Shinji Matou Appears / Protecting That Girl

There are just too many painful things happening every day, I don't even know which one to cry over anymore... so I just numbly accept it all.

She found her only salvation in life a little over a year before the start of the Fifth Holy Grail War.

At that time, that person had injured their hand while working, and their left hand had to be in a sling to recover, making it difficult for them to move freely. She, who was still in the third year of junior high school, would go to their home to help them after school.

On one hand, she was following her grandfather's orders to monitor the heir of the Emiya family. But the key reason was that she harbored a secret interest in her senior.

Although the other party initially refused, she persisted in going to her senior's house every day and ringing the doorbell.

Gradually, she was accepted by that gentle person, who began to teach her how to do housework, whether it was cooking or hanging and folding clothes. At first, she didn't do it well, but with repeated practice and the gentle person demonstrating and teaching her time and time again, she gradually became good at it.

Then, not only after school, but every morning she would go to her senior's house to help make breakfast, and after eating, they would go to school together. For her, these were the happiest times.

Yes, it wasn't that she helped her senior, but rather that she gained the opportunity to leave that home and found a place to Matsushita and belong with her senior. It was only after a year and a half in her senior's house that the girl felt truly alive.

But she also understood that this was just a beautiful dream, and she would wake up sooner or later. Although she liked her senior the most, she was also afraid that her senior would find out her true self after they became close.

So... I just waited, watching over my senior, waiting for him to make his own choice... and then offered my blessings. Although I was very sad, as long as my senior could find happiness, that was enough.

Compared to my gloomy, insecure, and unremarkable self, the upright Saber and her sister, who shines like the sun, are much more suitable to be my seniors.

That's what she thought at the time: even though she was silently making sacrifices, after the Holy Grail War, she dealt with her grandfather who still harbored malicious intentions. But even though she gave up, her senior didn't find happiness.

There was no contact for a long time, and it was only later that I heard from my sister that my senior had died in a nuclear power plant on the Middle East battlefield.

Her only option was to stay in Fuyuki, guarding the Emiya family mansion for her senior until her death...

But now fate has given her another chance; she has been reborn, returning to the age of five, before the misfortune began.

As night fell, it became completely dark.

Beneath the black night sky, a crimson light, invisible to ordinary people, rose from the mountains outside the town. Using the magic of insects that devour human flesh and the vengeful spirits formed after being tortured and killed as a medium, a new spirit realm was formed in the center of the village occupied by the insects.

The passage to the hidden Black Mud Greater Holy Grail within the inner world was summoned, thus beginning a new Holy Grail War in this world that originally had no Magecraft.

"Hahahaha!!! Fight! Slaughter! I will sacrifice this world to achieve true immortality!" The old man standing beneath the crimson pillar of light shouted hysterically, laughing maniacally.

In a town a hundred kilometers away, inside a house, a purple-haired girl named Sakura suddenly felt a sharp pain in her hand as red marks appeared on her body. A determined look appeared in the girl's purple pupils.

Although the girl is gentle and kind, and never argues with anyone, she is also stubborn at heart. Once she gets angry, no one can stop her. Without a firm and patient heart, she would not have been able to persevere through those past experiences.

This time, I won't give up like that again.

"Find Grandpa, and then have him tell me where my predecessor is! If anyone gets in my way, I'll take them all down!" Having made up her mind, the girl changed into her outdoor coat.

"Fou ~!" the little animal called out and jumped onto the girl's shoulder.

Sakura stepped outside, took out her phone, and pressed the summon button.

Chapter 405 Shinji Matou Appears

When Shirou arrived in this world, he was unexpectedly rejected by the barrier and was thrown out in mid-air. He did a backflip to adjust his posture and landed on the ground.

The area where Sakura was located was now covered by a black circular barrier, like an overturned black pot lid without a handle or ears, or a black eggshell half-buried in the ground. Shirou reached out and pressed his hand on the eggshell, and a black electric current immediately bounced it off, as if the world inside had forbidden him from entering.

The world inside the eggshell barrier and the world outside the barrier are now two completely different spaces. Just like the world created by the white god, which prohibits the intervention of Counter Force, the barrier here operates on the same principle, possessing unrestrained magic and Black Mud polluted by the evil of the world.

However, the existence of the Creator God was rejected. As long as someone possessed the Divine Power of the white god within them, they would be marked as unwelcome and isolated within a barrier. The enemy was unimaginably powerful, having already found a way to restrict the god's power.

Shirou became even more worried about Sakura, and began to Projection the divine weapon that burned with orange-red flames under the intense heat into his hand, trying to forcefully break through the barrier.

"Wait a minute, Emiya." A flippant young man's voice came from behind Shirou.

"Huh? Who's there?" Shirou turned around and looked towards the alley behind a building.

"Yo, it's been a long time." A young man with messy blue curly hair walked out from outside the black barrier, his hands in his pockets.

"Shinji ..." Shirou looked at that familiar face.

The blue-haired man laughed and said, "What's wrong? So you're allowed to be resurrected? That's great, the Great Hero who plays the good guy, even in death, he's still so active."

Their relationship was complicated. Although he was probably disliked by Shinji, they did have a friendship at least in middle school. They often went hiking, trekking, club activities, and school trips together.

Shinji suddenly changed his personality, abusing and beating his sister, and completely ignoring any advice, so I got very angry and beat him up.

"Shinji, what's wrong with you right now?" Shirou asked.

"Ah! You noticed? How about it?! Look at me now, I'm strong, right? My magic power is surging, almost overflowing. I'm completely different from before, aren't I?" Shinji smiled and opened his arms, showing off to the guy he used to care about.

Indeed... at this moment, the blue-haired youth was emanating a massive amount of magical power that could be seen with the naked eye, but this power was very unnatural. The man's body was abnormal at this moment; his skin was deathly pale, as if he hadn't been exposed to the sun for years, and his eyes had also changed color, with the whites of his eyes covered by a layer of dark gray. Black energy was also emanating from his sickly pale skin, giving him the appearance of a zombie... or rather, a vampire.

"I don't know, but if you think this is good, then that's enough. Shinji, answer my question, what's wrong with Sakura?" Shirou pressed.

"Huh? Sakura? Who's that? Ah... that useless, gloomy girl? Didn't you abandon her alone in Fuyuki in your past life? Why are you looking for her now?" Shinji Matou asked with a smirk.

"I do owe Sakura a lot, and I've always felt guilty about it. Now that she's in danger, I have to help her." Shirou looked at him, staring firmly into his eyes, and said, "Answer me, Shinji!"

"Ah... what a waste of my feelings. I finally wanted to show you some of the changes that have happened, but your mind is completely on that girl."

I know, I know! You all treat me like an idiot. Tohsaka didn't even look at me properly, and that girl actually pitied me! You! Even you! Look down on me! You even called me a friend before! I only hit that brat a few times, so if we were really friends, you should at least consider my side!"

Shinji Matou stopped roaring. His previously unpredictable expression finally settled on one of disgust. He said, "Is that bitch really that good? Huh? Emiya? That kind of woman who lies in swarms of insects every day, with insects crawling into her body—honestly, just seeing her makes me want to vomit!"

"Shinji, Sakura truly considers you her brother and has always spoken well of you. If you keep saying things like this, even if I know the truth in a lifetime, I'll still be angry." Shirou looked at the man opposite him and said, word by word.

Shinji glared coldly at the man in front of him whom he couldn't stand, and said, "Ah, is that so! That's perfect, I also want to try out the power I have now. Let me tell you, Emiya! You too! Tohsaka too! It's just because you have talent, right? If my body could use Magecraft back then, it would definitely be much stronger than yours!"

I am now the rightful heir of the Matou family! Since you dare to defy my will, then die! You hypocritical good-for-nothing, die here with that hypocritical bitch! You can meet in hell!

Shinji Matou opened his mouth wide, grinning maliciously, and spread his arms. Under the magical power of the black aura, he summoned large flying mosquitoes and Winged Blade Insect with sharp claws and teeth. The silver-gray flying mosquitoes, with their long, pointed proboscissors, easily pierced into people's blood vessels, injecting deadly poison while sucking blood.

The pair of thin wings flapping rapidly belong to Winged Blade Insect, a legendary monster said to be able to dismember a cow in an instant.

At this Shinji Matou, and all that could be seen were silver-gray spots that gradually spread around, forming a circle that surrounded him and Shirou.

Beside the Blue-haired Man floated two small, dog-sized Winged Blade Insect, their eyes glowing red, fixed on Shirou, their scythe-like limbs moving like silent assassins.

"..." Shirou looked at his former friend with some surprise, not expecting him to have such an ability. In the Fifth Holy Grail War of his previous life, although there were absolute powerhouses like Illya and Kirei Kotomine, whose knowledge and experience were impeccable, and geniuses like Tohsaka, there were also unexpected intruders. For example, Kuzuki- sensei, and himself.

Shinji, as the Rider's Master and a participant in the Holy Grail War 'Three Founding Families, displayed a level of strength even inferior to Shirou's own, a complete novice. It was only after gradually delving deeper into the world of Magecraft and mastering its knowledge that Shirou came to understand. It turned out that although Shinji was born into Magecraft family, he was born without the physical ability to use Magecraft due to a problem with his bloodline.

It's not that Shinji was too weak, but rather that he didn't even have the qualifications to compete on the same stage from the start. He used the Book of False Vassals to control Rider, and he himself couldn't provide Rider with any magical power.

Whenever he's on the field, Rider can't unleash his true power. Even with insufficient mana, he can easily overpower Saber, even if she's not fully summoned.

If he were just an ordinary person, unaware of all this, things would be fine. Shinji, who excels in both academics and sports, would likely be a wealthy young man popular with girls his age. Despite his personality flaws, his good intellect and family power would allow him to live a carefree and comfortable life.

However, Shinji was born into Magecraft family, surrounded by Magecraft. From a young age, Shinji was exposed to knowledge about Magecraft. Although his family was unwilling to teach him seriously, Shinji was not discouraged. Instead, he enthusiastically taught himself, learning foreign languages, including ancient Magecraft script, in order to understand magic books.

He dreamed of the Magecraft's wonder, only to be told he wasn't qualified at all. In Magecraft family, he was as worthless as trash on the ground, a disabled person with a physical disability.

Like an ugly duckling mixed in with a flock of swans, before discovering the truth, it quacks all day long, arrogantly shouting and imagining what it would be like to fly high into the sky one day. Shinji, with his strong sense of self-esteem, simply couldn't accept this cruel reality, so his personality became more and more twisted until his humanity collapsed.

Shirou understood this feeling. He had longed for the messenger of justice that Kiritsugu spoke of, but he had no way to realize it. When the Holy Grail War occurred, it brought a lot of misfortune.

However, he did get the opportunity to become a champion of justice and defeat evil. Taking this opportunity, he learned Magecraft from Tohsaka and became Magus with the corresponding abilities, fulfilling his wish with his life in his previous life.

But Shinji was the opposite of himself.

Regardless of how despicable his methods were, he did struggle desperately in the Holy Grail War in every way he could, but in the end, he could only accept his fate of never becoming Magecraft. Shirou never expected that Shinji would finally realize his wish and make up for his lifelong regret after his death, albeit in his current state.

"Hehehehe, ahahahaha!" Shinji Matou looked at Shirou's surprised expression, a smile curving his lips. He raised his hand to cover his face and couldn't help but burst into laughter.

He was in the world where Shirou lived in his previous life. That world ultimately escaped destruction. Several years after Shirou's death, the world began to collapse. Shinji Matou was mingling in the circle of the wealthy in Fuyuki City, could not escape death either. Although he struggled, he still could not survive.

At this time, due to Zouken Matou, he was also summoned by the Black Mud, becoming something akin to a vengeful spirit, or even a zombie. The Black Mud granted him a new body, but he also became a familiar working for the Black Holy Grail.

However, the Holy Grail does not think; it is driven by its very instinct to resist the gods' attempt to destroy it, and to summon familiars. As long as their goals are aligned, whether it is Angra Mainyu or Zouken Matou, they possess the greatest freedom and can do all sorts of things according to their own ideas.

Therefore, Shinji took the initiative to accept the mission of intercepting Shirou here. As an old friend and enemy, he had complicated feelings for Shirou Emiya. If most of the guys at school were idiots, those who catered to him were idiots, and those who didn't even understand the principle of flattering the strong were the biggest idiots.

As for those foolish women who swarm around you at the slightest invitation, they're just playing around. After all, Magecraft like him, born into Magecraft family and destined to become the heir of the Matou family, couldn't possibly be in a relationship with an ordinary woman.

Like those ignorant commoners, mortals who don't know the mysteries of Magecraft, whether they like him or not, it has nothing to do with him. Shinji Matou's world is different from theirs. Right now, he's just passing the time and completing his necessary studies.

But only Shirou Emiya, that hopelessly stupid guy, always treats him the same way. No matter what he does, he still considers him a friend, as if he doesn't care what anyone does to him. That's what's so infuriating.

His athletic ability, whether in kendo or other sports, Superman. Even with his pride deep down, he had to admit that he couldn't beat archery, and he gave up without hesitation.

Shirou Emiya seems indifferent to everything about himself, yet he always seems to meddle in other people's business.

"Hahaha! Emiya! If you don't want to die, then kneel down and beg me while you cry! If I'm in a good mood, I might tell you how to get inside the barrier and find that bitch. Anyway, I'm already tired of women like that! Hehehehehehe!" Shinji Matou said with a maniacal laugh.

"Shinji! It seems you'll never change your personality, even if you die." Shirou said coldly, his face expressionless, Projection a katana that gleamed with an eerie, cold light, which he then gripped in his hand.

"Ah... is that so? Then die!" Shinji Matou's face turned cold as he spurred the flying insects to rush towards Shirou.

The claws and teeth of the Winged Blade Insect are indeed very sharp, and coupled with its astonishing flight speed as an insect, it even possesses the power to threaten Servant.

However, the blade of the Demon Blade Muramasa is much sharper. When the claws on the Winged Blade Insect come into contact with the blade, they sink in as easily as pressing tofu against a kitchen knife.

The moment the claw severed completely, it lost its footing and flew backward, crashing into the wall above the blue-haired youth's head and embedding itself deeply.

"Eek!!!" Shinji screamed, collapsing to the ground in fright and gasping for breath.

A flash of light, and the flying mosquito was sliced into pieces. The Winged Blade Insect had its thin wings and claws severed, and fell limply to the ground. Shirou stepped on the beetle's back to hold it in place, then plunged his sword into its head. The Winged Blade Insect twitched once, then lay still.

"Haaah... Ugh! This can't be! Why! I'm not the same person I used to be anymore!" Shinji hands, leaving several finger marks on his pale, bloodless face, looking utterly unable to accept it.

"You have indeed become stronger, but it seems you still haven't mastered how to use it. And just as you have become stronger, Tohsaka and I have also grown over the years." Shirou, holding the Demon Blade Muramasa, walked towards Shinji as he spoke.

"No! Don't come any closer! I've only just gained this power, I don't want to die right now!" Shinji screamed, his eyes wide.

Shirou stepped forward, grabbed Shinji Matou by the collar, pulled him up, and asked in a deep voice, "Tell me, how do I get in here?"

Snap!!

Shinji Matou, realizing he wasn't in mortal danger, slapped Shirou's hand, struggled to push Shirou away, and grinned maliciously, "Heh heh heh, it's useless. Even if you break through the barrier, it's just using your Noble Phantasm to destroy the environment inside. You still can't get in. That's a world unique to the Holy Grail War, where only Master and Servant exist. The Master has already been chosen. Unless you commit suicide now and become Servant, there's no way you can get in."

"Is that so..." Shirou nodded and said.

Shinji chuckled maliciously and said, "Oh, right, Emiya, let me tell you something. Do you know why I'm here? It's because Grandpa's inside. As long as he's there, Sakura definitely won't escape. What do you think will happen to her after she's caught? Hey, Emiya? What do you think? Hehehehehehehe."

"Ah, that's why I came to protect her so she wouldn't end up like that," Shirou agreed without hesitation. His eyes glowed white as he used his Divine Power to reshape his body, gradually transforming him from a human into Servant with a physical form. Since he couldn't have Divine Power enter, he would simply give it up.

This process is very risky and full of uncertainties. Shirou can only transform into a class that is currently vacant in the Holy Grail War. Once he enters, his connection with the gods and his Divine Power will be completely sealed and cannot be restored. He will inevitably be affected by the class.

Shinji Matou glared venomously at Shirou and shouted hysterically, "That white god is completely insane! He actually wants to erase all mysteries! He wants to deny all the power I've finally obtained! It's utterly unreasonable! What can I say? You're truly a madman; you're capable of anything."

Now you've transformed yourself into Servant and are going to enter that world? That's pretty crazy, isn't it? Just keep playing your righteous game, Emiya! You want to kill yourself, what's that like? Just keep struggling like that! Hehehehehehehehe."

"Shinji, I truly hope there can be a world where everyone can be happy, and of course, you would be there too. If there were a fairer world, you wouldn't be like this now," Shirou said, his back to his former friend.

The blue-haired man looked up at Shirou and shouted, "How could such a world exist! You idiot! The reason over 90% of the people in this world exist is to be trampled underfoot by elites like me!"

"Then goodbye." Shirou answered the call of the world inside the Black Core, transformed into a beam of light, and entered it.

Chapter 406 Protecting That Girl

On the street, a purple figure was running rapidly forward.

At this moment, a purple-haired girl dressed in Indian-style clothing appeared, with a small white animal perched on her shoulder.

With its long blue handle and golden U-shaped fork, it's hard to call it a 'gun,' but it is certainly very ornate. At least the gold and exquisite carvings don't lie. If it were a rather unusual clothesline or a rather strange True Magic wand, it would be more believable.

At this moment, the purple-haired girl, under the influence of the summoning, matured a few years. She transformed from a naive elementary school student into a beautiful middle school student, and from her every glance and movement, one could foresee that she would grow into a stunning beauty.

It's just that no one in this environment can appreciate these things now.

Inside the black barrier was a completely dark world. Although the small town on the ground was still there, there was no sunlight, the sky was covered by dark clouds, and the plants on the ground had lost their vitality. Everything seemed lifeless.

One by one, black figures surrounded the girl and approached. Upon closer inspection, they turned out to be clay dolls covered in Black Mud, like zombies crawling in a mud pit. Their legs seemed very clumsy, and they slid forward on their knees, using them as support. They stretched out their arms to approach the girl, and black saliva dripped from their wide mouths.

The black humanoid figures had empty eyes, and their bodies, Black Mud, seemed hollow inside. Just looking at them gave the impression that something inside their bodies had been hollowed out.

Emptiness, lack of spirit, lack of hope, perhaps only instinct remains, the sticky body seems to be filled with Black Mud and constantly leaking out.

"..." The girl gripped the gun tightly, her heart filled with hesitation.

She hadn't seen any living people along the way, so what was going on with these humanoid figures covered in Black Mud, like clay figures, that suddenly appeared? The girl wasn't quite sure, but if it was that grandfather, human lives meant nothing to him.

She was a monster who would sacrifice everything for immortality. No one knew the true nature of this monster better than she did.

If she wasn't mistaken, these black, humanoid, zombie-like things were most likely the residents of this place.

The girl dared not even imagine how many survivors remained in this town now isolated within the barrier.

"Fou ~!" The little animal perched on the girl's shoulder made a series of calls, as if reminding the girl beside her.

A glint of light flashed in the girl's purple eyes. She made her decision and no longer hesitated. A dazzling white light shone forth.

Lightning struck the zombies. The 'gun,' representing the Divine Power of Destruction, unleashed lightning that struck the Black Mud humanoids, freezing them in place, causing them to wail in agony as they collapsed to the ground.

"Waaaaah!" Black Mud splattered and fell to the ground from the black humanoid figure. The sticky mud slid off the figure, seemingly about to reveal its true form. But... that wasn't the case. The humanoid figure, stripped of the Black Mud, looked as if a piece was missing.

But it was all in vain. From the moment the black humanoids were struck by lightning, their destruction was inevitable. The black humanoids were in a very unstable state, and the damage from the lightning seemed to be particularly severe for them.

The black humanoid figure writhed and roared in agony on the ground, finally freezing in place, its hands supporting its weight as it gazed up at the sky, motionless. Black Mud was peeling off its body, but this was not a good sign.