"What now?"
Shinji stopped and looked at Rin with some irritation.
"I just wanted to remind you that there seem to be other Masters at school. Keep your Command Spells hidden so you won't be mistaken for a Master and dragged into the war."
"Hmm? How do you know?"
"There's a strange barrier over the school. It's hard to detect, but it's definitely there. I'm not sure what it does yet, but it could be set by a Servant. I plan to stay and investigate tonight."
So perceptive! Shinji praised her internally. It was the first time anyone had noticed the barrier he set up!
Though it was just a basic barrier with its power dialed down to the minimum, its function was simply to speed up metabolism and increase energy consumption slightly, enhancing appetite to help students avoid picky eating.
The purpose was simple: to make students hungry earlier and go home for dinner and sleep sooner, avoiding any potential dangers at school.
"Take care of yourself then. Goodbye."
With that, Shinji raised his hand and turned to leave, but then he heard Rin speak again.
"Matou Shinji, let me ask you one more time. Are you really not going to summon a Servant and join the Holy Grail War?"
"Of course not, I have absolutely no interest."
Shinji replied without turning back, waving his hand slightly.
Rin finally let out a sigh of relief as Shinji left the rooftop.
Meanwhile, Archer, who had been in spirit form above them the whole time, was puzzled by something else.
Did that kind and gentle junior really like "me"?
At 3 PM.
In a hotel suite in Shinto, Shinji had just finished his afternoon tea and was now taking a shower.
After his shower, he walked out of the bathroom in a bathrobe, ready to change and leave, but then he sensed something.
The faint sounds in the suite indicated the presence of a third person. However, Shinji wasn't alarmed because this presence was very familiar.
At the door of the room, Shinji stood with his arms crossed, looking amusedly at Rider, who was bent over, feeding on the pale neck of a young woman.
Shinji knew that even if her Master provided ample magical energy, Rider would still secretly drink blood, just like in the HF route of Spring Song.
Dietary habits are hard to change, Shinji thought. He himself still preferred Chinese food in this life.
"Be careful not to let Bazett catch you, Rider."
"Too much." Rider stood up, licking the blood from her lips, and turned to face Shinji. "This woman is just an ordinary person. Your excess magical energy would be wasted on her."
After glancing at the woman, seeing she was only slightly drained of excess mental energy, Shinji replied casually, "You're wrong, Rider. That wasn't magical energy. It was just excess mental energy, the third element for magi. It's not a waste. Overflowing energy needs to be vented occasionally, or my mind can't handle it."
Rider didn't reply. After a moment of silence, she walked straight toward Shinji, driven by curiosity.
"...Why not give it to me instead?"
Shinji furrowed his brows and thought deeply. When did his kind-hearted nature get exposed?
As Shinji pondered, Rider stopped in front of him.
Thinking his silence meant consent, Rider leaned towards Shinji's neck.
"Wait!" Shinji suddenly raised his hand to stop her, speaking righteously, "Though I understand dietary habits aren't easy to change, a monotonous diet can cause nutritional deficiencies!"
???
Rider tilted her head, question marks popping up over her head.
"Also, you should be more sincere in your interactions. Your current attitude won't do! And as they say, the eyes are the windows to the soul!"
"Huh?"
Rider was confused, then suddenly realized Shinji had undone her Mystic Eyes Killing silently!
"Don't..."
As Rider averted her gaze in embarrassment, Shinji maintained his serious expression and said, "Be more sincere! Look me in the eye and state your request!"
Rider swallowed and hesitantly met Shinji's gaze, but quickly looked away again.
"Sigh——" Shinji sighed deeply, sounding disappointed. "Alright, alright. I'll help you a bit. Not just with sincerity in dealing with people, but also with your picky eating problem…"
"Huh?" Rider was puzzled but suddenly found herself being princess-carried by Shinji!
In that moment of eye contact, the already startled Rider panicked even more and tried to look away, but Shinji sternly ordered.
"Look at me!"
Not even my Master dares to be this bossy with me!
Rider felt indignant but inexplicably complied.
At 7 PM, in another room of the suite.
Two sharp fangs pierced Shinji's skin, and blood flowed into Rider's mouth, which she greedily sucked.
This man thinks he can change my eating habits? Ridiculous. Such deeply ingrained habits can't be changed so easily!
Everything I did for the past few hours was just a façade to get to this point!
Yes, that's it! Rider reassured herself.
After drinking about 20 milliliters of Shinji's blood, Rider said Bazett was waking up and left.
"Servants really are convenient…"
Shinji muttered to himself, marveling at how even clothing could be magically conjured, making things so easy.
On the hotel's rooftop, Rider appeared and contemplated.
This man is definitely different from ordinary people. That immense third element, the blood rich in vitality, and the soul that seemed both normal and abnormal...
I can't see through him. Even after all this, I still can't understand what this extraordinary man is thinking.
In conclusion: Detective Rider took a big risk today, but her investigation into Shinji yielded no progress and reached a dead end.
"Balanced diet…"
Rider murmured, touching her stomach.
With the immense third element (mental energy), the blood rich in vitality, and the magical energy generously provided by Bazett…
This should be very balanced, right?
Leaving the hotel, Shinji suddenly felt a moment of enlightenment, like the protagonists in certain novels he had read in his past life.
Shinji knew this was thanks to Rider. She had enlightened him!
And this enlightenment was—
Wasting (spiritual energy/inner power/mental energy/vitality) is shameful!
Why not give it to those in need?
Helping Servants lacking magical energy isn't good?
Frugality and making the best use of everything are virtues that should never be abandoned, no matter the world or era!
I must not become like those despicable actions my grandfather mentioned from my previous life, where Americans would waste milk rather than give it to the poor!
Realizing this, Shinji felt his sense of morality rise to a new level!
So this is what enlightenment feels like. I've learned something new.
Since he had already informed the family that he wouldn't be home for dinner and would be back late, Shinji wasn't in a hurry to return.
Wandering around Shinto until 10 PM, Shinji didn't encounter any lone Servants or Masters.
Except for a certain helpful citizen, Gilgamesh.
Hands in his pockets, Gilgamesh's eyes flashed red as he passed by Shinji.
Huh~ So even a guy without magic can get Command Spells?
How unexpectedly interesting, this mongrel.