Having finished shopping with his two daughters, Ryuya had no immediate intention of joining the ongoing Holy Grail War.
He could clearly sense the spiritual energy fluctuations rising across Snowfield City.
The reason Ryuya didn't go to the battle sites was that he could feel those conflicts originated from his lovers. Regarding the Holy Grail War they had agreed to start, he maintained a neutral stance.
After all, they had gone through the last Holy Grail War in a similar way. It was also an alternative process to improve the relationships between the women.
"Dad, are we going home now?"
Looking at Ryuya, Sakura had been preoccupied since learning the Holy Grail War had begun. Although she cherished this time with Ryuya, she also missed her family at home, like her mother, Irisviel and her younger sister, Illya.
"Yeah, Dad, let's go home. I wonder if Mom and the others are okay."
Standing on the other side of Ryuya, Rin also spoke.
"Home? Alright."
Smiling, Ryuya dotingly ruffled his daughters' hair, then took them back to the Einzbern Castle.
BOOM...
Just as they arrived home, a loud explosion greeted Ryuya and the two girls.
As the dust settled, the figures of a weary Morgan, Artoria, Arcueid, Altrouge, and Nero appeared.
Crack... Crack...
Accompanied by a crisp sound, the wristband on Morgan's hand shattered.
"Morgan-san, it seems I've won this battle."
The Aestus Estus in her hand was the culprit that shattered Morgan's wristband. Equally disheveled, the emerald eyes of Nero now shone with bright satisfaction.
Looking somewhat excitedly at Morgan, she was very pleased with this battle.
"You think you won? I'd say it was mutually assured destruction."
Morgan's response was rather indifferent. A meaningful smile appeared on her face as she looked towards Arcueid and Altrouge not far away.
Zzzzt...
As the blade light from Artoria's Excalibur flashed, the wristbands of Arcueid and Altrouge also cracked, just like Morgan's.
"What? You couldn't have..." Seeing her allies' wristbands also shattered, Nero thought of something.
"Yes, exactly what you're thinking." Nodding, Morgan took off her already shattered wristband.
As it vanished into particles, she smiled at Nero, "My target was never you, but Isbel's two daughters."
"I must say, as expected of those who inherited Isbel's bloodline, it really took some effort to shatter their wristbands. But in terms of result... clearly we profited, didn't we?"
In the battle against Nero, Arcueid, and Altrouge, Morgan and Artoria indeed had no advantage, and one could even say they were at a significant disadvantage.
But compared to the still inexperienced trio from the Eternal Night Empire, the Pendragon Sisters, who had struggled for millennia in Britain, were clearly more cunning.
With just a few simple glances, they agreed on a tactic: Morgan sacrificed her own wristband to shatter the wristbands of both Arcueid and Altrouge.
Trading one for two was truly a profitable deal without loss.
Not to mention, Arcueid and Altrouge were Masters. In other words, this move took out not two people, but four, including the Servants, Ereshkigal and Siduri summoned by the True Ancestor sisters!
Thinking of this, the smile on Morgan's face grew even brighter. She gave a slight bow, smiling broadly at Nero, "Thank you for the hospitality, esteemed members of the Eternal Night Empire."
"You... how despicable."
Never expecting Morgan's true target to be Arcueid and the others, Nero had to admit she had been somewhat careless in the previous fight.
"My apologies. Although this battle violated the knight's code, the cruelty of war is such."
Simply adjusting her own state, Britain's Artoria knew the battle wasn't over yet. Her and Nero's wristbands were still intact, meaning the fight must continue.
It just wouldn't be the previous 2v3, but a one-on-one battle.
Expressing some regret for using a small trick with her sister earlier, Britain's Artoria didn't particularly like it, as she preferred the one-on-one chivalry of knights.
But unlike Blue Artoria, she understood better what needed to be done. So, all apologies could wait… now she needed to fight with 100% focus.
"Umu... alright."
Taking a deep breath, though also feeling some regret about the battle, Nero knew that doing whatever it takes for victory was the correct approach. Adopting a stance, she also prepared to continue her fight with Artoria.
"Um..."
"I say..."
"You all..."
"Lily..."
Voices simultaneously stopped Artoria and Nero, who were about to continue fighting. Those speaking were Blue Artoria, Hayasaka, Eriri, and Irisviel.
"???"
Not understanding what was happening, Britain's Artoria and Nero looked back with curious gazes.
"You guys." Clapping excitedly, Merlin, who had enjoyed a good show, was extremely satisfied, "Haven't you noticed? The battle ended the moment Morgan, Arcueid, and Altrouge's wristbands shattered."
Pointing at the countdown on her own wristband, Merlin wore a wide smile, "Of course, if you insist on continuing, I don't mind. Although I'm the referee, I think if you like it, you can play however you want."
As the ultimate spectator across myriad worlds, Merlin loved nothing more than tense, thrilling battles.
She encouraged Nero and the others to continue, even pulling out some snacks like melon seeds and starting to munch on them.
"Time's up?"
Still not fully satisfied with the previous battle, Nero lightly licked her lips before coming to her senses.
"It's already over?"
Lowering the Excalibur in her hand, Artoria regained her composure much faster than Nero. Slightly shaking her head, she noticed that Arcueid and Altrouge, whose wristbands were shattered, didn't seem unhappy at all. Instead, they were looking in a certain direction.
Following their gaze, Artoria saw...
"Sensei?"
Finally noticing Ryuya had returned, the Einzbern Castle once again welcomed the joy unique to it.