Bazett: He Hadn't Come for Two Days

After saying goodbye to Illya, Shinji and Sakura left the cemetery.

Sakura was far more sensible than Shinji had imagined. She did not say a single unnecessary word along the way, merely following quietly beside him.

"Tell Rider that there's a helmet on the desk in my room. Have her put it on and not make a single sound."

"We're being followed..."

After hearing the telepathic message, Sakura, who was following behind Shinji as he prepared to open the door, relayed her brother's words to Rider through the connection between them.

Rider, who had remained in the house the entire time, immediately went to Shinji's room after receiving Sakura's instructions and put on the helmet Shinji had left behind in advance—Hades' Helmet.

Click.

Only after Sakura entered the entryway did Shinji, who had fallen behind, close the door.

Though he had not looked, Shinji had sensed two... no, three gazes behind him. One of them was confirmed to be Illya's Servant, Berserker. As for the other two, they were slightly farther away. The most distant one—the one watching from a very remote location—was probably Rin.

As for the last one, neither too close nor too far away, Shinji had a few guesses but did not care much. It was most likely some bored blond citizen.

After all, he had seen that guy wandering around in front of his house several times lately.

After changing shoes, they entered the living room.

About ten minutes later, once the gaze that had been watching the house finally vanished, Shinji relaxed.

"Rider, it's safe now."

Upon hearing that, Rider, who was in the living room, took off the helmet and revealed herself.

"Brother, this helmet is..." Sakura asked in surprise.

"Sakura, you think it's kind of ugly too, right?" Shinji took the helmet from Rider and said casually, "I think it's a little ugly too. Maybe it'd be better if it were changed into a baseball cap or something. You can't wear a helmet like this outside at all. Maybe it thought it was too ugly to appear before people, so it gave up on itself and gained invisibility as a function."

Sakura laughed again. "Brother, you're teasing me again. This is an incredibly powerful Mystic Code, isn't it?"

"This is Hades's Cloak of Invisibility..." Rider said.

At the same time, she found the man before her even more mysterious. If someone like him entered the Holy Grail War, then no matter what class he summoned, he could probably win in the end.

That helmet alone could increase her chances in the Holy Grail War severalfold!

Invisibility and a Servant's spirit form were entirely different concepts. Spirit form only worked on ordinary people; Servants and a rare few magi could still detect it. But invisibility was completely different!

That was a divine skill!

By now, Rider believed Shinji's earlier claim that he had no interest in the Holy Grail War, and she was even more convinced of her own guess—that the Holy Grail was truly within this man's grasp!

Only after checking that the array covering the residence was intact did Shinji let out a slight sigh of relief.

Its function was to completely conceal spiritual bodies.

The Spirit Concealment Array was the most advanced array Shinji had learned so far. In other novels, it would be the signature technique used by demonic and ghost cultivators to hide from the righteous path.

Although he had set up the array yesterday, Shinji had still worried that something might go wrong.

"It should be all right now. Although the Matou Residence's magecraft barrier has been torn down, from outside this house, probably no one will be able to detect the presence of a Servant inside anymore. Even Servants in spirit form won't be able to notice."

Hearing that, Medusa, unable to sense even the faintest trace of a barrier, could not help asking curiously, "What did you do?"

"Secret." Shinji made a shushing gesture and winked. "By the way, did you forget my warning again?"

Rider did not press further, but she could not deny that she was becoming increasingly curious about Shinji.

Rider clearly remembered that at dawn, when she had merely wanted to test whether Shinji dreamed—and had not even done anything yet—his spiritual power, far stronger than hers, had instantly countered her and taken away all her strength. In that instant, a special barrier had also enveloped the room.

Because of that barrier, the connection between Sakura and her had been cut off. Only then had she truly realized just how powerful this man was.

(Note: It was only the System's emergency defense mechanism. It had absolutely nothing to do with Shinji.)

"I want to participate in the Holy Grail War."

Rider spoke a conclusion that sounded both impulsive and long considered.

Hearing that, Shinji smiled faintly without speaking and sat gracefully on the sofa.

Though it might seem somewhat early to say so, Rider had reached that decision only after careful consideration. As long as this man was here, Sakura would be safe. Then perhaps... she could let go and fight for the Holy Grail solely for herself.

Most importantly, she always felt that her Master had a certain aversion to her...

As though she were an extra presence in this household.

Of course, Rider also held a rather unrealistic hope in her heart: if this man helped her, then perhaps...

"Brother, please help Rider."

Sakura sat beside Shinji, naturally hooking her arm through his as she spoke.

Because Sakura was Rider's Master, she had already learned of Rider's—Medusa's—past in last night's dream. She deeply sympathized with the woman's tragic history.

Besides, this house seemed not to need any extra women...

"Sure, but we'll have to wait a little longer. The things aren't ready yet."

"Things?" Sakura asked, confused.

"Mm." Shinji nodded lightly.

The thing he had been searching for had finally shown some leads.

The second phase of the plan—completely separating the Matou family from the coming Holy Grail War and leaving himself enough room to act—was also proceeding smoothly...

At night.

In Miyama Town, the Ghost Mansion, one of the Twin Mansions hidden deep within the forest.

Bazett, whose body had recovered fairly well, sat in the living room, efficiently eating the convenience food Shinji had brought earlier.

For some reason, Bazett, who had never cared about the taste of food, had low standards for meals, and pursued only efficiency, suddenly felt that there was something off about these convenience foods, which suited her habits perfectly.

There was nothing wrong with the food. The problem seemed to be herself.

Whenever she ate these things, she could not stop herself from thinking of that young man.

A gentle young man with a warm smile, who occasionally showed a bit of playfulness.

Then again...

He hadn't come for two days.

Click—

At the sound of the door opening, even Bazett herself failed to notice the joy that welled up in her heart—a delight utterly unlike anything she had ever felt before.

Shinji entered and smiled gently when he saw Bazett sitting at the table.

"Good evening, Sister Bazett."

"I'm already fine. I only need a few more days of quiet rest. You don't need to keep coming here anymore."

Bazett's tone was calm, revealing little emotion. Yet for some reason, after saying those words, a trace of regret arose within her...

Should I not have said that?

"I see." After placing some medicine on the table, Shinji headed toward the kitchen on his own. As he put the food in his hands into the refrigerator, he said casually, "Then it seems I've been disturbing Sister Bazett's rest. I understand. I'll come here less often..."

"That's not what I meant."

Bazett interrupted Shinji instinctively, as if possessed, saying something whose meaning she herself did not understand.

"Hm?" Shinji paused upon hearing the slightly heavier, faintly hurried tone in Bazett's voice.

"No, it's nothing." Bazett turned away her face, which had somehow grown slightly warm.

"I see. By the way, Sister Bazett, you've already had dinner. I also brought some ingredients that need to be dealt with immediately, so I can only throw them..."

"The food... wasn't quite enough." Bazett's voice was not loud, but Shinji already understood what she meant—she had not eaten her fill.