Illyasviel's overly distinctive appearance immediately exposed her identity.
"You're from the Einzbern family…?"
"Master, be careful! That especially big woman is a Servant! She's on a completely different level than that red Archer who always picks fights with himself—she's strong!"
Jason moved Shinji Matou in front of himself, so if a battle broke out, Shinji could act as the first buffer. Making full use of his remaining value.
Sensing Jason's hostility, Minamoto no Raikou drew her sword, the Dōjigiri Yasutsuna, from her waist. Dense violet lightning crackled and spread across the blade.
"As expected. Of course the Einzbern family wouldn't give up a chance to participate in the Holy Grail War."
Rin Tohsaka wasn't surprised. She discreetly squeezed a gemstone in her hand, ready to respond at any moment.
"Master of the Einzbern family—why are you looking for Matou Sakura?"
"That title's too annoying. Just call me Illya."
Illya walked right up to Shinji. She hadn't seen this guy in the timeline ten years ago. If she'd known the one showing up would be Rin Tohsaka, she would've handled it herself. "As for why I'm looking for Matou Sakura—because she stole something from me. And I'm going to take it back!"
Illya had long since realized that the rules of the Holy Grail War had been altered. She was already very familiar with this situation. If this kind of thing had occurred, it meant someone had already been summoned successfully. In this timeline, there were only two people who had forged a connection with Jiang You—herself and Matou Sakura. Naturally, she believed Sakura had stolen Jiang You's summoning.
"She stole something from you?"
Rin couldn't imagine shy little Sakura taking anything from a child, but Illya looked completely certain of herself. Given the Einzbern family's resources, the odds of her making something like this up were slim. "What did she take? If it's something the Tohsaka family can give back, we will."
"You can't."
Illya shook her head. "What I want isn't something you can give me."
Illya's refusal to negotiate made Rin prepare for battle. She considered whether to just attack Illya right now to remove a threat to Sakura. While she was weighing the idea, her magical energy began to flow.
Raikou, highly attuned to her Master, immediately sensed it. She would not allow anyone to threaten her "child."
"What do you intend to do to Illya!"
The violet lightning grew more intense. Raikou was about to strike.
"Berserker, stop!"
It was still daytime—Illya didn't want to start a fight just yet. Besides, her target wasn't Rin Tohsaka. Now that she had obtained a Soul Crystal, the Einzbern family's desire for the Grail had greatly diminished. Illya had only come to find someone—and to give that purple fox spirit a piece of her mind.
"Illya, why do you have to call me that… It's not like it would've exposed anything otherwise…"
Raikou looked like she'd been emotionally devastated by the way she was addressed.
"...Berserker?"
Illya broke into a cold sweat. This Servant, Raikou, was indeed strong and surprisingly cooperative. Even with her EX-rank Madness Enhancement, she could still communicate properly. However, in non-combat situations, she had a unique way of thinking—something Illya had become painfully aware of these past few days. Raikou seemed to have a very particular kind of obsession.
She was already a Servant who thought of herself as a mother. Upon meeting a Master who craved maternal love, her overwhelming, mother-like possessiveness became impossible to suppress.
Raikou now looked on the verge of tears, like a young mother abandoned by her child and husband.
"...Mom."
In the end, Illya gave in. Her face turned bright red as she said the word—she'd already compromised many times in the past few days, but shouting it in front of others was just too humiliating.
"Good girl!"
Raikou wrapped Illya tightly in her arms. Her two ample "fruits" pressed Illya's face in completely.
"...Is she trying to smother her own Master?"
Though that's what he said aloud, Jason looked at Illya struggling in Raikou's embrace and drooled with envy.
Rin facepalmed. It felt like each Servant in this Grail War was more deranged than the last. Caster had no concept of secrecy as a magus and had exposed the secrets of the Reverse Side of the World to the public. Archer was hell-bent on killing his past self to test the grandfather paradox. And Berserker… liked to play the mother role? Whether it was her body or her mind, she was too depraved!
In comparison, the usually unreliable Jason was starting to look like a respectable man.
But at least there was some good news: for now, a direct battle could be avoided.
After quite some time—nearly suffocating—Illya finally broke free of Raikou's embrace. Gasping for breath, she looked at Rin.
"You attacked a child near another magus's workshop without regard for the consequences. That means you're ready for war, right? Which means… you know about Matou Sakura?"
"The Einzbern family knows about that too!?"
Rin hadn't expected even Illya to know about Sakura's situation. Had the three families all known, and only she had been left in the dark?
"We've known since ten years ago."
Illya puffed out her tiny chest. That mysterious experience from ten years ago remained one of the most unforgettable parts of her life.
"I originally thought that guy, given his personality, would immediately come to help Sakura and deal with Zouken. I waited and waited, but it ended up being you who showed up, Rin. Looks like the one your deck summoned is your father from ten years ago, huh?"
From Illya's words, Rin finally confirmed what her father had told her was true. As for the "ten years ago" bit, she figured Illya just meant she had known all along.
"That guy?"
From Illya's tone, Rin realized there had been someone else who intended to save Sakura. She hadn't expected anyone besides herself to want to help. Her curiosity was piqued. "Who was it?"
"A bleeding-heart idiot. And also the one Matou Sakura stole from me!"
Illya stomped her feet angrily. She was convinced she hadn't been able to find Sakura and Jiang You because they didn't dare face her. Jiang You had once vowed he'd come help her, but in the end, he broke that promise—just like Kiritsugu had!
"Men are all liars!"
"...?"
Rin tried her best to process all the information swirling in her head.
In the end, after organizing everything she had learned, she came to a single conclusion:
Sakura stole Illyasviel's man!
"Th-this is…"
Whether it was the fact that Sakura had stolen another girl's man or Illya's presence itself—it was all beyond what Rin could comprehend.
"…Isn't this a crime?"