Shinji's request took Reika Rokudou by surprise...
"Do you want to buy this much?"
"That's right, this is the minimum. There's no upper limit." Shinji then winked at Artoria. "Don't worry, someone will eat all of it. There won't be any waste."
"Ugh." Artoria, feeling a bit embarrassed, stammered, "Well, uh, ample food is essential for battle, and it also helps conserve the Master's mana."
"Oh my, oh my." Reika glanced at Artoria's flat, tight stomach, a smile playing on her lips.
"Miss Reika." Artoria felt her face flush and quickly changed the topic. "Shin-Shinji, how did you know? Did Queen Scathach tell you?"
"Not really." Shinji chuckled.
Because Saber is always hungry (from Carnival Phantasm)—he couldn't say that out loud, or he might have to fight Artoria right there.
So, Shinji resorted to using the nameless assassin's divine skill—scapegoat.
"It was Miss Irisviel who told me."
"Irisviel!" At the mention of this familiar name, a pure white figure appeared in Artoria's emerald green eyes.
A white coat, and silver hair, like a princess from a snow country, and she, the knight vowed to protect the princess. Though their time together was short, it was one of the rare bright spots in Artoria's life.
"How is Irisviel? And Miss Maiya, and... Kiritsugu?"
Artoria held a sense of recognition and respect for Maiya Hisau, despite the few words they'd exchanged. She acknowledged Maiya as a true warrior. Though not exceptionally strong by human standards, she embodied the warrior spirit of focus, resilience, and sacrifice. Her unwavering loyalty to Kiritsugu earned Artoria's admiration.
Her feelings toward her previous Master, Kiritsugu Emiya, were more complex. At their first meeting, Kiritsugu left a poor impression on Artoria. His cold demeanor and the complicated emotions he showed towards her being a woman displeased her. It wasn't disdain for women or doubt in her abilities, but a deeper discontent with the entire era.
"To bestow the throne upon such a young girl, and this girl willingly accepts her fate."
When Artoria learned from Irisviel the reasons for Kiritsugu's discontent, she knew she would never get along with him. It was a profound rejection of the entire era and a deep denial of King Arthur, of Artoria herself. Without Irisviel mediating, and without Kiritsugu's grand dream somewhat touching her, they wouldn't have made it to the end.
Even at the end, their relationship didn't improve much. Two equally proud individuals never accepted each other. Artoria thought Kiritsugu's methods were unscrupulous, while Kiritsugu thought the so-called chivalry was meaningless. Yet, Artoria still hoped Kiritsugu would have a good ending. Not only because he was the man Irisviel loved, but also due to a certain spiritual similarity between them, though Artoria never realized it.
"They're all doing well. Irisviel has resolved her issues and is now no different from a normal person. Over the years, she has focused on being a housewife, with her favorite hobby being experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen. Her cooking skills, though... let's just say they're not great. Before I left, I had a meal at their place, and the colorful dishes made my scalp tingle. I still don't know how she managed to make Borscht turn purple."
Hearing Shinji's complaints, Artoria couldn't help but laugh. Irisviel had often cooked for her, and that purple Borscht was one of her specialties. It was amusing to think it hadn't changed over the years.
"After his wish shattered, Kiritsugu completely let go of his obsession and devoted himself entirely to his family. They settled in the old house in Fuyuki City, the one you stayed in. We brought their daughter Illya back from the Castle of Winter, and the four of them are living a happy life."
"Maiya Hisau is, of course, with Kiritsugu. But this time, it's not Maiya accompanying Kiritsugu; it's Kiritsugu accompanying Maiya. You might not know, but Maiya has a son who has been missing for a long time. Every now and then, she and Kiritsugu travel to the Middle East to search for him. Before I left, I asked a friend to contact a famous diviner, hoping to find some useful clues."
"As for Kiritsugu's daughter, Illya, she has grown a lot and is progressing quickly with her magecraft. Recently, she caught the attention of a big figure and learned a lot from them. She seems to be on her way to becoming a magical girl. What's her special move called? Quintett Feuer? Multi-instrumental Saturation Bombardment? Something like that. It's quite a mouthful. Your Excalibur is much easier to remember."
"That's a sword, not a cannon." Artoria corrected Shinji's mistake first and then showed an unusually gentle smile, brightening the mood around them. "I see. That makes me feel relieved. Thank you, Shinji, for telling me such good news."
"It's nothing. I should have told you earlier, but I got carried away talking. It's getting late. Let's head down the mountain. Artoria, you carry Reika, and I'll take Jack. We'll run."
The mountain path was deserted. Without a car, they had to rely on their legs to run. Fortunately, Shinji and Artoria's agility was high, and running at full speed was comparable to top-tier sports cars.
Reika clung to Artoria's back, gripping her shoulders tightly, afraid of accidentally falling off.
Jack, however, was much bolder than her mother. She rode on Shinji's shoulders, laughing and occasionally urging him to run faster.
In a flash, they arrived at the residential area at the foot of Mt. Enzou. Here, they could catch a taxi, and it was time for Shinji to leave.
"Daddy, aren't you coming with us?" Jack tugged at Shinji's clothes. In a child's world, it's that simple. They can hate you for a wrong answer and like you if you play with them.
"I have some things to take care of." Shinji shook his head.
"What things?" Artoria asked.
"Getting money. I hired you to help, so I need to ensure the logistics are in order and pay Miss Reika the promised reward."
As Shinji spoke, his gaze drifted to another place, a place he knew all too well.
PS: Although this story won't branch into the Magical Girl Illya timeline, Illya's opportunities are indispensable. If Kiritsugu is to be a happy man, his whole family must be happy.