Or, why don’t you find another savior?

The younger one looks four or five years old, and the older one is probably at least six or seven years old.

"Ah."

Shiomi ignored Eri's surprise, nodded to her and Altria, and led the way.

After entering the house, he put Kallen down and asked her to go to the garden to play with Sakura, while he received the two of them in the living room.

"Servant...Morgan is not here." said Altria.

He dared to meet other Masters and Servant alone without any Servant accompanying him, even though they had agreed not to fight in advance. This courage is truly extraordinary.

"Playing with the kids." Shiomi pointed to the window in the living room facing the back garden.

From there, you can see Morgan sitting on the green and yellow grass in the sunshine, teaching Sakura magic.

She felt that the classes in the workshop were too boring, so she changed the teaching location midway, and Shiomi could only follow her wishes.

Altria withdrew her gaze in surprise and no longer tried to understand what Morgan was thinking. After all, even if she really knew, she would not be able to understand it.

"Before we get down to business, there is something I want to confirm." After motioning for the two to pour tea, Shiomi asked, "The Cathedral Church issued an emergency message this morning, requiring other groups to join forces to defeat the Caster group that violated the secret rules of the Holy Grail War. Are you aware of this?"

Irisviel's expression gradually became serious. "Yes, I do know. According to the church, they seem to be the real culprits who have been kidnapping sleeping children in Fuyuki recently, causing disappearances and murders. And -"

"and?"

Shiomi followed Irisviel's gaze and looked at Altria beside her.

"In fact, when I left the mansion yesterday and headed to the Einzbern Forest to meet up with the Master, I met Caster." Altria frowned deeply, as if she thought the situation was quite troublesome. "Caster looked mentally unstable and mistook me for Joan of Arc..."

"Joan of Arc?" Shiomi was slightly surprised. "Could it be that Caster is a Servant related to Joan of Arc?"

"The other party calls himself Gilles de Rey," Altria added.

"It turns out to be Bluebeard." Shiomi said Caster's nickname from the stories circulating in contemporary times.

But this is all secondary.

Originally, he just wanted to discuss with Einzbern whether to completely comply with the church's proposal and stop the war and attack Caster first.

But now it seems...

“Judging from Caster’s attitude towards Saber, he will most likely take the initiative to contact us.” Irisviel relayed what Kiritsugu said, “If we can take advantage of this opportunity to ambush and subjugate him—”

“I’m afraid it’s not that simple.” Shiomi said, “The church issued this crusade mission, and the reward given is to replenish one Command Seal. Judging from the current situation, the one who has consumed the Command Seal is most likely Tokiomi.”

He didn't know if Archer's retreat was related to the Command Seals, since Tokiomi hadn't shown up, but this was the only priority he could give it.

But the Command Spells are a very valuable resource of magical power. Even if they are used to support Servants, they can turn the tide of battle at a critical moment.

“As expected.” Irisviel nodded. Shiomi’s judgment was almost the same as Kiritsugu’s.

Shiomi thought for a moment, "Suppose we choose to take advantage of the fact that the other party mistakenly believes King Arthur to be Joan of Arc to launch an ambush. Kayneth will definitely take this opportunity to let his Servants break in, seize the fruits of the crusade, and replenish the lost Command Seals."

"You want to kill two birds with one stone?" Altria guessed Shiomi's intention.

Shiomi also smiled in agreement, "Yes. Originally, I just wanted to try to negotiate with the other team masters to reach a truce so that I could focus on dealing with the Lancer team. But now the Holy Church has issued a subjugation mission. Regardless of my participation or not, Caster will definitely come after you again."

"So you want to upgrade the previous proposal from a ceasefire to an alliance?" Irisviel responded calmly.

The progress of the talks was exactly as Kiritsugu had predicted.

Xijian Tianxi is not a typical magician, but rather full of humanity.

Especially...he has children too.

"Caster is acting recklessly in the town, and Sakura and Kallen will inevitably become targets." Shiomi's expression sank, and he turned to look at the garden. "Even if I can ensure that my own barrier will not be easily broken, as a father of two children, I can't just sit back and do nothing about this."

It was a reasonable statement, and there was no need for either Irisviel or Altria to doubt it.

“I understand. If Illya also lived in this city, I would ask Saber to defeat Caster as soon as possible, no matter what.” Irisviel said.

"Ilia?"

"It's my daughter, Illyasviel von Einzbern." Illyasviel's smile was warm and bright, it was the expression of a mother, "When the Holy Grail War is over, the child may come to live in Fuyuki. I hope that by then, she can become friends with Mr. Shiomi's children."

Shiomi also smiled in understanding. "I'll confirm it once again. Ms. Irisviel agrees to join forces to defeat Caster, as well as Lancer and his Master who may hinder and seize the victory at any time, on the basis of a ceasefire."

“Yes.” Irisviel stretched out her hand.

She actually has a selfish motive.

Kiritsugu thought that the man named Kotomine Kirei was very dangerous, so if possible, she hoped to use Shiomi Tenki's hand to exclude him from the Holy Grail War.

This alliance was imperative for both Kiritsugu and her.

"Then, an alliance is reached."

He stretched out his hand, shook Irisviel's hand, and nodded together.

After letting go, Xijian did not want to send the guest away immediately. He leaned back on the sofa and said:

"Also, as a gift for the alliance, and as a hindrance to the other groups, I can reveal Archer's real name to you two."

"Please speak." Altria's expression froze.

Xijian narrowed his eyes slightly.

"His name is Gilgamesh, the heroic king of Babylonia."

Chapter 24 Winter Sunshine

After the meeting, Shiomi went to the courtyard to find Morgan.

This British witch obviously had a lot of patience to play with children. As Shiomi walked through the soft green and yellow grass, Sakura and Kallen were using magic to awaken the blooming flowers and put the woven wreath on Morgan's head.

A coronation ceremony that is like playing at home.

"It's not what I wanted. It was their own idea." Morgan sat on the blanket, as if explaining to Shiomi.

Shiomi laughed dryly and said, "I haven't said anything yet."

"..." Morgan was at a loss and changed the subject without showing any emotion, "Are you done talking?"

"Didn't I share my five senses with you during the meeting with Einzbern?"

Shiomi sat down slowly. The blanket warmed by the sun gave off an aura that eased the fatigue that accompanied the pain. He looked at Sakura who was showing magic to Kallen and continued:

"I thought you would object to the alliance with the Saber team."

"The Holy Grail War is not a game of single-soldier combat. When necessary, forming an alliance with one party to deal with the other is also a reasonable tactical and strategic option." Morgan smiled faintly, "I don't have any obsession with Altria Pendragon. I'm just a little curious."

Xijian thought what she said was strange, but didn't know how to pursue it further.

The person in front of him had personally witnessed the existence of that legend, so how could he, a later comer, explain it clearly?

In the end, Shiomi chose to believe Morgan's attitude.

Anyway, the alliance was only temporary. Once the current crisis was resolved, the hostility would inevitably resume and the war would begin again. Shiomi was fully prepared for this.

"But when I told them Archer's real name, they all found it hard to believe." Shiomi lay down slightly on her side and said lazily, "...Hero King Gilgamesh, the hero recorded in mankind's oldest epic... He was also the king who led humans to bid farewell to the gods and opened the curtain of the decline of the Age of Gods."

From the beginning of the Hero King until about 1,500 to 1,600 years later, when the Magic King Solomon returned God's grace to Heaven, the Age of Gods began to decline worldwide.

In short, no matter from which angle you look at it, Xijian Tianxi knows that Gilgamesh will become the most difficult enemy in this Holy Grail War.

But he still descended as an Archer, with the ability to act independently, and can continue to act even if he loses his Master.

Even if the contract between Tokiomi and Gilgamesh was severed, he would have enough time to find a new contractor and continue to participate in the war.

"You are good at history." Morgan made a joke.

Xi Jian rolled her eyes, thinking she was praising herself. "But I don't understand one thing. How could you recognize that heroic king? The end of the British Age of Gods was nearly two thousand years after the Fifth Dynasty of Uruk."

"There are some reasons, and we have met a few times." Morgan explained ambiguously.

She did not want to explain too much to Shiomi, especially since it would touch upon the future, causing the originally determined quantum records to fluctuate and lean towards results that no one could know for sure.

"It's good to live longer, you can see all this." Xijian didn't ask any more questions.

After all, the ritual of the Fuyuki Holy Grail War was officially established 200 years ago, but in the records of the Holy Church, it was only the "th Holy Grail".

If there had been a ceremony similar to the Holy Grail War before the Age of Gods faded away, it would not be surprising that Morgan had seen the King of Heroes. Shiomi thought so.

Even without Morgan, he could get Archer's real name, but it was hard to explain.

[Additional mission: Teach that arrogant Gilgil man a lesson no matter where he is.

Reward: Archer's real name information. 】

This is what Shiomi was notified of after Gilgamesh showed up last night.

Failed to communicate with Morgan in time, so he didn't know that Morgan had such important information. So at that time, Shiomi felt helpless but had to go and test Archer.

Of course, this is also because Shiomi is confident that he can retreat smoothly even if the opponent is incredibly strong.

The fact that Morgan was able to discover Archer's real name was both a good thing and a bad thing for Shiomi.

The bad thing about it is that it is useless.

"You seem to be in a depressed mood. Knowing the identity of your opponent, you are worried about the future of the Holy Grail War? In that case, it is permissible for you to sever your contract with me now."

"Don't use this kind of provocation. Although I didn't intend to participate in the Holy Grail War, I'm not so cowardly as to retreat." Shiomi bared his teeth and refuted Morgan's provocation.

Morgan nodded slightly, "That's right. That's how my husband should behave and act."

"...I tell you, how long are you going to keep playing this game of pretending to be a couple? Until the end of the Holy Grail War?" Shiomi was still not used to the way Morgan treated her.

"Does being my husband make you so unhappy?" Morgan looked thoughtful.

"Ahhh, whatever you want. I won't suffer any loss anyway."

Shiomi finally gave up thinking, moved her body, used Morgan's thigh as a pillow, and lay down.

After all, Morgan is a stunningly beautiful woman, so Xi Jian doesn't feel at a disadvantage even if she is just playing house.

It shouldn't be a problem to take advantage of it a little and use a lap pillow.

"Are you ready for bed? That will set a bad example for your children." Morgan did not reject his behavior, but teased him leisurely.

"Regain your strength. Einzbern will contact you at night. If Caster really insists on mistaking King Arthur's identity and launching a surprise attack—" Shiomi closed his eyes, not wanting to see Morgan's expression, "we can set up an ambush and attack the enemy halfway across the river."

"Isn't there only forest over there?"

"..."

Morgan's complaints were unexpectedly sharp, which made Shiomi, who was secretly excited about the heroes in the story and wanted to imitate the ancients in marching and fighting, suffer a severe setback.

"In your opinion, will Lancer's Master really go to the Einzbern Forest instead of attacking this place directly?" Morgan suddenly changed his tone, as if he was a lord asking for advice from his adviser.

"It's hard to say, so I'll take Sakura and Kallen with me," Shiomi said. "I don't want them to be dragged into the Holy Grail War. Besides, we need to be vigilant even with our allies, and we can't easily trust our enemies."

"Human magicians just never learn their lesson," Morgan commented scathingly.

Xi Jian smiled with his eyes closed, "According to what you said, I am also a human magician. Should I also be classified as a stubborn person?"

"It's hard to say." Morgan was still perfunctory, "You should be classified as the kind of person who never learns but has the ability to never learn."

"...You are really merciless."

Chapter 25 Ambush

Night falls in the city of Einzbern.

“Is that so? Berserker’s Master is really naive, agreeing to form an alliance so easily.” After listening to Irisviel’s story, Emiya Kiritsugu gave his evaluation, “It’s totally inconsistent with that monstrous fighting power… No, it may be that he is simply naturally cautious, so he wants to solve the problem safely…”

Irisviel looked at her husband’s cold expression — that was the expression of a “magician killer” — and shook her head.

"No, Kiritsugu. I don't think so. Perhaps the reason why Berserker's Master was willing to jointly plan an ambush on Caster would be simpler." She frowned and analyzed seriously.

"Oh? Eri has seen him in person, so she should know more details than me." Kiritsugu smiled. It was a smile that only belonged to his wife and daughter.

"Because he is also a father." Irisviel said, "His two children are about the same age as Illya..."

It is undeniable that empathy is surging in Irisviel's heart, and this is a true feeling that she cannot suppress.

“…Then it’s probably as Airi said.” Kiritsugu didn’t want to refute, nor would he refute.

He still retains his feelings as a human being, so how could he be suspicious of Shiomi who has the same feelings.

"Also, regarding the method of rendezvous, did the other party tell us what to do?" Kiritsugu asked, "It will take a while to get from Miyama Town to this forest even if we drive."

Irisviel took out an obsidian and placed it on the table. "This is a token given to me by Mr. Shiomi. He said that it contains his own attuned magic power. Once the obsidian is destroyed, he will be able to know the location. And then--"

“You’re going to show up here, huh?” Kiritsugu’s voice turned cold.