Hero Simulator in Type-Moon, Chapter 41

Even Tohsaka Rin, an electrical appliance idiot, couldn't help but marvel that there existed someone in this world even more foolish than her.

"A person is limited by their body and can't reach into machinery, but magecraft is different."

Fujimaru Kyoya had just used Jewel Magecraft to simulate a shotgun—that was his Jewel Imitation Fist.

"For example, with that strike just now, if I really wanted to kill someone, I wouldn't have crushed the jewel. I'd have thrown it directly as a jewel mortar."

Mortar?

Kirei Kotomine swallowed hard. The mere shrapnel from the shotgun had left his defenses in tatters. If he took a hit from that so-called mortar, he'd probably end up with a hole straight through his heart.

"Actually, in my original plan, altering the internal structure of a gem to create something like a nuclear reactor inside it—that would definitely be interesting."

Of course, Fujimaru Kyoya was just thinking out loud. Not to mention that he was only a novice in the field of magecraft, even on the mundane side he was just a high school student. A nuclear reactor was still way out of reach.

But the serious expression on Fujimaru Kyoya's face directly stunned Tohsaka Rin and Kirei Kotomine into silence.

Though it was just a feeling, if this guy actually managed to create something like an Ether Reactor, he'd probably be setting off fireworks all over the world.

"Rin, if time could be turned back, I'd absolutely advise you not to take this guy as your apprentice."

Kirei Kotomine, in short, was full of regret right now.

If Fujimaru Kyoya ended up going to a place like the Clock Tower after high school, and if he really did create an Ether Reactor, the Clock Tower would probably be blown off the map the very next day.

One Human Rocket Launcher was already enough of a headache for the Mage's Association, and now here came a Human Nuclear Reactor.

"No, on the contrary, I think taking him as my apprentice is a good thing."

Tohsaka Rin watched Fujimaru Kyoya walk away. Talent like that, if it went down the wrong path, would be the greatest threat. Tohsaka Rin didn't think her own magecraft skill was particularly high, but at least she wasn't a bad person.

She wouldn't let Fujimaru Kyoya become one either.

"Besides, the Holy Grail War is about to start. With his help, don't I have a better chance of winning?"

"If that's what you think."

Kirei Kotomine gave a noncommittal reply. After all, the last person who thought that way was Tohsaka Tokiomi, and now the grass on his grave was three feet tall.

"Maybe I should bring something back for Rika to eat."

Fujimaru Kyoya had taken quite a bit of money from Matou Shinji. Though it was meant for training in magecraft, buying a little something for his little sister wouldn't hurt.

Just then, a strong sense of crisis struck.

It came from the perception of the "Ghost Brain"—the warning of "First Before First." It felt like something terrifying was nearby.

What was it?

Fujimaru Kyoya began to scan his surroundings. This dangerous feeling was something he'd only experienced during simulations. Even though he understood that the simulated world was connected to the real one, this was the first time he'd encountered such a crisis.

Fujimaru Kyoya pushed the "Ghost Brain" to its limit, simulating possible attacks from all directions. Finally, he locked onto a woman.

A woman with red hair.

"Oh? Found a colleague so soon?"

The Red-haired Woman also noticed Fujimaru Kyoya's gaze, then walked over openly.

"Boy, who's the manager of the local Ley Line? I'd like to pay a visit."

Chapter 72: Is Only Black Tea Alright? 7/28

At the Tohsaka residence, the atmosphere was unusually heavy.

Tohsaka Rin opened the refrigerator and found nothing presentable to offer her distinguished guest.

"Is only black tea alright?"

Tohsaka Rin said with a hint of nervousness. After all, the woman before her was the infamous "Human Rocket Launcher" of the current mage world—or perhaps it was better to call her the "Fifth Magus."

"Black tea is fine."

Aozaki Aoko looked around the old Western-style house, a trace of nostalgia appearing on her face. She remembered being about the same age as Tohsaka Rin back then, living in a similar old house with a roommate.

"Fujimaru, come help me."

"Though it's a bit inappropriate, wouldn't it be better to have that Mapo guy do it at a time like this?"

Fujimaru Kyoya assisted the young lady on the side. As a magecraft apprentice, he technically shouldn't have been qualified for this kind of task, but the moment he heard Aozaki Aoko's name, Mapo had immediately bolted.

What a classic case of "let a friend die rather than yourself."

Mapo, you're still the Fuyuki Running Man, huh.

"Um... your visit is truly an honor..."

Tohsaka Rin forced a fake smile. Since the founder of the Tohsaka family was a registered disciple of a Magus, she had a thorough understanding of just how twisted the personalities of Magi could be.

This feeling of walking a tightrope between life and death was far from pleasant.

"May I ask what business you have in Fuyuki that we can assist with? If it's within our power, we'll do our best."

Fujimaru Kyoya took the black tea from Tohsaka Rin's hands, subtly blocking Aozaki Aoko's line of sight to give Rin a moment to breathe.

After all, she was his master. As her apprentice, he had to look out for her.

"It's actually not a big deal. I didn't originally need to come find you, but since I've been a Ley Line manager myself, I know your difficulties, so I came specifically to let you know."

Aozaki Aoko wasn't a demon, after all. She paid no mind to Fujimaru Kyoya's little gestures; in fact, it reminded her of herself when she was younger.

"My older sister recently came to this area."

Fujimaru Kyoya didn't know Aozaki Aoko's sister, but Tohsaka Rin was well aware of the infamous "Red of Crafter."

"That Grand Puppeteer is in Fuyuki?"

Tohsaka Rin couldn't help but tense up. Everyone knew the Aozaki sisters didn't get along, and for Aozaki Touko, who now lacked magic, defeating her younger sister was nearly impossible.

Could she be after the Fuyuki Holy Grail?

Tohsaka Rin felt a surge of crisis. Following that line of thought, many things suddenly made sense.

"No need to be so guarded. Her target probably isn't the Holy Grail. She just doesn't want to drag things out anymore."

Aozaki Touko hadn't hidden her movements along the way. As her younger sister, Aozaki Aoko naturally understood what that signal meant.

"Things weren't always bad between us, you know."

Aozaki Aoko didn't mind bringing up the Aozaki family's dirty laundry. It wasn't exactly a secret in the magecraft world anyway.

Back then, the Aozaki family's Magus was nearing the end of their life. The original heir to the magic was Touko—she was a qualified mage, the best choice to inherit the family legacy, and Aozaki Touko had worked tirelessly toward that goal.

During that phase, Aoko, living an ordinary life, had a good relationship with Touko. They had no conflicts of interest. But that harmony shattered with a single change of plans.

"The magic was passed to me instead. That made her whole life a joke. Add in some misunderstandings later, and we've been at each other's throats for years."

Thinking back to those younger days, even Aozaki Aoko couldn't help but smirk. Who knew they'd been so "immature" back then?

"In short, the fight between us won't involve magic. Once magic enters the equation, the scales of victory lose all meaning."

Honestly, Aozaki Aoko was tired too.

It was all a misunderstanding to begin with, yet it had escalated to the point where neither could back down. With the Fifth Magic, she couldn't lose, and Aozaki Touko, who could revive infinitely, was nearly impossible to kill.

So then—one fight without revival, without magic. The strongest sister brawl in the world.

"I'd like the Tohsaka family to clear the streets at night over the next few days. Don't let anyone get caught in our fight. And if there's any damage, just blame it on a gas explosion."

Good grief. So all those gas explosions in Fuyuki City were the mages' doing?

Fujimaru Kyoya shot a glance at Tohsaka Rin, who guiltily looked away. It was just an excuse to brush off ordinary people anyway—why bother making it sound convincing?

"Then I'll leave it to you. And next time, don't put so much tea in the pot. It's almost a lethal dose."

Aozaki Aoko naturally didn't intend to make things hard for the younger generation. This was just a private matter for the Aozaki family—no need to drag too many people into it.

As the door slowly closed, Fujimaru Kyoya's senses told him she was already walking away.

"So that's a Magus? The pressure is intense."

In truth, Fujimaru Kyoya had been observing Aozaki Aoko the whole time. Given her current physical condition and mana reserves, he shouldn't have felt such pressure. Was that other power source the magic itself?

"Didn't think even you could be scared. Lucky she didn't mean any harm, or we'd be in real trouble."

That said, Tohsaka Rin couldn't help but feel uneasy knowing a Magus was roaming around on her turf. It was hardly a good thing.

"But is it really okay to just let this slide? You said that magic user employs some pretty destructive magecraft."

Fujimaru Kyoya was still a bit worried. His family lived in Fuyuki City, and if things got out of hand, it wouldn't end well.

"The Aozaki sisters are brutal, but there's no record of them killing innocents. And when mages like them duel, they always set up a reliable barrier zone. They just came to say hello as a precaution."

Tohsaka Rin wasn't too concerned. The Aozaki sisters weren't notorious villains, and besides, she wasn't the only one responsible—Kirei Kotomine definitely wouldn't escape his share.

"Don't worry so much. That Magus might be average in magecraft skill, but the Puppeteer has reached the Grand rank. Creating an isolated pocket dimension is child's play for her."

Seeing Fujimaru Kyoya still troubled, Tohsaka Rin tried to reassure him.

"Let's hope so."

Fujimaru Kyoya glanced at the time and decided to head home. That Magus's visit had delayed his return by quite a bit. His parents were away on a business trip recently, and he hoped Ritsuka hadn't starved.

Chapter 73: Fuyuki Members-Only High-End Restaurant 8/28

"Big brother, I'm hungry."

When Fujimaru Kyoya got home, the little terror was already there, ravenous and clearly on the verge of turning into something that devoured people whole.

"Sorry I'm late. Want to eat out tonight?"

"Yeah!"

Fujimaru Ritsuka was still a kid at heart. Her brother's cooking wasn't bad, but after so many days of it, she was itching for a change.

"Let's go eat Mapo Tofu."

"You really love that stuff, don't you?"

Whether it was Fujimaru Kyoya's influence or not, Fujimaru Ritsuka had developed a taste for spicy food at a young age. Judging by the signs, once Kyoya left Fuyuki City, this girl might become the next champion eater.

My little sister Ritsuka—she has the makings of a glutton king.

Hongzhou Feast Year Pavilion Taishan was a restaurant Fujimaru Kyoya frequented. As a "big eater," he even got a discount there—very economical.

But today, of all days, Fujimaru Kyoya wanted to turn right around and go home.

"What a coincidence."

That was a red-haired woman. If possible, Fujimaru Kyoya really didn't want to get involved with a Magus right now. More importantly, across from Aozaki Aoko sat someone who bore a striking resemblance to her.

Their biggest difference was their hair color—an impure "red."

Was that her sister?

"Ritsuka, how about we try a different place today?"

"No, I want to eat their Mapo Tofu Ramen."

Fujimaru Ritsuka, of course, had no idea how dangerous these two women were. To her, they were just a pair of pretty older sisters.

No helping it now.

If it was just being in the same restaurant, it wasn't a big deal—after all, Tohsaka Rin had said these two weren't evil mages who killed indiscriminately. It was just...

"Sorry, but we have no seats left in the restaurant right now. Perhaps you could share a table with these two ladies?"

The restaurant's bun-headed waitress naturally recognized Fujimaru Kyoya, but it was peak mealtime, and there really were no seats left—only the two beside the Aozaki sisters.

"We don't mind."

Aozaki Aoko didn't care either way. What they were about to discuss was common knowledge among mages, nothing that needed hiding.

"Two orders of Mapo Tofu Ramen."

Fujimaru Kyoya had calmed down by now. For the moment, he could only take things one step at a time.

"Got it, two Mapo Tofu Ramens."

The waitress led Fujimaru Kyoya to the seats, but the tense, sword-drawn atmosphere he had anticipated never materialized.