Chapter 9 - No Man is an Island
Wait and Watch
[Irisviel P.O.V.]
As expected, it was not fun at all explaining to Magdalena and Kariya that Sakura would have to participate in the Holy Grail War. They tried convincing her to just use up her command spells, or to find a way to transfer them, but ultimately it was just not feasible. She'd already summoned a servant. And Serenity had no intention of changing Masters even if it was an option.
"If Sakura has to participate, then let me come help. She's just a child." Kariya argued.
"Kariya, you've improved as a magus these past few years, but I'm not confident you'll survive. I wouldn't put it past Zouken to go out of his way to kill you if he noticed you were helping our side over his. Sakura can have Serenity defending her at all times. You? I don't think we have the capacity to protect you. You have no weapons training. No martial arts training. Fact is, you're just not as combat-capable enough to be involved in this war. I've got Kiritsugu, Maiya, and plenty of hired mercenaries. I won't be alone." Irisviel argued back.
Kariya had only been learning some magecraft due to the antics of the children of the household. He was incredibly skilled at restoration and repair, due to all the practice he had cleaning up their messes. Not really the skillset she needed at the moment. Thus it was with mixed feelings that Irisviel and Sakura parted ways with the Einzbern household, and headed to Fuyuki.
The Einzbern castle in Fuyuki was pretty good territory to wage war in. The surrounding lands were layered with all sorts of curses and traps, and the building itself had defenses boosted with the best runes Irisviel could bolster. Her runic knowledge was thanks to her class card Lancer, Scáthach.
Using primordial runes took a lot out of her, so it'd been the work of years reinforcing this base. Still, someone like Gilgamesh could probably pass through her defenses with a swing or two of Ea. Thanks to her reality marble and the scabbard Avalon, she was reasonably sure she could tank some hits from him. But her allies were not so safe.
Sitting in a conference room, loaded with countless monitors showing camera feeds of all of Fuyuki, she discussed the game plan for the war. "What's the latest update on the candidates?" She asked.
"All the servants have been summoned, Risei Kotomine is the overseer of the war. Confirmed masters besides our side are Tokiomi Tohsaka, Kayneth El-Melloi, and Waver Velvet. The Matous must have one, but we are not certain whether the Master is Zouken or Byakuya. Most of Irisviel's clairvoyant knowledge seems to contradict the current circumstances, so we are not certain about the remaining masters or servants." Maiya reported.
"Yeah, that's fair. My future knowledge isn't as useful now that I've messed things up so much." She accepted.
"I propose a passive approach. Our territory is highly defensible and we have two servants on call. It is best to wait for servants to engage each other and wear each other out before we engage." Maiya suggested.
"I agree, until some servants are spotted it may be better to wait. Although I kind of want to just blow up the entire Matou manor. It's disgusting really. But then what of poor Byakuya…" Irisviel noted.
"We could, honestly. We just need to set up some extra bounded fields so outsiders don't notice, then we could fire a few missiles at the manor. I've at least confirmed the only residents currently living in that manor are Byakuya and Zouken." Kiritisugu chimed in.
"Byakuya might just be an innocent puppet on Zouken's strings. I know this is war, but he's got a son waiting for him and I don't think we should kill him without confirming whether or not he's in control of his actions. Also, I think even if we bomb his manor, Zouken will outlive it. I'm not sure on the exact mechanics of his magecraft, but it's better to be safe rather than sorry. Let's work with the assumption that he's not dead if even one of his crest worms survives. The best way to kill Zouken is exorcism. If it comes down to it I can handle that." Irisviel explained.
[Kiritsugu P.O.V.]
Kiritsugu sighed in exasperation. "You can't keep being holier than thou like this forever. How many civilians have already died because of the Matou family? How many innocents has Byakuya likely watched die due to his father's actions, without even trying to stand up to him? How many people might die due to Zouken's actions on the off-chance we fail because you refused to kill him earlier? All that would be on your head. Byakuya's innocence is not certain, but I still think we should bomb the manor."
Irisviel hadn't really expected that outburst from him, but she should have. Her idealistic viewpoint clashed with his realistic one quite frequently. Kiritsugu was right, to a degree. How many people must Zouken be hunting to gather magical energy for the war? "I need to think about this. Give me until tonight, I promise if I can't find another way to take him down by then we'll go with your idea." Irisviel requested.
"Fine." Kiritsugu grunted. He tolerated a lot from her, due to all the help she'd given Maiya and her son Sigma. But Irisviel's attitude grated on his nerves. It was pure luck that she hadn't been forced to make a call to compromise some of her values to save more innocents. He still remembered that fateful day on Alimango Island. The day his innocence was lost, the day he had to kill Shirley.
Ever since Irisviel had told him about the world ending, and talked about timelines, he'd done some of his own research. Magi that understood the operation of timelines could be counted on one's hands, and there was no way in hell he was going to try to ask Zelretch for clarification. Still, the information he had managed to gather suggested that most magi capable of such predicted the world would end within a century or so, like she'd told him. The problem was, these predictions had existed for hundreds of years. It wasn't any new information.
He'd found records dating back to the B.C. era predicting the world would end in the same timeframe. Due to how long such predictions had existed, most people didn't really believe it, or didn't think they could do anything to avert it. The vast majority that did believe in the divinations or were determined to help prevent an apocalypse, sequestered themselves in the Atlas Institute.
Ultimately, the research made him sure of two things. First, Irisviel had amassed enough influence, resources, and technology to affect the world on a global scale. If the world was ending, she may be one of the few people capable and willing to do something about it. Atlas with its closed-door policy could not be trusted. Hence, he had gone through the effort of convincing Irisviel that he was her loyal ally.
Second, If the world was ending, the cost of humanity surviving such a fate would certainly be enormous. Monumental. And while he hoped Irisviel matured during the war, as she was now she was incapable of paying that price. In the case that such an occasion arose, that's why he was here. He'd ensure mankind's survival, by any means necessary.
[Maiya P.O.V.]
Watching Irisviel trail out of the room with a distressed look, Maiya felt conflicted. Her loyalty was no longer to Kiritsugu first and foremost, and she was no longer a mere tool to be used. Through reuniting with her lost son, she felt like she'd regained a piece of her she'd long lost. A tool could not be a good mother, so she'd had to grow out of her shell. Learn what it means to be a person again.
While she didn't regret these changes one bit, they did come with their own complications. Namely, she now had a conscience and a shift in priorities. If Kiritsugu's actions put her son's life at stake, she couldn't support him. If Kiritsugu's actions went against Irisviel, she was torn on who to assist.
And she knew even without Kiritsugu telling her, that one day she'd have to make that choice. He was good at hiding his emotions from others, but she knew him better than any other living person did. He disdained Irisviel. He felt she was naive. That she wasn't willing to pay the costs needed for the greater good.
Not that Irisviel was some innocent wildflower. Her experiments on the more cruel Dead Apostles she acquired made even her reel in disgust. But the memory that stuck to her most was still the day they'd gone to save her son, who she learned later was named Sigma.
It was a war torn land they'd found him in, where poverty ran rampant and resources were scarce. In desperation, people could resort to great atrocities. She'd been witness to several such crimes in that very nation, but they'd managed to grow even worse while she was gone.
It was not enough to conscript child soldiers, they had to forcibly impregnate women to birth children with the best magecraft potential. It was not enough to train these children, they had to perform inhumane experiments on them that shortened their lifespan in exchange for greater power. The children suffered, were indoctrinated, and viewed themselves as tools much like Maiya had.
That day, Maiya saw another side to Irisviel. One filled with anger, rage, and none of the kindness she'd always managed to convey through her eyes. To make a long story short, the Mage's association never had to intervene to prevent this country from exposing magecraft. Irisviel called on all her resources, and wiped out the entire ruling government. What was left in its place was a puppet regime that served the interests of Einzbern Industries. Thankfully, all those interests were charitable, and the nation prospered far beyond what it could have ever managed on its own.
As for the child soldiers? They, along with countless other citizens of the nation and even Maiya herself, were undergoing state-mandated rehabilitation and therapy. Irisviel left in the body-modifications that were helpful, but removed everything else and restored those children's lifespan to normal.
Sigma was there right now, he'd made friends among his companions and didn't want to leave them. After this war Maiya was planning on retiring and settling down there herself. Her son's life was in Irisviel's hands. Even if the woman would never use that as leverage against her, could she really help Kiritsugu over Irisviel?
Without Kiritsugu, Maiya would have killed herself long ago. But until she had met Sigma again, it was more accurate to say was living rather than alive. Tools aren't alive after all. Having all these emotions and dilemmas that showed her a world beyond her wildest dreams. She looked forward to every new day, rather than being stuck in the present. She could never go back to her old self, she'd rather kill herself than do that. But everything comes with a cost, and hers was trying to decide whose trust she might have to betray.
Asking for Help
[Irisviel P.O.V.]
Irisviel paced back and forth, thinking of solutions to her dilemma. Was she wrong for trying to save Byakuya? Showing mercy to one's enemies, she supposed it was a bit conceited to think that way. But what was the point in all her planning, her ability, and her efforts if she couldn't be greedy about it all?
She loathed doing this, asking someone to risk their life to help her. She'd even considered canceling the contract with Kiritsugu and her mercenaries but Maiya had talked her out of it. But if the alternative was compromising her morals, she had to take this risk. She called up one Kirei Kotomine.
"Hello Kirei. I was wondering if you'd be able to do me a favor." Irisviel said.
"How fortunate for you, that I predicted you'd be needing my assistance. I'm already in Fuyuki, I'll come pay a visit to your castle. Do be kind and let me in past those guards of yours hm?" Kirei answered, and just hung up.
Irisviel was flabbergasted. He was already here to help before she asked? She supposed she could understand him being here to support his father, Risei, as an overseer of the war. But his words implied he was here just to help her. She felt heartened at his show of support.
After some time she got a notice from the control room that a visitor had arrived, and she asked them to let him through. She greeted Kirei at her front door.
"Hello Kirei. We have much to discuss." She commented.
"Indeed. It is great to see you again Irisviel. Please do consider visiting a bit more often. Claudia nags at me saying a godmother should see her goddaughter more than just a few times a year." He said warmly, and followed her in for some tea she prepared.
"So how did you know I'd be needing your help?" Irisviel asked the question that puzzled her the most.
"I didn't, until you called. I was going to be here anyway, for my own reasons. But I knew if I answered as I did it would confound you, and while I can only imagine what your expression was like, I'm certain it was worth the lie." Kirei answered with a smile that seemed a bit evil. Gaining a heart didn't mean losing his sadism. He just became more of a troll.
And Claudia had a propensity for oversharing, so she understood very well the other methods he used as an outlet for his sadistic desires. Claudia said that healing up and fortifying her body was great for their love life. She was of course a masochist. Stupid, happy, in love, sexually compatible, oversharing couple. They taunted her with their love all the time, but they always managed to word it in such a way that she looked like an asshole for getting annoyed.
Curbing her irritation, she asked. "Then I'm guessing you were here to assist your father then?"
"Not quite. You told me long ago that I could have gone on to do terrible things in this war. I came because I hope to atone for my potential future sins. I'm sure you've put in measures to prevent the tragedy you spoke of, but this is still a Holy Grail War. Casualties are inevitable. If I can prevent even one life from being lost, that would otherwise die because of the war, I feel I could gain closure." He explained.
"Kirei. The person I saw in the visions? That's not you anymore. You're better than that. You haven't done anything wrong. You have nothing to atone for." Irisviel argued.
"I believe God sent you to help me for a reason. And that reason may be preventing a tragedy in this war. So even if it is not for atonement, I still feel like it is my duty to intervene here as a devotee of the Church." Kirei shook his head.
Realizing that she wouldn't be convincing him anytime soon, she dropped that line of thought. "Alright, I can't stop you. And I won't deny that you being here could help me greatly. I want you to help me kill Zouken Matou. He's my enemy in the war." She explained.
"I know you, Irisviel. You would never ask me to help you just to win the war. Why do you really want my help?" Kirei asked.
"Zouken Matou is sort of like an undead. He lives on through his crest worm familiars, using them to infest other humans. He's lived for hundreds of years through this method, and it makes him hard to kill. Exorcism is the best method of killing him, and you're better at it than I am. That's why I want your help." Irisviel answered.
"Irisivei." He said with anger coloring his tone.
He took a deep breath and sighed. "We're friends, aren't we? I'd like to think we are. You can ask your friends for help when you need it. Trying to dissuade me from helping you even as you request my assistance, you can do better than that."
Irisviel slumped. "You see through me far too easily for my comfort. I just don't want you to die from this. I didn't help your family be whole and happy, only to endanger it later."
"Is this a suicide mission? Or is it merely a mission with a calculated risk and decent chance of success? If you're not asking me to kill myself, I think you should let me decide if it's worth the risk to go on this mission. I too wouldn't leave behind my family unless I deemed it truly necessary." Kirei chided.
Irisviel, appropriately chastised, explained with a resigned expression. "Fine. It's not a suicide mission, and our odds aren't that bad. Zouken is a terrible being, killing him I feel no remorse over. It would probably be easy enough just by bombing his mansion to high heaven until all his defenses are useless, then exorcising him. But there is another resident living in the mansion, Byakuya Matou. I'm not convinced he's a bad person, he might just be a puppet of Zouken. My allies though, are still in favor of the bomb him approach. That means both Zouken and Byakuya would die. So I called you for help. Between you, me, and my servant, I think we could take down Zouken and their servant without killing Byakuya. I know it's super arrogant and idealistic of me but I wanted to try."
Kirei laughed. "Now that sounds like the truth. You're not wrong. You're probably the most arrogant person I've met in my entire life. Not arrogant in your mannerisms, but in your propensity to think no one else is qualified to risk their life to help you. But it is that kind of arrogance that lets you change the world. It allows you to shoulder an ambition as grand as saving all of mankind. As your friend, how can I not assist?" He stood up, and patted her head.
"You are only 10 years old. You have much to learn. No man is an island. Rely on your friends, rely on your allies, rely on your employees, rely on God, rely on the Devil, rely on anyone and everyone willing to give you a hand. Ask freely and let others decide what they are willing to give. Now then, let's plan out how to exterminate this worm shall we?" He said with a smirk.
What did it say about her that the closest thing to a father-figure she had was Kirei Kotomine? Probably nothing good. But the feeling of relying on a friend…It was nice.