18 Wizard Marshal

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The old man then looked at the place where the Grail was and muttered:

"What a waste."

Then he looked at me and says with a smile.

"We finally meet, Matou Shinji."

"And you are?"

I ask while making a confused face intentionally. The old gives me a meaningful smile and then dramatically changes into an apologetic face.

"Ah my apologies, where are my manners? I am named Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg, and I am the Second Magician. But I am sure you already knew that, my peer."

As he says I already know who he is and why he is here from the moment he entered this place. Apart from the both of us, the rest of my group is completely silent and is looking at the man with a serious expression, not like it actually matters what attitude they keep.

"My name is Matou Shinji. Nice to meet you. So what business do you have with me?"

I ask him a straightforward question since I don't really want to deal with this guy's bullshit. Don't get me wrong, it's not like I hate this guy or dislike him, I just don't want to interact with this guy more than necessary. He reminds of some things, I am better off not knowing or ignoring.

"What is this? Straight to business? After you ruined my fun by destroy- okay okay calm down."

Not wanting to deal with his bullshit and wanting to expedite the process, I raise towards him and he pretends to be scared of it and tries to 'calm' me down. He then changes his tone of voice to serious and says.

"I am fine with going straight to business but shouldn't we talk in a more appropriate setting rather than this collapsing cavern that is being held together by me."

"There is no way, I am letting you inside mine or my friends house, you should know why. We can just talk here."

"All right but you might want to have your friends leave this place, what I am about to tell you is some secrets you might not want them to know."

"It's fine, I trust all of them they can stay."

I am fine with this because I have an idea of what he is going to talk about and it's nothing harmful to me. Plus if I include them in my 'secrets' they will be more trust and loyalty between us.

"...Shinji."

"Shinji-sama."

Shirou mutters my name emotionally. Medea looks at me with a touched expression but to be honest I don't know if that's fake or true but it most likely is true based on her history. Illya just gives me a complex look mixed with determination. Yeah I really need that last one, she will help me with Heaven's Feel after all.

"Well you have good friends then."

He says to me in a joking voice.

"Just get to the point."

"Sigh, youngsters these days. I came here to invite you to the Clock Tower."

Did this old man just say 'sigh' instead of actually sighing? Oh whatever.

"Aren't you a bit late then?"

"No no, not at all. There are very few existences that can perceive that you exist, so I was just testing your attitude for all these years after you achieved Third Magic and whether you can become a worthy ally or an adversary that I might have to eliminate."

"So?"

"Your actions in this ritual were splendid, at least with this I can safely say that you are on the side of humanity even if you mess with fate."

"Right. I definitely did this for humanity."

I say that while looking at the 'Mission Complete' notification on my system interface.

"Hence as soon as I verified your intentions, I came here to invite you to the Clock Tower."

"Why are you the one inviting me?"

I ask him.

"Well because I like you. And your case is very interesting. All the other versions of you in other timelines are far far more different than you. I have a theory that you are an anomaly that is changed by the Root. This resulted in you changing, I don't know what type of changes but it also helped you in achieving Third Magic at such a young age."

"Right, that's exactly what happened. But what's your personal gain here? Surely you don't think I will allow you to experiment on me?!"

"No such thing, I just hope that you become an ally against external threats to humanity that's all. Those are my true feelings."

He says this with a very serious voice.

"So if I accept this, what will I get? Surely you aren't expecting me to be a normal member of the Clock Tower and work under the Lords do you?"

"Since I am the one inviting you, with the help of my good friend who is the director. We will temporarily give you the position of Wizard Marshal, and it will become permanent if you make enough contribution to the Clock Tower. In exchange, you will get similar amount of resources as me and you can bring all of your comrades with you as your underlings. I think that's a fair exchange."

"It seems fair but would the factions in the Clock Tower accept this?"

"What does it matter if they accept you or not? They can swallow their pride in front of obvious benefit. You are the Third Magician, you possess the most useful magic out of all the five true magics that directly helps the magi. Also you are the first to actually wield the complete version of it."

"What do you mean my magic is the most useful for the current magi?"

I ask the obvious question even if I know the answers. He just smiles at me and then starts to explain.

"This is just my theory on all the current 5 true magics, so it might not be completely accurate but it's just my take on them through experience.

"First Magic deals with creation of world from nothingness.

"Second Magic separates creation into different timelines.

"Third Magic creates Mystery in those timelines.

"Fourth Magic deals with fate.

"Fifth Magic deals with manipulation of entropy to bring the world to its end.

"This is a very oversimplification but the current magi are facing a lack of Mystery in the world after the Age of Gods. And since you wield the complete form of Third Magic you endlessly create Mystery within you. Just presence refills the world with Mystery. You are the only one in this world who can feel the Mystery of Heaven. Hence the third magic is called Heaven's Feel." (A/N: This is not canon at all. This is just my interpretation, don't bash me for it.)

"I see."

I just nod at his explanation.

"See? You are their hope to solve the problem of declining Mystery. Well it helps me too in a way so thank you."

"All right, I will tell my answer after thinking about it."

I say that and he just nods and gives me a brown card like thing.

"When you have prepared your answer, just insert your magical energy into this and tell me the answer. I won't force you to join the Clock Tower but it will be mutually beneficial relationship if you do."

He says that and then leaves the cavern by making a multicolored portal. As soon as he leaves, the cavern starts to collapse. I just turn to look at the faces of my group and say to them.

"Let's go back."

And then form a portal with runes to the yard in Emiya's house.

After arriving here, there's a silence for a few seconds and then.

"Shinji, I will come tomorrow to your house with my maids to discuss about Heaven's Feel. Farewell and thank you."

She says that in a lady like manner and then goes away with Berserker following her.

"Bye Illya."

I say to her departing figure.

"So Shinji, why did you bring me with you again?"

"Ah sorry, I thought Illya would have been more cooperative with you there but I guess it backfired. Oh well."

"Why? Is she related to me or something...? Oh she did mention Kiritsugu, do you know what that's about Shinji?"

"Talk to her yourself, Shirou. I am beat and am gonna go home now. See you tomorrow probably."

I reply to him and teleport back to my workshop with Medea.

"As expected of my Master to manipulate the situation from the beginning to the end."

As soon as we enter the workshop, Medea says this with a praise in her voice. What is she talking about?

"What are you talking about?"

"Master, you don't have to act with me, I understand."

She says with a meaningful smile and an understanding expression. Well whatever, I did manipulate the situation to my favor so she is not exactly wrong it's just the way she said that implied that Assassin was part of my plans too.

"Whatever, I will leave you to your work or hobbies then. I am going to bed."

"Master, why don't you stay here and help research that magic circle that we just obtained."

"Nah it can wait. Sakura might be worried so I have to go."

As I say that and turn around, I think I see a sad expression on her face but I don't care much about it.

I leave the workshop and walk towards my and Sakura's room.

[EVENT MISSION REWARD

Main Reward: Wish Granting Token]

I accept the reward and a golden coin with the image of a cup on it appears in my hand.

While I got what I wanted, I am annoyed by some revelations that I discerned from Zelretch through Sha Naqba Imuru. I don't know if he noticed me using that but he definitely didn't block me, no idea if he could block this clairvoyance though.

I crush the coin and a golden chalice appears in hand, and when I touch it I feel like I am the center of all existence. I can perceive anything and everything.

'System, what is this?'

[Host you have temporarily become the personification of Root by merging with your main body with the help of the Token. You can do any one action throughout the infinite timelines that emerge from the Root. After you do that you will be separated from your main body and the Token will be destroyed.]

'Wait a minute, then can't I just use my main body for doing anything I wish here.'

[Conceptual Rulers have limited amount of control over their dimensions, they have to interfere with the worlds through their incarnations. They can't move themselves lest they risk the destruction of the dimension due to their presence. The token is a safe way to use your original authority.]

All right, I got it.

"My wish is to erase all the versions of Sakura from all the different timelines except for the one in mine. This erasure should be done in away that doesn't affect fate of that timeline and it goes unnoticed by others." (A/N: Bring on the hate comments on how this is useless and shit)

[Your wish has been granted.]

Hah, I did it. I did such a crazy thing just to prove that Sakura is irreplaceable to me. But it's also to make it so that she belongs only to me. Only me!

My annoyance is finally gone.

*********

(Four and a half years later)

"Lady Lorelei, I have some other things to do, so I will have to decline this offer to accompany you on this hunt."

"It is but a small matter. Not like those vermin actually deserve the honor of being slain by both of us anyway Lord Shinji."

Lorelei says with a caring smile on her face. I still can't get used to this even after a few years of knowing her.

"Well if there's nothing else, I will be on my way."

"If you don't mind me asking, but why are you supporting Lord Animusphere with his research. I don't think it's worthwhile. Have you found out something?"

"No, but I do think their research might help me with improving my dress hence I help them."

"Do you even need that dress Lord Shinji?"

"I actually do need that in certain situations, so it will help if I do improve it."

"Sorry for taking your time, Lord Shinji. It was nice talking to you."

"My pleasure, Lady Lorelei."

I exit the car we were in and enter my workshop from their by teleportation by contacting the boundary field. Of course that teleportation was not to run away from Lorelei or anything, it's not like she stresses me out or anything.

The problem isn't that she looks down on me or some cliche shit like that. She has taken care of me like an older sibling would as soon as I entered the Clock Tower for some inexplicable reason. I have a feeling that this is the work of that old man but I have no solid proof. And while I am crazy, I don't like to repay goodwill with bad intentions. Hence I have to act like a gentleman with her.

Anyway as I enter the workshop, I come across lovely Medea who notices me as soon as I enter but pretends to do her work seriously while trying to hide her face. I am not gonna lie, its really cute.

I have gotten quite a bit closer with Medea and Medusa in these last few years, if you know what I am saying. (A/N: Let your imagination run wild)

I wonder how my wife is doing? Is she hanging out with her sister?

"Medea, where is Sakura?"

"Shinji-sama, Sakura was called by that old man for a lesson."

"I see."

Sakura and Rin was chosen as students by that old man after I accepted that invite. They weren't chosen because of me, they were quite talented themselves. Zelretch even said that Sakura is even more compatible with Second Magic than even Rin.

I leave the room while thinking about some things like how Shirou my personal blacksmith isn't here. Apparently he has decided to temporarily live in Fuyuki because of his relationship with Ayako. Also about where to invest my overflowing wealth other than the Animuspheres.

I suppose I can increase the funding of Einzberns, they are sort of my personal army after all. I wonder how Illya is doing?

[Warning! Host is recommended to use Dimensional Incarnation as soon as possible.]

'Why?'

[10 year safe period after the Main Mission is about to be completed. If you don't choose another dimension for Incarnation, you are in danger from the attacks from other Conceptual Rulers who will want to take away this dimension from your control.]

'Why didn't you tell me about this before?!'

[System just assumed that the host will incarnate in another dimension before this deadline.]

'How much time is left?'

[6 hours 15 minutes 23 seconds]

Shit.

Goddammit, I am finally settling down in this fun life and this happens.

'What will happen to this dimension when I incarnate in another one?'

[You are the Conceptual Ruler of this dimension. You can stop time in all the timelines. You just can't interfere with the dimension.]

Okay that's a bit better.

[You can also divide consciousness and be in both dimensions at once through your incarnations.]

Nah that just doesn't feel right to me for some reason.

I message everyone here, to come to my room so that I could explain the thing that will happen now to them so that they might understand what I am about to do. Of course I am not going to tell about system or anything like that, I will just say that I am going to another dimension and that while time will pass for me it will be stopped for them.

While I wait for them, let's check my status.

[STATUS:

Incarnation Name- Matou Shinji

Age- 22 years

Sex- Male

Race- Transcendent Human, Magician, Psychic, King, God, Ultimate One

Origin- Gamer

Attribute- Absorption, Almighty

Element- Wind

Parameters-

Strength: EX

Endurance: EX

Agility: EX

Magical Energy: EX (Infinite)

Luck: EX

Noble Phantasm: Distorted World (Anti-World)~EX, Devouring Heaven (Anti-Unit)~EX, Gate of Babylon (Anti-Unit)~E-EX, Enuma Elish (Anti-World)~EX, Sha Naqba Imuru (Anti-Unit)~EX, Moles Necessrie (Barrier)~B, Per Aspera Ad Astra (Anti-Planet)~EX

Skills- Presence Concealment(C), Instant Dungeon Creation(EX), Reinforcement(EX), Ambidextrous, Curse of Restoration(EX), Instinct(A++), Wind Barrier(EX), Binding(EX), Battle Continuation(B), Primordial Runes, Memory Partition(EX), Thought Acceleration(EX), Third Magic: Heaven's Feel, Mystic Eyes of Distortion, Transmutation(EX), Charisma(A+), Golden Rule(A), Throne of Quirinus(EX), Nine Lives Roma(A), Type Moon, True Mind's Eye (A)]

[Current System Balance: 951,241,921,000 SP]

Oh yeah, I should choose the skill from the Additional benefit that can be carried over to other dimensions if anything related to them is applicable there.

'I choose Primordial Runes.'

[Primordial Runes are now recorded in your main body.]

After they arrive, I tell them about what I am going to do. Sakura seems to be quite worried but I reassure her.

After chatting with them for a while.

I then vanish from front of them and enter [Empty ID].

'Start Dimensional Incarnation.'

And as soon as I say that, my consciousness leaves my body and time in Nasuverse stands still.