That protagonist is trash; I could do better!

Shinji Matou gave an irrelevant answer: "That's not the case. I believe I am more suited to inherit the Matou family's secret magic techniques."

Zouken Matou stared at Shinji Matou for a long time before slowly saying, "Alright, if you perform well in the Holy Grail War a year from now, I might consider letting you inherit the Matou family. However, the transformation of Sakura must continue."

Shinji Matou's expression darkened slightly: "Can't you even give me a year? I will win the Holy Grail War and prove that I said Sakura is the most suitable person to inherit the Matou family's secret technique. There is absolutely no need for her to undergo modification."

Zouken Matou scoffed, "Haha, you're really quite composed. A little brat who's never even killed a person dreams of winning a war. Don't you think that's a bit arrogant? No, that's not important. Sakura is the perfect age right now. The younger she is, the better she'll be for training. She's excellent material. There's no reason to waste her best period of training because of your arrogance."

Upon hearing this, Shinji Matou frowned deeply, inwardly cursing this old geezer. He was even more stubborn than he had imagined, and even Command Seals couldn't persuade him. If this continued, the negotiations would inevitably fall apart sooner or later.

Neither of them could budge on whether Sakura should use the Crest Worm to modify the magic's properties. Ultimately, it was because Matou Shinji couldn't prove that he possessed a value superior to Matou Sakura.

In the original story, Kariya Matou agreed on the condition that Sakura's body could continue to be modified, but in the end he was unable to save Sakura. Now, Shinji Matou is unwilling to see Sakura repeat her tragic fate.

Should they start a war with this old bug here? This is the last thing Shinji Matou wants to see. The Matou family home is Zouken Matou's lair, and every corner is filled with the bugs he raises.

To continue negotiations, it is essential to strike a balance. First, demonstrate your unwavering resolve to not compromise, and second, prove that you are worth the old man's year-long wait.

Shinji Matou took a deep breath, his mind racing. He stepped forward to block Sakura Matou's path, looked up at Zouken Matou on the steps, and said resolutely, "I'm sorry, but I cannot back down from my current position."

"Hmph, Shinji, you think you can defy me?"

"It's not resistance, it's proof."

"Hehe, your personality is quite similar to Kariya's, but he wasn't bold enough to defy my orders when he was just a kid. Such a promising grandson is quite likable. Shinji, I'll give you a chance to prove yourself. If you can escape from the basement to the surface, I'll acknowledge your abilities and postpone Matou Sakura's transformation until after the Fourth Holy Grail War. How about that?"

Shinji Matou agreed without hesitation: "I accept."

"This is the Matou family's breeding ground for insects. They're not so obedient as to give up hunting after their master leaves. Don't die here, Shinji." Zouken Matou sneered as he left through the door.

Shinji Matou breathed a sigh of relief. This reclusive and disgusting old bug was just like that. From a magician's perspective, he was kind to his family, but in the eyes of ordinary people, he was a completely cold-blooded monster.

Zouken Matou said that if something were to happen to Shinji Matou, he would definitely stand by and watch with a smile as Shinji Matou was tortured to death by insects.

After the master left, the insects in the nest became restless. A few insects retreated into the shadows, while most emerged from all directions.

The buzzing of a large number of bees flapping their wings, the tearing sound of their shells colliding, and the eerie sounds of insects wriggling were all mixed together. In the blink of an eye, Matou Shinji and Matou Sakura, who were left in the basement, were surrounded by a large number of different kinds of insects.

Fist-sized mosquitoes swarmed the basement, their thin, needle-like tails gleaming with metallic light. Hundreds of arm-thick, blackish-red centipedes crawled out from the cracks in the brickwork, and disgusting, lewd insects hissed at Matou Sakura.

"Brother... Brother!" Matou Sakura nervously tugged at Matou Shinji's sleeve, her face clouded with unease and fear.

Shinji Matou looked around with disgust, but an idea popped into his head in an instant: "This is a basement created to cultivate insects, it's quite damp, perfect for that."

Shinji Matou clapped his hands, activating the transmutation circle constructed beneath his skin using simulated circuits, and a ghostly blue light burst forth from his palms.

If Zouken Matou doesn't make a move, and his opponent is just these insects, he's not a threat.

A qualified alchemist is far more powerful in combat than a regular mage in this world. A State Alchemist is basically on par with a regular Servant. The immortal alchemist Shul is one of the best State Alchemists, skilled in body transmutation and proficient in various alchemical techniques.

Alchemy is initiated with rituals that conform to this world. Magic is fused with the origin of Shinji Matou's own fluidity, maximizing the power of alchemy and manipulating the flow of heat.

This was the alchemy that Isaac McDougall, the Frozen Alchemist, was skilled in.

Shinji Matou spread his arms, and streaks of white vapor gathered together, causing the temperature in the damp basement to plummet. The moisture in the air and the soil below froze rapidly, condensing into layers of white frost.

"While I can't do what Isaac did, with the magic power I currently have stored within me and in this humid environment, freezing this basement is more than enough!"

"I want to see if insects bred using magic can be immune to the effects of ultra-low temperatures."

Sekiro is really fun.

I died dozens of times before I finally beat the first boss.

Now I know how to write the word "death".

Chapter Fifteen: Bean Dad

A cold front swept through, and the temperature in the basement plummeted by tens of degrees due to the effects of alchemy, covering the ancient, damp walls with a layer of frost.

"Click click click~"

As the water vapor froze, the insects, sensing the temperature change, became even more frantic. They tried to move away from the center of the cooling, but were directly swept away by the cold air, falling like hailstones from mid-air or from the walls. After struggling for a few moments, they died of hypothermia.

The alchemy array creates an absolute zero space in a short period of time, plundering the water and temperature from the living organism's body.

Shinji Matou let out a long breath, as most of the magic power stored in his body was depleted, and he felt a sense of exhaustion after using all his strength. The alchemy performed using this world ritual was more difficult than Shinji Matou had imagined.

In the world of alchemists, one only needs to know the principle and draw the transmutation circle to achieve the same effect with very little physical effort.

In the spacious basement, only the half-meter safety zone around Shinji Matou was unaffected by temperature changes.

All was silent. The basement, which had just been a prison of insects, was now completely covered in ice and snow. Not a single insect could survive in such low temperatures.

Shinji Matou patted Sakura Matou's head, who was still in a daze, and smiled, "Let's go, let's leave here now."

The little girl snapped out of her daze, tears welling in her eyes, and answered lightly, "Yes, brother."

The two carefully climbed the stairs. The brick and stone surfaces were covered with a layer of ice, making them exceptionally slippery. As expected, when they reached the entrance to the basement, they encountered Zouken Matou.

The old man stood in the dark basement passageway, leaning on his cane. His wrinkled face was calm and expressionless. He stared at Matou Shinji, who was coming out of the basement, and said slowly, "Oh, you are becoming more and more unexpected. You have even learned such magic. This is not a secret magic technique of the Matou family."

Upon seeing Zouken Matou, Sakura Matou tensed up again and hid behind Shinji Matou.

"It's definitely not Matou family magic," Shinji Matou answered frankly.

This is a serious problem. Magic is a power that flows from the source, like tap water. But the total amount of tap water allocated to each household is fixed. The more people know about magic, the less power they receive.

During the Age of Gods, magicians who knew the secrets of magic were rare, and magic was no different from magic. If a modern physicist were to travel back to the Age of Gods, he might become a nuclear explosion mage and be able to manipulate the sun with his bare hands.

The very nature of magic dictates that it must remain a closely guarded secret. If an ordinary person were to learn of a magic trick, the magician who revealed it must be killed to maintain its secrecy.

Under such circumstances, it is easy to imagine the seriousness of the problem that a nominal heir of a prestigious magic family would use magic that does not belong to that family.

Moreover, Shinji Matou used magic that didn't belong to the Matou family to destroy the insects that Zouken Matou had spent hundreds of years cultivating. It would be strange if Zouken Matou wasn't angry.

"Shinji, do you have anything to say in your defense?"

Shinji Matou nodded: "It's definitely not a magic trick from the Matou family, but we can't say it's unrelated to the Matou family either."

"Oh?"

“Von Hohenheim Pella Celsus, you should also know this name. His magic secrets are collected in the study. The magic I use comes from the records in the book and is based on his magic concept. Originally, I did not intend to use it, because unfinished magic is very unstable.”

Upon hearing this name, Zouken Matou's expression wavered drastically. He fell silent, lowered his head, and seemed lost in distant memories, repeating the name Shinji Matou had mentioned: "Von Hohenheim..."

Anyone who has read "Fullmetal Alchemist" must know who von Hohenheim is. He is the father of the protagonist, Edward Elric, and the greatest contributor to stopping the plan for the miniatures in the bottle to become gods.

Of course, this isn't a case of wandering onto the wrong set. The von Hohenheim Pallasus that Shinji Matou mentioned is the historical prototype of von Hohenheim in the world of "Fullmetal Alchemist," the most famous alchemist in history, and one of the creators of modern magic in this world.

Moreover, von Hohenheim Pärcelsus was one of the few friends of Machiri Zorgen (Zoken Matou) five hundred years ago.

Many of the magic books in the Matou family's collection were written by von Hohenheim-Pallasus.

Shinji Matou dared to say these words without fear of being exposed. Alchemy also exists in this world. The magic used by Shinji Matou is indeed very close to the magic secrets of von Hohenheim-Pallasus. Unless the person himself is there, Shinji Matou does not believe that anyone can discover the difference between the two.

Shinji Matou's explanation can also explain the abnormalities that have occurred to him. If he inherited the magical legacy of von Hohenheim Pallasus, it would not be surprising no matter what Shinji Matou becomes.

In the dark and cold passage, the atmosphere was silent. A few rays of light illuminated the old man's profile, which was full of wrinkles and whose expression was unpredictable.

Shinji Matou quietly channeled magic power into the transmutation circle on his palm, intending to use his remaining magic power for a desperate last stand should Zouken Matou show any unusual behavior.

"Haha."

Zouken Matou grinned and laughed heartily: "Interesting, very interesting. Shinji, I admit your determination and ability. The training of Sakura will be postponed until after the Fourth Holy Grail War."

"I look forward to your performance, to fulfilling the Matou family's long-cherished wish as a member of the Matou family."

The old man slowly left the basement passageway, carrying his cane.

What long-cherished wish? It's nothing more than wanting to obtain the Holy Grail to fulfill his desire for immortality.

Shinji Matou watched the old man leave, a huge weight lifted from his heart. It seemed he could safely get through the time before the Fourth Holy Grail War began.

This way, Shinji Matou can have more time to study magic and the Holy Grail system.

"elder brother."

A weak voice came from behind her as she collapsed onto the ice, her face deathly pale.

Shinji Matou helped her up: "What's wrong?"

"I'm sorry, I can't muster any strength." Matou Sakura looked like she was about to cry.

Shinji Matou crouched down and soothed her gently, "It's alright now. Come on, I'll carry you back."

"Mmm." Matou Sakura rested her small face on Matou Shinji's shoulder, whispering sweetly in his ear, "It makes me feel very safe to lean on your shoulder like this, brother."

The little girl's pure and innocent smile made Shinji Matou feel good; just that smile made him feel that this adventure was worthwhile.

The two went to the bathroom to wash off the fishy smell. Just like when she first moved in, Matou Sakura, who had just experienced a nightmare, clung to Matou Shinji in the same room before she could finally fall asleep.

So, how capable is Bean's dad?

Judging from her stats in FGO, she should be on par with Medea.

Chapter Sixteen: It's all the time's fault!

On the eve of the Holy Grail War, Shinji Matou needs to make many preparations, mainly focusing on two core points.

The first is naturally the Holy Grail system. Although the Matou family doesn't have many records about the Holy Grail system, they still have enough to do some shady dealings. In fact, none of the three founding families in the Holy Grail War are honest; they all want to obtain the Holy Grail by any means necessary.

Needless to say, the Tohsaka family, Tokiomi Tohsaka colluded with the Church of Sanctuary, the overseer, and even had his disciple Kirei Kotomine stage a parting of ways before secretly gathering information about his Master using the Assassin class.

The Matou family's unique feature is that they can manipulate the Command Seal system, using special summoning spells to grant Servants the Berserk attribute, thereby summoning Berserker-class Servants.

In Matou Shinji's view, this was a rather foolish decision. While the Berserk attribute could enhance the Servant's stats, it also deprived the Servant of their sanity and increased the Master's mana burden.

In the Fifth Holy Grail War, if Einzbern had not summoned the Berserker-class Hercules, with Illya's advantage as the strongest Master, they would have undoubtedly crushed the King of Heroes, Gilgamesh.

The Einzbern family has a history of cheating. In the Third Holy Grail War, the Einzbern family's unauthorized summoning of the Avenger-class Angra Mainyu led to the corruption of the Holy Grail. During the Fourth Holy Grail War, after realizing they were a homunculus factory and incapable of combat, the Einzbern family hired the mage assassin Kiritsugu Emiya to serve them.

Everyone else is cheating, but Shinji Matou doesn't want to be the one who loses a leg.

Secondly, the Matou family possessed a collection of magic secrets related to von Hohenheim Paracelsus, although not much of it was actually useful. Five hundred years ago, von Hohenheim Paracelsus and Matou Zouken frequently corresponded, discussing their respective understandings of magic and their achievements.

Von Hohenheim-Pallassus was the most famous alchemist, and his research was highly compatible with the alchemy used by Shinji Matou.

Shinji Matou is not interested in the Matou family's magical secrets. He plans to use his own alchemy as the basis and the magical secrets of von Hohenheim Pallas's as the foundation, and integrate the rituals of this world to create his own magical system.

This magic system will not be affected by different magic foundations around the world, but will be rooted in its own origin.

······

In the early morning, Shinji Matou came downstairs, followed by Sakura Matou. The little girl wore a deep purple dress, her hair tied with a red ribbon. Every move she made was innocent and cheerful, full of vitality. Her blue eyes were clear and bright, and every emotion was reflected in her pupils like ripples.