Ryuya's Bedroom.
Looking at the countdown to the variant Fourth Holy Grail War, less than five months away, and the countdown to Yukino and the others' arrival in four months, Ryuya calculated the slots for the False Masters.
'Yuki-chan and Haruno, Kaguya, myself and Iri, and finally the unclear situation with Okita Souji… that makes six people. The number of False Masters is just right.'
'After we six summon Servants, the conditions for the Fourth Holy Grail War System will be sufficiently met. Then, Snowfield City will naturally become the battlefield for the Fourth Holy Grail War.'
'But there are significant changes here compared to the original Zero storyline. I need to control the plot within my grasp.'
As a transmigrator, what was Ryuya's greatest advantage in this Land of Trials scenario?
Was it his power surpassing the era?
His Divine Core as the Sun God?
His instinct as the Beast of the Apocalypse?
Or his status as King of All Races, capable of summoning the invincible army from Uruk?
No, none of these.
Ryuya's greatest advantage in the Land of Trials was the plot he knew.
Unlike his first attempt in Camelot, the later tempering of his will at Rashomon, or Uruk with its descending gods, he knew the storyline for the Land of Trials.
Whether it was Fake or Zero, he was quite familiar. Moreover, his current power was enough to crush the world.
Even if the Counter Force acted personally, Ryuya had ways to deal with it.
The real issue was simply how to guide the plot towards the direction Ryuya knew.
'Emiya Kiritsugu, the Magus Killer. In the original work, he was the Einzbern's representative, but in this world, Einzbern obviously won't seek him out again.'
'It seems I need to leak some information to him, so he comes to Snowfield City on his own.'
'The Matou and Tohsaka Families, the Clock Tower, and the Holy Church… these guys need contacting too.'
'Right, that scumbag named Uryuu Ryuunosuke also needs monitoring, I can't let him harm all those children.'
Planning in his heart how to draw all seven Masters from Zero to Snowfield City, Ryuya wasn't only concerned about Einzbern's fate, or the conflicts of the Matou and Tohsaka families. He also paid attention to Uryuu Ryuunosuke, who killed many children.
His approach to matters was more comprehensive and detailed than anyone else's. He had already been quite busy during this time.
For example, letting Kiritsugu know the specific information about the Holy Grail War 'accidentally'. That extremist who wanted world peace would definitely come to Snowfield City to compete for the Grail.
Or writing letters occasionally to Waver Velvet at the Clock Tower, so this somewhat talented young man could also come to Snowfield City to summon the great king, Iskandar.
Or monitoring Ryuunosuke to prevent him from causing severe casualties, and watching Matou Zouken, Tohsaka Tokiomi, the Holy Church... Everything was like chess pieces under Ryuya's hand, moving forward according to his planned script.
'To end the Holy Grail War, the first thing is to summon the Holy Grail itself. Doing that should be about enough.'
Gently tapping the desk, Ryuya unconsciously made these small habits when thinking.
"Speaking of which, little princess over there, what are you doing sneaking in late at night without sleeping? I don't remember teaching you this."
As the Ultimate Being, with multiple talents, Ryuya's all-around parameters were now S+. Even Servants were no match for him.
Even without setting up any magical barriers, he could perceive everything within the range of the Einzbern castle.
Seeing Irisviel, who had secretly opened the room door and was hiding inside the room with a flushed face, he walked over and effortlessly dispelled the girl's invisibility magecraft.
"Iri, can't sleep? Want me to tell you a story?"
Having previously told fairy tales and such to help Irisviel sleep, Ryuya asked.
"Ah... Master."
Looking at Ryuya in panic, Irisviel had actually been dazed ever since entering the room.
Any thoughts of a night assault she had originally planned were long forgotten. She could only stare blankly at Ryuya's figure. Heaven knows how nervous and awkward Irisviel felt now.
"What's wrong? Sweating so much?"
Picking up Irisviel affectionately, looking at the nervous princess in his arms, Ryuya handed her a glass of water.
"I'm not going to eat you. Speak up, what did you come here for?"
"Mmm... Night assault (whisper)."
"What did you say?"
"Night assault (whisper)."
Faced with Ryuya's gentleness, Irisviel, who had forgotten everything, was clearly bewildered.
"Night assault? Where did you learn that?"
Finally hearing clearly what Irisviel said, Ryuya was caught between tears and laughter, truly not knowing what this girl had been learning, 'How can she be so silly?'
"I learned it online."
"Because Master seemed in low spirits this evening, and Master seems to be getting busier and busier... so I wanted to comfort Master, and looked up information online."
Finally recovering from her shyness, softly voicing her thoughts, Irisviel looked at Ryuya timidly after speaking, "Did Iri do something unnecessary? Does Master hate Iri now?"
"..." Remaining silent, Ryuya was just digesting Irisviel's feelings.
She's clearly a princess doted on by countless people, she's clearly a girl who had only lived for just over a month since her birth, yet Irisviel's growth speed far exceeded Ryuya's expectations...
She was human too. She had feelings too. She could also think about who treated her well and who treated her badly. She also thought about how to repay, how to make Ryuya happy.
Thinking that such a wonderful princess actually died in the original work for Kiritsugu's so-called ideal, Ryuya took a deep breath.
'Emiya Kiritsugu, you really deserve to die!'
Personally, Ryuya didn't dislike someone like Kiritsugu. Because Kiritsugu's idea was simple: to create a peaceful world.
There were many such people across the worlds, like Akainu from One Piece, Thanos from Marvel, etc.
Ryuya could understand their stubborn, twisted thinking. After all, everyone had their own standpoint. Just as Doflamingo said, the victors are justice.
But he absolutely did not agree with their methods.
For example, Kiritsugu killed his wife Irisviel for world peace. In the movie, he could also abandon his daughter Illya and treat Edelfelt Miyu as a tool.
Akainu could destroy Ohara while fighting pirates, even slaughtering the children who knew nothing.
Thanos activated the Infinity Gauntlet, paying the price with Gamora, whom he regarded as his own daughter.
Admittedly, when Ryuya was a King, guiding Camelot and Uruk, there were also sacrifices. But those sacrificed warriors were willing heroes who gladly faced death for their King and country.
Even in some unavoidable sacrifices, Ryuya always maintained his bottom line. He would never accept any harm coming to those he truly valued and cherished.
But Kiritsugu was different. For his ideal, he could abandon everything without hesitation, solely for his goal.
Such a person, in Ryuya's view, was someone without a bottom line.
He respected such stubborn, extreme, crazy individuals, but would absolutely never agree with them!
Perhaps from a neutral perspective, Ryuya was a hypocrite. But even so, Ryuya wouldn't change his mind.
Artoria, Merlin, Gilgamesh, Tiamat... and Yukino, now Irisviel… these people were his bottom line, his final insistence that he would never sacrifice no matter what.
Looking at the girl in his arms, so cautious, afraid he would be angry, wanting to use all her efforts to make him happy, how could Ryuya possibly sacrifice such a girl for a so-called Holy Grail?
Finding the only possibility amidst all impossibilities, even if it cost his own life, he was determined to change the outcome of this world's Holy Grail War.
Ryuya gently held Irisviel closer.
"It's alright, Iri. I'm fine."
"Your night assault... succeeded."