The Exorcism Tale of Hachiman

Sakura winked at Artoria and offered a suitable reason for her.

"...If that's the case, then there's nothing we can do..."

Upon hearing Sakura's words, Artoria was taken aback at first, then put on a serious expression that she absolutely could not waste food.

...............

"So, is there something important that you left me behind alone?"

After watching Artoria close the door and leave, Hachiman Hikigaya sat down on the edge of the bed and asked.

"There is indeed something important I want to tell you, Hachiman..."

Looking at Hachiman Hikigaya in front of her, Irisviel's face showed a conflicted expression.

However, thinking of Kiritsugu Emiya's death, she sighed and made up her mind.

Hachiman, do you want the Holy Grail?

"I don't want to."

"Eh?"

Upon hearing Hachiman Hikigaya's answer, Irisviel was instantly stunned.

Why was Hachiman Hikigaya's answer different from what she expected?

"Is it strange that you don't want the Holy Grail? Why do you all seem so surprised to hear that..."

Seeing the same expression on Irisviel's face as everyone else's, Hachiman Hikigaya's face flashed with a hint of helplessness.

That so-called all-powerful wishing cup is just a scam, why take it so seriously?

"If there's no reason why you absolutely must obtain the Holy Grail, Hachiman, how did you qualify for the competition?"

Seeing that Hachiman Hikigaya didn't seem to be lying, Irisviel was puzzled.

Although if there are no suitable candidates, the Holy Grail will relax the selection criteria in the end to make up the number of people, just like the Master of Caster.

However, Hachiman Hikigaya was a magician who had been selected by the Holy Grail to participate in the competition a year ago based on strict criteria.

How could someone who has no desire for the Holy Grail be chosen?

"I'm curious about that too..."

When Hachiman Hikigaya answered, his tone was full of resentment.

If he hadn't been chosen by this damn Holy Grail, he would have taken Sakura back to his own world a year ago. Why would he still be here?

Although Sakura is also a very cute little sister, she has been separated from Komachi for a whole year!

"...The Holy Grail is with me."

After hearing Hachiman Hikigaya's words, Irisviel remained silent for a few seconds before deciding to confront him directly.

"?"

"I am the Lesser Grail, a complex vessel created by the Einzbern family specifically for this Holy Grail War to summon the Greater Grail. And with enough Heroic Spirits returning to my body, I am actually about to transform into the Lesser Grail..."

Chapter 251 Alternative Methods

"So you'll turn into a cup soon?"

After hearing Irisviel's explanation, Hachiman Hikigaya's gaze towards her instantly became complicated.

Although alchemy exists in this world, and it's not impossible to transform a person into another object, he still couldn't accept the fact that someone he knew was about to become a lifeless cup.

"Yes, this is the mission I was created for..."

The thought that soon Ilya would be all alone made Irisviel's spirits sink.

But there's nothing we can do about it, isn't there?

"I just heard that you will be fighting Rider tonight. I'm afraid that after Rider's soul returns to my body, I will become the Holy Grail. So, could you please grant me a request?"

"ask?"

"My daughter Illya, who is with Kiritsugu, is currently living at the Einzbern family's headquarters. If news of our defeat gets back, Illya will likely be..."

The thought of what her daughter might suffer made Irisviel feel a sharp pain in her chest.

"So you want me to go to Germany and take your daughter away after the Holy Grail War ends?"

“That’s right. I’ll be content as long as she can live an ordinary life. In return, how about I help you summon the Greater Grail directly?”

After Irisviel finished explaining her conditions, she nervously looked up at Hachiman Hikigaya.

In reality, the bargaining chips she can offer are quite limited.

After all, she's currently in Hachiman Hikigaya's hands, and when she transforms into the Lesser Holy Grail, it will naturally fall into his possession.

All she could do was offer some assistance when Hachiman Hikigaya used the Lesser Grail to communicate with the Greater Grail and make a wish.

"........."

Upon hearing Irisviel's words, Hachiman Hikigaya felt a strange sensation.

For some reason, he had a feeling that if he agreed to Irisviel's conditions, he might end up bringing another burden with him on his way back.

"System, is there any way to save her?"

Instead of immediately answering Irisviel's suggestion, Hachiman Hikigaya silently asked in his mind if the system had a way to keep her alive.

"Finding a suitable substitute will allow it to replace Irisviel as the vessel for the Lesser Grail."

After a slight pause, the system's cold voice rang in Hachiman Hikigaya's mind.

Could you elaborate on the suitable alternative?

"For example, the host."

"........."

"Besides me?!"

Hachiman Hikigaya reached out and pinched the bridge of his nose. He never imagined that one day he would be driven half to death by that rigid system.

“Sakura is fine too.”

"Besides the two of us?!"

Hearing that the system was targeting Sakura again, Hachiman Hikigaya would have wanted to dismantle it if the system hadn't been attached to his mind.

"Aside from the fact that the host and Sakura are particularly compatible, magic can also be used to transfer the Lesser Grail from Irisviel's body into other bodies with magical aptitude."

"Finally, you've come up with a feasible solution..."

The system's third proposed solution finally eased Hachiman Hikigaya's expression.

"If someone has magical talent, does that mean they can just be a magician?"

"That's true in theory, but the better one's magical aptitude, the better the communication effect of the summoned Grail."

"Don't worry about that. Although I don't intend to take the Holy Grail, if it's that guy, his magical aptitude should be exceptionally outstanding..."

A thin, sleazy figure flashed through his mind, and Hachiman Hikigaya said with considerable confidence.

"Um, Hachiman?"

Hachiman Hikigaya had been silent for a long time, and Irisviel couldn't help but feel anxious as she received no response.

"Hey, Irisviel, if I told you you didn't have to become the Lesser Grail, would you choose to continue living?"

Hachiman Hikigaya looked up at Irisviel and asked with a serious expression.

"If I don't have to become the Lesser Grail, I naturally hope to continue living."

Although she didn't know why Hachiman Hikigaya would suddenly ask such a question, Irisviel gave her answer without hesitation.

"I have a method here that has a chance of allowing you to avoid becoming the Holy Grail. Would you like to try it?"

.......................

In a wooden house on the outskirts of Fuyuki City, Zouken Matou, leaning on his cane, sat alone in a dimly lit room, lost in thought.

Since learning a year ago that Hachiman Hikigaya had become a participant in the Holy Grail War, he moved here from the Matou family to avoid Hachiman Hikigaya's possible revenge.

In fact, his decision was quite wise.

The day before the Holy Grail War began, the informant left in the Matou family reported that Hachiman Hikigaya had returned with his Heroic Spirits.

If Zouken Matou hadn't taken refuge in the current safe house beforehand, he probably would have been killed by that powerful Heroic Spirit long ago...

"Only three groups of participants remain. If nothing unexpected happens, the Holy Grail War will end tonight or tomorrow night..."

Because Matou Sakura was taken away by Hikigaya Hachiman, the Matou family, one of the three founding families, did not participate in the Holy Grail War for the first time.

The thought that the Holy Grail would soon determine its owner flashed a hint of resentment in Zouken Matou's eyes.

Although he had not originally planned to participate in this war, but instead focused on the next competition.

However, the excellent mother Sakura was taken away by Hachiman Hikigaya, and it is still unknown whether the Matou family will be able to participate in the Fifth Holy Grail War!

"That damn guy..."

Recalling Hachiman Hikigaya's颓废 (颓废 is a difficult word to translate directly, but it conveys a sense of decadence, listlessness, and apathy) face and those rotten eyes that were unpleasant to look at, Zouken Matou couldn't help but grit his teeth and curse.

However, Zouken Matou could only indulge his verbal urges while hiding in the wooden hut.

With Karna and Artoria protecting him, even if Hachiman Hikigaya were to lose his mind, he would never entertain the thought of revenge.

However, Zouken Matou does not intend to have any further interaction with Hachiman Hikigaya, but that does not mean that Hachiman Hikigaya does not want to find him.

From the moment he stepped into Fuyuki City, Hachiman Hikigaya never forgot Zouken Matou.

This can be seen from the fact that while everyone else was thinking about how to eliminate the other contestants, he was leading Karna through Fuyuki City to search for Zouken Matou's whereabouts.

Unfortunately, due to a lack of manpower, Hachiman Hikigaya was unable to find Zouken Matou's whereabouts for a long time.

However, this situation improved after the Inari God Fox was sent to provide support through a spatial portal opened by the Inari God...

Chapter 252 Capturing Matou Zouken

Because shrines are all located on hilltops, foxes often find themselves drawn to hilly areas when gathering information in Fuyuki City.