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The Einzbern Castle's living room, illuminated by the soft glow of countless white candles lining the walls.
A gentle breeze stirred the air, causing the candle flames to flicker and dance.
Before Haru sat Illyasviel von Einzbern, an image of ethereal beauty. Her silver hair, shimmering in the candlelight, cascaded down her back, a white dress draped elegantly around her slender frame. She radiated the grace and poise of a princess.
But Haru's face was grim. He was—displeased.
The reason was simple: the girl, as lovely and delicate as a fairy, wore a vacant, emotionless expression.
"What happened, Acht? What did you do to Illyasviel?" Haru's voice was cold, laced with anger.
In the underground chamber, Illyasviel's innocent, childlike curiosity had vanished in the twenty minutes it took for her to change clothes, replaced by this emptiness.
He hadn't wanted a doll. He'd wanted a person—someone with thoughts, feelings, laughter, tears.
Illyasviel, in her current state, was no different from an inflatable companion.
Acht, hearing the anger in Haru's voice, his face paled. "Haru-kakka, I assure you, I did nothing to Illyasviel."
He was confused, bewildered. He'd been treating Haru, the True Magic user who'd agreed to help the Einzbern achieve their goal of completing the Third Magic, with the utmost respect—practically worshipping him.
After all, the Einzbern's core AI had been created using remnants of the Third Magic. And Acht, as a thought processor created by that AI, understood the power of a True Magic user.
With Haru's help, completing Heaven's Feel was practically guaranteed. Why would he risk jeopardizing that by—doing something to Illyasviel?
"Then explain this," Haru said, his eyes narrowing. Acht seemed genuinely confused—but how else could he explain Illyasviel's current state?
Acht hesitated, then, as if a sudden realization struck him, he spoke. "Haru-kakka, Illyasviel's condition is normal. She's only—integrated with the AI's settings."
He explained Illyasviel's programming: to protect the Grail, to act autonomously, to assess and avoid any potential threats to the Grail's integrity. She was a tool, a living vessel designed for a single purpose.
In the tank, Illyasviel hadn't yet fully grasped her role as a—tool. That was why she'd seemed so innocent and carefree. But now, released from the tank, the AI's settings had taken hold, her pure consciousness tainted by the concept of being an—object.
She was like someone brainwashed, conditioned to believe she was nothing more than a tool. And since tools weren't supposed to have emotions, she sat there, her face blank, her body still, conserving energy—in standby mode.
Haru's face hardened. He was seeing, for the first time, the true depths of the Fate world's Magicians' depravity.
Creating a sentient being, a homunculus capable of thought and feeling, then stripping away its personality, turning it into a disposable object…
Haru compared his own—questionable morals to the Einzbern's actions, and for the first time, he felt—almost virtuous.
He shook his head, a wry smile on his face, then slowly clenched his fist.
BOOOOOMMMM!
He punched Acht, shattering his skull.
The outburst, fueled by a strange, unexpected anger at Illyasviel's fate, subsided, and Haru's expression returned to its usual calm indifference.
He knew Acht wasn't to blame. He, too, was simply following the AI's programming. His purpose was to complete the Third Magic. Illyasviel's was to protect the Lesser Grail. They were both merely—instruments, carrying out the will of their creators.
But those creators had been dead for centuries.
Haru, his anger still simmering, had taken it out on Acht. After all, Acht had numerous backup bodies. And of the two Einzbern present, he wasn't about to take his frustrations out on Illyasviel.
He looked at Illyasviel, sitting motionless on the sofa, and frowned.
His new goal was clear—to restore Illyasviel's personality, to turn her into the perfect companion he desired.
He walked over to her, lifting her chin with his hand, his gray eyes meeting her vacant, ruby-red gaze. "Do you know who I am?"
"Haru Kasugano. My husband," Illyasviel replied, her voice melodious, yet devoid of emotion, like a machine reciting memorized data.
"Then I can give you commands?" Haru asked, his brow furrowed.
"As long as the command doesn't conflict with my primary directive—to protect the Grail—I will obey any order from Haru Kasugano," she replied, her voice still monotonous.
Haru's eyes narrowed slightly, his mind filled with interesting possibilities.
But Illyasviel's vacant stare quickly extinguished his enthusiasm.
He sighed, his face a mask of frustration. Then, as if succumbing to a sudden, perverse impulse, he asked, "Learn how to be a good wife. Does that conflict with your directive?"
"It doesn't conflict. I will learn how to be a good…" Illyasviel paused, her expressionless face shifting—a flicker of confusion.
"What is a good wife?" Her eyes flickered, as if she were—thinking.
"You don't even know that? It seems—I have a lot to teach you." Haru grinned. Raising the perfect wife—that could be—entertaining.
...
A month later, in the Einzbern's living room, Haru smiled as he watched Illyasviel, sitting beside Aoi Zenjou on the sofa, sipping cappuccino, a gentle smile gracing her lips as she played with Kohaku, Hisui, and Akiha.
Since that first flicker of confusion, since that first spark of independent thought, she'd been—different.
Perhaps because her template was the Holy Maiden of Winter, Illyasviel had been a quick learner, absorbing everything Haru and Aoi taught her.
Combined with the basic knowledge the AI had instilled in her, she could now hold a normal conversation.
Haru watched Illyasviel's slender form as she played with Akiha, a lecherous grin spreading across his face. "She's ready…" he murmured.
Suddenly, Illyasviel turned and threw herself into Haru's arms, her face flushed, her voice filled with a playful excitement.
"Children are so adorable! Haru~~ let's have one of our own!"
"Pfft!"
Aoi, who'd just taken a sip of coffee, sprayed it across the room.
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