Vita Magicis (HP SI-WC) (Patreon)

Chapter 29: The Heist at Einzbern Castle

“Germany?” Rin asked, tilting her head thoughtfully. “There aren’t many prominent magus families from there that I know of…”

She trailed off, eyes narrowing as the pieces clicked into place. “Wait… no way.”

Before she could voice her conclusion, Bella spoke up, eyes gleaming with restrained excitement. “Are we allowed to help you this time, Master?”

Ilulu and Asako both perked up at the question, their attention now squarely on me. Sakura remained quiet, though her eyes never left me—content to simply listen for now.

I gave Rin a grin, unable to hide my amusement. “Looks like you figured it out. That’s right—our target this time is Illyasviel von Einzbern.”

That earned a sharp intake of breath from Rin.

“And yes,” I continued, sweeping my gaze across the group, “you’re all welcome to help. In fact, I’d prefer it. It’ll be good to fight alongside you girls.”

Bella’s expression brightened immediately. “Don’t worry, Master. I’ll make sure nothing even gets close to hurting you.”

Ilulu nodded eagerly, her fists clenched adorably in front of her chest. “Me too! I won’t let anyone lay a finger on you!”

“Leave reconnaissance to me, Master,” Asako added, her calm voice resolute as ever.

Rin gave a cute little huff, crossing her arms with a pout. “Hmph. I’d love to join you, but I’m still powerless for another six days. Not that I’m bitter about it or anything.”

I chuckled and gave her a reassuring look. “We’ll make sure you don’t miss too much.”

Sakura finally spoke, her voice soft but steady. “Let me help too, Senpai. I… I don’t know how useful I’ll be, but I want to help you. I want to protect you.”

There was a flicker of sadness in her eyes—frustration that she wasn’t strong yet—but also a quiet determination.

I reached out and gently took her hand. “You’re already helping, Sakura. And I promise, your time to shine will come.”

She smiled at that, a faint blush rising to her cheeks.

=====

Two Days Later — Berlin

After a grueling 15-hour flight and another 10 hours spent recovering from jet lag, the girls and I finally began making our way toward the Einzbern Castle nestled somewhere deep in the German countryside.

But we weren’t in any rush.

Instead of heading there directly, we took the scenic route—stopping in every small town along the way to enjoy whatever they had to offer. Food, local landmarks, cozy little cafés, historical monuments—we soaked it all in.

It wasn’t just sightseeing, though. It was a break. A moment of calm before the mission ahead.

Ilulu clung to my side in every new place, marveling at cobbled streets and age-old architecture with wide eyes. Sakura followed closely, camera in hand, quietly capturing everything—from Bella feeding a pigeon to Rin staring unimpressed at an ancient fountain. Even Asako had relaxed somewhat and joined us from time to time.

Rin, of course, had her own agenda.

By the time we were only a day’s walk away from our destination, she cornered me one evening at a rustic inn, cheeks puffed and arms crossed.

“You’re not going without me,” she declared, eyes shining with conviction.

I raised an eyebrow. “Rin—”

“I beg you,” she said flatly, clearly not used to the act. “One more day. I’ll be at full strength. I want to be there. Please.”

There was something oddly charming about the way she tried to pout without looking like she cared too much.

I sighed, smiled… and relented.

“Fine. One more day.”

And just like that, we extended our scenic detour a little longer—because even if we were planning a heist against one of the most secretive magus families in Europe…

Sometimes, it was worth taking the slow road—especially if I got to see more of Rin’s dere side.

=====

Following Day

We now found ourselves once again gathered in a medium-sized two-bed bedroom, waiting patiently—well, some of us were—for Asako to return from her reconnaissance of the castle.

Rin stood by the window, doing her best to wear a groove into the wooden floor with how much she was pacing. Her teeth worried her lower lip, and her index finger tapped rhythmically against her thigh.

“Pacing won’t make time go faster, you know,” I called out with a smile, finding her impatience oddly charming.

“Tsk.” She turned toward me with a slight scowl. “Are you sure that ‘Company’ or whatever didn’t scam you? I’m minutes away from becoming a goddess, and I feel nothing.”

“Positive,” I said smoothly. “You won’t feel anything until the exact moment it triggers. That’s how Power Swap works.”

“Huhuhu~,” Ilulu giggled softly beside me, politely covering her mouth with one hand, the other still wrapped around mine. “Relax, Rin-san. Trust in Master’s word. The moment the timer runs out, you’ll definitely feel it.”

Rin huffed but didn’t argue further, choosing instead to resume her pacing with slightly less fire.

“You said I could become a goddess too, right, Senpai?” Sakura asked softly from my other side, her head resting against my shoulder.

During our trip, she’d grown more curious about potential powers, often asking me small questions late at night when she thought the others weren’t paying attention.

“That’s right,” I nodded. “For some reason, you have an incredibly strong resonance with the Hindu goddess Parvati. You also have a surprising affinity for Lancelot du Lac, in his Berserker form… and there was a third option—one tied to a darker path.”

I kept my tone gentle, but Rin’s expression tightened the moment I mentioned it. She turned away, her face going still as she stared out the window.

She understood exactly what I meant.

Had I not intervened—had I not purified Sakura from what Zouken had done to her—then the “dark power” she could’ve wielded wouldn’t have been a blessing. It would’ve been a curse.

Sakura’s expression, on the other hand, was the exact opposite of her sister’s.

A radiant smile bloomed across her face as she snuggled closer, hugging my arm tightly against her modest chest with quiet possessiveness.

“Thank you, Senpai,” she whispered, her voice soft and full of emotion.

“You’re welcome, Sakura,” I replied with a gentle smile. Then a thought struck me. “Oh, that reminds me—once Illya joins us, I’ll be one step closer to building you that new body I promised. Her knowledge of homunculus creation and the structure of her body will be invaluable for the process.”

“…Really?” Sakura pulled back slightly, her violet eyes wide and shimmering with awe as she looked up at me. There was nothing but love in that gaze—love, admiration, and a quietly growing obsession that deepened day by day.

“Yes, really,” I said with certainty. With my abilities, it was only a matter of time now.

At that moment, Rin suddenly gasped—loudly.

All of us turned in her direction just in time to see her rising off the floor, floating effortlessly a few feet in the air. Her once-aqua eyes now glowed a deep, mesmerizing ruby red.

“…Whoa~,” Rin breathed, staring down at her hands in open amazement. “This is… incredible. I feel like I could do anything.”

“Congratulations, Rin,” I said with a proud smile as I stood, gently removing Ilulu and Sakura from my sides.

They let go reluctantly, eyes still fixed on the now-hovering girl in awe.

I stepped forward and reached up to pat Rin on the head. “You’ve literally ascended to godhood.”

“D-Don’t treat me like a child!” she snapped, her cheeks flushing bright red under my praise.

With a flustered motion, she batted my hand away—except now, with her newly awakened divine strength, that simple gesture created a gust of wind strong enough to rattle the entire room. A whirlwind surged around us, tossing pillows off the beds and knocking over a nearby lamp with a loud crash.

“…Oops.”

“Hmhm.” I chuckled, brushing my windswept hair back into place. “You might want to be a little more aware of your strength now. That light tap of yours? If I were a normal human, my hand would’ve been reduced to a hundred shattered pieces.”

Rin winced. “...Sorry.”

I smiled, gently placing a hand on her shoulder. “You’re fine. Just keep that in mind, and you’ll do great. I’m sure you’ll get the hang of your new powers in no time.”

Rin’s face flushed a deeper red as she turned away, muttering a barely audible, “...Thank you.”

“Just in time too,” I said casually, drawing her attention again as I turned toward the window behind her.

It slid open a moment later.

Asako stepped through, silent as a shadow, and knelt before me with practiced grace. “Thank you, Master,” she said calmly. “I’ve done as you asked. My other selves are already in position and awaiting your command.”

“Excellent work,” I nodded, pleased. “Well done, Asako.”

Then I turned to the others, a grin tugging at my lips. “Well, girls—are you ready?”

“Mmn~ I’m ready, Master,” Ilulu said first, her voice soft but sure as she summoned a beautifully ornate bow from her inventory. A subtle glow shimmered around it as she adopted an adorably serious expression.

“Finally,” Bella muttered, rising to her feet with a confident smirk and pulling out her wand.

“Huhuhu~ It’ll be nice to have the Einzbern brat owe me one,” Rin added, her smirk sly and playful.

I chuckled, the energy in the room shifting—sharpening—as the mission took shape.

Then I turned to Sakura.

She sat quietly, a small, sad smile on her face as she watched the others prepare. Her shoulders were slightly slumped, clearly disheartened that she couldn’t come with us.

I stepped over and gently knelt in front of her.

“It’s alright, Sakura,” I said softly, placing a hand on her head and brushing her hair back. “After this mission, I’ll have enough credits to empower you too. So hang in there, alright? I’m sure I’ll need your help in the future. When that time comes… will you be there for me?”

Her eyes widened slightly, a blush rising to her cheeks. “Senpai…”

A heartbeat passed.

Then her face lit up with a bright, loving smile. “Yes, of course. I’ll help you whenever you want!”

“That’s the spirit,” I said, smiling back before leaning down and pressing a soft kiss to her lips.

She stiffened in surprise—but only for a second. Her hands found mine as she kissed me back, gentle and full of quiet devotion.

When I finally pulled away, her face was still flushed and dreamy.

“Wait here for us, okay?” I whispered. “We’ll be right back—with new friends.”

“…Hai…” she breathed, still dazed.

I stood and turned to the others—who, to no one’s surprise, were all sporting various degrees of pouty jealousy.

Ilulu looked away quickly with puffed cheeks. Bella raised an eyebrow with narrowed eyes. Rin pretended to adjust her ribbons, muttering something under her breath.

I smiled nervously and walked over to Ilulu, gently pulling her into my arms.

“We’ll be flying there,” I said, looking at each of them in turn. “I expect none of you will have trouble keeping up?”

Ilulu nodded quickly, her mood visibly improving in my embrace. “Of course, Master~”

Bella nodded seriously. “I’ll be right behind you, Master.”

Rin rolled her eyes, the tips of her ears red. “Tch. I might be new at this whole flying thing, but I’ll be fine.”

“Then let’s go,” I said, stepping toward the window.

A burst of wind blew the curtains aside as I opened it wide, the dark countryside stretching beyond us.

It was time.

=====

Twenty Minutes Later

It only took us a few minutes of flying to reach the outskirts of the Einzbern Castle. From there, we spent the next fifteen minutes crouched just outside the boundary of the bounded field, going over the plan one final time.

The castle loomed in the distance—cold, pale, and ancient. The air felt thick with layered enchantments and old magic.

“Alright,” I began, scanning each of them. “Ilulu, Rin—you’ll take down the bounded field. Just… try not to use too much power. We don’t want to accidentally level part of the castle.”

“Leave it to me, Master~,” Ilulu chirped with a bright smile, her bow already in hand.

“I’ll… try,” Rin said, a little nervously. She flexed her fingers, likely still adjusting to the divine energy surging through her system.

“Once the field’s down, we’ll probably be swarmed by homunculi,” I continued. “Bella, Asako—you’ll handle them. Non-lethal force only. Just knock them out.”

“Right,” Bella replied, cool and composed, though her fingers twitched slightly in anticipation.

“Understood, Master,” Asako said next, her expression unreadable as always.

“I’ll be heading straight for Jubstacheit von Einzbern,” I said, my tone darkening slightly. “I’ll deal with him personally.”

Seriously, what was it with these so-called ‘grandfathers’ and treating their grandchildren like disposable tools?

“Hopefully,” I added, “once that’s done, we can explain things to Illya without anyone interrupting us.”

“And if that doesn’t work?” Rin asked.

I shrugged with a small smirk. “Then we kidnap her, bring her back to the inn, and explain everything after she’s had some hot chocolate.”

Ilulu giggled. “That actually sounds kind of nice.”

“I wouldn’t mind that either,” Bella muttered with a shrug.

“Alright,” I said, glancing at the dark silhouette of the castle again. “Everyone ready?”

They nodded, one by one.

It was time.

=====

A Few Moments Later

The moment we gave the signal, Ilulu stepped forward, her soft expression replaced by a focused seriousness that made her seem like an entirely different person.

Her bow was held in her left hand—elegant and ornate, with intricate patterns along its limbs. She nocked an arrow of pure elemental fire, its tip flaring like a miniature sun.

“This should do the trick~,” she said cheerfully, drawing it back. “Blaze Arrow!”

The arrow pulsed once.

Then she loosed it.

A streak of blazing energy tore through the dark forest air like a comet, trailing fire behind it as it struck the outer barrier with a booming crack. The entire ward shimmered violently—ripples spreading across the invisible dome like a pond disturbed by a thrown stone.

Before the field could recover, Rin raised both hands, her crimson eyes narrowing in concentration.

In the air beside her, dozens of golden lights appeared and with a short, breathless cry, she launched a volley of golden lasers—each one precise, fast, and bursting with condensed magical power.

The lasers hit the barrier in a synchronized storm of light, hammering the already weakened sections Ilulu had struck. The entire field groaned audibly, its core integrity shattering.

And then—

CRACK-BOOM!

The bounded field collapsed in a pulse of golden light and spiraling flame, its defenses crumbling like shattered glass. A gust of wind kicked up from the force of the collapse, sweeping across the clearing and scattering loose leaves into the air.

Ilulu giggled, lowering her bow. “That went well~”

Rin stared at her hands in amazement. “I just—shot beams of pure mana from my palms. That was so cool!” Then she caught herself, cleared her throat, and crossed her arms with a huff. “I mean… as expected of me.”

I smirked from behind a tree. “Good job, both of you.”

The moment the field collapsed, alarms would’ve gone off inside the estate. We had seconds—maybe a minute—before the first wave hit.

“Positions, everyone,” I called. “Bella, Asako—you’re up.”

From beside me, Bella grinned. “Time to play.”

As soon as I saw the homunculi running out of the castle with weapons in hand, I made my move. “Alright everyone, good luck.”

After giving the command, I vanished from sight—slipping into full invisibility—and made my way into the castle through the gap Ilulu and Rin had created.

To my relief, I encountered no resistance.

My focus shifted to the HUD glowing faintly in my vision, a transparent overlay mapping out the interior of the castle in real time. Every corridor, every stairwell, every chamber was laid bare before me. More importantly, it showed the location of every living presence within the estate.

Allies were marked in blue. Enemies in red. Neutrals in white.

I was moving toward the lone red dot situated at the heart of the central wing—the only enemy who hadn’t rushed toward the perimeter. The one who had simply stayed behind, waiting. That was who I was after.

Jubstacheit von Einzbern.

But what caught my eye wasn’t him—it was the solitary white dot at the opposite end of the wing, isolated and still.

I smiled slightly.

Illyasviel.

There she was, exactly where I expected her to be.

=====

Deep Within the Castle

Illyasviel von Einzbern sat alone in a massive, high-ceilinged chamber.

She was curled up on an oversized bed, clad in a silken white nightgown, her pale hair cascading over her shoulders like moonlight. A small cloth-bound book lay open in her lap, but her eyes weren’t on the words. They stared blankly ahead—distant, tired.

“Enemies?” she murmured softly to the empty room.

As expected, there was no reply.

Slipping down from the bed, Illya padded silently to the tall arched window. Faint flashes of red and gold danced across the glass, and she leaned closer, curiosity piqued.

Her eyes widened slightly.

Out at the front gate, she spotted a black-haired girl in flight, dancing effortlessly through the chaos. Golden beams of mana erupted from her hands, while the guards—homunculi bred to fight—were dispatched one after another with clean, powerful strikes. Some were kicked into unconsciousness, others sent flying with blasts of mana.

A little farther off was another girl—blonde, with long elven ears and dressed in... a purple maid outfit?

She wielded a bow with frightening grace, loosing arrow after arrow with pinpoint precision, each strike ending a fight before it began. And the smile on her face never faded.

Illya blinked, then scanned further.

Within the castle grounds, another black-haired woman moved with lethal efficiency—older than the others. She wielded what looked like a simple stick, but each red burst of spellfire from it dropped an opponent without fail.

Then, most unsettling of all, were the dozens of figures dressed in pitch-black cloaks, each wearing stark white masks devoid of emotion. They moved like wraiths, slipping through shadows, striking with ruthless precision—crippling, disabling, but never killing.

“…Will I finally get to join Kiritsugu and Mother?” Illya asked softly, her voice laced with resignation and something dangerously close to hope.

She stood there for a moment, letting the image burn into her mind.

Then she sighed, almost wistfully.

“And I was so close to finally killing Onii-chan.”