Shirou's Return from the Fae Kingdom

Shirou leaped down from the three-meter-high climbing frame, leaving Shinji Matou dumbfounded.

"What's the deal? You're a man, aren't you? Why can't you speak louder?"

"Th-there's no need... You can hear me just fine."

Hmph... He dares to talk back. He's got some spirit after all.

Shirou glanced at him, and Shinji immediately flinched back several steps in fear.

He has some spirit, but not much.

"Who were those people bullying you earlier?"

Shinji replied, "Classmates from school."

School... it seems to be a place for children to learn.

In fact, Shirou wasn't entirely ignorant of this world, where he had only lived for seven years.

On the Fae island of "Britain," treasures called "drifts" would often appear—

For example, handicrafts, books, or even Shirou Amamiya himself.

They all flowed into "Britain" from this world.

Through the readings found in these "drifts," Shirou had gained some information about the human world.

"You were bullied by other children, and your parents don't care?"

Shirou doesn't have a mom or dad, so he's not really sure...

But parents protecting their children should be common sense in this world.

"I didn't tell Dad..." Shinji said.

"Why?"

Shinji Matou bit his lip and fell silent again.

Seeing his expression, Shirou understood instantly: "Hmph, a strange sense of pride."

His thoughts laid bare, Shinji Matou's face flushed red: "You... why did you help me?"

If he had to say, it was because this boy named Shinji Matou possessed a similar... "can't leave him be" aura to Bavag.

It wasn't so much a "desire to protect" as it was a feeling of "hating his lack of effort."

Of course, Shirou wouldn't admit it, and he said dismissively, "Don't mention it. I wasn't trying to help you; I just didn't like the look of them, so I meddled."

Shinji blinked in surprise: "Aren't you afraid of retaliation? They'll bully you next."

"If you give in just because you're afraid of retaliation, it will only make the other party's bullying more brazen."

Shirou had learned one thing from Fae history: weakness never earns sympathy; only strength earns respect.

The strongest Fae in "Britain" was named Reynard. He was a typical noble Fae who enjoyed bullying the weak and treated humans like dirt.

At first, he also looked down on Shirou Amamiya.

But after Shirou grew stronger and displayed corresponding strength, Reynard began to see him as a worthy opponent.

"To those who bully you, you must retaliate with even more extreme methods."

Shirou placed his hands on Shinji's shoulders and lectured him in the tone of someone he was familiar with.

"If it's a guy, punch him. If it's a girl, have your way with her. That way, no one will dare to bully you again."

When the wise man Grim was instilling these twisted ideas into Shirou, Morgan would always appear behind him and punch Grim into the ground.

But people like that were no longer around.

For Shirou, there was nothing and no one he cherished anymore... In other words, he was invincible!

"Mmm... mmm..."

Shinji Matou was infected by Shirou's aura, shocked, and whether he understood or not, he nodded rapidly as if he did.

"I, I understand!"

"Good. It's good that you understand, kid. You're quite talented, aren't you?"

Shirou patted Shinji's shoulder forcefully and turned away.

In the setting sun, the boy with the purple seaweed-like hair gazed at the retreating figure of the red-haired boy, his eyes shining brightly.

Today would undoubtedly be an unforgettable day for Shinji Matou—

Shirou Amamiya stopped in his tracks and turned back.

"Shinji."

"Y-yes! What is it?"

"I don't have a place to stay right now. Can I stay at your place for a few days?"

The slope was long, and Shirou followed Shinji up it.

At the summit, at the end of the slope, stood a super-luxurious mansion.

Even in Britain, only the highest-ranking noble Fae could live in such a grand villa.

"Oh, is that your house? It's quite impressive, doesn't look like a haunted house at all."

"That's the Tohsaka Family's."

My house is over here, Shinji said with an embarrassed look, pointing to another mansion on the hillside.

In terms of scale and luxury, it didn't lose to the one on the mountain at all, but it was strangely inconspicuous.

The sun hadn't set yet, but the house was pitch black.

Not only was the lighting extremely poor, but the curtains were drawn tightly, and there weren't many lights on.

It really does look like a house a Vampire would live in, Shirou thought.

"I'll go tell Dad. Shirou, you wait in the living room."

"Okay."

After giving Shirou a few instructions, Shinji quickly ran upstairs.

On the way here, Shinji had proudly declared that his father was the head of the Matou family.

If his father agreed, Shirou could stay the night.

If only it would go that smoothly, Shirou sat down on a chair.

The living room was also dim.

Shirou's eyes could adapt to the darkness faster than ordinary people's, but just then—

A chill ran up the back of Shirou's neck, and he turned his head.

"Kukuku... I'm impressed you could sense me, young man. You've got potential."

In the darkness, the chirping of insects sounded at the right moment.

A hunched old man, like a dark crystal, stood there.

Volume 1, Chapter 004: Mage's Eye from the End

In the darkness, a short old man stood.

He wore the folk costume of this country. His small, shrunken body exuded a strong sense of pressure, and his wrinkled face bore a pair of incredibly sharp eyes.

Judging by his aged appearance, he must be close to a hundred years old.

Native humans in Britain only lived for thirty years, while most Fae appeared eternally youthful.

Therefore, Shirou lacked the knowledge in this area and might not be able to make an accurate judgment—

His first reaction was that this old man had lived for at least five hundred years.

"Hey, did you come into this house for a reason?"

The old man asked. Shirou narrowed his eyes: No mistake, this must be Shinji's grandfather—the Vampire spoken of in hushed tones.

"What's wrong, young man? Why aren't you speaking?"

The old man muttered to himself in a pleasant voice.

"If you don't answer, I'll assume you're a trespasser? Heh heh... How should I deal with you?"

Shirou replied neither subserviently nor arrogantly, "I was invited by Shinji. Is it the Matou family's etiquette to threaten guests before understanding the situation?"

"Shinji's invitation?"

The old man—Zouken Matou—frowned suspiciously: His cowardly and incompetent grandson would invite a peer over?

This was too strange.

Even stranger was the red-haired youth before him, enveloped in an aura that didn't belong to his age.

Even though he had just tried to threaten him a little, any ordinary child would have been scared pale by now.

But he not only remained composed, but even—

Zouken Matou was shocked internally: Was his presence being suppressed by the boy?

And those eyes...

The red-haired youth's amber eyes seemed to contain some kind of power, capable of seeing through everything he possessed with ease.

"..."

An old man and a youth, separated by a hundred years in appearance, confronted each other.

The air gradually thickened, becoming difficult to breathe, when suddenly—

"--Miya!"

An excited child's voice came from upstairs.

"Dad agreed! You can stay here!"

Shinji Matou skipped down the stairs excitedly, rushing up to Shirou.

"What are you standing around for? Listen, Dad agreed!"

"It just so happens the maids ran off a few days ago because Grandpa got angry. If you can help with chores... uh, Grandpa?"

Zouken Matou snorted unhappily. "What is it? So it's someone Shinji brought over."

"Grandpa! This person is..."

Shinji quickly explained the situation to him.

Of course, the boy with strong pride hid the part about being bullied by other children, only emphasizing that he was a playmate he met on the street.

As he was introduced, the old man stared intently at Shirou's face, and the latter met his gaze fearlessly.

"What's your name?"

"Shirou, Shirou Amamiya."

Hearing the name, Zouken Matou immediately lost interest.

He had thought the boy came from some special mage family.

For example, not Amemiya, but Emiya...

He's just an ordinary kid?

Well, even though his grandson is such a brat, it's not impossible that there are true geniuses who were already extraordinary at 7 or 8 years old.

Zouken Matou paused, then said, "Since he's a guest brought home by my grandson, I won't say much more.

But just to be safe, let me ask first—you won't harm good citizens, will you?"

His cloudy eyes shot out a sharp glint, as if trying to pierce Shirou.