Chapter 291

Does the Magic Association hate Shinji?

Of course, it does. After all, it was the first time they'd been so openly threatened and humiliated.

Many high-ranking members of the association held a grudge against the young Shinji. They prided themselves on their noble status, and nobles are typically very proud.

Pride and arrogance leave no room for being slighted by others.

So, that night, a high-ranking member contacted Bazett, who happened to be in Japan.

The mission given was to eliminate Shinji.

Upon hearing the task from the association, Bazett raised an eyebrow. Instead of expressing her willingness immediately, she questioned why such a mission, which should require a formal written order from the association, was conveyed to her through a verbal notification.

Though the other party gave a vague excuse, claiming it was a secret mission, Bazett wasn't convinced and insisted on a formal order from the association if they wanted her to carry out such a task.

The other party maintained it was a secret mission that couldn't be officially recorded. Sensing something amiss, Bazett firmly refused and demanded a formal document.

After a rather unpleasant argument, the call was abruptly ended. This incident caused Bazett's long-standing dissatisfaction with the Magic Association to erupt.

She couldn't help but recall what Shinji had told her earlier that day.

"Maybe... the Magic Association isn't really for me."

...

The high-ranking member who gave Bazett the order, residing in the Clock Tower, was in his room, smashing one ornament after another in frustration.

He kept cursing his disobedient subordinate (Bazett) and Shinji until...

"Getting angry isn't good for your health, noble sir."

A stranger's voice interrupted. One of the twelve lords of the Clock Tower stopped his actions and turned to look.

But...

All he saw was a flash of sword light.

Ignoring the dismembered body and the head frozen in its final expression, Shinji sheathed his sword and disappeared from the sealed room.

Names, families, and the disciplines they were responsible for in the Clock Tower meant nothing to Shinji. He killed simply because they intended to kill him.

Shinji left his traces deliberately, reminding the Magic Association why he did what he did, even if they didn't investigate, they should already know.

Of course, Shinji believed there were sensible people among them, like the so-called Second Magician, Zelretch.

Sure enough, the incident of a Clock Tower lord being murdered did not cause much of an uproar.

First, because the deceased lord's magic crest wasn't destroyed, it could be inherited by his descendants, preserving the family's status.

Second, because Zelretch, who had not expected Shinji to retaliate so explosively, stepped forward afterward.

Only then did Zelretch realize Shinji was different from what he had initially thought.

When Shinji said he'd do something, he meant it. He never joked.

Zelretch took partial responsibility for the incident, acknowledging that if it weren't for his own interest-driven comments about Shinji within the association, this situation might not have occurred.

Had it not been for his actions, there wouldn't have been any so-called "fifth magic," no falling out with Shinji, and no one would have died out of dissatisfaction.

What should have been a peaceful coexistence was ruined by his misjudgment of the young man's character.

Ultimately, Zelretch took responsibility within the association by accepting five new apprentices.

After this incident, Zelretch decided never to provoke Shinji again.

After all, it's universally acknowledged that madmen should not be provoked. No one knew how many tricks Shinji had up his sleeve.

Suspected teleportation, mastery of the third magic, cloning, parallel world traversal, unknown world traversal—these abilities meant he was no longer an amusing subject to observe but a dangerous one.

Thus, Shinji's minor skirmishes with the Magic Association and the Clock Tower came to a temporary halt.

Since revealing his hidden fangs, Shinji had maintained the upper hand and won this bout.

Shen Yin had eradicated all the small, mysterious organizations in Japan connected to the Magic Association, making Japan's mysterious side completely independent.

Those that weren't eradicated were either absorbed into Shen Yin or expelled, like the Tohsaka family. Although this might have seemed insignificant to the Magic Association, it was a loss nonetheless.

Moreover, the defection of Bazett, the strongest contemporary Seal Designation Enforcer, was a significant blow to the Magic Association.

Of course, Shinji didn't care about any of this.

He was currently on a private island near Kagoshima, enjoying the sight of beach beauties through his sunglasses.

On the beach, under a parasol, Shinji, in his swim trunks and sunglasses, enjoyed a truly undisturbed beach day.

Participants included Sakura, Rider, Saber, Rin, Bazett, and Luvia.

Watching the golden-sequined Luvia playing beach volleyball, Shinji was a bit confused.

He didn't expect her to reappear at this time; he thought she had given up after failing her task.

"It's quite a view, isn't it?"

Hearing the voice from beside him, Shinji's expression turned subtle. He turned to look at the child-like Gilgamesh, also in swim trunks and lying on a beach chair.

"Hey, I don't remember inviting you!"

"Does it matter?" Gilgamesh smiled and then looked at Red Archer and Lancer preparing lunch. "Besides, I'm not the only uninvited guest. Everyone's here."

"Hmph!"

Shinji heard a snort from his other side. Looking at Gilgamesh in his flashy golden swim trunks, Shinji couldn't help but admire his consistent fashion sense.

"Seriously..." Shinji sighed, rubbing his forehead. "For this harem... I mean, for this beach episode, I didn't even invite Emiya! Why are you uninvited guys all here?"

"Come on, Shinji-san, take it easy."

Ruby, the magical girl, popped out from nowhere, patting Shinji's shoulder with her wings in a comforting gesture.

Shinji pulled the sunglasses-wearing Ruby closer, expressionless: "You're the most outrageous! Why are you here?"

Ruby then started lamenting that since returning from that world, she was no longer Miyu's favorite and had to find solace in appreciating nature to vent her frustrations.

"Who cares! Get out of here; this is my island! This is my personal beach episode!"

Ruby cried out in pain, "Ouch, ouch, ouch! Let go, Shinji-san! Besides, I came prepared! Don't you feel like something's missing from this beach episode?"

Hearing this, Shinji paused and looked at the lively girls on the beach.

Lolis, mature women, double As, energetic types (Sakura), bold types (Luvia), and healthy types (Bazett).

"Is it? Except for the silent type, I think I have a complete set here. Nothing's missing."

Ruby grinned mischievously and whispered in Shinji's ear, "Don't you think something's lacking in this fan-service beach episode?"

Hearing this, Shinji looked again at the six girls playing beach volleyball.

"You're right, now that you mention it, something does seem missing. It's too harmonious, not a real beach episode without some surprises!"

"Bingo!" Ruby snapped her fingers. "You're absolutely right. A fan-service beach episode without unexpected incidents isn't a real one! Wardrobe malfunctions and accidental exposures are the essence of a true fan-service beach episode, Shinji-san!"

"Indeed!" Shinji nodded vigorously.

"So, I, Ruby-chan, have prepared a little surprise for this episode... Hehehe..."

Shinji squinted his eyes. "Oh? Tell me more..."