Unlimited Ambition

That's certainly true.

Beyond our superficial teacher-student relationship, Rin Tohsaka and I share a deeper connection. Although she inherited Tokiomi Tohsaka's mantle and became a magician, her abilities are limited. Without a mentor, her skills haven't improved significantly. Several years ago, shortly after I returned to this world, she was already planning to take magic lessons at the Clock Tower in England.

So, although she didn't actually have much interaction with this person—and her father, Tokiomi Tohsaka, was even an enemy in the Holy Grail War—she couldn't ignore the situation now because she had inexplicably said at her father's funeral, "If you have any problems, you can come to me."

And so, after asking her opinion, I became her magic teacher—of course, the fact that she was willing to lower herself to ask me was mostly because of her mother.

In the accident years ago, this poor woman became mentally impaired due to prolonged oxygen deprivation to the brain. She needed constant care. While Rin Tohsaka's family still bore the name of a prestigious magician family, Rin herself wasn't involved in production. Furthermore, jewel magic required considerable expense. Therefore, servants had long been dismissed. If it weren't for maintaining the last vestiges of a prestigious family's reputation, even the original Tohsaka mansion would have been sold off. Thus, she had to take care of her mother's dementia herself.

Going to the Clock Tower would require hiring someone to care for her mother, or sending her to a nursing home. Regardless of whether Rin Tohsaka would be at ease, this expense is simply beyond the means of a so-called "rich young lady" with impoverished backgrounds.

That's why she became my student, and received my instruction after school. We shared a magic book, and it was perfectly normal for her to get close and point at me. So it became a habit without her even realizing it. Who knew I'd make fun of her about it…

Chapter Two: Another Round of the Holy Grail War

"The Holy Grail War." I sat listlessly in the Tohsaka family's basement, idly flipping through various notes and grimoires about jewel magic. Although I could give Rin something much more powerful, she said she didn't need it.

"Because my family has a long tradition of gem magic, and I'm very proud of it." That's how that stubborn little girl glared at me, as if I were her father's killer.

Well, okay, it seems I really am her father's killer.

Wait, no. Did I kill her father? That doesn't seem like it, does it?

Never mind, none of that matters. The important thing is that since Rin, that stubborn little girl, doesn't want to learn my abilities, I'll have to teach her gem magic. But then another problem arises. Gem magic... while it seems like just a trinket to me, I don't know anything about it myself. So, while teaching Rin, I also need to learn on my own. I don't need to learn too much. Just enough to cover what's required for Rin's lesson today.

Of course, Rin is quite clever—otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to become the class monitor in high school, a thankless and arduous job. So, for a while, she had some doubts. She deliberately made me extend the teaching time.

So they asked me to use the excuse that it's easy for a man and a woman to have problems when they're alone together, and I refused. But afterwards, their teaching attitude did become much more serious. That's it.

Nowadays.

In the afternoon.

School's out.

Afterwards, Rin and I tacitly took different routes, wandering around for a while before meeting up again. We then went back to Rin's house together. It seems Rin doesn't like others knowing that we'd be together after school. One reason is that magic tricks shouldn't be known to ordinary people. Another reason, as Rin said, is that she doesn't want people to think we're dating.

That's it.

What?

If we're talking about age, I'm already 4.7 billion years old. How could I possibly have any desire for an immature girl like you? What kind of person do you take me for?

Whenever Rin uses this reason to look down on me, the only result is that I look down on her in return. Even back in school, when I'm in that "good old boy" mode, I have plenty of ways to deal with this girl. Absolutely no problem.

In fact, teasing this self-proclaimed clever, but actually quite clever, young lady has become a pretty good form of entertainment for me over the past two years.

Just like today. The lecture was the same as always. I teased Rin as usual, and we went home from school as usual—we took different paths as usual, and we still ended up together as always. And Rin, as always, was angry and gave me a cold shoulder. She didn't say a word. Lying in bed, Aoi Tohsaka was, as always, growing weaker and weaker. At this rate, she'll probably be reunited with Tokiomi Tohsaka in about a year. Rin, as always, said things her mother would never hear. And as always, she turned her face away, pretending to be strong as she faced me.

Indeed, as always.

Except for one thing.

"Rin, do you know anything about the Holy Grail, the all-powerful wish-granting machine?"

After today's classes ended, I didn't rush home to be intimate with my wife(s). Instead, I asked Rin this question with great interest.

"What do you want to do?" Rin asked, a mix of confusion and wariness in her voice. Come to think of it, this girl really was quite ungrateful. I was her teacher, after all, and I'd taught her tirelessly for two years. I hadn't asked her for tuition or anything—in fact, at times, I'd even provided her with gems to squander. Yet, this girl still harbored a tiny bit of suspicion towards me. It wasn't usually apparent, but at a time like this, it was completely exposed.

"No, I just wanted to ask if you'd like to participate in this year's Holy Grail War," I asked with a light laugh.

"It wouldn't make a difference if I participated. With a monster like you around, no one has a chance of winning," Rin said with great self-awareness.

"What monster? Have you ever seen a monster as handsome and dashing as me?"

"Isn't it right in front of me?"

Well, this little brat's sharp tongue has gotten quite a bit sharper with age.

"And speaking of which, the Holy Grail War seems to occur every sixty years. And it seems that only ten years have passed since the last Holy Grail War," Rin Tohsaka said.

"So, deep down you still want to participate, huh?" I chuckled softly.

Rin lowered her head: "Indeed."

"Then, what about wishes? Are they also the root cause?"

At this point, Rin hesitated slightly, then became quite discouraged.

"What's the point of saying all this nonsense? I'm not going to participate anyway."

"No, no, no," I shook my head, then said, "If your reason for not participating in the Holy Grail War is because of your handsome and dashing teacher, then you have nothing to worry about. Because I have made up my mind not to participate in the Holy Grail War as a Master anymore."

"Huh?" Rin looked at me in disbelief. "Participating in a game where no one can beat you, a game that's basically just torturing your opponents, isn't that the last bit of fun you, you pervert, have in life?"

"...Just how bad do you think I am as a teacher?" I was a little speechless: "Anyway, I'm not participating."

"But didn't you specifically trick that foolish old man from the Emiya family into giving you the scabbard of Excalibur in preparation for this Holy Grail War?"

"Kiritsugu would be heartbroken to hear you say that—he was, after all, a renowned magician assassin—in the past. He wasn't as useless as you make him out to be."

"Then why is that?" Rin asked, pressing for answers.

"Why are you asking so many questions, kid?" I didn't say anything more, then reached out and ruffled Rin's hair. "Anyway, that's it. Just participate in this Holy Grail War. Don't hold back. Also, if you're unsure which hero to summon..." As I said this, I took a pen out of my pocket and handed it to her.

"Let's use this to summon the legendary winter wolf, Fenrir."

As I said this, I shoved the pen into Rin's hand. Then I turned to leave.

"—Teacher!" Rin suddenly spoke, calling out to me.

"Is there anything else?" I turned around and asked with a smile.

“…Thank you.” Rin’s voice was almost inaudible.

Chapter 3: You can find good stuff just by wandering around the streets.

The Golden Ratio? That's the right term, isn't it? So-called "nobody rich" who will never experience poverty in their lives, spending money lavishly without consequence. They have mountains of gold and seas of silver that could fill the Atlantic Ocean. Such a so-called "tycoon" is probably everyone's enemy.

Unless she's willing to share the money with others.

Of course, this is practically impossible. Because everything she gives to others is a "gift".

This is hardly a pleasant word.

Speaking of the golden ratio, we inevitably have to mention Gilgamesh, and mentioning Gilgamesh inevitably leads to something that's been bothering me lately.

Even though I'm in Fuyuki City, I can clearly sense that person's presence; I can even pinpoint their exact location. But I just can't meet her. Because if we meet, we'll fight. Unless I deliberately let her win, she'll definitely lose. And if she loses, she'll probably commit suicide. Seriously, this is so troublesome. Just how troublesome are women? They're utterly incomprehensible. Wouldn't it be better if they were all as obedient as Yuki? Why do they have to create all this mess? Making everyone uncomfortable. Are you an idiot? Are you even of normal intelligence? Ugh, really—

And so, I wandered around Fuyuki alone at night. If I had done this a few years ago, during the time when serial killers were rampant, I would definitely have been taken to the police station for questioning. Although I would ultimately be acquitted, I might have angered the cops on the way and ended up killing the entire station. So, it's a troublesome situation. Lately, for some reason, I've been feeling somewhat unsatisfied. Even though Yuki has been trying so hard. And there's Ikaros, the little one, and that idiot. Sometimes, I even have a bit of a hard time, and I'll bring out the girls of Gensokyo who are still sleeping in the subspace for a little... well, you know.

But, well, how should I put it? Seeing familiar faces all the time gets a little tiresome. Even though they are undeniably cute. And while it might feel a little unfair to these girls to think that way...

I really want to cheat on you, you bastard!

That's it. If I hadn't been trying so hard to control myself, I probably would have already attacked Rin Tohsaka.

If he hadn't been trying so hard to control himself, he probably would have already attacked Sakura Baldwin.

If he hadn't been trying so hard to control himself, he probably would have already attacked Ilya.

Speaking of the last option, this little girl who looks only six or seven years old, but is actually about the same age as Emiya Shirou, is really putting a lot of pressure on me. Because if I were to actually lay a hand on a little girl like that, it would probably be on a sadistic level, right?

Okay, actually, this state is not much different from absurdity. But there are still some bottom lines.

The so-called bottom line is that you can freely do evil where others can't see you, but if others find out, it's all over. For example, among the girls who come from Gensokyo, like Remi, Flan, Rumia, Cirno, and the little bug... they are all girls with a childlike body.

If these girls are people I'm on good terms with, and some are even my official spouses, then it's fine. But there are others I didn't know at all before. I don't even know their names; they were completely taking advantage of my vulnerability. Like this little girl with transparent wings, wearing red clothes, who looks so sunny; this little girl with transparent wings, wearing white clothes, who looks so moonlit; and this little girl with transparent wings, wearing blue clothes, who looks so starlight—they've all been played with from head to toe.

Anyway, it's not a big deal. With these young girls' intelligence, even if they regain their senses, they probably won't know what happened, right? At that point, a little coaxing will escalate the situation from being confused to being seduced.

But I'm still not satisfied.

"I have an ailment, I am lustful..." I muttered to myself as I kicked pebbles on the roadside with my hands in my pockets...

So, I don't really want to go home for now. It's been like this for a while now. One reason is that I always feel like if I wander the streets like this, I might run into something good. Another reason is that going home is so boring.

Well, indeed, such thoughts are very unfair to Yuki.

Please forgive me, Yuki. I know you'll forgive me, won't you?

So I don't care anymore. That's fine then.

So he continued to wander the streets.

This situation has been going on for a long time. Apart from a few encounters with prostitutes, a few with fallen girls, and a few with escorts, there have been no decent romantic encounters at all.

Isn't this outrageous?!

So tonight, I've decided to try my luck somewhere else. It's the so-called Ryudong Temple. A place teeming with monks, it's practically impossible to stumble upon a romantic encounter there.

But who knows? Perhaps, when a direct approach fails, a reverse approach might yield unexpected results.

Because, as mentioned before, the golden ratio.

I didn't just bring this up casually. The reason I'm mentioning it is because, as a Heroic Spirit, I possess an attribute very similar to the Golden Ratio: the Romantic Attraction Ratio. In other words, I will absolutely never lack women in my life, just like Gilgamesh will absolutely never lack money.

So, there's bound to be something to gain tonight.

With this in mind, I arrived at the entrance of Ryudong Temple.

1 dead person

Damn it, that's not what I want, you bastard.

So just ignore it.

Therefore, ignore it.

Hmm, let's keep going—okay, is this tonight's haul? A girl who looks really weak—wait, she's not a virgin anymore. Seriously… oh well, I guess I was just desperate.

I rolled my eyes, then walked over. I knelt down and lifted the hood of the girl dressed like a witch, revealing her gorgeous, fairy-like face.

"Eighty points." I snapped my fingers, and then, using the usual flirting techniques with fairy-like creatures, I gently rubbed her ears.

"Um……"

Then, the girl made a beautiful sound.

"Ninety points."

Alright, passed. I snapped my fingers, channeling a small amount of magic into the girl to prevent her from dying immediately. Then I picked her up and carried her home…