Shizuka Meets the Boy's Family / Shizuka Loses Both Shirou and the Battle ...

"Miss Shizuka, I think I can sleep on the sofa." Although Bazett herself preferred to sleep on the sofa with Shirou, she was fine with sleeping under the sofa.

"That's where Shirou sleeps!" Shizuka Hiratsuka said.

"Actually, I can lie under the sofa. Anyway, I'm very healthy and won't catch a cold!" Bazett said confidently.

"Are you an idiot?! No! If I let you sleep there, I'd be the biggest idiot!" Shizuka Hiratsuka said angrily. It seemed that even dragging Bazett into the room wouldn't work.

"No, Miss Shizuka, although it's easier for me to protect Shirou outside. I'm his personal guardian knight," Bazett explained, strongly insisting on sleeping with Shirou.

Chapter 567 Shizuka and the boy's relatives

Since ancient times, it has been forbidden for anyone to carry weapons inside the Imperial Palace. However, the emperor's personal guards were required to stand guard at the gate with weapons, on call 24 hours a day without interruption.

When Emperor Taizong of Tang slept, he had Qin Shubao and Yuchi Gong stand at the door as door gods. Royal palaces and nobles in various countries also had personal guards, and this practice has extended to the present day, where black-clad bodyguards shield wealthy businessmen from gunfire. The more influential a person is, the more closely they need protection—this is the principle.

Bazett was truly grateful to Shirou.

Her hand was already useless. Even with her profound knowledge of Rune Magic, she couldn't treat her injuries in that desperate situation, even if she didn't faint.

Once the optimal time for treatment is missed, amputation will be her only option. If she uses a prosthetic limb and wants to reach her full potential, she'll need to find a Grand Puppeteer, but their fees are very high, and she'll have to pay a heavy price.

But miraculously, her arm recovered completely, and all her wounds have healed without leaving any scars. Not only was her life saved, but her dignity as a warrior was also restored.

Rather than being used like a disposable prop by a puppeteer whose personality is unpredictable, Bazett would much rather serve a benevolent master.

"Who cares about you! Shirou is a boy, he should sleep separately from the girls! Otherwise, I'll let Shirou share a room with me!" Shizuka Hiratsuka said.

"If I were in the same room, that would be fine too. I'd take care of you, Miss Jing," Bazett readily agreed.

"Who asked you to take care of me? I even paid for your luggage storage. You said you were going to find a job, but you were fired after only half a day. And the living expenses I lent you for a month were spent on compensation." Shizuka Hiratsuka said in a fit of frustration.

"Ugh... I thought the staff also had a duty to protect the store's property. Seeing someone eat a whole bowl of ramen, not only refusing to pay but also taking 10,000 yen from the manager, such a villain who dares to Hegemon-King and dash right in front of me should be punished on the spot, right?" Bazett lowered his head and said in a low voice.

"That's a food tasting challenge! You get a prize for finishing the food within a time limit, that's the rule! If that uncle hadn't said he was punched by a pretty young lady and it was actually painful but enjoyable, it wouldn't be something that can be resolved with just a little compensation! Sit up straight!!!" Shizuka Hiratsuka said, pointing at the red-haired woman with a huff.

"Yes..." Bazett knew she was in the wrong and obediently squatted down. Although she was an expert in combat, she was somewhat incompetent in daily life. Even though she had a lot of strength, she seemed clueless no matter what kind of work or housework she did.

"Oh my, it's been a few days. It's even more lively here now." A lively and playful voice came from the other side, and it was the high school girl, Little Devil.

"This is Bazett, Haruno," Shirou said, putting down his manga and introducing the uninvited girl.

After that, the four of them were drinking tea in the living room when Shizuka Hiratsuka began to tell Haruno about all the things that had happened before.

"Hmm, I see. That's great, isn't it?" Haruno Yukinoshita said with a smile.

"What's so good about it?" Shizuka Hiratsuka complained.

Haruno looked at Shizuka Hiratsuka and said with a smile, "Shizuka-chan, have you heard that your aunt and uncle are looking for a family to adopt Shirou?"

"How did you know? Could it be? Ah!" Shizuka Hiratsuka looked at the girl in confusion, then the image of her father's stern and imposing face flashed into her mind, and she exclaimed in surprise, "That old man is quick to act at times like this!"

"Well, otherwise why would I have rushed back while I was still on vacation? It's because my father is one of the school's board members, and he mentioned that he wanted to help the Hiratsuka family arrange a school for a little boy they were adopting, and find a family willing to adopt him. So I thought, you must have messed something up," Haruno Yukinoshita said.

"Well... it's because my old man insisted on separating me from Shirou, and no matter what I said, he wouldn't listen, so I couldn't help but argue with him," Shizuka Hiratsuka said, covering her face.

"So isn't this perfect?" Haruno Yukinoshita pointed to Bazett was sitting to the side reflecting on his actions.

"Huh?" The red-haired woman blinked in confusion.

"Miss Bazett came all the way from Ireland to find her half-brother. She lost both her parents in a disaster. Then she heard that her brother had also recently lost his family. So she decided to come to Japan to find her brother, hoping to live on with her only remaining family in the world!" Haruno Yukinoshita said, clasping her hands together, closing her eyes, and making a sorrowful expression.

Finally, she opened her eyes, looked at Shizuka Hiratsuka, and asked, "What do you think of this setting?"

"Huh?" Shizuka Hiratsuka raised an eyebrow, hesitated for a moment, and said, "You mean you want Bazett to adopt Shirou?"

"Yes." Haruno nodded with a smile.

"Yes, it is effective. Even Magecraft family still has to deal with the real world. There has been a tradition of Magecraft serving King since ancient times. The current political elite are also aware of the existence of Magecraft. My passport and other documents were issued by the Irish government." Bazett nodded in agreement.

"That's good. Next, please play Shirou's older sister!" Haruno said, looking at Bazett.

"Eh? How can this be? I'm a knight who swore to be loyal to Shirou for life, how can I do such a presumptuous thing?" The red-haired girl suddenly stood up and waved her hands repeatedly.

"Shirou, what do you think? Would you like Bazett to be your older sister?" Haruno Yukinoshita asked the little boy beside her.

"Hmm? Bazett has always been like an older sister to me, and if we're going to live together forever, then we're family. Of course, Haruno is an older sister too, even though she's a little devilish, I like you." Shirou said, looking at her.

"Waaaaah... That was so intense! I can almost picture what Shirou will look like when he grows up!" Haruno Yukinoshita clutched her chest, as if struck by a direct hit, but she quickly recovered and looked at the boy, saying, "Thank you, I like you too Shirou. But right now, Bazett doesn't seem too keen on being your Shirou sister."

"Bazett, don't you want to be my older sister?" Upon hearing Haruno's words, Shirou immediately turned his head and looked at the red-haired woman with his bright, watery eyes, asking her.

"How could this be... Yes, I swear I will do it! Even if it costs me my life, I will be a good sister to you Shirou!" Bazett said excitedly.

"No, you don't need to sacrifice your life. Just act like a normal person!" Shizuka Hiratsuka retorted.

"Then it's settled! Let's finalize the script and do some rehearsals." Haruno Yukinoshita snapped her fingers; she, the shrewd Haruno, had already calculated everything in her mind.

Chapter 568 Shizuka lost Shirou and her army.

Two days later, Shizuka Hiratsuka returned to the Hiratsuka family mansion with Shirou and Bazett.

Meanwhile, inside the Hiratsuka family mansion, upon hearing that Shirou's relatives had arrived, they were immediately led into the reception room. This was a traditional Japanese room with tatami mats; everyone sat around a long, dark-colored rectangular table, seated on bamboo chairs without legs.

At this moment, Bazett changed into a brand new red bean-colored men's suit and tie, making him look capable and sharp.

This time, she came to visit the Hiratsuka family as Shirou's older sister. Since both she and Shirou have red hair, although the color is different, it is understandable that the hair color of foreign children is very varied. Whether it is red or blonde, it will change a lot over time.

In Britain, there are black hair, red hair, brown hair, and blonde hair. There's the red hair that's unique to the Celtic person, the blonde hair that's characteristic of the Anglo- Saxons, the black hair that's part of the Romans, and the brown hair that comes from mixed heritage.

Even within the same color, blonde hair comes in different shades, such as the most common wheat blonde, and platinum blonde, which is close to silver.

The same applies to red hair; truly vibrant hair colors are actually rare.

"Hmm... So this Miss Bazett is Shirou-kun's family?" Hiratsuka family asked with a serious expression, his sharp eyes fixed on the red-haired woman, trying to find some flaw in her demeanor.

However, Bazett was one of the strongest people in the world, and he remained unmoved by the aura of a superior. He simply returned a calm gaze.

"He looks very young. Could he be a foreign exchange student that Shizuka met at university?" Hiratsuka family's father said suspiciously.

"No! I started working when I was nineteen," Bazett said calmly.

"Nineteen? Oh? No wonder you look so young. You haven't been working for very long, have you? You must still be a student..." Hiratsuka family's mother covered her mouth and laughed, continuing to ask indirectly.

"No, I'm twenty-one years old now, and I've just completed two years of work in London, England, after moving from Ireland," Bazett answered honestly.

"You're still quite young, Miss Bazett. What's your relationship to Shirou-kun?" Hiratsuka family's mother asked, changing the subject abruptly. Beneath her smiling face, the question hit the nail on the head. Truly a lady who had spent years navigating social circles!

"It's a knight..." Bazett was about to answer the knight when Shizuka Hiratsuka covered his mouth.

Shizuka Hiratsuka laughed and said, "She's my half-sister! She also went through a tragic ordeal. Because she couldn't Shirou's family, she flew from Ireland to Japan to find Shirou. Then she came to me, so I brought her home!"

Shizuka Hiratsuka pinched Bazett's thigh hard from behind.

The red-haired woman then realized what was happening, tears welling in her eyes, and said to Hiratsuka family's parents, "Yes, that's how it is."

Hiratsuka family's father, resting his chin on his hand, said, "In that case, I've already contacted all my acquaintances in the Tokyo Police Department, but I haven't found any information about Shirou. Maybe Shirou really is a child with overseas connections."

"So, you're going to take Shirou to Ireland?" After hearing Bazett's story, Mrs. Hiratsuka was moved to tears. Wiping away her tears, she looked at the red-haired girl with concern and asked.

"No, I will stay in Japan too, because I've decided that I will take care of Shirou!" Bazett said earnestly.

Upon hearing this, the two parents couldn't help but worry again.

"Huh? So, you two are still going to live with Shizuka?" Shizuka Hiratsuka's father asked.

"No, to be honest, I hope Shizuka Hiratsuka can focus on her studies, after all, it is also an important ideal of hers. As for Shirou, I, as her older sister, can take care of him." Bazett said seriously.

"Huh?!!" Shizuka Hiratsuka's eyes widened. She hadn't expected that the seemingly honest Bazett would betray her so easily!

Although Shizuka Hiratsuka was sold, Hiratsuka family parents were relieved to see this.

Hiratsuka family's father nodded repeatedly and said with a smile, "Is that so? That's good then."

"Miss Bazett is so young, yet she is so considerate of others. It's truly remarkable. But since Shirou-kun and our family are so destined to meet, please let the Hiratsuka family do our part!" Hiratsuka family's mother said warmly.

"No..." Bazett wanted to refuse, but thinking of his frozen bank card, he finally lowered his head. "Then I'll have to trouble you! Thank you so much. To be honest, I'm still looking for a job."

"What a useless fellow..." Shizuka Hiratsuka glared angrily at the red-haired woman. If what happened before was just a deception, then Bazett had truly betrayed them now. There was no other explanation.

However, the red-haired woman didn't seem to realize that once she accepted these things, she would also be affected by them. When a person becomes dependent on another, it becomes increasingly difficult to interact with them on an equal footing.

If you become too dependent on someone, and you can no longer sustain your life if you lose them, it can create a form of oppression, or even enslavement.

The reason why Shizuka Hiratsuka could get the red-haired woman to sit down and lecture her was precisely because of this.

Next, Bazett will take Shirou to live in the house provided by her parents, enroll Shirou in the school arranged by her parents, and have her parents' acquaintances take care of him. The area will be full of spies from these two people, and everything will be known to the adults, whether intentionally or unintentionally. Everything will be under the adults' surveillance.

Shizuka Hiratsuka suddenly stood up, grabbed the red-haired woman's arm, and dragged her outside.

"Wait! Bazett, come with me to the restroom. Shirou, you come too! Mom and Dad, you wait here for a bit."

"..." The Hiratsuka family parents exchanged a glance, letting Shizuka Hiratsuka leave with her clumsy acting skills; they were already confident of victory.

"Bazett! What exactly do you want? What you're saying is completely different from what we agreed on!" Shizuka Hiratsuka questioned Bazett.

"All of this was done according to the plan that Haruno had discussed. She made me accept your parents' good intentions so that they could feel at ease and truly accept me and Shirou," Bazett said honestly.

"What's going on? This is not what I know!" Shizuka Hiratsuka looked at the woman's serious expression, which did not seem to be fake.

"Yes, because Haruno told us not to tell Shizuka." At this moment, Shirou spoke up.

"Huh? So I was the only one kept in the dark? I believed you like an idiot and cooperated with you?" Shizuka Hiratsuka glared angrily at the two of them.

In fact, without her knowledge, Yukinoshita Bazett had a secret conversation with Haruno Yukinoshita and Shirou. That's why things have unfolded the way they have now.

Chapter 569 The budding romance between Shizuka and Shirou

It was the afternoon before we were to leave for the Hiratsuka family, after everything was ready. Haruno Yukinoshita secretly came to the apartment while Shizuka Hiratsuka was at school.

"Haruno, are you saying I should separate from Shizuka?" Shirou asked, looking at Haruno.

"It's cruel, but that's how it is. I originally thought that with your strength and everyone working together, we could get through this. But after meeting Bazett, I realized that this isn't True Magic or hero show; people really do die here." Haruno looked at Shirou seriously and said.

"But Bazett is here too, do I really have to leave?" Shirou asked, looking at Haruno.

"Shirou, I'm not asking you to leave, but given the current situation, it would be safer for everyone to live separately. If I had to say, it's that you and Shizue don't have the ability to face those evil Magecraft together right now. If you continue to live together, sooner or later someone will suffer irreparable harm," Haruno said, looking at the little boy.

The shrewd and charming girl had something she didn't say aloud: she considered Shirou her younger brother and decided to continue helping and protecting him.

That's why she didn't want too many uncontrollable factors. She knew that her Shizuka Hiratsuka, was warm-hearted and courageous in the face of formidable enemies—these were her strengths. But at the same time, she was also very impulsive, and... because of her, Shirou got injured.

Therefore, Haruno Yukinoshita usually uses the most appropriate communication methods to get along well with anyone, but this time she appeared stern and cruel.

"Shirou, you understand, right? This won't be enough. Bad guys will keep coming after you. You're only able to hold on this long because of Shizuka Hiratsuka's good luck."

"But over at the Clock Tower, there are many, many treacherous and unpredictable people like the professor. I can only protect you alone. If they target Jing, it will eventually affect Jing's family." Bazett said to the boy.

"Hmm..." Shirou lowered his head.

At that moment, at Hiratsuka family, Shizuka Hiratsuka was glaring angrily at the red-haired woman and Shirou, who were keeping it a secret from her.

"Shirou! Do you think this is enough? What if I said I wanted you to stay?" Shizuka Hiratsuka asked the little boy who hadn't said much since they entered.

"Why? Shirou, even though Bazett is here now, I didn't lie about saying I would protect you!" Shizuka Hiratsuka said, looking at the boy.

"Of course, I hope to stay with Shizuka forever, that's why I said that. This separation is so that we can be together better in the future," Shirou said, looking at the black-haired woman.

"What do you mean?" Shizuka Hiratsuka frowned, looking at the boy and then at the red-haired woman beside him.

In fact, during his conversation with Haruno yesterday, Shirou said something like this.

When Haruno pointed out the cruelty of the situation, the boy fell silent, but after a while he spoke again, "But there's still a way, isn't there?"

"Huh?" Haruno looked at the boy in surprise.

"As long as I become stronger, that's fine, right? As long as I'm strong enough to deal with those Magecraft and solve all the problems, then we can stay together again!" Shirou raised his clenched fist like Shizuka Hiratsuka and said with a smile.

Haruno Yukinoshita covered her face, sighed helplessly, and said, "Ah... you really defeat me. I originally wanted to be the villain, but I didn't expect you to even adopt this optimistic spirit..."

Shirou then looked at the red-haired woman beside him and asked, "Am I right?"

"Yes, it's possible, but it will be extremely difficult. You must become incredibly strong. Only when you are so strong that even the Mage 'Mage's Association can't do anything to you will you have the leverage to live freely. In this world, very few people can achieve that level. Besides True Magic, there are only Grand Class Magecraft and the most powerful figures in the Mage's Association."

"I'm not afraid of hardship! Bazett- nee! What can I do to become stronger?" Shirou looked at the red-haired woman and asked loudly.

"Just keep training and honing your skills in battle. Your body has unlimited potential right now. Once you unleash all the hidden energy within, you'll be stronger than me! If you can take it a step further, even matching True Magic's Servant won't be a problem."

Bazett looked at the boy very seriously and said, "Shirou! If you've made your decision and swear you'll never change your mind, then I will hone you with the most rigorous and cruel Celtic training. There will be pain worse than death waiting for you, and I won't hold back. Is that alright?"

"Yes! I know! Haruno- nee! I'll go with Bazett- nee. I'll get stronger, and then together with Shizue, we'll beat the bad guys to a pulp." Shirou said, clenching his fist.

"Ah, I'm no match for you guys. Good luck. I'll support you, sister," Haruno Yukinoshita replied with a smile.

At that moment, Shirou took the hand of the long-haired woman with furrowed brows, placed it on his heart, and said softly.

"I'm still a child, so there are many things I don't understand. Right now, my feelings of not wanting to be separated from Shizuka, and my desire to make Shizuka happy, are all tangled up and mixed together in this mess. To be honest, I hate this feeling," Shirou said softly.

"But a voice inside me told me that if we wanted to live together, it was essential for Jing to be happy."