Chapter 141

Listening to Kariya, Shinji indeed heard a bit of that familiar heroic spirit found in most shounen manga protagonists in his character.

"If I were him, I would never let Aoi and Sakura be separated before losing my life! Whether it's the Magic Association or others eyeing Sakura for her exceptional potential, if they want to take her away from Aoi, they must step over my dead body first!"

Kariya's expression was serious, and his words were powerful and resounding!

Goodness! Suddenly so fired up!

Shinji couldn't help but exclaim in his heart.

These lines are straight out of a shounen manga protagonist's script!

What reality?

What crap logic of magicians?

To hell with it! Just don't care!

If they want to separate mother and daughter, they'll have to kill me first!

But... you really don't have a protagonist's aura, Uncle Kariya!

Forget it, forget it!

"Calm down, Uncle Kariya, we can consider these things after the Holy Grail War. You still have a chance to become Sakura's true father..."

"Huh?" Kariya was taken aback, not quite understanding what his nephew meant.

Shinji smiled slightly, leaned back on the sofa, and continued, "Although Miss Aoi is wholeheartedly devoted to Tokiomi Tohsaka now, if Tokiomi dies in this Holy Grail War, you still have a chance.

In fact, if I get involved, it doesn't matter whether he dies or not. Be it through scheming or other means, I can easily create an irreparable rift between the couple."

Although he didn't fully understand, Kariya keenly sensed that his nephew might truly be a born troublemaker.

"Alright, for the time being, don't do anything. Just stay at home and keep Sakura company. After all, you are the closest person to her right now, the only one who can break through her wall of despair."

"Wait, Shinji, I want to ask, in your world..."

Knowing what Kariya wanted to ask, Shinji answered directly without hesitation, "In my world, both you and Tokiomi Tohsaka died in the Fourth Holy Grail War. Sakura continued to endure Zouken's torment day after day. About a year ago, my father also died at Zouken's hands. A little over a month ago, I dealt with Zouken. Now, Sakura is safe under my protection."

"Sakura... she endured that torment for another ten years..."

Kariya stared blankly at Shinji, unsure how to describe his feelings.

"Sorry, until I had enough power to deal with Zouken, I had to stay hidden."

Kariya didn't say anything more, nor did he blame the young man before him. After all, the young man was right; Zouken was not easy to deal with.

Just like himself, even after becoming a mage, he was still powerless to resist and had to pin his hopes on the Holy Grail War...

"But don't worry, Sakura has gradually brightened up with guidance and has reconciled with her sister. Before I came, Sakura even invited Rin over, and they spent the afternoon having a sisterly chat."

Hearing this, Kariya couldn't help but smile softly at the thought of the scene, feeling a bit relieved: "I see..."

No matter what, the tragic girl was finally saved. That's good, that's good.

"Alright, before I leave, let me help you with one thing..."

...

Watching Shinji produce a small bottle of green liquid like performing magic and handing it to him, Kariya couldn't help but ask, "What is this..."

"A sedative I concocted."

"Hmm??"

"It's not for you, but for the Crest Worms inside you. This will put them into a deep sleep temporarily, so even if you use a bit of magic, it won't cause unbearable pain by waking them up."

Hearing this, Kariya stopped doubting and, closing his eyes, drank the liquid in one gulp.

Before Kariya could feel the changes in the worms inside him, he felt a warm sensation entering his body through the boy's hand on his numb left shoulder. At the same time, his supposedly dead left side started to feel a tingling sensation...

Half a minute later, Shinji withdrew his hand, wiping the sweat off his forehead.

"Since I don't have much left myself, I couldn't give you too much. This is my year's worth of life energy, so I couldn't repair much..."

"It's already a miracle; I feel like I can walk normally without using magic! Except for my left eye, most of the functions on my left side have recovered! Wait, life energy... Shinji, you..."

"Well, it's no big deal. After the Holy Grail War, I'll help you with the rest. Now..."

Shinji turned to look at the newly arrived Sakura, who was peeking in from behind the door with confused, wide eyes at him and Kariya.

...

In Sakura's small bedroom, after putting the twentieth Crest Worm extracted from the hypnotized Sakura into a bag, Kariya looked at Shinji, who had stopped.

"Is it... over?"

"Yes, since it has only been a year, it's not too difficult to handle."

Shinji smiled, adding, "She is different from you. You rely on those Crest Worms for your magical circuits and life. If we forcibly remove them, my year's worth of life energy might not be enough to sustain you. We'll deal with those after the Holy Grail War."

"I didn't mean that, I was just worried if Sakura would have any aftereffects."

"For now, no. I just gave her half a year's worth of life energy, so her body will gradually heal from the damage caused by the Crest Worms. However, it might take a long time for her hair and eye color to completely return to normal."

"As long as she's okay..."

Kariya finally breathed a sigh of relief, feeling that the young girl was finally free from the clutches of evil!

As for the psychological shadows left behind, he believed that with his slow guidance, she would gradually recover.

"Alright, I'll be leaving now. Make sure to carry out what I asked you to do meticulously. It's not just for my victory but also for Sakura's fate. And take this, if there's an emergency, like a magician breaking in to question you about the Matou family, swallow this potion."

Though Kariya didn't know what the potion was for, he trusted Shinji wouldn't harm him and accepted it.

"Lastly... give me some pocket money."

Watching Shinji extend his hand with a grin, Kariya couldn't help but twitch his mouth, wanting to retort but not knowing what to say.

In the end, Kariya returned to his room, reluctantly handed over his meager savings to Shinji after dealing with the Crest Worms.

Before leaving, Shinji reminded him again.

"Uncle Kariya, you can go out, but not too often and not for too long. Show your arm so others think you don't have Command Seals and aren't a Master. The most important thing is never to go out at night!

Always keep an eye on the house's barrier. If an unknown magician breaks in, don't think about fighting, just swallow the potion! And don't mention me to anyone. Take care of Sakura; she will listen to you.

As for telling Zouken, say he went out and left the Matou house under your care for now. He might be suspicious but won't question it, maybe even be pleased with the arrangement."

Looking at this young man, taller than himself yet with a youthful face that somehow instilled a sense of security, Kariya felt his own authority as an elder slipping away.

"Lastly, Uncle Kariya, don't see me as this world's Matou Shinji, don't have expectations for him. We are fundamentally different."

Then, with a slight smirk, Shinji added softly, "Uncle Kariya, there's one more small favor. Since this world's me is interested in magecraft, let him experience it properly..."

Hearing Shinji's last request, Kariya's expression became increasingly strange. What's with this nephew? Even scheming against himself?

After dealing with Zouken, is he now turning against his own family?

Upon feeling someone drunkenly entering the room, Shinji put on the Helm of Hades, said goodbye, and disappeared in front of Kariya.

Although he knew his parallel world nephew was formidable, Kariya was still startled to see him vanish before his eyes.

"Kariya, what are you doing here? Didn't father tell you to go to the basement today?"

Looking at his nominal older brother, Matou Byakuya, who reeked of alcohol and entered with an annoyed expression, Kariya couldn't help but sigh internally.

Why is it that in another world, his brother could have such an outstanding son? This defies logic!

"Zouken went out today. He said I'm to handle family affairs and Sakura's education for now."

"Hmm?!"

Byakuya sobered up instantly, frowning. But as Shinji had predicted, though suspicious, he didn't inquire further.

"I understand. I'll leave it to you then."

Suppressing his excitement, Byakuya nodded and turned to leave, thinking of having another drink but was stopped by Kariya, who said:

"Also, give me the detailed information on our family's spiritual grounds across the country. Zouken wants me to review them, as well as the information and contacts of the mage families using our grounds."

At that moment, Byakuya almost laughed out loud!

Although he didn't know why, it seemed he was finally liberated!

Tonight's celebration called for... no, three! Three people to celebrate together!

Finally, a lucky break!