As Crimson Moon opened the door, the figure outside plunged everyone inside into silence.
Mordred, Rin, Sakura, and Hope followed behind Ryuya.
Her eyes holding no one else, just quietly looking at Ryuya, a smile suddenly appeared on Crimson Moon's usually calm and indifferent face.
"Bloodriver, you've returned."
"Crimson Moon..." Looking at Crimson Moon's familiar figure, Ryuya felt as if he had returned to the time of the Eternal Night Empire. He remembered just being born then and being noticed by Crimson Moon, who then revered him as the King of the True Ancestors.
Then, beyond Crimson Moon, he saw the figures of Female Gil, the two Artorias, Morgan, Ishtar, Irisviel, and the others.
A smile appeared on his face. Just as he was about to say something...
"Mommy... when will you tell me a bedtime story? I'm sleepy."
Descending the stairs in a snow-white nightgown, looking like an angel, Illya rubbed her eyes drowsily as she came down.
Wanting to act spoiled with Irisviel and find her mom, Illya noticed Irisviel wasn't paying attention to her.
"Mommy?"
Tugging at Irisviel's skirt, still receiving no response, Illya noticed everyone was looking in one direction.
Following everyone's gaze, she saw a man. A... how to put it?
A man who had appeared countless times in her dreams, countless times in her thoughts, someone she had fantasized about and longed for countless times. Every time Illya went out to play, she would wonder why he hadn't returned yet, why he hadn't come home.
That was...
"Da...ddy?"
Calling out to Ryuya with hesitation, uncertainty, and confusion, Illya had never imagined she would see her father today.
It was as if time stood still in that instant, as if the very wind of the world trembled. Step by step, bit by bit, moving towards Ryuya, after a brief pause, the now fully awake Illya rushed towards Ryuya as if crazed.
"Daddy!"
"Illya."
On the way back, he had already heard from Sakura and Rin about the events at the Einzbern Castle over the years, and that Illya was his daughter.
In a flash, he appeared before Illya, crouching down to hold the little princess of Einzbern in his arms.
"Daddy, is it really you?"
"It's me, Illya... let me take a good look at you."
The moment he touched Illya, the power of the Star God conveyed all her loneliness and solitude over the years directly into Ryuya's heart.
Those snowy nights waiting for her father's return, those envious, hopeful gazes.
"Daddy, are you really Daddy?"
Tightly gripping Ryuya's clothes, unwilling to let go, Illya strained to look at Ryuya, wanting to superimpose the man before her with the father in her memories.
"It's me, Illya."
Stroking his daughter's soft and silky silver hair, holding Illya, Ryuya turned his gaze towards Irisviel, Female Gil, Ishtar, and the others.
Looking at the women who seemed too emotionally stirred to speak, he smiled gently, "I'm back."
Inside the Einzbern Castle.
Seemingly bursting with energy ever since Ryuya returned, Illya appeared determined to reclaim all the longing of these years, stubbornly staying nestled in Ryuya's arms, refusing to leave.
Not saying she was tired or anything else, she remained silent, simply gripping Ryuya's clothes unwilling to let go.
As for the others, they were also talking to Ryuya about the events of these years and the enemies in this Holy Grail War.
Crimson Moon: "Bloodriver, did you sense it?"
Ryuya: "Yes. Besides you, Hope, and me, there are over three more Planetary Singularity-level combatants in Snowfield City. Additionally, there are two top-tier Grand Servants. It seems there are quite a few participants in this Holy Grail War."
Ultimately, the Holy Grail War is a battle between Servants and Masters. Sensing the enemy auras in Snowfield City, Ryuya turned his gaze towards Female Gil and the others, "Gil, Ishtar, has Uruk been alright these years?"
"Hmph, of course. Who do you take me for?" Her proud demeanor was as brilliantly confident as remembered. Gilgamesh, arms crossed, sat on the sofa to Ryuya's left. Behind her, sitting on the sofa's backrest, was Ishtar, who was currently peeling grapes.
"Husband, Illya, have some fruit."
Having become extremely obedient after Ryuya's return, after all, it was evident to all that the Venus Goddess was the most ancient idiot goddess, Ishtar started habitually not using her brain upon seeing Ryuya, her expression completely nonchalant, "Planetary Singularities shouldn't be a problem, right? Weren't you facing the second-generation God King Marduk back then, who was almost at the Planetary Singularity level?"
"Given your current strength, husband, Planetary Singularities aren't an issue, right?"
"And Mother Goddess has long since surpassed the Planetary Singularity level."
"Hmm? Tia is also advancing on the path of a Star God?" Startled by Ishtar's words, Ryuya remembered that when he last parted with Tiamat, the not fully recovered Primordial Mother Goddess wasn't even at the Planetary Singularity level in terms of pure power, only possessing dreadfully powerful Authorities.
"Yes. Eresh told me Mother Goddess repaired her Saint Graph long ago. She has already begun comprehending the rules of creation or something. Anyway, she's advancing on the path of a Star God."
As the Venus Goddess, Ishtar's potential was not inferior to Tiamat's… in various side stories and games, she even had the potential for Cosmic-level power.
But after getting married, she adopted a slacker attitude, muddling through aimlessly. Her strength had actually regressed over the years, which was truly frightening.
"And what about you, Morgan? Any changes in Camelot?"
Nodding, Ryuya then inquired about Camelot.
"Us? We've been pretty much the same these years. After all, our limits are roughly set."
Shaking her head, Morgan indicated that unless there was some major opportunity or treasure, her own power, as well as Artoria's, approaching the Grand Servant level was their limit. However, Merlin and Vivian...
"Isbel, whether it's due to the awakening of the Phantasmal Species within them, Merlin and Vivian have become different from before. If you see them, you'll definitely be greatly surprised."
"Especially Merlin, that hikikomori. She's really different from before now."
Smiling as she spoke of Merlin's strength, hearing Morgan's words, others present who knew Merlin found it hard to imagine what that always carefree, utterly unreliable hikikomori had become now.