My family runs an adventurer's guild.

Because this classic luxury sedan, equipped with a "powerful six-cylinder engine," was being driven by Mrs. Irisviel at a speed of over 00 kilometers per hour on the highway outside Fukayama Town, Fuyuki City!

—Although it's a classic sedan from over forty years ago, it boasts a 2996cc M198 engine and a top speed of 246 km/h. Compared to the car's potential, Irisviel's rampage was merely a small test.

Not only was it speeding recklessly, but what was even more frightening was that the car seemed to be drunk, constantly weaving and drifting on the highway!

Behind the Mercedes-Benz 300SL, in a van, Hisayu Maiya, gripping the steering wheel, was frantically pressing the accelerator to keep up with Mrs. Irisviel's high-speed driving, while sweating profusely as she muttered to Kiritsugu Emiya beside her, "...Good heavens! Is this some kind of Need for Speed ​​game?! This isn't a racetrack in Morocco! Kiritsugu! Can you please tell Mrs. Irisviel to slow down?! Someone could die if we're not careful!"

"...Ah...it's alright. Relax, Maimi. Let Alice relax and vent on the way!"

Although he was also very nervous, Kiritsugu Emiya tried his best to appear calm. "...Because of that berserk Caster, Iri was already unhappy that we couldn't take advantage of the peacetime before the war to go shopping and have fun in Fuyuki! If we don't let her find some fun on her way to the temporary base, it's hard to say what might happen next..."

"...I see...Sigh, it seems the battle in Fuyuki City is far from over!"

Hisayu Maiya tilted her head slightly and glanced at the direction of Fuyuki City out of the corner of her eye. She noticed that even through such a large, dense forest, she could vaguely see plumes of smoke rising into the sky, showing the terrible scene of the raging fire in Fuyuki City.

“…Who can argue with that?” Kiritsugu Emiya gave a wry smile. “…I never imagined the Holy Grail War would become a real war…”

Meanwhile, Irisviel, who was driving ahead, was completely oblivious to the danger she was doing. Instead, she excitedly boasted to her Heroic Spirit, "...How about it? My little princess, isn't this car fast and amazing!"

"...Uh, indeed, that's really...really unexpected...driving skills. Hopefully, there won't be any problems?"

Princess Catherine, sitting in the passenger seat, gripped the seatbelt tightly with her hand, her face tense and her teeth chattering as she answered.

As a traveler from a world of swords and magic, she was genuinely terrified by the rampaging car and the insane driver.

As a modern person at the end of this century, Irisviel simply smiled at Princess Catherine's reminder.

"...Don't worry, don't worry! I've trained specifically to drive this car! So you can absolutely rest assured... Ah, driving at this speed is indeed not easy... Only an experienced driver like me can handle it!"

Watching Mrs. Irisviel's clumsy and awkward gear-shifting technique, Princess Catherine of the Golden Dragon thought to herself that she would be a fool to believe her.

Even so, under these circumstances, she could only manage a forced smile and nod.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Irisviel, gripping the steering wheel, seized the opportunity to launch into a long-winded explanation, "...Oh, little princess, do you know, of all the toys Kiritsugu brought me to Einzbern Castle, this is my absolute favorite. Before, I could only drive around in the castle courtyard; driving on such a wide road like this is a first for me. It's simply wonderful!"

Ignoring the somewhat forced attitude of her Saber, the golden dragon princess Catherine, Mrs. Irisviel seemed quite excited.

However, Princess Catherine of the Golden Dragon was terrified—so you're not only a novice driver, but you're driving without a license!!!

If it were a skateboard or bicycle, driving without a license or permit wouldn't usually be a big problem. But for a top-of-the-line sedan traveling at over 100 kilometers per hour on a winding mountain road, this explanation seems completely unreasonable.

Something like this, where even the slightest mistake could cost you your life, would generally never be called a toy.

What's worse, Mrs. Irisviel not only had no actual driving experience, but she was also not very clear about traffic laws.

For example, on Japanese highways, where driving is clearly on the left, Irisviel drove her car on the right side of the road...

Well, this is a crazy, heart-pounding game. I hope this journey ends soon, Catherine thought dejectedly.

However, in the next moment, Princess Catherine suddenly sensed that something "abnormal" had arrived.

Immediately afterwards, Mrs. Irisviel, who had just been speeding around in high spirits, fell into a very bad "abnormal state".

—A blank, wandering gaze, a pale face, and beads of sweat cascading down his forehead…

The next moment, as if suffering an acute stroke or appendicitis attack, Irisviel passed out in the driver's seat, collapsing like a doll with its strings cut. Even more deadly, just moments before she lost consciousness, her car continued speeding at a frenzied speed of 100 kilometers per hour!

So, Hisahi Maiya and Kiritsugu Emiya, who were following behind in a van, watched in utter horror as Mrs. Irisviel's Mercedes-Benz 300SL suddenly forgot to change lanes and turn, crashing through a section of guardrail beside the road, flying off the cliff, and then breaking into pieces as it fell, creating a dazzling fireball and a deafening explosion...

"...Oh! No—how could this be...how could this happen? Alice actually crashed?"

※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※

At dusk, near Fuyuki City, at the cathedral

With the culprit Quark, the kobold warlock of the Caster class, being killed in one blow, the situation in Fuyuki City gradually began to stabilize. Armed personnel were ordered to withdraw, the government and media resumed operation, and water, electricity, and communications gradually returned to normal.

However, the problem is that people's hearts, which have fallen into fear and collapse, cannot recover so quickly.

—The sudden clashes between the armies triggered panic in society, nearly paralyzed the government, and left citizens bewildered and helpless.

Since the end of the Pacific War, such a dramatic change had never occurred in the entire territory of Japan, and the fear of ordinary people was naturally imaginable.

Meanwhile, all sorts of unsubstantiated and vivid rumors spread rapidly among the refugees. From "the Self-Defense Forces being possessed by the spirits of Showa-era staff officers, plotting another February 26 coup," to "Japan rising up to fight the US military to the death," to claims that the coup organization was uncovered by the US military, that Chinese and Russian spies were inciting internal strife in Japan, and that a cult was launching a coup... there were even rumors that the US and Russia had launched intercontinental ballistic missiles, turning Tokyo into a sea of ​​fire... In short, the rumors became increasingly outrageous and absurd. But the problem is, given the current climate of widespread panic and mass apprehension, no matter how absurd these rumors were, many people still listened with at least a degree of skepticism.

After all, the stray bullets flying through the distant city, the booming of artillery, and the fallen corpses are the most impactful evidence!

So, although the sounds of gunfire and explosions in the city had indeed gradually subsided, and although Self-Defense Force helicopters repeatedly flew over various refugee gathering points, announcing through loudspeakers the good news that "the armed conflict has ended and order has been restored in the city," urging the Fuyuki citizens who had fled the city to return home as soon as possible, these citizens, who had just settled down after the chaos, generally responded with bewilderment and skepticism.

Just hours before, many of them had witnessed their loved ones being riddled with bullets and gore, and even watched their homes burn to ashes. And now, in such a short time, everything is back to normal? Who would believe that?

—Ever since suffering enough from the Imperial Government's various empty and grandiose propaganda during World War II, and then being greeted by the Tokyo bombings and two atomic bombs amidst a series of triumphant "retreats" reports, the Japanese people generally have a great deal of skepticism towards official announcements.

It is conceivable that such a short period of time is insufficient to dispel the panic among the citizens of Fuyuki, and an adjustment period is needed.

Author's message

PS: In the past few years, there has been a reverse nationalism, with Chinese people looking down on their ancestors. In recent years, as the country's strength has increased, it seems to have swung to the other extreme, with various "little pinks" (pro-CCP nationalists) desperately promoting it, even refusing to acknowledge that ancient Chinese civilization ranks relatively low among the four great ancient civilizations.

One book about ancient Mesopotamian civilization lamented that the Sumerians already had magnificent cities while the Chinese were still struggling in barbarism and ignorance, and as a result, it was attacked and made quite a mess of things. Another book, written before the Qin king unified the six states, stated that the Mauryan dynasty had already completed the first great unification in Indian history (although it later fragmented), and it was similarly attacked.

I believe that neither excessive inferiority nor excessive arrogance is desirable. We should be proud of the glorious civilization of our ancestors, but we cannot arbitrarily deny our past backwardness—even though those ancient civilizations have now disappeared while we still exist. However, if we were to go back to that ancient point in time, we would also have to admit that we were inferior to them. Just as modern China must acknowledge its backwardness.

Chapter 61, Mrs. Irisviel Suffers Another Blow! (Bonus Chapter)

Moreover, with today's advanced transportation, many Fuyuki residents have already fled hundreds of kilometers away by car or boat, or even gone abroad. It will likely be quite some time before they receive the news, confirm the information, and gradually return to their homes.

In short, although the fighting in Fuyuki City had ended, hundreds and thousands of distraught refugees, men, women, and children, still gathered in the open space outside Fuyuki Cathedral.

Those who have the means can find an open space to set up a tent, while those who don't can just squat under a tree and daydream.

It was already late autumn in Fuyuki City, and the weather was bitterly cold. As the sun set and the cold wind blew, the unprepared and penniless refugees shivered from the cold, without even a campfire to keep warm, and their stomachs were growling with hunger.

For a time, the children cried and the adults sobbed, a truly heartbreaking scene.

However, as the successor of this church, Father Kirei Kotomine had no extra time or energy to care for and look after the refugees who were stranded outside, or to spread the faith to them...

At this point, he was only concerned with dealing with the aftermath of the battle, or rather, how to cover things up.

—The chaos caused by the Holy Grail War in Fuyuki City was so large that not only the Church of the Holy See, but also the Clock Tower Mage Association and the local Buddhist forces had to grit their teeth and step in to clean up the mess and destroy the evidence in order to maintain the mystery of magic.

After a brief but intense wrangling, despite numerous difficulties, the church still managed to come up with a barely feasible cover-up plan:

Specifically, the idea is to attribute the three-way clashes between Japanese police, Self-Defense Forces, and US forces stationed in Fuyuki to a conspiracy group that attempts to provoke a conflict between the US and Japan, create unrest, and overthrow the government.

—Ever since the "Tenchu" incident of the ronin during the late Edo period, modern Japanese people have always liked this kind of tactic. They casually gather a few dozen or a few hundred hot-blooded "patriots" with delusions of grandeur, drink a few cups of sake to bolster their courage, and regardless of their own meager strength, they raise their banners with great fanfare, claiming they will burn down Kyoto, overthrow the government, and reform the system...

(During the Ikedaya Incident at the end of the Edo period, a mere dozen or so anti-shogunate patriots plotted to burn down Kyoto and occupy the Kinki region, only to be suppressed by the Shinsengumi.)

As for who this audacious conspiracy group is... the Holy Church initially wanted to pin it on the Japanese Red Army.

However, the Red Army, which was once active in Japan, has declined and fallen into disrepair in recent years.

Now that the Soviet Union has collapsed, it's hard to believe that the current Japanese Red Army still has the ability to instigate a war between the US and Japan and seize power in the chaos.

However, as a replacement for the Red Army, a religious organization called Aum Shinrikyo has flourished in Japan in recent years, boasting millions of followers and unparalleled supernatural powers. It has even ambitiously formed a political party, attempting to participate in politics and run for office. This has long been disliked by Japan's traditional political elites, who are sharpening their knives to deal ruthlessly with this arrogant group. Now, they can be used as a scapegoat to cover up the chaos in Fuyuki City—what? Evidence? With the Holy Church and the Mage's Association involved, what kind of evidence can't they fabricate?

Simply put, if they sent some magicians skilled in suggestion and brainwashing to infiltrate the other side's territory and alter the memories of the cult leader Asahara and his core followers, Aum Shinrikyo would have no choice but to take the blame for this massive, undeniable mess...

(Secretly manipulating the Self-Defense Forces and police, creating military conflicts between the US and Japan, plotting to usurp the Japanese government, and deluding himself into starting a world war... With so many accusations and charges prepared by the Demonic Cultivation World, it seems that Shoko Asahara, the leader of the Demonic Cultivation World, has a good chance of replacing Tokiomi Tohsaka and becoming the undisputed culprit of this world in the Type-Moon world.)

Next, the armed conflict between Japanese police, the Japanese Self-Defense Forces, and the US military stationed in Fuyuki City can be excused by the covert instigation and treasonous plot of Aum Shinrikyo's infiltrators.

But what about the eyewitnesses about dragons, kobolds, and magic, and the rumors they spread?

That's easy to handle. As long as the investigation report afterwards states that Aum Shinrikyo released a large number of gas canisters in Fuyuki City and that inhaling the gas can cause hallucinations, we can get away with it.

In order to muddy the waters and suppress eyewitness testimonies as much as possible, the Church also fabricated conflicting rumors such as "alien invaders landed in Fuyuki City" (which is true in a sense), "undersea people landed in Fuyuki Port," and "North Korean agents infiltrated Fuyuki City to cause trouble," so as to confuse people and make them believe that all the rumors about Fuyuki City were fabricated.

Then, as news of the Fuyuki fire and armed conflict spread, a new wave of economic disaster struck Japan, causing futures and stock markets to crash, foreign exchange to plummet, and so on. There was really nothing that could be done, since neither the clock tower nor the church could turn back time.

The Japanese government and zaibatsu that suffered losses should just accept their bad luck!

Furthermore, the Japanese government must also do a good job of destroying evidence and suppressing the media, otherwise the consequences will be far worse than defeat.

If the government is really angry and insists on settling scores, then they should go after the "Big Three" families that held the Holy Grail War in Fuyuki! Even if the Einzbern family's castle is far away in Germany, and the Japanese government seems to be out of reach, aren't there still the Matou and Tohsaka families who can be used as punching bags?

Of course, whether or not the Japanese government can actually deal with these two powerful magical families depends on its resolve and capabilities...

(Zoken Matou: How dare you touch my family's property? You have some nerve! Do you believe I'll kill the Prime Minister and the Emperor right now and feed them to the insects?)

After such negotiations and fuss, Kirei Kotomine was astonished to find that the disaster in Fuyuki City, which destroyed most of the city, killed and injured more than 25,000 people, left 100,000 people homeless, and caused a total economic loss of tens of trillions of yen, had actually been glossed over so easily.

Well, after all, this is a magical world. For mortals, even if tens of thousands or hundreds of millions die, it's just a number.

Of course, it seems that the troubles in Fuyuki City are not truly over yet.

After all, the Fourth Holy Grail War in Fuyuki City has only just begun, and who knows what unexpected things might happen next?

Just as Kirei Kotomine was looking thoughtfully at the draft of the military conflict countermeasures for Fuyuki City sent by the Church via fax, his teacher, Tokiomi Tohsaka, walked over, looking travel-worn.

Seemingly due to the excessive use of brainwashing and deception magic to alter the memories of many witnesses, Tokiomi Tohsaka appeared unusually haggard, but his eyes were bright and alert, giving him a spirited appearance.

"...Kirei, good news! This unexpected calamity is finally over! I just contacted the Clock Tower! The Mage's Association has approved our handling of the situation and allowed the Holy Grail War in Fuyuki City to continue..."

As Tokiomi Tohsaka entered the room, he excitedly said this, but then noticed a bronze statue of a Western dragon gleaming with metallic luster in the corner. "...Could this be...the Berserker you captured yesterday? Why haven't you dealt with it yet?"

Looking at the Berserker of this Holy Grail War, who had been turned into a bronze statue by the fairy Flor's "Trick of the Mischievous," the unfortunate pseudo-dragon tavern owner Ernest Tohsaka Tokiomi questioned with some displeasure, "...Kirei, you've just left it lying around in your room all day? Don't you know how dangerous that is? What if it recovers while we're away...? Even though you've killed the Berserker's Master, it can still cause a huge mess with its own magical power! The Caster we just destroyed is a prime example!"

"...Um...Teacher, I have my own thoughts on this matter. I was thinking at the time, should I take this opportunity to change my Servant?"

Kirei Kotomine lowered his head and explained, "...As you know, the female ghost Assassin I summoned this time is utterly useless. She's completely ineffective in the Holy Grail War! Last night, I first successfully assassinated the Berserker's Master, and then I found this Berserker who was turned into a bronze statue by some unknown person... So I was thinking, should I have my Assassin commit suicide and leave the stage, and then re-sign a contract with this Berserker who seems potentially more useful? I remember there should be such a procedure in the Holy Grail War..."

"...Is that so? Kirei, you seem to have a lot of ideas...but unfortunately, I'm afraid it won't work."

Tokiomi Tohsaka gave him a deep look, then shook his head. "...According to the rules of the Holy Grail War, if both sides are willing, then a Servant who has lost their Master and a Master who has lost their Servant can indeed sign a contract again, form a combination, and rejoin the battle."

The problem is, the guy you picked up happens to be a mindless (berserker) Berserker!

How could it possibly respond to your invitation?

“…Ah…I didn’t seem to have thought of that. I’m sorry, teacher!” Kirei Kotomine lowered his head again. “…I’ll destroy it right now!”

"...No! Forget it! I'll do it! It's safer to have Archer, who is also a Heroic Spirit, do the job if we want to eliminate a Heroic Spirit!"

Tokiomi Tohsaka shook his head in reply, while simultaneously loading the bronze statue of the Berserker pseudo-dragon Ernest onto a small cart and moving it to the center of the chapel outside the door. "...Archer, please teleport here instantly! Destroy Berserker just like you destroyed Caster!"

—And so, accompanied by bright dragon breath and scorching heat, the Berserker pseudo-dragon Ernest of this Holy Grail War instantly retreated from the field!

As for the "Lesser Grail," which contains the souls of defeated Servants, Mrs. Irisviel, who had just suffered a mishap, was dealt another blow...

※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※

Fuyuki City, west of Fukayama-cho, along a suburban highway that cuts through the forest.

It must be acknowledged that in the perilous world of Type-Moon, most magicians are generally very resilient.

Even after recklessly playing Need for Speed ​​and tragically crashing her car, Mrs. Irisviel, a novice driver who was driving for the first time, was not seriously injured in the accident.

In fact, the moment the car overturned, Mrs. Irisviel's defensive magical costume automatically activated, creating an invisible protective barrier for her.

In comparison, the poor Mercedes-Benz itself, and Princess Catherine the Golden Dragon in the passenger seat, seemed even more unfortunate:

The former crashed heavily onto the rocks, shattering into pieces and bursting into flames.

Catherine, the golden dragon princess, was caught off guard and was thrown into the air, transforming into a shooting star in the sky...

Just like Team Rocket's classic exit in Pokémon...

However, when Kiritsugu Emiya rushed to the scene of the accident and saw his seemingly unharmed wife sitting on the ground, panting, beside the burning wreckage of the Mercedes, his expression remained unusually grave. Because he had already vaguely guessed the truth behind Irisviel's car accident.

"...Alice...are you...alright now? The car accident just now...could it be...that a Heroic Spirit has already departed?"

He swallowed hard, looking at his wife's haggard expression. Although he had expected it, Kiritsugu Emiya still asked somewhat incoherently.

"...Yes, Caster is the one who's leaving. It seems that this rule-breaker has finally been brought down."

Irisviel forced a smile and sighed, "...Just now on the way here, his soul entered my body..."

"...So...how was your health after Caster came in?" Kiritsugu Emiya continued to ask with concern.

"...What else can we do? Naturally, we must fulfill our duties as the Lesser Grail and gradually cease our human functions."

Irisviel gave a helpless, wry smile and said, "...Just spreading my fingers is already exhausting enough; it's impossible to grasp or hold anything. Driving a car is even more out of the question. Just moving here has left me completely exhausted..."

"...What happened? Madam, are you injured anywhere?"

Just then, Hisayu Maiya parked her van and came over. Having heard Irisviel's last few words, she asked in surprise,

"...It's nothing, it's all normal. I just blocked my sense of touch to maintain my balance."