Fate: Emiya the Host

After two people walked out from the castle, it even more firmly confirmed Fujimura Taiga's thinking.

One had hair smoother and shinier than satin, skin more dazzling than snow, a red-eyed princess; one dressed exactly like a shrine maiden from a story, mysteriously covering herself tightly, an ageless woman.

A faded yet full-of-ancient-charm floor, square-shaped, built in the courtyard in front of the castle.

Pink petals swayed. The snow-like princess walked gracefully with a seven-parts-overpowering, three-parts-scrutinizing demeanor.

Her steps elegant, the shrine maiden following behind was like a guardian servant.

That faintly curled purple mouth seemed to be thinking, how to deal with this uninvited guest who suddenly barged into the castle.

"Gulp~"

Fujimura Taiga, from the initial excitement to swallowing saliva, became even more excited.

Without waiting for the two to walk over, she threw away her "beloved" steed and, with waltz-like graceful dance steps, like a spinning top, arrived in front of the two momentarily dazed people.

"Hello, I'm called Fujimura Taiga, fulfilling Mr. Emiya Kiritsugu's last wish, I came here to return an important item," Fujimura Taiga had already thought about the following developments.

To thank her for returning the treasure, staying for a meal and spending one day here shouldn't be a problem, right?

'Slurp~ So fragrant.'

'What the princess eats is indeed different from humans, just the smell tells it's from a fairyland.'

"You… what did you just say?", Illya, who originally had a bit of a teasing mood, had the smile on her face disappear upon hearing the words "Emiya Kiritsugu."

"If I didn't hear wrong, you just said 'Emiya Kiritsugu,' right?"

"Mm-hmm," Still unaware of the seriousness, Fujimura Taiga nodded cheerfully.

She brought the item from her back to the front, "This is it, he asked me to return it to you, specifically to a girl called Illya."

Looking at the magically sealed and wrapped item in Fujimura Taiga's hands, Illya suddenly smiled, "Interesting."

"Need to take action?", Sensing Illya's cold and even killing-intent-filled emotion, Medea hesitated a moment and asked.

She meant, drive the person away.

Because Shirou had warned before.

"No need," Illya turned around, "Let her in, Caster."

At the same time, she communicated with Shirou, ["Berserker, stand by my side."]

The tone was as unreasonable as a little girl.

Shirou, after a moment of silence, asked, ["Do you want me to disengage the armor fusion?"]

["Would you?",] Illya countered.

Shirou did not hesitate, ["If you want…"]

["Forget it, just keep wearing the armor."]

In the guest reception hall, Illya sat at the main seat, Fujimura Taiga sat opposite, curiously examining the castle.

Even with her knowledge, she could see that the castle's decorations were luxurious, yet not overly old-fashioned… She had never expected such a place to exist in the center of the forest on the outskirts of Fuyuki City.

Sella served tea.

Medea casually unraveled the seal on the package and opened it.

Thus, a box of luxurious appearance appeared before everyone.

'This is…'

On the surface, Shirou was calm as still water, but inside he had already stirred up waves.

No mistake, what's inside.

When Medea opened it, everyone's eyes were drawn.

What kind of radiance was that, divine, that was only its most basic part.

Indescribable, unimaginable. Just looking at it felt like conversing with a king who had crossed a thousand years.

Faint golden brilliance flowed in the air. This was the eternal king who left behind his legend to this day, the noble and radiant king, the proof of the miracle left behind.

[A/N: I saw someone say the reason Avalon remains is because Saber didn't die, if Saber completely dies, Avalon would soon disappear.]

"Didn't expect it would be this kind of thing…", Even the magus from the Age of Gods, Medea, gave a full and unreserved exclamation of admiration upon seeing this miracle.

"Is it genuine, Caster?", Illya's expression wasn't good. This kind of item reminded her of things from ten years ago.

"Yes, without doubt! The genuine of genuine, the legendary scabbard of the holy sword," Medea spoke, unable to help wanting to reach out and touch it, but good reason prevented her from acting. Still, the admiration in her eyes could not be hidden, "Preserved so perfectly, not even a rune is damaged. It's hard to believe this is a relic from a thousand years ago."

"This thing… is it that amazing?", Fujimura Taiga only felt it was familiar and didn't associate it with "the scabbard lost by King Arthur."

Medea answered, "Of course. Anyone who knows her legend would never doubt this…"

"Caster!", Illya interrupted.

Medea immediately shut up, "Sorry, I couldn't resist for a moment."

"If you like it that much, I'll give it to you," Illya showed zero interest in Avalon. Compared to this thing, she now more wanted to know Kiritsugu's situation.

Shirou hesitated to speak.

'What do I do, what do I do? The scabbard is right in front of me!'

'System-san, hurry and think of something!'

["Should I…"]

Hearing that, Shirou directly ignored it.

He felt like if he entered hosting mode, the system would make him want to jump into a river.

Luckily, Medea didn't agree, or maybe she glanced at Shirou and had some unreadable deep thought.

"No need, this thing actually isn't of much use to me. But I see Berserker really wants it, why not give it to him."

"..."

"Berserker, do you want it?", Illya tilted her head, innocently asked.

Just as Shirou was hesitating whether to speak, Illya turned her head back, "Then I'll give it to you, this scabbard."

Shirou's previously tense heart instantly relaxed, and he leaned toward Illya's ear and whispered, "Thank you, imouto."

"⊙_⊙!!!!"

"Σ＞―(〃°ω°〃)♡→ੈ"

Illya's pale ears twitched like a cat's, her expression like she'd been hit by a bomb.

Her slender legs and body suddenly tensed…

Don't misunderstand, this is the explosion of her heart.

'What's happening?', She touched her face that felt like it was burning, her heart pounding like she'd climbed a hundred floors in one breath.

'Clearly I'm the one playing the older sister role, yet… yet!'

'Sister… sister… sister.'

"Unforgivable!", Illya suddenly slammed her head onto the table.

"Illya-sama," Sella and Liz, waiting on standby at the side, were shocked.

"I'm fine!"

Illya raised her head, her expression finally returned to normal.

"You're called Fujimura Taiga… right?"

"…Ah, mm, that's right."

Fujimura Taiga rubbed her smooth cheek with her index finger, on her boyish face not knowing what kind of expression to wear.

She felt that the development of events seemed… a little different from what she had imagined.

'Kiritsugu, what did you do?'

'Why does it feel like when this kid hears your name, it's full of killing intent!'

'Could this treasure… be something you stole?'

Unable to understand their relationship, Fujimura Taiga wildly imagined things in her head.

———

For now, Avalon was left on the table.

Shirou listened to Illya's questioning.

"First, answer me, what is your relationship with Kiritsugu?"

"Well…"

The very first question made Fujimura Taiga clasp her hands and fall into deep thought.

Illya was very impatient, regarding Kiritsugu, she couldn't wait even a second.

"Hurry up and answer."

"Even if you say that," Fujimura Taiga stared at the ancient teacup on the table, and the answer floated up in her mind, "Family!"

Fujimura Taiga answered with absolute certainty.

To her, Kiritsugu really was like an elder, like a big brother type.

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