Trip to Japan

At the same time, Artorius looked at X with a helpless gaze, much like one would look at their childish little sister, even though she kept insisting that she was his mother.

Addressed as Mom and Dad by Illya were obviously referring to Iri and Kiritsugu. The former gazed at X with warmth, while the latter still had the appearance of a man holding a grudge. Only when Illya entered the room did he manage to force a smile.

"Get the plane ready."

Having arrived slightly ahead of Iri to hand a napkin to X to wipe the corners of her mouth, Artorius calmly gave instructions.

"It's about time we head to Japan."

"So soon?" Iri seemed slightly surprised and a little nervous. "For the Holy Grail War, we still need some time to prepare..."

"First, let's meet the Masters there." Artorius's tone remained relaxed. "Then we can take a little detour. Kyoto, Mount Fuji, hot spring hotel, and all that. Isn't that nice? Iri, you've never been outside the castle since you were born, have you? So, let's make it a family trip. We'll need about five planes for that."

"Ehh?!" Iri widened her eyes in disbelief. "Five planes...?"

"Yes..." Artorius continued, "Five should do."

Iri remained silent for a moment, showing a puzzled expression. On the other hand, Kiritsugu, being quicker to grasp Artorius's intentions, had already understood—he wanted to bring all of the Einzbern's homunculi, or at least those associated with him, to Japan.

"That's impossible!"

With this realization, Kiritsugu vehemently opposed, "Fuyuki will soon become a battlefield! You—"

"Who said I'm going to Fuyuki?"

Artorius frowned, interrupting Kiritsugu's words. "What tourist attractions does Fuyuki have?"

Kiritsugu: "..."

"I want to go to Tokyo, Kyoto, or any place where we can have fun. What are you saying, Kiritsugu? Have you forgotten that I came here just for a vacation?"

"..." Kiritsugu was on the verge of losing his temper.

Yesterday, Artorius had mentioned carrying a significant secret and bearing a certain goal of the Empire. Yet today, he changed his tune. It's just that Kiritsugu couldn't beat him. Otherwise...

"Do you have any objections, Kiritsugu?"

"No..."

Though, in reality, Kiritsugu's smile became even more bitter.

"What's so special about Japan?"

At the same time, X, who was struggling to swallow a large piece of meat, looked up at Artorius with a curious expression.

Next to her, Illya looked at X with astonishment, then glanced down at the tiny piece of beef on her own fork. Then she looked up again.

The piece of meat X just swallowed seemed about twenty times larger than what was on her fork.

How did X manage to do that? It was like a cartoon special effect!

Of course, Artorius knew what X meant by that question. It wasn't about the scenery or any cultural or natural landmarks in Japan. Nor was she asking about the best place to have fun. She was simply asking him about the delicious food there.

"Although not at the very top, Japanese cuisine has its own unique qualities." Artorius calmly explained. "Various seafood and meats with a preference for subtle flavors. They have also adopted and modified some foreign dishes like curry rice, fried rice, sukiyaki, and others."

After explaining, Artorius flashed a gentle smile and gave X gentle headpats. As he continued to headpatting X, her 'ahoge' wiggled happily, much like a dog's wagging tail. She gleefully gulped down saliva, lost in a daydream of savoring a Japanese cuisine feast, her eyes sparkling with delight.

'It's really great that every Artoria is all glutton...' Artorius said in his mind as he watched the childish face of X.

Meanwhile, Kiritsugu felt an unexplained irritation and reached for a cigarette. However, he remembered where he was and resisted the urge.

And so, the entire Einzbern family decided to embark on a trip to Japan.

With only a few staff members remaining behind (all male), the rest of the Einzbern quickly arranged their flights with the airlines. They excitedly gathered around the Great Emperor to head to Berlin.

Their flight was scheduled to depart from Berlin Airport, with a layover in Hebei Province before finally landing at Tokyo International Airport.

For the Einzbern, accomplishing such a task was straightforward. Financially, they lacked nothing, thanks to the 'Das Rheingold', a magical treasure in their possession. They could afford anything, even an aircraft carrier—provided someone was willing to offer it to them.

Serving the ancestors was a matter of propriety and thoughtfulness. However, the number of planes procured differed from Artorius's original plans.

The latest model, a giant airplane with a takeoff weight of ten thousand tons, was urgently purchased. This airplane, featuring three levels of cabins, a swimming pool, an entertainment room, and an ultra-large soft bed—a new private plane that became Artorius's newest toy. It allowed him to chat with the Einzbern women and bond with them while overlooking the sea of clouds at an altitude of five kilometers.

Even Artorius had to admit that Jubstacheit had done a good job.

Back in the days of Camelot, Artorius had encountered many things. However, he had never come across a toy like this. Technological advancements are truly remarkable, as they have the power to transform the way humans live.

As a result, everyone, except for a certain someone who remained confined in the smoking room, was in high spirits.

X and Illya leaned against the window, exclaiming in admiration at the blue skies and white clouds below. Iri looked at them with a gentle smile. The rest of the Einzbern maids took turns attending to the Emperor's sleeping quarters, with the automated airplane flying smoothly all the way to Tokyo, filled with laughter and joy.