At the airport nearest to Fuyuki City, a private plane chartered from Italy's Vorale Airlines and originating in Germany slowly taxied to a stop.
The cabin door hissed open, revealing a figure clad in a high-end white fur coat and matching hat.
"This... this is where Kiritsugu was born?"
Irisviel murmured, her voice tinged with awe. A gust of wind stirred her silver-white hair, making her seem ethereal—a goddess stepping out of a painting.
"Saber, how did you like flying?" she asked playfully, turning back with hands behind her back.
"It wasn't anything special. More boring than expected," came the honest reply from her Servant—Artoria Pendragon, who was impeccably dressed in a crisp men's suit. With her all-A physique and stoic bearing, she looked more like a princely noble than a knight.
"Really? I thought you'd be thrilled and thank me with sparkling eyes!" Irisviel pouted.
"...You didn't seriously think I'm some kind of caveman, did you?" Saber frowned slightly.
Irisviel responded with a bright, teasing smile.
"Well, I suppose flight wouldn't impress a Heroic Spirit."
"Not quite," Saber replied calmly as they walked together. "As a Servant summoned in this modern world, I've acquired knowledge of current technology. And as a knight with Riding skills... I'm confident I could pilot that aircraft if necessary."
"You can fly a plane?" Irisviel gasped.
"I believe so. My Riding skill allows me to control anything that qualifies as a 'mountable object.' As long as I'm holding the reins—or controls—I should be able to adapt."
Irisviel chuckled, her joy sincere. Saber's earnest nature never failed to delight her.
As they walked side by side, Irisviel suddenly said, "It's so nice to be traveling alone with you, Saber. Honestly, no matter how long I look at you... I never get tired of it."
"...Irisviel, what did you say?"
Like a typical male protagonist in a romance story, Saber had missed the confession-like line entirely.
"Nothing. Don't worry about it." Irisviel laughed softly and turned her head, dodging the topic with practiced grace.
---
Meanwhile, Emiya Kiritsugu entered a modest hotel in the city with practiced caution. After scanning the surroundings and confirming he wasn't being followed, he knocked on a room door.
It was opened by a cold-eyed woman. Kiritsugu slipped inside without hesitation.
Once he was in, the woman took another quick glance in both directions before quietly shutting the door.
"There was movement at the Tohsaka estate last night," she said without preamble.
The woman was Maiya Hisau—Kiritsugu's assistant and... unofficial partner. Her tone was clipped, all business.
"I recorded it. Take a look. Also, all the equipment has arrived."
"Good. Report the situation."
Maiya switched on the television, and footage taken by familiars enhanced with modern tech began to play.
Kiritsugu lit a cigarette, the smoke coiling around him as he silently watched the video.
When it ended, he and Maiya reviewed what had happened at the Tohsaka residence in detail. They then checked the equipment she'd brought and conducted a brief inspection.
Kiritsugu held up his Walther pistol—his personal Mystic Code—and performed a quick test. Load, aim, ready: two seconds flat.
He gave a bitter laugh.
"...I'm getting old."
"Yes," Maiya responded without hesitation. She knew exactly what he used to be capable of.
Kiritsugu's face twisted in pain as he held it in his hands.
"Ilya doesn't even have her own Walther yet... and she's already eight..."
Without a word, Maiya reached out, cupping his cheeks. Her arms slid around his neck like a serpent's embrace, and she pulled him into a deep kiss.
"Ahem."
A cough echoed through the room. Maiya jumped back, startled. She immediately drew her pistol, aiming toward the source.
Light shimmered in the air—revealing a young man with dark hair and bronze skin.
Arash scratched his head awkwardly and said, "Ah, sorry, Master. Didn't mean to interrupt. I won't tell Lady Irisviel... Actually, I didn't see anything!"
He turned to dematerialize and flee, but Kiritsugu held out a hand.
"It's fine. We were about to discuss tactics anyway. Join us."
Back in the car, Irisviel gazed out the window at the bustling streets of Fuyuki with stars in her eyes.
Then, turning to Saber, she pleaded, "Saber, since we're finally here... let's go shopping! It'll be fun, I promise!"
But Saber refused firmly.
"Irisviel, we can't afford to be careless. Now that we've set foot in Fuyuki, you must act with the awareness that you are deep in enemy territory. The Holy Grail War has already begun.
"Yes, that's why I trust Saber completely. But… if another Servant were to approach, you'd be able to sense it by their presence, right?"
Irisviel responded cleverly, a glimmer of wit in her voice.
"That… is indeed correct," Saber admitted after a brief hesitation.
"Then I'm sure you'll protect me, Saber."
Irisviel spoke softly, but then a sudden shyness crept into her expression. Her voice dropped to a murmur.
"And besides… this is my first time… first time… going outside…"
"Huh?"
Saber blinked, seemingly not grasping what she meant.
"I mean… it's my first time seeing the world beyond the mansion…"
Irisviel blushed, clearly embarrassed by the confession.
Saber let out a quiet sigh, and without another word, asked the driver to stop the car. She stepped out and circled to the passenger side, then opened the door and extended her hand toward Irisviel.
"…Saber?"
Irisviel looked up at her, puzzled.
"Though this is also my first time here… protecting a princess is a knight's duty. I may not be worthy of that title yet—but I'm working on it. Come, milady."
With a smile befitting a storybook prince, Saber offered her hand.
Irisviel beamed, her eyes lighting up. She took Saber's arm with a gentle touch.
At that exact moment—somewhere back at a certain hotel room where Kiritsugu was deep in tactical discussion with Arash and Maiya—he sneezed violently.
—
Under the starlit sky, the two women strolled along the beach, their footprints trailing behind in the sand. Like lovers on a peaceful date, they moved slowly, side by side. Saber had spent the day by Irisviel's side, escorting her with the chivalry of an old-world knight as they toured the vibrant streets of Fuyuki City.
Their pleasant walk, however, was abruptly interrupted.
Saber suddenly grabbed Irisviel by the shoulders, pulling her close. In that fleeting moment, their eyes met—a fleeting, intimate silence hanging in the air.
"An enemy Servant?" Irisviel asked calmly.
"Yes."
Saber narrowed her eyes.
"Looks like they're trying to lure us in," she added.
Irisviel gave her a radiant smile.
"Then let's go greet them properly."
"As you wish."
Saber bowed deeply, performing a knight's salute.
—
At the very top of the massive Fuyuki Bridge, the King of Conquerors, Iskandar, sat cross-legged, drinking boldly from a large jug of wine as he gazed over the harbor with a booming laugh in his heart.
Beside him stood his ever-terrified Master, Waver Velvet.
"R-Rider…! C-come down from there already!"
Waver's voice trembled as he clung to the ledge, white as a sheet.
"Don't be so nervous, boy. Take a breath. Look at you—quivering like a leaf."
[Indeed. I concur with His Majesty. Your posture right now is… regrettably undignified.]
The calm inner voice of Zhuge Liang echoed through Waver's mind.
"Sh-shut up, both of you! I'm not like you guys—I'm a real human being! If I fall, I'll be nothing but a bloody smear!"
Waver whimpered, his face pale with fear.
"Oh? Looks like something's happening,"
Iskandar cut him off, raising his hand to shield his eyes as he peered toward the distant port.
"Hey, boy. Want to come with me? If not, I'll just leave you here."
With a grin, he summoned his divine chariot, the Gordius Wheel.
"I-I'll go! Please take me with you!"
Waver pleaded tearfully.
"Yosh!"
With that, the King of Conquerors hoisted Waver by the waistband and flung him into the war chariot.
"Hang on tight! For now—let the conquest… and the war… begin!"