Chapter 29

This seemingly carefree young man is truly strong. Even if I used my Noble Phantasm, I might not win. Moreover, having just been summoned, my magical energy is not abundant.

My Master also doesn't have much magical energy, and forcing the use of the Noble Phantasm in this state, especially when there's something unusual about her body...

Thankfully, this young man, whom my Master calls brother, doesn't seem to have any intention of harming my Master. His eyes, always filled with concern, aren't fake. Even when he was pierced by my Master, he didn't retaliate. Perhaps...

Under Rider Medusa's watchful gaze, Shinji approached Sakura with a gentle smile, seemingly to calm her emotions.

"Brother..." Sakura whispered, holding her hands to her chest as she looked up at her much taller brother.

"Just hang in there a bit longer, Sakura. It will be over soon. Trust me."

Sakura's eyes widened in realization.

Could it be...?

Is my brother trying to save me?

An incredible thought flashed through Sakura's mind, something she never imagined possible. However, the next moment she felt a sharp pain in her chest. Looking down, she saw that her brother's index and middle fingers had pierced through her chest.

Everything happened so quickly that even Rider, who had been watching intently, didn't have time to react, let alone Sakura, who had just let her guard down.

The modern knowledge from the Holy Grail—that men are all pigs—is really coming true!

"Brother...why?" Sakura asked, lifting her head.

"Trust me."

Shinji's serious eyes met hers as he swiftly extracted a strange, blood-covered insect from Sakura's chest with his index and middle fingers. At the same time, he dodged Rider's attack by bending backwards and then performed a backflip to evade the flying chains, creating distance between them.

Seeing her attack miss, Rider didn't press forward but quickly retracted her weapon and supported Sakura, who was about to collapse from Shinji's heartfelt words.

"What is that?" a weakened Sakura asked, looking at the long-tailed insect in Shinji's hand that was still making sharp noises.

The moment the insect was pulled out by her brother, Sakura felt a change in herself—her unquestioning obedience to Zouken was gone.

"It's Grandfather's true form, a crest worm that replaced part of your nerves," Shinji explained, then looked at the peculiar insect in his hand. "Good morning, Grandfather."

"A crest worm that replaced part of my nerves?" Sakura whispered. "So that's why... that's why I couldn't disobey Grandfather."

As the realization hit her, Sakura's tears began to fall again, understanding the absurdity of the truth.

"Shinji, when did you discover this and how?"

A bizarre thing happened—the insect spoke with Zouken's voice!

"Grandfather, I'm a genius. I figured it all out ten years ago when you announced Uncle Kariya's death. Does that answer satisfy you?"

"Impossible! How could a child..."

Shinji shook his head.

"No, it's true. But at that time, I could do nothing, so I had to hide myself, pretending for ten years in this house. It was really exhausting, Grandfather, constantly matching wits with you every day.

But I won. The proof is that even now you don't know I have no interest in magecraft or the decaying world of mages, just like Father and Uncle Kariya.

Did you never suspect? That after generations of descendants hating magecraft, suddenly one appears who is obsessed with it without your guidance?"

"I see. Among my descendants, a true genius appeared, and I never noticed," Zouken's voice was filled with regret.

"Enough about us for now." Shinji walked towards Sakura again.

But this time, Rider didn't let him pass.

"Calm down. I won't harm Sakura."

"But..." Rider's reply was succinct and clear.

She meant—You said the same thing earlier and then hurt my Master!

"I had no choice. I couldn't have extracted Grandfather's true form otherwise."

Rider still didn't yield, crossing her weapons and lowering her body in a combat stance.

For some reason, Shinji suddenly felt as if Rider was intentionally striking a pose for him, showcasing herself. After all... it was obvious!

It's like she's deliberately emphasizing that to me! And with her body bent forward...

Oh boy...

This is embarrassing. The original work really was R18!

"Let my brother through."

"But..."

"It's alright."

Seeing the wound on Sakura's chest gradually healing under Shinji's secret technique, Rider's wariness finally lessened a bit.

Countless white runes emerged from Sakura's wound, repairing her internal injuries.

These runes were the purest manifestation of Shinji's life force, demonstrating the power of brute force.

"Does it still hurt?" Shinji asked, withdrawing his hand after the wound was completely healed.

Sakura shook her head gently, the warm sensation in her body making her feel comfortable.

Sakura had many questions but knew this wasn't the right time.

After draping his coat over Sakura's shoulders, Shinji magically pulled out a popsicle and handed it to her.

Sakura shook her head, thinking that this wasn't the right time for such a thing.

"Trust me."

Seeing Shinji's playful smile, Sakura hesitated but eventually reached out. However, before she could take it, Shinji placed the popsicle in her mouth himself.

"Mm!" Sakura gasped from the cold but soon felt something and looked incredulous.

"Don't waste it. It took a long time to make."

Each popsicle costs twenty thousand yen!

The popsicle not only removed the crest worms from her body but also converted them into pure life energy, healing the damage they caused to her body, nerves, and circuits.

It also had additional benefits like beautifying the skin, treating hypoglycemia, improving nutrition, curing fatty liver, resolving constipation and diarrhea, and regulating menstrual cycles—small perks that weren't worth mentioning.

Lastly, it tasted pretty good—watermelon flavor.

"What did you do to Sakura?" Zouken asked.

"I removed everything you've given her over the past eleven years. It's over, Grandfather."

"You bastard!" Zouken roared in anger.

"Grandfather," Shinji sighed, rubbing his forehead.

"In my room, there's a painting of that woman wearing the garment of heaven. You've often visited my room but never noticed it?

How could you forget your original ambition, your reasons for planning the Holy Grail system with the founder of the Tohsaka family, Nagato Tohsaka, and the Winter Saint, Justeaze Lizrich von Einzbern?

Why did you forget the reason for your pursuit of immortality?

Why do you still maintain such a twisted will to live?"

"I really don't understand..."

"Heh, my wish is simply immortality. The feeling of my body and soul decaying every day, the pain of rotting with each breath...

My grandson, can you truly understand? No human is unafraid of death, and neither are you!

If it means achieving my wish, I wouldn't hesitate to kill every human in the world!"

Hearing Zouken's words, and now fully understanding his intentions, Sakura was utterly shocked.

"Grandfather's wish is... immortality."

Sluuuurp...

Hmm, this watermelon popsicle is quite tasty!