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Sunlight streamed through the windows of Einzbern Castle, dispelling the usual gloom that clung to the ancient fortress, hidden deep within the forest.
Haru and Illyasviel stood by a window on the third floor, Illyasviel's head resting on Haru's shoulder, their gazes fixed on the distant landscape.
"Aoi just messaged. Elia and Rin are fighting again," Illyasviel said, a hint of amusement in her voice, despite the exasperated tone. A gentle smile played on her lips.
Haru chuckled.
His daughters, born at the same time, constantly argued over who was the older sister, their bond somehow strengthening with each squabble.
"And Aoi handled it, I presume?"
Compared to Illyasviel, who was still a bit childish despite having given birth to Elia, Aoi, with her mature, nurturing nature, commanded more authority, her motherly presence more imposing.
"Yes. But Elia called, demanding I come home. She said Rin was bullying her because I wasn't there," Illyasviel giggled, covering her mouth with her hand.
"Should we go back, then?" Haru asked, opening a rift in space, revealing the snow-covered landscape of Germany—the Einzbern's other base of operations.
He frowned, looking at the rift. His spatial manipulation abilities were limited to using the [Great Summoning of Hell] as a portal—convenient, but—crude.
'Should he—"borrow" some power from the Wizard Marshall? That old man had millennia of experience manipulating space. Annihilating his power might be enough to grant him mastery over spatial rules.' A mischievous glint appeared in Haru's eyes.
"If we go back now, during the Holy Grail War, Grandpa will have a fit," Illyasviel said, her voice filled with amusement.
Haru's face paled. Acht, despite his usual demeanor, became—unhinged when it came to matters related to Heaven's Feel.
Returning home in the middle of the war, just to deal with his daughters' squabbles—Acht would probably unleash his army of golems on him.
"…An alarm?" Illyasviel's body stiffened.
"An alarm? Is someone attacking?" Haru's brow furrowed.
The Einzbern's defensive barriers were under Illyasviel's control. An alarm meant an intruder had triggered them.
"But it's the middle of the day…" Illyasviel said, her voice filled with confusion. The Holy Grail War had a strict rule against daytime battles, a measure to maintain secrecy. And yet someone had triggered the Einzbern's defenses.
"Doesn't matter. If they're here, we'll deal with them. Use your surveillance magic. Where are they?" Haru conjured a crystal ball from the [Great Summoning of Hell] and handed it to Illyasviel.
Illyasviel channeled her magical energy into the crystal ball. The image of the Einzbern's front gate appeared.
Two figures, an old man and a young man, stood before the gate, politely knocking—like visitors.
Haru and Illyasviel exchanged puzzled glances.
—
In the Einzbern Castle's living room, Haru and Illyasviel sat at the head of a long table, Kiyohime and Saber standing beside them, their weapons at the ready, their gazes fixed on the two men surrounded by the Einzbern's guards—Risei and Kirei Kotomine.
"Risei Kotomine, Executor of the Eighth Sacrament, and Kirei Kotomine, of the Holy Church Priests, greet you," Risei said, kneeling, his head bowed respectfully.
Kirei, standing behind his father, also knelt, his eyes subtly observing Haru and Illyasviel.
"The Eighth Sacrament? That's the Church's secret organization, isn't it? The one responsible for collecting and managing holy relics?" Illyasviel's brow furrowed as she recalled the information she'd gathered on the Church.
"Indeed, my lady," Risei replied, lifting his head, his normally cloudy eyes now gleaming with an azure light—the power of the Eighth Sacrament, used to detect holy relics and Saints.
His eyes widened, and he stared at Illyasviel, his voice filled with shock. "Y-you have no Original Sin? But—that means…!"
"No Original Sin? I've heard of that. Gabriel mentioned it. But I never had any to begin with," Illyasviel said, tilting her head slightly, her voice confused.
She and Aoi, as a reward for bearing Haru's children, had been cleansed of Original Sin and other negative human concepts by Alaya. Gabriel, the Archangel and the protector of mothers, had explained it to them.
Kirei's eyes widened, and he looked at Haru. 'Only the Virgin Mary was free of Original Sin... that means…'
"..."
Risei, too, realized the implications. He prostrated himself before Haru, tears streaming down his face, his voice filled with awe.
Haru nodded slightly, acknowledging their assumption.
He gave them a small wave. After all, having analyzed God's System and earned the favor of both Gaia and Alaya, he was, in essence, the Fate world's equivalent of the Biblical God Yahweh.
In the Fate universe, Gods were simply extensions of Alaya.
Kirei, seeing Haru's confirmation, his eyes lit up with hope. 'A God—perhaps He could answer the questions that plagued Kirei's heart…'
Saber and Kiyohime, watching Risei's sudden display of—religious ecstasy, exchanged puzzled glances. They had little experience with the Church and didn't understand what was happening. But—it seemed they were no longer enemies. They relaxed slightly, lowering their weapons.
"So—what brings you here?" Illyasviel asked, her voice curious, her head tilted slightly.
"Your Holiness, we have come at the command of Gabriel-sama. She has instructed the Church to assist you in any way possible," Risei said, his voice filled with reverence.
"I see." Haru nodded, understanding immediately.
With Gaia and Alaya forbidding the manifestation of true Divine Spirits in the Fate world—it would disrupt the balance of power—Haru, not wanting to upset his two—mothers, had sent the Angels, Fallen Angels, and Devils back to their original worlds five years ago, though he'd maintained communication with them.
And Gabriel, driven by her protective instincts as a guardian of mothers, naturally wanted to ensure Illyasviel's safety during the Grail War.
Unable to descend herself, she'd used a divine revelation to command the Church to act in her stead.
"Tell me everything," Haru said with a smile.
"Yes, Your Holiness!"
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