"..."
Facing Ibaraki Doji's sudden address, Ian's expression became somewhat complex. He instinctively felt that this name was meant for him, yet for a moment, he didn't know whether to directly answer it. Such an obvious anomaly was quickly noticed by Artoria. Holding Illya, she asked with a worried expression:
"What's wrong? Mr. Ian... did you find something amiss?"
"..." Ian hadn't yet thought of how to answer Artoria, but Ibaraki Doji preempted him. She said: "Nothing. Just a simple chat."
"..." Sensing that Ibaraki Doji was far more mature than she appeared, and also a Berserker Servant, Artoria said no more—she trusted Ian's judgment in such matters.
"I see... I understand." Everything returned to its previous state. Ibaraki Doji nestled in Ian's arms, muttering softly. "Lord Abe... do you really not recognize me anymore?"
"..." Feeling that Ibaraki Doji was saddened by his reaction, Ian felt a touch of apology in his heart. He placed her on his shoulder, assuming a piggyback pose, and gently held her legs. "I'm sorry. I... indeed don't remember that name."
"Is that so..." Ibaraki Doji leaned on Ian's head, appearing quite dejected. However, she quickly cheered up, and instead began to find reasons to explain everything for him. "Perhaps Shuten isn't here. If Shuten were here—our service would surely make Lord Abe recall the beauty of the Heian era."
"Shuten... who's that?" the man asked, puzzled.
"My forever good friend," Ibaraki Doji replied. "However, since Lord Abe doesn't remember, let's just ignore that point for now. Please answer my previous question—are you truly looking for a departed person?"
[Ibaraki Doji's thoughts are clearly more mature than she appears on the surface.]
[And from her current behavior, this Berserker has not lost her sanity due to the "Mad Enhancement" trait.]
[On the contrary, her thinking ability is not much different from that of a normal person.]
[You decided to tell Ibaraki Doji the truth of the matter—this is also information she, as a Servant, should know.]
"Ibaraki, here's the situation." Ian directly told Ibaraki Doji the purpose of this trip.
"..." "I see." Ibaraki Doji nodded thoughtfully after hearing the reason. "My Master wants to see her deceased mother, then."
"That's about right," Ian affirmed, then asked, "You... won't tell Illya, will you?"
"No." Ibaraki Doji glanced at Illya nearby. At this moment, she was riding Artoria like a horse, receiving almost the same treatment as Berserker. This scene was so harmonious that it was hard to believe they were actually enemies in the Holy Grail War. "My Master doesn't need me to convey such information."
"That's good," Ian sighed in relief. "Then—Ibaraki... I thought you had something to say earlier."
"Cannot determine yet," Ibaraki Doji responded. "So please, Lord Abe, walk deeper inside."
"Alright," the man accepted her address. "I understand."
[You took Artoria's hand and walked deeper into the mountain.]
[With the help of passersby, you learned that this mountain is called Mount Enzou.]
[Of course, you and Artoria were still repeatedly mistaken for newlywed couples with two young children.]
[But your smile gradually eased the girl's initial nervousness.]
[She quickly "accepted" this "identity."]
[You continued deeper into the mountain.]
Deep in Mount Enzou. Looking at the traces on the mountain path, Ian's expression grew more solemn. Because he could clearly feel that these places were still emitting magical energy—a result of the "Magic Resistance" property. Although he didn't know why it had persisted for so long, it was a testament to Artoria's past efforts. But he couldn't praise her now. After all, if Illya were to hear it, she might get curious and start asking too many questions. That would be troublesome.
And at this moment, Ibaraki Doji in Ian's arms spoke again.
"Lord Abe. Is this... where we need to go?"
"..." Ian looked around the surroundings, and after confirming he had reached a very deep location, he gave an affirmative answer. "Yes, this is pretty much the place."
"Understood," Ibaraki Doji nodded. "Lord Abe... please put me down."
"..." Although Ian didn't know what Ibaraki Doji wanted to do, he didn't doubt her much, realizing she had no hostility. "Okay." After answering, the man placed Ibaraki Doji on the ground. And the Berserker, back on the ground, had a completely different reaction from before. Red flames began to emanate from her small arms, making it look as though she had entered a combat state. The temperature in the forest instantly rose considerably. If they hadn't walked far enough off the path, they would likely have startled any passersby on the spot.
"Mr. Ian, this is..." Berserker's behavior worried Artoria, who was holding Illya. Ian, realizing this, quickly gave an answer sufficient to calm the girl. "Lily, it's alright. Ibaraki... she means no harm."
"..." Although she was deeply worried, upon hearing Ian's reassurance, Artoria said nothing more. She already had a deep trust in him, so at this moment, she had no doubts.
"This way—!" Ibaraki Doji said, then darted on all fours towards a certain spot in the forest. It seemed she had found something. Ian and Artoria exchanged a glance, then both nodded. The two followed directly behind this Berserker, keeping pace with her, and moving towards the next location.
[You and Artoria, with Illya, followed Ibaraki Doji.]
[Her flame-enshrouded body was very conspicuous in the forest.]
[At the same time, it grew increasingly vigorous—it seemed something was attracting Ibaraki Doji.]
[You realized that this mountain, where Irisviel's voice was heard, still hid certain secrets.]
[And just then, Ibaraki Doji, who was leading the way, stopped.]
[She seemed to have found something.]
"..." Realizing that Ibaraki Doji had discovered something, Ian quickly went to her side and asked softly. "Ibaraki. Did you... find something?"
"Yes," Ibaraki Doji nodded, then made an extremely important statement. "Here... there's a presence similar to Master's."
"..." Ian paused, then suddenly understood the meaning of Ibaraki Doji's initial words. "Ibaraki, are you saying there's a presence here similar to Illya's?"
Ibaraki Doji first nodded, then shook her head. "Lord Abe. It's somewhat similar... but not entirely."
"..." This was a description packed with information. Ian thoughtfully considered it—the man realized this might be the key to solving the problem. "Ibaraki, wait for me."
Ian quickly returned to Artoria's side. "Lily. Come here for a moment."
"..." Although she didn't understand Ian's intention, Artoria obediently nodded. She gently placed Illya on the ground, then followed the man to the side. "Mr. Ian, what's wrong?"
"Lily," Ian held the girl's hand. "Do you remember how you connected with Irisviel back then?"
"..." The girl pondered for a moment, then shook her head. "Actually, I don't know how it happened... because Iris actively sought me out."
"She actively sought you out?"
"Yes," Artoria replied to Ian, recalling the scene at the time. It was during the final battle on the Fuyuki Bridge. "She... said then that she was trapped inside the Holy Grail, unable to leave, so she could only ask for my help."
"Holy Grail?" Ian felt things were getting closer to his understanding. "Lily, can I interpret your words as Irisviel speaking to you from within the Holy Grail?"
"Perhaps," Artoria hesitated slightly. "After all—that's what she said at the time."
[You suddenly understood everything.]
[Ibaraki Doji and Illya's bond was not accidental.]
[All of this relied on the existence known as the "Holy Grail."]
[This is definitely not your conjecture—remember that Illya and Irisviel are mother and daughter to begin with.]
[And now Ibaraki Doji felt a presence similar to her Master's, yet completely different.]
[This is very likely something left behind by Irisviel!]
[Combining this with Artoria's memory—"Irisviel spoke from within the Holy Grail."]
[And the traces of magical energy that haven't dissipated after ten years.]
[Then—Mount Enzou at this moment likely still retains a fragment of the Holy Grail containing Irisviel's soul!]
[This might be the fated opportunity for Irisviel and Illya to meet again.]
[Without delay, you told Artoria your thoughts exactly as they were.]
"This..." Listening to Ian's thoughts, Artoria's face was filled with surprise, yet she couldn't refute him. After all, she indeed felt that Illya and Irisviel had many similarities, but she had never considered the possibility Ian presented.
However—the meticulous girl soon realized the problem.
"Mr. Ian. Even if the situation is indeed like this, what can we do? Iris... she's truly dead, isn't she?"
"We truly can't do much," Ian looked at Berserker Ibaraki Doji, who was playing with Illya. Her gaze towards her Master clearly held a sense of looking at a friend. "But—she might be able to do something."
"Mr. Ian... are you talking about Ibaraki?"
"Yes," Ian nodded. "If it's her... she might be able to do something. After all—she was able to perceive all of this, wasn't she?"
[Your premonition was indeed correct.]
[Ibaraki Doji could indeed do more.]
[Using her connection with the Holy Grail, she quickly pinpointed another location on Mount Enzou.]
[A miraculous phenomenon awaits you.]
This was indeed the case. Ibaraki Doji, from whom flames emanated (a display that only occurred when she drew magical energy from Illya), stopped once more. She looked at the bare spot before her, extended her hand, and then made certain gestures. This was not something Ibaraki Doji originally knew. Instead—"Lord Abe... I hope you can recall more things."
That's right. These were Ibaraki Doji's memories, techniques from the Heian era. They were also lost arts of the Abe clan. At this moment, a miracle transcending time descended in this Holy Grail War.
A hazy figure appeared before everyone. It was the lingering will of Irisviel—she quickly noticed Illya.
"Illya, what are you doing here?"
"Mama!" Illya cried out, running directly towards where Irisviel was. "Because I came to find you~"
"Is that so... Illya is amazing." As soon as she finished speaking, Irisviel's figure disappeared.
"Eh?!" The little loli touched the empty spot, panicking. "Mama, where did she go?"
"The remaining amount here is too small," Berserker Ibaraki Doji took Illya's hand. "But, it's alright. There are many more places nearby—Master, I can take you to see them one by one. You'll definitely see her many times."
"Eh, really?!"
Watching the Berserker group walk away hand in hand, Ian and Artoria knew that the purpose of this journey had been achieved. The forest of Mount Enzou would become the place where mother and daughter would reunite.
However—the girl also thought about the future.
"Mr. Ian. Although Illya has met her mother now. But... what should we do later?"
"If you're asking about that—" Looking at Illya in the distance, pulling Ibaraki Doji's hand and playfully whining to Irisviel, Ian's expression was also somewhat moved. "For the future... I actually thought of a not-so-reliable method."
"Mr. Ian, do you ever have moments when you're not confident?" Artoria was a little surprised.
"Of course," the man looked at the girl beside him and smiled slightly. "Lily. What do you think about having the Tohsaka family adopt Illya after the Holy Grail War ends?"