Shinji Matou (New Book, Please Support!)

1994, spring.

Japan, Fuyuki City, Miyama Town.

A remote, old, gloomy annex. This was one of the Three Great Families—

—the Matou Family.

In the spacious, tidy room, the exquisite crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling was not doing its job. Only dim moonlight streamed through the window onto the wooden floor, stretching the window's shadow all the way to the door.

And the boy whose shadow was likewise elongated across the floor by the slanting moonlight—Shinji Matou.

Late at night, the blue seaweed-haired boy had no idea how many times he had swept back his hair, stood before the mirror, furrowed his brow, and carefully scrutinized himself with uneven eyes.

Damn it!

This seaweed hair...

He really was Second Master!

The boy—seven-year-old Shinji Matou—was on the verge of collapse. Though his memories from his previous life had only just returned, his current circumstances left him with little to celebrate.

That was right. The boy named Shinji Matou was a transmigrator... no, reincarnator was more accurate. Yet for the seven years since his birth, he had possessed no memories of his previous life. They had only suddenly awakened tonight, just as he was preparing to sleep!

His cheat ability... had not come online yet. He did not even know whether he had one. What if this was different from the wish-fulfillment webnovels of his past life, and he did not have one at all?

Shinji irritably ruffled his soft hair. For some reason, the more he looked at himself in the mirror, the more awkward he felt.

Honestly, this world was dangerous—very dangerous. After all, what Type-Moon world was not dangerous?

But then again, as long as he did nothing and did not court death like in Fate/stay night, he could simply live as an ordinary person. He could even run away from home like his second uncle—Kariya Matou—who was probably, perhaps, most likely already gone from this world, and live out his life in peace.

Still, after recovering his memories, he could not help feeling that something was off. The younger sister who had only entered the family a little over a year ago... the grandfather who never looked him in the eye... the father who "for the time being" still paid attention to him... Everything felt wrong.

Oh, right. He had forgotten to mention that the Fourth Holy Grail War had just ended.

What? What was the Holy Grail?

Never mind, never mind. It was just a toy for Saber to chop up, though it was admittedly a tiny bit dangerous.

The Fate route? Unlimited Blade Works? Heaven's Feel? Impossible, impossible. From the moment his memories of his previous life awakened, he had nothing to do with any of those routes.

Only Second Master himself could be that much of a scumbag. When the time came, Shinji just needed to stay far away.

Thinking of this, Shinji lay down on the large bed and inexplicably felt a wave of relief. He was not the original Shinji. As long as he stayed away, nothing should happen. Yes, that was right.

The useless eldest son with no talent for magecraft?

Whatever. As long as he had food and clothes, that was enough.

A five-hundred-year-old monster who had forgotten his original heart? What did that have to do with him? Let the old freak do whatever he wanted. As long as Shinji could peacefully collect money like his deadbeat father in the future, that was enough.

And that younger sister whom he had cared for somewhat before his memories awakened. She was indeed pitiful. Going by the timeline, she had probably already spent an entire year in the Worm Pit before his memories returned, but...

I'm sorry, Sakura!

Your big brother has the will but not the power!

You have to understand your big brother. In return, your big brother will understand you by staying far, far away! At most, he would keep giving her some "condescending" affection like before! But rest assured, he would absolutely never do anything too excessive!

Ding!

[You are the reincarnation of Fusu's bloodline. I am your grandfather—Qin Shi Huang. Take Grandpa to participate in the Holy Grail War!]

The sudden voice in his mind jolted Shinji awake!

At that moment, Shinji was possessed by Shirou!

I'll save my sister!

I'll bring an end to the Holy Grail War!

At that instant, Shinji's heart brimmed with heroic ambition—commonly known as an overflowing sense of justice. But he quickly came to his senses.

...Something was not right.

Why did this First Emperor sound so much like Siri? And not male Siri, but female Siri. Also, it had just said he was the reincarnation of Fusu's bloodline. Was that not a little too absurd?

[Do not doubt it. I truly am the First Emperor from your original world, and you truly are the reincarnation of Fusu's bloodline.]

Yeah... I don't believe you.

[If you do not believe me, call me Grandpa and see whether I answer.]

...I'm not calling you that.

[I have wandered the world for two thousand years just to find you and make it up to you. I even followed you into a world like this, yet you are unwilling to call me Grandpa even once?]

...Not really. Also, how about switching to Xiao Ai, Xiaodu, or Tmall Genie? I'm pretty patriotic. I don't really like Siri.

Switching system's default language...

After hearing that mechanical voice, Shinji's eye twitched uncontrollably.

Were systems these days all this mischievous?

[Hello, Grandson. I am Tmall... your First Emperor Grandpa.]

Shinji: ...

[It has been changed. Your turn.]

Shinji: ...

[Call me.]

Shinji: ...

[Hurry up, Grandson, or Grandpa will be gone.]

Were you seriously not done? Taking advantage of him this much? Shinji really wanted to curse.

[I truly am the First Emperor. Do not be an unfilial descendant. Call me.]

How about you just give me an account number? Farewell, then.

[I am not one of those gambling-addiction hotline guys.]

You definitely weren't the First Emperor, were you?!

Failed to establish a contract between the System and host. The System will now be removed...

A mechanical voice distinctly different from Tmall... the First Emperor's voice rang out.

[Grandson, hurry. Call me Grandpa.]

At that moment, Shinji thought of a possibility. This thing really might be a System, but it needed to bind with him, and the condition for binding was making him call it Grandpa.

Fine... A man could be killed but not humiliated. He should just sleep and pretend this had never happened.

With that thought, Shinji turned over, hugged the blanket, and closed his eyes.

"Gra... Grandpa," Shinji murmured softly.

A great man could yield or stand tall as needed. Most importantly, one had to learn to compromise with life. Shinji consoled himself inwardly.

[Ah, good grandson.]

System binding successful.

Two completely different mechanical voices rang out in Shinji's mind at once.

This Dog System! Shinji cursed inwardly.

Detected excessive resentment toward the System from the host. Forced removal in progress...

[Grandson, call me Grandpa two more times to offset the resentment.]

Damn it! He was done playing! Shinji pulled the blanket tighter and simply ignored it.

But the cold mechanical voice that began counting down left Shinji conflicted.

10, 9, 8, 7...

The next one would be better, the next one would be more obedient, the next one could turn into a soft, sweet, fragrant silver-haired, red-eyed girl. Shinji comforted himself that way, but...

Would there even be a next one?

...3... 2...

"Gra... Grandpa, Gra... Gra..."

I'm such a fucking coward! Shinji cursed himself inwardly.

[Ah, good grandson.]

Shinji Matou, your exclusive First Emperor Grandpa System has successfully bound with you. No refunds will be provided for any issues arising during use. Lastly, we wish you a pleasant life.

Shinji instantly leaped out of bed, grabbed his pillow, and began wildly smashing it against the bed.

Damn it! He had been played!