[128] Eve

Mevis Clara led the way, and in a short while, they arrived in a room where they could see a white-haired girl lying on a bed.

"Irisviel?"

Waver looked at the person lying on the bed in surprise.

"Yes, she can be called that, but there's something not quite right," Mevis Clara said. "According to the information given to me by Einzbern, this is a failure. One of the countless failures that happened before the creation of Irisviel. Only one was successful, and she was named Irisviel. The others, most of them, were disposed of, but a few were left. They remained as templates for the creation of Homunculus in the future. And this is one of them."

"So, you mean she's a failure, right?" Kayneth said. "Only one was successful, named Irisviel, and she is one of the failed attempts in the process of creating Irisviel, right?"

"That's absolutely correct," Mevis Clara nodded and smiled. "That's why she can barely function as a Lesser Grail, but she lacks the ability to act, or you could say she was not endowed with such abilities. She has no self, no consciousness, no life. She exists purely as a candidate for the Lesser Grail, in case Irisviel were to malfunction."

'Right... this is what a magus is like,' Waver looked at the girl on the bed and clenched his fist. "Sorry, Rider, Professor Kayneth, I'll step out for a moment."

"Go ahead," Kayneth said, giving him a nod. This kind of thing was already quite common for magus. If you were willing to give up because of such a small matter, you wouldn't be worthy of being a magus.

"So, shall we take this Lesser Grail back now?" Kayneth asked.

"Yes, and this," Mevis Clara placed a small golden cup, similar to a Holy Grail, on the table nearby. "This is the seal. Once you place it on her, the seal will naturally be released. At that time, she will activate the Lesser Grail's function, which is to connect to the Greater Grail and absorb the defeated Servants."

...

"Japan... Fuyuki City..." Altera walked through the streets, feeling more relaxed than ever. "Ah... when will this dream end..."

She didn't mean to wake up from this dream right now.

On the contrary, it was quite the opposite.

She didn't want to wake up... not now. This was good.

Every minute, every second, every moment now was a unique experience for her. Things she couldn't experience otherwise...

Participating in the Holy Grail War as a "Servant" wasn't too bad.

Although she hadn't used her full power... theoretically, since she had been summoned as a Servant, she could connect with her true form on the moon and become a giant god.

However... she would never do that.

She didn't want to destroy anymore.

But... it was unavoidable. Even if she obtained the Holy Grail in the end and made a wish for her own freedom, would it really come true?

No... it wouldn't.

It was just a creation of a civilization, and what she destroyed was the civilization itself. Such a thing would have no effect on her. When the command from the wandering star came down, she would become the embodiment of destruction. Tranquility... just these few days, just these moments.

For her true self in the underground chamber for the past 14,000 years, it was just... a fleeting dream.

But... ah, it was enough.

This was enough...

Just walking through this Fuyuki City made her feel satisfied. Walking around, looking around...

Everything was so fresh, so interesting.

And then...

A familiar face passed by and greeted her.

"Nice to see you again, Altera." 

That's Caster! Kurokawa Kazuya.

"Caster!" Altera became vigilant, not against Kazuya, but against the warrior he had summoned back then, who seemed to have no concept of death.

If, from a simple perspective, he seemed like the perfect embodiment of destruction.

But no... just through that battle, just through the clash of swords back then, she understood. That man was only about "battle."

Her purpose in battle was destruction. His purpose in battle was simply to battle.

Therefore, he wouldn't harm the weak. Therefore, he wouldn't harm those who had lost their fighting ability.

That was her view...

But, what kind of person was this Caster in front of her?

Altera turned to Kazuya. "A remnant of 14,000 years ago, right?" She said, as if understanding. The person in front of her was probably someone who had escaped from Sefar's grasp 14,000 years ago.

She didn't have all of her true self's memories because, in the end, she was just a dream of the true self.

However, there was one thing she could judge, that there was no one 14,000 years ago who could stand against her, except for the Holy Sword wielder who ultimately put an end to her. Of course, that included the civilization of that time, the gods of that time...

"No, you're wrong; I'm not someone from 14,000 years ago," Kazuya shrugged. "But let's not talk about that. Don't you like this kind of thing? It looks like you're just here to hang out?"

"You know me well?" Altera asked.

"I know a bit," Kazuya nodded. "As a Vanguard of the Umbral Star... But don't worry, even if the Wandering Star of Predation descends on this world, it won't happen anytime soon. You have plenty of leisure time, and when the time comes, you can participate in the Holy Grail War a couple more times, just like now."

"No... I don't need that."

"Alright, suit yourself... Now is not the time for battle. I've already fought you once, and I'm not interested in that aspect now... I see, that's how it is. Well then, how about it? Would you like this Caster to accompany you for a while?"

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