Shizuka's Resolve to Protect the Boy / Bazett Repays Shizuka's Kindness ...

The old professor pushed up his small round glasses, looked at Bazett, and walked over with a smile, saying, "That's right, because I was the one who sent it out in the first place! I transferred the sniper's knowledge into the puppet, and then provided it with various magical weapons, and then it became an assassin indistinguishable from a human."

So, what would happen if I extracted the knowledge of the gods? It's really intriguing. Don't you think so, Mr. Bazett?"

"Professor! You promised me you wouldn't hurt Shirou!" Bazett cried out, clutching his wound.

The white-haired British elder said calmly, "Ah, that's certainly what I said, but you should listen carefully when others speak. I only meant not to harm his body! Compared to those fools who want to use a divine body to summon some false gods, I understand the value of his body much better!"

More than a scholar, he was like a cunning politician, effortlessly manipulating public opinion to his advantage. It was all about self-interest, disregarding right or wrong, justice or injustice.

Chapter 564 Shizuka's Faith in Protecting the Boy

"According to modern research, genes have a tremendous impact on a person's life. Even twins separated at birth can see similarities when they reunite decades later. Some even have the same name as their wives."

Besides altering physical appearance, genes also influence multiple aspects of a person's inner world, Divine Power, perception of happiness, and stress tolerance. Therefore, modern people can also believe that the physical body's influence on a person can affect their mental and psychological well-being.

So, if excellent genes give a person a healthy body, a handsome appearance, a brilliant mind, and a resolute spirit, thus creating inner confidence in that person...

A disabled and ugly physical body, along with low intelligence and emotional intelligence, can lead a person to become self-conscious and weak.

A gene that is addicted to alcohol will create an alcoholic; a gene that is addicted to nicotine will create a smoker.

So here's the question: if a person possesses a body at the level of a 'god,' and a child with the genes of a god, what will they grow up to be? And what will their inner self become?

The old professor at the Clock Tower looked at Shirou with great excitement, as if he had made a novel discovery.

"Although since ancient times, human beings have had a tendency to oppose good and evil, and have put forward theories of 'human nature is good' and 'human nature is evil,' in fact they are all talking about the same thing. Those who say that human nature is good are trying to make people understand the principles, not to be tempted by bad things, and not to deviate from their original intentions."

Those who say that human nature is inherently evil mean that people should be taught to do good, to abide by etiquette and laws, and not to do whatever they want based on their inner desires.

Humans are beings whose spirit and body must maintain a certain balance in order to survive. So sooner or later, his inner self will also achieve balance with his body. At that time, not only his body, but also his inner self will be sublimated, and he himself will become a god!

The professor excitedly spread his arms wide, grinned to reveal his teeth, and said with a smile.

"I only need to bind his soul first and wait for his body to nourish him. Guess what will happen in the end? In the end! I will possess the soul of a god! At that time! The knowledge of the god will be at my disposal, that's right! That is to say, I will become a god!!! With the help of the wisdom of the god, I will reach the Root much faster than anyone else living in the modern world!"

"Professor! If you're going to do that, I'll stop you!" Bazett clutched his injured arm, glanced at the little boy who had given him instant noodles, then turned back to face the old man and said.

"That's why I crippled you, Mr. Bazett. Today, I'll teach you something else. Whether you're an ordinary person or Magecraft, what matters isn't strength, but wisdom! Wisdom!" The old professor pushed up his round glasses and said.

"..." At this moment, Shirou only saw madness and terror on the face of the old man who was shouting about wisdom.

"A reckless fellow like you coming to the Clock Tower was a mistake in itself; you were destined to be rejected from the start. Everyone was worried you would ruin their plans. Only someone as wise as me would try to make use of your power. Alright, Bazett, if you submit now, I might let you off the hook," the old teacher said with a smile.

"Professor! I didn't join the Mage's Association to get involved in your factional infighting!" Bazett said, glaring at the old man.

"Ahhh... so my attack on you was absolutely right." The professor coldly stared at the red-haired woman and said, "... I didn't expect you to be so stupid, unable to even properly play the role of a prop. You are no longer needed, just die here. The Clock Tower has no need for someone like you who breaks the rules in the name of your own justice!"

Shizuka Hiratsuka said angrily, "Don't joke around! Bazett is seriously considering her work! Even if she feels this job goes against her conscience, she still tries to change the outcome. She came to persuade us, wanting to fulfill her job responsibilities without harming Shirou, and to ensure this matter isn't done in a sinful way."

She placed all her hopes on you, hoping you would keep your promise, and yet you deceived her like this?

The old professor revealed a cold gaze and said ruthlessly, "Ah, deception is a matter of course for Magecraft. Compared to reaching the root, everything else is just trivial. Being deceived only shows that Bazett is too immature."

"You bastard! Don't think your evil scheme will succeed!" Shizuka Hiratsuka said angrily.

"Well, the time has come. My spell is ready. It's time to send you on your way. Those who stand in my way of becoming a god, die!" The old professor smiled, his hands emitting black light as he brought them together. Then, black Magecraft circles appeared where Shizuka Hiratsuka and the red-haired girl were, threatening to unleash destructive power from within!

"Shizuka! Go out! Protect Shirou!" Bazett gritted his teeth, raised his long leg, and with his last bit of strength, kicked Shizuka Hiratsuka's arm armor.

"Wait!" Before Shizuka Hiratsuka could react, she was kicked away by the force of the impact.

Shizuka Hiratsuka escaped the range of the Magecraft circle on the ground, the old professor activated his Magecraft. Black Flame and black lightning rose from the black circle and exploded, engulfing the red-haired woman!

"Bazett!!!" Shizuka Hiratsuka shouted loudly.

Unfortunately, the flames and lightning relentlessly bombarded the formation, and the red-haired woman could not escape their attack.

"Damn it! You bastard!" Shizuka Hiratsuka clenched her fists and charged at the old professor, determined to avenge the red-haired woman.

"Having already suffered heavy losses in the previous battle, do you still have a chance to defeat me? I've analyzed your strength through several battle examples, and now you're barely managing to stand up," the old man with the round glasses said with a shrewd and confident smile.

The puppet-like figure first raised the sniper rifle and rushed towards Shizuka Hiratsuka. Multiple long blades emerged from its joints as it closed in on the woman, engaging in a fierce battle.

Shizuka Hiratsuka had no choice but to raise her gauntlets to block the gunshot, and threw a punch that struck the puppet's hard steel arm, only managing to dent it slightly.

The old professor chanted an incantation, and once again a black light emanated. Array patterns appeared beneath the black-haired girl's feet, and the countdown to the explosion began!

During the battle, Shizuka Hiratsuka caught a glimpse of Bazett standing on the scorched earth when he saved her, and then she saw the little boy watching her with worry in the distance. Suddenly, she understood everything.

"I met Shirou and brought him home. I want to take care of him. This is my mission, my responsibility! No one can take my place! I have no more doubts, Shirou! I will protect you for the rest of my life!!!" Shizuka Hiratsuka shouted loudly to the boy.

"Hmm! Shizuka!" Shirou seemed to sense the intense emotions emanating from the black-haired girl, and an unprecedented white light emanated from his body, surging towards Shizuka Hiratsuka!

The puppet was blasted away by the rising beam of light and landed in front of the old professor.

Chapter 565 Shizuka and Bazett's Repayment

A myriad of colors emerged from the white world's power. This vast and chaotic energy, which was normally difficult for humans to control, now surged continuously into the black-haired girl's body. With her strong desire to protect life, she gained the approval of the god who originally wanted to protect the world.

At this moment, this power obediently came to her aid, and Shizuka Hiratsuka underwent a brand new enhancement and upgrade.

This transformation seems to have undergone a new change in accordance with Shizuka Hiratsuka's will. She is wearing the white formal attire she wore as Rider, but in her hands are the pair of cyan-gold gauntlets. She is covered in armor and wears steel boots. It is a new type of formal attire that combines both offensive and defensive specializations.

The knight's helmet and mask, in the same color scheme as the boxing gloves, covered the woman's head, making her appear like a celestial maiden descending from the heavens.

Marta - Burst Mode!

The old professor's Magecraft was activated; black flames and lightning struck the black-haired girl, but were obscured by a layer of white light covering her skin.

"What!?" The old professor, seeing this, exclaimed in disbelief, "Why? You're just an ordinary human, why would the power of a god willingly be used by you!"

"Don't you understand? Human strength has never been about genes, but about belief!" Shizuka Hiratsuka clenched her fist and said loudly.

"Wow! Boss Jing, this time it feels really good!" came the excited voice of the dragon from inside the card.

"Ah! Tarasque, lend me your power! You heretics! Humans don't need gods like you who harm a child to gain power!" Shizuka Hiratsuka roared.

"You foolish and ignorant person! You have obtained it, yet you do not know how to use it properly. You waste resources! Die!" The white-haired old man waved his hand, and the crystals in the puppet's eyes flashed red. One hand raised the muzzle of a gun, while the other hand transformed into a sharp blade, charging towards Shizuka Hiratsuka!

He then spread his arms, unleashing flames from one hand and lightning from the other, launching an attack on Shizuka Hiratsuka.

"Ah! Let me lend you all my power!" said the dragon Tarasque, the phantom of its enormous body coalescing into a bright red light.

Shizuka Hiratsuka leaped high into the air, and the power of the dragon gathered at her feet, concentrating into a single point that emitted a crimson light.

"Crimson Drill - Kick!!!"

A flying kick descended from the sky and struck the mechanical puppet.

Boom boom boom!!!

The mechanical puppet beside the old man had its core destroyed by the knight's signature kick, which possessed immense power. The massive energy injected into it caused it to go berserk, its body crackling with electricity. The old man tried to escape, but it was too late. The mechanical puppet suddenly exploded, bursting into flames.

Shizuka Hiratsuka remained in her landing position, her back to the explosion. She knew that whether she looked or not, the outcome was already predetermined. Compared to the black-haired women who were looking at Shirou, she gave him a thumbs up.

The woman deactivated her transformation, returning to her normal appearance. Her long, flowing black hair cascaded down, and she silently gazed at the night sky by the lake. It was still dark, and everything around her was shrouded in a gray haze.

The explosion that had emitted a blazing light disappeared as the magic dissipated, and the evil old professor and the puppet were reduced to ashes and vanished in the explosion.

"Bazett! Look! I've avenged you!!!" Shizuka Hiratsuka gazed at the scorched earth, at the lonely night sky, and shouted his name into the lake, hoping that the person in the starry sky could hear her.

After calling out, Shizuka Hiratsuka composed herself and said to Shirou, "Shirou, let's go back then."

"Shizuka, wait!" Shirou seemed to sense something and ran towards the land that the old professor had bombed earlier. He dug into the scorched ground and unearthed an arm wearing a black glove.

At the last moment, Bazett used her ability to dig a hole with her fists, crawled inside, and then drew Rune Magic to avoid lightning, thus avoiding most of the fatal wounds. However, she was still seriously injured and in a very pitiful state. Her men's suit was also torn in many places, revealing a white shirt and the skin of a young woman underneath.

Unfortunately, mixed in with the stench of scorched earth, there was no ripple. The injured areas were covered in bruises, and the skin struck by lightning was burned into a charred black, making it look particularly miserable and pitiful.

As the sun rises, it casts a golden backdrop behind Mount Fuji, and birds flit among the trees, chirping sweetly, adding a touch of ethereal beauty to Lake Motosu, which is shrouded in mist at dawn.

At this moment, the red-haired woman opened her eyes and found herself lying inside a tent.

"I'm not dead?"

She endured the pain, braced herself with her hands on the ground, and moved her body to sit up. The expected excruciating pain did not occur. Bazett found herself covered in medical bandages, but as she moved, she discovered that her wounds had mostly healed. Bazett tried to stand up, but felt a numbness in her leg, as if something was pressing on it.

Looking down, I saw the red-haired little boy lying there asleep.

Bazett noticed a faint white light emanating from the little boy's body, slowly flowing into his own. He felt a warm sensation on his wound, as if it were receiving some kind of nourishment even better than a special medicine.

Bazett gently held the little boy, making him lie down comfortably, before quietly pulling back the tent flap and crawling out.

"Oh, you're awake?" Outside, Shizuka Hiratsuka was cooking something by the fire.

"Did you save me?" Bazett asked.

Shizuka Hiratsuka poked at the fire and said, "It's Shirou. He found you buried underground and used his healing abilities to treat you. However, it seems he can't heal others as quickly as he can heal himself; he can only transfer energy through physical contact. So he stayed with you in the tent all night. Go thank him yourself later."

"Really... I didn't expect him to save me from almost leading him to the dangerous Clock Tower? I feel so ashamed, I owe him so much... I must repay this life-saving debt." Bazett looked into the tent, the image of the boy's sleeping face that he had seen earlier flashing through his mind, and clenched his fist, placing it on his chest as he swore an oath.

"Hey, that's really an exaggeration. If you really want to repay us, hurry up and go back to your world and tell those other weirdos to stop bothering us." Shizuka Hiratsuka retorted.

"No, I am a descendant of knights, and knights never forget their promises and the kindness they have received... Besides, I probably can't go back." Bazett paused before saying.

Chapter 566 Shizuka, the Boy's Personal Female Knight

"Huh? What happened?" Shizuka Hiratsuka asked in confusion. Could there be a reason why a skilled fighter like the red-haired woman couldn't return?

"Because I fought alongside you against the professor, which led to his sacrifice, I believe the Association already knows about it. So I've probably been labeled a traitor and expelled from the Association. My bank cards should also be frozen," Bazett said helplessly.

She was somewhat aware of her lack of popularity; in short, apart from being good at fighting, she had no other merits—no, it would be more accurate to say that apart from being good at fighting, she was full of flaws.

"Sacrifice? That can't be right. Wasn't it that bad guy who provoked us? He's like a weirdo. Speaking of which, the professor tried to abduct a minor, and your school didn't do anything about it?" Shizuka Hiratsuka asked in surprise, feeling deeply puzzled by the foreign school.

"No, because he really is a professor with a formal position at the Clock Tower," Bazett explained.

"Huh? So your school is just a den of thugs! You might as well not go back then," Shizuka Hiratsuka retorted.

"Yes, that's what I think too." Bazett, agreeing with Shizuka Hiratsuka's statement. "Besides, there will definitely be other Magecraft vying for Shirou's attention, so I've decided to become his guardian knight from today onwards, staying by his side to provide close protection!"

"Huh?!" Shizuka Hiratsuka exclaimed, her mouth agape in surprise.

When Cú Cú Chulainn, the Child of Light, was young, he accidentally killed the guard dog of the wealthy merchant Culan. He then vowed to protect the merchant until Culan could breed a successor guard dog for his owner. Thus, he earned the title "The Hound of Culann." Of course, this did not diminish Cú Chulainn's illustrious reputation as a hero throughout his life.

At that moment, Shirou rubbed his eyes and crawled out of the tent, greeting the people outside, "Hmm? Good morning..."

"Bazett! Is your injury healed?" He saw the red-haired woman and immediately ran up to her, asking gently.

"Good morning, Master Shirou! Thank you for saving my life. I am penniless now and have nothing to repay you with except this body!" The red-haired woman said to Shirou, then knelt down on one knee.

"Bazett, what's wrong with you?" Shirou looked at the red-haired woman with a puzzled expression, wondering what she was trying to do.

"Wait! Wait!" Shizuka Hiratsuka, who had been standing there stunned, finally reacted and waved her hands, shouting out.

Now that Bazett has made up his mind, he naturally won't listen to Shizuka Hiratsuka's ideas anymore.

For Celtic warriors, promises were more important than anything else. They would sacrifice their lives without regret to keep their oaths. Cú Chulainn died under the goddess's revenge and conspiracy, but as Servant, he had no regrets about the past.

The tragic hero in people's eyes accepted his fate with equanimity, having no desire for the Holy Grail, but his yearning to fight against the strong led him to respond to the Holy Grail.

Kneeling on one knee, Bazett took Shirou's hand, placed it before him, lowered his head, and kissed it. He solemnly swore, "I, Bazett Fraga Mark, descendant of the Irish Red Branch Knights, swear allegiance to you under the witness of heaven and earth. As long as I live, I will protect you and serve you. This loyalty will never waver, even if mountains crumble and the heavens and earth unite!"

"Haaaaaah! Something's clearly off about that last sentence!!!" Shizuka Hiratsuka screamed in frustration.

"No! I just want to express my loyalty, like the most passionate love, unchanging forever!" Bazett said earnestly, holding Shirou's hands in both.

"Let go of me, and then go back to your hometown! Go back!" Shizuka Hiratsuka roared.

"No, since the oath has been made, I will stay by my master's side until I lose this life!" The red-haired woman said firmly, holding Shirou's hand.

"Sister Bazett, do you want to stay with us?" Shirou asked the red-haired woman.

"Yes, Master! Although I am currently penniless and homeless, my loyalty is absolutely genuine. Please give me any orders! This body belongs to you!" Bazett said humbly. With Bazett's current attitude, even if Shirou wanted to put a collar around her neck, she would willingly serve as Shirou's loyal dog.

"Sister Bazett, you have nowhere to go back either? But it's okay! I don't need you to do anything. Shizuka is such a kind person. She took me in when I collapsed under the overpass. She'll definitely help you too. But could you not be so serious? Just talk to me like you normally would." Shirou looked at the red-haired woman who shared his plight and comforted her.

"Yes, Master... no, okay, Shirou." Bazett looked at the little boy with emotion and said with a soft laugh.

"Aaaaaah! Why! Why! How did it turn out like this?!" Shizuka Hiratsuka screamed, clutching her head in a frenzy. She was so enraged she felt like strangling the version of herself who had tried to dissuade Bazett from returning to the Clock Tower.

"Shizuka?" Shirou looked at Shizuka Hiratsuka with a puzzled expression.

Staring at her with those trusting eyes, Shizuka Hiratsuka was speechless. She could only manage a forced laugh as she said:

"Hehehe... Anyway, let's return the things to the caretaker at dawn and then go back."

"Hmm... Shizuka is indeed a reliable and good person." Shirou nodded happily in agreement.

"Hahaha." It's a good thing that Shizuka Hiratsuka is going to be People's Teacher in the future, but for some reason, she seems a little unhappy.

"Yes, I can help with the luggage. Please let me come along," Bazett said.

After that, Shizuka Hiratsuka packed up the tent, collected the trash, put it in bags, and took it to a recycling center to throw it away. Bazett carried the suitcase and other odds and ends, while Shirou helped carry the pot and kettle.

In the end, Shizuka Hiratsuka had no choice but to accept Bazett's arrival. Even though she protested silently, Bazett followed Shirou to her apartment.

Because she wouldn't leave no matter how much you scolded her or hit her. If you kept her outside the apartment, she would just stand there, or even lie down on the floor to sleep. In the end... Shizuka Hiratsuka had no choice but to let her in and share a room with her, where they slept on the wooden floor.