Hundred Faces initially wanted to send Shinji to the hospital for observation, but Shinji vehemently insisted on staying to watch the final Duel and see if Illya could defeat the mysterious tournament organizer. Not wanting to damage his Master's reputation, Hundred Faces reluctantly agreed after confirming with Jiang You.
"We urge all duelists to prioritize their physical well-being. These Duels are incredibly taxing on stamina."
Hundred Faces cast a meaningful glance at Shinji Matou.
"Now, while we await the next Duel, let's congratulate the 120,000 viewers who supported Illya—34% of the total votes! You've collectively earned 5,000 chances to draw models. Let the excitement begin!"
At Jiang You's request, Hundred Faces initiated the model lottery early. A massive screen displayed a spinning wheel, selecting winners in groups of 24 to 26.
Meanwhile, in the waiting room:
"Illya, are you nervous? You've won every Duel so far."
Minamoto no Raikou sensed Illya's unease and wrapped her arms around her from behind. Ultimately, she had refrained from eliminating Shinji Matou after realizing a black-clad servant had been watching her intently. Combined with Illya's desire to protect Jiang You, Raikou reluctantly abandoned her plan to act directly.
"Of course I'm nervous," Illya replied. "I'm about to Duel him. Not only is this his own Noble Phantasm—his most familiar weapon—but he hasn't lost a single Duel yet."
Though Illya had never seen Jiang You's personal cards, she knew he possessed an incredibly unfair one: every card he banished was converted into his power. "That guy even defeated an overpowered servant," she grumbled. "I was hoping to beat him myself and make him apologize to me."
"Is that so?" Minamoto no Raikou replied.
Raikou had never heard of Jiang You before. She'd always dismissed him as an insignificant servant. But as a mother, she unconditionally trusted Illya's judgment. She would face Jiang You as if he were the most formidable of enemies.
"It's alright, Illya. Just give it your all. Mother will be there for you whenever you need me."
"Thank you, Raikou."
Just as Raikou was about to urge Illya to call her "Mother" again, a knock sounded on the door of their rest chamber.
"Who could that be?" Raikou wondered.
This was a special space created by Medea, accessible only to a handful of participating servants and tournament staff.
"Should we open it?" Raikou instinctively gripped her weapon. With Illya now poised to claim a valuable treasure, it was inevitable that others might harbor malicious intentions.
Illya nodded, equally curious about who might be visiting at this hour. "Please, come in."
The 5,000-prize lottery had lasted about an hour and a half. As noon approached, Jiang You had thoughtfully prepared lunch—premium boxed meals ordered from renowned restaurants, all courtesy of Mr. Atram's deep pockets. After all, as the saying goes, "You can't take it with you."
One of the lunch options even included Mapo tofu from the Mount Tai Branch of Hongzhou Banquet Hall, causing some curious viewers to faint in delight and further taxing Hundred Faces and Medea's workload.
"Reward notifications for the 5,000 lucky winners have been sent! After the event concludes tomorrow, winners can pick up their pair of Illya or Minamoto no Raikou figurines at Miss Medea's model shop. Please verify the Fuyuki Television number XX-XXXX to avoid scams!"
Hundred Faces was growing increasingly adept at navigating modern society.
"In any case, we apologize for the wait, viewers! The upcoming duel will be presented by Mr. Jiang You, our Noble Phantasm wielder, and Player Illya!"
Following Hundred Faces' announcement, Jiang You emerged from the spatial rift, making his first public appearance before the assembled crowd.
"Introducing our host for the Holy Grail War's final duel, Caster Jiang You!"
Hundred Faces shone a spotlight on Jiang You, but since he was virtually unknown, only scattered, polite applause trickled from the audience. Jiang You, however, seemed unfazed.
"Without further ado, let the final battle commence!"
Hundred Faces flipped a gold coin.
"Jiang You has the first move!"
The Duel Space materialized with a resounding shoom.
"Something feels off..." Sakura Matou murmured, frowning as she watched the two figures on the field.
"What do you mean?" Rin Tohsaka, seated beside her sister, scrutinized Jiang You for the first time. To her, he seemed more like an ordinary person than a Heroic Spirit. While his Victorian-style suit was eye-catching, it looked rather out of place on him, creating an awkward, mismatched impression.
"Are you talking about Illya or Jiang You?" Rin asked.
"Both of them," Sakura replied, her gaze shifting between the two. "Given their relationship, they shouldn't have started the duel without exchanging a word. Illya must have had so much she wanted to say."
"Maybe they already met in secret? Illya seemed to support Jiang You's antics from the very beginning."
Rin Tohsaka didn't find it particularly strange. Servants and Magi were known for their eccentric personalities.
"I'll go first," Jiang You announced, placing a card in his front row.
"I summon Hundred-Faced Hassan! His effect..."
Shadows coalesced, and three Hundred-Faced Hassan figures materialized on the battlefield, accompanied by a small, brown-haired young girl.
Hundred-Faced Hassan: Attack Power 800 x 3
Morning Glory: Attack Power 0
"Oh? The duel has already begun?" Shinji Matou watched from the spectator's box reserved for duelists, leaning against the railing as he surveyed the arena.
"Now that troublesome guy can't stop me, this is my chance!"
Three servants were currently trapped in duels, while Saber and Archer were temporarily weakened after their defeat. Unlike Gilgamesh, they lacked the ability to forcibly replenish their own magical energy. Moreover, Gilgamesh's combat prowess largely stemmed from his Noble Phantasms rather than his personal martial skill.
"And Lancer, as the final sacrifice, is powerless to stop me now!" Shinji Matou cackled, his gaze fixed on Bazett.
Cu Chulainn felt an unsettling stare and turned to meet it, only to find Shinji's repulsive expression staring back.
"Seaweed-head, what the hell are you loo—"
Before he could finish his complaint, a searing pain erupted in his chest, as if something were tearing its way out of his heart.
Blood gushed from Cu Chulainn's mouth. He collapsed to the ground, unable to even warn Bazett.
"The legendary wielder of the demonic spear that pierces hearts dies from having his own heart destroyed—how ironic!"
Shinji Matou laughed even louder. "Now that all the conditions for the Holy Grail's manifestation are met, I must thank you, old man!"