More than a week had passed since Matou Zouken's death. Officially, his kitchen had a gas leak, which burned him to death, and his grandson died of a heart attack when he found out.
Unofficially, things were a bit tricky. Mage associations' response was a bit odd. A prominent magecraft family head had died; one would expect an investigation or retribution from his allies. They did send a lord to investigate, though one look at his face showed that he wanted to be anywhere but here. His allies were less interested in his death and more so in his research. But when they realized his research looked too much like some undead bloodsucker, they folded. Rin looked ready to drop dead after handling them.
The most interesting part of the lord's visit for me is his apprentice, Gray. The first time I saw her, I felt my heart flutter... in terror. It isn't her appearance that caught my attention. But what she was holding. It's a replica of Logos React, one of the seven superweapons created by Atlas Academy. It's currently working as a seal for something that my mind failed to comprehend. Considering the nature of most of the things I failed to comprehend, I gamble that this thing might at least sink the city. As far as they were concerned, a boy looked at a hooded girl holding a birdcase with wide eyes.
The lord made relevant reports for the proper channels and left. Though Rin had warned me that some unwanted party might snoop around.
Tiga was a bit sad with Sakura's loss. As a yakuza princess, she had seen a fair share of deaths. She is more concerned about Sakura than anything else. So, when I offered for Sakura to live at this house, she accepted.
I also learned the issues between Sakura and Rin. It turned out they were biological sisters. But their father wanted Rin to inherit the Tohsaka family magic crest, so he sold Sakura to the Maotu family. There, Sakura was tortured from the first day. Zouken forcefully changed her magical nature and physical appearance to assimilate Matou family magecraft into her.
During this time, the Matou and Tohsaka families had a deal that Rin and Sakura weren't supposed to contact each other. Rin, like a traditional magus, complied with the deal and refused to acknowledge Sakura. But Sakura wasn't brought up to be a traditional magus wanted comfort from her sister. Which she got denied every time. Then her uncle tried to save her, but even he died. Between her torturous training, adoptive brother's torment, and, ignorant sister, slowly, Sakura was losing her will to live. She closed herself off from the world. Turning herself into nothing but a machine. Then we met, due to the fire, I was also closed off from the world while holding an impossible ideal of a broken man. Once she realized we both were broken, she wanted to know how a broken person like me could live. One day, I had an accident due to a piece of equipment malfunctioning during archery. She decided to observe by staying close to me with the pretext of helping me out. Then, she slowly regained feeling and, without knowing, fell in love with me.
While Rin kept tabs on her, she didn't let Sakura know about it. She didn't want to cause a problem for Sakura by breaking the deal between their family. She learned most of Sakura's whereabouts from Zouken, and he didn't want anyone to know about his nature.
While they both want to reconcile, years of accumulated disappointment and resentment are hard to release. They need more than a little time to sort through their feelings.
I let her know that while I would like them to sort their feelings, if she decides not to, I will still be there for her. Watching their pained face was heartbreaking. But if I have to choose one, Sakura is closer to me.
"Stop thinking so much, Dude," Kyu says.
"Oh. Sorry. The last week has been hectic. I am glad those mages left," I tell her.
"Me too. They were getting on my nerves," Kyu says.
"Can you help me with my magecraft training? Those I get from the system," I ask her.
"I don't do magecraft, but sure, why not? So what do you want me to do?" Kyu asks.
"Check my side quests, the one with the mystic eye of death perception. This time I want to take you with me. Then we will analyze the battle to see what can be improved."
"Done. I am ready when you are," Kyu says.
I project a futon and lie on it. Kyu joins me.
"System, Open the quest [Unlock Immunity to Mystic Eye Of Death Perception] with Kyu Sugardust as spectator"
-------
We were both transported to the arena. Kyu watches it with fascination.
"Interesting travel method. Only parts of our souls got transported. You should start," she advises.
I start the counter.
The Old Man attacks me immediately. I bring out Blacked Excalibur from my inventory. Any other weapon will be wasted here.
I parry his slash and create distance between us. Then bombard his general direction with projection. He evades them easily and catches up to me.
This time we fight with our swords. His sword, sharpened by years of murder, traces the most efficient path for death. Mine was created by piecing together different styles out of necessity. I use reinforcement on my body, Mind's Eye working overtime.
I can't help but admire his swordsmanship a little. There is no wasted movement. Every time the sword moves, it has a purpose, and when it stops, the purpose is complete.
One awkward block leaves me vulnerable. So I create a portal to imaginary number space. This portal leads to a location within the Imaginary Number Sea. I still can't control where the portal will lead, so it's an invalid transportation method. But it's a solid defense method.
Until now, he reaps the portal like it's a piece of paper. I already expected that.
I don't have Excalibur Morgan's true name release. So I pour my max mana output into the sword. It lights up with blackened flame. Light around the area starts to dim.
This time, I use all of my strength to attack and counter him.
He starts taking the fight a bit seriously. He gently guides the attack out of harm's way and enters my guard.
I lost my head again.
[You died in 22 seconds: Quest failed]
[You received 220k XP for survival]
[This quest will go to a cooldown for 6 days, 23 hours, 59 mins]
-------
Once we return to the workshop, I ask Kyu about her thoughts.
"That was an interesting quest. The enemy had the same parameter as you. That means you will get rewards according to your level. That also means your loss is just a skill issue," she lays the brutal truth.
"So what is your suggestion?" I ask her.
"You should improve your skills by fighting him."
"System, start calculating character rewards," I want to see how much I have improved.
Then we find Sakura waiting in the living room, eating snacks with a lost look on her face. Her behavior worries me greatly.
"Sakura, how are you feeling?" I ask her, concerned.
"Sup, Sakura," Kyu greets her.
"I am fine, sempai, just feeling lost."
"You know, if you have any trouble, you can tell me. We will try our best to help you," I say while Kyu nods beside me.
"Sempai, you know about Tohsaka-sempai and my relationship. She hadn't talked to me properly in years. Now she tells me she was concerned for me all these years. But she hadn't shown me any of it," Sakura pours out her resentment.
"That's not all, is it?" I ask her, already knowing the answer.
"If that was all, I wouldn't be conflicted. But I can feel genuine care from her. I hate her, but a part of me also wants to return to those days when we were kids, happy. Tell me, Sempai, is it too much to ask? Am I selfish to want my sister back?"She asks me.
"No, you are not greedy. Tohsaka has been a magus for all of her life while worshiping her father. She never thought you would suffer for his decision. Her feelings for you are genuine. You know, when I asked for her help with your surgery. She didn't hesitate or ask for anything in return. She does love you, but knows no way to show it," I let her know.
"Yeah, Sakura, don't go down the rabbit hole of depression. I can feel her emotions for you, and she is trying her best to reconnect. If you can't accept her as a sister, then start from the beginning and become her friend. Slowly, you would be able to connect with her," she advises her.
"Maybe you should join us during our magecraft training. It will help you learn about things that the worm was hiding from you. In exchange, you can ask her to join you during our cooking, where you can teach her. This way, you two would be able to overcome your awkwardness easily," I advise her.
"Ok, sempai, I will try that tomorrow," She gives a genuine smile this time.
I hold her in my arms and peck her on top of her head.
"Sempai, I am feeling unloved. Please make it go away," She says in a suggestive tone.
Since Taiga and Rin had already left and midnight had yet to approach, I decided to fill her with my love. Kyu as a love fairy, can absorb emotions, joins us, with a toy as her miserable partner. She eggs me on with suggestive and provocative words. Due to her size, Sakura receives both of their share of love.
-----------
It's early morning when we finished, Sakura is twitching on the bed, completely out of it.
"Dude, you were once again too rough with her," says the main culprit who made me lose control.
"One day, you will pay for this," I threatened her. As I look at the unseen notifications,
[Quest Completed]
-> End Sakura's suffering.
[Rewards:
100k XP,
25,000 points,
Expert-level knowledge of Imaginary Number magecraft,
SSR-ticket *1,
Reality to Imaginary Coordinator]
[Ding~ Character Reward calculation complete]
[Rewards:
150k XP,
5,000,000 Yen,
20 Rare-tickets,
5000 points,
1 Electric Stove,
Unbranded Coffee Mug,
Rubber Duck,
Door Frame,
Needles,]
"Do you want to collect the rewards?"
"Yes," I say.
Looks like I got some common items.
Accepting
[Accumulated xp-> 625k + 220k + 100k + 150k->1095k
Level:
41[1095k/750k]->
42[345k/800k]
Adding Knowledge to Spirit Origin:
Expert-level knowledge of Imaginary Number magecraft,
Reality to Imaginary Coordinator....Complete
Storing 30,000 points,
1 Electric Stove,
Unbranded Coffee Mug,
Rubber Duck,
Door Frame,
Needles,
5,000,000 Yen,
20 Rare-tickets,
and 1SSR ticketsin inventory...Complete
]
[Spirit Origin:
Name: Shirou Emiya
Title: The Gamer
Level: 42[345k/800k]
Class: Foreigner
Alignment: Neutral ・ Evil
HP: 48k->49k [regen 4900 per min]
MP: 19k
SP: 8.2k [regen 4100 per min]
ATK: 5.4k
Points: 33,525]
Since I got points over 30k, I checked the system shop,
[System Shop]
General:
1. A Sapphire Scythe. (1050)2. Floor Protection Mat. (50)
3. The Diadem of Sudden Luck (50,000)
4. The Bottomless Bell (200)
5. Rare Dungeon Ticket (199999)
Looks like there aren't many Items this time.
==================================================================
[Spirit Origin:
Name: Shirou Emiya
Title: The Gamer
Level: 42[345k/800k]
Class: Foreigner
Alignment: Neutral ・ Evil
HP: 48k->49k [regen 4900 per min]
MP: 19k
SP: 8.2k [regen 4100 per min]
ATK: 5.4k
Points: 33,525
Familiar: Kyu Sugardust
Params:
STR: C
END: A+
VIT: A+
AGI: D
MP: EX
LUK: D
NP: ??]
[Skills:
[Gamers Mind-EX]
[Gamers Body-EX]
[Sword of Void-EX]
[Type ORT-EX]
[One Radiant Thing-EX]
[Imaginary Number Magecraft-A++]
[Seven Deadly Sins-A++]
[Perpetual Puberty-A+++]
[Kama Sutra-EX]
[Observe-EX]
[Pain Tolerance-EX]
[Avalon-EX]
[??????????????-E~EX]
[Anti-Evil (passive)]
[Archery-A]
[Cooking-A+]
[Technician-C]
[Magecraft-D]
[Eye of Mind-C]
[Anti Divinity-E]
[Phantom Flame]
[Modern Rune]
[High-speed incantation-A]
[Territory Creation(A)]
Spells:
[Tracing]
[Reinforcement]
[Refresh]
[Flash Air]
[Clone Jutsu]
[Voidblast]
[Fireball]
[Eternal Blaze]
[The Goal Of Life Is Death]
]
[Quests]:
World Quest:
->9 months and 24 days left
Main Quest:
-> Help Sakura and Rin Reconcile. {Rewards: exp +10000, 90% off voucher for system mall, 2 SSR-tokens, points +5000, Advanced healing magecraft knowledge.}
Character Quest:
->Increase your physical fitness
->Increase your magical fitness
->Increase your knowledge of the world and beings living there {knowledge about powerful beings yields better results}
->Learn/Improve skills
->Learn more about people you already have a relationship with {friends and foes, both are counted}
Side Quests:
->Unlock Immunity to Mystic Eye Of Death Perception
->Upgrade Skill: Type ORT
->Find what happened during the Fourth Holy Grail War. {reward: 25,000XP, ???}
->Find what happened to Irisviel von Einzbern and her daughter. {reward: 25,000XP, ???}
-> Find Tohsaka Tokomi's killer. {rewards: 10,000XP, 1000 points}
->Unlock Excalibur Morgan True Name release.