Chapter 173

With only one week left before the new semester started, Shinji decided to stay home and diligently finish his homework instead of going out.

That's right, he was catching up on his homework.

According to reliable sources, his homeroom teacher for his final year of high school would be Fujimura Taiga, known as the Tiger of Fuyuki. Even Shinji had no choice but to behave in front of her.

However, the homework during holidays in Japan wasn't as burdensome as it had been in his previous life. Here, holiday assignments were fewer and required group work—a social phenomena research project.

Shinji's group was assigned the topic of pollen.

Shirou had already completed the research part, spending his holiday interviewing various people around Fuyuki about their attitudes and countermeasures towards excessive pollen in spring.

Shinji's task was to summarize the findings and create a report that all group members would agree on and submit as their collective homework.

It wasn't until the last day before the new semester that Shinji finally completed the final report, letting out a sigh of relief.

Even in another world, he was still troubled by homework. How ironic.

Of course, aside from this, there had been some unpleasant events over the past few days.

First, some officials from the Ministry of Education, prompted by certain individuals, approached Shinji's company, seeking support for their plan to revise textbooks.

Upon hearing this, Shinji immediately had Rider turn them down. Even on a different Earth, the upper echelons of this country hadn't changed.

Shinji even hinted that if the Ministry dared to enforce textbook revisions, his company would relocate entirely, regardless of the cost, and cease all business operations in Japan. They would also cut off all commercial and non-commercial collaborations with local companies that supported this revision.

Japan's economy, which had barely recovered since the bubble period of the 1990s, was still fragile. The emergence of the Mt Group had only slightly improved the situation in recent years.

If they were to withdraw, the consequences would be unpredictable—brain drain, unemployment for ordinary workers. These were concerns the troublemakers had to consider.

As a result, the officials had no choice but to temporarily shelve their plans, and the local companies that had initially supported the revisions fell silent.

Shinji had no sympathy for these officials.

Joking aside, they had no moral high ground. Recently, when his company was being sanctioned by certain Western powers, not a single person stood up to support them. All they did was watch the spectacle and make snide comments!

And now they wanted his company to take sides? Dream on!

...

At night, as Shinji finished his report in his study and stretched, Rider entered with a cup of coffee.

Rider still harbored some resentment. It had been almost a week since her Master returned, but aside from their battle on the second night, they hadn't had any further confrontations.

The first night was spent catching up on homework with Sakura, and the days that followed were filled with various tasks, leaving no time for their battles.

Moreover, Rider felt a bit relieved that her Master didn't seem to have been oppressed by the society of the parallel world.

But she didn't know that her Master was someone whose individual will far exceeded any societal pressure or blows!

Watching Shinji approach with a smirk, Rider's heart began to race, and a certain battle intent flared up within her. Her soldiers were excited, trembling uncontrollably!

"Good night..."

Hearing this soft farewell as Shinji passed by, Rider felt an overwhelming urge to kill.

This Master... he's utterly vile!

No way! I can't swallow this indignity!

I, Rider Medusa, must punish this evil and clear this grievance tonight! I must set an example for all oppressed Servants!

Tonight, I shall rise in rebellion!

Thus, at three in the morning, Rider, dressed in her original attire and blindfold, appeared in Shinji's room with her twin daggers.

Simultaneously, battle intent soared, and war songs echoed!

This revolution was destined to be historic!

Even if it ended in failure, it would still be recorded in history!

Even if the gates were broken, even if the army was shattered, even if this general bled three feet deep into the battlefield... I, Rider, will not regret it!

For this is the stance of a true revolutionary!

Throughout history, no reform or revolution has succeeded without bloodshed. If this revolution (Servants resisting their Masters' oppression) is to succeed, it must begin with Rider!

Seeing the defeated enemy general suddenly reignited, Shinji's eyebrows furrowed.

Still defiant, huh? Then I'll just have to beat it out of you. As a great man I admire once said—pursue the defeated enemy with remaining courage, never rest on your laurels!

Fight!

...

In the morning, sipping coffee on the balcony under a non-existent sun (it was cloudy), Shinji watched with amusement as Rider, dressed as a maid, silently cleaned.

Yes, she's completely subdued.

Satisfied with this conclusion, Shinji nodded and then turned his attention to the neighboring luxurious mansion, which had seemingly sprung up overnight and was nearly as grand as his own.

He had noticed that someone had been watching his house since last night.

But Shinji was curious why that lady, who shouldn't be in Fuyuki, was here and why she was watching him...

...

In a luxurious mansion about fifty meters from the Matou residence, Luviagelita Edelfelt, a beautiful girl with golden curls adorned with a blue ribbon, dressed in a stunning blue gown, stood on the balcony observing Shinji through a monocular.

Why was this lady in Fuyuki?

It all started with her encounter with the Second Magic user shortly after beginning her studies at the Clock Tower.

"A disciple? Haha, I have no plans to take on a disciple for now. But... there's an interesting kid in Fuyuki City, Japan. If you..."

Recalling the Second Magic user's seemingly joking words about the conditions to become his disciple, Luvia felt nothing but excitement!

If all it took to become his disciple was to approach an ordinary person, establish a relationship, and uncover all his secrets, it was like hitting the jackpot!

Even if it meant enduring the hardships of becoming that magic user's disciple, it didn't matter! This was a once-in-a-lifetime chance!

Also, no one else could know about this!

She had to do it alone!

Even if it meant coming to this despised country and city, and possibly encountering the hated Tohsaka family!

Even for the honor of the Edelfelt family, she had to complete this task and become the Second Magic user's disciple!

"Miss, I've gathered all the information on the target. Matou Shinji, seventeen years old, height 185 cm, weight 70 kg, birthday May 5th, a student at Homurahara Academy. Tomorrow, when school starts..."

Listening to her newly appointed butler, August, who had been urgently transferred from Finland to replace her previous butler, Luvia didn't miss a single word.

Until...

"Suspected to have mastered the theory of the Third Magic and possibly recreated it? Suspected to have participated in the Holy Grail War in a parallel world and won?"

The more Luvia listened, the more she felt something was off. While she had brushed aside information about him being the behind-the-scenes boss of a top 100 global company, a singer, and a science fiction author, these points related directly to magic and the highest forms of mystery!

Luvia lowered her monocular, pondering with her chin in her hand, then frowned and asked, "The Magic Association and the Holy Church aren't aware of these things? If they knew, how could they let an ordinary person..."

"The Holy Church's stance is currently unknown. However, according to my investigation, the Magic Association had contact with certain political levels of countries commissioned by the Mt Group about a month ago. I suspect they reached some agreement..."

Instantly understanding the implications, Luvia said no more, realizing the conditions the Second Magic user had mentioned were not as simple as they seemed.

From this, it was clear that the person she thought was ordinary was far from it.

Suspected to have mastered the theory of the Third Magic and possibly recreated it, and able to travel to parallel worlds, suggesting methods akin to the Second Magic.

At this moment, Luvia understood why Zelretch referred to this "interesting kid" because he truly was interesting!

"Based on my investigation, the Einzbern family also tried to recruit him but was decisively rejected. They only left a homunculus from the Fifth Holy Grail War in Fuyuki to maintain friendly relations without further actions."

"It seems this is quite an unexpected big fish."

As she said this, Luvia's eyes burned with an inexplicable fervor, showing no signs of discouragement.