Dating Caster

That handkerchief handed to Wang Xiaoming just now... did that person not return it to her?

"This guy..."

Listening to the footsteps gradually fading into the distance, Medea felt both annoyed and amused, though there was also a faint trace of shyness.

(Shirou, Wang Xiaoming: Plan successful)

At dinnertime, the large dining table was still occupied only by the families of Matou Kariya and Wang Xiaoming; as for Kayneth's side, it seemed they had familiars or something else handling their meals.

Regardless, Medea had just mentioned to Wang Xiaoming in passing:

Lancer just went out.

So, there was no need to worry about them.

"Shirou, you seem to be in a very good mood."

Seeing Shirou's barely concealed joy and his hearty appetite, Matou Kariya said with a smile.

"Do I?"

After all, he was still just a child, and Shirou was not good at hiding his emotions.

"I got this kid's adoption papers back."

Regarding his adopted son, Wang Xiaoming didn't hold back at all and exposed him directly.

"Is that so?"

Hearing Wang Xiaoming's reply, Matou Kariya was stunned for a moment, then reacted and said to Wang Xiaoming with a smile: "Then you're going to have some trouble in the future."

"Yeah, some trouble indeed~"

Wang Xiaoming also followed up with a wry smile and a sigh.

Wang Xiaoming's initial idea of adopting Shirou was less about pity for Shirou's background and perhaps more due to the peculiar sense of humor typical of a transmigrator.

But as time passed, Wang Xiaoming, whose rationality had gradually returned, realized how ridiculous his original sense of humor had been.

He, who hadn't even dated anyone, suddenly had a son in name...

How was he supposed to explain this to his parents when he went back?

Wang Xiaoming scratched his head, but watching the scene of Shirou serving food to Sakura and Sakura whispering her thanks, Wang Xiaoming suddenly smiled:

"As long as he can grow up in peace, come to think of it, this trouble isn't really anything."

"Mm, that's true."

Matou Kariya looked at Shirou and Sakura, a gentle smile also appearing on the corners of his mouth. However, Matou Kariya's gaze flickered, as if he were pondering something.

"You have something to ask me?"

After dinner, seeing Matou Kariya find him, Wang Xiaoming had a vague realization in his heart. He immediately signaled to Medea, and Medea, understanding, took the two children and left the dining room.

The empty dining room was now left with only Wang Xiaoming and Matou Kariya.

"My body can't hold on for much longer; you should know about this, Ming-kun."

Without any opening pleasantries, Matou Kariya got straight to the point.

"Mm—"

Wang Xiaoming nodded.

Wang Xiaoming had previously asked Medea about the condition of Matou Kariya's body, and the results were not very optimistic.

Half a month was the final limit of the life of this man, Matou Kariya.

"I hope..."

Matou Kariya's expression was complex, but in the end, it seemed he had made up his mind.

He bent his knees and knelt before Wang Xiaoming, his forehead pressed against his hands. With the greatest courtesy of his life, he stated his request:

"I hope to entrust Sakura to you. Please raise this child to adulthood!"

"Why?"

Wang Xiaoming's eyes were complex. He had been prepared for Matou Kariya's request; in fact, if Matou Kariya hadn't brought it up himself, Wang Xiaoming would have gone to discuss it with him.

However, all of this was based on the premise of ending the Holy Grail War.

But now that Matou Kariya was making this request...

"Originally, I intended to spend the last moment of my life accompanying Sakura, but after chatting with Shirou this afternoon and seeing what I saw tonight..."

Matou Kariya remained in a kneeling position, but his tone became increasingly resolute:

"So I believe you can fulfill my request!"

"And what about you?" Wang Xiaoming continued to ask.

"I..."

Matou Kariya gave a bitter smile.

A vision of that woman, the one who had haunted his dreams since childhood, suddenly flashed through his mind.

Aoi...

Her perfect face and gentle personality made his heart yearn for her, yet he dared not approach, for he understood—

The kind of hell he lived in!

He absolutely could not ruin her!

And so... he watched helplessly as she married another!

And so... he watched helplessly as she bore children for another man!!

And so... he watched as the happiness that should have been his was cruelly snatched away by someone else!!!

So be it... there was nothing to complain about. Since he could not give her happiness, let that man be the one to provide it. As long as he could watch from afar, catching an occasional glimpse of that perfect, gentle smile, wasn't that already the greatest happiness for him?

So be it... there was nothing to complain about. Since he could not give her happiness, let someone else provide it. As long as he could watch from afar, catching an occasional glimpse of that perfect, gentle smile, wasn't that already the greatest happiness for him?

That was why he left that cold, heartless house; he wanted to face her with a clean smile!

That was why, no matter where he was, he would return at fixed times, because his longing for her—and his longing for her two children—was simply impossible to suppress! Those two adorable children had not inherited a single gene from that detestable man. They were both so much like her, beautiful and cute... it was impossible not to cherish them!

It should have stayed that way; it should have continued like this forever. But that detestable man did not cherish what he possessed, everything that Kariya longed for but could never have... He had actually sent such a cute child into hell! Into the very hell that Kariya had struggled so hard to escape...

How could a delicate child endure all of this?

He was powerless to change it... even after giving his all, he still could not change it...

Then he would simply have to face it with her! If he could not be her savior, then he would be a companion who suffered alongside her. That, at least, might bring some small comfort to her lonely heart, right?

And what of the mastermind behind all this, Tohsaka Tokiomi?

Kariya could clearly feel his rage beginning to corrode his sanity, drop by drop, like sulfuric acid.

He could not understand it, nor did he need to.

He could not forgive it, nor would he forgive it.

The man known as Matou Kariya had already died the moment he chose to join the Holy Grail War. The only obsession remaining in this shell was one thing:

"I will make Tohsaka Tokiomi regret his own stupidity!"

—To stand before Tohsaka Tokiomi and demand an explanation for all the suffering Sakura had endured.

As Kariya raised his head, the clarity in his only remaining right eye had long since been swallowed by hatred.

Wang Xiaoming looked at Kariya with a complex expression.

To be honest, Wang Xiaoming never considered himself a person who prioritized logic above all else. Every plan he had made up to this point was simply to ensure that his side could survive in this cruel Holy Grail War.

Whether before or after his transmigration, he was just an ordinary person. To Wang Xiaoming, the so-called philosophies of mages were merely challenges to his own values.

Rather than sacrificing friends to achieve a goal, Wang Xiaoming preferred an ending where everyone survived.

Seeming to notice Wang Xiaoming's inner conflict, Kariya stood up, walked over to him, and patted his shoulder. "War is like this... besides, this was my own decision. You don't need to worry about it."

Although he had previously told Lancer not to treat the Holy Grail War like a game, in the end, was he the one who couldn't see things clearly?

Looking at Kariya now, Wang Xiaoming sighed, his tone returning to calm.

"Then let's start with a tactical meeting. The grudge between you and Tohsaka Tokiomi happens to be a part of my plan."

PS: Taking suggestions for the protagonist's abilities~~~

If you have any good ideas, feel free to mention them in the book reviews~

Maybe I can use them in Volume 2, haha.

Chapter Recommendation~

Miss Gudako and Miss Sorry's FGO Journey

This is a story about Shirou and Tohsaka Rin's daughter, Emiya Gudako, and a transmigrator named Yui—who likes to say "sorry" just like Siegfried—as they grow together while saving human history.

The author is a fan of Emiya and Siegfried.

If you're interested, go take a look~

By the way, the author of this book is also named Xiaoming, haha.

Chapter 50. Planning

In the drawing room of the Matou House, Wang Xiaoming, Medea, Kariya, an impatient-looking Kayneth, and a silent Lancer were seated.

Although the spacious room still had plenty of room after everyone sat down, the increasingly heavy atmosphere made everyone subconsciously hold their breath.

"Then, let me start by explaining my plan—"

The silence was broken, and Wang Xiaoming's voice carried a hint of composure that hadn't been there before.

Everyone turned their gazes toward him.

"Rider is about to host a banquet. There is no need to understand his purpose for now, but he will invite Saber and Archer to participate in this banquet."

"Tsk—is your so-called plan really just to have our side go and disrupt this so-called banquet of theirs?"

Kayneth seemed to have guessed what Wang Xiaoming was thinking next, and just as he was about to mock Wang Xiaoming for his lack of intelligence, he suddenly heard his counter-question.

"Why would we want to disrupt it? Rider, Saber, and Archer—these three Heroic Spirits are far above us in both ability and Noble Phantasms. Are we supposed to go over there and throw our lives away?"

Kayneth's expression shifted between light and shadow, then he suddenly let out a cold snort and fell silent.

However, Wang Xiaoming had no leisure time to worry about Kayneth's pride as a magus. He raised his head, swept his gaze across the faces of everyone present, and asked:

"These three Heroic Spirits have gathered together. Do you know what this signifies?"

"..."

Seeing that no one answered, Wang Xiaoming continued:

"It means that among the people attending the banquet, aside from Rider's Master, the Masters of both Saber and Archer are currently in a state of vulnerability with their defenses left wide open!"

Upon hearing this, the eyes of everyone present lit up.

That was it!

The Rider team always appeared with the Master and Servant together, so the only way to defeat Rider was through a direct confrontation. This had left Kayneth, who was hiding in the shadows and itching to personally teach his student a lesson but unable to find an opening, grinding his teeth in frustration.

Since there was no opportunity with the Rider side, they had no choice but to start with the other participants.

Now, the opportunity had arrived—

Kariya's body began to tremble involuntarily.

"Tohsaka Tokiomi..."

Kariya's low murmur did not escape the ears of those present.

"...This time, our target is Archer's Master, Tohsaka Tokiomi."