Type-Moon: Shinji Matou Also Wants to Be the Protagonist

Footsteps, layer upon layer of footsteps, gathered from all directions, and then—an army appeared!

Chapter 45: Protecting My Matou Family

Well-equipped soldiers stood shoulder to shoulder, completely surrounding the basin.

The maids of the Matou family, who were situated on the sand dunes, were put into a deep sleep by a hypnotic spell.

The Matou brothers, Tsuruno and Kariya, were held captive by the soldiers. Tsuruno was already pale with fright, while Kariya struggled to maintain a sliver of consciousness amidst the jolting, his cracked lips moving but unable to utter a complete sound.

Young Matou Sakura was placed alone on a sand dune a little further away.

Several priests in long robes surrounded her.

They used their bodies to shield her from the scorching sun, and at the same time formed a formation to imprison her.

The girl's empty purple eyes reflected this unfamiliar desert, devoid of fear or curiosity.

It resembles an exquisite doll.

"That's... a really big spender."

Zouken Matou slowly straightened his hunched back, his cane poking deep holes in the sand.

His voice was hoarse but steady, without the slightest hint of panic.

But the rapid movement of those cloudy eyes betrayed the turmoil in his heart.

As one of the creators of the Holy Grail system, Zouken Matou's understanding of Servants far surpasses that of the vast majority of people.

But it was precisely this understanding that shocked him even more.

Because of the densely packed soldiers around them, each of them exuded the aura of a Servant.

"A Noble Phantasm of this scale that can swallow the entire mansion, foundation and all, into a bounded field..."

His gaze swept over the silent army, finally settling on the sand dune at the highest point of the basin.

"Is it Rider? It seems I underestimated you."

On the sand dunes, Iskandar's imposing figure resembled a moving mountain.

He crossed his arms, his scarlet cloak fluttering in the hot wind, and looked down at the old monster with a playful smile on his lips.

"You've been recognized, huh? You old bug, you do have some eyesight."

Weber cowered behind him, clutching the hem of his clothes tightly with both hands.

Although this was not the first time he had been inside the King's Army.

But observing this legendary conqueror unfolding his strategy up close still made his heart pound.

"but--"

Iskandar turned his head slightly.

"I have only come here today at your invitation; the true mastermind is someone else."

As if in response to his words, the gate of the Matou residence not far away opened, and a figure walked out.

Upon seeing that familiar figure, Zouken Matou suddenly gripped his cane tightly.

"Really you?"

"Shinji!"

Matou Tsuruno, who was trembling on the sand dune, exclaimed in surprise.

"It's been a long time, Father, and Grandpa too!"

Shinji slowly walked down the steps and gracefully bowed to the two of them.

"You...how could you...?"

Matou Tsuruno's voice trembled violently, as if it had been sanded with sandpaper.

"Didn't you go abroad to study? Why are you here?"

"Father, please stay here and I'll explain after I've dealt with things here."

When faced with Matou Tsuruno's question, Shinji gently comforted him.

There was still some genuine affection between Shinji and Matou Tsuruno.

Perhaps because he lacked the talent of a magician, Matou Tsuruno did not acquire the cold and ruthless habits of a magician.

Although he lived a rather pathetic life, he became an alcoholic after his mother's death.

But that was the only way Tsuruno could relieve the pressure under the terrifying oppression of Zouken Matou.

After all, he was just an ordinary person without the talent of a magician, and had no ability to resist.

Even before sending Shinji abroad, he told Shinji that he hoped he would never come back.

These are undoubtedly very hurtful words for an ordinary family.

But in the Matou family, this is a very sincere blessing.

Considering that Shinji was already under Zouken Matou's scrutiny at the time, he took a great risk when he said this to Shinji.

Then, Shinji's gaze fell directly on Matou Kariya, who was curled up in the corner.

His condition was worse than expected—his eye sockets were sunken like two black holes, and the outlines of worms could be vaguely seen under his exposed skin. He exuded a putrid smell of someone on the verge of death.

Even if we manage to deal with Zouken Matou and find a way to treat him, he probably won't live much longer.

Not only was his body hollowed out by the marking worms, but his soul was also damaged during the year-long torment.

"Uncle, your condition looks worse than I thought."

Shinji stared directly into those cloudy eyes without any hesitation.

Matou Kariya struggled to move his eyes, trying to make out the face of the person in front of him.

His vision was already blurred, and he could only vaguely make out a silhouette—it was indeed Shinji.

Yet he was completely different from the obedient and compliant nephew he remembered.

"You...are...he came to..."

Broken syllables squeezed from Yan Ye's cracked lips, carrying the sweet, metallic taste of blood.

He instinctively wanted to back away, to protect something, but his broken body was no longer under his control.

"It has nothing to do with Sakura."

Shinji answered his question first; that's what Matou Kariya is concerned about right now.

Upon hearing Shinji's words, Matou Kariya's eyes flickered slightly, and his tense nerves relaxed a little.

"I'm here to protect the Matou family, my Matou family!"

He stood up, brushed the dust off his clothes, and turned to face the ever-silent old monster.

“Grandpa, you have occupied the position of head of the Matou family, no, the Machiri family, for 500 years. It’s time to hand it over.”

Zouken Matou's lips twitched, and for the first time, a truly gloomy expression appeared on his wrinkled face.

Upon hearing Shinji's words, Zouken Matou knew that his secret had been exposed.

But how much did he actually know?

"Shinji, my good grandson, I don't know how you managed to persuade that master and servant pair."

"But do you think you can subdue me with this little show of force?"

His voice lowered, like gravel rubbing against a coffin.

"This body is merely one of my countless backups. Even if you crush it here, my true self will remain—"

"Still hiding somewhere in the Matou family, clinging to life by relying on the Crest Worm network, right?"

Shinji interrupted him without any politeness and casually revealed the secret he was trying so hard to hide.

Zouken Matou's pupils suddenly contracted.

The secret of the art of immortality was known only to him and was never recorded in writing.

All the information is stored in Marchi's magic crest, which is his true form. How did Shinji know this?

Future vision? Past vision? Or is there something wrong with his magic crest?

Various speculations swirled in Zouken Matou's mind.

"That's why I asked His Majesty to move the entire Matou family here. You can't escape now, you old man."

Shinji wore a smug smile.

In contrast, Zouken Matou's face turned completely black.

Chapter 46: Fierce Attack

"Can't escape?"

Zouken Matou chuckled softly, his laughter sounding like a jumble of insect chirps.

"Shinji, my good grandson, do you think that by swallowing this mansion into the barrier, you can trap my five hundred years of accumulation?"

He slowly raised his cane, and a faint rustling sound immediately came from beneath the sand.

The marking insects, which had been drooping due to the dryness, began to adapt to the environment at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Its body surface rapidly grows carapace, carving out crisscrossing channels in the yellow sand.

"The Reality Marble is indeed remarkable, but even the most powerful Noble Phantasm has its limits."

Zang Yan's murky eyes swept over the silent army formation around him, and a ferocious smile appeared on his lips.

"How long can this barrier last? Ten minutes? Or an hour? Until the magic power is exhausted..."

Zouken Matou accumulated a great deal of knowledge throughout his long life.

Even for extremely rare inherent barriers, he had read some information and documents.

As a grand magic that uses one's own mental image to erode and replace the world, it has a consumption commensurate with its power.

The longer it lasts, the more intense the backlash from the world itself will be, and the more intense the consumption of magic power will be.

In his view, the magician who serves as the Rider Master is just a mediocre talent and won't last long.

Zouken Matou didn't finish his sentence, but his ferocious expression made his meaning very clear.

If Shinji fails to kill him here, he will surely face Zouken Matou's inhuman revenge.

"Give up your unrealistic fantasies; dealing with you won't take that much time."

Shinji casually replied.

Zouken Matou's approach wasn't wrong; against ordinary users of Reality Marbles, it's indeed possible to stall for time and wear them down.

But Zouken Matou underestimated Shinji's determination to kill him.

To ensure everything went perfectly, Shinji not only equipped Iskandar with the [Snail Annihilation Castle Text], a magical furnace.

Even if necessary, Shinji's hidden Three-Based Magic Furnace can be taken out.

In a race to the finish, there isn't enough flesh and blood for Matou Zouken to devour and transform.

Of course, there was no need for Zouken Matou to know about these preparations.

As soon as he finished speaking, Shinji had nothing more to say.

He simply nodded to Iskandar, and then, at the Conqueror King's command, the soldiers on the dunes roared and surged forward, charging toward Zouken Matou in the center of the basin.

The yellow sand kicked up a cloud of dust under the trampling of the iron boots, and the figure of Matou Zouken rapidly expanded and deformed amidst the swarm of insects.

Those marking insects that adapted to the desert environment multiplied wildly, eventually transforming into a terrifying swarm that burst out in all directions.

"Come! Let this old man see just how capable you are, you greenhorn!"

The spreading swarm of insects was like a small sandstorm, and the first group of soldiers to be hit were instantly devoured by the dense swarm of insects.

If the soldiers besieging him were real human beings.

With the flesh and blood it devours, the Mark Worm can complete another round of reproduction.

Unfortunately, the soldiers here are all heroic spirits, and they will dissipate into spiritual particles after suffering a fatal wound.

Even though the Mark Insects can retain some of the magic power, it still doesn't cover their expenses.