That protagonist is trash; I could do better!

Sakura Matou, who was not trained by insects, is a raw gem that is no less than Rin Tohsaka.

After going downstairs, Matou Shinji looked at the sofa in the main hall and immediately saw his father, Matou Tsuruno, lying on it asleep. His clothes were disheveled, and when he got closer, he could smell the alcohol mixed with cheap perfume. He must have been out partying until midnight before coming back.

A poor man.

Shinji Matou looked at him with pity. This was the fate of an ordinary person from a prestigious family of magicians. Matou Tsuruno was considered easygoing, but he still couldn't withstand the immense pressure and indulged in alcohol day and night. This was also the best ending for the original Shinji Matou in the future.

Shinji Matou reached out and touched his right arm, activating a transmutation circle to accelerate his body's metabolism and absorb the alcohol.

Matou Tsuruno was suddenly awakened by the urge to urinate. With a splitting headache, he lay down, holding his forehead. When he saw Matou Shinji and Matou Sakura in front of him, he forced a smile: "Shinji, is there something you need?"

"Sakura and I want to go outside."

"Forehead···"

What are you standing there for? Pay up!

Shinji Matou was very dissatisfied with his adoptive father's slowness.

"Go outside?" Matou Tsuruno frowned and muttered, shaking his head. "If you want to go outside, you need Grandpa's permission."

“Grandpa has already given me permission to freely enter and leave the Matou family’s house.”

"Really? Since he agreed." Matou Tsuruno shook his head in disbelief, then slumped onto the sofa like a deflated balloon, groaning, "There's some spare money in the second drawer of the desk in the study. You can take it anytime you want, but don't come back too late, and be careful."

Sending two children under six years old out, getting quite drunk, and having a really big heart.

"I know."

Shinji Matou had a reason to go out.

Shinji Matou has awakened his Origin, allowing him to see the flow of all things, especially magical power. He can easily investigate the flow of spiritual veins in Fuyuki City. Spiritual veins are of great help to magic. In addition, it is best not to try certain alchemy techniques under Zouken Matou's nose.

As for Matou Sakura, after seeing the Matou family's basement, she simply didn't have the courage to stay alone in that hellhole.

After taking several ten-thousand-yuan bills from the study cabinet, Matou Shinji left the Matou family home with Matou Sakura and took a taxi to Ryudouji Temple, the core of the Holy Grail system, the largest of the four major spiritual veins in Fuyuki City, and the Greater Holy Grail system was hidden in the underground cavern of Ryudouji Temple.

Ryudong Temple is an excellent place for magicians to build their base, as the magical power leaking from the spiritual veins can amplify their magic abilities.

Sakura Matou, who was leaving the Matou family home, looked very happy as she got into a taxi, her eyes blinking as she looked out at the street scene through the car window.

"Sakura, do you rarely go out?"

Sakura Matou nodded shyly: "Yes, my mother and older sister used to take me out, and I spent most of my time studying at home."

"I'll show you around properly when we get back."

"Really?" Matou Sakura's expression was overjoyed.

What would you like to eat then?

"Hamburgers!" Matou Sakura answered without hesitation, having long been curious about this food that she often saw on TV but was not allowed to touch.

The driver glanced at the Matou siblings in the back seat through the rearview mirror and asked with slight surprise, "Kids, are there two of you? Where are your parents?"

Shinji Matou glanced at the rearview mirror and calmly said, "My parents are already waiting for me at the destination."

Shinji Matou's eyes flashed with a faint red light. The driver, who met his gaze, was momentarily dazed before falling silent, muttering to himself without asking any questions: "I see."

The simplest form of hypnosis in magic can only affect ordinary people without magic circuits. Those with a slightly stronger will can also be immune. It is one of the few magical achievements of Shinji Matou during this period.

After getting off the car, Matou Shinji led Matou Sakura into a deserted forest. They found an open space, drew a transmutation circle, and began their experiment. Matou Sakura sat to one side with a book she had brought with her, occasionally chatting with Matou Shinji. Conducting magic experiments required a lot of preparation, so she didn't feel bored.

As evening fell, Shinji Matou returned to the Matou residence with Sakura Matou and sensed something unusual. The silence of the manor was broken as a suppressed, angry male voice could be heard: "Stop talking nonsense, you vampire!"

Oh?

A strange look appeared on Matou Shinji's face. He could probably guess who it was. The person the original Matou Shinji admired, his adoptive uncle Matou Kariya, had returned.

The most tragic character in the entire series, the man who uttered the famous line, "It's all the time's fault."

I was surprised to find that it's on this week's favorites list!

All I wanted to do was slack off happily.

It seems that we have no choice but to resume two updates a day.

Chapter Seventeen: Matou Kariya

"Sakura, go back to your room and rest."

"Ah."

After walking a few steps, Matou Sakura turned around and asked in a soft, uncertain voice, "Brother, can I sleep with you tonight too?"

Shinji Matou replied with a smile, "I will always be by your side."

"Thank you." Matou Sakura nodded vigorously and left satisfied.

“Next.” Matou Shinji’s expression quickly returned to normal. He glanced at a dark corner of the corridor, where a fist-sized flying insect flew to Matou Shinji, paused briefly, and then flew up the stairs to the second floor.

This is Zouken Matou's familiar; he commands Shinji Matou to go over there.

Shinji Matou silently went upstairs, pushed open the door to the side hall, and saw a young man confronting Zouken Matou, the atmosphere heavy and tense.

The man is naturally Matou Kariya.

Shinji Matou sized up Kariya Matou, whom he had only met a few times since childhood. Kariya's appearance was fairly decent, but his hair was messy and his eyes were lifeless, giving him a gloomy and aloof feeling. He was the type who seemed to have a story to tell.

"Oh, you're here, Shinji." Matou Zouken sat on a luxurious armchair, his hands on his cane, and sneered. He introduced Matou Kariya, who was standing in front of him, with disdain: "You should still remember, right? This is your good-for-nothing uncle. Even now, he still has the audacity to come back to the Matou family."

Kariya Matou turned to look at Shinji, a forced smile appearing on his gloomy face. His expression softened considerably as he greeted Shinji, "Shinji, it's been a long time."

"Uncle Kariya, are you going back to the Matou family?" Matou Shinji asked calmly.

"Yes, it's because of some trivial matters. You should go back first. I'll show you the gift I brought later."

Zouken Matou scoffed and interjected, "There was no need for that. I was the one who called Shinji over to participate in our conversation."

"What's the meaning."

Zouken Matou stood up, walked to Kariya Matou, and slowly said, "You just said that you wanted to represent the Matou family in the Fourth Holy Grail War. Shinji will tell you why I refused."

"Shinji?"

Meeting Matou Kariya's puzzled gaze, Matou Shinji cursed inwardly. This old bug's perverse sense of humor had kicked in again. If he were to explain the reason, it would only further agitate Matou Kariya's nerves.

Zouken Matou wanted to see Kariya Matou, who had betrayed the Matou family, live a miserable life, spending his entire life in guilt and anguish.

However, this aligns with Shinji Matou's goal, as he also doesn't want Kariya Matou to participate in the Holy Grail War, otherwise his fate would only be worse.

Shinji Matou stepped forward, revealing the Command Seal on the back of his hand: "Uncle Kariya, this time I will represent the Matou family in the Fourth Holy Grail War."

"What did you say···"

Kariya Matou was stunned for a moment, then flew into a rage and growled at Zouken Matou: "You bastard! You old geezer! What are you planning to do, sending a child to participate in the Fourth Holy Grail War? Have you gone completely mad from living too long?"

Zouken Matou calmly said, "Are you blaming me? Kariya, do you have the right to? Do you think our Matou family has fallen to this state because of someone? If you had honestly inherited the Matou family's magical secrets and the position of family head, the situation wouldn't be so urgent."

Kariya Matou argued vehemently, "No matter how low the Matou family falls, what's the difference between sending a child to participate in the Holy Grail War and sending them to their death?"

Seeing Kariya's angry expression, Zouken Matou laughed heartily: "Hehe, Kariya, don't misunderstand. It wasn't me who made Shinji participate in the Holy Grail War; it was the Holy Grail that chose Shinji. You're a coward, but fortunately, Shinji is quite promising. Although he's only six years old, being chosen by the Holy Grail means that Shinji is a qualified magician, and his understanding of magic is much stronger than yours, who refused to learn magic from a young age."

"The Holy Grail has chosen Shinji... Magic truly is an evil path! Make Shinji withdraw from the Holy Grail War. If you only want a pawn, then I'll take it..."

"Hahahaha." Zouken Matou interrupted Kariya Matou with an even more cheerful laugh.

"Vampire, what are you laughing at?"

“Even a child has more courage than you. Don’t you think it’s a bit late to come back and say this to me now? Besides, Shinji’s participation in the Holy Grail War wasn’t my request. He did it to obtain the head of the family and to inherit the Matou family’s secrets. Kariya, you should feel fortunate that someone has taken responsibility for everything you’ve been running away from. Even that brat who was adopted into the Matou family was only put on hold because of Shinji’s request.”

"Sakura! What did you do to Sakura?!"

"Kariya, don't give me that look. If you have any hatred, hate yourself for your cowardice back then. I've said I don't want to see your face. You have nothing to do with magic anymore, and you're not a member of the Matou family. You're just a useless stray dog."

"hateful!"

Kariya Matou clenched his fists, a deep sense of anger and powerlessness welling up inside him. Just as Zouken Matou had said, there was nothing he could do now.

He turned to look at Shinji Matou, gritted his teeth, and said in a deep voice, "I will take Shinji's place in the Holy Grail War."

Didn't you understand what I just said?

"I understand perfectly well, but do you really think a child can win the Holy Grail War?"

Zouken Matou made no attempt to hide his disdain and skepticism, scoffing, "Don't talk nonsense. How can someone who has never undergone any magical training become a qualified Master within a year?"

Kariya Matou firmly stated, "You should possess the secret technique to turn the impossible into possible, which is your most proficient insect manipulation technique. Implant Crest Worms into my body."

Zouken Matou was taken aback, then said in an unpleasant tone, "Kariya, do you want to die?"

"Should I take responsibility for the responsibilities I've abandoned myself? Or are you worried about me, Father?"

Zouken Matou sneered and looked at Shinji, who was standing silently to the side, and asked, "Shinji, what do you think?"

Shinji Matou pondered for a moment and replied seriously, "The Matou family's obsession should be fulfilled by members of the Matou family. Uncle Kariya is no longer a member of the Matou family, and besides, I don't want Uncle Kariya to die."

"Shinji!" Matou Kariya looked at Matou Shinji in disbelief, unable to understand why these words would come from the mouth of his young nephew.

Zouken Matou was very satisfied with Shinji Matou's answer. "You heard that, Kariya? Be glad you escaped with your life. Just run away from the Matou family like before. This is no longer your home, and we don't need someone like you here."

"You damned old man!"

Ignoring the furious Matou Kariya, Zouken Matou said meaningfully, "I'm tired, Shinji. Now it's your turn to explain things properly to the traitors of the Matou family."

Zouken Matou walked past Kariya Matou with his cane and left, and the side hall immediately fell silent.

Chapter 18 Magic Eye Transformation

Only the two remained in the side hall. Matou Kariya faced Matou Shinji, utterly bewildered: "Why did you say such a thing, Shinji? Do you know what the Holy Grail War represents? You might even die."

Shinji Matou smiled frankly: "Of course I know, Uncle Kariya. This is an inescapable responsibility for bearing the name of Matou, and it is also a fact that I am more suitable to participate in the Holy Grail War than Uncle Kariya."

"You are only six years old."

"At only six years old, my aptitude as a Master is even better than Uncle Kariya's. That's why the Holy Grail chose me. I did this to protect Sakura. Uncle Kariya, you should also know very well what outsiders must go through to become a member of the Matou family."

"what···"

Kariya Matou naturally understood that he had changed his mind and given up pursuing Aoi Tohsaka because he was afraid that his childhood sweetheart would be thrown into the insect hive if she married into the Matou family, and he could only watch helplessly as the woman he loved fell into Tokiomi Tohsaka's arms.

"Is Sakura alright now?"

"At least until the Fourth Holy Grail War begins, nothing will happen. I understand Uncle Kariya's feelings. There is no turning back once you choose that path. In exchange, I will take on the responsibilities you have given up and protect Sakura."