Chapter 310: Bombshell

"Six years ago, this is how I brought you into this world!"

A bombshell, a true bombshell.

Nothing—no event, no news—could shock Shinji more than what Zelretch had just revealed. Even if the world were to end before his eyes, entering the apocalypse, it wouldn't compare to the sudden revelation of this old man's secret about his isekaid.

Shinji sat there, dumbfounded, staring blankly at the old man who held the knowledge of Operation of Parallel Worlds. He was speechless.

He didn't speak, and neither did Justeaze, who was by his side. The instigator of this scene was even less likely to say anything.

A silent stillness enveloped the entire workshop, making time and space seem frozen. The only change was in the boy's complexion.

From white to red, red to purple, purple to blue, and finally back to calm.

Only then did he slowly begin to speak:

"So, it was you? It was you all along—"

At first, his voice was calm, but it grew more urgent and louder.

"If I weren't no match for you, I'd want to punch you right now. You disrupted my once peaceful and stable life, bringing me into such a perilous world, and gave me such a terrible start! Do you know how I spent those first few months? Do you have any idea!!!"

Aside from Scáthach, who had glimpsed his memories, no one knew about that most intolerable past.

A sinister and terrifying home, a monstrous grandfather, a place full of filth, and on top of that, harboring a huge secret—such pressure was enough to drive anyone mad! Especially in those first few days after crossing over, he couldn't even sleep, fearing that he might wake up on an autopsy table.

So, when Shinji learned that his crossing was not a coincidence but man-made, his first reaction was not gratitude but anger, wanting to vent all the accumulated pressure as pure fury!

"Shinji."

Feeling the emotions conveyed through their contract, Justeaze felt a sudden pain in her heart and instinctively hugged him, one hand holding his head, the other gently patting his back.

"It's okay, it's okay, it's all over. You have me, you have Touko, you have Sakura, you have Fujino, and many others who care about you. They will be with you."

Her gentle voice and warm embrace, like a soft and silent drizzle, gradually calmed Shinji's rising anger. Resting his head on Justeaze's shoulder, he softly murmured:

"Yes, it's all over because I met you."

You gave me strength, you let me see the light, you helped me cleanse the filth from my home, and paved the way for a new future.

I changed Sakura's fate, changed the Matou family's fate, changed Fujino's fate, and changed the fate of many people. And you changed my fate. I have come this far because of you, so no matter what goal you aim to achieve, I will help you, even if it means betting my life.

This is Matou Shinji's resolution, a sentiment he had never shared with anyone.

The old man watched the pair, observing the boy who seemed to fall asleep as he closed his eyes. With deep meaning, he asked, "Are you satisfied with your life now?"

Still sulking, Shinji didn't answer directly, only saying, "That's why I said I want to punch you, not kill you."

"It seems you're quite satisfied, then I don't need to worry."

Shinji was skeptical of the old man's words: "You, worry? Are you planning to apologize or something?"

"It's not the kind of worry you understand, and I won't apologize. Since I did it, I won't regret it. I'm only concerned that your emotions might affect some of my plans. As for whether you want to punch me or kill me, I don't care. Wait until you can do so."

This is the old man of the jewel, the unparalleled "Zelretch the Wizard Marshall, a top-tier powerhouse in this world. Such a person does not need to consider others' opinions unless you have the qualification to converse with him as an equal!

Shinji doesn't have that qualification yet, so he didn't continue to argue. As Scáthach said, he isn't qualified, but he believes that one day he will be. When that time comes, he will ask the old man everything and then decide whether to punch him once, twice, or three times in that old face.

The subsequent matters proceeded smoothly. With his anger calmed, Shinji and Zelretch finalized the specific schedule and details of the traversal. Despite his initial anger, Shinji was still interested in exploring a parallel world, especially considering Justeaze's wish and his Shishou's trials, not to mention the generous rewards.

The old man, known for his association with jewels, was famous for his generosity in the mystical world. The ancestor of the Tohsaka family encountered him by chance during a journey, asked him to teach a few things, and received a legacy that many envied, along with the design for the Second Magic's treasured, Jewel Sword Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg. This time, seeking him out for a favor, he would certainly not be stingy, directly asking Shinji and Justeaze to state their demands.

The two did not hesitate and immediately began to set their conditions.

First, they hoped the old man would look after the Matou, Tohsaka, and Emiya families while they were away.

Looking after the Matou family was expected. With Shinji and Justeaze absent, Touko was busy with the Tohno family affairs, and Lorelei and Kayneth were far away in London, there was no one to oversee the household. Although the likelihood of trouble was low, it was better to be safe than sorry. With the Second Magic's user watching over, Shinji felt reassured.

As for the Tohsaka family, with Tohsaka Tokiomi deceased, only a widow and orphan remained, likely to encounter various problems. As the Grand Master of the Tohsaka family, Zelretch should naturally offer some support. Although this matter had nothing to do with Shinji and was purely meddlesome, considering his uncle Kariya's lifelong concerns, Shinji decided to extend a favor to the Tohsaka family—preferably a favor that Tohsaka Aoi could never repay, forcing her to repay it with herself.

Lastly, the Emiya family was added by Justeaze, mainly for Illyasviel. The child possessed magical power far beyond human limits, unsuitable for normal teaching methods. Both Touko and Justeaze were at a loss, making it convenient to ask Zelretch to take a look.

Such a small matter, that Zelretch naturally wouldn't refuse. The only regret Shinji had was that the old man had already visited the Tohsaka family and planned to stay for a while to guide Rin, rendering Shinji's favor-selling plan moot before it even started.

Second, they hoped the old man would negotiate with the Mage's Association's Secret Judgment Division, Carillon Observatory, to lift Touko's Sealing Designation.

Hearing this condition, even with Zelretch's mindset and experience, he couldn't help but be somewhat moved: "This matter is no joke. Are you serious?"

"Yes." Both Shinji's expression and tone conveyed his attitude, "I've already planned it out, only lacking a sufficiently influential mediator. I initially intended to ask Lorelei, but you are more suitable."

"Let's hear it." The old man squinted his eyes, finally showing interest.

PS: Except for those ruthless individuals or ingrates, the vast majority of people in this world can be bound by debts of gratitude. Owing too much makes one deeply entangled.