Chapter 32: Midnight Conversation (Patreon)

In the end, Rider didn't press further with her questions, even though she was genuinely curious.

"Alright," Shinji patted the head of Sakura, who was still snuggled against his side. "Go wash up and get ready to rest. From today onwards, all the pain and sadness you've carried are over."

"Nii-san..." Sakura looked up and suddenly asked, "...would you think I'm dirty?"

"Ah, of course," Shinji answered without thinking.

Seeing the matter-of-fact expression on Shinji's face, Sakura's expression froze.

But at that moment, Shinji raised a finger and continued, "Although tears are clean inside the body, once they fall, they collect dust and all sorts of bacteria. Not to mention you've cried yourself into a little mess. And, did you just have a runny nose too? Ahh, what am I going to do with my clothes~~"

Pfft!

Seeing Shinji's feigned look of disgust, Sakura couldn't help but laugh and rubbed her face against his shoulder.

"Nii-san is mean."

"Sakura, did you just get snot on me again? You rubbed it on me on purpose just now, didn't you?"

"I did not!"

"Then why is my shoulder all sticky?"

"It's not! Nii-san, really!"

"Ah, sorry, seems like I might have wiped something there myself earlier."

"Nii-san—!!"

...

While Sakura was taking a bath, Shinji once again busied himself with the laptop on the sofa, handling some matters.

Browsing through files on the laptop, Shinji spoke: "Due to the long-term effects of the Crest Worms on Sakura's body, even though they've all been removed now, it will take a very, very long time of recuperation for her to potentially regain her original talent as a magus.

Because of this, the magical energy you can draw from her right now is minimal. Servants materialize and act in the present world by borrowing their Master's magical energy, meaning you cannot exert your true power at the moment."

Rider asked, "Are you suggesting I procure magical energy from outside on my own?"

"No, that's not what I mean." Shinji replied without looking up. "I don't wish to see ordinary people involved because of the Holy Grail War. And to be honest, neither I nor Sakura have any desire to participate in this Grail War as it stands. What's important now is your own will. If you wish to participate, I can help resolve some minor issues to allow you to fight."

"You..." Rider frowned slightly. "Why would you help me?"

"No particular reason. I just thought that if you have a wish, you might feel unwilling just staying idle here. Of course, I won't pry into the wish you want to fulfill."

Rider didn't answer immediately, instead carefully considering the matter inwardly. This young man before her, who still retained some boyishness but whose words and actions were impeccably precise, felt somewhat unfathomable.

Even knowing he wasn't lying, she still felt something was off. Someone capable of pretending and enduring for ten years couldn't possibly be easily understood.

As for Shinji's claim of having no interest in the Holy Grail and no wish to fulfill... Rider was half-skeptical.

Everyone in this world has wishes they want fulfilled. Faced with an omnipotent wish-granting device, this young man's demeanor was far too composed.

This was clearly abnormal.

As she pondered, a terrifying yet highly plausible possibility occurred to Rider, and a hint of urgency entered her usually indifferent tone.

"Could it be... that for you, the Holy Grail is something easily within reach?"

Realizing Rider had jumped to the wrong conclusion, Shinji couldn't help but laugh.

"Don't let your imagination run wild. I just warned you, when a woman becomes overly curious about a man, it's the first step into the abyss."

"But, the feeling you give me..."

"Hmm..." Shinji stopped what he was doing, propped his chin on his hand, and thought for a few seconds. "Actually, apart from a very small part of my actions driven by a sense of necessity—you could even say the motivation is something like a sense of mission or responsibility—the vast majority of what I do is on a whim, driven by interest. And currently, I don't have the slightest whim of interest regarding the Holy Grail. Does that make sense to you?"

Rider didn't respond, instead sinking into thought once more.

At this moment, Shinji chuckled lightly and continued, "Of course, you aren't entirely wrong either. If I truly wanted the Holy Grail, even though my power is still weak compared to proper magi, my chances of winning this Holy Grail War would still exist."

"Then you..."

Shinji raised a finger and shook it, interrupting Rider. "As I said before, I currently have no interest whatsoever in obtaining the Holy Grail."

Looking at the amiable smile on Shinji's face that easily inspired goodwill, Rider ultimately didn't press further, because it was clear Shinji wasn't lying.

"But don't worry," Shinji lowered his head and continued typing on the laptop. "After all, you are the Servant summoned by my sister. If you truly wish to participate in the Holy Grail War and contend for the Grail, I can also... very 'properly' help you get involved. Of course, the premise is that Sakura and I won't be dragged into it."

"'Properly'... what do you mean?"

"Who knows," Shinji didn't answer directly, shrugging slightly. "That depends on your answer. Conversely, if you don't want to participate, you can stay here and enjoy modern society for a while. After all, cohabiting with a beautiful woman for a period is also something most men would eagerly desire."

"I..."

Shinji interrupted Rider once more: "Although what I'm about to say might sound a bit like leading, it's also the truth. That is, you don't need to worry about Sakura; I, as her brother, am sufficient to protect her. So, you can also consider your own matters. After all, opportunities like this are rare."

"Such an open and aboveboard form of guidance that one can't even bring themselves to dislike," Rider murmured softly, seemingly impressed.

"Then think it over carefully. Sakura will understand; she's a very considerate girl."

With that, Shinji turned his attention back to the computer, resuming his unfinished work.

Watching Shinji, fully absorbed in his work, his fingers flying across the laptop keyboard, Rider sighed inwardly.

...He really is an unfathomable man.

Tap tap tap. Accompanied by a series of somewhat hurried yet light footsteps, Sakura quickly approached in her slippers.

Before Shinji could say anything, Sakura, just like before, sat on the sofa, wrapped her arms around his arm, and leaned her head against his shoulder.

"Sakura, it's already past midnight. You should get some sleep," Shinji said, turning to look at her.

However, upon seeing Sakura wrapped only in a towel, her hair not fully dried, and her pretty face slightly flushed, he couldn't help but cursed inwardly.

How is this even more tempting than before?