Chapter 171: Illya's Happiness
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What is happiness?
It's a cliché question that has stood the test of time.
I remember someone once said, "When I'm hungry and I have a piece of bread while you don't, I'm happier than you. When I have a toilet stall while you don't and my stomach hurts, I'm happier than you."
Happiness is that simple. With comparison comes the knowledge of satisfaction, and happiness naturally follows.
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Illyasviel von Einzbern is happy now.
She has seen her father and mother. She knows she hasn't been abandoned, and that her parents still love her. The reason they didn't immediately come back to her as promised was that her mother's health had deteriorated, and her father needed to take care of her.
Although she endured a lot of hardship during this time, compared to her mother's condition, Illya would gladly endure ten or a hundred times more suffering because her love for her parents is no less than their love for her.
In a place called Fuyuki, far away from the "Castle of Winter," the family is finally reunited, able to live together once again.
Their new home is not as big as the old one, but Illya truly loves it because it's not as cold as the "Castle of Winter," because her father and mother are there. After all, more people love her, more "warmth" — just like what that Big Brother Shinji, no, that liar Shinji said.
Yes, he's a liar. He's younger than her, but he insists on being called her older brother just because he's a little taller. Hmph! I won't forgive you unless you apologize, hmph!
"Illya. Shinji and the others have come to play with you."
"Really?"
Her mother's call interrupted Illya's little tantrum. She immediately forgot her anger, jumped up from the floor, and put on her slippers as she ran excitedly.
Hmph, I only said I won't forgive him, not that I won't play with him. Don't get it wrong — because he always manages to find lots of fun things to do. (Muttering to herself.)
"Illya, slow down, the floor is slippery. Be careful not to slip."
"I know, Auntie Maiya, no, Mommy Maiya."
The one reminding Illya is Maiya Hisau, whom Illya has known for a long time. She knows Maiya is her father's partner, and they have known each other for the longest time in the family, longer than Illya, and longer than her mother. But it was only recently that she became a member of the family.
By the way, the title "Mommy Maiya" was Irisviel's request. Although Illya doesn't understand why she should call her that, it doesn't feel bad to have another mother who loves her. But why does Maiya blush every time she's called "Mommy Maiya"?
Even if she asks her father, he doesn't say. (TL: Kiritsugu living a Harem Life xD)
As she was thinking about it, Illya saw her father. He was in the storage shed in the yard, organizing things. It seems that he and Mommy Maiya will be going out for a while in a few days to search for a brother.
This time it's a real brother, Mommy Maiya's child. He went missing before Illya was born, and his name seems to be named "Sigma." It sounds strange, but hopefully, Dad and Mommy Maiya will be able to find him successfully.
"Illya, over here."
Outside the living room door, Illya's mother, Irisviel, was holding a tray of fruits and smiling at her.
"Mommy." Illya sweetly called out and leaned against Irisviel like a little cat.
This is a new habit she developed after coming to Fuyuki. When she first arrived in Fuyuki, her mother seemed to have lost her body and couldn't hold Illya or leave that rundown storage shed like before. Illya was very worried, so every time she went to see her mother, she would touch her to see if she had recovered. This habit remained even after her mother obtained a new body.
"Don't be so spoiled, Illya. Take the fruits inside for the guests," Irisviel indulgently looked at her daughter.
"Okay."
Illya lifted her feet, took the fruit tray, and walked into the living room, politely greeting each person.
"Justeaze-sama...," the ancestor of the Einzbern family, a great benefactor to her parents and Illya's most admired person.
"Auntie Touko...," a puppeteer even more impressive than Grandfather Jubstacheit, the one who helped Justeaze and her mother create their bodies. She's Illya's doctor and can make Illya grow up quickly to be as tall as her mother.
"Sister Fujino...," Auntie Touko's student and assistant, with beautiful eyes, doesn't speak much but looks lovely when she smiles.
"Sakura..." The little sister who can write strange characters, a beautiful girl just like Illya, Illya's best friend.
And... hm, that's it.
"Hey, Illya, why don't you call me?" A certain ignored person protested discontentedly.
"I don't talk to liars. Liar, liar, big liar."
Illya crossed her arms and turned her head away with her eyes closed.
Shinji, who was called a liar, forcefully patted the nearby box and deliberately said in a loud voice, "Ah, today I brought something really fun. If you don't talk to me, you won't know how to play, you know."
Illya hmphed and quietly opened one eye, secretly observing. Her cute appearance made everyone smile knowingly.
"Sakura, let me tell you, this is the latest collaborative work of Lady Justeaze and Sister Touko. It's very interesting and fun. Since Illya doesn't want to play, let's play by ourselves."
Shinji chuckled and opened the half-sized leather trunk.
Inside was a handmade war chess game. The chess pieces, meticulously crafted by Touko, were based on characters from the Matou and Emiya families. They were more detailed than any figurine, with a reproduction accuracy of over ninety percent.
The chessboard was created by Justeaze, supporting both regular chess playing and real-time manipulation of the pieces using magecraft. It was a way to synchronize magical control while playing chess, combining education with entertainment.
The rules and scenarios of the war chess could be freely written. The first set of scenarios released was personally written by Touko and titled "Brave Warriors vs. Demon King." The leader of the brave warriors was Magus Touko, while the Demon King was played by Touko's sister, Aoko. When Shinji tried it, he couldn't help but hold back his desire to make a snide remark for several minutes—Touko Aozaki, you never miss a chance to tease your sister.
Of course, the personal touch brought by Touko didn't affect the quality of the war chess. As soon as the box was opened, Illya couldn't close her other eye either. However, due to their previous conversation, she didn't feel comfortable talking to Shinji and could only express her desire through her eyes.
"Illya," the kind-hearted Fujino couldn't bear to see it and reminded her softly, "Don't talk to Shinji, but you can talk to us. We'll teach you how to play."
"That's right, big brother, stop bullying Illya," Sakura chimed in.
"Ah, you two traitors, whose side are you really on?"
Shinji scratched his head and gave a mockingly annoyed look to the girl beside him, who seemed like sisters. Of course, he wasn't truly angry; he just found it more amusing this way.
"Illya's side."
"Illya's big sister's side."
Fujino and Sakura answered simultaneously.
Instantly, Illya's head soared up to the sky.
"Thank you, Fujino big sister, and Sakura."
"..." Shinji.
It's so wonderful to know both of you, and it's great to be in Fuyuki.
PS: Regarding Kiritsugu looking for Illya, "Fate/Zero" provided a clear answer in the end. He first adopted Shirou and waited until everything settled down before visiting Illya under the guise of a trip. Unfortunately, by that time, Kiritsugu was already in a weakened state and couldn't enter the bounded field. He could only wander in the snowstorm multiple times, almost freezing to death.
PS2; Another Fate got saved.