"I have a feeling... this is suspicious..."
Recalling how she had binge-watched Puella Magi Madoka Magica last night and been thoroughly 'healed,' Miss Illya became paranoid at the mere sight of the words "magical girl." She stared warily at the discs in [Illya]'s hand, trying to spot anything fishy.
But unfortunately, she couldn't see any problems from the names. Aside from one that seemed to be a non-magical girl work mixed in, Miss Illya couldn't find any flaws on the covers—yep, very magical girl!
"Just say if you want it or not." [Illya], Mr. Jiang Qiao, smiled, shaking the soft silver hair of this body, and made a gesture as if to take them back.
"If it's a proper magical girl show, of course I want it!"
Miss Illya puffed her cheeks.
"Hey, would I give you an improper show? All the shows I have are proper!"
"Really?"
"Really. If I'm lying, I'm Illya."
"...Alright then."
Although she was a little worried, how could she not watch a magical girl work she had never seen before? She was a serious magical girl enthusiast.
Even when watching Madoka Magica, she had noticed that this magical girl work seemed a bit off during the process, but she still finished it all. Hmm, perhaps this was what they called "pain and pleasure"?
"Well then, I'll watch it with Illya too." Irisviel hugged Illya affectionately.
"Eh?"
"After all, I'm also very interested in this kind of novel thing~ And sleeping alone is really lonely. Illya wants to be with Mom too, right?"
Although Miss Illya wanted to refuse, she shrank back after feeling Irisviel's smiling gaze—How despicable! It's Mom's authority!
"Ano... then, Illya over there, you come too~"
"I've already seen all those works. Although it wouldn't hurt to watch them again, I have to consider the situation of the Holy Grail War..."
"You need to rest~ Reeeest~!" Irisviel smiled.
The attempt to escape from Irisviel had failed!
[Illya], held in the former's arms, was a little helpless.
Although Mr. Jiang Qiao had used many bodies with parents before, this was the first time he had encountered one so clingy.
He glanced out the window.
The night was gradually fading, and the second night of the Holy Grail War had passed.
In the first half of the night, Emiya Kiritsugu's base was attacked and destroyed. Although no Servant fell, Saber was severely injured, and her trump card Noble Phantasm was restricted by Lancer. As for Kiritsugu himself, although he could recover quickly from injuries thanks to Avalon's protection, unfortunately, due to a divergence of ideals, Irisviel left him.
In the latter half of the night's Banquet of Kings, he also fell out with Saber.
Of course, [Illya] could guess what that man was thinking.
It was nothing more than that he felt Saber's dignity was not worth the risk of losing a Servant. If he used a Command Spell to threaten her, it would probably just be for show, to fool Saber. If Saber herself really wanted to go even if it meant falling out with Kiritsugu, Kiritsugu certainly couldn't stop her, since a Command Spell couldn't be used for such an absurd reason. And if he succeeded, he could both save a Command Spell and avoid risk, a win-win situation.
The only problem was that he would fall out with Saber.
But... that man wouldn't care about such things.
After all, in his eyes, Servants were just tools. As long as they could complete the tasks he arranged, it was fine. Their shared wish to win the Holy Grail and the Knight King's code of conduct made it almost impossible for Saber to betray him. Although Kiritsugu didn't care about so-called dignity, that person actually understood such things quite well.
It was just that he would never respect it, but would choose to use it.
Weighing the risks of the banquet, weighing the risks with Saber, the man named Emiya Kiritsugu was constantly weighing everything and then making the cruelest choices, and unscrupulously realizing them.
Although it was quite despicable, but... he had to admit, it did allow that fellow to wait for a very good opportunity.
The big event that Prelati created had almost thrown the gradually clearing situation into chaos.
The mass summoning of sea demons and the Eye of Cthulhu destroyed Fuyuki City, forcing the Masters to find new magic workshops and places to settle down. At the same time, Miss Illya, who had shown off a bit, had also become a public enemy like that Gilgamesh, and was even more conspicuous.
In addition, she had offended Manaka, becoming a thorn in Manaka's side. Kiritsugu, who was originally in the worst situation, was now able to hide.
Plus the appearance of a Ruler.
[Illya] curled his lips.
At this time, those other Masters should have already started considering who to ally with, right?
And indeed, that was the case.
In the early morning on the street, Emiya Kiritsugu leaned against a wall, smoking a cigarette with his usual melancholic look.
Even the turmoil of last night had not affected him. It could only be said that the protection of the scabbard had made his vitality in this Holy Grail War particularly tenacious. He raised his hand and handed a magical contract document to the man opposite him.
Kairi Shishigou.
Undoubtedly, this was an alliance document.
The content of the document was that before eliminating other teams, the allied parties could not attack each other.
It had to be said that this was quite dramatic. The two sides that had been fighting to the death on the first night had now started to form an alliance after the second night.
But this was probably also due to Mordred's help to Saber last night.
Of course, Emiya Kiritsugu would definitely not have any grateful actions. Even if the former had helped him, he could still unhesitatingly and shamelessly repay kindness with enmity, sending the former and her Master to their doom at the most critical moment.
Therefore, this was proposed by Shishigou.
—Of course, he had originally planned to take out Emiya Kiritsugu while Mordred was hammering King Arthur, but because of Mordred's attitude and the subsequent changes, he, who had been in a heated battle with Emiya Kiritsugu, changed his mind and took the initiative to propose an alliance with Emiya Kiritsugu.
The latter, although somewhat surprised, still agreed decisively.
Not because of gratitude, but simply because Emiya Kiritsugu thought it was necessary.
"You should have an assistant and a wife, right?" Shishigou asked while reading the document.
Emiya Kiritsugu didn't speak, but just made a phone call. Soon, Maiya, holding a sniper rifle, came down from her high point.
She also signed the document at Emiya Kiritsugu's signal.
Although he wanted to exploit this small loophole, unfortunately, Shishigou was not Mr. Lemonhead. It was impossible for him to fall for such a small trick.
As a fellow mercenary, he knew their kind's nature all too well.
"Irisviel left me. She won't assist me."
"That's not very convincing."
"Your wife is an Einzbern homunculus, right?"
Emiya Kiritsugu didn't speak, but handed over another magical contract document.
The content was to draw a clear line between Emiya Kiritsugu and Irisviel, and that they would not assist each other.
This magical document was actually signed with Irisviel when he left the Illya residence, because Kiritsugu had long anticipated that there might be a need for it.
Kairi Shishigou took the document, nodded, and then casually handed a note to Kiritsugu before walking out of the alley and getting into his black SUV.
"Why ally with that guy?!"
Mordred, sitting in the passenger seat, was a little annoyed and confused.
She knew that the reason Arthur didn't go to the Banquet of Kings, causing her and her mother to lose face, was because of that man... She absolutely disliked that man's attitude, tone, and appearance—they were a type that could never get along!
"That guy is definitely unreliable."
"Yeah, I know."
Facing Mordred's complaint, Shishigou smoked a cigarette and said calmly:
"But that man does have enough value to be used."
He had never trusted Emiya Kiritsugu. It was difficult for people like them to trust anything.
Interest was everything.
"Although injured, that Saber still has considerable combat power and is quite suitable as a helper."
"And Emiya Kiritsugu, although that man has no credibility, he is indeed capable."
No matter how much one questioned Emiya Kiritsugu's character, it was difficult to deny his ability. As a teammate, he was indeed very powerful and efficient. ...Although also very deadly.
Kairi Shishigou was willing to ally with such a guy, more out of a sense of helplessness.
Because among the factions in the Holy Grail War, the only one truly suitable for an alliance, at least for his team, was Emiya Kiritsugu.
The three kings were impossible. Those three kings were too self-centered and domineering. If they wanted to form an alliance, they could only be subordinate... or rather, they probably wouldn't even accept an alliance, only submission.
Either you kneel and be a dog, or you don't even get to be a dog.
In the past, this was a pure giveaway.
Berserker was even more out of the question. If they could accept him, they would never have opposed such favorable conditions.
The remaining Ishtar and Enkidu were difficult to approach. The only suitable one was Lancer, but obviously, after yesterday's battle, Lancer was already being controlled by Berserker's Master, which made the magus lord no longer suitable.
The weak can only seek alliance with the weak. For Shishigou, the only acceptable and suitable partner was Emiya Kiritsugu.
Saber being severely injured was actually a good thing, as it allowed his side, which was originally at a disadvantage, to be on equal footing and counterbalance. Since it was a cheap alliance of convenience, there was no need to worry about other things. What's more... Shishigou glanced at Mordred and sighed.
This child seemed to have a very complicated relationship with that Saber. Being closer to her would also be a good thing for her.
It was impossible for only one alliance to be formed.
Although, as Shishigou judged, the kings would almost never form an alliance, even if another king was qualified, the arrogance of that Gilgamesh and Mr. Sausage made it impossible for them to accept an alliance—the former might form the Uruk duo with Enkidu again.
The King of Conquerors didn't mind an alliance, but unfortunately, if the first two didn't plan to ally, then the remaining people wouldn't be qualified to ally with him.
Even if his temper was good, his answer to others would still only be submission.
As for that Empress of Glamoth?
By default, Miss Illya could not be an alliance partner, because she was the opponent of the victorious king.
This direct confrontation with the Philosopher King was a challenge they, as kings, had made to the other party.
What's more, with that level of strength, it was more likely for her to be farmed as a boss by a team than to form an alliance. That was wishful thinking.
Manaka saw Illya as a mortal enemy.
Emiya Kiritsugu was even more out of the question.
Even if he coveted her power, he could not possibly ally with Miss Illya.
He had already abandoned his wife and child and chosen his ideal. Although he could be unscrupulous in this process, if he really used Illya for victory, used his identity as a father to deceive that child, just to seek her power... he could not do such a thing no matter what.
Even if his victory in this Holy Grail War was destined to end with him killing Illya and Irisviel, his beloved ones, he did not want to use emotions to fool them and deceive them in this process again.
"Gil, before this Holy Grail War ends, let's fight side by side again."
In the Tohsaka family's garden, although it had collapsed due to last night's riot, it was now lush and green—this was probably thanks to Enkidu's help, using plants and soil to create buildings so that the Tohsaka family wouldn't look so miserable.
On a tall tree, Enkidu responded to Gilgamesh's invitation.
Because he was his best friend, he allowed it.
Because he was his best friend, he accepted.
Such a thing naturally made Tokiomi happy, but there were also things that annoyed him.
That was—
"This king will never ally with that woman." Facing Tokiomi's proposal to ally with Aoko Aozaki and Ishtar, Mr. Gilgamesh rejected it without hesitation.
Similarly—
This was also Ishtar's answer.
"I can help you obtain the Holy Grail, but as long as those two are here, I will definitely stand on their opposite side."
Out of consideration for Rin Tohsaka and Aoko's attitude, she didn't mind helping Tokiomi Tohsaka obtain the Holy Grail, even if she wasn't very interested in it.
But no matter what, Ishtar could not accept those two.
She and those two were like mortal enemies.
A situation like the Absolute Demonic Front was a rare exception, and at that time, Ishtar wasn't doing it for that idiot king but because of the compromise made by Chaldea's Master and the priests. Under normal circumstances, Ishtar and the Gil-Enkidu combo would never get together.
That divine nature of Ishtar absolutely rejected such a thing.
Choosing Ishtar or the Gil-Enkidu combo, the choice was obvious.
Even if he didn't like Gilgamesh, and his relationship with Gilgamesh had started to become strained, the difference in strength was enough for one to make a choice.
It was just that this choice more or less angered Ishtar.
"You'd rather choose that idiot king and the clay doll over me?"
Goddesses were extremely petty beings, just like in many legends where goddesses would bring disaster just for a few words.
And Tokiomi Tohsaka had even offended Rin Tohsaka, who was supposed to neutralize Ishtar's divinity.
The result was that Ishtar officially stood on the opposite side.
She declared.
It doesn't matter if I get the Holy Grail or not, it's important to me that you're out!
While these alliances were being formed in pairs, [Illya], nestled in the Illya residence, leisurely drank tea, browsed the situation in Fuyuki City, chatted with his low-profile chat group members, and exchanged information with Elysia's side.
As for Illya...
Hmm, it seemed that Miss Illya's Dao heart was a little broken now?