Shirou, who returned from the Fairy Kingdom

"How can it be……"

Even after being subjected to the suggestive magic, Kariya Matou was still not convinced.

How can you expect me to believe that the immortal monster could so easily lose to a 7-year-old child?

"Kukuku... still the same as always, looking like a repulsive stray dog, Kariya."

Just as Matou Kariya's mind went blank, a damp, sinister laugh echoed through the room.

"!!!"

The young man suddenly stood up, looking around as if facing a formidable enemy.

"Stop playing tricks! Where are you? Show yourself! Zouken Matou!"

He would never forget that voice; it came from the monster's "father"—

"Don't be so alarmed, even I'm ashamed of you."

The sound came from the toy rubber duck on the table.

Matou Kariya: "???"

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Volume 1, Chapter 13: "Magic Terminal - Machiri"

Matou Zōkō.

Even Matou Kariya didn't know his real age.

No one knows exactly how many centuries this old man has existed.

An immortal magician who repeatedly extends his lifespan using unspeakable and terrifying methods; the progenitor of Kariya Matou's bloodline; a living monster who survived to the modern era.

This is Zouken, the man Matou Kariya hates most in his life.

However, he has now turned into a toy rubber duck for use in the bathtub.

Kariya Matou stared dumbfounded at the toy rubber duck on the table, then heard it speak in a sinister, authoritative voice.

"Kariya, you swore you would never appear before me again, didn't you...?"

"No, even if you say that..."

Matou Kariya was stunned and speechless.

Even if one harbors lifelong hatred, disgust, and contempt for that voice, all anger vanishes upon seeing the adorable appearance of the little yellow duck.

He looked at the red-haired boy beside him, but Shirou's expression made him completely baffled as to what the boy was thinking.

"You...are you really Zouken Matou?"

"Zouken Matou, that is indeed one of the names I used to have, but my current name is 'Magic Terminal Machiri'."

Magic Terminal...

Although he had never seriously studied magic, Kariya Matou still vaguely understood its meaning.

The very foundation of Zouken Matou's existence—his "body" and "soul"—has been utterly destroyed.

What remains on the toys today is "spirit (personality)".

"Well!"

Matou Kariya suddenly covered his face.

The object of hatred is physically dead, but his memories remain like an indelible curse.

This feeling of both exhilaration and profound frustration left him feeling lost and confused.

It took the young man a long time to compose himself before he spoke with a cold laugh.

"Your long-cherished dream of immortality is now impossible. How do you feel, Father?"

"My mood... I no longer have any function that can be called emotion. If I had to draw a conclusion, it would be that I feel relaxed."

Kariya Matou frowned, displeased at not getting a satisfactory answer: "Relaxed? You don't actually think you're still 'alive,' do you? Don't make me laugh!"

"Looking back now, the reason why I once longed for immortality was fundamentally due to the unbearable decline of my body."

The little yellow duck spoke in a slow tone.

"How to maintain my increasingly decaying body and soul has long troubled me, and has eventually become an inner demon."

So, I don't know when it started, but I only thought about how to survive.

But now, having lost both body and soul, even the greatest worries of the past are gone.

Now, this old man is able to think more calmly... isn't that a kind of ease?

The little yellow duck chuckled, even though there was no real biological emotion in the sound.

"……snort!"

Speechless after being refuted, Matou Kariya changed the subject: "Why did you adopt a daughter from the Tohsaka family?"

The little yellow duck said, "In order to continue the existence of the Matou family... if it were Matou Zouken, he would probably answer you like this, and then denounce you for your betrayal."

Of course—the real purpose is the Holy Grail; Matou's survival is completely irrelevant.

"Magic Terminal - Machiri" switched to a tone more like that of the old magician and said.

"The sixty-year cycle is about to arrive, but the Matou family has no pieces to participate in the Fourth Holy Grail War."

With magic power at Tsuruno's level, there's no way he can control Servants. Although he has to give up this time, he still has a chance to win in sixty years.

That Tohsaka family daughter has boundless potential—her womb will surely give birth to an excellent magician, but of course, she must be thoroughly trained first…”

"Snapped!"

Finally, Kariya Matou lost his temper and angrily threw the little yellow duck at the wall.

The little yellow duck hit the wall, then bounced back due to its elasticity, hitting Zhongtong Yanye in the face.

“Mmm…!”

"Still the same old impatient guy, Kariya. If you keep this up, you'll suffer in the future."

"Don't put on that fatherly face now, I don't want to hear it!" Matou Kariya roared.

The yellow toy that fell silently onto the carpet seemed to be mockingly pointing out: "Well, the topic of the Tohsaka family's daughter is already over."

"Indeed, you are now..."

"That's not what I meant."

"Magic Terminal Machiri" said, "Matou Sakura is no longer useful, because we have now found a talent who far surpasses that little girl."

Kariya Matou subconsciously turned around and looked at the red-haired boy who was happily enjoying the scene of fatherly love and filial piety on the sofa.

"I?"

Shirou pointed at himself, tilting his head adorably.

The little yellow duck let out its usual sinister laugh: "The hidden talent within this brat is something even I, an old man, cannot fully see through or understand."

If it was him... who killed this brat of mine, it wouldn't be surprising if he actually lifted the Holy Grail.

Although Zouken Matou no longer desires immortality or the Holy Grail, he develops a strong interest in Shirou Amamiya, who will destroy him, based on a magician's instinct to explore the unknown.

His power, his nature, and his way of being...

Witnessing him lift the Holy Grail and recording this result has now become the underlying logic of "Magic Terminal Machiri".

Shirou frowned and protested, "Hey, don't make decisions for others without my permission, Machiri. Who said we were going to participate in the Holy Grail War?"

"Oh, not participating this time? Amamiya Shirou, are you, like me in the past, betting your big bets on the next time?"

The little yellow duck's wide eyes looked very pleased: "The offspring you and Matou Sakura have should be outstanding enough to shake the magic world... I really look forward to it."

"I told you not to make decisions for others without permission."

Shirou stepped on the toy rubber duck and shut down the Magic Terminal.

"Kukuku... I don't deny it..."

The sound of Matou Zouken gradually faded into the distance.

"........."

Kariya Matou's expression returned to one of utter astonishment.

"Uncle Yanye?"

"Ah!"

Seeing the boy's face approaching him, he was so frightened that he fell to the ground.

Shirou kindly extended his hand: "Are you alright, Uncle?"

Matou Tsuruno understood from the boy's respectful attitude—he was a monster who surpassed Matou Zouken.

"I...I won't believe you!"

Matou Kariya pushed Shirou's hand away.

Although he looks like a cute boy, how could someone who can communicate harmoniously with that old monster possibly entrust Sakura to him with peace of mind?

Shirou nodded: "Yes, that's what I think too."

"what?"

"Uncle Kariya, you should stay at the Matou family's house to study from today onwards, along with Sakura and Shinji."

Matou Kariya gritted her teeth: "Why?!"

"You're too weak. No matter how tough you talk, it's all just empty bravado. I've seen plenty of people like that."

If you want to protect Sakura, try to gain power through your own hands.

Losing to me is fine, but don't be unable to beat Shinji.

Shirou said only that one sentence, leaving a stunned Matou Kariya behind, and then left the room.

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To boost the rankings on Monday, I'll save tomorrow's two chapters for around midnight tomorrow night and release five chapters directly, so you don't have to wait during the day.

Volume 1, Chapter 14: A Chance Encounter

Time flies, and three months have passed in the blink of an eye.

Kariya Matou stayed at the Matou mansion and received magic training from scratch along with Sakura and Shinji.

You must study hard, Shinji and Kariya.

You bear the weight of the Matou family men's honor on your shoulders...

I mean, don't lose to Sakura by too much.

On the other hand, Shirou, as always, is cramming on his knowledge of this world while adapting to life in the city.

Every day is very fulfilling, but Shirou has recently found himself increasingly unable to find peace within himself.

I feel inexplicably lonely at night.

He couldn't just run to Shinji's room every night to play, could he? After thinking about it for a long time, Shirou found the problem—

It's because of this room.

This is the Matou family home, not Shirou's.

It's not that Shirou has started to get tired of the Matou family.

Shinji and Sakura are his only two friends in this world, although taking care of children is a bit tough.

Tsuruno was surprisingly capable at work; if you asked him to look up some information, he could submit the results the next day.

Kariya has an unwavering heart, is upright and honest, and hates evil, making her Shirou's type.

They are all good people, but this place is ultimately not a "place to belong".

"Is Shirou-nii leaving us!?"