Chapter 171

New capital, docks.

Time: 4 PM.

It was only the moment his feet touched the ground that Shinji remembered he had forgotten his student handbook.

"I hope I didn't leave any lasting problems..."

Cradling the Holy Grail, Shinji murmured to himself while pinching his chin. But then he noticed something—a person fishing at the pier, who was dumbfounded by Shinji's sudden appearance—Archer in his red attire.

"Well, it should be fine," Shinji shook his head, brushing off his worries, and then raised a hand to greet Archer, "Yo, long time no see, Emi... Archer. Sorry, sorry, almost got the name wrong, haha..."

Seeing Shinji scratching his head with an awkward smile, Archer felt an overwhelming urge to curse but realized that this guy had probably known everything from the start, even when they first met.

Monster! Archer thought, snorting before turning his head back to his fishing. What else could he do?

This guy says "long time no see," but his eyes and expression don't match his words!

When are you going to act? How long has it been? Can you hurry up?

These were the three desperate questions Archer read from Shinji's expression.

"So cold, not even a proper greeting after half a month."

Sighing, Shinji turned and walked away, feeling a bit dejected at being ignored.

It was only after Shinji had walked quite a distance that Archer realized he might have missed something important. Then it hit him—the golden cup Shinji was holding!

Could it be...

'Rin, Matou Shinji has returned, and he brought back a Holy Grail.'

In the basement of her house, where she was studying her rings in hopes of solving the problem of the Jeweled Sword, Rin instantly lost her composure upon hearing Archer's report.

'He brought back another woman?! What does she look like? Silver-haired?!'

Listening to his master's first reaction, Archer sighed deeply, rubbing his forehead with a look of exhaustion.

'No, it's a golden Grail...'

'Blonde-haired?!'

'Rin, calm down! Listen to me! It's a Holy Grail! A real, golden Holy Grail, the kind that's slender in the middle and wide at both ends, very shiny and smooth!'

At this, Rin glanced down at her own body—slender in the middle, but not wide at either end.

…

Carrying the golden trophy, Shinji walked home with a swagger as if he had just won a world-class prize!

As for why he didn't take the bus or a taxi, it was because he wanted to savor the feeling of a triumphant return. Everyone had to see him!

I, Matou Shinji, did not let the people of Fuyuki down. I won the Holy Grail War in another world and returned in glory!

However, as he was lost in his own emotional reverie, a golden weapon came flying at high speed from a distance!

With a thud, it embedded deeply in the concrete right in front of Shinji!

"That was close..."

Looking at the long spear, likely of A-rank, just half a centimeter away from him, Shinji wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"Hmph! Boring."

That familiar cold snort.

Following the voice, he saw a blond youth in a black biker outfit, arms crossed and looking disdainful—Gilgamesh.

From the look on his face, Shinji knew that curiosity had gotten the better of him, and he had unlocked his omniscience, only to seal it again after seeing what Shinji had.

If that weren't the case, Gilgamesh wouldn't be pretending to be so uninterested.

"Because you reported in advance, the king forgives your rudeness, but continuing to guess the king's thoughts is another matter, Shinji!"

Seeing the fleeting red glow in his eyes, Shinji sighed inwardly—so he hadn't had time to close it yet?

"Go play some games. I bet I can win this time... or at least even the score!"

Shinji pointed his thumb towards his home, and Gilgamesh, after sealing his omniscience once more, snorted again without a word.

Watching the golden spear dissipate into light, Shinji felt a bit regretful. Why couldn't it be something discarded?

If it were discarded, he would have a reason to pick it up.

…

Not far from home, Shinji saw two women eagerly waiting for him. Before the first could say anything, the second ran up to him with tears in her eyes.

"Brother!"

Feeling the weight of his sister, heavier than before, Shinji sighed inwardly. His sister had grown (meaning she was half a month older).

"I'm back, Sakura." Shinji gently patted Sakura's head, smiling.

"Welcome back!"

Taking the chance to nuzzle into Shinji's chest with the new aphrodisiac she had been secretly developing for the past half-month, Sakura replied heavily, tears in her eyes.

"Master..."

In casual clothes, Rider, who had been trained by Sakura in secret for the past half-month to understand the master-servant relationship, walked up and nodded slightly.

From those pink eyes hidden behind her glasses, Shinji could read her desire for a frenzied battle.

Shinji didn't mind and left her a brief message through their contract, indicating the time and place, ready to accept her challenge anytime.

Whether it was still her shape was something both of them wanted to confirm.

…

Rin arrived late, knocked on the door of the Matou residence, and was led into the parlor by Sakura. Before she could ask about Shinji, she saw the golden Holy Grail placed prominently by him.

Seeing her sister's dumbfounded expression, Sakura followed her gaze and, noticing the golden trophy her brother had casually placed, explained with a smile.

"Brother said this is just an ordinary souvenir, a golden cup for eating a lot of ice cream at once."

"Ice cream..."

Rin's eye twitched. Using this thing to eat ice cream wasn't just about luxury or showing off! The other two families of the Three Founding Families would go crazy! She was already losing her mind!

What kind of monster was he?!

Especially seeing Sakura complaining, "Such a big cup for ice cream, how could you finish it? Eating that much would make you fat, and brother really doesn't understand the pain of girls trying to lose weight," Rin's forehead vein bulged, gradually extending across her face.

"That's enough, Sakura, stop it. My heart can't take it..."

Seeing Rin holding her forehead with a look of despair, Sakura asked kindly, "What's wrong, sister? Heart problems? Do you need to go to the hospital?"

"No, it's nothing. I'll be fine after a bit."

Rin took a deep breath, suppressing her envy, jealousy, and resentment, and then smiled brightly.

"Sakura, where's Shinji?"

"Brother is with Mr. Gil in the game room..."

Before Sakura could finish, Rin strode towards the game room, her face growing darker and her fists clenching tighter with each step.

He dismantled the Holy Grail here and then brought back another one. This could only mean one thing—he went to a parallel world, participated in the Holy Grail War, and won!

Shinji must know something akin to the Second Magic; otherwise, he couldn't have made those rings! Rin was convinced.

He blew up the Grail here and stopped everyone from playing, only to bring back another one from another world? What the heck!

Furious, Rin quickly reached the game room, ready to slam the door but hesitated, realizing she might be at fault. Did Shinji really do anything wrong? Shouldn't she have a reason to complain?

(Note: Rin could find the game room precisely because she supervised the renovation.)

"Hahaha! Gilgamesh! This round is mine! Hahaha!"

"Damn it! Don't gloat in front of the king! You bastard!"

Hearing the voices, Rin found her excuse and reason—did she need a reason to fight with Matou Shinji? Which day did they not fight?

Taking a deep breath to get into the best condition, she adjusted her stance, took a half-step back with her right leg, turned her right fist into a palm, and gathered her strength—

"Matou Shinji!!"

With a grinding yell, Rin aimed to strike the door, but...

"Huh?"

The door, supposed to be her target, opened at the last moment, and Rin, losing her balance, fell face-first onto the floor.

Seeing Rin lying on the ground with her butt in the air, Shinji feigned surprise.

"Huh? Tohsaka? What are you doing here? Why did you fall? Is it because your brain isn't balanced?"

"Matou Shinji..."

Rin, supporting herself on the floor, slowly lifted her red face, her eyes filled with tears of pain, glaring at Shinji.

"What's wrong?" Shinji smiled as he always did, which Rin found mocking.

"You bastard!!"

Rin leaped at Shinji, scratching, pulling, biting, tearing...

At this moment, Rin completely forgot what elegance meant, and what her family teachings were.

Afterward, Gilgamesh, watching from the side, commented on Rin's behavior—she was qualified as a small dog.

…

Shinji lost, for the first time, to Rin.

Not because of anything else, just because she bit him.

In the parlor, Shinji rubbed his hand full of bite marks, looking at Rin, who was sulking on the sofa while being comforted by Sakura, with an odd expression.

"Are you a dog?"

At these words, Rin gritted her teeth again, and if Sakura weren't there, she might have pounced again.

Ding dong! Ding dong! Ding dong!