But the air in the warehouse remained silent and cold. A few rays of sunlight streamed in through the small skylight, and the warehouse seemed to be bathed in the faint twilight of dusk.

Saber sat on the ground against the wall, waiting for that moment to come.

In the magic circle beside her, Irisviel was still lying on her back with her hands folded on her chest. She is still sleeping. Ever since she brought her here in the morning, Saber had been staring at her sleeping side face motionlessly.

Will the magic circle she and Irisviel drew yesterday work as expected?

For Irisviel, who is an android, resting in this magic circle seems to be the only way to recuperate. In the past, ceremonies would have been held at the same time, but as things stand now, that seems to be very far away in the past.

It was a really long night.

Caster, who joined the battle midway and hindered the battle, was finally defeated.

Later, the showdown with Lancer ended in a heartbreaking way.

Last night, the Holy Grail War made great progress, and two Servants withdrew from the battle. Regardless of the battle situation, Saber has fulfilled her most important responsibility.

To say I wasn’t tired would be a lie. But now she was more worried about Irisviel's condition.

Remember there have been signs since morning. Irisviel calls this a functional flaw in the android. But Saber couldn't figure out what happened yesterday that caused her physical condition to suddenly deteriorate. It wasn't because of an injury or because she was exercising too strenuously. If this happens to a Master who has officially concluded a contract with Saber, then it is most likely due to Saber's fatigue and increased supply of magic power, which places a heavier burden on the Master. But if that were the case, the one who fell should not be Irisviel as the acting Master, but Kiritsugu.

The soft sunlight shines in through the skylight, and as it passes noon, the angle of the sunlight gradually changes.

Finally - Irisviel moved slightly, and the still air seemed to ripple.

Saber immediately opened her eyes wide and saw Irisviel groaning uncomfortably as she slowly sat up.

"...Saber...?"

Lazily brushing the silver hair from her eyes, she stared blankly at Saber who was guarding her.

"Irisviel, how is your health?"

"...Uh, um. It should be fine."

This is impossible, Saber was about to retort, but saw that the color on Irisviel's face had returned to its usual healthy state. It's hard to imagine that she was still asleep just now.

Ah, she stretched a little, as if she woke up happily in the morning after getting enough rest.

"Well - it seems I've made you worry."

"No, no. It would be great if everything is fine...but..."

"Well, I understand what you're going to say, Saber."

Irisviel smiled bitterly, combed her long hair with her hands, and straightened her slightly messy clothes.

"It seems that a lot of problems have arisen since I got here. If I just stay quietly like this, it should be fine, but - Saber, I may not be able to support you by your side in the future."

"Irisviel..."

Irisviel said somewhat dejectedly, which actually surprised Saber slightly.

"I'm sorry, although it's embarrassing, but compared to being a burden to you——"

"No, it's not like that. I hope you can be more careful about your body. This is all my fault. I think this is a reminder to me that it's because I forced you to fight constantly that you..."

Saber stopped, afraid that what she said next would hurt her. Irisviel smiled lightly and said.

"You don't have to worry about this. We androids are different from humans and have a very clear understanding of our own body structure. Just like a car, if a car doesn't light up to warn you when it runs out of fuel, then it's really broken down."

"..."

Although this is true, the metaphor is not appropriate. Saber fell silent gloomily upon hearing this. Then she looked at Irisviel from the front with very serious eyes.

"...Irisviel. Although you are indeed an artificial human, I have never thought of treating you differently from ordinary humans. So no matter what, you don't need to describe yourself as so humble."

Saber put it bluntly. This time Irisviel gave in.

"...Saber is so gentle."

"Everyone who has come into contact with you will think so. Irisviel, you are a very charming person."

Saber deliberately joked in a light tone in order to make the conversation less heavy.

"For women, there will always be discomforts in the body of one kind or another, so you don't have to be embarrassed."

When she said this, even Irisviel could only smile in embarrassment.

"If you put it like that, Saber, you are also a girl - well, wouldn't it be troublesome? You have to act as a man at that time."

"No, this is—"

Saber couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief when she saw the smile on Irisviel's face returned to before, so she continued in a more relaxed tone than usual.

"You don't know, I was protected by the Noble Phantasm during my lifetime. Not to mention disasters, even aging has stopped, so I won't have any discomfort. Even if it takes another ten years, I will still look like this."

"..."

At this point, Saber suddenly noticed that Irisviel's expression became worried, as if she was a little uncomfortable, so she hurriedly stopped.

Although she didn't understand why this small talk topic made her depressed, Saber discovered that Irisviel was not in the mood to talk or laugh with her at the moment.

"——In short, Irisviel, you don't have to worry about anything. Indeed, I will feel more at ease with your cover, but there are not many enemies now. Even if I act alone, I am absolutely sure to win."

"...Saber, if you really acted 'alone', then I wouldn't worry about it."

When Saber realized the true meaning of Irisviel's words, she couldn't help but feel a bitterness rising in her throat.

Yes, she did not act alone. The Master who made a contract with the Servant Saber is still on the same battlefield.

"Hey, Saber...can you treat Kiritsugu as a companion and fight alongside him in the future?"

She couldn't answer right away. This move clearly showed the entanglement in the heart of the Knight King.

"...If the other Masters are all seeking the Holy Grail for their own selfish desires, I think the Holy Grail should be obtained by Kiritsugu. For this reason, I have no objection to becoming his 'sword'."

While answering in a suppressed tone, Saber frowned as if she couldn't hide her distress.

"——But I hope that it is enough for me to become the 'Sword'. I do not want to get involved in Kiritsugu's actions again."

Recalling Diarmuid's end, Saber couldn't help but feel her heart ache.

No matter how much she understood the man named Kiritsugu and how much concession she was willing to make, that scene was something Saber could never forgive.

"Now we need to stage a battle that has to make Kiritsugu feel recognized. As a Servant, I can win without getting the Master's hands dirty, right? The remaining three Servants can't defeat me no matter what. of."

Irisviel nodded. She could only nod. Thank God that Saber was still able to maintain her fighting spirit after witnessing Kiritsugu's despicable behavior. But on the other hand, she also knew that Saber now very much expected Kiritsugu to trust her at the lowest level, but Kiritsugu couldn't do that at all. The meaning of the word "true victory" is completely different for the "Knight King" and the "Magician Killer".

Until victory is achieved, with unyielding will and perseverance to get back on track no matter how many times we fail——

Thorough consideration to completely eliminate all possible causes of failure——

Although the purpose of the two is the same, the process is fatally different.

"...To me, the Holy Grail is equivalent to myself. Because from the moment I was born, I have had the 'vessel' that can make it come."

After hearing what Irisviel said, Saber nodded.

"I heard that your mission is to be the 'Guardian of Instruments'."

However, Saber works with her 24 hours a day, but it is still unknown how and where she hid the 'Holy Grail Vessel'. Since they trusted each other, there was no need for her to ask. After Saber wins all the battles, all he has to do is take the 'weapon' from her.

"...So, no matter what happens, I hope that my 'baby' can be handed over to the hands of the people I love - Kiritsugu, and you, Saber."

Irisviel said like a prayer, and Saber nodded resolutely.

"Before, when I was first summoned, I swore to protect you and win the final victory. I do not intend to break this oath."

"..."

Irisviel could only smile ambiguously and nod.

If we want to realize the original goal of the "Founding Three Families" - "reach the source", we must use a command spell to require Saber, who defeated all Servants, to commit suicide and use all seven heroic spirits as sacrifices to the Holy Grail to end the war. However, what Irisviel and Kiritsugu placed their hope in the Holy Grail was not such a wish. Although the desire to “change the world” that would bring an end to all struggles seems very great, in the final analysis it cannot escape the realm of “miracles.” The changes that occur as a result are, at most, only "inside the world", which is much easier than the "outside" of the world where the target is the "vortex of origin". But if you just want to achieve miracles in the real world, then you don't need the ancient Winter Maiden herself as a 'vessel' to fully awaken the Great Holy Grail. As long as he can defeat six other hostile Servants, it will be enough to replenish the magic power to make Kiritsugu and Saber's wishes come true.

But as the two go through a brutal battle for survival, what Irisviel is worried about - more importantly than the strength of the enemy, is the disagreement between Kiritsugu and Saber.