She had been staying at the main house for nearly a month.
Irisviel declared that now, as the head of the Einzbern family, she intended to shoulder her responsibilities to the very end.
To that end, she faced a mountain of family affairs every day. Issues such as the direction of the Einzbern family's Magecraft research, future relations with the human Magecraft community… all required new policies to be formulated.
In addition, a portion of the Einzbern family's extensive alchemical technology needed to be shared with the Mage's Association for academic exchange. Decisions about which technologies could be patented and which should be retained fell entirely to Irisviel.
Having no prior experience in such work, she found the tasks extremely taxing, though Sella proved to be exceptionally skilled in these matters. Irisviel also selected a group of Homunculi suited for clerical work, assigning them not purely by "design function" but according to "personal interest."
Her time living in Fuyuki had taught her that this was one of the key distinctions between humans and Homunculi.
In any case, Irisviel now worked over fifteen hours a day; even her time spent soaking in preservation solution was considered work.
Once her daytime duties ended, she had another role. Whenever midnight arrived, Irisviel would meticulously dress and quietly slip into Shirou's guest room.
Nominally, this was a daily meeting with Shirou Amamiya, the Einzbern family's magical advisor.
In reality…
"Shirou, I'm here~ Sorry to keep you waiting this late~♡"
"Hmph, why are you so late again today?"
Shirou rose from the bed and casually glanced at the woman standing in the doorway.
Irisviel wore a pure white gown that accentuated her curves; her skin carried a faint blush, and droplets of water clung to her silver hair, she had clearly rushed over immediately after her bath.
With a tentative smile, she said, "I've been so busy with work, there's just so much to handle. Shirou hasn't been coming to my office to help lately; he's always with the young girls during the day… Ugh, lately, everyone looks at Shirou with such intensity."
Shirou gave a half-smile. "What kind of thing is that to say? Didn't you tell me to keep my distance during the day so no one would figure out our relationship?"
"W-well…"
Irisviel's cheeks flushed. "That's not what I meant… Don't tease me, Shirou♡"
"Hehe, just kidding."
Sitting on the bed, Shirou beckoned her over. Irisviel immediately beamed, walking toward him like a puppy greeting its master.
"If Irisviel doesn't like it, I'll keep my distance from them from now on," Shirou said.
Irisviel rested her head against his chest and murmured, "I didn't mean you had to go that far. I'm actually happy if you get along well with everyone~"
Shirou muttered in exasperation, "So which is it? You're impossible to please!"
Irisviel said shyly, "I'm torn too! As Shirou's mother, I want you to get along with the Einzbern family, but as Shirou's woman, I want your eyes only on me, hehe♡"
"An unsolvable dilemma, then."
"That's right, completely unsolvable."
They exchanged smiles. After a dozen or so nights of "getting used to each other," their rapport had grown even stronger.
"So, next up…"
Irisviel's hand, resting on Shirou's chest, slid downward.
"Hey, Iri, aren't you being a bit too eager? You've barely stepped in and you're already impatient?"
"Ugh…!"
Irisviel straightened abruptly, shooting Shirou a reproachful glance.
Shirou stifled a laugh. "Iri, let's talk about work first."
"Yes…"
Irisviel lowered her head in dejection.
For the next half hour, Shirou and Irisviel discussed the expansion of the Einzbern facilities and future overseas investments.
"Just connecting with the Clock Tower isn't enough. If possible, we should also reach out to the Wandering Sea. I'm not familiar with the specifics, but isn't that place famous for Magecraft involving human modification?"
"Hmm, I've heard the same. Since Shirou says so, let's try contacting the Wandering Sea. It only opens to the public one random day a year, so reaching them won't be easy. Well, let's pry open the door with the power of money~"
Irisviel flashed a mischievous smile. This was news Shirou had only recently learned. The Einzbern's wealth didn't come from their alchemy. Although their alchemy was powerful, they had been isolated for so long they couldn't profit from it, their secret fortune was an inexhaustible gold mine from the Age of Myths.
"That sounds dangerous… We should use it sparingly from now on."
"Hmm, if Shirou says so."
Granting Homunculi a human-equivalent lifespan was their shared goal. It might take a long time, but they would not give up, nor would they rely on miracles (the Third Magic).
"Phew~"
Tonight's meeting ended.
Irisviel grew restless again. Shirou, of course, understood her feelings; he himself had been restless ever since she entered the room. Her alluring expression, coquettish behavior, pleasant scent, and the glimpse of snow-white skin and curves beneath her gown constantly teased him. His patience had reached its limit.
"Hey, Iri."
"Mm-hmm, I'm here."
The silver-haired noblewoman's eyes glistened with anticipation and excitement, waiting for her master's command.
"Could you do 'that' for me, like usual?"
"You mean… 'that'?"
Irisviel furrowed her brows, shyly pursing her lips. "It always feels embarrassing, no matter how many times I do it."
"Not okay?" Shirou looked slightly disappointed.
"I… I didn't say it wasn't okay!"
"So, is it okay or not?"
"Even though it's embarrassing, if Shirou wants it, I'll do it, I'll do it…!"
Irisviel said with resolve, "As long as it's for Shirou, I'll do anything."
"I'm so happy. Then I'll leave it to you."
Irisviel moved her hips away from the bed's edge and knelt directly on the carpet in front of him. She lifted her slender neck, her expression a dazed mix of adoration and gratitude, gazing up at him.
"Please guide me through the whole night, my master…"
She closed her eyes and offered her lips.
"Mmm…♡"
It was a greeting kiss before the sowing began.
…
…
A month later, Shirou, Irisviel, Sella, and Leysritt set out on the journey home.
The original plan had been to stay in Germany for at least two months, but thanks to Irisviel's hard work, their stay was cut down to one month.
The reason was that Shirou could not afford to fall behind in his studies. He had taken a two-month leave of absence from school to accompany Irisviel.
Affairs concerning the Einzbern Family had been handed over to a committee personally chosen by Irisviel. Minor issues would be discussed and resolved internally, and only if something major happened would they contact the Ninth Head of the House.
As for the Eighth Head of the House, Acht, he had been sent to the Musik family, a magical family that had recently become partners with the Einzberns, so that great-grandfather could enjoy a peaceful old age there. In reality, it was exile.
Once all the troublesome matters had been dealt with, everyone boarded a private jet back to Japan and arrived at the airport closest to Fuyuki.
"Shirou, did you buy souvenirs for Taiga and Sakura?"
"Yeah, I got them."
Shirou had already let them know in advance that he and Irisviel would be coming back today.
When Fuji-nee heard the news, she refused to listen to anyone trying to stop her. She took time off from university and came back to Fuyuki from Tokyo by bullet train.
The two of them were probably inside right now, bustling around as they prepared the welcome party.
Standing before the familiar Japanese-style mansion, both Shirou and Irisviel were filled with emotion.
"This really is the place that puts me most at ease," the silver-haired Homunculus said with a smile.
"Yeah. Let's go in, Iri."
Passing through the familiar courtyard, Shirou reached the entrance and slid open the wooden Japanese-style door.
"I'm home. Is anyone here?"
Soon, there was movement from inside the house, from the kitchen.
"Shirou~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"
With the clattering sound of feet against the wooden floorboards, a short-haired college girl in casual clothes appeared at the end of the hallway.
"It really is Shirou! Waaaaah, welcome home, Shirou!"
Taiga Fujimura came sprinting over at a speed that even startled Shirou.
Thud.
Shirou was tackled to the floor.
"Waaah, I thought I'd never see you again, Shirou! Waaaaah!"
It should have been a moving reunion, yet for some reason, Taiga Fujimura threw herself onto Shirou and burst into tears.
"Wait, Fuji-nee… You're heavy, you're heavy! Whatever it is, get off me first and then talk… Don't wipe your nose on my clothes!"
Shirou was completely overwhelmed. Just then, a woman's voice drifted over from the side.
"Taiga, let go of Shirou first."
"Ah…"
Taiga Fujimura looked up, and when she saw Irisviel, her face lit up in a brilliant smile.
"Master, long time no see!"
"Mm, long time no see, Taiga."
Shirou finally escaped from the tiger's jaws, brushed the dust off his pants, and stood up.
"Honestly, Fuji-nee… what are you even doing?"
Taiga Fujimura ducked into Irisviel's arms and said with an aggrieved look, "Because… because Sakura said, 'Shirou-nii-san and Aunt Iri eloped, and they're never coming back.'"
"…Huh?"
Shirou and Irisviel looked at each other.
The silver-haired Homunculus gave an awkward smile.
"H-how could that be? Shirou only came with me to visit my hometown. There's no way he would leave you all behind."
"Really?"
"Really, really, Shirou!"
"Oh!"
The two exchanged a perfectly coordinated glance, and Shirou took out a local specialty he had bought in a German city from the handbag carried by the Homunculus maid behind him.
"Look, Fuji-nee… this is for you."
Taiga Fujimura's eyes sparkled as she accepted Shirou's gift. Judging by her expression, she believed them.
Which meant the only remaining issue was…
"Fuji-nee, where's Sakura?"
Shirou looked around, but he did not see Sakura coming out of the house to greet him.
"Senpai."
The voice came from outside the door behind him.
"Waaaah!!!!"
Shirou, Irisviel, and Taiga Fujimura all screamed, startled by the girl's ghostlike appearance.
"S-Sakura! You're back?"
Everyone turned around and saw the girl whose once-short hair had recently grown to shoulder length, Sakura Matou.
She was carrying shopping bags, apparently having just come back from the shopping district.
And she was not the only one outside the door. There were two others with her.
"What, so you're still alive after all. You didn't get stranded in the snowy mountains of Einzbern."
The girl with her arms folded, looking at Shirou with open hostility, was Sakura's older sister, Rin Tohsaka.
"What kind of thing is that to say, Rin? Shirou's pretty tough, you know. Yo, I'm also here to intrude. You don't mind, right?"
The girl greeting them with one hand on her hip, like a boy, was Shirou's classmate, Sakura's senior, and Rin's friend, Ayako Mitsuzuri.
"So everyone came. Welcome, welcome."
Irisviel smiled and quickly shifted back into the role of the long-absent mistress of the Amamiya household.
"Excuse us, Auntie."
The middle school girls carried the groceries inside, chatting noisily as they entered the house.
"Sakura, where's your brother? Didn't he say he was coming today too?"
"That person? No idea."
"Did you two fight again? Hahaha. Now that you mention it, Issei isn't here yet either… Boys really are unreliable~"
When Sakura Matou reached the kitchen entrance, she stopped and looked back at the group by the doorway.
"We'll take care of the kitchen. Senpai and Aunt Iri, please go put your luggage away first."
"Oh… oh, right…"
"Fuji-nee, can you come help?"
"Coming~"
Taiga Fujimura ran toward the kitchen, leaving Shirou standing there in a daze.
He could not help but marvel at how much girls changed as they grew up. It had only been a month since he last saw her, and yet Sakura seemed to have matured quite a bit again.
Come to think of it, what she had said earlier about him "eloping with Irisviel" bothered him a little. He should ask her about it when he had the chance.
After that, Shinji Matou and Issei Ryuudou, the son of the temple's head priest, also arrived.
That evening, everyone gathered in the living room of the Amamiya residence and held a grand welcome party for Shirou and the others.
"Cheers~~~~~~!!"
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