Chapter 35: Creeping shadows

Haruki stepped out of the Ryuudou Temple.

“A certain someone is forgetting something,” Arch said.

Task completed. Well done!

1 x High-Rank Gacha coupon rewarded.

‘Thanks.’

He nearly forgot about the reward for summoning Saber.

“D-Don’t thank me. I’m just doing my job.”

He gave an amused smile at her stuttering, tsundere-like response.

‘It’s time for spin.’

The gacha wheel appeared before him again and spun. Slowly, it crept around and stopped on the purple.

‘Epic!’

He could barely contain his excitement.

[Congratulations! You have acquired 1 x ‘Noble Phantasm: Right Hand - Evil Eater.]

Noble Phantasm: Right Hand - Evil Eater

Description: Amakusa Shiro Tokisada created countless miracles through his hands as well as guided his believers through hardships.

Rank: Epic

Skills:

-Almighty Key [A]

Info: Creates a link to every Thaumaturgy Foundation carved in the world.

-Precognition [D]

Info: Gives insights into the future based on your knowledge regarding certain events.

-Eternal Youth [B]

Info: Halts the aging process of the body.

‘This… is beyond perfect.’

He had hit the jackpot despite his E-Rank Luck. Among the other Noble Phantasms, this wasn't anything groundbreaking. But for a Magus, the ability to cast any magecraft spell was their wet dream come true. The precognition was the cherry on top; it could bring some impressive results in the hands of someone who knew bits and pieces of nearly every important event in the Nasuverse.

“I suggest you don’t rely on it too much,” Arch said. “Absolute power can crush every possibility. Increasing your strength will help you to the end.”

‘I know, sheesh. You don’t have to be my mommy every time.’

His mother was super chill. She never tied any responsibility to him and shouldered everything by herself. Even when he offered to work, she refused with a pout. That image brimming with cuteness was still safe in the depths of his heart. He had to lie with Sakura’s name just to begin a part-time job.

“...I’m not your mommy,” Arch murmured.

Haruki shook his head. Just a few moments ago, she was calling him ‘My precious son.’ Now she was denying it. As expected, a goddess couldn’t be understood by human logic.

‘How do I use this Noble Phantasm?’

He wasn’t going to become a Frankenstein by cutting his arm off and stitching this Noble Phantasm. He wasn't that hungry for strength.

“Your arm will retain the same appearance and functionality. Keep two things in your mind. The process will be painful. Your magical energy will run rampant until the Noble Phantasm is fully integrated.”

‘Pain isn’t a problem. How long will it take to fully integrate?’

“One night of sleep… I’ll have to summon you here to integrate the arm of a Heroic Spirit.”

That meant he couldn’t use the Noble Phantasm tonight.

‘You know, Arch. You are a good woman.’

“W-What do you want to say?”

‘Nothing. You have been nothing but kind to me. It’s hard to find good in a priest these days, much less a genuine goddess.’

“Is that what you think?” Arch took a short pause as though she was collecting her thoughts. “I may have ulterior motives in helping you.”

Anyone with ulterior motives will never outright confess their intentions. He had a suspicion she wanted more than just making him an overlord of this world. Would it entertain her enough to go through such a tedious process of reincarnating him and giving him powers? He wasn’t sure.

Arch fell silent like she usually did to dodge certain topics. Haruki began sprinting through the streets.

‘I’m here if you want to reveal your ‘ulterior’ motives.’

***

In the confines of a Japanese-style room, a girl sat in seiza before an unconscious Shirou. Her long white hair flowed out of her purple Russian hat, covering her morphed face.

“What did they do to Onii-chan?”

He was paralyzed, unable to move an inch.

Illyasviel couldn’t understand their reason for kidnapping him. He was half-baked magus as he possessed no magic circuits. He always helped everyone around him. Never did he try to harm everyone.

‘Did they realize my relationship with Shirou?’

She and Shirou shared no blood relation. She was a homunculus born between Irisviel Von Einzbern and Kiritsugu Emiya, who later betrayed the Einzbern family and destroyed the Greater Grail. He had adopted Shirou as his son, leaving Illyasviel behind in the cold walls of the Einzbern Castle.

‘I should be despising you, but why do I feel sad?’

In the end, he was her little brother. Her growth had been stunted a decade ago when she was eight years old. She looked nothing like an older sister.

Unknown to her, the lights in the room dimmed a little. The darkness crept behind her, stopping right behind her. Two hands emerged from the shadows and touched Illyasviel’s shoulders.

“Ilya.”

A delicate whisper reached Illyasviel. Her crimson eyes stretched, and a look of disbelief spread across her face.

“Okaa-san…”

She shakily turned around. Her mother’s beautiful face gazed back at her.

“Ilya, my daughter,” she said in a playful voice and stretched her arms. “Come to mother.”

Illyasviel was too shocked to notice Irisviel’s skin was darker than usual as though a shadow was cast on her. Her pure white dress was also tainted by a shadow.

“No, it’s impossible,” Illyasviel said with a frown. “Okaa-san died because of Kiritsugu. You can’t be Okaa-san.”

Her mother clutched her chest as a trail of tears trailed down her cheeks. “Ilya, Kiritsugu left… he left us. He isn’t here anymore. Only you are. So, please…” With emotions brimming in each word, Irisviel stretched her hand. “Help me… Assassin and her Master are going to kill me. Violate me with their poison.”

“Tada, Shirou. I’m home!”

A cheerful voice alerted the two of them. The owner of the voice slowly approached through the corridor.

“Ilya, help… Ryuudou Temple...” Irisviel’s voice echoed as her figure melted into the shadow.

‘Ryuudou Temple. The Greater Grail will descend there this time…’ She gritted her teeth. ‘Angra Mainyu. It dared to use Okaa-san’s face and voice to deceive me.’

The corruption of the Grail at the hands of Angra Mainyu was known by the Einzbern family. They couldn’t care less about any of it, for they sought their lost Third Magic.

The footsteps grew louder and louder.

‘What should I do? Leysritt might know a way to treat the poison. Berserker, come back please.’

Just as Taiga Fujimura stopped outside the room, a crash echoed outside the house. Illyasviel opened the window and leaped outside. Berserker launched himself into the air and caught her amidst her leap of faith. Berserker landed and put Illyasviel on his shoulder.

“Berserker, go that way.”

She wasn’t going to let Assassin walk away without paying a price.

‘I hope Shirou recovers soon. If not, I’ll have to ask for Leysritt's help.’

Her homunculus servants won’t be happy after knowing she planned to help Kiritsugu’s son.