Unlike the neon lights of Japan, the Einzbern territory in Germany was a white and pristine world, covered in snow and ice.
An almost absolute silence dominated the landscape, broken only by the soft sound of snow being compressed beneath their feet.
"Yosh~ I definitely won't lose to Kiritsugu today!"
Leaving the Einzbern mansion, two sets of footprints—one large and one small—stretched across the untouched snow.
Completely bundled in a thick padded coat and a wool hat, the white-haired, red-eyed girl clenched her fists with determination, her small body radiating seriousness.
Her eyes scanned the surroundings attentively, as if she were on a mission of utmost importance.
Behind her, Kiritsugu Emiya walked in silence, his hands tucked into the pockets of his black overcoat.
The two moved through the snow, leaving uneven tracks behind them. The muffled sound of their steps created a strangely peaceful atmosphere.
Suddenly, Kiritsugu stopped.
He pulled his right hand from his pocket and pointed toward a leafless tree nearby.
"I've already found one, Illya."
"Huh? You're lying!"
"Where? Where is it? I'm sure I checked everything!"
Illya, who was a few steps ahead, quickly turned around and ran back, clearly unconvinced.
"This is the first nut of the day."
Kiritsugu crouched down, carefully indicating the small detail hidden among the snow-covered branches.
Then he stood up.
"I'll take the first point."
"I… I won't lose."
Illya puffed her cheeks, clearly challenged, and ran off again, determined to win.
Not long after, she found a nut and proudly showed it off.
But—
"I found a second one too."
"Why?!"
Despair filled her voice.
Even so, Kiritsugu showed no intention of going easy on her.
A few moments later, noticing his daughter's dejected expression, he finally smiled faintly.
"As punishment for losing the game… Illya will be lifted to the heavens."
"Eh?!"
Before she could react, he lifted her up and placed her on his shoulders.
"It's so high… wow!"
Her frustration vanished instantly.
In its place came pure joy.
From above, Illya gazed at the world with shining eyes, enchanted by the new perspective.
The combination of defeat and reward made it all the more special.
---
Inside the castle.
A woman watched the scene through the window.
She was tall and elegant.
Dressed in silver-and-blue armor that reflected the cold light of the surroundings.
Her blonde hair was tied into a firm bun, revealing beautiful and resolute features.
"What are you looking at, Lancer?"
Irisviel approached, holding two steaming cups of tea, handing one to her.
Lancer accepted it with a slight nod.
"Thank you."
Her eyes did not leave the scene outside.
"I'm watching your daughter and Kiritsugu."
She paused briefly.
"It's… an unexpected sight."
"Are you surprised?"
Irisviel asked, stepping closer to the window, her gentle smile reflecting the scene.
"Yes," the answer came without hesitation.
"I judged him to be a cold man. Someone who would discard everything in the name of a goal."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"But this… contradicts that image."
Irisviel let out a small sigh.
"I can't blame you for thinking that."
Her gaze rested on the snow outside.
"Kiritsugu is… a complicated person."
Lancer remained silent for a few seconds.
Then she spoke in a lower tone:
"If that is his true face… then my presence only reinforces what he hates."
She clearly remembered their first meeting.
The look of disdain and rejection Kiritsugu had directed at her.
Hearing that, Irisviel let out a soft laugh.
Lancer frowned slightly.
"Irisviel, I see no reason to laugh."
"My apologies."
she replied, holding back her laughter.
"But it's a bit ironic."
She turned her face, looking directly at Lancer.
"The legendary King of Knights… Arthur Pendragon… being, in truth, a woman. And on top of that, summoned as a Lancer."
"But I have always presented myself as a man," Artoria replied, taking a sip of her tea.
"I was a king. That is all."
She then turned her gaze back to Kiritsugu and Illya.
"But even so… his reaction was extreme."
Irisviel's expression softened.
"It's because you chose to carry everything alone."
Lancer remained still.
"You accepted the weight of a kingdom… without question. For Kiritsugu, that is… unacceptable," Irisviel said.
"That is mere sentimentality," came the immediate reply. "A king cannot afford to hesitate."
"My choices were necessary," she added.
"Even if they led to ruin?" Irisviel asked.
Lancer tightened her grip on the cup.
"…Yes."
Her answer was quiet, but firm.
"Because it was the path I chose to walk."
She turned her gaze to the snow.
"But… it was a flawed path. And I failed as a king. That is why I am here."
"All I want is to correct that mistake."
Irisviel watched her in silence.
"If the Holy Grail can truly grant any wish, then I will rewrite that choice—even if it means denying everything I once was."
"But Kiritsugu and I are incompatible anyway," she concluded, falling silent.
Irisviel felt a slight tightening in her chest upon hearing that.
Still, there was one positive point.
She could still serve as a bridge between the two.
Because, despite everything, Lancer was not an irrational woman.
"..."
After a brief silence, Artoria turned her gaze to Irisviel beside her.
"You and Kiritsugu wish to save the world using the power of the Holy Grail, correct?"
"Mm."
Irisviel nodded gently.
"Although I am merely repeating what he says… my desire to save the world is just as genuine as his."
She did not avert her gaze.
There was no lie in her words—only sincerity.
Artoria observed that expression for a moment… then gently closed her eyes.
"Even if I am incompatible with my Master… my goal in obtaining the Holy Grail is not so different from yours," she declared.
"I will do everything within my power to save Britain…" Her hand tightened slightly.
"That is the reason for my summoning."
Irisviel remained silent, listening attentively.
"If your goal is to save the world… then I cannot deny that it is a worthy path," Artoria continued.
"A path you can be proud of."
Her eyes turned back to Irisviel.
"Therefore… allow me to fulfill my role in this war as well."
The response came without hesitation.
"I understand. Please… take good care of me, Lancer."
Irisviel said, a gentle smile on her face.
After reaching a silent understanding regarding the Holy Grail…
Both of them turned their attention back to the scene outside.
Kiritsugu and Illya were still playing in the snow.
But suddenly—
"!!!"
Artoria's expression changed.
Her intuition rang like a deafening alarm in her mind.
Her eyes narrowed sharply, and without saying a single word, she moved.
In an instant, her body was no longer there.
"Lancer?!" Irisviel barely had time to react.
Artoria had already leapt through the window, disappearing into the cold air and reappearing dozens of meters away.
At that same moment—
A portal opened in the snowy field.
Spatial distortion tore through the silent air, creating a sight that was both beautiful… and deeply wrong.
"How beautiful…"
Illya murmured, enchanted.
But Kiritsugu was not deceived.
His eyes sharpened as he immediately raised his hand.
"Lancer!"
The Command Seal on his hand glowed intensely.
He was about to force a summoning.
But before he could use it, Artoria had already arrived at his side.
Seeing her there, Kiritsugu took Illya off his shoulders and placed her behind him, shielding her with his own body.
His other hand had already drawn a pistol.
Meanwhile, a small group stepped out of the portal.
"Kohaku… could you please get off my face?"
The voice sounded calm, with a hint of irritation.
Arthur stepped through the portal wearing casual clothes, as if he had simply returned from an ordinary outing.
But the scene around him was anything but ordinary.
Kohaku was clinging to his face like a small, irritated animal.
Hisui and Caren stood at his sides.
Sakura pouted slightly, being carried in his left arm.
Meanwhile, Fujino remained silent, held in his right.
A group completely out of place in that setting.
Illya, protected behind Kiritsugu, peeked from the side, her red eyes filled with curiosity.
"Who are you?" Kiritsugu asked.
Arthur finally managed to pull Kohaku off his face, letting out a soft sigh before casting a glance at him.
"It's bad manners to ask someone's name without introducing yourself first."
He paused briefly.
"Especially when that person stands above you."
---
(End of Chapter)
A/N: I have already done the review of the Nier Automata arc, if you want to take a look, feel free, nothing was really changed, after all, the arc was actually quite well written.