The Ultimate Lich King of the Multiverse

Had he stopped wanting to go back?

Had he truly lost all attachment to that world?

Had he really forgotten Riveria, Hestia, and Ais?

—He had not.

Deep within, Yoru was certain of this.

Those feelings had not faded in the slightest. He could feel it clearly—his longing had never weakened.

Perhaps that longing was indeed a form of conviction. But… it wasn't his strongest conviction.

Unconsciously, Yoru placed a hand over his chest, feeling the steady and powerful beat of his heart.

Was this where his true conviction lay—hidden even from himself?

"Yoru, you should go to Japan. Go visit the battleground of the Holy Grail War—the place where the Greater Grail will eventually descend: Fuyuki City. Perhaps there, you'll understand what you truly desire. Perhaps you'll discover your heart's real wish."

Watching Yoru fall into silence, Heide chuckled softly.

"To Fuyuki, huh…"

Yoru nodded, then turned and left Heide's room.

He had always planned to visit Fuyuki before the Holy Grail War began. Familiarizing himself with the battlefield was essential to prepare for what was to come.

After leaving Heide's room, Yoru returned to the room he shared with Irisviel.

"Is the child asleep?"

Gently opening the door, Yoru asked in a soft voice as he saw Irisviel sitting by the bedside.

"Yes, she's asleep," Irisviel replied, offering a warm smile. Then she looked at him a little anxiously.

"Did Grandfather… say anything unpleasant?"

She had long been worried about the fact that the Command Seals had yet to appear on Yoru's hand. She feared Heide might do something drastic because of it.

"Don't worry, nothing bad happened. But I may leave the Einzbern estate for a while. I plan to go to Fuyuki City, to better understand the situation there and…"

Yoru placed his hand over hers.

"…to find the real reason I must fight."

"Huh…"

Irisviel blinked, puzzled, staring at Yoru.

Hadn't his reason for fighting always been to return to his own world—to the one where the people he loved still waited?

As if sensing her thoughts, Yoru leaned down and pressed a kiss to her forehead, then gently stroked her long, silvery hair.

"Do you still think you're just a replacement, Iris? Whether it's you or Illya, both of you are irreplaceable to me. Maybe… maybe that's why I'm so conflicted."

"To win this war, to gain the Grail, and then to abandon you both so I can return to my own world—how could I possibly do something like that?"

"…That's enough. It's already more than enough. For someone like me… to be this happy… it's already more than I ever dreamed."

Once just a lifeless doll, now a woman in love—then a mother. In becoming one, she had found a power nothing could shake. This small room, warmed like a hearth, where a mother and daughter were protected… it now felt utterly removed from despair and misfortune.

This was enough. To wish for more… would surely invite divine punishment.

Don't worry, Irisviel. I will never abandon you or Illya—never.

He made that vow silently in his heart, holding her tightly in his arms—this delicate, fragile woman who stirred such pain in his chest.

◇

Before Yoru departed, Heide offered a final word of advice.

If he was going to Fuyuki City, there were two entities he needed to be cautious of: the Tohsaka and Matou families—two of the original Three Founding Families involved in the Holy Grail War.

However, since the Command Seals hadn't appeared on Yoru's hand yet, his presence remained hidden. He wouldn't be targeted the moment he arrived.

In fact, openly identifying himself as someone from the Einzbern family might actually help. The other two families might lower their guard—after all, the Einzbern representative should've already received their Command Seals by now.

After leaving the Einzbern estate, Yoru made his way to an airport based on the address Heide had given him, and boarded a flight to Japan.

Japan's infrastructure in this era wasn't very advanced. After a flight that lasted over ten hours, followed by several more hours on a bus, Yoru finally arrived at his destination—Fuyuki City.

Though the Einzbern family had declined, their wealth and connections remained impressive. Not only had they arranged his flight, but they had also secured a hotel for him in Fuyuki.

Traveling alone to a foreign land… it reminded Yoru of the day he had first awakened at the Einzbern estate.

There was a bit of confusion, a bit of anxiety… and more than a little loneliness.

"A foreign land… alone again, huh."

Muttering to himself in his hotel room, Yoru suddenly realized how deeply he missed his wife and daughter.

It was hard to admit—but in truth, the place held in his heart by Irisviel and Illya had already surpassed that of Hestia and Riveria.

It wasn't a matter of discarding the old for the new.

It was simply that… he had gone through more with them. Shared more. After nine years of marriage, even a man of stone would be moved—let alone someone as deeply emotional as Yoru.

"I'm sorry, Riveria. Maybe I really no longer fight to return to your side. Now, the ones I care about most… are Irisviel and Illya."

How foolish he'd been. What he'd been searching for all this time… had been right in front of him.

If he couldn't even protect what was before him, how could he dream of anything else?

As that conviction settled firmly in his heart—

—a sudden pain stabbed through the back of his hand.

Yoru did not flinch.

Now that he understood exactly what he was fighting for, he calmly looked at the back of his hand—

—where the crimson Command Seals were slowly beginning to emerge.

---

Access more chapters at patreon.com/dzeref887