"Hmm…"
Browsing through the system's shop, Mydei actually found quite a few methods to save Irisviel.
The simplest way was to get Irisviel a new body—100,000 points a pop, no cheating, fair and square.
Fifty thousand points to rebuild her form, another fifty for the replacement vessel, and what's more, this new body would be countless times stronger than her original one.
You could say that after obtaining this new vessel, Irisviel would immediately possess top-tier magical aptitude. It might not reach the level of a Magician, but becoming a Grand-ranked magus at the Clock Tower for fun would be no issue at all.
Though a bit pricey, Mydei didn't really mind. Points were meant to be spent anyway—they had no other use. So why not put them toward something meaningful?
Points could always be earned back, but once someone's gone, they're gone for good.
He couldn't just waltz into the Einzbern castle after the Holy Grail War, face a still innocent and cute Illya, and hit her with the classic line: "You might've lost your mother, but you've still got me!"—now that would be some top-tier, face-slapping absurdity.
"Big brother…"
Just then, a sliver of fish-belly white broke across the horizon, the crimson hue gradually spilling over the earth. A beam of sunlight slipped through the gap in the curtains.
And it was this very beam that happened to wake little Sakura, drawing her out of her room.
Spotting Mydei lost in thought on the sofa, Sakura called out to him sweetly.
In the sunlight, Mydei's golden-red hair shone dazzlingly, his flawless form beneath the light and shadow resembling a priceless work of art.
Hearing Sakura's voice, Mydei snapped back to attention.
"Go wash up. After we have breakfast, I'll take you out for the whole day."
Mydei patted Sakura's head. He was thinking it was about time to find Kayneth—after all, if he waited too long, he was afraid Kayneth might get taken out by Kiritsugu.
What would happen to Sakura's potential teacher then?
Kayneth might be a bit arrogant, but he genuinely cared for his students. Given the level of Waver's insubordination, any other magus would've already moved to eliminate him.
Yet Kayneth only wanted to teach the boy a lesson, to make him understand the brutal reality of magus conflicts?
That night, Mydei hadn't even detected a hint of killing intent from the man…
Was it sheer pride, or something else?
"Mhm!" Hearing Mydei's words, Sakura visibly perked up.
She immediately skipped off toward the bathroom.
Though Sakura had a gentle nature, she was still young at heart—that childlike bounce in her step was still there. It'd probably take another ten years for her to become that eerily quiet young woman.
But then again, this time, Sakura's fate had completely changed.
If she could become Kayneth's apprentice, it'd be like a sparrow turning into a phoenix.
Whether it was the Tohsaka or Matou family, neither could hold a candle to the Archibald house.
The Archibalds were a genuine, prestigious lineage in the Clock Tower.
The gap between them was like that between a national duke and some backwater minor noble.
Sure, both those families had their glorious pasts, but that was all in the past—they couldn't compare to a present-day duke wielding immense power.
"Big brother… how far along is the Holy Grail War now?"
Walking down the street, Sakura hesitated for a long while before cautiously asking the question.
Before, when Mydei hadn't wanted to talk about it, she hadn't pressed. But several nights had passed since then, so surely the War was nearing its end.
"Hmm… even though only two Servants have fallen, the War is already approaching its conclusion. I'll end it within the next day or two."
After a moment of thought, Mydei replied calmly.
After saving the lady, and once he got Kayneth to take Sakura as his apprentice, this Holy Grail War would lose all meaning. In that case, he might as well just end it outright.
Given Mydei's strength, wiping out the War in a single night wouldn't be a problem.
Truth be told, Gilgamesh had that capability too, but the other Masters still had Command Spells. If they joined forces, even Gilgamesh would face some trouble.
But Mydei was different—even if you gave each of them ten more Command Spells, they still wouldn't stand a chance.
After all, he was in his complete form. While these Servants weren't weak, without a doubt, none could unleash their true power.
As the strongest demigod, even a fully manifested Tiamat would get skewered into a thorny-backed dragon form by him, let alone these Servants…
"Then… what about… father?"
Sakura looked at Mydei hesitantly.
"Don't worry. When I make a promise, I keep it. Since I told you I would, I'll spare your useless old man's life."
Mydei chuckled, not giving the man a second thought.
Given how much Gilgamesh was tolerating Tokiomi right now, he probably wouldn't pull that stunt again—egging on Kotomine to take him out.
Of course, Mydei couldn't be bothered to warn him. If Tokiomi ended up dead, so be it. And Mydei, as Tokiomi's 'good brother,' would be more than justified in taking down Goldie and Kotomine for him. If it didn't come to that, then just offing Goldie would suffice.
"Mhm…" But even after Mydei's reassurance, Sakura didn't look happy.
"Still worried? Just say it. Whatever it is, you can tell me."
Noticing her expression, Mydei knew something was weighing on her mind. He patted her head and urged her to speak.
"Once the Holy Grail War is over… you'll leave, won't you, big brother?"
Sakura looked at Mydei, a trace of reluctance in her eyes. Though she was sensible enough not to beg him to stay, her eyes said everything—she wanted him to.
"That's right. I'm a traveler of worlds—I can't stay in one place for too long."
Mydei didn't deny it, simply nodding.
"But even if I leave, I can always come back. So don't you worry, Sakura—it's just a temporary goodbye."
"Besides, I'll make sure you're settled, find you a new teacher. He might be a bit strict, a bit harsh, but he'll never waste your talent. And he'll teach you with everything he's got—because if he dares treat you poorly, I'll end him myself."
"That's not what I meant… I understand, big brother…"
Sakura shook her head, a soft smile gracing her face as she looked at him.
"I won't cling to you forever. There might be other children out there, in other worlds, just like me, who need your help. It'd be too selfish of me to keep you here just because I don't want to let go."
What a good kid…
Hearing her words, Mydei didn't respond, only ruffling her fluffy head once more.
This child was just too understanding… The thought of how close she'd come to being thrown into the fire by Tokiomi made Mydei's teeth grind in anger. That bastard—even if he didn't kill him, he'd make sure he paid dearly…
"But, big brother, I have one request."
"What is it? If it's within my power, I'll do it." Mydei raised an eyebrow, replying.
"I want to join you in the Holy Grail War. I know I'd just be a burden, that I'd distract you… but I still have these Command Spells. At least… let me see you in battle, your heroic figure. Can I?" She watched him cautiously.
"Of course. Protecting one person? Easy." Mydei nodded, agreeing without a second thought.
"Mhm!" Hearing his approval, Sakura nodded, her spirits lifted.
Seeing her happiness, Mydei couldn't help but feel a flicker of anticipation.
Bringing Sakura to the battlefield was something he'd considered before. He wondered what Tokiomi's reaction would be upon seeing the Command Spells on her hand.
Would he be shocked? Or would he strike at her for the sake of victory?
If it was the latter, Mydei would gladly reward him with a Nikador. If he stooped so low as to harm his own daughter, then Mydei would have no reason to hold back.
But based on Mydei's prediction, as foolish as Tokiomi was, he probably wouldn't go that far.
"Let's go. Time to introduce you to Kayneth. If all goes well, he'll be your new teacher from now on."
After spending the entire morning letting Sakura enjoy herself, Mydei decided it was time to seek out Kayneth.
But sometimes, surprises come out of nowhere.
Just as he was about to set off, he spotted an unexpected figure ahead.
"Oh, this crêpe is quite good! Last time I was in Japan was… well, the last time. I've missed the food here." A tall, stately old man in a cap laughed heartily, taking a big bite of the crêpe in his hand.
Then, his gaze fell upon Mydei.
"Hey there, young man. You look so much like the King of Heroes, I almost mistook you for him."
"You'd better not say that to his face. I'm afraid he'd crash out." Mydei shrugged.
"Crash out?" The old man paused, then realized what Mydei meant.
He burst out laughing. "Ah, youth! Even your slang leaves me in the dust."
"But, you know, you remind me of someone too." Mydei looked at him with interest, his tone casual.
"Me? Who do I look like? Strange, no one's ever said that before…"
He scratched his chin, puzzled.
"Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg. You're the spitting image of him, but that guy's always zipping around the world—no way I'd find him."
As he spoke, a playful smile tugged at Mydei's lips.
He'd made up his mind—Kayneth was out.
The guy was just too weak.
The new candidate was this old man right here.
The name Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg might not ring a bell to some, but his other title was legendary:
The Wizard Marshal, Zelretch the Jewel Mage. One of only four living Magicians, a man standing at the very peak of the world.
The first head of the Tohsaka family, one of the founders of the Holy Grail War, Tohsaka Nagato, was his apprentice.
If he took Sakura as his student, he'd definitely train her well, ensuring not a shred of her talent went to waste.
Of course, most of this guy's apprentices ended up broken by his methods…
Tohsaka Nagato was a rare exception.
"Ah, you saw through me." Zelretch was taken aback for a moment, then replied calmly.
"Of course I'd know the famous Wizard Marshal."
"Ahem, no need to tease an old man, young one. Titles like 'Magician' might impress among magi, but in the presence of a genuine deity, they're not much to boast about…"
An awkward smile crept onto Zelretch's face.
Having lived for millennia, Zelretch could easily gauge a person's strength.
In his judgment, Mydei was a god capable of plunging the world into strife and chaos single-handedly. Outwardly, he seemed like a decent guy, but his divine nature leaned toward chaos—he wasn't nearly as friendly as he appeared.
"But since we've met, it must be fate. Zelretch, as a personal favor, lend me a hand, will you?" Mydei looked at him with keen interest.
"Oh? Do tell."
"Take this child as your apprentice. With her talent, it's a perfect fit. But I know your teaching methods can be brutal, so tone it down—at least for her."
As he spoke, Mydei gave Sakura, who had been silent all this while, a gentle pat.
"H-hello, grandfather." Looking at the Jewel Mage, Sakura greeted him obediently.
Though shy around strangers, her first impression of him was far better than her first encounter with Matou Zouken.
"Hmm… this child's talent is quite remarkable… I came here to deal with the Holy Grail. If I don't handle it soon, that thing might cause real trouble."
"The Grail? Leave it to me. You just focus on teaching her, alright? I'll handle the Grail, you handle the child. It'd be a shame to let talent like hers go to waste."
"Hmm…"
He studied Mydei for a long moment, stroking his chin, before finally nodding.
"Very well. I agree."
Once this war is over, I'll take the child with me. I'll be responsible for her education.
"Sakura, what do you think?"
As soon as Zelretch agreed, Mydei turned to Sakura.
"Mhm. Sakura will become a great magus."
"You don't have to be great. I'll always have your back. If anyone ever bullies you, just write their name down. When I come back, I'll settle the scores one by one. Don't worry—even if this old geezer gives you trouble, write it down."
Mydei's words made Zelretch break out in a cold sweat.
"Hey now, I'm going to be her teacher! Kids shouldn't hold grudges like that." The Jewel Mage protested.
"Ah, forget it. Do as you please." With that, he seemed to resign himself.
"When this Holy Grail War ends, I'll come for the child. Of course, that's assuming you've taken care of the Grail problem."
As he spoke, Zelretch's form grew increasingly faint, eventually shrinking into a single red jewel.
And the other people on the street continued about their business as if they'd seen nothing at all.
With Sakura's future settled, only one task remained for Mydei: Find Irisviel and Kiritsugu. Save Irisviel, and while he was at it, make sure Kiritsugu understood the truth about the Grail.
Given Kiritsugu's nature, once he knew the truth, he'd make the right choice. Perhaps some of his obsessions would even fade.
Since he'd crossed worlds, changing a so-called 'bad ending' was only natural, right?
After all, his presence had already turned the Holy Grail War's progression upside down compared to the original.
So what harm was there in changing a little more?
Of course, Mydei didn't buy Zelretch's excuse about handling the Grail for a second.
In his long life, the old man might still retain some humanity, leaning slightly toward humanity's side, but not by much. His visit was likely prompted by sensing Mydei's presence.
After all, the commotion Mydei had caused that night was far from small.
And it was a completely unknown power—no surprise Zelretch would be intrigued.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.