For Emiya Kiritsugu, Kenneth taking the initiative to confront Darnic due to their grudge wasn't exactly good news.
Whether it was Darnic, the insidious man who had lived for centuries, or Kenneth, a prodigious talent many believed would one day become one of the greatest magi, both were formidable.
Even Emiya Kiritsugu, renowned as the "Magus Killer" and armed with the Origin Bullet, an absolute trump card, had to approach them with extreme caution, waiting for a single moment of carelessness to execute the perfect assassination plan.
Though he considered himself just a mediocre man who used magecraft as a tool, he was still a magus. And that was precisely why he understood how terrifying true magi could be.
"In this Holy Grail War, Darnic takes priority. If there's no chance, I'll consider Tohsaka and Matou. Irisviel, when you're acting as my envoy, take these two as your main targets."
"I understand."
Though Irisviel represented the Einzbern family's supervision and support, she had no intention of interfering in Kiritsugu's strategic decisions. As someone unsuited for combat, she adhered to Einzbern's policy after many failures: let professionals handle what they're best at.
"Counting you, that makes six. So there's still one Master unaccounted for?"
"No. Truthfully, the Holy Grail War remains hidden under the three great family's protection. If it weren't for the two Masters from the Clock Tower, it likely wouldn't have drawn much attention. Late-stage selections tend to lack quality, maybe they'll self-destruct without us needing to act."
"I hope so."
Irisviel turned again to face the snow-covered view outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, quietly ending the conversation.
In the silence that followed, Kiritsugu sighed and walked over to the windows, standing several steps away from Irisviel.
Outside, the snowy land extended endlessly, and the nearby woods were darkened by the frost. He didn't have to look hard to spot the small figure darting through the snow.
It was her, Illya, the one who had distracted Irisviel moments ago.
"Watching Illya again? That child always rushes out to play the moment the snow stops."
Perhaps noticing Irisviel's conflicted expression, Kiritsugu's voice softened. In the Einzbern household, populated mostly by homunculi, Irisviel was one of the few people he could speak to comfortably.
"That's right. Look, Kiritsugu. She's barely dressed, yet she doesn't feel the cold at all."
Kiritsugu glanced down and nodded. The little girl prancing around in the snow was wrapped only in a purple coat and a matching velvet hat. Even for a child, her outfit was far too light in this weather.
This land was buried under heavy snow year-round. Even indoors, Kiritsugu wore a winter coat. Outside, one's body temperature would drop to freezing within hours without heavy gear.
Yet Illya danced like a fairy, entirely unbothered by the cold.
While the two watched her, Illya suddenly squatted, cheeks flushed red. Then, with a gentle breath, a stream of scorching wire-like flame shot from her mouth, instantly melting the snow and exposing scorched earth beneath.
She hadn't even needed to chant. With that kind of innate control, it was no wonder Irisviel hadn't stopped her from going out dressed so thinly.
"Is this Einzbern's technology? It's... remarkable."
Kiritsugu's heart beat faster at the sight. He instinctively glanced at Irisviel. If this elegant woman could achieve such a feat, it would still be awe-inspiring.
Even so, Kiritsugu kept his face unreadable. He already knew Einzbern's strength lay in homunculus engineering. As a next-generation vessel, Irisviel's circuits and development had been optimized, despite appearing ladylike, she wasn't even a third his age.
Illya, born from Irisviel alone, supposedly had no father and was monitored constantly. With all the secrecy surrounding her, Kiritsugu couldn't help but feel curious.
"Is this something, all homunculus of Einzbern are capable of?"
"Of course not. She was born from me, but her performance far surpasses mine. Even among Einzbern's creations, she displays abilities I never expected."
Irisviel clutched at her collar, as if trying to anchor her emotions.
"Her growth and weight were perfectly within theory, but she could control fire from a young age. She's immune to cold and highly resistant to flames. With only minor exertion, she can unleash magic comparable to grand spells."
"Her physical abilities are also unusual. Without using any magecraft, she's stronger than most combat maids. When I asked Grandfather, all he said was, 'It's normal.'"
As she spoke, Irisviel's voice trembled and tears shimmered in her eyes.
"But since there are no other abnormalities… isn't that a good thing?"
Though he could understand Irisviel's maternal concern, Kiritsugu spoke plainly, grounded in practicality.
"A good thing?" Irisviel gave a bitter smile, then nodded resolutely.
"Kiritsugu, I'll share some of Einzbern's secrets. In return, I need you to promise, no matter what, win this Holy Grail War. Otherwise… Illya..."
"That was my goal from the beginning, Irisviel."
Kiritsugu's eyes sharpened. Although Einzbern had entrusted him with many secrets, as an outsider and a hired hand, there were things still kept from him.
"You should know… Illya isn't just any homunculus. She was conceived naturally, by me alone. But aside from me being her mother, the source of her abnormal powers is something Grandfather brought back from the last Holy Grail War."
Irisviel touched her stomach subconsciously, her voice nostalgic yet filled with unease.
"It wasn't a tangible power. It was pure magical residue, intangible, invisible. Grandfather intercepted a remnant of it and used it as a blueprint to create Illya."
"That mass of magic wasn't from a Heroic Spirit. It was more like formless gas. When it attached to me, combined with Einzbern's technology, Illya was conceived."
....
Kiritsugu kept silent, suppressing his instinct to question the absurdity of what he just heard. Irisviel's seriousness made it clear, she wasn't joking.
"And now, as the Holy Grail War draws near, as her mother, I sense something strange. Illya hasn'tbeen taught about the Holy Grail War at all, yet she keeps looking unconsciously toward Fuyuki. I asked her about it… but she couldn't explain."
"There's no doubt Grandfather obtained something last time. Recently, after reviewing records of the previous Holy Grail War, I've reached a chilling conclusion."
Irisviel clasped her hands behind her back, her expression solemn.
"You might not believe this, it's just my theory. But I think the last Holy Grail War was… cursed."
"There is an invisible entity, a spirit, or a demom, that moves between Masters and the Grail, using the war as a vessel."
Her voice dwindled to a whisper, lips barely moving.
But Kiritsugu, trained in countless wars and fluent in lip-reading, caught the final words:
"I suspect… the invisible demon is attached to Great Grandfather."