Dating Caster

"Sakura is so cute."

"..."

Where on earth did this brat learn how to compliment people?

Matou Kariya suddenly felt a bit worried for Sakura. If these two children grew up together, Sakura would likely never escape this boy's grasp.

However...

Forget it—

Matou Kariya sighed softly. All in all, after spending the last two days together, he had gained some understanding of Shirou.

His naive integrity and natural inclination to help others—even after such terrifying experiences, nothing had managed to erode that precious disposition of his.

Having spent many years traveling, Matou Kariya had encountered a few people with this kind of personality, and he knew all too well how valuable it was, as well as... how easily it could be exploited.

If someone were to intentionally lead this child astray, Matou Kariya felt a chill just thinking about it. But looking at the current situation, with Wang Xiaoming there to support Shirou as he grew, there shouldn't be any major mishaps.

"Cough, cough—"

The sudden coughing fit made Matou Kariya frown. He first glanced at Sakura, who was still sleeping peacefully beside him, then gave Shirou a reassuring smile to signal that he was fine.

But was he really fine?

Matou Kariya knew his own body well. The insect magic of Old Worm was constantly corroding his body even as it granted him magic circuits. Wang Xiaoming had once asked if he wanted the insects removed, but Matou Kariya had refused.

Because Matou Kariya knew, even if he agreed to have the insects removed, how much longer could he live?

Dragging this broken body, Matou Kariya could have passed away peacefully once Sakura was rescued. His current lingering existence was merely to settle things with that irresponsible man.

"But Sakura..."

Seeing the sleeping face of the girl beside him, Matou Kariya fell into hesitation again—

Was it too reckless to entrust Sakura to Wang Xiaoming's family just like that?

After all, he had only known Wang Xiaoming for two days.

But his body...

The man named Matou Kariya fell into deep conflict.

"Where to next?"

After bidding farewell to Ba, Wang Xiaoming walked out of the shop and asked Caster.

"Let's just wander around."

Caster thought for a moment before replying to Wang Xiaoming, but no sooner had she finished speaking than a booming voice rang out from nearby.

"Hey, can't you make it any cheaper!"

The sheer volume of the voice made the display windows of nearby shops vibrate, causing customers and staff to poke their heads out to see what was happening.

"..."

Upon recognizing the owner of the voice, Wang Xiaoming instinctively wanted to pull Caster away from the area.

But it was clearly too late—

The Servant aura emanating from Caster had obviously not escaped the notice of the person in the shop.

"Yo, isn't this Caster's Master?"

A tall figure stepped out of the shop, his eyes lighting up when he saw Wang Xiaoming.

Seeing that Rider had spotted him, Wang Xiaoming couldn't slip away and had no choice but to turn around, his mouth pulling into a stiff smile.

"Huh, where's that kid?"

Arriving in front of Wang Xiaoming, Rider didn't see the figure he had hoped to find, and he couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed.

"Shirou didn't come out today..."

"Oh? So that child is named Shirou!"

Hearing Wang Xiaoming's answer, Rider's eyes lit up.

"...Um, what was that about earlier?"

Facing Rider, who always seemed to have designs on Shirou, Wang Xiaoming could only change the subject.

"Oh."

Rider glanced back at the shop he had just exited and the clerk who was still trembling in the doorway, then said casually, "I intend to host a banquet tonight to invite Saber and Archer, so I came to this street looking for wine."

"..."

Ignoring Wang Xiaoming's subtle expression, Rider continued, though his tone sounded somewhat troubled:

"But the price of the wine sold in this shop is not something my little Master can afford."

Rider had revealed Waver's financial situation without a shred of self-awareness.

"Rider!" Waver, standing beside him, protested in his unremarkable, long-suffering voice.

"Heh... that really is quite unlucky."

Regarding the Banquet of Kings that Rider spoke of, Wang Xiaoming could recite the process almost by heart, so naturally, he couldn't muster the slightest interest. However, since Rider was still standing right in front of him, he could only force a smile to play along.

"Could it be that I can only buy the second-rate wine?"

Rider stroked his short beard and cast his gaze back toward the shop assistant. The clerk, who was on the verge of tears, looked toward Wang Xiaoming beside Rider for help.

"I've got it!"

Rider's gaze followed the clerk's line of sight and landed on Wang Xiaoming once again: his eyes suddenly lit up!

"Master of Caster—"

"What?"

Wang Xiaoming felt a subconscious jolt in his heart; a bad premonition suddenly sprouted from within.

"How about you lend this King some money to buy wine?" Rider's smile was incredibly boisterous.

Honestly, if it weren't for the fact that he couldn't beat Rider, Wang Xiaoming really wanted to punch him in the face and show him why the flowers are so red. But the cold reality of their power gap forced him to rely on his wits:

"I..."

Before the words "have no money" could even leave Wang Xiaoming's mouth, he saw Rider turn his gaze toward Medea, who had been silent behind him, and say:

"To have the honor of going out with such a beautiful lady as Caster, not carrying money on one's person is simply not what a man should do!"

"..."

Looking at Medea, who seemed somewhat happy under Rider's praise, Wang Xiaoming truly hadn't expected Rider to pull this move.

Wang Xiaoming gave a bitter smile.

But come to think of it—

Since the [plot] of the Banquet of Kings had already begun, it meant that the chaotic battles of the Holy Grail War were not far off...

Watching Rider's "cunning" smile, a plan vaguely surfaced in Wang Xiaoming's mind. He raised his head, looked at Rider's rugged face, and suddenly pulled a forced, insincere smile as he asked:

"Hey, Rider. Is your banquet lacking an audience?"

PS:

My dear readers, I~~

Perfectly missed Christmas, but I feel much better now. Here is a 3K chapter~~~

Next up is the universally loathed Banquet of Kings plot!

However—

The difference between this plot and the original work is quite significant, so please look forward to it!

Chapter 49. Entrustment

"Oh? Could it be that you want to behold the royal presence up close?"

Upon hearing Wang Xiaoming's request, Rider was somewhat surprised.

"Uh... you can take it as that."

Wang Xiaoming's expression was somewhat subtle.

"But logically speaking, a King's banquet..."

He stroked the short beard on his chin, appearing somewhat troubled.

"Excuse me, how much is the wine he just asked for?"

Wang Xiaoming turned his head directly to ask the shop assistant.

"A King's banquet naturally cannot lack an audience!"

Seeing Wang Xiaoming make a move to reach into his pocket, Rider immediately changed his tune, his tone firm and decisive!

"We're back~"

Wang Xiaoming's voice echoed in the courtyard, but seeing his furrowed brows, Shirou, who had come at the sound, asked curiously.

"What's wrong, Mister?"

"It's nothing..."

Wang Xiaoming raised his head and saw Shirou in front of the courtyard, his brows involuntarily relaxing a little.

On the way back, the plan that had been in his mind gradually became clear, which made his mood lighten slightly.

Looking at Wang Xiaoming's bitter and deep-seated expression, Shirou suddenly associated it with some similar scenes he had seen on TV before, and the look in his eyes toward Wang Xiaoming couldn't help but turn into disdain:

"How can a man be stingy with money at a time like this, especially when going out with a great beauty like Teacher Medea!"

"Pfft—"

Seeing Shirou imitate the lines and expressions of an actor from TV, his comical acting caused Medea to be unable to hold back for a moment, and her silver bell-like laughter echoed in the courtyard.

Medea's laughter made Wang Xiaoming's originally stifled mood ease up a bit, but upon seeing the brat Shirou smirking on the side, Wang Xiaoming suddenly realized he couldn't keep spoiling this kid.

Thwack.

Wang Xiaoming rolled up the document he had pulled from his robe and tapped it against the head of Shirou.

"Ouch!"

Shirou clutched his head and cried out.

"Enough, I didn't even use any force."

Watching Shirou still acting the fool, a thought suddenly popped into Wang Xiaoming's mind: ten years from now, this kid probably won't end up becoming that "Hero of Justice" from his memories, right?

Whatever--

Wang Xiaoming gave a self-deprecating smile; as long as this child lived a happier life than the one he remembered, that would be enough.

Stuffing the document into Shirou's arms, Wang Xiaoming grabbed both of Shirou's cheeks and said to him:

"From now on, you'll take my surname! Come on, call me Dad and let me hear it."

"I... abso... lutely... won't..."

Shirou's garbled voice, mixed with saliva, smeared all over Wang Xiaoming's face.

"Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey."

After taking the handkerchief handed over by Medea and wiping the spit off his face, Wang Xiaoming saw Shirou patter away to the corner of the hallway and make a face at him.

"Hey, don't you run, you brat!"

As he spoke, Wang Xiaoming chased after Shirou's retreating figure.

Off to the side, Medea watched the antics of the father and son with a smile, a faint sense of warmth spreading through her heart. However--

Medea suddenly remembered something.