Chapter 27: The Matou Basement (Patreon)

Late night, Matou Residence.

"...Each repetition completes the fifth cycle."

"Set, begin"

"—I propose."

"Your body shall serve under me. My fate shall be carried on your sword."

"Answer the call of the Holy Grail. If you would abide by this will, this reason, then answer!"

In the damp, dark, rotting-smelling basement, the naked purple-haired girl stood within a special magic circle, her hands clasped in front of her chest, her eyes closed, softly reciting the incantation.

With each soft recitation, the magic circle at her feet emitted a brighter, more dazzling light, casting an eerie glow over the entire basement.

Shinji and Zōken, leaning on his cane, simply stood to the side. One wore sunglasses, his expression cold. The other showed a look of keen interest.

"Here is my oath—"

"I am the one who becomes all the good of the world."

"I am the one who lays hold of every evil in the world!"

"You, seven heavens clad in three words of power,"

"Arrive from the ring of deterrence,"

"O, keeper of the balance!"

As the words ended, the light of the magic circle shifted from green to blue, finally stabilizing in red, and reached its peak brightness with lightning speed!

This also fully explained why Shinji was wearing sunglasses.

Boom!

After a dull sound, accompanied by faint hissing, a woman appeared from the fading light of the magic circle. She had knee-length purple hair, a snake-like mark on her forehead, a purple eyepatch with snake-scale patterns completely covering her eyes, and was dressed in sleek black clothes and pants with black knee-high boots. She possessed a bewitching aura and a perfect figure.

At the same time, Sakura collapsed as if drained, holding her arms and bowing her head in silence.

...My brother has finally seen me like this. Even though I will definitely be his woman in the future, it's still too early.

Shinji knew who the Servant emanating a cold aura was. Just like in the original—Rider, Medusa.

"Servant, Rider. I have come in response to your summons."

Rider spoke, facing Sakura.

"Are you my Master?"

Sakura did not respond. It was clear she had no desire to participate in the Holy Grail War.

"My, my," Zōken shook his head, sighing. "Although a Servant was successfully summoned, there is no will to fight? It seems in this Holy Grail War, the Matou family will again..."

"Grandfather, I..." Shinji, having taken off his sunglasses, interrupted Zōken, hesitating.

Glancing at Shinji, Zōken showed a hint of interest. To be honest, aside from lacking the talent to be a magus, this grandson had basically no flaws.

Zōken had observed all of Shinji's performances over the past few years. Compared to ordinary people, this grandson was too outstanding, even struggling to find his place among those ordinary people, always continuously trying all sorts of things.

Trying, striving, achieving results far beyond the average person, then discarding them, constantly repeating the above process. Zōken assumed this grandson was trying to find something to replace the path of magecraft he could not pursue, but... he had not been able to find it.

Because the success ordinary people sought was far too easily obtained for his genius-like grandson!

Because of this, this grandson was constantly suffering. And this torment of seeking but not obtaining, this twisted obsession, was what Zōken was most satisfied with in Shinji.

After all, watching his descendants suffer was one of Zōken's few pleasures!

And—it could be utilized!

Furthermore, for this Holy Grail War, although the vessel he had transformed into the Holy Grail—Sakura—was immature and had no will to fight, if this grandson, who was several times more outstanding than ordinary people, were to try... although he couldn't win, he should be able to provide quite a bit of entertainment, preventing Zōken from getting too bored.

"Very well, Shinji. If you want to try, then go ahead." Zōken spoke, then looked at Sakura. "Sakura, make a 'False Command Spell Scroll (Nise-Reiha no Makimono)' for your brother."

Hearing this, Sakura, who had been bowing her head, slowly stood up. But just as she raised her hand, Shinji continued.

"No, Grandpa, that's not what I meant. I was just asking where the special magazines I hid under my bed went. Did you confiscate them?"

Zōken: …Did this brat's obsession with magecraft rot his brain?

No—!

Zōken suddenly realized something. Shinji would never say something like this at a time like this! And he would never let go of such an opportunity!

Something was definitely wrong!

"You noticed, didn't you, Grandpa?" Shinji grinned, his eyes curving into a bright, cheerful smile—one Zōken had never seen before. "But it's already too late. Formation Seal."

With his words, a pale cyan barrier covered in strange white runic patterns suddenly manifested, sealing off the entire basement!

Sakura, startled by the sudden situation, froze in confusion.

Rider was also bewildered, but not knowing whether this posed a threat to her Master, she silently stepped to protect Sakura. Even she could feel it—she couldn't break this barrier. And it wasn't based on magical energy at all.

It was a barrier specifically targeting spiritual forms!

Zōken, however, did not panic. He simply watched Shinji with a calm smile.

"This power… Shinji, where did you obtain it? And what exactly are you trying to do?"

"I can't tell you the exact method, but simply put—I earned it through effort. As for what I want to do—" Shinji's expression softened. "I'm here to grant you salvation… Grandpa. No—Makiri Zolgen."

"…When did you find out?" Zōken's expression finally grew heavy.

Sakura's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Makiri Zolgen is the ancestor of the Matou family, isn't he— KYAA!!"

Slash!

The reason for Sakura's scream was simple—Shinji had chopped off his grandfather's head in one swift strike.

But…

The moment his head was severed, Zōken's body dissolved into countless insects and scattered.

"…I don't know what you're planning, but don't underestimate your grandfather, boy."

Shinji shrugged. "I never underestimated you. At least—not once in the last ten years."

"You wish to prove your power to me?"

"No. I simply wish to free an old man who has lived for five hundred years and forgotten his original heart—from his obsession. To give you redemption."

As he finished speaking, a tremendous aura surged from Shinji's body. The wind pressure alone blew away the debris and insects surrounding him. Even Sakura had to brace herself to avoid being pushed back.

Rider gripped her weapon tightly, her expression tense. Although the man before her showed no hostility, her instincts screamed at her.

If this man decided to attack her...

In mid-air, Zōken, coalesced from countless mushi, gazed greedily at Shinji, who stood with his hands in his coat pockets, a casual, amiable smile on his face.

I can feel it!

I can feel it!

It seemed no different from usual, yet his soul and body were immeasurably more powerful than before!

So this grandson has been hiding his true strength all along!

If I could obtain this body and soul... I wouldn't need to change vessels for decades... no, even a hundred years!!

Not to mention if I could thoroughly research it, then...

"What an unexpected delight, Shinji. You've truly given your grandfather a grand gift."

As he spoke, Zōken once again commanded countless mushi to charge towards Shinji, whose aura had now subsided. Simultaneously, the entire workshop's defensive and offensive mechanisms activated fully...

"Your powerful body and soul... hand them over to your grandfather to use!"