Chapter 5: Quests and Classmates (Patreon)

Shinji didn’t dream.

This dreamless state was his unique, super-special constitution. It had been the same in his previous life—eternally, perpetually dreamless.

When the system first told him about this, Shinji didn’t think it was anything special. But after looking into it, he discovered that there was no such thing as a person who never dreams. Even those who claim they don’t dream actually do while sleeping.

It’s all related to the cerebral cortex and neural activity in the brain. Simply put, it’s a human instinct. If someone truly never dreams, it can only mean that person is brain-damaged... that there’s a deficiency in their brain activity, a physical problem.

But there was nothing wrong with Shinji’s brain or body. He just simply never dreamed, as if he were missing a fundamental human instinct.

The system couldn’t provide an explanation either. But Shinji didn’t dwell on it. No dreams meant no dreams; it wasn’t like he couldn’t fantasize while awake.

Over the past two and a half years, there was another change to the system interface: Normal Quests and the Points Mall had finally opened.

Normal Quests were exactly what they sounded like—randomly generated tasks. For example:

[If the original version dared to confess to that girl, how can my grandson be any lesser? Go to xxx Middle School on the first day of term and confess your deep feelings to Tōsaka Rin.]

Or:

[The elderly should focus on preserving their health. Go, wake the old worm at 6 a.m. and do light reiryoku breathing with him.]

Or even:

[Though a reincarnated soul, you have received the gift of life from them. Go catch your cheap father at his love hotel and make that woman get lost!]

The rewards for Normal Quests were Athern Points, which could be used to buy items in the Points Mall. The mall’s inventory was vast and strangely specific—part fantasy, part nonsense.

Breaking it down made it even more diverse. In short, it had everything you could imagine!

Some items were even adjusted for this world, like:

One-time Use Dispel Charm (guaranteed to break through any Bounded Field)

Purification Talisman (removes Crest Worms from the body, single use)

Cognitive Focus Candy (for when your brain stops cooperating—take two, they work!)

The most ridiculous part? It even listed Kaleidosticks Ruby and Sapphire!

Completely useless to him, of course—their prices were so astronomical Shinji didn’t dare even look at them for long.

The most affordable, high-value item—the Swift Soul Capsule, limited to the Soul Condensation realm, which doubled reiryoku absorption speed for one month—cost 5000 points. Shinji swallowed hard every time he saw it.

It was still useless. He couldn’t afford it.

After completing countless Normal Quests, he had barely saved up less than 200 points—just enough for two bottles of Cognitive Focus Candy. The kind only a truly brain-damaged person would buy.

Reaching the first floor, Shinji closed the system interface, his mind still working through the details.

Over the past two years, thanks to some of those bizarre Normal Quests (like the early-morning “joint exercise” sessions), his relationship with Zouken had improved considerably. Occasionally, the old man even showed him something close to affection.

Of course, from Zouken’s perspective, this was all just his grandson’s pathetic attempt to curry favor—to beg him to open the path of magecraft that was forever closed.

A futile effort. He had checked long ago; this grandson’s magic circuits were hopelessly blocked. The path of a magus was completely sealed off to him.

Still, the boy’s mind and body had improved. His grades were excellent, and aside from that irrepressible pride all magus families seemed to breed, his behavior had been... tolerable. Because of that, Zouken’s attitude had softened slightly over the years.

He even occasionally bypassed his own son to hand Shinji management of a few old family portfolios—probably intending to groom him as a future custodian of the Matou family’s mundane affairs.

The flashes of envy Shinji showed whenever he saw Sakura only deepened the old man’s satisfaction. Zouken thought that jealousy was the proper spark of a magus—the desire to take what one lacked.

To Zouken now, Shinji was still useless in magecraft, but no longer completely worthless. He had his trivial uses.

And that, in turn, left Shinji with complicated feelings.

This wretched old parasite... could he really eliminate him without hesitation when the time came?

[I am your true Grandfather.]

Shinji: ...Raise the reward?

[...]

Just then, Shinji suddenly stopped in front of a half-open clubroom door. Inside, a somewhat familiar red-haired boy was adjusting a banner.

Shirou Emiya—the protagonist of Fate/stay night. The harem king. The would-be “Ally of Justice.”

“Yo, Emiya-kun.” Leaning against the doorframe, Shinji raised a hand lazily in greeting.

Shirou turned, blinking. “Shinji? You’re still here?”

Shinji shrugged and wandered in. “Yeah, just finished consoling Yuko-sensei after her tragic breakup. Poor woman.”

“I told you to stop teasing her like that,” Shirou sighed, helpless as ever. “She only gets mad because you skip class so often.”

That was right. By some twist of fate, Shinji had become good friends with Shirou months earlier than in the original timeline—right after entering middle school.

It was only after meeting him that Shinji fully understood just how absurdly pure the boy really was—his selflessness, his naivety, his determination to help others even when it made no sense. He was too good for this world, and that, somehow, made Shinji like him more.

“Got roped into helping again?” Shinji asked.

“Yeah. Needs to be done by tomorrow morning.”

“You really never change, do you? Always volunteering for the impossible.” Shinji sighed, then squinted thoughtfully. “Need a hand?”

“No, it’s fine. I can handle it myself.”

“Emiya, you...” Shinji’s expression turned uncharacteristically serious. He leaned closer. “…What’s your favorite type of AV? The ones with—”

“Pfft!” Shirou choked. “What are you suddenly saying?!”

“Nothing. I just feel like you’re being distant with me, your friend. It’s common sense that embarrassing conversations deepen bonds.”

“What kind of ‘common sense’ is that?!”

Shirou’s protest trailed off into reluctant laughter. “Still... thanks. But really, shouldn’t you be heading home? Your sister’s been waiting by the gate again.”

“Her?” Shinji’s voice was icy. “She’s probably already gone home. It’s late.”

“You should treat her better, you know.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Shinji said, dropping into a chair with an amused grin. “Now, back to the question—do you prefer the—”

“Is that really something you ask a middle schooler?”

“What’s the big deal? We’re both guys. Don’t tell me you’ve never watched any, Emiya?”