Einzbern Castle.
Over these years, Emiya Kiritsugu had been staying here, waiting for the arrival of the Holy Grail War.
Eight years ago, he was shocked to discover that Irisviel was actually pregnant.
But he had never had a relationship with Irisviel.
Illya was a cute girl with long silvery-white hair, but those eyes inherited the depth and melancholy of her biological father.
She always liked wearing white clothes because Mama said she looked best in white. She didn't even know who her biological father was.
"Kiritsugu, can you play with me?" Illya waved toward Emiya Kiritsugu.
She was even cuter than Irisviel had been as a child; she was young and petite, carrying an air of innocence and playfulness.
Emiya Kiritsugu shook his head. "No, I have things to deal with today."
With that, he turned and walked toward the Magician's workshop deep within the castle.
Irisviel sat despondently under a long corridor in the distance, watching her daughter play alone in the ice and snow.
Ever since learning she was pregnant eight years ago, Kanjuro had never come to see her again, nor had he even visited this daughter once.
Irisviel suppressed an unspeakable pain in her heart, which made it difficult for her to even give her daughter her full care.
"Mama, play with me." Illya opened her arms, wanting to hug her mother.
Seeing Illya's cute appearance, Irisviel's heart almost melted.
However, when her gaze met Illya's deep, pitch-black, and melancholy eyes, a sharp pain shot through her heart—she remembered that damned man, Kanjuro!
"Your eyes are just like your father's, they're disgusting." Irisviel didn't know how many times she had said such cruel words.
Illya sat on the snow in disappointment, looking down at her lonely shadow on the ground.
She was so sad she wanted to cry, but no tears would come.
She had inherited Kanjuro's deep, dark, and melancholy eyes; even though she possessed an extremely cute face that merged the excellent genes of her parents, she could not change this fact.
Furthermore, she would never grow up—because she was the vessel for the Holy Grail, her lifespan was inherently limited.
In the snowy field, the cold wind blew in gusts.
Illya walked aimlessly alone, lonely and in pain.
At this moment, a figure slowly approached from the distance.
The person wore a black trench coat and was extremely handsome, appearing to be around eighteen years old.
He was truly good-looking, his eyes carrying a bit of deep melancholy just like Illya's, but this melancholy was tinged with much more darkness, making it impossible to see what kind of person he truly was.
He would occasionally smile, and he looked good when he did, but behind that smile, it was as if a devilish nature was hidden.
Illya curiously looked at the newcomer. "Ordinary people can't get here... May I ask who you are? Big Brother?"
Kanjuro looked at his cute daughter before him and laughed involuntarily.
He had come this time primarily to investigate the ritual for summoning Heroic Spirits.
There would likely be an answer soon—Emiya Kiritsugu was about to summon Artoria, and he also very much wanted to see that legendary King Arthur.
As for why Kanjuro didn't step in to interrupt?
That would be too boring.
Because with the blessing of the Four Gospels, he himself was already nearly invincible, and he had the Outer God Nyarlathotep as his backer.
He even somewhat craved to taste the flavor of defeat.
"My name is... Kanjuro. And yours?" Kanjuro bent down and gently pulled Illya into his arms.
Illya subconsciously wanted to step back—Mama had said not to talk to strangers.
But this man inexplicably gave her a warm feeling.
"I'm Illya!" She eventually waved happily at Kanjuro.
Kanjuro placed Illya on his shoulder.
"Illya? That's a really good name. Where are your parents?" he asked while carrying Illya through the snowy woods.
"I don't have a father, and my mama... she hates me too." Sitting on Kanjuro's shoulder and looking at the endless icy scenery, Illya's tone couldn't help but turn sorrowful.
"Then you really are a pitiful child."
"Then Kanjuro, will you dislike me?" Illya asked sadly.
"Why would I dislike you?"
"Because Mama said I shouldn't have been born in the first place, that I don't deserve any happiness."
"..." That woman really is extreme. Hearing this, Kanjuro instead felt a surge of excitement.
Just as Kanjuro was walking toward Einzbern Castle with Illya, the surrounding snow suddenly froze. Time in the world solidified, and the Demon Sister appeared once again.
She stood barefoot in the wind and snow, looking at Kanjuro playfully.
"Oh my, Mr. Kanjuro, are you not even planning to let your own daughter go? I'm admiring you more and more."
The Demon Sister, Chiyo, proactively unbuttoned her clothes, revealing her perfect figure to Kanjuro.
Kanjuro gently set Illya aside. In the frozen time, Illya was completely unaware of all this.
Just like before, Chiyo lowered her head and used her body and mouth to help Kanjuro "relieve his fire,"
yet she still wouldn't let him fully possess her.
Kanjuro was also used to it and didn't mind: "Do you have some business with me?"
"Since your 'Ghost Father Plan' is being executed so perfectly, your daughters are all gradually growing up. I deeply support this evil behavior of yours, so this time, I want to give you a special reward."
"I want to fuck you!" Kanjuro said coldly.
"Don't be like that. Being completely controlled by desire isn't good; you have to stop somewhere occasionally." The Demon Sister Chiyo chuckled and licked the corner of her lips.
Kanjuro thought for a moment and said, "I want to become the Eighth Servant. That shouldn't be a problem, right?"
"That's no problem at any rate." Chiyo snapped her fingers, and a command spell mark immediately appeared on Kanjuro's hand.
"How do I summon?" Kanjuro sat on Chiyo, feeling as if he were sitting on a soft spring bed.
Chiyo let out a low moan: "Just imagine the conditions of the Heroic Spirit you want to summon in your mind."
"Without being constrained by the Holy Grail War?"
"Of course not. To you and me, the Holy Grail War is just a game of playing house. The world is but a dream of the Outer Gods." Chiyo embraced Kanjuro warmly,
"Dear Kanjuro, you have to keep it up. Just a little more effort, and you'll be able to fully have me."
Kanjuro wanted to say something more, but Chiyo vanished again.
He stood alone in the wind and snow, looking at the command spells on his hand thoughtfully.
He closed his eyes and immersed himself in the visualization—he longed to summon a true, loyal, and steadfast woman, a great heroine, a woman who had never been defeated, a woman similar to King Arthur.
Similarly, her heart must be like Kanjuro's—blackened and fallen—and there must be a reason for that blackening and historical factors as conditions.
The command spells on his hand began to glow with a red light.
A magic circle appeared on the ground!
---------------------------------
I hope you're enjoying the fanfiction so far! If the story has you hooked and you can't wait to see what happens next, you can unlock 30 chapters in advance over on my Patreon: patreon.com/TLHimejima1
Every bit of support means the world to me so if you're loving the ride, don't forget to drop a Power Stone and let me know.